APokemonfan recently drew an interesting paradox redesign concept art for Torkoal, a Fire-type that debuted inPokemon RubyandSapphire. Torkoal is a fan favorite appearing in the show alongside Ash during the Hoenn League and also as a catchablePokemoninScarletandViolet.Torkoal has no evolutionary line, so the artist’s redesign provides an interesting look at a paradox version of the Pokemon with a different type combination.
Torkoal is a Generation 3 fire tortoise that has heat vents along its shell. Its Pokedex art and in-game sprite are seen blowing out smoke both from the nostrils and the volcano-like hole on its back. Back whenAsh Ketchum still hadn’t won the championship, he found and caught Torkoal in “All Torkoal, No Play,” the 332nd episode of thePokemonanime airing in 2004.
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Torkoal may not be themost popular Pokemon inScarletandViolet, but Redditor rc1246 posted the redesign in Pokemon. It makes Torkoal’s back less like the smooth, neatly segmented sections of a tortoise’s shell and more like a rocky volcano. The fiery peak juts up high, yet Torkoal appears lower to the ground, less like a turtle and more like a salamander. Its tail is long and spiny, and an outcrop of spikes rings the base of the volcano like the sharply pointed angles of a terrapin’s shell. The smoke still escapes from the peak, but now its nostrils drip with magma like a runny nose. The detail included of Torkoal’s eyes finally opening is a neat touch, and its irises are like glowing coals. The whole design was laid out on a backdrop that makes it look like an Ukiyo-e Japanese woodblock painting.
Additional images can be found on the original post.
The comments of rc1246’s post speculated about the stat block and typing for thisparadox version of Torkoal. There was some debate about Torkoal possibly taking on a Fire/Poison-type, which makes sense as smoke and soot can contain a bunch of toxic fumes. There was also a push for Fire/Steel-type, which would suggest its shell has taken on some metal in the spikes. That typing also has more connection to the story of Ash’s Torkoal, who was initially found being beaten up by a gang of Steelixes in spite of the type difference and who would go on to clash with Registeel, ultimately falling to that Pokemon’s zap cannon.
Redditor rc1246 has many other designs with the same style, such as one where a bunch of Magikarp are seen jumping out of a wave styled afterThe Great Wave off Kanagawa. Torkoal may have ditched the handlebar-style smoke mustache for an eternally dripping nose, but at least he’s finally opened his eyes.Brock would be jealous.
Pokemon ScarletandVioletare out now on Nintendo Switch.
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