Pokémon Sword & Shield - 10 Best New Pokémon
3. Dragapult
Each generation comes with a pseudo legendary, which is usually a Dragon type and with a couple of exceptions for taste, always popular and well designed. Dragapult joins that roster, bringing with it the rarely spotted Dragon Ghost dual typing.
The design appears to have been inspired by a hang glider and a lizard, and all three stages manage to avoid any derpiness, instead going for cute and then sleek. It has the generally more minimal look of a Dragonite, but a few more of the Goodra style flourishes.
For example, the two Dreepys (Dragapult’s first stage) stored in little head pouches like missiles are a brilliant touch. Sword & Shield in general feels like it has more of a sense of humour (See: Swordward and Shielbert), and Dragapult feeds into that without becoming slapstick.
Considering middle stage evolution Drakloak features a Dreepy riding on its head, it seems like the perfect continuation too.
Dragapult has a crocodile sort of casualness to it; there’s none of Tyranitar’s ferocity. Instead, it feels like a lurking predator, watching through squinted eyes, ready to strike.
The ghostly tail fading away to nothing is another great piece of design and earns Dragapult the bronze medal spot.