Every starter in a new Pokémon generation erects an army of staunch defenders, but like it or not, some monsters are loved more than others. And for a couple of decades now, it seems like fire-type starters and grass-type starters keep taking turns stealing the spotlight. But when was the last time a water-type starter turned the collective Pokémon fandom's head?
Fans seemed receptive to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's Quaxly, but the blue duck was ultimately overshadowed by the cult of Sprigatito. I barely saw any hype for Sobble in the generation preceding Scarlet and Violet. The adorable Popplio did inspire a defense squad, but that support was a response to the widespread hatred the poor circus sea lion suffered when it was initially revealed.
Oshawott was adorable, but Snivvy's smile stole more hearts back then. Piplup had some champions, but its fandom was pitiful compared to the church of Mudkip that preceded it. Really, there hasn't been a water-type starter in a long time who has inspired the level of cultural cache or devotion that Mudkip did, and that was more than two decades ago. (Froakie is beloved due to Greninja, its final evolution, but that generation debuted in 2013.
We can split hairs about when the last truly significant water starter happened, but ultimately it has been a long time.) This is the curse of the water starter, who has had the bad luck of sporting some of the weakest designs out of any given trio for at least a few generations of games now. Gequa, the water gecko introduced for Pokémon Winds and Waves, might be the first real contender to the throne. Already, fans keep joking that it is the better version of Sobble, the slack-jawed water starter from the previous generation.
Like the proceedings following any Pokémon starter reveal, fans are busy trying to imagine what Gecqua's evolutionary line will look like. Some fans believe that the lizard is based on the real-world fat-tailed gecko, leading to debate over whether Gecqua can run on water. Whatever awaits down the line for Gecqua, there's no denying one fundamental fact: Its design is fantastic.
The water starter's round cherubic features immediately pull the viewer's attention toward its face. Though Gecqua's head is disproportionally large for its body, the imbalance doesn't veer into uncanny territory. I'm reminded of the stubby nature of Hello Kitty characters, whose design combines the gravitational pull of an adorable baby with the squeezable nature of a plushie.
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