Summary
Palworldhas often been affectionately known as “Pokemonwith guns” since the game was first revealed in 2021. While some of the Pals inPalworldtread a fine line between an original idea and an exact copy of certainPokemon, it’s clear Game Freak’s iconic franchise was a huge inspiration for Pocketpair’s hit new title. As such, each Pal of the Water element inPalworldhas a clear counterpart in thePokemonuniverse, with some being more obvious than others depending on how much they deviate from theirPokemoncounterpart.
Like thePokemonseries,Palworldalso features elemental types for each of its Pals, with certain elements having an advantage over others, though the game features half as many elements asPokemon. As players explorePalworld, they will likelyencounter Pals of all different elements, including certain Pals that can become different elemental forms through fusion. Only the original forms of these Pals will be considered when finding theirPokemoncounterpart since their designs more or less stay the same with only a few elemental changes.
Jormuntide
Gyarados
While most of the Pokemon that correspond to Water element Pals are Water-type themselves, there are a few exceptions like Cufant and Goodra being clear inspirations for Teafant and Relaxaurus, respectively. Teafant shares a very similar body shape and elephant motif with Cufant despite the latter being a Steel type in its home series. However, Relaxaurus is a dual Water/Dragon element Pal, so it shares one element with Goodra, andGoodra evolves from Sliggoo in the rain, so it has some associations with the Water type as well.
Penking is the Empoleon of Palworld
Of the most popular Water-type Pokemon to be represented by aPalworldcounterpart, Empoleon and Penking share the clearest resemblance. While they might not look identical physically, they are conceptually very similar, both being penguins based on regal rulers, with Penking’s name deriving from penguin and king, and Empoleon deriving its name from the emperor penguin and Napoleon. The main area where these two critters differ is in their secondary typing, withEmpoleon gaining the Steel typewhen it evolves, and Penking having Ice as its secondary element to Water.
Kelpsea is the Lapras of Palworld
One of the most popular Water types in thePokemonseries is Gen 1’s Lapras, which is known for allowing players to surf on its back, so it’s not surprising thatPalworldwould feature its own version of this critter in the form of the Pal Kelpsea. While Kelpsea is clearly inspired by the Kelpie of Scottish folklore, it has a similar elegance and beauty to Lapras that makes it hard not to associate these two critters with one another. However, while Kelpsea is a pure Water element Pal, Lapras is a dual Water/Ice type, so their typings are not exactly identical.
Jormuntide is the Gyarados of Palworld
Two of the most fearsome creatures in their respective games are Jormuntide and Gyarados, who share some distinct similarities as both are scaly sea serpents with flowing whiskers that are reminiscent of leviathan-like dragons, making them obvious counterparts tofans of bothPalworldandPokemon. While many fans think Gyarados should have been a Water/Dragon type instead of a Water/Flying type, Jormuntide fulfills this wish as its Water/Dragon elemental typing accurately represents its draconic design. This typing makes Jormuntide feel like it was intended to be a redesign of Gyarados while still being distinct in its own right.
