Top 10 Pokemon Based on Mythology

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Pokémon that are inspired by real-life mythology and folklore. If you like this, check out our other video, “Top 10 Pokémon Inspired By Mythical Creatures.”

With a simple spooky promo for Halloween in 2022, Pokémon made Greavard a must-get pup, as well as its evolution Hondstone. But this creature is more than a dancing, candle-hosting ghost dog. Greavard and Houndstone are believed to be inspired by several Catalan and Iberia fables. For starters, Dip the vampiric Hellhound. Then there’s Pesanta, usually a large dog-like creature that sits on a person’s chest as they sleep, making breathing difficult. Both beasts drain energy from a human, just like their Pokémon counterparts. Houndstone, in particular, is praised for its loyalty. One mythological figure that is similar is the White Cadejo from Central America. Its eyes change colors as the shaggy hound protects people from the vicious Black Cadejo.

Even gods can serve humans happily. Indeedee are depicted as helpful Pokémon that willingly help trainers and people. And they draw inspiration from the Roman deities, the Lares. These gods come in a variety of specialties. But the ones that closely indicate Indeedee are the Lares Familiares. They protected families and cared for their well-being. But if they weren’t respected, they wouldn’t help. Similarly, Indeedee are strengthened by positive emotions. Another creature that’s believed to be an inspiration is the Brownie. In Scottish mythology, as long as a family leaves out a food offering at night, like milk or cream, the goblin-esque being will come out and do chores as the people sleep.

On the surface, it seems like Hydrapple’s inspiration is the classic worm-in-an-apple situation, but with dragons. Yet once you scratch the top layer, there’s a lot more to it. For starters, the being within the apple is believed to be taken from various multi-headed mythological creatures. For example, the Greek Hydra that Hercules famously defeated in his Labors. Plus, the name Hydrapple is seemingly a reference to it. Hydrapple’s apple has been credited to Christianity’s Original Sin tale when Eve plucked the fruit in the Garden of Eden after a snake persuaded her. But if we take into account Hydrapple’s shiny golden form, the Greek mythological beast Ladon is alike. After all, the serpent guarded golden apples until Hercules once again arrived.

“Pokémon Legends: Arceus” was a surprising smash hit that introduced new Hisuian versions of classic Pokes. One of which was Typhlosion. Beyond looking like it's higher than the stars, this remake of the Gen Two starter is believed to be connected to the Psychopomp with its fire-ghost typing. These creatures are depicted in many mythologies around the world and are shown to escort human souls to the afterlife. For example, the Valkyrie in Norse Mythology. Yet, with “Pokémon Legends: Arceus” inspired by the Ezo region, one deity that closely resembles Hisuian Typhlosion is the Kamuy-huci from Ainu mythology. After all, as a goddess of the hearth, she’s closely connected with fire, as well as being a gatekeeper to the afterlife.

When you get a Primeape angry enough, it perishes and is remade into the ghost-fighting type, Annihilape. While that’s disturbing enough, it’s also steeped in creepy mythology. One of its inspirations is believed to be Onryō from Japanese mythology, which are vengeful spirits that can harm humans. To connect Annihilape to the Iberian Peninsula that Paldea is inspired by, its design might draw reference from the Basque mythological creature, the Basajaun. Known as the “Lords of the Woods,” these hairy, ape-esque humanoids are often depreciated as helpful protectors for farmers and shepherds. However, they can appear as terrifying beasts, just like Annihilape.

As the name and the multiple heads suggest, the mythological Greek Hydra does play a role in creating the dark-dragon menace, Hydreigon. However, a stronger resemblance, especially with Hydreigon’s red eyes, is to the Japanese legend of Yamata no Orochi. The only issue is that the iconic dragon is described as having 8 heads to Hydreigon’s 3. As such, the Pocket Monster continues borrowing from more sources. It’s been connected to the Zmei from Russian folktales, as it often has three heads and has been described as green-scaled, perhaps inspiring Hydreigon’s shiny form. Other beasts involved in Hydreigon’s beginnings are said to be the Persian mythological serpent, Zahhak, and the Siberian Turkic tale of Yelbeghen.

As one of Paldea’s starters, many trainers got attached to the Calavera-designed Skeledirge. Yet, this creature also has legendary origins. According to a folktale from Girona, Spain, the Cocollona was a nun who was mistreated and became a crocodile-esque ghost creature. Another resource is the Lizard of La Malena, a massive mythical reptile from Jaén, and Mallorca’s Drac de Na Coca, a crocodile with an exposed skeleton. Plus, the ghost tales of Coco, whose face resembles a skull and punishes naughty children. Another Paldea starter dipped in myth is Quaquaval. It’s believed to be inspired by the Basque creature of Lamia, who is said to be a river-dwelling woman with webbed duck feet who loves combing her hair.

As the first part of “Pokémon Scarlet and Violet”’s DLC, “The Teal Mask” introduced us to new legendary Pokémon with The Loyal Three, formed of the interestingly named Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti. And their tale, while a bait and switch, does reference a real-life myth, Japan’s Momotarō. The story speaks of a hero boy born of a giant peach who befriends a talking dog, monkey, and pheasant as he tackles an Oni in the area. The Oni we mentioned is played by Ogerpon. Oni are often compared to ogres as well, which is seemingly connected to the Pokémon’s name. Ogerpon’s appearance is also inspired by Namahage, demonlike beings that people in parts of Japan dress up as for rituals today.

If you were to ask people who their favorite Pokémon is, a hefty portion would select Lucario. The steel-fighting machine from Gen 4 was featured in Paldea. Based on appearance alone, Lucario is seemingly inspired by the ancient Egyptian god, Anubis. After all, both have a jackal-esque face. But it goes further than that. The Pokémon can read the aura of living things and has been depicted with a relationship to the afterlife, such as in his debut film, 2005’s “Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.” While Anubis is known to help take souls to the underworld and judge them. Lucario’s shiny is said to be a reference to the Golden Jackal, which Anubis has a resemblance to, as well.

As a legendary Pokémon with three different forms, Terapagos is inspired by a couple of mythological tales. For starters, in Japanese folklore, the Minogame is a species of turtle that has lived for over a thousand years and has algae or seaweed growing from it that resembles a tail. Terapagos’s Terastal form is shown as hairy, seemingly referring to the legend. But when it goes all out and adorns its Stellar Form after Terastallization, Terapagos appears to nod to the World Turtle. This creature appears in several myths across the world, including India and China, and speaks of the Earth being carried on the back of a ginormous turtle. Terapagos’s Pokédex entry even states it “resembles the world as the ancients saw it.”