#mega barbaracle

Gijinka / humanizations of my Legends Z-A team (Emboar, Barbaracle, Chesnaught, Scolipede, Altaria, Sableye)!

(Doing a Pokemon review as there are no Neopet requests in the inbox right now.)

I've always liked Barbaracle, so I'm glad that A) it got a mega and B) its mega doesn't suck.

In fact, not only does its mega Not Suck, but it's actually really good. Barbacle's always had some very funky anatomy on account of being multiple Binacle (true to real-life barnacle colonies), so the mega cranks that up by giving it EIGHT (8) arms, in addition to its already-existing hand-head and legs. It gives it almost a biblical angel kind of vibe, makes it look cool, makes it distinct from regular Babaracle, and also looks cool. Did I mention it looks cool?

On top of that, the design has also been altered more to further make it feel more "mega" compared to regular Barbacle's design. The brown accents have been replaced with black, which increases the contrast greatly and makes the orange accents stand out more. The rock bases are thinner and it now has a bit of a "neck", making it subtly look more human. The bases also have cracks and spikes coming out of them, and all of its eyes have red pupils.

Mega Skarmory - I adore the idea of it turning from silver to gold as a homage to its debut games (and maybe the overseas exclusives swap) and that they gave it those immense sharp talons that remind me so much of the Jacana bird.

Mega Barbaracle - Really, really cool design. The new silhouette has already won many people over to this otherwise not widely liked Pokémon. The added Fighting type it swapped its Water subtype for makes a lot of sense with its additional extremities.

Mega Pyroar - Unfortunately this one is the major miss for me. I like the idea of combining the male and females manes to form an even lager mane that is also a fiery kanji as well as its stockier body, but in execution it looks more unwieldy and barely different than anything interesting. The new shiny is cool but that's about it.

Mega Scolipede - As a huge Scolipede fan? This one is a winner. The extremely imposing horns make it look extra threatening and the whirlipede-like body armor gives it the appearance of a knight and a steed combined into one. Extremely cool decision.

Mega Scrafty - Its shed skin evolving into a huge body covering hood is very nice and matches its demeanor to a tee. It takes its base form concept of molting into its new body and cranks it up a notch. I do like it a lot.

Mega Starmie - This one is what I said about Feraligatr's being divisive but about ten times more. On its face, the fact that it just grows legs sounds super disappointing but I'm not gonna lie... I think many will be won over by its animations, which they tailored to memetic potential and ran with them to make it an expressive if still very goofy on purpose Mega. I do appreciate the creepy dex entry about it maybe mimicking humanoid bodies to supplant us, too. Also it does the pose for the starman enemy line from Earthbound so that's a bonus in my book.

Mega Falinks - Falinks was always a pretty cool idea, but making them into a megazord-like formation for its Mega is even more so in my opinion. Mark me down as a fan.

Mega Drampa - Another one of my underrated faves gets a super cool Mega. I love the idea that the energy of Mega Evolution rejuvenated its body into its younger self when it was in its prime. The dark, stormy clouds look is amazing, my only complaint is that they didn't swap its Normal type for an Electric subtype, which would have been more fitting.

Mega Floette - It honestly figured that Eternal Flower Floette would get its own Mega and it doesn't disappoint even if it is a very simple design. I love the huge flower and how it seems sentient, as well as how Floette climbs its attached stem for its animations.

Mega Zygarde - I do like it overall, having that HUGE cannon attached to it makes a threatening presence even if its role is that of a protector. The more humanoid body honestly reminds me of an alien bodysuit, which is cool but I do think Complete Form Zygarde is a tad cooler in my eyes, still.

Just a few more matches left in this set, and we've still got some of the strongest- and the strangest- left to go!

Mega Salamence has been called the blood-soaked crescent, and with its brutal rage only increased by the mega evolution energy, it's easy to see why. When it flies, its razor sharp wings slice through anyone standing in the way, and it won't hesitate! Like all the psuedo-legendary Megas, Mega Salamence carries a terrifying base stat total of 700, with monstrous offence and swift speed. Accompanied by an ability that turns its Normal attacks into Flying ones and boosts their power- Aerilate- you do not want to be on the other end of one of Mega Salamence's Double Edges! It doesn't appreciate that mega evolution twists the wings its so proud of into a new form, but despite that, it has incredible aerial agility and skill, with even the most complex topography not posing a challenge to soar through. I wouldn't want to anger this Pokémon, so maybe it needs your vote to pacify it?