Generation 6's Kalos region on the Nintendo 3DS was Game Freak and the mainline Pokémon series' first venture into the 3D space. This brought about high expectations from fans, as the franchise had effectively evolved past the days of 2D pixel art.
Kalos' Pokédex was ittedly limited when it came to new species, but it still managed to have some noteworthy and fan-favorite standouts that hold up today. The most recent of the Eeveelutions and a certain Water-Type starter are unsurprisingly among them, but the roster is fairly diverse for only having 72 unique Pokémon.
Greninja
Though the Kalos region wasn't known for having bonafide winners across all of its starters, Greninja easily became one of the best Water-Type starter Pokémon species regardless of the generation. Game Freak took a frog as a template and made one of the franchise's most inventive designs thanks to its ninja motif.
Being able to throw Water Shurikens and use its tongue as a scarf are fun aesthetic touches, and its dual Water/Dark typing is a welcome change of pace visually and gameplay-wise. Being a Kalos icon comes with the territory since Greninja even managed to top Google's mass poll from a couple of years ago.
Sylveon
The lovable Kanto classic Eevee and its branching evolution gimmick is a beloved tradition of the main Pokémon games, even if it isn't a predictably regular occurrence. X and Y introduced the brand new Fairy-Type in 2013, which quickly made Sylveon a beloved "Eeveelution" of the Pokémon franchise.
This Type was introduced as a new counter to the Dragon typing, and Sylveon's stat spread, movepool, and incredibly useful Hidden Ability in Pixilate made it a powerhouse in its own right. It also has a charming, vibrant design for its fairy theme.
Aegislash
Pokémon that are inspired by inanimate objects can be hit or miss from a design perspective, but Aegislash is ittedly one of the most creative spins on one. The same goes for its choice in dual typing (Steel/Ghost), as it could be easily used to explain the in-universe existence of a "living" sword and shield Pokémon.
Likewise, it's also an interesting typing for blending the Physical boons of the Steel-Type and the Special ones of the Ghost-Type. Switching between its Shield Forme and Blade Forme are also ingenious takes for Aegislash in of in-game combat prowess and complementing its design.
Talonflame
Veteran fans are also fond of the early-route "regional bird" Pokémon tradition with each ing game. Each generation has its respective bird representative, from Kanto icon Pidgeot to Sinnoh's powerhouse Staraptor to Galar's latest in Corviknight.
Kalos' Talonflame made a great impression in X and Y, as not only did it have a sleek design, but it was incredibly powerful in both casual and competitive battle settings. It's been unfortunately nerfed since its 3DS days, but Talonflame's refreshing dual Fire/Flying-Type and stylish design won't be forgotten.
Tyrantrum
In a world filled with superpowered animals that roam the wild and befriend people, it's both expected and welcome for Game Freak to have introduced prehistoric Pokémon from the start. Given that dinosaurs are the most popular prehistoric animals, and the T-Rex is the most popular of the dinosaurs, it's surprising it took six generations for Tyrantrum to arrive.
It was a welcome addition nonetheless, as its imposing and kingly design brings out the best of its (once) real-world counterpart and fantastical Pokémon rendition. Tyrantrum is one of the strongest Fossil Pokémon and its dual Rock/Dragon typing is a big reason for being a Physical wrecking ball.
Hawlucha
Ash having caught one during the X and Y arc of the Pokémon anime probably helped its mainstream exposure, but regardless, Hawlucha is arguably one of the most fun and inspired designs in the franchise. It has a creative dual typing of Fighting/Flying, which perfectly fits into its visual inspiration.
Hawlucha is a colorful amalgamation of a bird (possibly an eagle and/or hoatzin) and a luchador, which would make its coloration based on the Mexican flag another inspired choice. To this day, it's just one of two Fighting/Flying-Type combinations alongside Galarian Zapdos.
Pyroar
One of the few lion-themed Pokémon to appear before this was the legendary Entei, making Pyroar the most outright lion design in the franchise. Somewhat similar to Tyrantrum's case, it's surprising that a Pokémon like Pyroar took this long to make its way into the franchise, but it's nonetheless welcome from an aesthetic standpoint.
While the Normal side of Pyroar makes it too susceptible to Fighting types, blending a lion species with the Fire-Type is great for gameplay and visual purposes. It gives Pyroar an elegantly regal and strong look and giving the male and female variants corresponding mane designs is a brilliant touch.
Heliolisk
It's good to see when artists at Game Freak look to more unconventional animals for inspiration for their Pokémon designs, and Heliolisk earns props in this department. Heliolisk is based on the frilled-neck lizards that live in Australia and New Guinea, with its expanded frill completing a sun-themed motif.
It also has an intriguing dual-typing in Normal/Electric and is an impressively fast Special Attacker. Heliolisk can be used in creative situations when in competitive battles, as its Dry Skin ability lets it use rain effects to heal itself.
Goodra
Dragons inspire a certain mental image in peoples' minds, and Goodra arguably doesn't come close to most of them. This monotype Dragon Pokémon has a unique design for what kind of animal it is, but it has its own charm about it.
Goodra has an endearing and simple design to it in a similar way that the Kanto region's Dragonite does, though, more unconventional. It appears to be a mix between a dragon and a snail given its slimy anatomy, and it seems like Goodra has earned its fair share of love since it received a Hisuian Form in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
Furfrou
It's no secret that Game Freak likes to make each of its regions based on a real-world country, city, or state. The Kanto region is based on its Japanese namesake, Unova used New York as a major influence, Alola is a clear homage to Hawaii, and Scarlet and Violet's region appears to be based on Spain.
Kalos takes after , which only makes it natural that the poodle-themed Furfrou would be one of the region's mascots. Furfrou is a straightforward Normal-Type Pokémon, but it has a fun gimmick that allows its appearance to be altered by giving it haircuts.
