>>22616148they wanted to create new evolutions. evolution is as pokemon as it gets. they just didn't want to replace the pokemon completely like the cross gen evos did. so they made a temporary powered up forme.
it's a forme change/evolution hybrid. that's about as pokemon as it gets. NONE of the designs are "just add spikes" except aerodactyl, and even then his spike pattern is a reference to rathalos, the king of wyverns.
