Elemental Variation

Taking a base creature or idea and adding an elemental spin on it.

The "base" here could be a real-world object or animal, or something that exists within the narrative. This is an extremely popular technique to design fresh Mons and create Underground Monkey enemies. Just take a real-life object and, *boom* make it elemental.

Sometimes This is justified in-universe, such as when "elements" are treated as a form of energy that corrupts and transmutes things that are exposed to them. The object in question may also have some sort of Adaptive Ability that allows it to mirror the surrounding environmental conditions. Fisher Kingdom / Flintstone Theming can also enable this when entering an Elemental Plane.

There are some standard ways to visualize the impact of an element. Fire-themed objects will become Wreathed in Flames or have Volcanic Veins, Earthen equivalents will have moss growing on them or floral theming. When translating Air and Water into a design, avian/aquatic features tend to be mixed in due to those animals dominating association with the elements. Expect quite a lot of Colour-Coded for Your Convenience.

Sistertrope to Ninja Pirate Zombie Robot and Mix-and-Match Critters. See also Robot Me (robot versions) and Space "X" (space versions). Compare and contrast Underground Monkey and Elemental Embodiment. For entities entirely made out of an element, see Animate Inanimate Matter. See also Index of Fictional Creatures and Our Monsters Are Different.

This is an application of the Natural Elements, although depending on context might include setting-specific Bizarro Elements.

A simple way to tell if you're dealing with one of these is if you can simplify it to a [Element] [Object] form. Such as Thunder Beetle.

Subtropes / Common ways to accomplish this:

General:

• Animate Inanimate Matter: (and subtropes) when shaped into facsimiles of other creatures.
• Elemental Dragon
• Elemental Nation: When also a Fantasy Counterpart Culture.
• Elemental Weapon: See subtropes within.
• Elemental Zombie

Air / Sky:

• Feathered Dragons
• Flying Seafood Special: Sky Fish
• Pegasus: Sky Horse
• Winged Humanoid

Earth:

• Earthy Tortoise
• Land Shark
• Sand Worm

Fire:

• Fiery Lion
• Fiery Salamander: Fire Reptiles.
• The Phoenix: A type of Fire Bird.

Lightning:

• Electric Jellyfish
• Psycho Electric Eel
• Raijū: A type of Lightning Wolf.
• Thunder Beetle
• Thunder Bird

Water / Aquatic:

• Fish People / Our Mermaids Are Different: Depending on context.
• Our Hippocamps Are Different: A type of Water Horse.
• Our Kelpies Are Different: A type of Water Horse.
• Sea Serpents

Nature:

• Garden Garment
• Planimal: Plant Animals.
• Plant People
• Plant Aliens

Examples:

Literature

• A Song of Ice and Fire: Old Nan tells Bran stories of the The Others riding gigantic ice spiders.

Tabletop Games

• Magic: The Gathering: Each of the mana colors has various animals that are infused with or represent the color identity. Dinosaurs and spiders tend to be in the nature-based Green mana, birds tend to be in Blue or White, and poisonous creatures tend to go to Black. This is downplayed, however, as while each mana color has elemental flavoring, it doesn't always carry over into every creature's designs.
• Pathfinder: First Edition has various templates that can be applied to monster statblocks to turn them into elementally charged versions of the normal creature; for example, the Acid or Cold templates.

Video Games

• Genshin Impact: Exposure to elemental forces transmutes the creatures in Tevat into different forms. In Sumuru this extends to the wildlife, where regular animals are given various aggressive Elemental variations due to contaminations. This includes an Electric Scorpion, a Fire Vulture, and a Grass Saber Tooth tiger, among others.
• Hollow Knight: A handful of the bugs have elemental themes. Most of the bugs in the Moss Grotto are fused with moss, and the creatures in the Crystal Cavern are fused with crystal. Charged "Lumiflies" are electric firefly-moth creatures.
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: The game makes extensive use of its Fire, Ice, Lightning elemental triad to expand enemy variety. As a result, multiple enemy families exist consisting of a basic variant plus three types capable of either breathing out or shooting their associated element or permanently shrouded in it, ranging all the way from the extremely common and weak Keese and Chuchus to the mighty draconic Gleeoks in the sequel. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity keets all enemies from BotW and adds elemental variations for Moblins and Lynels.
• Megaman Zero: In Megaman Zero 1, the first boss, the Golem, was a Non-Elemental unit. Come Megaman Zero 2, the Golem has since been given three elemental variants, one for each element. These are: the Golem Type E, which fire Energy Weapons, the Golem Type F, which has a Fire-Breathing Weapon, and the Golem Type I, which is armed with a freeze-generator.
• Palworld: Most Pals are elemental variations of regular animals. This includes a grass-themed mammoth, a fire-themed fox, and even an electric-themed Totoro Expy.
• Pathfinder: Kingmaker: The monsters on each level of the Tenebrous Depths Mega Dungeon have various elemental themes, with the monsters getting various matching templates: for example, level II makes all the monsters "Acidic Creatures", granting increased acid resistance and making them inflict extra acid damage on each hit, while level VI makes all the monsters "Fiery Creatures" (same thing but with fire).
• Pokémon: Many Pokemon are elemental spins on a base animals or objects. This is most overt in regional variations of pokemon, where we can see the same concept done with a different element. As for straighter examples:
  • This is the premise of Eevee's evolutionary line, with each form being a different elemental spin on Eevee's base form: Flareon as the Fire type, Vaporeon as the Water type, Jolteon as the Electric type, Espeon as the Psychic type, Umbreon as the Dark type, Glaceon as the Ice type, Leafeon as the Grass type and Sylveon as the Fairy type.
  • Generation VI introduces a Super Mode for certain mons called Mega Evolutions, some of which add or replace a secondary typing: Mega Charizard X^note Goes from Fire/Flying to Fire/Dragon, Mega Pinsir^note Goes from pure Bug to Bug/Flying, Mega Gyarados^note Goes from Water/Flying to Water/Dark, Mega Mewtwo X^note Goes from pure Psychic to Psychic/Fighting, Mega Ampharos^note Goes from pure Electric to Electric/Dragon, Mega Sceptile^note Goes from pure Grass to Grass/Dragon, Mega Aggron^note Goes from Steel/Rock to pure Steel, Mega Altaria^note Goes from Dragon/Flying to Dragon/Fairy, Mega Lopunny^note Goes from pure Normal to Normal/Fighting and Mega Audino^note Goes from pure Normal to Normal/Fairy.
  • This is the premise of the Regional variants as well:
    • Generation VII introduces the concept and the first variations in Alolan Rattata/Raticate^note Goes from pure Normal to pure Dark, Alolan Raichu^note Goes from pure Electric to Electric/Psychic, Alolan Sandshrew/Sandslash^note Goes from pure Ground to Ice/Steel, Alolan Vulpix/Ninetales^note Goes from pure Fire to pure Ice, with Ninetales being Ice/Fairy, Alolan Diglett/Dugtrio^note Goes from pure Ground to Ground/Steel, Alolan Meowth/Persian^note Goes from pure Normal to Dark, Alolan Geodude/Graveler/Golem^note Goes from Rock/Ground to Rock/Electric, Alolan Grimer/Muk^note Goes from pure Poison to Poison/Dark, Alolan Exeggutor^note Goes from Grass/Psychic to Grass/Dragon and Alolan Marowak^note Goes from pure Ground to Fire/Ghost.
    • Generation VIII's Galar region introduces Galarian Ponyta/Rapidash^note Goes from pure Fire to Psychic, with Rapidash being Psychic/Fairy, Galarian Slowpoke/Slowbro/Slowking^note Goes from Water/Psychic to pure Psychic, with Slowbro and Slowking being Psychic/Poison, Galarian Farfetch'd^note Goes from Normal/Flying to Fighting, and gains an evolution in Sirfetch'd, Galarian Weezing^note goes from a pure Poison type to Poison/Fairy, Galarian Mr. Mime^note Goes from Psychic/Fairy to Psychic/Ice, and gains an evolution in Mr. Rime, Galarian Articuno^note Goes from Ice/Flying to Psychic/Flying, Galarian Zapdos^note goes from Electric/Flying to Fighting/Flying, Galarian Moltres^note Goes from Fire/Flying to Dark/Flying, Galarian Corsola^note Goes from Water/Rock to pure Ghost, gaining an evolution in Cursola, Galarian Zigzagoon/Linoone^note Goes from Normal to Dark/Normal and gains an evolution in Obstagoon, Galarian Darumaka/Darmanitan^note Goes from pure Fire mode (plus Fire/Psychic for its Zen mode) to pure Ice typing (plus Ice/Fire for its Zen mode), Galarian Yamask^note Goes from pure Ghost to Ghost/Ground and gains an evolution in Runerigus and Galarian Stunfisk^note Goes from Ground/Electric to Ground/Steel.
    • Generation VIII's Hisui region introduces more mons: Hisuian Growlithe/Arcanine^note Goes from pure Fire typing Fire/Rock, Hisuian Voltorb/Electrode^note Goes from pure Electric to Electric/Grass, Hisuian Typhlosion^note Goes from pure Fire to Fire/Ghost, Hisuian Qwilfish^note Goes from Water/Poison to Dark/Poison, and gains an evolution in Overqwil, Hisuian Sneasel^note Goes from Dark/Ice to Fighting/Poison, and gains an evolution in Sneasler, Hisuian Samurott^note Goes from pure Water to Water/Dark, Hisuian Lilligant^note Goes from pure Grass to Grass/Fighting, Hisuian Zorua/Zoroark^note Goes from Dark to Normal/Ghost, Hisuian Braviary^note Goes fron Normal/Flying to Psychic/Flying, Hisuian Sliggoo/Goodra^note Goes from pure Dragon to Steel/Dragon, Hisuian Avalugg^note Goes from pure Ice to Ice/Rock and Hisuian Decidueye^note Goes from Grass/Ghost to Grass/Fighting.
    • Generation IX's Paldea region introduces several Paldean Tauros variants^note Fighting-type Combat Breed, Fighting/Fire-type Blaze Breed, and Fighting/Water type Aqua Breed as well as Paldean Wooper^note from Water/Ground to Poison/Ground, and also has Clodsire as an evolution.
  • Gen IX also introduced the concept of Convergent Species, Pokémon that may resemble another species but have no connection with them: Wiglett/Wugtrio^note Water versions of the Ground-type Diglett/Dugtrio, Toedscool/Toedscruel^note Ground/Grass versions of the Water/Poison-type Tentacool/Tentacruel and Poltchageist/Sinistcha^note Grass/Ghost versions of the pure Ghost-type Sinistea/Polteageist.
  • Also from Gen IX are the Paradox versions of Pokémon: Great Tusk/Iron Treads^note Ground/Fighting and Ground/Steel alternate past/future versions of the pure-Ground Donphan, Scream Tail^note Fairy/Psychic past version of the Normal/Fairy Jigglypuff[[(note]], Brute Bonnet[[note]]Grass/Dark past version of the Grass/Poison Amoonguss, Flutter Mane^note Ghost/Fairy past version of Misdreavus, Slither Wing/Iron Moth^note Bug/Fighting and Fire/Poison past/future versions of the Bug/Fire Volcarona, Sandy Shocks^note Electric/Ground past version of the Electric/Steel Magneton, Roaring Moon^note Dragon/dark past version of the Dragon/Flying Salamence, Walking Wake^note Water/Dragon past variant of the pure Water-type Suicune, Gouging Fire^note Fire/Dragon past version of the pure Fire-type Entei, Raging Bolt^note Electric/Dragon past variant of the pure Electric-type Raikou, Iron Bundle^note Ice/Water future version of the Ice/Flying-type Delibird, Iron Hands^note Fighting/Electric future version of the pure Fighting-type Hariyama, Iron Jugulis^note Dark/Flying future version of the Dark/Dragon-type Hydreigon, Iron Thorns^note Rock/Electric future version of the Rock/Dark-type Tyranitar, Iron Valiant^note A Fairy/Fighting future Fusion Dance of the Psychic/Fairy Gardevoir and Psychic/Fighting Gallade, Iron Leaves^note Grass/Psychic future version of the Grass/Fighting-type Virizion, Iron Boulder^note Rock/Psychic future version of the Rock/Fighting-type Terrakion and Iron Crown^note Steel/Psychic future version of the Steel/Fighting-type Cobalion.
• Total War: Warhammer: Certain Regiments of Renown consist of their base unit given an elemental power or aura:
  • One of the most common variants gives flaming attacks to the basic unit. These include Dazh's Hearth-Blades (Tzar-Guard), the Bandits of the Silver Road (Cathayan Peasant Archers), the Fireborn (Dragon Princes), the Firebark Elders (Tree Kin), the Warriors of Dragonfire Pass (Dwarf Warriors), the Gallows Giant (Necrofex Colossus), the Blazing Beards of Bazherak (Chaos Dwarf Warriors), the Clan Vulkn Tailslashers (Clanrats), the Knights of Immolation (Doom Knights of Tzeentch), the Heralds of Khorne's Fury (Bloodcrushers of Khorne), and the Knights of the Brazen Throne (Skullcrushers of Khorne).
  • The Wraiths of the Frozen Heart, the Chill of Sontar and the Snowhorn of Mourn are variants of the Dryads, War Hydra and Snowhorn with an icy aura and, in the Chill of Sontar's case, a freezing Breath Weapon instead of a fiery one. One of Imrik's unique dragons, Lamoureux the Frozen Breath, is likewise an ice dragon reskin of the normally fire-breathing Moon Dragons. On a unit-wide level, the Chaos Frost Dragons (originally named Frost Wyrms) recruitable by Norsca are basically a pale blue, ice-elemental version of the Warriors of Chaos' Chaos Dragon steeds.
  • The Summoners of Rage are Dragon Ogres with an electric visual effect around themselves and the ability to use the Chain Lightning spell once per battle.

Web Originals

• The Mozilla Firefox logo is, naturally, a Fire Fox.
• Neopets:
  • Pets and petpets alike can be given a variety of elemental or element-based colors, such as ice, magma, water, electric, and woodland. While some of this is simply aesthetic, there are cases that imply certain colors have certain unique needs, such as fire pets preferring warm environments.
  • Some items riff on the colors by also having elemental variants, some of which are literal. There are school supplies made of fire or ice, for instance, often paired with flavor-text to joke about the difficult use of such objects. This also happens with things such as clothing, furniture, and toys.

Western Animation

• Avatar: The Last Airbender:
  • Sky Bison are air-themed bison, obviously. The other elemental animals are far more intuitive (Dragons — Fire, Badgermoles — Earth, Koi Fish — Water).
  • The Legend of Korra: The Lion Turtles came in four elemental variations. While the fire one seems generic, the water turtle is semi-aquatic, the earth turtle exists submerged in sand, and the air turtle floats in the sky.
• Adventure Time: During The "Elements" miniseries, the land of Ooo gets mass infected with the four elements of Fire, Candy, Ice, and Slime. This transforms every character into a variation of one of those elements.
• Ben 10: In "Dr. Animo and the Mutant Ray", Dr. Animo creates a fire-bat by combining a bat with HeatBlast's DNA.
• The Dragon Prince: All animals in Xadia have an elemental affinity that determines how they manifest. This includes Fire-themed spiders, Earth-themed bears, and Moon-themed griffins. Certain creatures can come in every elemental type: including Elves, Dragons, and Adoraburrs.
• Lilo & Stitch: The Series: While many of Stitch's cousins have elemental powers, Sparky in particular is essentially just an electric version of Stitch, complete with extremely similar physiology. This is due to him being the first cousin introduced, and the series wanting to emphasize a familial connection between them.
• The Owl House: One of the many dangers that inhabit the Boiling Isles are fire bees, which are just like regular bees but constantly on fire. This flaming aspect also extends to their honey, which in addition to being a common potion ingredient can be used to heat things up long after it has been harvested and should have logically cooled.

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