Pokemon: Pikachu Should Get Regional Variants

gamerant.com:

Pokemon's first variants were introduced in Pokemon Sun and Moon in 2016. The idea was quite popular and to this day is consistently met with mostly positive reactions. Variants basically take an already existing Pokemon and giving it a new type and design based on it living in a different region. This renews old nostalgic Pokemon in a creative way.

However, Pikachu has been left untouched by region variants. Known as the face of the series, Pikachu is one of the most recognizable pop culture icons of today. While Pikachu's rival, Meowth, has gotten two region variants, Pikachu still has none. Overall, it would've been clever to make Pikachu variants from the beginning. After all, every region has an electric rodent Pokemon, so at least one region ought to have a special Pikachu.

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Despite no variants, Pikachu's design and abilities have never been stagnant. In older games, the electric mouse was plumper and made gibberish sounds like other Pokemon. In later games, Pikachu lost its plumpness, says its own name, and even has two different designs for males and females. When games introduced new gimmicks, Pikachu usually was involved. This happened with Z-moves and Gigantamaxing.

Whenever events happen in Pokemon GO, Pikachu tends to get a hat costume. In some games, Pikachu could even be dressed in cosplays. When baby Pokemon were introduced, PIkachu got Pichu, and when variants happened, Pokemon mascot Pikachu got Alolan Raichu as an evolution rather than a variant for itself.

With how well-known Pikachu is, it is a little odd that the games have not banked on Pikachu variants yet. A Pokemon close to a Pikachu variant is Mimikyu, and that is one of the most