The latest mainline Pokemon games, Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, are full of new features. From cutscenes to continuous access to your boxes and even picnics, the games are more elaborate and detailed than the series has ever been before.
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One seemingly small new touch is the addition of various swimming animations for your Pokemon, allowing them to travel with you across large bodies of water when you've let them roam free of their Pokeballs. Some of these animations are cool, some are quirky, and some are just downright cute. Here's a list of our favorites.
10 Pawmo
Pawmo is the middle evolution of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's resident Pikachu-like, Pawmi. The entire line of Pokemon comes equipped with the trademark rosy cheeks and adorable eyes you'd expect, although Pawmo and its evolved form, Pawmot, are Electric/Fighting types, and they're clearly not skipping arm day at the gym.
Honestly, any member of this line could have made the list, from Pawmi's tiny little paddle to Pawmot sweeping water out of its way with those bulky little arms. We've got to go with Pawmo, though, as its stubby doggy paddle provides just the right mix of precious and amusing.
9 Cloyster
The always-cool Cloyster is one of those Pokemon who deserves more love, if only for having a straightforward design concept that just works. One of the more elaborate first-generation designs, Cloyster is a large, spiked, ominous-looking mollusk Pokemon with a black pearl-like face at the center, and also a narwhal horn for some reason.
Another Pokemon that's simply made for the water, Cloyster was bound to be fun to swim next to. Still, Game Freak deserves extra points for giving it, and its pre-evolution Shellder, appropriate animations when doing so. These little dudes swim backwards by closing and opening their shells, much like clams do in real life. It's as fun to watch - and as weird - in the games as it is in the real world.
8 Mareanie
A pretty new Pokemon that made its debut in Alola, Mareanie is a Poison/Water type with a spiky set of teeth and hair-like tentacles big enough for the '80s. Its small body is dwarfed by the massive growth of aquatic appendages sprouting from its head. It sounds grosser than it looks.
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As expected, Mareanie is right at home in the water next to you. What comes as a pleasant surprise is the way it bobs along, with its large tentacles pushing it through the waves as you travel. Its evolution, Toxapex, swims pretty similarly, but there's honestly something slightly more endearing about the bouncy way Mareanie moves through the water.
7 Vaporeon
Vaporeon has been one of the most popular Pokemon around since way back in the first generation. Its fins, webbed feet, and unique tail make it one of Eevee's more drastic evolutionary changes, which is honestly saying something in a post-Sylveon world.
Vaporeon is one of those Pokemon that's obviously going to flourish in the water, but like many of the entries on this list, there's something very cool about seeing it in action. Other Eevee evolutions get points for basically striding through the water like they're walking, but Vaporeon's fluid, natural motion truly takes the cake.
6 Floatzel
The sea otter Pokemon Floatzel is the evolved form of Buizel. These two cute little Pokemon are often found along the shores and in the water, making them obvious choices to join you on a nice evening swim.
Honestly, either of these two could have made the list, as could the fish Pokemon Barraskewda, for the same reasons - they use their numerous tails as propellors, pushing them through the water as Tails flies through the skies in Sonic games. It's just the coolest way to travel for any animal. Floatzel gets bonus points because its more elaborate design makes it look even more rad when doing it.
5 Tauros
Many fans were happy to see Tauros make a long-awaited return in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, along with a much-needed new regional form. The Paldean Tauros is typically a Fighting type, but your options get even more varied once you realize it's got a few additional variations, including a Fighting/Water type Aqua Breed with wavy horns and a knack for swimming.
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Like Floatzel and company, Tauros uses its multiple tails to push its way through the water, but honestly, there's something particularly awesome about watching this big fellow swim that way. For a Pokemon that's only just getting its sea legs, Tauros swims like a natural. Just watch out for those horns.
4 Psyduck
Longtime Pokemon fans should be familiar with Psyduck, the lovable oaf of a duck Pokemon who somehow evolves into the completely badass Golduck. Psyduck is known for two things: having constant headaches, and being a little doofus. He's great.
Whereas Golduck powers through streams of water with its webbed hands and feet, Psyduck swims a lot like your uncle who's trying to learn how to swim for a beach trip next summer. And much like said uncle, it's extremely cute to watch the little guy try his best. You go, Psyduck.
3 Surskit
Surskit, the water bug Pokemon, is cuter than it has any business being. It's a water spider, which is an animal I'd highly recommend against searching for images of, unlike Surskit. Those large eyes and blushing cheeks go a long way to make it palatable.
Surskit is described in its Pokedex entry as the "Pond Skater Pokemon," which pretty much sums up what's so great about its swimming animation. Watching its little legs bounce back and forth as it careens over the water with you is equal parts slick and charming. We'll take an Ice/Bug type variant with a pair of little ice skates on whenever you're ready, Game Freak.
2 Azurill
Azurill is cute. By which I mean to say, Azurill is the literal personification of cuteness. This tiny little water mouse should be next to the word in every dictionary, which essentially means we'd be down to watch it do just about anything while we mumble "aww" enthusiastically.
Every single Pokedex entry that Azurill has ever had in the games mentions its big, bulbous tail - it uses it to bounce around on land, hurls it at enemies like a lasso, and it even provides it with nutrients. It's only appropriate that Azurill floats in water by using its tail to bob back and forth behind you, the sight of which is largely considered to be the cause of world peace in the Pokemon universe.
1 Gholdengo
Gholdengo, the controversial 1,000th Pokemon in the Pokedex, is a golden tree person, or something. We're honestly not sure what we're looking at here. All we know is that it's made of gold coins, it's got flowing locs, and it has the best swimming animation in the game.
Look, we're not sure if surfing behind you on a golden surfboard that's covered in coins should count on a list that's focused on swimming, but does that really matter? Gholdengo surfs behind you on a golden surfboard that's covered in coins. Read that sentence again, and ask yourself how anything else could have possibly topped this list. Exactly.
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