Ash Ketchum’s 10 Best Pokémon of All Time

The Pokémon franchise is still changing and growing, even as it enters 2026. The anime has successfully refreshed itself, even after saying goodbye to its longtime main character, Ash Ketchum. While Pokémon Horizons: The Series showcases the exciting new directions and Pokémon, it’s also sparked a lot of fond memories of Ash and the Pokémon that accompanied him on his journey.

Across more than 1200 episodes, Ash Ketchum has only caught a little under 60 Pokémon. He’s started focusing on building a team with purpose, rather than catching every Pokémon he encounters. Despite this selective approach, many of his Pokémon have become incredibly popular, known for their strong personalities, battle skills, or both.

Charizard Experiences A Cathartic Arc About Trust & Teamwork

Ash has a close relationship with all his Pokémon, but his journey with Charizard has been particularly challenging. Charizard’s story is perhaps the most dramatic of all his Pokémon, serving as a lesson in how to properly train and understand a Pokémon’s limits. Ash raised Charizard from a Charmander, but pushing its evolution too quickly resulted in a disobedient Pokémon that became difficult to control.

Ash suffers a painful defeat at the Indigo League when his Charizard refuses to listen and they lose to Richie. It’s satisfying to see Ash learn from this setback and work hard to rebuild Charizard’s trust. This ultimately leads to great things, including a memorable victory against Gary’s Blastoise – a highlight of the original anime! Charizard even makes some welcome and heartwarming surprise appearances later in the series.

Ash’s Gengar Is A Gregarious Goof With An Aggressive Gigantamax Form

Ash first meets a Gengar near the beginning of his Pokémon journey, but doesn’t add one to his team until the Pokémon Journeys series. This Gengar quickly becomes a regular and beloved member of Ash’s Pokémon, known for its playful and sometimes mischievous personality. Despite its trickster tendencies, this Gengar is also very affectionate and often shows Ash a lot of love.

Gengar is a fantastic teammate who always lifts spirits. He became close friends with Ash’s Fire-type Pokémon, like Infernape, which inspired him to master the Will-O-Wisp attack. Gengar proved to be a powerful fighter throughout their journey, and his Gigantamax form was key to Ash’s victory over Leon, defeating Leon’s Inteleon in the final battle.

Ash’s Totodile Is An Adorable Source Of SIlliness & Positivity

Ash learns a lot about Pokémon during his travels through the Kanto region, setting him up for even greater adventures. It’s really enjoyable to watch him collect new Pokémon, especially when he adds a Johto starter to his team. Totodile, in particular, is a standout – he’s a fun, energetic companion who always brings a playful spirit and can even lighten the mood in serious situations.

Totodile’s common attacks – Water Gun, Bite, and Scary Face – are surprisingly effective. While some Pokémon fans hoped to see Totodile evolve further, it actually fits his personality that he stays as he is. He’s a playful Water-type Pokémon for Ash and offers something different from Squirtle.

Incineroar Is A Standout Partner During Ash’s Alola Adventures

I was so excited when Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon started! One of the coolest things right away was Ash finding a Litten. It was amazing to watch it grow and evolve, first into Torracat and then into the incredibly powerful Incineroar! Ash has had a lot of strong Pokémon over the years, but Incineroar felt like a true powerhouse – it really took the lead in battles when things got tough.

I’ve been watching this Pokémon, and it’s really dedicated to training. It even developed a strong rivalry with Professor Kukui’s Incineroar, all the way back when it was still a younger form! This Incineroar has gone through a lot of growth, showing how committed and tough it is. What’s really interesting is that it often stands out from other Pokémon – it’s a real individual, especially when you see its unique fighting style and the variety of moves it uses.

Bulbasaur Is One Of Ash’s Earliest Pokémon Companions

In the anime series, Ash first caught Bulbasaur, and it ended up traveling with him for a longer time than any Pokémon besides Pikachu. Bulbasaur was a consistently dependable friend and always fought with everything it had.

It’s remarkable when Bulbasaur decides to stop evolving and stay as he is. It’s even more impressive that he can then battle and win against Meganium, a fully evolved Grass-type Pokémon. Bulbasaur’s kind nature leads him to become a peacemaker among the Grass- and Water-type Pokémon at Professor Oak’s lab, and helping others is really the only reason he would ever leave Ash’s side.

Sceptile’s Unstoppable Energy Has Aided Him Against Unbeatable Opponents

Ash’s Pokémon are known for their strong will and refusal to give up, but his Sceptile takes that dedication to the extreme. Evolving from Treecko and Grovyle, Sceptile is a fast and powerful fighter, especially in close combat. Its signature moves, Leaf Blade and Leaf Storm, are incredibly quick and often leave opponents with no chance to react.

Sceptile, Ash’s Pokémon, is also a fantastic battler with an impressive winning streak. He’s defeated powerful opponents like Regirock, Deoxys, and Claydol, but his most memorable win was definitely at the Sinnoh League.

Infernape Channels His Past Pain & Trauma Into Uncontrollable Passion

Ash has a gift for recognizing the hidden potential in Pokémon that others overlook. He’s also skilled at helping Pokémon recover from deeply traumatic experiences that have damaged their ability to battle and trust people. He successfully helps Infernape move past a difficult past, allowing it to become one of his strongest Pokémon.

Infernape becomes incredibly powerful when its Blaze ability activates, like when it won against Paul’s Electivire at the Sinnoh League. It’s never lost a battle with Blaze active, proving it’s one of Ash’s most reliable and strongest Pokémon when that ability is in effect. It almost seems like Ash’s encouragement helps Infernape reach its full potential.

Lucario Is A Phenomenal Fighter & Ash’s Only Mega Evolution

Some Pokémon take time to shine, while others make an immediate impact. Ash’s Lucario is a prime example of the latter, and its success is boosted by how popular Lucario is throughout the entire Pokémon franchise. Even as a Riolu, it consistently goes the extra mile for Ash. While Lucario’s story of rising to greatness is familiar, it still resonates with fans.

It’s heartwarming to see Ash’s Greninja assisting Lucario’s training and helping him become stronger. Lucario is always eager to face any challenge, and he’s uniquely capable of Mega Evolving within Ash’s team – a remarkable ability. Whether Mega Evolved or not, Lucario boasts a powerful arsenal of attacks, and his mastery of Aura, especially when focused into Aura Sphere, is incredibly effective. He’s even accomplished seemingly impossible feats.

Greninja Gracefully Guides Ash Through Kalos’ Many Challenges

The Pokémon series truly shines when it introduces the Kalos region in Pokémon the Series: XY. Ash’s first Pokémon from Kalos is Froakie, who eventually evolves into Greninja, and quickly becomes a vital part of his team. While Greninja’s earlier forms helped Ash win important Gym Badges and navigate Kalos, he really takes center stage once he fully evolves. Greninja is also special because he’s the only Pokémon to share a unique and powerful connection with Ash, known as the Bond Phenomenon.

Ash-Greninja perfectly showcases the strong bond and mutual trust between a Pokémon Trainer and their Pokémon, though their connection can sometimes be a little too close. Greninja also plays a starring role in several Pokémon movies, consistently being a standout character.

Ash’s Pikachu Has Conquered Impossible Odds & Permanently Proven His Loyalty

Ash has had some incredibly strong Pokémon throughout his journey, including rare Ultra Beasts and Mythical Pokémon, but none are as special as his Pikachu. While Pikachu is usually a common Pokémon in the video games, Ash’s Pikachu is exceptional. It’s been trained to its full potential and has accomplished feats that seem impossible. Pikachu has been with Ash through all of his greatest moments and embodies everything he believes in.

Some of the most heartbreaking moments in Pokémon happen when it seems like Pikachu and Ash might separate, or when we learn about Pikachu’s past. Pikachu cares for Ash so deeply that it even manages to revive him after he’s turned to stone by Mewtwo in the first movie. The strong emotional bond between Ash and Pikachu is unmatched, and it’s a major reason why Pikachu has become such a popular and successful symbol of the entire Pokémon franchise.

Quiz

5 Questions

Test Your Knowledge: Ash’s Iconic Pokémon Partners

Your Top Score

—

Attempts

—

Report Error

Found an error? Send it so it can be corrected.

2026-04-22 02:25