Palworld Fans Think 1 Pal is a Better Mega Dragonite Than the One We Actually Got

Some Palworld fans have pointed out that the Pal Quivern is very similar to Pokemon’s Mega Dragonite, but does the design better than Game Freak. Although there has been some friction between Palworld and the Pokemon franchise, including the ongoing legal dispute stemming from Palworld’s alleged copyright infringement of several patented Pokemon mechanics, there is still a lot of overlap between the two fan bases. As a result, Pokemon and the Pals of Palworld are often compared to one another as fans debate which of the franchise’s critters are superior.

The introduction of new Mega Evolutions in Pokemon Legends: Z-A has put a few popular mons under new scrutiny over their Mega designs. Mega Dragonite has been somewhat controversial among Pokemon fans since it was revealed in a Pokemon Legends: Z-A trailer prior to launch. While some fans have grown attached to Mega Dragonite’s design after experiencing it in-game, Palworld fans are now arguing that Quivern is closer to the design of Mega Dragonite that should have been in Legends: Z-A.

Palworld Fans Argue That Quivern Makes a Better Mega Dragonite Than the One in Pokemon Legends: Z-A

In a post on the Palworld subreddit, user Libertyprime8397 shared an image comparing Quivern and Mega Dragonite side by side. Libertyprime8397 goes on to share that they were disappointed with the final design for Mega Dragonite, and felt like Quivern did a better job of fleshing out the angelic wings on its head motif than the Gen 1 Pokemon attempts. They also believe that Quivern could almost be a Regional Variant of Dragonite with a different color palette.

Other users in the comment section on Libertyprime8397’s post also shared this sentiment, with the post garnering 4,000 upvotes by Reddit users. One user chimes in to say that they just can’t get past the wings on Mega Dragonite’s head, and that they have “no business being there.” Another user also points out that Quivern’s color palette is closer to Dratini and Dragonair’s coloring than Dragonite, even if shiny Mega Dragonite does gain more of its pre-evolutions’ colors.

Mega Dragonite Has Been One of Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s Most Controversial New Additions

The initial reaction to Mega Dragonite’s reveal ahead of Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s release showed just how split fans were about its design. While many fans were happy to see Mega Dragonite include features from its pre-evolutions, like a longer tail with a pearl on the end akin to Dragonair, the wings on its head were a sticking point for others. These wings also allude to an iconic feature of Dragonair, but many fans felt like they didn’t fit with the rest of Mega Dragonite’s design and were placed there somewhat haphazardly. Some fans even went as far as sharing their redesigned interpretations of Mega Dragonite, showing how they would “fix” the Mega’s original look.

Palworld’s Quivern is One of the Game’s Most Popular Pals

In contrast to Mega Dragonite, Quivern has become one of Palworld’s most beloved critters, with many commenters on user Libertyprime8397’s post sharing their love of the Pal. Quivern is a boss Pal in Palworld, so there is already an important gameplay moment for players to get attached to it. Combined with a design that many Palworld players feel outdoes Game Freak’s recent Pokemon designs, it’s easy to see why this critter is so popular within the community.

As Palworld approaches its 1.0 release in 2026, all eyes are on Pocketpair to elevate what is already a strong competitor to Pokemon even higher. It’s evident by the fan sentiment shared in Libertyprime8397’s Reddit post that Pocketpair is on the right track with its Pal designs, especially if fans are holding them in such high regard that Quivern tops a classic Gen 1 Pokemon like Dragonite.