The latter half of 2022 brings the release of the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch games Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, with fans more enthusiastic than ever about the new region and the brand new Pokémon designs to come. With over 900 current Pokémon, plenty of designs have impressed fans over the years, and many of these designs have been based on animals and creatures found in the real world.
Many of these animal-based Pokémon designs are considered some of the best within the franchise, and one of the animals that seem to have inspired plenty of Pokémon designs is the snake. Snake-inspired Pokémon bring some of the most beloved and nostalgic designs to the franchise, and there is always the chance to see a new addition to this collective in Pokémon Violet & Scarlet.
Onix
Introduced in Pokémon's original Generation 1 as a Rock/Ground dual Type, Onix is one of the most nostalgic snake-like Pokémon designs fans will . Onix is identified within the Pokédex as the rock snake Pokémon and clearly lives up to this definition with its design.
Onix's appearance is constructed from a large chain of stones resembling a giant serpent with a sturdy composure. Onix is also known for burrowing and tunneling underground, similar to the digging behaviors seen in various snakes around the world. It is Onix's powerful appearance and status as one of the first 151 Pokémon that make it such a fan-favored snake Pokémon.
Ekans
Known as the snake Pokémon, Ekans is a Poison-type Pokémon introduced in Generation 1. It is a bright, purple-colored Pokémon that significantly resembles both its status as a Poison-type and its rattlesnake inspiration in design.
Ekans is also well-known for its snake-inspired behaviors, which are often detailed in its Pokédex entries. From moving through long grass, curling its body around objects and around itself to sleep, and unhinging its jaw to swallow its prey whole, Ekans is one of the best snake Pokémon both in design and behavior.
Silicobra
Silicobra is a Ground-type Pokémon introduced in Generation 8's Galar Region. Known as the sand snake Pokémon, Silicobra shoots sand from its nostrils to blind opponents, before burrowing underground to hide.
Evident in the name and design, Silicobra takes inspiration from a cobra. Silicobra's design is interesting to look at without appearing too complex or busy, with simple cobra-like elements and a tan and brown color palette that indicates its Ground typing. As a basic Pokémon, Silicobra is also one of the smaller Snake Pokémon in existence, and fans generally enjoy the cuteness factor it brings with its frowning appearance.
Zygarde 50% Forme
Zygarde is a Legendary Ground/Dragon dual-type Pokémon introduced in Generation 6's Kalos region. It is a unique Pokémon constructed from collectible Zygarde cells and can change its form between 10%, 50%, and Complete. While its 10% Forme clearly resembles a canine, and its Complete Forme is a guardian figure, Zygarde's 50% Forme has clear snake-inspired qualities.
Zygarde 50% is one of the more obscure-looking snake Pokémon in existence, with a design featuring hexagonal patterns and a black and green color palette. It is a serpentine protector of the environment, bringing a fresh concept to the franchise both in the video games and in the anime. With many interesting stories and lore that fans find themselves drawn to, Zygarde is easily considered to be one of the greatest snake-like Pokémon ever, and one of the coolest Ground-type Pokémon ever.
Arbok
Arbok is a Poison-type Pokémon introduced in Generation 1's Kanto Region and is the evolved form of Ekans. Arbok's snake-inspired design is based on a cobra and much like Ekans, is a bright purple color, indicative of its Poison typing. Arbok is considered one of the strongest fully-evolved pure Poison-types in existence, and its visual design does nothing to downplay this power.
Though many fans enjoy Ekans, Arbok provides a much more powerful, striking, and intimidating design than its pre-evolution. It has a unique, frightening facial pattern on its chest that it uses to scare foes, before constricting them while they remain frozen in fear. Arbok uses all of the interesting and frightening elements of real-world snakes and incorporates them into one of the best snake-like Pokémon designs ever.
Sandaconda
Sandaconda is a Ground-type Pokémon from Generation 8's Galar Region and is the evolved form of Silicobra. Known for making an impact in Pokémon Sword and Shield as one of the Galar Pokémon capable of Gigantamax, Sandaconda became a quick fan-favorite upon release and is hailed as one of the strongest fully evolved Ground-type Pokémon.
Sandaconda's design is based on an anaconda and features a color palette consisting of the classic earthy tones found in most Ground-type Pokémon. Sandaconda features an interesting, twisted body that s the sand pouch surrounding its face, holding more than a million tons of sand. Sandaconda's design also incorporates markings that resemble many common snakeskin patterns as a nice element pointing to its clear snake inspiration.
Rayquaza
Rayquaza is a Legendary Dragon/Flying dual-type Pokémon introduced in Generation 3's Hoenn region. Rayquaza is a large, long serpentine Pokémon known for having one of the best lore as one of the super-ancient Pokémon alongside Kyogre, Groudon, and Deoxys.
Rayquaza's design uses rather snake-like elements to create a more fantasy and mythical-oriented creature, with red and yellow patterns along its body to identify its ancient origin. It is a great combination of snake-like, draconic, and fantasy qualities, and is one of the more interesting and unique fan-favorite Legendary Pokémon to date.
Milotic
Milotic, known as the tender Pokémon, was introduced in Generation 3's Hoenn Region. It is well-known as the beautiful evolution of rare fish Pokémon Feebas and is often considered one of the most popular Pokémon designs of Generation 3.
Though a water type, Milotic has a long, snake-like body type and the implied appearance of a beautiful sea snake or sea serpent. Milotic's tail contains a bright and bold colored pattern that is somewhat similar to the markings found on the tails of sea snakes. Its design does a great job at incorporating snake qualities, without the design itself becoming another repetition of a basic snake Pokémon, and it is these unique qualities that make it such a hit with fans.
Seviper
Seviper, known as the fang snake Pokémon, is a Poison-type Pokémon introduced in Generation 3's Hoenn region. Seviper became well known to the Pokémon anime in particular, where it became one of the main Pokémon team additions to Team Rocket antagonist, Jessie.
Seviper brings a powerful, striking design to viewers with bold colors and eye-catching design aspects. While straying from the usual bright purple singular coloration of poison types, Seviper's design does a great job of indicating its venomous nature with its large, red fangs. Seviper is also known for viciously battling by using its sword-edged tail, which oozes a horrible venom. With a unique design and interesting Pokédex entries, there's no doubt that Seviper is one of the best snake Pokémon in the franchise.
Serperior
Introduced in Generation 5's Unova region, Serperior is a Grass-type Pokémon and is also the fully-evolved form of the starter Pokémon, Snivy. Listed in the Pokédex as the regal Pokémon, Serperior appears as a majestic snake serpent.
Superior features a long, snake-like body with elegant design aspects resembling its Grass typing and noble nature. Serperior's Pokédex entries detail that it can stop the movement of opponents with as much as a single glare from its intimidating red eyes, similar to how many real-world snakes will intimidate their prey. This perhaps even pokes fun at the myth of snakes hypnotizing and charming their prey. Overall, Serperior is a very appealing design to look at and contains some of the best snake-like qualities, without defaulting to being just another depiction of a regular snake.
