Top 50 Pokémon: Rainbow Rocket blasts off again!

[Johnny Unusual]

I'm curious if this is actually true, though. I thought the games predated the show. Bulbapedia is silent on the subject but does helpfully mention that "Gigantamax Meowth may be based on the long-cat meme."

Via wikipedia...

Called "Nyarth" in Japanese, Nintendo decided to give the various Pokémon species "clever and descriptive names" related to their appearance or features when translating the game for western audiences as a means to make the characters more relatable to American children.[10] Due to its appearance in the anime series as a speaking character, the species was renamed Meowth, a combination of the words "meow" and "mouth".[7]

However, and weirdly, the citation link DOES NOT VERIFY THIS FACT!

Nyarth makes me think...

EDIT: It really isn't 100% clear. The Japanese name is a combo of Nya and Wealth. It's arguable that's a similar intent with Meowth. But compared to "meow" and "mouth", meow/wealth is much much clunkier.

I thought the games predated the show

The anime debuted in English in September 8, 1998. The game was released in North America in September 28, 1998.

 

[WildcatJF]

My pleasure at having Meowth land with Team Rocket is immeasurable.

I love cats, so I always liked Meowth, haha. He's the best.

Mewtwo is a Smash main, so I voted for it as my #2.

The rest of my list I don't have anywhere as much connection with, but that's all right, haha.

 

[Kirin]

24th (tie)
#133 Eevee
Evolution Pokémon
Normal
First Discovered: Kanto Region (Gen I, Red/Blue/Green)
Score: 76 - Votes: 3 - Highest vote: 4th (Issun)​

Its genetic code is unstable, so it could evolve in a variety of ways. There are only a few alive.

You stole the Eevee? You were supposed to steal the kid’s Arcanine!

I did my best! The Poké balls all look the same.

Your team seems to be falling apart.

What? No, not at all!

With Mewtwo, we’re unstoppable! Just sit back and enjoy the show!

Awww, Eevee! Back at the beginning in 2016, collecting Eevee was a priority since its evolutions were some of the strongest and most readily available attackers of their types. In fact, each new set of them has made a splash when they debuted. These days they’re mostly a bit outclassed except Sylveon which we saw above and Umbreon which is a perennial bulky Battle League option. But I guess evolving mid-tournament probably isn’t allowed, huh?

A more delightful mascot than Pikachu on all counts.

 

[RT-55J]

Eevee of all Pokemon in 24th place!? Good heavens I have no idea what to expect now for the rest of the top 25.

 

[Issun]

Eevee is my wife's fave, and it's adorable, so it had to go on here.

 

[conchobhar]

Eevee of all Pokemon in 24th place!? Good heavens I have no idea what to expect now for the rest of the top 25.

Eevee missed my final list because I already had several of its evolutions on there. If we were voting for entire evolution lines, Eevee would have been my #1 no question; it and its seven evolutions were all on my longlist.

 

[RT-55J]

Given that I also voted for multiple eeveelutions but not Eevee herself, yeah I guess I shouldn't be too surprised by this placement.

 

[Adrenaline]

Eevee is the pokemon I think would probably make the best real life pet. Just don't give it one of those evolution stones.

 

[Torzelbaum]

And don't feed it after midnight.

 

[Mogri]

23rd
#738 Vikavolt
Stag Beetle Pokémon
Bug / Electric
First Discovered: Alola Region (Gen VII, Sun/Moon)
Score: 79 - Votes: 3 - Highest vote: 6th (Torzelbaum)​

If it carries a Charjabug to use as a spare battery, a flying Vikavolt can rapidly fire high-powered beams of electricity.

It looks like a spaceship…

…and hits like a truck!

And it moves like a rock!

Quiet, you!

An interesting team. We’ll see how it fares against your opponent’s.

Oh, Vikavolt’s so new, I don’t have one yet! Grubbin just debuted in an event this summer and then kinda disappeared, plus you have to be near a Magnetic Lure to evolve Chargabug. It sure looks cool though.

Vic Viper bug!

 

[Torzelbaum]

I am a bit surprised to see this one on the list but I guess Kirin (and one other tyrant) have similar tastes in lightning bug Pokémon. It's just a rad robot or space ship looking mon. I don't know what else to say other than I would love to see it in a shoot 'em up spin-off game.

 

[RT-55J]

this bug looks like it would be very effective against core-type pokemon

 

[Falselogic]

Really would like better if it had a couple options floating around it.

 

[Kirin]

Really would like better if it had a couple options floating around it.

Future Mega/Gigantamax/whatever extra-evolution gimmick potential right there waiting to be picked up. That would be awesome. Like, three Grubbin suspended in an electric force field or something.

 

[Mogri]

Can I come back in now?

Three’s a crowd.

And it’s already crowded in here.

I went out of my way to abduct Anna. Let her back in.

Thanks, I guess. So who are you fighting?

I know this guy. It’s Cyrus. He captured three mythical and two legendary Pokémon, then he tore open a hole in space and time in an attempt to become a god. You can’t fault him for lack of ambition, I suppose, although this tournament can’t help but feel like a step down in comparison.

Boo! Hiss!

Surrender now or prepare to fight!

I think he’s prepared to fight.

21st (tie)
#835 Yamper
Puppy Pokémon
Electric
First Discovered: Galar Region (Gen VIII, Sword/Shield)
Score: 80 - Votes: 3 - Highest vote: 3rd (JBear)​

This gluttonous Pokémon only assists people with their work because it wants treats. As it runs, it crackles with electricity.

Hiss! Boo! This one’s for the dogs!

Yamper evolves into Boltund, an incredibly fast glass cannon of a Pokémon. Yamper, on the other hand, is incredibly slow.

This is the first Pokémon in the tournament that actually doesn’t exist yet in GO! We haven’t really gotten to Galar ‘mons yet aside from a short preview where those big wolves showed up through some Hoopa wormholes last year along with a small handful of other species. I kind of doubt a new pure Electric will cause a big splash when it does arrive, but it’s definitely a good pupper! Who’s a good boy? Yes you are!

I'm a cats person, so Yamper being up high on my list (let alone on it at all) is a very high honor.

Lightning corgi! Yes please, I'll have 10.

I’m a cats person, so Yamper being allowed in my tournament is a very high honor.

 

[RT-55J]

u said it giovanni

 

[Falselogic]

I forgot about Yamper?! I'm a bad pokemaner. What an adorable little mutt.

 

[Mogri]

21st (tie)
#083 Farfetch’d
Wild Duck Pokémon
Normal / Flying
First Discovered: Kanto Region (Gen I, Red/Blue/Green)
Score: 80 - Votes: 3 - Highest vote: 1st (Ixo)​

It can't live without the stalk it holds. That's why it defends the stalk from attackers with its life.

These are some, uh, interesting picks from the leader of Team Galactic. Giovanni, do you have any commentary?

Cyrus wasn’t notified about the tournament until two days ago. The responsible party has been dealt with.

Farfetch’d has a respectable Attack stat, a good movepool, and a good signature item. Unfortunately, it’s slow and frail, making it hard to use.

I like to use Farfetch’d with a nice orange glaze.

James, stop drooling!

I haven’t eaten today!

Yeah, combat-wise the Farfetch’d family didn’t make a splash until Sirfetch’d who we saw earlier, but it’s got a lot of panache. One of the first set of regional exclusives, it could only be found in Japan for several years and is still sequestered there outside of certain events.

Leek Duck Best Duck.

 

[Ixo]

DUX

 

[RT-55J]

You tellin' me that this piece of common rabble scored higher than the noble, knightly Fetch'd that has been Sir'd? What positively perposterous poultry preferences!

 

[Torzelbaum]

Yes but you can't have the knight without having the squire first.

 

[Mogri]

20th
#395 Empoleon
Emperor Pokémon
Water / Steel
First Discovered: Sinnoh Region (Gen IV, Diamond/Pearl)
Score: 82 - Votes: 3 - Highest vote: 1st (Mogri)​

If anyone were to hurt its pride, it would slash them with wings that can cleave through an ice floe.

Steel and Water are two of the best types. Combine them, and you get ten resistances and only three weaknesses. Unfortunately, those weaknesses are Fighting, Electric, and Ground, which are very common. Still, Empoleon is no slouch, with respectable Sp. Attack and Sp. Defense along with a good support move pool. It has relatively limited access to off-type special moves, but that list includes Grass Knot and Ice Beam, which gives Empoleon good coverage alongside Flash Cannon and Scald or Surf.

We stole an Empoleon once.

It didn’t go so well.

You’d think with all those resistances Empoleon would see a lot of GBL use, and it is kinda viable in Ultra league, but the remaining weaknesses do hurt and its GO moveset just doesn’t have a lot of synergy. As a starter it does get the awesome Hydro Cannon, but other water starters put out more damage. Still a handsome penguin, though.

Pearl was the last mainline game I played in earnest. Empoleon is the intersection of great design and great team member, and it's my pick for favorite starter and ultimately favorite mon.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

This is a fancy dude.

 

[Mogri]

19th
#123 Scyther
Mantis Pokémon
Bug / Flying
First Discovered: Kanto Region (Gen I, Red/Blue/Green)
Score: 83 - Votes: 4 - Highest vote: 3st (Beta Metroid)​

If you come across an area in a forest where a lot of the trees have been cut down, what you've found is a Scyther's territory.

Scyther lives perpetually under Scizor’s shadow, and since Scyther is banned in most Little Cup formats, it’s easy to overlook competitively. That said, in evolving, Scizor has the same stat total as Scyther: it trades a fair bit of Speed for better Attack and Defense. That leaves a niche for Scyther as a fast attacker.

The important thing is that Scyther is a ninja, and Scizor isn’t.

Even though “speed” isn’t technically a stat in GO, Scyther does have a speedy niche because its low-cost charge moves make it just as good as its evolution at stun-locking GO Rocket grunts. Uh, no offense to present company…

The praying mantis is one of the most awesome-looking creatures in the animal kingdom, and its Pokémon counterpart doesn't disappoint.

 

[Torzelbaum]

I had Scyther at #15. It's a rad silent assassin bug (but it's not based on the assassin bug). My fondness for it mostly comes from the GBC Pokémon TCG video game. It's really useful and powerful in that game (but only if you have double colorless energy).

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Wait, is Scyther 21st? After 20? How does that work?

 

[Mogri]

Nope, that's a copy/paste error!

 

[JBear]

If you come across an area in a forest where a lot of the trees have been cut down, what you've found is a Scyther's territory.

They probably shouldn't let logging companies buy Pokédex entries.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

"The water toxicity next to the tanning plant has risen, meaning that Clefairies are nearby. But you probably can't see them."

 

[Beta Metroid]

Design-wise, Scyther is perfect, and it's a shame that its in-game combat viability is hindered by...everything else. But between its high speed and False Swiping, it has a lovely niche helping catch wild Pokemon!