The Four Holy Beasts are based on the Four Symbols from East Asian cultures -- the Azure Dragon of the East, the Vermilion Bird of the South, the White Tiger of the West, and the Black Tortoise of the North. Each beast represents a cardinal direction and a season, and has since enjoyed a lot of appearances in anime.
The Holy Beasts would make major appearances in 02 -- with a nice backstory explaining that they fought and were defeated by Apocalymon and the Dark Masters in the background of the original Digimon Adventure series. In Tamers, there was a more interesting situation where there's a schism among the Four Holy Beasts, with one of them, Zhuqiaomon, convinced that humanity is trying to wipe out the Digital World, and is the mastermind behind a series of powerful incursions of hostile Digimon into the human world. (Zhuqiaomon is not wrong.)
Unfortunately, for better or for worse, a lot of modern Digimon series drop the Four Holy Beasts in favour for boring old angels, demons and royal knights. I've always found four mighty god-like beasts to feel appropriate as the gods of 'monsters'!
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Qinglongmon
- Alternate Names: Chinronmon (JP pronunciation), Azulongmon (EN dub)
- Stage: Ultimate
- Type: Holy Dragon
- Attribute / Group: Data / Four Holy Beasts
Anyway, after all of that origin story and talk about their huge lore implications, let's start off with the Azure Dragon of the East, Qinglongmon. A quick note about romanization... 'Qing Long' is the Chinese reading of the kanji for the Azure Dragon, but the same kanji/hanzi is read and pronounced as Chinron in Japanese. It's something that Digimon has been semi-consistently doing with creatures drawn from Chinese mythology, having the official spelling using the Chinese reading, but the anime or games would pronounce it with the Japanese reading. This could've been explained a bit more elegantly, but such is the ways of language!
Qinglongmon here is a pretty badass depiction of a Chinese dragon, because he's not just a dragon. His serpentine body is seemingly made up of lightning, with chains holding him together, and he's got five pairs of wings dotting his body. I also do like his head-helmet thing which looks a bit more solid, with that fancy Chinese dragon beard trailing down. There's perhaps a couple of details that end up making Qinglongmon a bit more cluttered than he should, but that's the fault of his inspiration more than Qinglongmon himself -- real-life Chinese Dragons are meant to be supreme beasts with attributes of all other animals, so they are inherently pretty busy. As an aside, I love that beard.
All of the Holy Beats have four eyes and a bunch of glowing orbs floating around them as a shared design. Qinglongmon opts for the simple "two eyes on each side of the head", with orbs floating around each of his legs. Pretty neat! I've always found Qinglongmon to be cool and dignified and just a touch silly, and clearly the franchise has no problem making Qinglongmon look cool. In addition to his membership among the Four Holy Beasts. In addition, Qinglongmon also moonlights as the leader of the Four Great Dragons alongside Holydramon, Megidramon and Goddramon.
Anyway, Qinglongmon is easily the most dignified and regal of the Four Holy Beasts, and remains one of my favourite designs for a god-tier Digimon. While most Digimon games tended to have one or more of the Deva (Perfect-level servitors of the Holy Beasts) act as the Holy Beasts' pre-evolved form, with the draconic Majiramon being the most likely candidate, Tri opted for a more humble pre-evolved state for Adventure's Qinglongmon, having him evolve from one of the Chosen Childrens' Triceramon of all things. Triceramon! One of the members of the Chosen Children's Digimon in that flashback is a Megadramon, but that Megadramon was the one that died instead of becoming the dragon god. Why?
Anyway, Qinglongmon's cool. I like him.
9/10.
Being part of an oriental culture, you just know that the "Vermilion Bird of the South" will always gets depicted as a mighty phoenix. And Zhuqiaomon (pronounced Setsumon) is the only Virus-attribute member of the group, although his appearance in Tamers is less evil and more of a Knight Templar-style extremist. Zhuqiaomon is described in his bio as the one with the roughest temperament among the Four Holy Beasts, whihc plays into his control of flame pretty well. Zhuqiaomon's bio is also the one that emphasizes just how powerful these Holy Beasts are, noting that they stand so much higher above ordinary Ultimate-levels... although writing this several Digimon series down the line, that distinction honestly doesn't mean much, with every other Royal Knight or Olympus people being "so much stronger" than regular Ultimate-levels.
Zhuqiaomon's design is pretty interesting, since it isn't just a normal phoenix but has a much more serpentine body before it ends in the bird-like beak. They perhaps added a couple too many wings on Zhuqiaomon, with four pairs of wings dotting his body, and that two tiny ones from his chest honestly feel quite silly. Do like that the normal bird-legs also end up just being wings with claws at the end. I get that Zhuqiaomon had to look far more impressive than the earlier-released Hououmon, which is a "mere" phoenix and not the GOD OF ALL PHOENIXES, but I always feel that Zhuqiaomon is the most cluttered among all the Holy Beasts. Again, this is one that other artwork tended to take liberties with, emphasizing the sheer size of Zhuqiaomon's wings to make him feel more majestic. Also note that the art here doesn't really show it, but on Zhuqiaomon's spine is a random jet turbine, which I first saw while watching Tamers and it always felt so out of place.
Again, just like Qinglongmon, Zhuqiaomon has four eyes, and a bunch of floating orbs, this time around his neck and tail. Just like Qinglongmon, Zhuqiaomon tended to be portrayed to evolve from one of the Deva... although the Devas' resident Rooster, Sinduramon, has always felt waaay too goofy to turn into this majestic phoenix. Hilarious, though! Tri had a Hippogriffomon turn into Zhuqiaomon instead, which is less funny, but I guess more appropriate. Anyway, while probably one of the more boring out of the Four Sovereigns, I still like Zhuqiaomon for a big scary god-bird phoenix.
7/10.
Xuanwumon (pronounced Shen'wumon and renamed Ebonwumon in the dub) is the Black Turtle of the North, and I've always felt like he's the most fun design out of the Four Holy Beasts. Qinglongmon, Zhuqiaomon and Baihumon opted for majesty and a general look that just screams Holy Beast, but Xuanwumon looks silly but still dignified... just like real-life old turtles, really. Xuanwumon plays off myths of the "World Turtle" in Hindu, Chinese and Native American mythology (which also inspired the Pokemon Torterra), as well as some depictions of the Black Turtle as a two-headed serpentine tortoise. Xuanwumon's just this huge two-headed turtle whose shell is also a big-ass tree with the biggest trunk ever. And he's fun!
I also love how both heads in Xuanwumon has different helmets, with the right head being more snake-like, and the left head looking like a chibi-Greymon head. They also split the Four Holy Beasts' four eyes among the two heads, which I've always thought to be quite clever! Xuanwumon is described as the oldest out of the Four Holy Beasts, and also the gentlest. In Tamers, Xuanwumon is easily the one that's the cheeriest and funniest out of the four. Zhuqiaomon is quick to blame humanity and acts as an antagonist, Qinglongmon plays the peacekeeper fighting for humanity, Baihumon acts as the spearhead and fights the threat while everyone else fights among their own... Xuanwumon just chills, yo, and makes jokes.
Where Zhuqiaomon and Qinglongmon command fire and lightning respectively, Xuanwumon is described to command the element of water, using it to not shoot water cannons as you'd think, but rather to create mists and hallucinations. Again, Xuanwumon traditionally evolves from a Deva or combination thereof (there is none among the Zodiac that perfectly fits a turtle, though), whereas Tri opts for one of the Chosen Children's Orochimon to transform into Xuanwumon... kind of appropriate once you think of it, since Orochimon is also a multi-headed serpent based on Asian mythology!
9/10.
Huh, this one doesn't have any other names. That's weird. The White Tiger of the West, Baihumon is... is easily the most underwhelming of the Four Beasts, I've always felt. He's just a huge, chunky tiger with four eyes and a bunch of metal armour plates bolted on to his body, as well as the obligatory orbs floating around his waist. I've always felt that there was a bit too many accessories going on in Baihumon's design, while it's simultaneously too simple of a design to fit alongside the other four more majestic beasts, if that makes sense? Baihumon is noted to possess the attribute of steel, and I felt that there's a missed opportunity here. Three of the Four Holy Beasts possess three of China's five elements -- metal, fire and water... but Qinglongmon, instead of representing earth or wood, gets to become a lightning dragon. Granted, Qinglongmon is a badass lightning dragon, but still, that's a bit of a missed opportunity.
Anyway, back to Baihumon... I honestly can't say much about him, really. He's just a white tiger with stuff stapled onto him, and I honestly prefer his little minion, the tiger Deva Mihiramon, over Baihumon himself, if we're being honest. Interestingly, Baihumon is noted to be the youngest and most powerful of the Four Holy Beasts. He at least has a cool move where his roars will convert anyone into metal, dooming them to rust to death, unable to move or scream... but what if Baihumon uses this against a robot Digimon? What, then?
Again, Baihumon tended to be shown to evolve from one or more of the Devas, with the tiger Mihiramon or the dog Caturamon as the most common subjects, but Tri would have one of the Chosen Children's LoaderLiomon evolve into Baihumon instead.
6/10.
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Anyway, Qinglongmon is easily the most dignified and regal of the Four Holy Beasts, and remains one of my favourite designs for a god-tier Digimon. While most Digimon games tended to have one or more of the Deva (Perfect-level servitors of the Holy Beasts) act as the Holy Beasts' pre-evolved form, with the draconic Majiramon being the most likely candidate, Tri opted for a more humble pre-evolved state for Adventure's Qinglongmon, having him evolve from one of the Chosen Childrens' Triceramon of all things. Triceramon! One of the members of the Chosen Children's Digimon in that flashback is a Megadramon, but that Megadramon was the one that died instead of becoming the dragon god. Why?
Anyway, Qinglongmon's cool. I like him.
9/10.
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Zhuqiaomon
- Alternate Names: Sutsemon (JP pronunciation)
- Stage: Ultimate
- Type: Holy Bird
- Attribute / Group: Virus / Four Holy Beasts
Being part of an oriental culture, you just know that the "Vermilion Bird of the South" will always gets depicted as a mighty phoenix. And Zhuqiaomon (pronounced Setsumon) is the only Virus-attribute member of the group, although his appearance in Tamers is less evil and more of a Knight Templar-style extremist. Zhuqiaomon is described in his bio as the one with the roughest temperament among the Four Holy Beasts, whihc plays into his control of flame pretty well. Zhuqiaomon's bio is also the one that emphasizes just how powerful these Holy Beasts are, noting that they stand so much higher above ordinary Ultimate-levels... although writing this several Digimon series down the line, that distinction honestly doesn't mean much, with every other Royal Knight or Olympus people being "so much stronger" than regular Ultimate-levels.
Zhuqiaomon's design is pretty interesting, since it isn't just a normal phoenix but has a much more serpentine body before it ends in the bird-like beak. They perhaps added a couple too many wings on Zhuqiaomon, with four pairs of wings dotting his body, and that two tiny ones from his chest honestly feel quite silly. Do like that the normal bird-legs also end up just being wings with claws at the end. I get that Zhuqiaomon had to look far more impressive than the earlier-released Hououmon, which is a "mere" phoenix and not the GOD OF ALL PHOENIXES, but I always feel that Zhuqiaomon is the most cluttered among all the Holy Beasts. Again, this is one that other artwork tended to take liberties with, emphasizing the sheer size of Zhuqiaomon's wings to make him feel more majestic. Also note that the art here doesn't really show it, but on Zhuqiaomon's spine is a random jet turbine, which I first saw while watching Tamers and it always felt so out of place.
Again, just like Qinglongmon, Zhuqiaomon has four eyes, and a bunch of floating orbs, this time around his neck and tail. Just like Qinglongmon, Zhuqiaomon tended to be portrayed to evolve from one of the Deva... although the Devas' resident Rooster, Sinduramon, has always felt waaay too goofy to turn into this majestic phoenix. Hilarious, though! Tri had a Hippogriffomon turn into Zhuqiaomon instead, which is less funny, but I guess more appropriate. Anyway, while probably one of the more boring out of the Four Sovereigns, I still like Zhuqiaomon for a big scary god-bird phoenix.
7/10.
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Xuanwumon
- Alternate Names: Shen'umon (JP pronunciation), Ebonwumon (EN dub)
- Stage: Ultimate
- Type: Holy Beast
- Attribute / Group: Vaccine / Four Holy Beasts
Xuanwumon (pronounced Shen'wumon and renamed Ebonwumon in the dub) is the Black Turtle of the North, and I've always felt like he's the most fun design out of the Four Holy Beasts. Qinglongmon, Zhuqiaomon and Baihumon opted for majesty and a general look that just screams Holy Beast, but Xuanwumon looks silly but still dignified... just like real-life old turtles, really. Xuanwumon plays off myths of the "World Turtle" in Hindu, Chinese and Native American mythology (which also inspired the Pokemon Torterra), as well as some depictions of the Black Turtle as a two-headed serpentine tortoise. Xuanwumon's just this huge two-headed turtle whose shell is also a big-ass tree with the biggest trunk ever. And he's fun!
I also love how both heads in Xuanwumon has different helmets, with the right head being more snake-like, and the left head looking like a chibi-Greymon head. They also split the Four Holy Beasts' four eyes among the two heads, which I've always thought to be quite clever! Xuanwumon is described as the oldest out of the Four Holy Beasts, and also the gentlest. In Tamers, Xuanwumon is easily the one that's the cheeriest and funniest out of the four. Zhuqiaomon is quick to blame humanity and acts as an antagonist, Qinglongmon plays the peacekeeper fighting for humanity, Baihumon acts as the spearhead and fights the threat while everyone else fights among their own... Xuanwumon just chills, yo, and makes jokes.
Where Zhuqiaomon and Qinglongmon command fire and lightning respectively, Xuanwumon is described to command the element of water, using it to not shoot water cannons as you'd think, but rather to create mists and hallucinations. Again, Xuanwumon traditionally evolves from a Deva or combination thereof (there is none among the Zodiac that perfectly fits a turtle, though), whereas Tri opts for one of the Chosen Children's Orochimon to transform into Xuanwumon... kind of appropriate once you think of it, since Orochimon is also a multi-headed serpent based on Asian mythology!
9/10.
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Baihumon
- Alternate Names: N/A
- Stage: Ultimate
- Type: Holy Beast
- Attribute / Group: Data / Four Holy Beasts
Huh, this one doesn't have any other names. That's weird. The White Tiger of the West, Baihumon is... is easily the most underwhelming of the Four Beasts, I've always felt. He's just a huge, chunky tiger with four eyes and a bunch of metal armour plates bolted on to his body, as well as the obligatory orbs floating around his waist. I've always felt that there was a bit too many accessories going on in Baihumon's design, while it's simultaneously too simple of a design to fit alongside the other four more majestic beasts, if that makes sense? Baihumon is noted to possess the attribute of steel, and I felt that there's a missed opportunity here. Three of the Four Holy Beasts possess three of China's five elements -- metal, fire and water... but Qinglongmon, instead of representing earth or wood, gets to become a lightning dragon. Granted, Qinglongmon is a badass lightning dragon, but still, that's a bit of a missed opportunity.
Anyway, back to Baihumon... I honestly can't say much about him, really. He's just a white tiger with stuff stapled onto him, and I honestly prefer his little minion, the tiger Deva Mihiramon, over Baihumon himself, if we're being honest. Interestingly, Baihumon is noted to be the youngest and most powerful of the Four Holy Beasts. He at least has a cool move where his roars will convert anyone into metal, dooming them to rust to death, unable to move or scream... but what if Baihumon uses this against a robot Digimon? What, then?
Again, Baihumon tended to be shown to evolve from one or more of the Devas, with the tiger Mihiramon or the dog Caturamon as the most common subjects, but Tri would have one of the Chosen Children's LoaderLiomon evolve into Baihumon instead.
6/10._________________________________________________________
Nefertimon
- Alternate Names: N/A
- Stage: Armor - usually treated as Adult-equivalent
- Type: Holy Beast
- Attribute: Free
Hoo, that's a mouthful! Time to talk about a bunch of armours. This time around, we're going to talk about the Armour evolutions of Tailmon, who, during the 02 cartoon's early parts (and for the D3 pet) is de-powered to the level of a Child-level when her Holy Ring was lost, and which is why Tailmon still needed to Armour Evolve. Despite technically being Armour Evolutions of an Adult-level Digimon, Nefertimon and Tailmon's other Armour evolutions tended to still be portrayed to have the relative power of an Adult-level, although power scaling in the Digimon franchise is kind of bullshit anyway.
Anyway, Hikari and Tailmon are one of the two pairs that made it from the main cast of Adventure into one of the main cast of 02, and Hikari quickly laid claim to the digimental associated with her originally, the Digimental of Light. And the resulting armour evolution is... actually pretty cool! It is basically a Tailmon with exaggerated, larger proportions, turned into a sphinx! It's actually a pretty fitting evolution for Tailmon, with the angelic wings a neat nod to Tailmon's natural evolution of Angewomon, whereas all of thearmour and the sphinx theme being a fitting evolution of Tailmon's own cat-based design.
Interestingly, Nefertimon's attack is to create a beam of light from her back, from which shoots out a slab with hieroglyphics on it, called Rosetta Stone. What? Anyway, I've always loved Nefertimon's expressionless mask of a face and that fun little snake ornament on her brow. Also worth noting that while Tailmon is a cute little cat-sized Digimon and Angewomon is only slightly taller than a human adult, Nefertimon is a gigantic rideable sphinx-beast, so even when Hikari and Tailmon would have access to Perfects later on in the show (with Tailmon having Angewomon and Silphymon as options), Nefertimon still continues to pop up as transportation.
Anyway, I've always liked Nefertimon. Honestly, if Nefertimon looked slightly more majestic, I would wager that I would lobby for Nefertimon to be the more natural, official Perfect-level to bridge Tailmon and Holydramon. But I'm not going to -- Angewomon's still cool. In addition to being a main character in 02, a Nefertimon was an ally Digimon for an episode of Frontier.
7/10.
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Lynxmon
- Alternate Names: N/A
- Stage: Armor - usually treated as Adult-equivalent
- Type: Beast
- Attribute: Free
Again, none of these other Armours ended up showing up in 02, but were introduced in the D3 Virtual Pet as Armour evolutions for a Child-stage version of Tailmon. Lyxnmon here is Tailmon evolved with the Digimental of Courage and... well, it's a cat on fire! I don't necessarily think Lynxmon is a particularly good representation of a real-world lynx either. Lynxmon does have some of Tailmon's purple decals on its face, as busy as this artwork makes it look -- the continuity between the base form and the Armour forms are always suspect for these 02 armours, so I appreciate what little we can get.
Lynxmon is cool in the simple fact that a giant predatory cat made up of fire is cool, but it otherwise is just a giant cat on fire. There's nothing wrong with that, at least they're doing something with the 'lynx' theme instead of just drawing a regular lynx like some of these other lazier Armour Digimon.
Lynxmon would appear briefly as a villain-of-the-week in Tamers, as well as a brief cameo in Savers where Lynxmon was a Digimon that attacked the villainous human Kurata... and Lynxmon got shot with a shotgun for its troubles. It's an all right design.
6/10.
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Bitmon
- Alternate Names: Rabbitmon (EN dub)
- Stage: Armor - usually treated as Adult-equivalent
- Type: Mammal
- Attribute: Free
Bitmon (renamed Rabbitmon in the dub because, face it, I didn't get that 'bit' was short for rabbit until it was spelled out for me) is another one of those ideas that really felt like they were ideas for other miscellaneous Adult or Child-level Digimon that got shoved to fill a quota in the D3 pet. This one is utterly forgettable, honestly, and doesn't have much going on for it that marks it as either an evolution of Tailmon or as a Friendship Armour... although it's not that Friendship ever has any sort of connecting thorough-line. Bitmon is... a rabbit with... a skin-tight wrestling suit? Weird tapering ears? Random claws that can crush diamonds and dig underground?
It apparently collects minerals and then attaches it to its body and head, and curls up to avoid damage. Also, it kind of apparently likes to collect fossils? There's a lot of stuff theyre stuffing here, but none of them are really appealing to me. It's not that boring at least, but I also continually forget Bitmon exists. It's shown up mostly in cameo, having appeared in Frontier and Xros Wars as background characters... and very recently, in Ghost Game, using its ears as blades in a surprisingly threatening sequence as one of three cultists/minions of the 'god of wealth' Majiramon!
3/10.
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Maildramon
- Alternate Names: N/A
- Stage: Armor - usually treated as Adult-equivalent
- Type: Cyborg
- Attribute: Free
Oh yes, finally something cool! Maildramon here doesn't have anything to do with Tailmon, but god damn, this is a cool one. Maildramon evolves from the Digimental of Miracles, and I honestly think only it and and Magnamon really look the part of some miraculous holy beast ready to kick ass! I just enjoy its design in general.
Maildramon is a sauropodal dinosaur with angelic wings, and a distinct knightly-vibe with that cool segmented tail and that fun helmet-head. Interestingly, Maildramon is described as being the steed of Knightmon, and the colours and aesthetics do match!
Maildramon's sole appearance in anime was in Tamers, where it's surprisingly shown as a wild beast chasing around poor old Culumon, before being destroyed by a MetalTyrannomon. That was one of my first exposures to Tamers and I remember Maildramon very vividly from that episode -- despite its minimal role, its appearance actually stood out to me! Anyway, a cool-looking 'holy beast'.
8/10.
Swanmon is Tailmon's evolution through the Digimental of Love, playing into the theme of flying things and... I dunno. It's just kind of a swan? A swan with random bits and bobs of metallic accessories stapled on, including the weirdest set of slippers I've ever seen on a bird. Apparently Swanmon has ice powers, and whenever she moves through the computer network, any computer she passes through "freezes".
8/10.
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Swanmon
- Alternate Names: N/A
- Stage: Armor - usually treated as Adult-equivalent
- Type: Bird
- Attribute: Free
Swanmon is Tailmon's evolution through the Digimental of Love, playing into the theme of flying things and... I dunno. It's just kind of a swan? A swan with random bits and bobs of metallic accessories stapled on, including the weirdest set of slippers I've ever seen on a bird. Apparently Swanmon has ice powers, and whenever she moves through the computer network, any computer she passes through "freezes".
Swanmon is the guardian of the Digimon Egg village in Digimon Frontier, which is stereotypical but I suppose quite appropriate. I'm completely indifferent about Swanmon, though -- one of the armours that genuinely felt like they just picked an animal they haven't turned into a Digimon and just drew it funny.
Actually, I think it's those shoes. I just don't like those shoes.
3/10._________________________________________________________
Kabukimon
- Alternate Names: N/A
- Stage: Armor - usually treated as Adult-equivalent
- Type: Mutation
- Attribute: Free
I didn't think I really liked Kabukimon much until I paid a little more attention to her lore. I thought she was just a generic humanoid with a Kabuki mask and some flower petals slapped on. See, Kabukimon here evolves with the Digimental of Purity (Palmon's crest), and it took a while for me to realize that Kabukimon actually has thorny vines for arms, and both of her 'hands' are actually flowers with Kabuki masks on them... and considering we've seen these sort of plant monsters with heads on vines with Blossomon, it's likely that those head-hands are, well, heads too! Maybe.
The bio notes just how plant-like Kabukimon behaves, where she often plants her feet in the ground and assuming a pose, and the Kabuki-dance-esque movements Kabukimon does are apparently because she's a plant trying to blend in with non-plants or something. It's a nice little detail! Kabukimon's sole anime appearance is as one of Musyamon's minions in Xros Wars in a 'traditional Japan' themed set of adversaries; and shows up a bit later parodying kabuki in an episode of Adventure 2020.
It's not my type of design, but a combination of it being implied to be a plant masquerading as a humanoid, and its over-the-top anime incarnations, have warmed me up to Kabukimon over the years.
5/10. +2 points because of anime.
Nani ga wow wow wow wow wow! Kono sora ni todoku no darou! Oh, wait, sorry, wrong butter-fly.
5/10. +2 points because of anime.
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Butterflamon
- Alternate Names: Butterflymon (EN dub)
- Stage: Armor - usually treated as Adult-equivalent
- Type: Insect
- Attribute: Free
Nani ga wow wow wow wow wow! Kono sora ni todoku no darou! Oh, wait, sorry, wrong butter-fly.
Everything Butterflymon (technically 'Butterflamon', but we'll go dub spelling for this one) tries to do, I'm afraid, every single other bug-themed Armour Digimon does better. Honeybeemon is yellow, cuter and more distinctive. Flybeemon nails down the cool, sleek look better than this guy. And Shadramon nails the chunky, quirky look a lot better as well. Butterflymon doesn't really look much like a proper butterfly anyway, more like a generic humanoid imp with huge chunky lower arms, with butterfly wings stapled onto her back. She is one of the few Tailmon armours to actually have Tailmon's ears poking out of the golden armour, and one could make the argument that those claws are a nod to Tailmon's gloves... but the inconsistency just makes it more irritating, really.
I just feel like Butterflymon is quite bland, and whereas the other 'knowledge' amours like Flybeemon and Honeybeemon have shown up here and there and been memorable, Butterflymon just never really showed up anywhere. With Hudiemon having recently been introduced, I feel like this poor guy is just being sidelined more and more as the default 'butterfly' Digimon.
3/10.
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Tylomon
- Alternate Names: N/A
- Stage: Armor - usually treated as Adult-equivalent
- Type: Ocean Dragon
- Attribute: Free
Oh shit, this one is cool. Tylomon is Tailmon's evolution with Gomamon's Digimental of Sincerity, and it borrows a page from Submarimon in that Tylomon is an aquatic creature crossed with some sort of deep-sea vehicle. In Tylomon's case, he's based on a Tylosaurus, one of the largest members of the Mosasauridae family (Mosasaurs had a huge resurgence in pop culture thanks to Jurassic World) crossed with some sort of a jet or submarine or something. I really like this one!
The design is simple with a bunch of sleek cyborg parts and two giant knives stapled on, and Tylomon even kind of looks like he hangs out with the likes of old-school aquatic monsters like Seadramon and Plesiomon. There are some military-vehicle-style markings on Tylomon's side, which I thought was unnecessary, but does add to a bit of flair. It is known as the "Jet Plane of the Deep".
Tylomon has appeared in a Tamers movie as a brief villain (which gave us a cool action sequence), a minor ally Digimon in Savers, and a horde of them were among the first adversaries in the Adventure: 2020 reboot! I do really like this guy.
8/10.
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Goatmon
- Alternate Names: Oryxmon (EN dub)
- Stage: Armor - usually treated as Adult-equivalent
- Type: Mammal
- Attribute: Free
Goatmon (renamed Oryxmon for some reason in the dub) is... a goat? With a bunch of armour? Goatmon at least looks somewhat neat, although I've always found him to just kind of be there. Goatmon, of course, is a Hope Armour evolution, all of whom are quadrupedal hooved mammals. Goatmon is apparently a Digimon charged with the duty of guarding treasures, ruins and other important data... but because it's a goat, sometimes it forgets and embarrassingly eats the data it guards. Silly Goatmon!
Goatmon is also noted to have a rivalry with the thieving Harpymon, and apparently attacks with the sound from that bell on his neck. Goatmon's shown up quite a bit in Frontier as a recurring grumpy ally that has a surprisingly well-done death scene; would show up as a background character in Xros Wars and had a surprisingly creepy appearance in Ghost Game as another one of Majiramon's minions. That bell actually got used!
There's just enough here to make it a bit more likable than the likes of Swanmon and the gimmicks mesh well together unlike Bitmon, so Goatmon gets a nicely neutral score:
6/10.
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Opossummon
- Alternate Names: N/A
- Stage: Armor - usually treated as Adult-equivalent
- Type: Beast
- Attribute: Free
Opossumon is definitely one of the more bizarre armour evolutions that Tailmon can turn into, and this one doesn't even look like a proper Adult-level Digimon. Opossumon evolves from the Digimental of Kindness, and I guess the whole theme of Kindness is that it turns the Digimon into a cute, charming fairy-like thing?
Opossumon looks quite basic, like a Mickey Mouse style cartoon rodent with gloves and boots, and it just holds onto a bunch of balloons. Those balloons have shit-eating grins plastered onto them, and the end result is a whimsical, wacky little guy! Despite looking like a Child-level, Opossumon is still an Armour-level and therefore equivalent in power to an Adult-level, and those balloons contain 'powerful computer viruses' that are unexpectedly destructive. We never see this in any of its appearances, but the profile describes Opossumon hiding underground with only its balloons showing up.
Opossumon makes its debut as the partner of one of the secondary characters in Xros Wars: Hunters, being the cheerful partner of Suzaki Airu... and was assigned the bizarre ChoHakkaimon as its evolution. Far cooler, however, was Opossumon being used as a villain-of-the-week in Adventure 2020, where Opossumon was a heinous villain that acted as the friendly 'face' of a circus to draw in baby Digimon (and wandering human children), before trapping them in an interdimensional prison within its WaruMonzaemon partner. Its creepy balloons are even attached to its victims, explicitly draining their lives and motivation and feeding it to its giant teddy bear co-conspirator! This incarnation has really made Opossumon a lot more memorable in my books, and having it be cheerful but capable of surprising creepiness definitely makes it a lot more memorable.
7/10, due to Adventure 2020. 
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