Whenever a new Pokémon game hits shelves, early discussions typically revolve around the three starters. As has been the case since the dawn of time, Game Freak's RPGs offer trainers the opportunity to pick between a Fire-type, Grass-type, and Water-type. The same holds true for Pokémon Sword & Shield, the Generation VIII entry that debuted on the Nintendo Switch in 2019.
After a brief introduction, Galar's Champion, Leon, presents the player and Hop with three Pokémon: Sobble, Grookey, and Scorbunny. These adorable creatures have completely different but strong designs, and they struck a chord with many fans. Here are 10 awesome fan art drawings that celebrate Sword & Shield's starters.
10 Galar's Companions
Art by MeguBunnii.
As the starters of the first mainline Pokémon entry to be released on home consoles, Game Freak had to knock Galar's main trio out of the park. While none of the Pokémon deviate too far from the beaten path, Scorbunny, Grookey, and Sobble are all beautifully designed and overwhelmingly cute. They look like the type of companions that could put smiles on the faces of even the grumpiest of trainers.
MeguBunnii's excellent drawing sticks quite close to the official art style of the source material, as the author allows the Pokémon's inherent adorableness to shine through.
9 Tearful Look
Art by Caesaroid.
Do not underestimate those tears, as a crying Sobble is a force to be reckoned with. Seeing such a precious Pokémon bawling like there is no tomorrow should be enough to break down most people's defenses, but Sobble is capable of causing others to cry along with it.
With an effective color palette and some fantastic shading, Caesaroid captures Sobble at its tearful best. The ripple effect in the water is especially mesmerizing, allowing the picture to lure viewers into Sobble's world of misery.
8 Grookey
Art by MoonVR.
Sword & Shield does a solid job of showcasing the personalities of its three starters through solely their designs. In the case of Grookey, the Grass-type Pokémon is calm, curious, and somewhat playful. It is filled with life, a trait that is quite contagious.
MoonVR's fan art echoes Grookey's nature well, as the Pokémon enjoys a fun meal while peacefully starring at the viewer. The simple but solid art style complements Grookey's confident and unassuming personality.
7 Scorbunny
Art by NearTARC.
While all types have their fans, Fire Pokémon tend to hog most of the limelight, especially when it comes to starters. Charmander set a trend that has yet to be fully derailed, and Scorbunny is no exception. It is basically an Easter bunny who shoots flames – what is there to not love?
Matching the energetic nature of the Pokémon, NearTARC presents a dynamic Scorbunny who cannot stay still. The art is clean, crisp, and colorful, with the thick black outlines infusing the scene with a solid feel.
6 Spoiled For Choice
Art by rocioam7.
A masterful painting that pays respect to the source material while also doing its own thing, rocioam7 crafted a gorgeous illustration that does justice to all three starters. The coloring is undoubtedly the highlight of this piece, as Scorbunny's fiery red juxtapositions brilliantly with Sobble's mellow blue and Grookey's natural green.
The digital art drawing redesigns each of the three characters and even makes them seem more magical than the original versions.
5 Drizzile
Art by LimitBreakWiz.
At level 16, Sobble evolves into Drizzile, a brainiac who is not particularly fond of exercise. This does not manifest in any significant way in the games, but it could be an interesting trait if Drizzile ever becomes a prominent figure in one of the franchise's anime.
Shown in the middle of executing Water Pulse, LimitBreakWiz's Drizzile manages to look simultaneously powerful and annoyed, the ideal balance for the Pokémon. If only Sword & Shield put this much flair into its battles.
4 Inteleon
Art by xlordragon.
Somehow, the timid Sobble ends up evolving into the smooth Inteleon, a Pokémon that probably moonlights as a spy. Along with being based on a chameleon, mother nature's masters of disguise, Inteleon also learns Snipe Shot, a move that seems ideal for a Pokémon who prefers to get the job done from a distance and without being seen.
As it calmly surfs on a wave while taking aim at its opponent, xlordragon's Inteleon is almost too cool. "Almost" being the operative word.
3 The Grookey Family
Art by DJ95code-hope.
As Grookey is essentially a chimp, it should not be all that unexpected that its two evolutions take inspiration from comparable animals. Thwackey is a monkey with leaves for hair and a notable "V" mark on its chest, while Rillaboom is a muscular ape that places a lot of importance on group solidarity and peace.
DJ95code-hope's family portrait is heartwarming and also quite appropriate for the Grookey evolution line, more so than the other two starters.
2 The Scorbunny Family
Art by hftran.
Out of Sword & Shield's three starters, Sobble has the most memorable (and surprising) evolutions; that said, Scorbunny and Grookey's lines are both decent, even if they mostly go down the route one would expect. In the case of Scorbunny, Raboot and Cinderace are basically just larger versions of the original with extra touches to make it seem like they are clothed.
Hftran's impressive drawing showcases the solid designs of all three evolutions, while the shadows add depth to the piece.
1 CrossGen
Art by Neal-Akuma.
Bringing together three generations of Pokémon starters, Neal-Akuma's brilliant drawing manages to accomplish a lot in a single frame. The varied backgrounds flow surprisingly well from one to the other, with none of them being overshadowed. Despite including nine Pokémon, each starter looks great and is given enough room to shine.
The element-based heads that accompany the different types are also unique and cute additions, as is Sobble's somewhat bewildered facial expression. Detailed, colorful, and overflowing with personality, this fan art is perfect.