While I'm already used to all the Starters, I'll admit Incineroar isn't the best-looking design and I can see why others hate it, but some fans tend to express their criticism too far whether they mean it or not even more than the Pokémon deserves. The fan art does make Pokémon designs more visually appealing, even to those who don't like the Pokémon themselves.



As for the Fire/Fighting thing, this may also have something to do with their second stages being Fire/Fighting as well. I agree that 3 Fire/Fighting Starters in a row is repetitive, but they're not the only ones suffering from a uniqueness decay. In fact, I was also getting tired and annoyed with the Grass Starters being only 5 reptiles in a row and yet barely anyone seems to mind, notice or complain about it, at least we finally get see the mammal and bird Grass Starter in Gen 6 and 7. As much as I hate when they jump to conclusions, especially negatively, I will admit that the wrestler design was somewhat intentional such as trolling the fanbase into hating it on purpose like a heel would do in real life, but it's also ironic that Incineroar is weak against a type that they didn't want it to end up as.



It's a bit baffling with Delphox though, so people hated it for being a bipedal fox, but not Zoroark who also evolves from a quadrupedal fox and honestly, I'm kind of relieved that Fennekin didn't evolve into another four-legged Ninetales look-alike, especially since they both share the same type (except for Ninetales who is only Fire type) and exact category that I want them to look different from each other. Not only that, but Braixen, while hated at first due to the bipedal=Fire/Fighting assumption, is currently more popular than Delphox and gets to appear in Pokken Tournament as a playable character. They also initially complained about the opposite with Samurott who is quadrupedal instead of bipedal since no one expected a quadruped regarding the Water Starters or an entire line. It's not just Incineroar who gets criticized, some fans still can't get over Primarina's feminine appearance for being mostly male and lacking a "male" form to the point of gay-labeling male Primarina as well as their frustration of soft-resetting for a female Popplio, especially when having to deal with cutscenes.



I don't mind people disliking a Pokemon's design or concept, I just don't like when they're hypocrites like hating a Pokémon because of a repetitive concept, but loving others (despite their own redundancy). I do apologize if I come off as obvious or annoying, but I wanted to get this out my chest.