Summary
We’ve seen it time and time again, fans of various media franchises turning their love for them into something incredible and unexpected. In this case, artist KosukeSukeP has been taking to Reddit to share weapon designs inspired by none other than thePokemonfranchise – and they are simply brilliant, so let’s take a closer look at some of them and revel at the creativity KosukeSukeP-sensei has poured into this endeavor, showing not onlyan overwhelming love for Pokemon, but also a very interesting sense of design to be able to create synergy between Pokemon and something as divorced from the franchise as medieval weaponry.
Since KosukeSukeP has been sharing these in batches for over a year now, we’ll take a look at one or two from a few of these groups, the first of which went up in August 2023.
Latias Sword and Shield
Some Have Multiple Different Designs Going In Various Directions
In one of their comments responding to a question asking what some of the inspirations behind the weapons are, artist KosukeSukeP explained that some of the shape designs are inspired by games likeDragon Quest, but the rendering of each weapon set is made to look more realistic to reflectMonster Hunter. The Latias sword and shield, for example, reflect thenormal colors of the Legendary Pokemon, with the shield’s shape reflecting the angular design of Latias’s features, while the sword; particularly at the hilt, seems to be more inspired by the flight of the Pokemon and its plane-like body. The sword and shield both look like the kind of weapon used by a righteous hero and are definitely a reflection of the artist’s impeccable design sense. The Latias sword and shield design was among the very first the artist uploaded to Reddit, where they also provided their Instagram.
Gligar and Gliscor Bow and Arrows
Two Different Bow Designs Based on Gligar and Its Evolution
Any archer would want to get their hands on a bow if it looked as good as the Gligar and Gliscor’s bow and arrow sets the artist put together. Again, reflecting their colorways while the shape takes advantage of the fact that they are bats, the Gligar and Gliscor arrow quivers also draw heavily from the Pokemon’s design, which is really well done, especially when you notice how the quivers' silhouettes are like a streamlined version of the Pokemon’s bat-like design with long tail. This design also came from the first batch uploaded to Reddit.
Beedril Lance and Lurantis Needle
Bug-Types Reimagined As Ranged Melee Weapons
Beedril, known for being a giant wasp-like Pokemon with huge drill-like appendages for arms, was reimagined into a gorgeous lance, while Lurantis, a beautiful bug-type Pokemon whose design looks like it’s based on the orchid mantis but is actually a reversal of the mantis’s mimicry of orchids and is the evolved form of Formantis, was turned into a needle weapon that looks like it also could’ve made for a brilliant dagger or sword design as well.
Darkrai As a Scythe, Cresselia a Staff
The Chosen Weapon Format Is Also Based on the Depicted Pokemon
Given Darkrai’s eerie, shadow-like designand its status as a Mythical Pokemon, the artist went for a design modeled on a scythe, while for the second of the Hisui Lunar pairing, Cresselia, the Pokemon was made into a staff. Presented together, the weapon designs juxtaposed the two Pokemon, emphasizing the mythical nature through making them into weapons commonly associated with the supernatural. These came from the artist’s 11th installment of Pokemon weapon designs, where they were featured alongside a Beldum hammer, Metang mace and Metagross battleaxe; an Espeon staff and related grimoire alongside an Umbreon wand and its grimoire, as well as a rapier modelled on Lunala. As you can see, each design is meticulous and wastes no part of the Pokemon being depicted, and much of the praise the artist received was about just how well the melding of Pokemon and weaponry is done every time.
