Arbok variants

There are many Arbok variants found in the games, animated series, manga, and TCG.

Pattern variants

In the core series games

Several of Arbok's Pokédex entries state that its face-like hood markings differ between areas, and that a number of variations have been recorded. Its Pokémon Yellow Pokédex entry mentions that there are six known patterns, but by the events of Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, its Ultra Sun Pokédex entry mentions that there are more than 20. Around eleven designs are known, but only six have appeared in the games, and only three of which appeared in the core series games.

Standard pattern

The most common, "standardized" hood pattern has red, teardrop-shaped eyes outlined in black with yellow, elongated hearts inside, a black mouth, and a black arrow over the eyes, with two red dots near the tip and an upward-extending tail. This design stems from Arbok's Pokémon Red and Green artwork, itself based on Arbok's sprites from the Generation I games (outside of Pokémon Yellow), only swapping out the red and yellow accents, and removing the extra "pupil" in the two large eyes.

This hood would become the default one in the mainline games starting with Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, although this was already the design used in the animated series, the manga (except for Agatha's Arbok in Pokémon Adventures), and most pieces of artwork (promotional, Dream World/corporate, etc).

Other patterns

Arbok also has several hood variations with round eyes and a red mouth outlined in black. The most common depiction of this has two black fangs descending onto its mouth, black eyebrows, and outward-pointing eyelashes. This design first appeared in Arbok's Pokémon Red and Blue artwork, and has also appeared in the Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald sprites.

In Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue Arbok appear with the eye spots having flipped colors to the standard pattern with more defined "pupils". The back of the hood has two w-shaped marks.

In Pokémon Yellow Arbok appear similar to the standard pattern. However, the mouth-like marking comes to a flat arrow-like edge. The back sprite is shared with the other Generation I games.

Another hood variation with round eyes appeared in Gold, Silver, and Crystal. This pattern has no fangs or eyebrows, a pointier mouth, and its eyelashes point upward.

Another design appeared on the sleeve of the GB Sounds CD, featuring diamond-shaped eyes, a slim mouth, and two black marks by the sides of the "face".

Standard pattern
Main circular pattern
Red and Green sprite
Generation I back sprite
Yellow sprite
Secondary circular pattern
Game Boy: Entire Pokémon Sounds Collection CD

In the spin-off games

Pokémon Pinball

In Pokémon Pinball, the pattern with round eyes is seen as the Arbok sprite. This is similar to the Generation II core series sprite, though this one seemingly lacks eyebrows altogether.

Pattern from Pokémon Pinball

Pokémon Ranger

In Pokémon Ranger, Arbok's design has no eyelashes or fangs, and has a Y-shaped mark which branches over each eye and connects to the middle to the mouth. The branches each have smaller, Y-shaped ends, between each of which resides a small black dot.

Pattern from Pokémon Ranger

Pokémon Trading Card Game 2

In Pokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR!, the pattern with round eyes is seen on the Arbok Event Coin. This is similar to the Generation II core series sprite.

Pattern from the Event Coin

In animation

Pokémon the Series

On Game Freak's original website, there was an illustration depicting Jessie and an Arbok with a motif similar to the main circular one, only with eyes pointing in a different direction.

In A Chansey Operation a background of Arbok with heart patterns appear while Jessie speaks with Dr. Proctor.

In the Japanese version of EP164, Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture includes multiple Arbok designs. They are based on the Arbok designs from the Pocket Monsters Encyclopedia.

Jessie and Arbok artwork
Arbok heart pattern in A Chansey Operation
Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture: Arbok
Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture: Arbok
Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture: Arbok

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

In Pokémon Adventures, the standard form seen in the core series games is known as the "regenerative pattern". It is seen on Koga's Arbok.

Agatha's Arbok can change its markings, gaining a special abilities in the process. These are the speed, attack, and invulnerability patterns. They are based on the Arbok designs from the Pocket Monsters Encyclopedia.

Agatha's Arbok
(invulnerability pattern)
Agatha's Arbok
(speed pattern)
Agatha's Arbok
(attack pattern)

The Electric Tale of Pikachu

In The Electric Tale of Pikachu, Jessie's Arbok has red markings on the back of its hood forming a circle with two curved shapes surrounding it. The markings on the back are inconsistent, sometimes having extra lines near the top, and extra waves in the curves. The front resembles the standard pattern, but with the eye spots being pointed instead of rounded in the center.

Jessie's Arbok (front)
Jessie's Arbok (back)
Jessie's Arbok (inconsistency)
Jessie's Arbok (red markings)

Magical Pokémon Journey

In Magical Pokémon Journey, Arbok is depicted with a pattern similar to the main pattern. The eye spots are pointed with the markings above branching into 4 points.

Arbok from Magical Pokémon Journey

Pokémon 4Koma Encyclopedia

In Pokémon 4Koma Encyclopedia, 6 Arbok patterns are shown:

The first pattern has half wedge eye spots with 3 diverging lines which taper above. Under the eye spots are markings that resemble a "{" for the mouth, cheekbone markings, and a mark resembling a goatee.
The second pattern consists of teardrop shaped eye spots pointing toward the center of the hood with two smaller wedges within. Above the eyes spots is a u-shape and below is a shape resembling a grin with vertical lines resembling teeth.
The third pattern has eyes resembling the standard pattern's but flipped. Above is a v-shape, with two long spiny markings resembling a mouth.
The fourth has triangular eye spots with crescents mimicking sclera. Above is a 4-pointed shape similar to the Arbok in Magical Pokémon Journey. Below are two jagged bat-like lines mimicking a mouth.
The fifth has a 3-pointed shape above thick downward crescent eye spots with a light diagonal pupil shape. Below are two shapes resembling a mustache with a lips-like shape underneath.
The final pattern resembles a balding man with spiral glasses and a large smile.

In the books

Pocket Monsters Encyclopedia

In Pocket Monsters Encyclopedia, there are three Arbok hood designs.

Invulnerability pattern
Attack pattern
Speed pattern

In the TCG

The form including the mouth shape with black fangs is seen in the TCG cards Arbok from Fossil, Arbok from Expedition, and Janine's Arbok from the VS set.

An evil-looking pattern was also created by Mitsuhiro Arita solely for the TCG. Both eyes are joined into a sharp red mask, with a yellow outline and triangular pupils. As for the mouth, it is shaped like a grin full of pointed red teeth outlined in black. It is featured in the card Dark Arbok from the Team Rocket set.

Dark Arbok (TCG)

Shiny Arbok

Main article: Arbok (Pokémon) → Sprites

Arbok's Shiny colors:

In Generation II only, Arbok's Shiny sprite consisted of a gray body with purple markings. It had brown eyes in its regular form and purple eyes in its Shiny form. In Pokémon Crystal only, possibly due to palette limitations, its had a white tongue in both forms.
From Generation III onwards, the regular and Shiny Arbok have black eyes. From Generations III to V, its Shiny form had a dark yellow body with blue markings. The inside of Shiny Arbok's mouth was blue, and it had a blue tongue as well.
From Generation VI onwards, its Shiny variant is light brown with blue markings. The regular Arbok now has a red tongue while Shiny Arbok has a pink tongue.