A great way to make a character (or yourself) look distinct is with facial hair. A unique mustache or beard can make someone stand out from the crowd, especially when designs get as avant-garde as they do in video games. Just look at the likes of Dr. Eggman from Sonic The Hedgehog and Dudley from Street Fighter.
Pokemon is no different, featuring dozens of humans and Pokemon with follicles that would make you stop in awe if you saw them on the street. Seriously, it was hard to trim this list down, so here's just a taste of some of the most memorable beards in the Pokemon games.
12/12 Saguaro
Saguaro from Scarlet & Violet is the home economics teacher at the Academy who is an absolute sweetheart with a tough exterior.
This is represented by his mustache and eyebrows, which, while very intimidating, also show a lot of care and preparation with their clean-cut edges and points.
11/12 Mr. Rime
When Mr. Mime was introduced in the first games, it served as a tribute to the great mime Marcel Marceau. In Sword & Shield, it received a regional form as well as an evolution in Mr. Rime.
Mr. Rime is similarly inspired by classic comedians like Charlie Chaplin and Groucho Marx with a cane, tap shoes, bowler hat, and an incredibly dapper mustache.
10/12 Professor Rowan/Kamado
There are plenty of Pokemon professors with good facial hair, but only one has spanned generations. Professor Rowan from Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum stands out from the others because of the stern appearance granted by his bushy mustache and eyebrows.
It's so effective that it even makes Rowan look scary in chibi form! It turns out that this look is genetic because his ancestor, Commander Kamado, had almost the exact same look centuries before.
9/12 Mega Alakazam
Mega Evolutions not only make Pokemon stronger, but they take their designs and expand them further.
This is true of Alakazam, one of the first Pokemon with a mustache, who received three additional spoons and a glorious beard. This is meant to represent the impressive facial hair of other magical or mystical beings, like wizards.
8/12 Kofu
Memorable doesn't always mean good. For example, take Kofu. He's the Water-type Gym Leader in Scarlet & Violet, and his face is meant to reflect that. The beard is the waves of the ocean, the eyebrows are clouds, and the patch of hair on top is some type of sea bird.
However, instead of a majestic sea, it looks like someone encircled his face with whipped cream. It doesn't work at all, but you won't soon forget it.
7/12 Wyrdeer
Stantler has needed an evolution for a long time, and it finally got it (albeit in the past) in Pokemon Legends: Arceus with Wyrdeer.
Fans loved the design because of its grandeur, snowy coloring, and magnificent beard. It's the type of big, white beard that would put Santa Claus to shame.
6/12 Gonzap
One word comes to mind when looking at Gonzap from Pokemon Colosseum: wow. A student from the Heihachi Mishima school for dumb hair, Gonzap's long, thin mustache and eyebrows are meant to resemble lightning bolts.
It's clear that he's trying to look tough, but instead, it gives off the energy that he spends a lot of time in front of the mirror applying mustache wax, trying to convince himself about how cool he is. If you want to see this work well, just look at his higher-up, Evice.
5/12 Stoutland
A noble dog known for rescuing people from snowy mountains, Stoutland takes its pre-evolution Herdier's mustache and takes it even further. Literally, Stoutland's mustache extends all the way to the floor.
It gives the same type of distinguished energy that comes from Teddy Roosevelt and his brilliant mustachioed face.
4/12 Drayden
Drayden's beard is the right kind of ridiculous because it is just as intimidating as it is silly. Drayden specializes in Dragon-types and has big medieval energy, represented by his beard.
It looks like the bottom half of a knight's helmet with spiky tooth-like edges and no visible mouth. Drayden is a badass, and his impractical beard reflects that.
3/12 Galarian Weezing
The Galar region from Sword & Shield is heavily inspired by the UK. Galarian Weezing is the embodiment of this, with each head having stovepipe hats that become smokestack chimneys from factories. Both heads are industrial tycoons, which explains why their facial hair is bonkers.
The smoke from Weezing has somehow collected as clouds to form a Victorian-era mustache on the big head and bushy beards and eyebrows on the second. It's a bold move that goes so far past dumb that it's lovable again. Well done, sirs.
2/12 Wulfric
One style of facial hair that isn't represented enough is the Chester A. Arthur, connecting mutton chops to the mustache without any beard underneath. Pokemon brings this brilliantly into the fold with Wulfric, the final Gym Leader from the Kalos Region and an Ice-type master.
He's a hearty man that takes on the traits of a walrus with his rotund body and facial hair that turns into tusks. It's a distinguished way to support a bold design.
1/12 Kricketune
Kricketune is, without a doubt, one of the weakest fully evolved Pokemon ever. There is genuinely no reason to have it on your team. Despite this, designers went all out to give it an amazing cry and a wonderful design, including the most dapper facial hair in the series.
Taking Kricketot's antennae and putting it on its face was an inspired choice and takes Kricketune from mediocrity to a cult favorite amongst fans.
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