Pokemon has been an ongoing source of ideas for more than 20 years now. The pocket monster universe is full of creatures that are mystical or just plain pure-hearted. Most of their designs always reflect their nature, and this is what makes the franchise so accessible to children.

With Pokemon being something that has been around for so long, there are upgrades on many characters that make them look even better than their original forms. The following is a list of some of the most beautiful looking Pokemon out there and the reasons why they stand out in our eyes.

1. Ninetales

It’s kind of challenging to make a top list of good looking Pokemon without including the most astonishing design out of all of them. Nine-tails foxes are a recurrent theme in most of Japanese fiction because the figure has a powerful spiritual meaning for them. Ninetales stands out, not only as one of the most powerful Pokemon out there but also as a legendary one when he’s evolved to his top form.

2. Jigglypuff

Come on, how can you go wrong with this pick? Jigglypuff is adorable to look at. While Pokemon is often regarded as genderless creatures, everything on Jigglypuff seems to suggest that it is a “she.” From the way she sings to the pouty mouth, she makes when someone is put to sleep by her signing.

3. Milotic

This third-generation Pokemon is the self-proclaimed “most beautiful Pokemon in the World” Even the Pokedex seems to agree with this assessment. He’s a water-based Pokemon, and if you get a look at his original form (Feebas), it certainly is step up in the ladder of design and a vast improvement.

4. Primarina

It’s kind of hard to make the call on what sort of animal is used as the basis for Primarina. This Pokemon is a water starter from the Alola region, and he strongly resembles a seal mixed with the features of a mermaid. This is also another one of those designs that seem to aim for a very feminine look making it hard to tell if there are male Pirmarinas out there.

5. Lopunny

Lopunny stars out as Bunneary and he looked pretty good in his base form, but as Lopunny the design of this Pokemon stands out. The final form of Lopunny is very sleek and feminine and also stylized and aerodynamic. It´s ideal for an earth-based Pokemon and one that it can be as deadly in combat as it is beautiful to look at.

6. Pikachu

Of course, this Pokemon has to make a list, we all fell in love with Pikachu the first time around we saw it, right? Even with 800 plus creatures to hunt down, Pikachu is still the signature design of the brand, one that is beautiful in its simplicity. Pikachu has established genders with male and female being distinctive for the shape of their tails.

Pikachu is probably the most popular character out of the franchise and one that will always be pleasant to look at.

7. Cresselia

Cresselia is one of the few original designs of Pokemon that doesn’t look like anything else out there. His unique form resembles something vaguely evocating the shape of a bird with elements of the moon and a rainbow as well. Cresselia not only looks good, but he was also designed to oppose Darkrai, a Legendary Pokemon that is all about shadows and darkness.

8. Aurorus

It’s hard to call an evolved for something of beauty when they usually rough up cuddly-looking characters into something that looks more menacing. Amaura is the first stage evolution of Aurorus, and this Pokemon was already very adorable to look at in the first place.

Aurorus not only managed to pick up all the good things about the original design, but it also makes it look even sleeker.

9. Charmander

Another one of the original starters in Pokemon Red and Pokemon Blue. Most people relate Charmander with difficult tasks or battle scenarios, but a brief look at his original design reveals a cuteness overboard that works as well as Pikachu’s. It doesn’t hurt at all that he’s regarded as one of the most powerful Pokemon by gamers around the world.

10. Rapidash

Rapidash was another tough pick for this list. His original form, Ponyta, is one of the most beautiful Pokemon designed in house by Nintendo and he’s also one of the original 150. Rapidash is his evolution, and he manages to outdo the original design by making it look majestic in nature as well as practical for battle purposes. Plus, he’s a frigging flaming horse, what’s not to like about a creature like this?

11. Lapras

You can make the call about Lapras being a distant relative to Aurorus, and no one would blame you. Lapras has a bulkier design, but he is delightful to look at when it comes to his original color scheme. This water-based Pokemon looks like a gentler and wise creature, and it was a for a time, Ash Ketchum’s favorite ride on the seaside.

12. Espeon

Cat-themed Pokemon seem to go by two routes. The first one is that they can be both sleek and beautiful to look at. Just as it happens with Espeon who bears an Egyptian-like flair and one of the best designs in the second generation of Pokemon. The other route is Meowth, which is not that great and also pretty annoying at times. We’ll let you make the call on that one.

13. Dragonair

If you ever had to give something out to Pokemon is the inherent ability they have to make even the scariest animals something pleasant to look at. How many people enjoy the sight of water snakes? I’m willing to bet that many out there. The team of designers behind Pokemon achieved just that with Dragonair one of the original 151.

According to its Pokedex information Dragonair is a dragon species. He’s slender enough to pass as a snake, one that is a joy to watch because of how cute it is.

14. Xerneas

Speaking of majestic designs, it doesn’t get any better than Xerneas, our final pick for this list. The team of designers behind this creature went overboard with this one. He looks like a mighty deer, with a firm stance. He also bears rainbow antlers that somehow work out to make him look even more powerful. It helps his case the fact that he’s a legendary Pokemon that seems to be straight out of a Tolkein novel.