It's often a controversial decision, but the people behind the Pokémon series do like to base Pokémon on inanimate objects. These designs are often criticized or called "stupid," but many of them fly under the radar. Regardless of their controversial nature for the people who hate fun, many of these designs are actually great.

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From car keys to batteries, your parents' junk drawer could be the inspiration for the next inanimate object Pokémon. But, they extend beyond small household items, taking inspiration from buildings, sarcophagi, or swords. Here are some of the best Pokémon based on inanimate objects.

10 Aegislash

It's actually surprising that it took Pokémon, a combat-based fighting game, to have a creature based on swords and shields. But, in Generation VI, the world was finally introduced to the Honedge line, which contains Honedge, Doublade, and the ever-powerful Aegislash.

These three are based on weaponry, with Honedge and Doublade being swords and Aegislash being both a sword and a shield. Seemingly based on other somewhat "sentient" swords like Excalibur, Aegislash is Ghost/Steel-type, implying it's a sword and shield that are possessed. It's a great design, and the Stance Change ability that moves it between being sword-focused and shield-focused is perfect.

9 Voltorb

First discovered in the plant where Poké Balls are created, Voltorb is said to be a Poké Ball that came to life after being imbued with electrical energy. It's a strange origin story, but an original and interesting one.

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It's very obvious that Voltorb is based on a Poké Ball, with its red and white spherical design. Its tendency to grow temperamental and explode may be explained by its volatile nature of something that shouldn't be alive, but is. Its blue shiny form seems to imply that it also takes inspiration from Great Balls.

8 Banette

banette in the pokemon anime

It might not be immediately obvious, but Banette is actually based on an inanimate object. It's meant to be a possessed doll, right down to the zipper mouth and raggedy-design. There are also many instances of it poking itself with pins, which might be a reference to voodoo.

It's said that Banette was a doll that was abandoned by a child. Terrifyingly, it seems to hunt down the child that discarded it. What it will do when it finds that child is unclear, but it's probably something violent.

7 Bronzong

This is a very interesting bit of lore for a Pokémon if its seeming origins are correct. Bronzong might be based on the dōtaku, which was a bell in Japanese culture that was rung to wish for good harvests.

Those familiar with the story collection Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things, will know that it contains a story of a group of priests that ask the local women to donate their bronze mirrors to melt down to make a bell. Bronzor's resemblance to a mirror and its evolution into the bell-like Bronzong may also be a reference to this story.

6 Magnemite

One of the most fundamental interactions in the natural world is that of electromagnetism, the relationship between charged particles and magnetic forces, to put it too simply. Magnemite seems to be an embodiment of this phenomenon, as a Steel/Electric-type that heavily resembles magnets.

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One of the first mechanical, not-natural Pokémon to be introduced to the series, Magnemite is a strange but very clever design. It can use its own electric and magnetic power to hover, which would be a cool trick to have in your arsenal. Magneton, its evolution, is said to be three Magnemites that formed together.

5 Palossand

There are a lot of Ghost-type Pokémon that are an object being possessed by some type of spirit. Just look at Banette, who is, as mentioned, a possessed doll. They've thought of everything, from Banette to Phantump, which is a possessed tree stump.

One truly creative idea for a possession-based Pokémon is Palossand, which is a sandcastle. It's somewhat comical to think about, but it's imaginative and original to be sure. It's said that Palossand keeps the bones of its victims underneath its body, and traces of them are left in its trail.

4 Alcremie

Alcremie is by no means the first Pokémon to be based on food, or even dessert specifically. But, it is one of the most creative. This little dollop of whipped cream has several dozen different forms. These forms are based on how it evolves and which item it is holding at the time.

Alcremie comes in a wide range of colors and flavors including mint, caramel, and vanilla. The Gigantamax form is also clever. Alcremie that are capable of Gigantamaxing will turn into a huge multi-tiered cake that has decorations based on the sweets that determine Alcremie's forms.

3 Vanilluxe

Alcremie might be a creative idea for a Pokémon based on dessert, but its predecessor is the Generation V Ice-type Vanilluxe, who was one of the first times people started to complain about inanimate object-based Pokémon. Ignoring the haters, Vanilluxe is a clever design for a Pokémon that earns bonus points for persisting through the hate.

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Vanilluxe is a large, double-scoop of ice cream-like liquid on a cone with a straw or cinnamon-stick protruding from its head. It creates its own "ice cream" from internal ice clouds. As a dessert, it walked so Alcremie could run.

2 Chandelure

Often paired with Vanilluxe for inanimate objects that were heavily criticized in Generation V, Chandelure is also a great design that doesn't deserve the hate. A logical evolution from Litwick (a candle) to Lampent (a lamp) and then finally a chandelier, these Ghost/Fire-types are very creative.

Chandelure's design conjures up the idea of will-o-the-wisps, which amazingly haven't been used for a Pokémon design before. It was voted the most popular Generation V Pokémon in the 2020 Pokémon of the Year poll, as it should be. It's great that the world has come around on this Pokémon.

1 Rotom

 

Is there any other Pokémon that could reign as the king or queen of the inanimate objects besides Rotom? Not only is this Ghost/Electric-type the sentient being that is seen possessing your Pokédex in the Generation VII games and the phones in Galar, but it has five forms that are created by it possessing household appliances.

Rotom can change forms and typing by possessing a microwave, a washing machine, a fridge, a fan, and a lawnmower. Sure, there are a lot of Pokémon that are based on inanimate objects. But, can any other boast being based on a whopping five different objects?

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