So yesterday, The Pokémon Company just revealed more info about Pokémon Legends ZA. Although, the truth is, the direct itself was underwhelming. In fact, the direct was so pointless for many, that this was the top comment section of the video.

Courtesy of @calebfrost5649

The Direct didn’t really show anything new, really. All we got were announcements that should have been done in a single separate video. Aside from a few new interesting announcements like new Pokémon Concierge episodes, TCG including Mega Evolution, and more info on Pokémon Champions, most of it was just a waste of time really. All announcements were just cash grabs from already known titles like GO, Masters EX, Unite, and Café which we’ve known for years. Others like Sleep, friends, and gimmicks appeared which no really except a few really care. The worst part is we didn’t get ANY info of Legends ZA until the last part of the video. All we got was just 4-5 minute gameplay footage that we have already seen before. On the bright side, we did get some new interesting updates and more info of Legends ZA. A grown up Emma, the new villain team, and some new mechanics. Aside from that, that’s all we got.

Well, actually, something did happen. An unexpected moment happened in the trailer, and finally, after more than 11 years, Pokémon has its first new Mega Evolution. One that was requested heavily since its introduction in Pokémon X and Y back in 2013. Mega Dragonite!

Mega Dragonite’s debut wasn’t just amazing, but surprising as well, since it’s been ages that we got a new mega evolution. Not only that, but, as I stated before, Dragonite’s Mega Evolution is something fans have been begging for over a decade. Now, it’s finally here. Yet, despite this, there was less fanfare, and more division over its design.

So the question is, what makes Dragonite’s design so divise, and why are people hating on it? Well, according to some, a lot of people complain about Mega Dragonite’s design because of how soft and cute it looks. Many complain that Dragonite is supposed to look like a ferocious dragon that lives up to the pseudo-legend style that other Pokémon like Tyranitar, Salemence, Metagross and Garchomp look. A lot of people say Dragonite looks goofy, feminine, angelic, mystical, and even like a fairy. A good amount hate the fact that Dragonite’s design is lazy and regressed to simply having body parts and looks of Dratini and Dragonair, rather than something original “according to them”. In other words, they just want to buff up Dragonite’s design and make it look like some ferocious looking monster like the other mega evolved Pokémon. Especially for Dragon type Pokémon.

In all honesty, though, the hate for Dragonite… Literally makes… NO SENSE WHATSOEVER… Why do I say this? Well, firstly, I’m not here to ignite fire or stoke heat. I do, yet, want to say this. If you are one of the many that agrees with the narrative of Dragonite being a badly designed mega evolution because of how goofy it looks and how using the Dratini lineage as its design is lazy and GameFreak is running out of ideas, then I would for you to please hear me first, and hear yourself and those who hate it around you as well.

Dragonite has always had the looks of a goofy Pokémon. Let’s be completely freaking honest here. Whether you started playing the first or third generation Pokémon games. Aka, Red, Blue, Yellow, or Fire Red and Leaf Green, 99% when you saw Lance sent out Dragonite for the first time ever, your first words were “oh wow, he’s like a goofy version of Charizard.” Why? Because guess what? That’s what Dragonite is and has always been. Dragonite isn’t Salamence, Garchomp nor Hydreigon, where the former mentioned are brute dragons that will crush anything that gets in their way. If you literally read Dragonite’s pokedex entries, nearly all of them are about how friendly the orange dragon is. From helping people lost in the seas, to understanding human language, and doing other kind and humble things like deliveries or saving people from drowning. Dragonite isn’t supposed to be some brute beast that will crush anyone getting in the way. Dragonite’s mega evolution perfectly symbolizes the kindness, purity, and humble atmosphere that shows the orange dragon perfectly. Dragonite is supposed to represent this once in a lifetime mystical creature that appears when one would least expect. Dragonite has both the looks and personality of a humble Pokémon. As opposed to others like Hydreigon which you know, they are fericious beats that will attack anyone. Yes, there are at times when you see Dragonite act like a ferocious beast, aka, Iris’s Dragonite in Best Wishes, and Lance’s Dragonite in Pokémon Generations, but that was during battle, but even then, Dragonite never gave that aura of being some savage hard beast that would tear anything apart. There’s a reason why poor Dragonite suffered stiff competition from other dragon types later on like Salamence, Flygon, Garchomp, etc.

Also, another thing that confuses me is what’s wrong with the Dratini linage being used for Dragonite. I don’t know why people are acting like as if this is brand new or somehow Dragonite is the first Pokémon ever in history to do this? Correct me if I’m wrong, which you won’t because obviously I’m right, but if I remember, don’t all normally evolved and mega evolved Pokémon do the same thing? If you look at Tyranitar’s design, you can see the Larvitar and Pupitar linage in mega Tyranitar’s design. The same LITERALLY be said for Salamence and Metagross. Also, if I remember as well, Garchomp’s Mega Evolution designed is barely any different from its originally evolution. Don’t get me wrong, they look really awesome, but, in my opinion, add Dragonite to that list as well. Besides, if I remember as well, other mega evolutions also had some plain designs that weren’t too different from its original evolution. So, speaking of that topic…

It baffles me to see SO many people make really insane statements, saying that Mega dragonite is the symbolic design of GameFreak’s quality being considered “cooked”. I’m sorry, but you believe in that narrative, then you must be new to Pokémon. Or you got into the franchise a few years back because this whole narrative and belief of GameFreak running out of ideas is something that I’ve been hearing since Pokémon Black and White back in 2011. Remember the days when those hardcore 90s gen 1 Millennial genwunners would take a massive dump on any Pokémon released from Gen III and onwards? Remember how they would call Pokémon like Lucario, and Haxorus terribly designed and praise ugly Pokémon like Muk or Jynx like as if they were the best thing and thought Charizard was the most powerful Pokémon ever in history? Yeah, if you didn’t know? That’s how it used to be. Take it from someone like me who was constantly insulted by these individuals just for liking new Pokémon like Flygon or Hydriegon while completely ignoring ugly Gen I and Gen II Pokémon. What shocks me is how people seemed to have forgotten that even during the Gen VI days of Pokémon. Aka, 2013-2014, people were saying the same thing. They would whine and complain, saying how ugly Mega Evolution Pokémon looked like and how it was ruining the franchise and how GameFreak lost all creativity. I remember they would call out on Pokémon like Mega Lucario, Gengar, Salamence, EVEN MEWTWO! These times were VERY heated, and controversial. Some Mega Evolution Pokémon got the pass, but others were insulted to the point they said GameFreak has lost all creativity. So hearing this dumb mumbo jumbo about how Mega Dragonite being poorly designed (which is not) is the symbolic representation of GameFreak’s creative quality design is REALLY stupid and poorly ignorant. Every time Pokémon introduces something new, people will ALWAYS stoke controversy and insult everything that’s newly added. Then, when it comes out, they buy it anyway.

Also, on my final rant, It’s really refreshing to see a dragon type Pokémon that actually stands out as being different compared to other dragon types. Let’s be honest here, a majority of dragon types in Pokémon are either, ferocious beasts that will destroy anything in its way, legendary and sacred Pokémon that are of myth and can’t be interacted with the common person, or unique creatures that are mostly different from others that don’t have a full dragon type lineage. It’s nice to see that Dragonite is one of the very few dragon types that stand out as different compared to most dragon type Pokémon. ESPECIALLY when you pair Dragonite next to its other pseudo legendary buddies, you’ll see exactly what I mean. Yes, again, I am well aware that sometimes a Dragonite can look and act ferocious, but, let’s be honest, when we see Dragonite, what’s the first word that comes out from many of us? “Oh, it’s so cute.” “Look at that adorable smile!” “I love how friendly it is!” Meanwhile, you see Hydreigon and the first thing you want to do is run for your life.

So, in a nutshell. Mega Dragonite is a well-designed mega evolution. I love how it pays homage to the Dratini line, and how it gives Dragonite a humble, mystical look that matches its aura of rarity, purity, and, come on, it’s nice to have a good amount of cute dragons. Also, keep in that this mega also gives life to Dragonite’s mythical origin of dragons that are rarely found in the wild. I love the tail, and the wings on its head. So, in my opinion, I like it. You don’t need to like it, but, there are some VERY ignorant statements I have to handle among many. So in other words, you are in your right to dislike Mega Dragonite, and criticize it. The only issue I wanted to make is, some of the criticism doesn’t make sense, and a lot of poorly informed knowledge of statements are said.

Thank you for reading! Here’s the video if you missed out.