Dragon-type Pokémon are often seen as some of the most powerful, elusive and awesome creatures in the franchise, thanks in large part to the Dragon Tamer Lance from the first iteration of the Elite Four and the sheer majesty of the Dragonite line in the original Pokémon Red and Blue games. The overall atmosphere swirling about the designs of the Dragon-type Pokémon tends to embody a sense of strength, majesty and acclaim.

Yet not every Dragon-type Pokémon in the Pokémon World manages to capture this quintessential essence that first began in Generation I. From the bird-like Altaria to the sushi-themed Tatsugiri, these Dragon-type Pokémon designs miss the mark and offer disappointing designs for Pokémon fans.

10

Goodra Looks More Like a Snail Than a Dragon (Especially the Hisuian Version)

Trainers Easily Mistake Goodra for a Water-Type Instead of a Dragon-Type

Debuting in Generation VI, Goodra is a pseudo-legendary, Dragon-type Pokémon that often gets mistaken for a Water-type given its goopy aesthetic, soft pastel color palette and the fact that it learns more Water-type moves than Dragon-type. Goodra evolves from Sliggoo at level fifty, but only when it’s raining, which is a unique in-game mechanic but does add to its incorrect Water-type identity.

Unlike the intimidating dragons who’ve come before, such as Salamence or even Garchomp, Goodra opts for a soft and goopy appearance, one that pairs well with its friendly personality. The Hisuian version of Goodra doubles down on this, including more bluish-gray elements in its design and having the stubbed, curled end of its tail increase in size, giving the Pokémon an almost snail-like feel. While some Trainers might find its friendly and huggable nature endearing, it hardly fits into the grandiose and imposing image that most Dragon-type Pokemon tend to evoke.

9

Altaria Resembles a Bird More Than a Dragon

The Soft Fairytale Aesthetic Is Too Strong

An earlier Pokémon, Altaria joined the Pokédex in Generation III during the Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire video games and easily nabbed a place as one of the best Flying-type Pokémon of all time. Altaria is often depicted as a serene and graceful Pokémon rather than the ferocious fighter most Dragon-types tend to be. It evolves from Swablu — a non-Dragon-type Pokémon — at level thirty-five. With their fluffy bodies and baby-blue coloring, Swablu and Altaria emphasize a fairy-tale aesthetic, even before Fairy-type was included in the series.

While Altaria does sport an amazing design, its overall appearance resembles a bird more than a dragon. Unlike other Dragon-types which take on a dinosaur or reptilian appearance, Altaria looks like a floating pillow wreathed in a comfy cloud while beautiful, elegant tail feathers peek out from its backside. While Mega Altaria attempts to add some regality to its design, the cotton-ball aesthetic and prominent bird features still make it one of the more confusingly designed Dragon-types in the Pokémon world.

8

Raging Bolt Gives a Dragon-Type to the Legendary Beast Raikou

Yet Raging Bolt’s Design Emphasizes all the Wrong Elements

Raging Bolt was introduced in Generation IX during The Indigo Disk DLC for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, serving as one of the Paradox Pokémon and an ancient relative to Raikou, the Electric-type legendary beast from the Johto Region. Unlike the sleek and obviously canine-inspired design of its modern counterpart, Raging Bolt took a completely different approach, featuring a long, giraffe-like neck and tribal markings over its lower body that helped it mesh better with the primeval tone of Pokémon Scarlet.

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The biggest problem with Raging Bolt’s design centers around its massive neck, which gives an overall awkward and unwieldy feel. The absurdly long neck makes it appear more like a mismatched creature rather than a fearsome dragon, with the whole proportional scheme unbalanced and downright goofy. Raging Bolt simply lacks the intimidating and grand presence that radiate from other Dragon-type Pokémon.

7

Applin Draws Inspiration From a Worm Invading an Apple

Each of Applin’s Dragon-Type Evolutions Plays With an Apple in Some Way

Applin first appeared alongside the other Generation VIII Pokémon in the Galar Region, which featured in the Pokémon Sword and Shield video games. This adorable but unusual Pokémon resembles an apple, with its body hidden within the fruit. Its evolutionary line includes three distinct branches, with the Applin able to evolve into Flapple, Appleton or Dipplin (which can further evolve into Hydrapple), depending on the type of apple item given to Applin. Each of these apple-themed evolutions draws inspiration from some delectable way to enjoy apples, with Flapple based strictly on the fruit, Appleton resembling an apple pie, and Dipplin (and then Hydrapple) looking like candied apples.

While Applin and its evolutionary choices embody quirky and creative concepts, it’s difficult to regard Applin as a true Dragon-type in a meaningful way given the almost humorous and nonsensical aesthetic. The Pokémon resembles a Bug- or Grass-type instead, with the running gag of Applin being like a worm visitor burrowing through the apple’s flesh. The design direction — while unique and delightful in its own way and nabs a spot as one of the best Grass-type Pokémon designs — of Applin as a Dragon-type Pokémon easily leaves Pokémon fans scratching their heads.

6

Tatsugiri Requires Dondozo to Make a Splash

This Dragon-type Pokémon Is Weak on Its Own

Tatsugiri joined the ranks of the Pokémon World in Generation IX, which prominently displayed the Mediterranean and Spanish-inspired Paldea Region. The overall Pokémon design resembles a piece of sushi, specifically the nigirizushi, with its three distinct colors giving a special boost to Dondozo in double battles. The orange Curly Form raises Dondozo’s attack, the pink Droopy Form raises its defense, and the yellow Stretchy Form increases its speed. Unlike most other Dragon-type Pokémon who command the battlefield on their own merit, Tatsugiri needs Dondozo to truly shine.

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While it’s an overall interesting battle mechanic that attempts to riff on the core concepts of the game, the overall reliance Tatsugiri has on Dondozo doesn’t exactly mirror the core concepts the Dragon-type has carved out for itself. Instead, Tatsugiri relies on strategy and, if looked at through the correct lens, deception in order to win battles. The gimmicky, comical Tatsugiri — complete with its wide-eyed expressions — overwhelmingly lacks the powerful and mighty presence of other Dragon-type Pokémon.

5

Koraidon & Miraidon Steal the Spotlight From Cyclizar

The Motorcycle-like Pokemon Feels Generic Compared to These Two Legendaries

Cyclizar is a Dragon- and Normal-type Pokémon introduced in Generation IX and nabs an interesting place as the go-to mode for transportation for the people in the Paldea Region. Cyclizar can morph its body into something reminiscent of a motorcycle, with the heat of its rider helping to stave off the cold and supply energy for this unusual Pokémon to cart humans around Paldea.

Bearing a strong resemblance to Koraidon and Miraidon, the two legendary Pokémon from their respective Pokémon Scarlet and Violet video games, Cyclizar almost feels like a generic version of these two rare Pokémon, which unfortunately — compared to these highly detailed concepts — makes Cyclizar feel drab and ordinary. The design is a serviceable inclusion into the game, but with the playable character given either Koraidon or Miraidon at the outset of their games, players can’t help but wonder why Cyclizar was included at all. Even compared to other Dragon-type Pokémon, Cyclizar’s uninspired design falls flat, leaving Pokémon fans underwhelmed.

4

Guzzlord Hardly Looks Like a Dragon Pokémon

Guzzlord Looks More like a Ghost- or Psychic-Type Rather Than a Dragon-Type

Coming in as one of the Ultra Beasts from the seventh generation’s Pokémon Sun and Moon games, Guzzlord is a dual Dragon- and Dark-type Pokémon that’s also known by its code name UB-05 Glutton. Massive, gluttonous and with a design that heavily features a gaping mouth, Guzzlord is designed to be an all-consuming force. While Ultra Beasts do boast bizarre designs in keeping with their extradimensional origins — fans will easily recount the firework Pokémon Blacephalon or buff bug Buzzwole — the fact that Guzzlord also has the Dragon dual typing remains an odd choice.

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Guzzlord’s design delights in the sheer absurdity of its massive mouth, which reinforces the gluttonous theme but hardly leaves room for the Pokémon to resemble a dragon in any meaningful way. Its mammoth maw, stubby legs and grasping appendages make it look more like a Ghost- or even a Psychic-type before a Dragon-type. Overall, it lacks the elegance, power and prestige of previous Dragon-type Pokémon, making it a questionable inclusion in an elemental typing meant to evoke regality.

3

Origin Forme Dialga Looks Like It Has Something Lodged in Its Throat

The Redesign of the Time Legendary From Pokémon Diamond Misses the Mark

While Dialga — arguably one of the best legendary Pokémon from the Sinnoh Region — joined the ranks of the Pokémon world as the embodiment of time in the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl video games back when Generation IV came out, Origin Forme Dialga is a much more recent addition, appearing in the Pokémon Legends: Arceus game from 2022. The Origin Forme gave Dialga an overhaul in its design, keeping the overall feel of the original Dialga but revamping its frame to give it a wilder, less polished feel. The legs became longer, the protrusions more pronounced, and the color palette went darker while losing the silver metallic elements from the main design.

The new direction of the Dialga Origin Forme gives the player a sense of a horse on stilts and one that has something lodged in its throat. There’s definitely an unpolished vibe to the Pokémon that fits in with the feral, almost wild feel the game was meant to evoke, but overall, the new direction seems to discard the core components of Dialga that made it feel like a Dragon-type to begin with.

2

Origin Forme Palkia Feels as If It’s Missing Design Elements

The Lack of Arms Is Very Off-Putting

Like Dialga, Palkia received a new Origin Forme look for Pokémon Legends: Arceus, with the Water- and Dragon-type Pokémon’s design shooting off in an unexpected direction given its original, bipedal design. Its unveiled Origin Forme captured the same color palette used in the Pokémon Pearl video game, with its face kept mostly the same while its neck was given a shorter length. But in perhaps the most perplexing move, the bipedal Palkia was reverted to a quadruped, with shoulder pauldrons where arms should be, yet with no arms in sight.

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The new direction of the Dialga Origin Forme gives the player a sense of a centaur, but one without arms, as if the design was left unfinished without those elements added. The armor plating that the Origin Forme teased at leaving behind (as in the continuity, Origin Forme Palkia is meant to be ages before Palkia, with Origin Forme Palkia supposedly embodying a wilder, more free time in Palkia’s lifespan) remains heavily present, even as it was stripped from Origin Forme Dialga. The lack of arms, the disparity between Origin Formes Palkia and Dialga, and the weirdly progressive armor plating on Origin Forme Palkia fail to hit the mark when redesigning this particular Dragon-type Pokémon.

1

Alolan Exeggutor Gave the Coveted Dragon-Type to the Wrong Generation I Pokémon

Charizard Would Have Been a Much Better Dragon Candidate

Alolan Exeggutor is a regional variant introduced in Generation VII, transforming the classic, first-generation Exeggutor from a Grass- and Psychic dual-type to a Grass- and Dragon-type instead. This version of Exeggutor features an absurdly long neck, one inspired by the lengthy palm trees typically found in tropical locations. While most Dragon-type Pokémon tend to have a majestic quality about them, this elongated version of Exeggutor misses the mark, offering a more comical design instead.

The disproportionately long neck and the dopey, goofy faces make the overall design resemble a cartoon palm tree rather than a fearsome dragon. It does score points for uniqueness and creativity — and certainly for capturing the tall essence of a palm tree — yet it lacks any of the grandeur or menace fans want in their Dragon-type Pokémon. This leaves the Alolan Exeggutor lacking substance, one better positioned to invoke laughter rather than awe, and easily makes it one of the worst Dragon-type Pokémon designs in the series.

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