50+ Best Pokemon Tattoo Designs With Meanings

Whether you’re an anime fan, gamer, or just a simple enjoyer of animated series, there’s no chance you missed Pokemon. It’s one of the most popular animated series that led to the development of games on different consoles, board games, toys, and other pop culture symbols. That doesn’t surprise us, as it guided generations of children to grow up. With the last few years, especially with the release of the worldwide popular game Pokemon Go, we can see an increase in the popularity of Pokemon tattoos.

Given there are so many Pokemon out there to be caught, there are plenty of designs to choose from. But, we believe that if you played the games or watched the anime, you easily stick with your favorite pokemon or the character for that matter. Even if you don’t, or struggle with finding the right design, we’re here to help.

We crafted a detailed and compelling list of the best Pokemon tattoo designs that also come with meanings and types of Pokemon to pick from. Without further ado, let’s dig in!

Pokemon Tattoo Origin & Meanings

Pokemon has always been popular thanks to the worldwide popular animated series. However, even the series came after the popular Nintendo Game Boy video game called “Pocket Monsters.” In this game, you have to raise your pocket monster and train the special abilities that allow it to compete and fight against other’s pocket monsters, or those that reside in the wilderness.

In the animated series, Ash is a boy who has a goal to become the best Pokemon master of all times. He wants to catch all the pokemon. He and his first pokemon Pikachu travel the world, hang out with their friends who also collect the pocket monsters, and fight other pokemon to collect them.

They also compete in different championships and tournaments while also struggling and fighting malicious pokemon collectors who want to abuse the owning of these magical monsters. The series was particularly popular among children, as well as older anime enthusiasts who also enjoyed the various game implementation of Pokemon.

In 2016, Pokemon became globally popular thanks to the mobile game known as Pokemon Go. The game uses AR (Augmented Reality) to place a virtual presentation of a pocket monster anywhere in the street. To capture it, you have to take a picture of it. Many people were seen following the streets blindly to catch the Pokemon, and the hype was live for a long time.

The word Pokemon originates from -Japanese language, but doesn’t have a special meaning to it. The Japanese mean Poketto Monsuta which translates to “pocket monster,” same as in the Game Boy’s videogame. It was then constructed into Pokemon.

There’s nothing wrong with that since all those little monsters can fit in a pocket, thanks to the Pokeball or the Pokemon ball. Pokemon masters use Pokeballs to collect Pokemon and make them their own.

The Pokemon master or trainer has a goal to collect as many pokemon as possible, but they need to treat them properly too and take care of them.

They develop their skills and enable them to enter the battlefield in order to fight other Pokemon and masters, for a different set of rewards. Each new season of Pokemon embraces new Pokemon, or the new Pokemon generation so to say.

They are named after the locations they are most prominent at, as well as a result of their unique skills. Numerous linguists were hired in order to introduce and name all Pokemon in the Pokemon universe.

But why are Pokemon tattoos popular? As we mentioned earlier, the cartoon helped a lot of children grow up by entertaining and inspiring them. Pokemon games, cards, and board games are played around the world, which increases the influence of this pop culture.

Some people want to pay tribute to their favorite game or cartoon. Some people also resonate with some of the monsters from the cartoon, find them stunning, or simply want to decorate their bodies with the said tattoo.

Type of Pokemon Tattoo Designs To Go For

There are multiple Pokemon tattoo designs and ideas you could consider. Here, we prepared a few types of tattoos that are increasingly popular and that you can try thinking of to make your tattoo stand out.

Pikachu: Pikachu is simply the cutest and most adorable pokemon. His loyalty to Ash, his strength, power, and protection is worth getting the tattoo of. When starting to watch the series, everyone would like to have a Pikachu card, toy or to collect the pokemon in Pokemon Go.

Fire Pokemon: There are much cute fire pokemon such as Charmander and Vulpix. The evolution of Charmander is Charizard that is way more powerful, but also scary and distant. They are an ideal option for those who want to showcase the passion and fire burning in their hearts.

Ground Pokemon: Earth is also a popular element, some of the most popular pokemon include Bulbasaur, Bayleaf, Landorus, and others. They are more favored by girls who add other natural elements into the tattoo such as flowers, leaves, and other earth pokemon too.

Pixel pokemon: The oldest Pokemon games presented 8-bit and 16-bit characters. That awakes nostalgia, especially among people who are fans of the older titles, or computer enthusiasts. Still, not everyone is a fan of them, especially if you go for the bigger size.

Legendary Pokemon: Right now there are over 80 legendary pokemon. They all shape the plot and storyline in a certain way. Lugia, Mewtwo, Articuno, and other legendary pokemon regularly appear in the tattoos. It’s also worth noting that they are colored and shaded to add more emphasis on their unique and more legendary designs compared to the regular pokemon.

50+ Best Pokemon Tattoo Designs

Check out the best Pokemon tattoo designs we found for you. You can combine them and experiment to find the perfect design, size, and location. We hope that you’ll find something that will look great on you!

Pokemon Ball Tattoo

Pokemon ball is one of the essential tools in the series. When one Pokemon in the wild is defeated, the Pokemon master will throw the Pokemon ball to capture them and make them their monster. However, the task is not easy at all, as the monster needs to adjust to the shell. Given that some Pokemons are stubborn, Pokemon masters can face some difficulties training them.

That said, Pokemon ball is one of the best ways to not only capture them but also preserve the Pokemon in their crew. It doesn’t surprise us why this tattoo is particularly popular. It’s one of the most important assets for trainers and masters. Additionally, it looks quite attractive and stunning, with vibrant red color.

The best part is that you can combine it with the symbol of your favorite Pokemon, keep it open, or close. You can even use some of the unconventional Pokemon balls used through the series. Lastly, you can play around with sizes and locations. Some people may like it on their wrist or shoulder. However, we can see that the locations vary for many people.

Ghost Pokemon Tattoo (Haunter)

If you’re looking for a darker and more mystic type of Pokemon tattoo but you couldn’t decide what to take, perhaps you should try one of the Haunter tattoos we presented. Haunter is originally known as Ghost, in the original Japanese franchise.

It was introduced in the Pokemon Generation I and in Nintendo’s and Game Freak’s adaptation of the Pokemon franchise. It’s a dual-type Pokemon that evolves from Gastly, and quite popular when it comes to tattoos.

It’s interesting to know that he was supposed to be called Spectre in the North American market. However, given its haunting ability he was renamed Haunter. It’s not hard to play around with this Pokemon design, you can place it anywhere you want. Still, it’s worth noting that the tattoo will look much better with some dark shading applied.

Read More: Top 36 Amazing Ghost Tattoo Design Ideas (And Meanings Behind Them)

8-Bit Pokemon Tattoo

It’s no secret that Pokemon 8-bit and 16-bit pixel themes were quite popular. Partly because of the Game Boy videogame, as well as the originally developed theme for Pokemon Go.

Today no gamer is enthusiastic about seeing 3D characters developed with impeccable details turn into 8-bit pixel characters. Still, some people are fond of the old development style in the early technology and would like to have a nice tattoo to reminisce on those events.

16-bit Pokemon Tattoo

In case 8-bit is too painful even for your eyes, here is a good-looking 16-bit tattoo design that will make any part of your body look stylish and stunning.

The best idea for 8-bit and 16-bit tattoos is to keep them small, and hardly noticeable, as pixelated design patterns and texture could make your eyes hurt if the tattoo is larger.

Most people put them on their thighs, hands, wrist, or some other location, suitable for petite and cute tattoos such as the one we showed here.

Pokemon Tattoo Sleeve

There is no doubt that the Pokemon sleeve tattoos are the most popular among all other tattoo designs. Regardless of Pokemon, or some other TV show, sleeve tattoos are extremely popular because it allows those who wear it to get creative and innovative.

Additionally, the tattoo stigma is dropping down so it’s easier to get tattooed across the whole hand.

Many people want to get the tattoo sleeve because it can also tell a story as well as give a highlight to all of their favorite characters, or pokemon to be precise.

You can experiment with half-or full sleeves. Also, while we recommend total bringing of pokemon into life, and using a palette of different colors, you can be innovative and get a minimalistic black and white sleeve.

Pikachu Tattoo

Pretty much, everyone’s favorite Pokemon from the start is Pikachu. He’s Ash’s first pokemon, the one he started the journey with. It was hard to tame him because he wouldn’t enter the Pokemon ball. What’s more, he was incredibly stubborn. Eventually, Ash and Pikachu grew connected and shared their journey in both good and bad.

Ash’s character development advanced mostly because of Pikachu, which is why he’s among everyone’s favorite pokemon. Not to mention, he looks cute and adorable and his thunderbolt attacks are quite powerful and intimidating. If you look at the designs we presented, you’ll agree they look great in thought and detail.

You can either go with a smaller design or a larger one. Many people who are making a sleeve tattoo are hard to forget about adding Pikachu to the Pokemon crew.

Tattoo Leg Sleeve

In case you’re looking to take a more radical step than the tattoo sleeve on the arm, you can also try the tattoo leg sleeve. Some tattoo enthusiasts are even bolder.

They happily merge the arm tattoo with the leg tattoo, creating something like a body paint carousel that will give a badass finish while presenting their favorite pokemon from the shows and games.

Needless to say, you’ll have to go through multiple tattoo sessions if you plan to bring this tattoo combination into life. Not to mention that it’ll be painful and take quite a long to heal. Nevertheless, it’s worth it in the long run.

Small Pokemon Tattoo

Needless to say, not everyone wants to flaunt and show off their tattoos. Some are looking for a small mark of attention and affection towards the show that helped them grow up.

That’s why you can either use a small black and white tattoo on a place that’s hard to notice or use a full-color tattoo that highlights your emotions towards your childhood favorite show.

Whatever you may decide, we hope that these stylish tattoo designs help you come up with your authentic design. The one we like the most is the finger pokemon that look like some sort of ring or other jewelry. Nevertheless, we know that not everyone is comfortable with that style.

Also Read: 

• 32 Small & Unique Tattoos For Men (and What They Mean)
• 28 Cool Small Tattoos for Women in 2023

Legendary Pokemon Tattoo

In Generation I there were only 5 legendary pokemon. However, now there are 81 of them. These are more rare pokemon that are harder to hunt down, as well as more challenging.

Nevertheless, they look mesmerizing and would fit great in a tattoo. You can get creative with your favorite legendary pokemon and experiment with the best creations.

We’re sure that they’ll look great as both smaller and larger tattoos. Keep in mind that they are a little more complex to make and develop. Still, everyone will admire your Legendary tattoo, just make sure to get the names and design right.

Floral Pokemon Tattoo

There are a lot of reasons as to why someone would prefer having a floral-inspired tattoo on their body. First, it’s more girly and feminine, and it also shows the softer side of a person if the tattoo is surrounded by more natural elements and symbols.

Fortunately, with Pokemon, that’s easy. As you may know, there are Pokemon races that depend on their ruling elements. Many Pokemon belong to the Earth type of Pokemon like Chikorita, Bayleaf, Bulbasaur, and many others.

Earth Pokemons, are also favored by females because of their feminine designs. That said, if anyone ever told you that Pokemon tattoos aren’t for girls, you can come up with a creative design that will keep the jaws open.

Black And White Pokemon Tattoo

Pokemon are colorful monsters. That said, it’s safe to assume that every person who’s enthusiastic about getting a tattoo of them is looking to get the as vivid and colorful design as they can.

Well, nearly everyone. Some want to create a manga-like experience when getting their tattoo done. Not to mention minimalistic tattoos that are quite popular these days.

You can play around with black and white tattoos. You can even experiment with different shades of grey, like in the designs we listed above. There are endless possibilities for a true Pokemon fan.

Also Read: 30+ Black And White Popular Tattoo Designs (Find Your Inspiration)

Cute Pokemon Tattoo

Beyond everything, pokemon are lovely, cute, simply adorable! Choosing your personal favorite one can be hell if you’re easily allured by those adorable eyes. Pikachu’s everyone’s number one when it comes to adorableness. However, other Pokemon like Squirtle, Chikorita, Skitty, Vulpix, and others are super-levels of adorable.

We adore cute Pokemons. We also loved the crossover Pokemons design with the Sailor Moon characters, we find that’s quite well-thought of and creative. Nevertheless, that design on the chest must’ve hurt a lot, especially around the ribs, as it’s one of the most painful areas on the body.

Charizard Pokemon Tattoo

Charizard is an evolvement of Charmander, which is an adorable, friendly, and loyal pokemon. However, we could see that once he evolved to Charizard on Ash, he became quite hard to trust, he was introverted and often had difficulties listening to orders.

Eventually, Ash and he befriended each other, but never the way it was with Charmander.

Nevertheless, Charizard has always been extremely protective towards Ash, which showed itself many times when fighting the Team Rocket. Charizard as a character for a tattoo can be extremely insightful for people who want to tattoo him. First, his element is fire, and he resembles an angry and powerful dragon.

More importantly, people are great fans of dragon tattoos, so if you’re looking for an anime-inspired tattoo Charizard can be a great choice. We also liked the details put into the tattoo designs we listed.

Minimalist Pokemon Tattoo

Minimalist tattoos are quite popular especially among people who want to get a mixture of a small tattoo and a black and white tattoo.

They shouldn’t show too much detail, they should be the detail itself. We like the tattoos that we found and that we found to me minimalistic enough, but we picked these three as our favorite ones.

If you want to add a more colorful texture to your tattoo design, then you should try this Vulpix tattoo. It looks as if it was done on an abstract canvas, yet it has the warmth and attractive look caused by its color.

Jigglypuff Tattoo

Not everyone in the series agrees that Jigglypuff is a good singer, especially those other pokemon who were the victims of its voice and fallen asleep. Surprisingly, though, it’s an inspiration to many people, especially enthusiastic singers who also share a love for this anime and singing.

Because of its pink color, large, shiny, and adorable eyes, it’s more attractive to females. Nevertheless, it’s a great design for smaller tattoos that you’d like to place on your wrist, hip, or shoulder.

Badass Pokemon Tattoo

What does badass exactly mean to you? For us, it means a highly attractive tattoo that demonstrates the true power of pokemon in the process. It can also be a super-detailed sleeve or back tattoo that captures a wondrous and epic moment in the clash of two or more pokemon.

You can place your tattoo anywhere, as long as everyone will look impressed by it when they see it.

Although black and white tattoos can look quite stunning and badass, we recommend using colorful designs to add more effect to the design and shine it gives away once it heals.

Water Pokemon Tattoo

Out of all pokemon types that get tattoos, fire and water ones are the most popular. We decided to give a tribute to the Water Pokemon tattoos. Primarily, because of Squirtle, secondly, because of all the water pokemon that Misty was collecting.

There are plenty of ideas for the water pokemon. Maybe you could even add some sea or other water elements like shells, waves, starfish, and other symbols that will give the tattoo design a better story.

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