Generation V of Pokémon was widely-hated by the player base. Over time though, the love has grown and minds have changed. It's now considered one of the best generations in franchise history, especially thanks to its great lore, storytelling, region, and Pokémon designs.
Most of the time, GameFreak doesn't show Generation V the love it deserves. This may be due in part to the wide criticism it received from fans. But, it seems like the developers of Sword & Shield decided to finally give it its day in the sun, featuring the most returning creatures of any generation and giving Galarian and Gigantamax forms to a few of them. But, what if they decided to feature some new Galarian forms? Here are some potential candidates for that special honor.
10 Vanilluxe
Often held as an example of Gen V's "terrible designs," this Pokémon has faced way too much critique over the years. There are some die-hard fans of Vanilluxe who will defend its unique design but it still faces harsh criticism. Perhaps a new Galarian form would give it some love that it so rightly deserves.
To fit with the British theme that Galar is meant to envoke, Vanilluxe could undergo a design change that makes it pudding /custard flavor, making it a Fairy/Ice type.
9 Scolipede
A few Pokémon on this list were unfortunately cut by Dexit, but with the new DLC, we might see them return, maybe even in a Galarian form as we saw with Slowpoke. One of the 'mons cut from the returning list that could feature well with a Galarian form is Scolipede.
This Bug/Poison type's design features a row of heavy scales to protect it from outside damage, allowing it to roll up and roll around as a form of attack. A Galarian design could use this scale armor to copy a suit of armor like a knight would wear. The horns on Scolipede's head already resemble a medieval helmet. This could be a Bug/Steel type.
8 Amoongus
Amoonguss was another Pokémon that didn't sit right with a lot of fans. The strange Pokéball design was a bit literal, and the hands seem bizarre at best. But, it might benefit from a Galarian form as well.
Imagine Amoonguss with one of the traditional black Queen's Guard hats instead of the Pokéball head covering, and giving it a Normal/Poison typing. It would fit perfectly in the Galar region, and it would fit with its cold, dead stare. It could even be given the ability Unaware, to mimic the Queen's Guard's statuesque ability to ignore distractions.
7 Lilligant
Lilligant already looks like she is dressed in traditional formal wear complete with a dashing hat. This design could lend itself perfectly to a Galarian rendition. Lilligant could receive a new form that has design elements of the fancy royal ladies of England that wear fascinators and veils in front of their faces.
Changing her large dress-like shape to be a more modest tulip skirt and changing the flower on her head to a small feathery fascinator would make her blend right in with the royals. This new typing could be Normal/Grass or even Psychic/Grass.
6 Whimsicott
Whimsicott is a Pokémon known for its large cotton hair that adorns basically its entire body. It fits perfectly in settings like fields and forests where it plays in the flowers and blends in with the foliage.
Whimsicott could abandon the Fairy/Grass typing and make its way to Galar, where it would blend in by replacing the cotton with wool. It could look like Wooloo, a little sheep rolling around. The new typing could be Normal/Electric, as the wool could be used for static-electricity-based attacks.
5 Mienshao
This purple Fighting-type Pokémon, which evolves at an insanely high level, is based on martial artists, specifically those who practice Shaolin Kung Fu. Its arms resemble hanging sleeves and the stripe across its belly may represent a Karate belt. It fits perfectly in Japanese lore, making it fantastic for Pokémon games.
It could receive a Galarian form that would model it after something similar, but British. Mienshao could ditch its Kung Fu design in favor of a design that resembles the English martial art bartitsu, which was created by early 20th century gentleman and made popular by Sherlock Holmes. It is often seen being practiced by men with gentleman's canes and pork pie hats.
4 Braviary
Unova, the region from Generation V, was based on New York City and some other parts of the United States. As a result, Pokémon like Braviary have clear connections to American culture. This particular Pokémon is meant to resemble a bald eagle and the American flag, for obvious reasons.
If it were to receive a Galarian form, it could take a more British design. The stripes representing the American flag could be replaced with something to the Union Jack, and some of the harsher eagle features could be smoothed into more hawk-like features, to pay homage to the famous falconers in British history.
3 The Swords of Justice
The three Swords of Justice (as they're often called), Cobalion, Virizion, and Terrakion, are based on the Three Musketeers. This is a French reference and suits their back stories well. This could be played on for a Galarian twist, however.
These three legendaries could be designed to look more like British warriors, either Red Coats, naval captains because of Britain's naval might throughout history, or a World War One trench soldier. They would retain their warrior-like motifs, but with a Galarian twist. Plus, it would fit the theme of Sword and Shield nicely.
2 Chandelure
This Pokémon, like Vanilluxe, is widely criticized as something that is just an inanimate object turned into a Pokémon, meant to resemble a chandelier. But, Chandelure has a truly unique style especially given its Ghost/Fire typing.
To take some inspiration from British culture, Galarian Chandelure could be designed to resemble the great British fountains that adorn many royal sites in the U.K. Many of these fountains feature a ton of personality and are dazzling in appearance. The new typing for Chandelure could be Rock/Water or Steel/Water.
1 Crustle
Galar features a few different mines that are filled with glittering and colorful crystals of all shapes and sizes. This is a direct reference to Britain's history of being a large mining industry. It's odd, then, that the developers did not reference this in a Galarian form as obvious as this one.
Crustle is a huge hermit crab with a section of sedimentary rock as the main part of its body. In Galar, this could be changed to be filled with crystals and gems, making it fit with British influence and in the Galar mines.