Since the release of the original Japanese games Pocket Monsters Red and Pocket Monsters Green in 1996, Pokémon has become a worldwide phenomenon. Whether you’ve been with the series since the beginning or only picked up the latest entry, you may be surprised to learn there are 1025 different Pokémon. I’ve committed to ranking all of them the ones I remember, from worst to best.
1025. Ackshualee
Worst of the worst. The only moves it knows are retorts like “Technically, there are 1164 counting regional variants, mega evolutions, and gigantamax Pokémon!” and “Charmeleon actually evolves at level 36.”
1024. Rowlet
It knows what it did.
1023. Greymon
Just a lesser Charizard if we’re being real. It doesn’t even have wings, just a goofy helmet.
1022. Trubbish
Literal trash.
1021. Psyduck
Didn’t he have headaches or something? Misty yelled at him a lot. That was funny, I guess.
1020: Snock
One of the early gyms in Pokémon Red and Blue had one of these, I think. Rock snake, very cool. Lower on the list because of its weakness to paper.
…
Are there really 1025 of these things? I don’t even think I could list that many species of actual real life animals. Let’s skip ahead.
10. Whatever This Is
Funny hat, some kind of marble attack, comfortable and easy to wear shorts, and multiple evolutions. And to think some people say Pokémon is out of ideas. The name is on the tip of my tongue. I want to say it’s some kind of tanuki?
9. Pikachu
Pikachu may seem like an obvious choice, like listing Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on a list of the best games ever. Yes, he was in the Pokémon cartoon for like a hundred years and is the mascot of the franchise, but I don’t think he lets it go to his head.
8. Weed Cat
Why didn’t we think to make weed jokes until this cat showed up? Adorable and it probably evolves into something neat. Hehehe, Weed Cat.
7. Toad
Some of you may think it’s cheating to put him on this list since he hasn’t been in any of the mainline games since Pokémon Snap, but he’s been there since the beginning and deserves respect.
6. Snorlax
Used as a literal roadblock in some games, Snorlax can be a great figurative roadblock for your opponents. Also, calling your dad “Snorlax” when he’s napping on the couch on a Sunday afternoon is a wicked burn.
5. Charizard
Speaking of wicked burns, what kid didn’t see Charizard on the cover of Pokémon Red back in 1998 and wanted to build a team with a dragon? Yeah, you had to level Charmander up to 46, but it was worth it just to drop a Flamethrower on an unsuspecting opponent. Teach that Bug Catcher not to bother me when I’m just trying to get to the next town.
4. Rathalos
Now this is how you do a Charizard ripoff. This was monster design at its peak. None of that cartoony dragon stuff. Why don’t more Pokémon look like this?
3. Squirtle
Squirtle is a great introduction to water types, starting with the simple Water Gun and later acquiring more powerful moves like…Firehose? Water Beam? Surf was a thing, I remember that.
2. Charmander
After you bought the game with the cool orange dragon on it, you realized you had to pick this thing to get to the dragon. At least it actually had fire attacks.
1. Bulbasaur
Why is Bulbasaur the best? Just look at this little guy! With great moves like Vine Whip and Leech Seed, Bulbasaur is sure to be the workhorse of any new player’s starting party. Until that counter picker Gary Oak cheats by using Charmander.
