bernardobri
Steve, the dog with no powers that we let hang out with us all for some reason
This is awesome.
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Mythology fans: Xerneas and Yveltal are from Norse mythology? (Pokemon XY)
- Thread starter Neiteio
- Start date
This is awesome.
First thing I thought of when I saw the trailer.
You and the entire population of Japan, since Princess Mononoke was equivalent to the movie Titanic over there.
Sure, and XY will probably also be a hodgepodge: The world looks based on Western Europe, for example, with an Eiffel tower and Gothic cathedrals, and yet the cover mascots are clearly derived from Norse mythology. I like it when they mix elements together -- it's fresh.
Black-Wind
Member
Those animals have "Dragon" in their names for a reason, the looked like "Dragons" to people back in the day. "Dragons" are mythological creatures that have many different appearances from region to region and so when GF makes a Pokemon based on these animals and legends they also make them dragons.
A refresher on the mythological basis for some of the other legendaries:
Articuno: Based on Simurgh, a mythical flying creature in Persian folklore, with elements of the quetzal.
Zapdos: Either the Native American legend of the thunderbird, or the Impundulu, a bird of witchcraft who could summon thunder and lightning in South African folklore.
Moltres: Either the Arabian phoenix, the Slavic firebird, or the Japanese Suzaku.
Raikou: One of the thunder demons in Japanese mythology, collectively called raiju.
Entei: Chinese guardian lions, or Lions of Foo; alternatively, possibly Aterui, the chief of the Emishi, a.k.a. the demon called 'Aka-gashira' (Red-Head).
Suicune: Qilin or "Kirin", an Eastern legend that has traits of Chinese dragons, unicorns, deer, big cats, and other beasts. Maybe Anitong Tabo, goddess of wind and rains in Philippine mythology.
Lugia: Possibly Ryūjin, a dragon who lived on the ocean floor and was the Shinto god of the sea.
Ho-oh: Possibly the Huma bird, from the Persian branch of Iranian mythology, or another take on the phoenix, or (I'd say most likely) Achiyalabopa, a rainbow-colored bird god of the Pueblo people (Southwestern Native Americans).
Regirock, Regice and Registeel: The golems of Hebrew legend.
Groudon, Kyogre and Rayquaza: The Behemoth, Leviathan and Ziz of Jewish mythology, respectively.
Articuno: Based on Simurgh, a mythical flying creature in Persian folklore, with elements of the quetzal.
Zapdos: Either the Native American legend of the thunderbird, or the Impundulu, a bird of witchcraft who could summon thunder and lightning in South African folklore.
Moltres: Either the Arabian phoenix, the Slavic firebird, or the Japanese Suzaku.
Raikou: One of the thunder demons in Japanese mythology, collectively called raiju.
Entei: Chinese guardian lions, or Lions of Foo; alternatively, possibly Aterui, the chief of the Emishi, a.k.a. the demon called 'Aka-gashira' (Red-Head).
Suicune: Qilin or "Kirin", an Eastern legend that has traits of Chinese dragons, unicorns, deer, big cats, and other beasts. Maybe Anitong Tabo, goddess of wind and rains in Philippine mythology.
Lugia: Possibly Ryūjin, a dragon who lived on the ocean floor and was the Shinto god of the sea.
Ho-oh: Possibly the Huma bird, from the Persian branch of Iranian mythology, or another take on the phoenix, or (I'd say most likely) Achiyalabopa, a rainbow-colored bird god of the Pueblo people (Southwestern Native Americans).
Regirock, Regice and Registeel: The golems of Hebrew legend.
Groudon, Kyogre and Rayquaza: The Behemoth, Leviathan and Ziz of Jewish mythology, respectively.
I wonder what types they might be, or if we can make an educated guess based on the myths? Dragon/Fighting for Yveltal, since he will square off against the serpent? That would be another first for the series. And perhaps Dragon/Rock -- also a first -- for Xerneas, in keeping with his gemstone antlers?
So in summary:
Yveltal -- Fighting/Dragon
Xerneas -- Rock/Dragon
Z Legendary -- Poison/Dragon
Well?
Dragon? Heeeeelll no, if game freak calls the deer god a dragon type im gon be pisssssed
Snowden's Secret
Banned
Legendary Pokemon (these two included) have looked like over-designed crap since Ruby and Sapphire. Ugh.
On topic, the stag looks like a stag I guess, but that other thing? An eagle? Didn't we collect red coins off his back in Mario Sunshine?
EDIT: OP's suggested type combinations highlight the need for a new type reserved for legendary Pokemon that isn't Dragon or Psychic.
On topic, the stag looks like a stag I guess, but that other thing? An eagle? Didn't we collect red coins off his back in Mario Sunshine?
EDIT: OP's suggested type combinations highlight the need for a new type reserved for legendary Pokemon that isn't Dragon or Psychic.
IntelliHeath
As in "Heathcliff"
Alright, what about 4th and 5th generation? Latios/Latias
No fucking way that kyogre, groudon and rayquaza overdesigned.
The overdesign shit started from D/P
Black-Wind
Member
You shouldn't trust that, it's not always on point.
Funny, thats where most GAF posts are coming from.
SatelliteOfLove
Member
Why, when we speak of north gods, its always the norse
Inuits gods are pretty cool too.
Fun fact: The last dwarf planet we found orbiting around the sun was named Sedna who is a Neptunian type of planet. They went with the Inuits gods after the Greek Gods, because Inuits are used to the cold.
Especially Nanuk's powerful signature move "Yellow Snow" with its guarenteed Acc Down effect.
Yep, it was a starting point. I looked up the figures in question to make sure it sat with me as plausible, amended some details here and there, and then presented them for your consideration as possibilities.
I disagree. There's nothing present in these fellows that makes them more "over-designed" than Ho-oh with its billion colors and layers, or Lugia with its fins, frills and fingers.Snowden's Secret said:
Yveltal has a Y-shaped silhouette -- two wings and a tail to match. Symmetrical, in three directions. Claws on the wing-tips. Black lines tracing a red body. Two black horns. Black back with white diamonds. Grey plumes tying it together.
And yet the design breathes, with enough space between any one element. The viewer's eye traces the linework and it feels dynamic. It's interesting to look at, but simple enough to take in all at once. He looks like he could move fast, and bludgeon someone to death. At the same time he looks otherworldly, and mysterious.
Ditto for Xerneas. The body is sleek and elegant as they come, classically deer-like, some silver trim on the legs, a blue back and slender neck. And then you have majestic antlers full of rainbow-colored lights. It's lovely to look at.
Sorry to hear you don't like 'em, but maybe you'll warm up to 'em in time.
Again, just like with Ho-oh and Lugia, one could take off nostalgia blinders and call them overdesigned, citing Rayquaza's myriad patterns or Groudon's intricately segmented shell or Kyogre's many red lines splitting up the blue and white. I'm with you and believe they're beautiful to look at, but everyone has different tastes.Lizardus said:
Bug-type legendary based on Anansi?
Is that the spider that spins webs in people's ears and whispers secrets to them? I recall that in Hellboy: Strange Places.
At this point I just want to see the starters evolved forms and the 3rd Legendary, then I think I can rest til October...
Dion Blaster
Member
My guesses:
X - No idea. Too awesome to reduce to a type.
Y - Flying
Z - Water / Poison
X - No idea. Too awesome to reduce to a type.
Y - Flying
Z - Water / Poison
Yeah, the starter evos and third legendary are the ones I'm itching to see now, too. Although I'm quite content with the amazing material they've shared so far. Didn't they do the legendaries and starters separately last time? First Reshiram and Zekrom, and then at a later date, the reveal of Snivy, Tepig and Oshawott? To get all five all at once, alongside a trailer with actual gameplay footage, justified all of the hype and then some. I'm hoping this guns blazing approach is a display of confidence in all of the goods they have to give.
They're kinda cloudy and I think that is what the blue color suggests. Nevertheless, if it's blind then it needs a way to "see". Probably via it's mind if it's Psychic. Or even sounds. :3
i've never seen a whole lot of blind eyeballs (none) in my life but i've imagined it to look just how it shows it in this picture. you see similarity to this?
MrYggdrasil
Neo Member
I really love these designs. Cannot wait to see the Z equivalent.
And for the types, I would guess:
- Xerneas: Psychic/Dark or Psychic/Flying
- Yvetal: Psychic/Steel
- Z: Dark/Venom
And for the types, I would guess:
- Xerneas: Psychic/Dark or Psychic/Flying
- Yvetal: Psychic/Steel
- Z: Dark/Venom
Boss Doggie
all my loli wolf companions are so moe
Legendaries never match their region.
Hoenn is Japan but its main legendaries are Hebrew creatures for instance.
Unova, as you said, is based in NY but its motif and legendaries are based on Tao duality.
Good god no.
Only Gen IV did that. Most of the legendary design fit the theme they are going on. And I realized a lot of old fans who aren't into Pokemon miss that point - Pokemon design now has THEME going on it, and even fans today miss it (a lot of people don't know the idea behind Farfetch'd for instance).
Gen IV however... the legendaries are mish-mash.
I always wondered what the deal was with Heatran. I mean, how did he fit into the whole mythos? What's he based off of? Why is he so underutilised? Diamond and Pearl was so legendary-heavy it's easy to forget about him.
I always thought he should've gotten an alternate Forme where his whole body hardened and he became pure Steel type (maybe an Ability that triggers if you hit with a Water move).
I always thought he should've gotten an alternate Forme where his whole body hardened and he became pure Steel type (maybe an Ability that triggers if you hit with a Water move).
Boss Doggie
all my loli wolf companions are so moe
Apparently it's not really a "legendary" so to say, much as how Manaphy and Phione aren't even if they're classified as legendaries.
Oh and Heatran has differing gender too.
Which is sad because Heatran's kinda cool, like Metagross's fire cousin.
Well, they had a volcano so they thought of creating something like that.
Sure, and XY will probably also be a hodgepodge: The world looks based on Western Europe, for example, with an Eiffel tower and Gothic cathedrals, and yet the cover mascots are clearly derived from Norse mythology. I like it when they mix elements together -- it's fresh.
"clearly derived from Norse mythology"?
Yeah, no...
slightconfuse
Banned
Thor Pokemon would be boss
Boss Doggie
all my loli wolf companions are so moe
Heh, "axis axis deer"
RuinerPrime
Member
Has there ever been a goat/ram Pokemon? I'd like to see that
Dion Blaster
Member
Damn these are my favorite legendaries since Ho-Oh and Lugia, I'm legitimately surprised at how great these look (especially after seeing the starters).
The great thing about Xerneas is it could be almost any type. I hope it's pure psychic but I wouldn't be surprised at normal, steel, rock, leaf, dark, or dragon (ugh).
Also Xerneas and Yllsomething can't be the final names right? Although they did name one "Ho-Oh".
The great thing about Xerneas is it could be almost any type. I hope it's pure psychic but I wouldn't be surprised at normal, steel, rock, leaf, dark, or dragon (ugh).
Also Xerneas and Yllsomething can't be the final names right? Although they did name one "Ho-Oh".
You mean to have the best mascot legendaries since Gen 2, while having the best set of starters since... ever? Yeah, I guess that would be pretty surprising!
Dion Blaster
Member
They're much better than 4 an 5 but really?
Again: Xerneas has the colored gemstones of all four Stags of Yggdrasil (blue, purple, red and yellow), clearly tying him to Norse mythology. And the stag's counterpart in the myth was the bird. Guess what Xerneas' counterpart is?
Xerneas and Yveltal are the final, official English names. Xerneas is pronunced "zur - nee - as" and Yveltal is pronounced "ee - VEL - tall."
They probably do have mouths. There have been a number of Pokemon designs that don't appear to have mouths when their mouths are shut.
I think you got those mixed up and probably meant to suggest Yveltal is part Flying, right?
It's the fact Xerneas is clearly the stag from Norse mythology, with antlers containing all four colored gemstones of the Stags of Yggdrasil, and the fact that if he is the stag from Norse mythology, then Yveltal in all likelihood is its counerpart, the blind bird. In cartoons, blind characters are often depicted with light blue eyes and/or white pupils, and Yveltal has both. Unlike Xerneas, who has dark blue irises and black pupils, Yveltal's entire eyeballs are blue, with white pupils. In fact, have there been any other Pokemon with white pupils (other than the Duskull line)?
MrYggdrasil
Neo Member
Yeah, sorry, I got Xerneas and Yveltal mixed up. Obviously the stag doesn't seem like a good flying pokemon.
Ha, true.
I like to think he'll be able to shoot beams out of the gemstones, though, turning his antlers into anti-air artillery... sort of like the Rock-type. The Anti-Monitor
Banned
The two look fantastic, but I can't help but feel they'll look like nothing compared to the serpent and Fenrir legendaries.
Of course adding a super-legendary Yggdrasil Pokémon would be awesome. Just a giant tree. Nothing more. Same stats as Arceus with less speed and much more defense.
Of course adding a super-legendary Yggdrasil Pokémon would be awesome. Just a giant tree. Nothing more. Same stats as Arceus with less speed and much more defense.
If they made an Yggdrasil Pokemon, it should be the tallest and heaviest Pokemon alive -- like twice the length of Wailord and twice the weight of Groudon. It should have sky-high HP and HP-replenishing moves, to boot. But it would also be like the slowest Pokemon in existence -- good for Trick Room, but otherwise outsped.
If you compare the sums, I guess that makes it:
6(15) < 1(18) < 4(29) < 5(31) < 3(38) < 2(40)
MrYggdrasil
Neo Member
It would be cool, yep. With those coloured gemstones in the antlers, Aurora Beam would be a suitable low level movement. Heck, given its colour scheme and that the antlers look like crystals it could even be an Ice type Pokemon.Ha, true.
Whoa, I jus realized how appropriate your username is to this conversation, lol.
I'd love for Xerneas to be a Rock-type legendary. Goes with the anti-air idea I had, and fits the gemstone-in-antler motif, and the predominantly black color scheme, and the idea of something along the X-axis (although so would Ground).
I'd really like Yveltal to be either pure Flying, or better yet Fighting/Flying. But I honestly have no idea what they'll end up being. Their designs stay awesome, regardless.