Pokemon Fan Designs a Digimon Evolution Tree Inspired by…

A Pokemon fan on Reddit created a visual fusion chart depicting what the Bulbasaur line would look like if it followed the branching evolution rules from the Digimon franchise. Artistic crossovers between Pokemon and Digimon are fairly common, as both series share similar concepts that often lead fans to imagine how a fusion of the two would play out.

Where most Pokemon follow a linear, two or three-stage evolution structure barring exceptions like Slowpoke and Eevee, Digivolutions, the Digimon universe’s version of the same mechanic, are vastly different. Every Digimon has six distinct stages: Baby, Baby 2, Rookie, Champion, Ultimate, and Mega, which vary depending on personality, living conditions, and data absorbed. Evolved Digimon are further separated by three attributes: Data, Vaccine, and Virus, with Data being the “natural” path, Vaccine being the “good” path, and Virus being the “evil” path.

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By Gabriel Machado Pureza

In a recent post on Reddit, user Cranberry-Holiday shared a visual chart of a possible Digivolution tree revolving around Bulbasaur and its evolutions, using thematic and design connections between Pokemon as means of justifying the branching path. The evolution tree starts with Sunkern and Seedot as Baby 1 and Baby 2. From Seedot, the tree branches into Nuzleaf on the left, Bulbasaur in the middle, and Roselia on the right. Each of these Rookies then evolves into three Champions, multiplying the options.

Pokemon Fan’s Digimon Inspired Bulbasaur Evolution Tree

Instead of basing the entire tree on established Pokemon evolutionary lines, Cranberry-Holiday took some fun artistic liberties that made a strange sort of sense when viewed through the lens of Digivolutions. Ferrothorn, for example, evolves into Metagross, which, while obviously not how it works in Pokemon, is still oddly appropriate. Similarly, Shiftry evolves into Tornadus, Obstagoon into Zarude, and Lilligant into Pheromosa. Roselia’s three evolutionary options, Dolliv, Roserade, and Lilligant are especially suitable considering the similarity in build and overall design theme of the three Pokemon.

A popular request in the post’s comment section was swapping out Pheromosa for Ogerpon, as the new legendary introduced in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet looks more at home in the tree than the Gen 7 Ultra Beast. Another user suggested replacing Roselia and Roserade with Shaymin and Shaymin Sky to make the eventual evolution into Virizion make more sense, while a third commenter pointed out that Arboliva to Celebi doesn’t really fit the theme. Still, despite the suggestions for changes, most agreed that Cranberry-Holiday’s version was surprisingly accurate, all things considered.

The enthusiasm for Digimon-style branching evolution highlights how eager fans are for Pokemon to push beyond its traditional formulas and tread new ground. Fortunately, Nintendo is experimenting with new additions to Pokemon every chance it gets. Mega evolutions, Dynamax forms, Paradox forms, and Regional variants are proof that the series is open to trying new things.

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