Druddigon…
Some of you just hate this Pokémon, don’t you? 😛
It looks like lego, seems like it was designed by an intern, and with its competitive viability not doing any favors in the mainline games as well as Pokémon GO, what’s there to like about this boring ol’ dragon, eh?
Well, think again!
Dragon Pokémon are the epitome of great design and lore, and Druddigon is no different as its so-called wobbly design and even its name has SOOOOOO much behind it!Sounds unbelievable? Let’s dive in then!
Reptile: Lizard
Let’s start with the simple details. Right off the bat, it’s pretty evident that Druddigon is reptilian, based on its lizard-like features and Dex entries that clearly indicate a predatory lizard.
But it’s not just any lizard… you see, Druddigon is based on a particular lizard and its color palette bears a striking resemblance to the animal in question…. the Agama agama!
Agama agama
Just a glance at these vibrant lizards will immediately make you imagine Druddigon. In fact, they are also known as the Red-headed Rock Agama, shedding more light on the Druddigon origins.
The lizard inspiration behind Druddigon is easy to understand, and nothing out of the ordinary. But this is where it gets more interesting, as Druddigon is also based on… plants!
Oak leaves? Or not?
Druddigon’s ‘wings’, which are useless when it comes to flight, and only help in temperature regulation are pretty similar to oak leaves.
This becomes even more clear when you check out its shiny version.
While Druddigon’s wings look like oak leaves, you’ll be surprised that its entire body also resembles a plant, although a different one.
Thistle
Thistles are green spiky plants complete with a bright-colored flower, often considered a nuisance to the place they inhabit, just like the invasive nature of Druddigon (see shiny, in particular).
Thistles are native to the Mediterranean, but they were also introduced vastly to most of North America, particularly New York, that is, the Unova region, Druddigon’s home! 💡
But there’s more, and it goes deeper…
There’s this particular type known as Holy Thistle, which probably has the most design likeliness to (shiny) Druddigon, leaves, colors, jaggedness, all:
But the Holy Thistle has another name: St. Benedict’s Thistle.
The ‘saint’ moniker makes it all the better! 😉
St.George, Patron Saint of England
St.George, the patron saint of England was not your regular saint… he was a dragon slayer!
It all goes back to a tale where a ferocious dragon was terrorizing a locality and was appeased when people sacrificed animals. But after a while, they ran out of animals and started sacrificing humans to keep the dragon calm.
Eventually, with families losing loved ones, the locals decided to sacrifice the king’s young daughter to the dragon, and they took her to the beast. But miraculously, St.George came to the princess’ rescue and she tamed the dragon with her girdle, a garment worn around the waist and represented one’s devotion to God, that went on to wound around the dragon’s neck, calming it down and becoming the princess’ own.
In a Pokémon analogy: St.George: Drayden, the princess: Iris, and the girdle: Poké Ball. Brilliant, eh?
English Dragon
St.George’s cross went on to be represented in England’s flag, making Druddigon an English Dragon.
But guess what? Druddigon also seamlessly gets design and lore elements from the other countries of Great Britain: Scotland and Wales.
Scotland and… Thistles!
Back to the thistles again, lol 😆
But hey, Scotland’s national flower is thistle! This spiky flower is illustrated in many Scottish heritage pieces and assets:
Welsh Dragon
For starters, check out the Wales flag:
Druddigon’s red-colored head could very well be based on the infamous Welsh dragon. And I’ll tell you Y.
D.R.U.D.D.I.G.O.N. What’s in the name?
Did you know that the Welsh dragon on its flag has a name? It’s “Y DDRAIG GOCH” which translates to “The red/crimson dragon.”
Do note that Druddigon’s Japanese name is ‘Crimgan,’ literally ‘crimson dragon.’
Additionally, the occurrence of double ‘d’ (DD) is a very Welsh thing. Do you see where I’m going?
Now give this a listen:
DDRAIG GOCH….DRUDDIGON
And the Welsh word for ‘crimson’?
Crimson is RHUDDGOCH, which sounds like ‘ruddi-gohn’
If you were to add a D in the beginning, it lends up sounding just like DRUDDIGON!
So Druddigon perfectly represents Britain with the thistle concept, a plant also extensively found in New York (Unova).
Gargoyle
Of course, any Druddigon discussion is incomplete without mention of its gargoyle-ish likeness, as evidenced by its Y and Alpha Sapphire Dex entry:
It warms its body by absorbing sunlight with its wings. When its body temperature falls, it can no longer move.
Still, like a rock… like a gargoyle, draconic/beastly stone figurines, found primarily in Europen architecture, and also in…
New York (Unova)!
Parting Words
Never thought simple Druddigon had sooo much to it? 
This Dragon is severely underrated and deserves more love and appreciation, and we hope that just like Duraludon, it too gets a future evolution in a game (Gen 10?).
Until then, you can also have a look at other similar articles I’ve covered for my favorite Dragon Pokémon, right here: 😀
Garchomp | Baxcalibur | Hydreigon | Zygarde
Dracarys.
