By Jo
The changing of the seasons in the newest games was one of the most anticipated features for the fans. And nothing really displays the effect the seasons have on the game play more than the changing of Deerling and its evolution, Sawsbuck’s, appearance. There is a reason why they’re called the Season Pokemon, after all.
Deerling is based off from a fawn, a young deer, and the changes of the seasons. While their color scheme changes every month, a few things about their appearance stay the same all year around. One of the things that doesn’t change for Deerling is the yellow flower atop its head. The flower stays there all year around, as does the freckling of spots on its back, the color of the inside of its ears, the yellow, curving band around its waist, and the cream color below that band. Above the waist, the color found there depends on the month. During Winter (April, August, and December), a grayish brown makes up its coat. In Spring (January, May, and September) a light pink is present. Summer (February, June, and October) brings a vibrant green shade to its short fur. And lastly, Fall (March, July, and November) brings a warm, Autumn-like orange to its coat. According to Deerling’s pokedex entries, its color and scent of their fur changes to match the mountain grass. When they sense hostility, they hide in that grass, perfectly masked by the grass’s aroma. Over the ages, Deerling have been used to mark the seasons and the time of the year. Deerling’s name seems to come from quite a few words, including ‘deer’, ‘dear’, ‘yearling’, and ‘darling’.
Once Deerling reached level 34, it evolves into its final form, Sawsbuck. However, it isn’t the last time it changes appearance, due to it also changing with the seasons. Sawsbuck, though, doesn’t change in the same ways Deerling does. Sawsbuck’s antlers act more as tree branches and change accordingly to the seasons while the fur on its body stays relatively the same all year around. In Winter, Sawsbuck’s antlers change to white, as if they’re snow covered and the spots on its back change to white as well. In Spring, Sawsbuck’s antlers grow pink buds to match the spots on its back. In the Summer, Sawsbuck sprouts a leafy bush from its antlers that spread about its head and it has green spots on its back to match the leaves. And finally in Fall, Sawsbuck’s leaves change to a burgundy shade and droop down as if they’re preparing to fall and its spots reflect the same color as its changing leaves. Its pokedex entries state that Sawsbuck migrate according to the seasons. The plants growing on their horns change according to the season. People are able to tell the seasons by looking at its antlers. The leaders of the herd supposedly posses magnificent horns. Sawsbuck’s name may come from the words ‘sawbuck’ (a device used to hold wood) and ‘buck’ (which means ‘a male deer’). The ‘saws’ in its name may be an acronym for the seasons (Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring).