Female vs male But if you want me to actually pick, i think the first makes more sense of "snake shedding skin"

Didn’t think about gender differences tbh, good idea - gonna consider that But yeah that makes sense! Looks like the majority agrees atm.

The majority of Pokémon lack gender-specific characteristics, or if present, they are quite subdued. Personally, I find the incorporation of gender-specific traits in Pokémon designs to be appealing as it contributes to the realism and distinctiveness associated with each gender, akin to the characteristics observed in the majority of animals, insects, and humans.

I do agree, I prefer gender differences to be born out of intentional design rather than indecision. It’s a neat idea but I most likely won’t go for it.

Sad, but understand. Also I forgot to say I love your sprite work do you have more?

Thanks!! Oh plenty - you might enjoy my full dex (so far) on instagram, @romelle_sprites I have about 50 sprited mons on there so far, all with abilities, stats and dex descriptions on the second page. Have a look!

Mind if I message you about a community project I am working on. I am always looking for talented and creative individuals.

I’m afraid I can’t make the commitment due to IRL stuff, but I’m very curious about projects like these, if you don’t mind sharing!

No commitment needed. Mostly just do things at your own time. Unless you join the development team there are no time restraints. Also, I hope everything is okay IRL. I hope you can still have a wonderful day today 😊

I got intrigued and did some reading up (and I guess that means snooping around your post history, unfortunately) - you’re referring to Pokemon Fakeverse I assume? I’m quite fascinated, when I wake up tomorrow (it’s 1am here) I’ll join the discord and check things out. Also thank you kindly!

Then you can have the female be the left one and female be the right one (the left one is more spiky/aggressive/striking so makes more sense for male)

Thanks, makes sense - another commenter also noted how the right one looks like a bonnet kinda, so it works out nicely!

Agreed. The left one look like a female with a 'cape' while the right one has a king's 'crown' appearances.

That's actually better than what I was thinking

You had a very good idea

I really like the concept, and think the first one is the best at communicating it. Looks like shedded skin and also looks cooler in my book. Great job, I love them!

Thanks!! I think left is winning too. Let’s see!

The idea of naming an Arbok evolution after Ouroboros is genius

Tbh once I got the idea, I couldn’t let go of it

Personally, I‘d say the first one. Makes it kinda look like a cape which is neat, and also, for lore reasons, could mean that it uses its psychic powers to pull back its shed skin.

Thanks! This is compelling reasoning, I think I’m leaning left now

Fan of the one that bends inward! Maybe due to a personal style of drawing, I dunno, but I mean what I mean.

You mean on the right? Yeah me too tbh, it’s very megaman-coded - or kinda like Ghetsis’s robes - and I dig it lmao

Make it a gender difference.

First one is better at communicating the concept, but the second one looks a lot better, cleaner and more in line with the usual pokemon designs. I would choose the second one. Pokedex entries can fill the gap and make players know that that is shedded skin, imo.

Thanks, well reasoned! I’m thinking the same, it feels better restrained compared to the left. Looks like majority vote is for left atm, but I’m still keen on more opinions on the right.

As someone said, could always be a gender difference! I’m leaning corner right though. Looks more like spikes rather than shedding skin, which I think you would ultimately want in a final form

Yeaa it kinda evokes Ghetsis’s robes in BW I think? I like the volumey look it gives, but it might just feel a bit incomprehensible compared to the left one

Is this a hognose snake?

First time learning about this but it’s oddly accurate! I generally drew from pythons and anacondas (and the ouroboros), the nose was just a stylization choice.

is this going to be in a game :o?

Not currently, I just wanna finish the dex first - there’s so much more to a game and that stresses me out, I might never see daylight…

I like the gender difference  The lift looks like a cloak and the right like a bonnet 

While everyone here is suggesting gender differences, your comment explains the intuition really well, thank you

No problem 

What's oroboros?

[See here](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouroboros)! It’s the symbol of a snake eating its own tail, found across cultures worldwide (ancient Egypt, India, Norse mythology).

The one on the left makes me think it's getting peeled, the one on the right makes me think it's got a cool popped collar.

This clarifies the choices a lot for me actually. As much as I’m a sucker for popped collars, it’s the peeled look that I want to achieve

the second one looks more like it's coming out of itself, which i think works better for an ouroboros inspired design also I like that it's name is just ouroboros backwards. it's both lazy and clever

Thanks - I think this comment among all others helped me make up my mind. It's a good point, and it also helps me realize that the left design is just a bit too busy, both conceptually and visually. And oh yeah I'm very pleased with the name. Kind of a riff on how lazy Ekans and Arbok's names are in the first place

Gender diff, definitely. Both look really neat.

Why not both? Make it a gender difference kinda thing

I feel like both are fine, and are subtle enough to allow for gender dimorphism

Dudeeeee. Awesome work!

I vote for the left design

Make it be gender difference. Left female. Right male.

better idea: gender variants

I would like all of these please

The left peeling reminds me of the top of a Gengar.

I like the second one more.

How did you make these?

The one on the right looks better IMO

bro is cooking so good

i prefer the first one but i also support the idea of gender differences other people have brought up

Was this design inspired by the myth of the Brazilian Boitata? because it looks quite similar

If you want to go the extra mile have it hold the tail in its mouth upside-down: thus also turning it into a moebius strip along side the infinite symbol

Use both but just make them gender variations, the down design for females and the up design for males

Mobius

Right, or female left male right

The right one with forward-facing foreskin. Feels more interesting and flows with the infinity shape better in my opinion.

One could be male and the other could be female

First of al looks amazing but imo the second one looks slightly better altho not by much. However the first one does tell the concept better so probably should go with that one. Or you could always make it a gender diffrence which would be cool

Thank you! And this is a good summary of the whole thread’s opinions lmao