Water-types are essential to the world of Pokémon. Without them, we couldn’t surf, be super-effective against fire, or have the iconic three starters for each generation of our Pokémon journeys!

From Squirtle to Milotic, Water-types are among the most popular types to the Pokémon fandom.  They range from majestic to goofy in both their lore and designs. In fact, some fans love them enough to get these type of Pokémon as tattoos!

9 Milotic

Milotic is a design that looks like it was made to be tattooed. This pure Water-type has all the qualities of a beautiful sea serpent. It’s scales resemble stained glass and Pokémon lore tells stories of Milotic getting depicted in a lot of historic art.

This tattoo, done by bexlowetattoos, not only showcases Milotic, but has it surrounded by waves of water. Other Pokémon they’ve tattooed include Clefiary, Gengar, Primarina, Jolteon, Umbreon, and Eevee.

8 Psyduck

This tattoo, done by Lewis Wynnyk from Hidden Moon Ink, got a little creative with a Psyduck by giving it a Vaporwave makeover.

Psyduck dates back to the first generation. While its design is a little goofy and simple, it is well-known among both fans and those who don’t even care for the games or show.

7 Vaporeon

Vaporeon is the Water-type evolution of Eevee. Like all of Eevee’s evolutions, its design is well-regarded by the Pokémon fandom for being adorable. This particular tattoo leans into the cute aspect, giving it a glitter background and heart-shaped bubbles.

The artist behind this tattoo is Carly Kawaii Tattooist from Australia. Other cute Pokémon tattoos she has done include a Sylveon, Azumarill, Mimikyu, Pikachu, Psyduck, Mew, and Togepi.

6 Lapras

Tattooed by Julie Bauschardt, this Lapras is stylized to be even cuter than usual. Its shapes are more rounded and baby-like.

Lapras is another Pokémon that originated from the Kanto generation. It is an iconic Pokémon that trainers use to surf on the water. Fans love its design as well, which was inspired by Scotlands’ fabled Loch Ness Monster.

5 Mudkip

Mudkip is the Water-type starter of the Ruby and Sapphire games. It is somewhat special, as Mudkips were the center of the Internet meme: “So i herd u liek mudkipz?” Besides having a status in the meme world though, Mudkip is a beloved Pokémon for its starter status and cute mudskipper inspired design.

The artist for this tattoo is Matthew Larkin. He has also tattooed Mewtwo, Gyarados, Dragonair, Arbok, Cubone, Umbreon, Espeon, Turtwig, and Pikachu.

4 Suicune

The brand that is the tattoo artist Brando Chiesa is one where cute art and dark art collide. The tattoos use a lot of pastel colors, but do not stray away from violence and gore. This Suicune piece is a fine example of Chiesa’s style, as it takes a Pokémon and re-designs it like a realistic animal with fans and claws.

Suicune is a Water-type legendary that dates back to the Johto generation. It is a favorite among many fans for its design. It was also the face of Pokémon Crystalfor the Gameboy Color, which is included in this tattoo.

3  Squirtle

Squirtle is the first Water-type starter, and one that many fans get tattoos of. For many players of the games, it was their very first Pokémon, let alone Water-type. There are others who get Squirtle with Charmander and Bulbasaur, the original trio, as a tattoo.

This hand tattoo was made by michelabottin.ackerman, who does a lot of anime and video fan tattoos. Other fandoms they have worked with include Sailor Moon, Dragonball, Final Fantasy, and The Legend of Zelda.

2 Totodile

Tattooed by self-proclaimed otaku and nerd tattooer, borto_tattooer, this Totodile was put in a bottle with a numbered tag. Major Pokémon fans may recognize the number to be Totodile’s number on the Pokédex.

Totodile is another Water-type Pokémon made popular by being one of the three starters, particularly in the Johto region. It is a Pokémon known for its bite, as its design is based off of crocodiles.

 Gyarados

Gyarados are another Pokémon that look like they were made for tattoos due to their serpent-like bodies and dramatic faces. This particular one is the shiny kind of Gyarados, a red one rather than blue. Red Gyarados are more common than other shiny Pokémon because one appears in the story of the Silver, Gold, Heartgold, and Soulsilver games and is available to be captured.

This arm tattoo was done by Scott Falbo. It appears to mix Gyarados with the Neo-traditional style of tattooing.

1 Staryu And Starmie

Germany-based tattoo artist, Priscilla Pandemonia, has this in her collection of anime and video game tattoos. She has done more Pokémon as as Nidoking, Nidoqueen, Umbreon, Mew, Squirtle, Pikachu, Bulbasaur, and Charmander.

Starmie and Staryu are both from the Kanto generation, and were made quite popular through Misty’s character. Staryu evolves into Starmie, and this tattoo showcases that some fans like to get evolution lines tattooed rather than just a single Pokémon.

NEXT: Pokémon: 10 Pieces Of Espeon Fan Art