Mega Dragonite’s less-than-stellar reception in Pokemon Legends: Z-A is leading some talented fans to try to improve upon the design that Game Freak has come up with. Pokemon Legends: Z-A gives the historic monster-catching RPG franchise a chance to let one of its most criticized original 151 creature designs have a makeover, but there are plenty of fans who believe they can do better.
Dragon-type Pokemon are traditionally among the best in each game in the franchise, typically sporting pseudo-legendary stats and a broad set of resistances that kept Ice-types relevant throughout several of the mainline series’ earlier generations. In Gen 1, Dragonite was the clear favorite if for no other reason than that it was the final evolution in the only Dragon-type evolutionary line, but its stark physical differences from the sleek, cool-blue features of Dratini and Dragonair lost its design some points in the popularity department.
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Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s Mega Dragonite Takes a Long-Standing Design Criticism in the Wrong Direction
After plenty of speculation among fans, Pokemon Legends: Z-A players now know what Mega Dragonite looks like, and it doesn’t meet one expectation.
With the recent reveal of Mega Dragonite in Pokemon Legends: Z-A during the July Pokemon Presents showcase, a lot of fans have been disappointed. The Mega Evolution retains the original Pokemon’s orange coloration and rotund proportions, with the main additions being an orb on its tail and a few pairs of angelic wings, including a comically oversized set jutting from the side of its head like rabbit ears. The fan base seems pretty combative over whether this was a good design choice, and artistic Pokemon fans across the internet are already seeking to correct what they see as a huge missed opportunity.
Pokemon Fans ‘Fix’ Mega Dragonite’s Design
A couple of popular choices retain a lot of aspects of Dragonite’s original design but expand upon some parts that were lost in its evolution from Dragonair. Such designs, including ones submitted to Reddit by users Res0nare and CaligoMilites, mainly center around incorporating the orbs that appeared on Dragonair’s throat and tail into Dragonite’s Mega-Evolved form. The latter kept the orbs generally the same but changed their color to reflect Dragonair’s blue hue, and added some more in a halo-like pattern floating around its neck. The former, meanwhile, kept the placement of the original three orbs but added an oily rainbow-like effect, mimicking the new design of the gem on the Mega Bracelet, and transformed the tail orbs into rings. Both designs also significantly reduce the head wings, making them either shorter or sleeker.
Meanwhile, Reddit user muteswanland took an even bolder approach, using Mega Altaria’s design to somewhat revert the color scheme to fit Dratini and Dragonair’s, and thinning and elongating Dragonite’s body. This effect takes away the Western influence from the Japanese dragon line’s design, which has been one of the main criticisms of those who always preferred Dragonair to Dragonite.
There will be 26 new Mega Evolutions in Pokemon Legends Z-A. Leaks have shown what they all may look like, and the official Mega Dragonite reveal has confirmed one of those leaks to be accurate, so there could be a lot more correctional fan art coming very soon.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A
- Released
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October 16, 2025
- Franchise
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Pokemon
- Nintendo Switch Release Date
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October 16, 2025
- Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date
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October 16, 2025
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