Gotta Catch 'Em All: The Generations' Best

Vega
Apr 13, 2021
8 min read

There was very little I wanted more than to leave my home at the age of 10 to begin my journey traveling around the world to become a Pokémon master. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances (of Pokémon not being real), I would never get the opportunity to live out that dream. Nevertheless, I lived it out through the trading card game and various video games during a majority of my childhood and early adolescence. I still play the video games when released, just the traditional RPGs really, but am interested in revisiting Pokémon Snap with the upcoming new release. Pokémon is such a fun an expansive world that has kept itself from getting too complicated, making it easily accessible to so many generations. Remember when Pokémon GO came out and the older population who knew little about Pokémon were staring at their phones in the park?

I thought it would be fun to revisit all eight current generations of Pokémon and choose my favorite six from each. Why six? Well, I would hope I would not have to explain that, but it is because you can carry up to six active Pokémon with you at one time (called your Party). I did not play the corresponding games for each of the generations. I actually only played through games for half of the generations, but have also watched most, if not all, of the animated series (thanks Netflix) to keep myself familiar. While I have always loved the variety in type and design of Pokémon, I clearly have a "type" in regards to the types I gravitate towards. It will be fairly obvious throughout my selections, but Dark/Psychic/Dragon/Electric are my clear biases. I give a little spiel under each selection, but for many of the generations with which I do not have as much familiarity due to not playing the games, a lot of my justification was based largely on appearance/design. I did not include any Mega forms of Pokémon to keep it simpler for myself, as well as since those are just temporarily juiced versions of traditional Pokémon and not a new species.

Kanto Region

Generation 1

My childhood. It all began with this initial group of 151 and while I did not play any of the original three GameBoy Games, I was DEEP into the trading cards and the animated series. (I did end up playing FireRed many years later.) I am most familiar with this group and this is where my mind goes when I think Pokémon.

1. Mewtwo

My favorite Pokémon ever. How could you not like this psychic powerhouse who is also a clone, which is a trope to which I always seem drawn.

2. Raichu

Pikachu this, Pikachu that. Its evolved form is an elite combination of electric and speed that gets uber-overshadowed by the so-called "face" of Pokémon.

3. Scyther

He has blade hands. I do not typically like Bug-type Pokémon, but Scyther is like a horror movie villain and I am about it.

4. Gengar

Speaking of horror, Gengar remains the top of the mountain when it comes to Ghost types for me. Such a simple and effective design.

5. Gyarados

Giant water dragon not enough for you? The ultimate representation of "big things come in small packages".

6. Charizard

I tried SO HARD to not include the most popular Pokémon, but what can I say, its super cool. I will also never forget Charizard being left at the Charicific Valley, everyone was on its side that day.

Johto Region

Generation 2

A lot of what I said above could be closely applied to the Johto region, being that Pokémon Silver was the first game I played. I group these two Gens in my mind as the cream of the crop in the Pokémon universe. This generation really pulled me in to the greater lore of the Pokémon world.

1. Umbreon

Everyone has a favorite Eeveelution and mine happens to be the darkest of them all.

2. Ho-Oh

I have always been enamored by and have identified with the mythical Phoenix. Well, here is Pokémon's Phoenix.

3. Tyranitar

I honestly think I like Tryanitar so much because it makes me think of the Red Ranger's Tyrannosaurus Megazord. Being really strong in battles did not hurt either.

4. Skarmory

I remember the first introduction to Steel-types and being sure that Scizor would become my favorite since I favored Scyther. Nope, the giant menacing, metal bird won that round.

5. Houndoom

It is a hell hound. A fucking fire-breathing hell hound!!!

6. Misdreavus

I actually had trouble filling this spot and it almost went to Unown (only because of the third Pokémon movie), but I like my ghost/spirit types.

Hoenn Region

Generation 3

I played one of Ruby/Sapphire maybe 8 years after it released and I do not remember much from it. I also do not remember much from this Gen in the animated series either. It is just the lost Gen and gets lost having followed my two favorites.

1. Rayquaza

"Eternal Dragon, by your name, I summon you forth: Shenron!" Come on, we all love being able to cross-reference our fandoms and Rayquaza fits that mold perfectly.

2. Blaziken

A fighting, fire chicken that will kick you in the face and spit fire at you. My dedication to Fire-type starters knows no bounds.

3. Milotic

This is going to come off weird, but Milotic is a beautifully designed Pokémon. There is an elegance to it that makes it feel like it could be a legendary Pokémon.

4. Manectric

Spiky electric dog for the win!! After Psychic and Dark, Electric-types are probably my third favorite and Manectric is the coolest designed of this region.

5. Absol

Oh look, another Dark Pokémon, with a killer design to boot. Along with my bias towards Dark-types, Absol is also known for rarely living near humans, which makes it my spirit Pokémon.

6. Tropius

There are not many Grass-types that will make any of my top lists and I'm not sure why Tropius does. Its a big, leaf dinosaur with banana whiskers that I just gravitate towards.

Sinnoh Region

Generation 4

Sinnoh was really odd feeling to me, because as I went through the list to narrow down my favorites, I knew a lot of them. I did not play the game and I watched the animated series, but it was not like I did it religiously. I do not know why this group stuck with me, but it has me excited for playing any of the three upcoming Sinnoh-based Switch games.

1. Lucario

One of the coolest Pokémon created, Lucario has a lot of personality in the anime. A great Fighting-type that is also part Steel-type, which gives it a leg up for my bias.

2. Darkrai

Dark AND Mythical? Sign me up. Darkrai is one of the closest that Pokémon came to creating a horror character, which is straight into my wheelhouse.

3. Garchomp

Another Pokémon that I grew familiar with through the anime, Garchomp is practically a Dragon-version of Scyther in design.

4. Luxray

Perhaps the coolest designed Electric-type ever, the black/blue/yellow color scheme blends strikingly well. It also kind of resembles a lion, which was my favorite animal as a child.

5. Giratina

It is a Ghost- and Dragon-type...you should know by now. It is also one of the strangest designed Pokémon and represents anti-matter, which makes it nerdy cool.

6. Gallade

A Psychic/Fighting-Type that looks like a walking green onion. It is very versatile in the types of moves it can learn, making it a valuable asset in battle.

Unova Region

Generation 5

I simply do not know this Generation, plain and simple. I remember an episode about Haxorus and I watched the Zoroark movie, but remember very little about them. Choosing my favorite required a lot of research and skimming through the Unova Pokédex. It loses points for creativity, though, since it had to rely on Ice Cream-themed Pokémon.

1. Zekrom

A Psychic/Electric-type with a dark aesthetic. They created the perfect Pokémon for me.

2. Haxorus

A more up to date Tyranitar for me, Haxorus was the first Pokémon since Gen 2 to fill that "giant cool dinosaur"-sized hole in my heart. Plus, face blades.

3. Zoroark

A Pokémon whose illusion powers are so cool, it got its own movie. A sleekly designed Dark-type that kicks ass with a ponytail.

4. Serperior

Another rare occurrence: a Grass-Type. A royal-looking serpent, with what is the coolest snake-like design.

5. Gigalith

Even rarer than a favorite Grass-type is a Rock-type, and Gigalith makes the list for its weirdly, cool crystal/boulder design.

6. Hydreigon

A three-headed, Dark/Dragon-type. IT IS A THREE-HEADED, DARK DRAGON!!!

Kalos Region

Generation 6

What a tiny generation, with only 69 new Pokemon included. Thanks to Ash and Co., I actually felt like I knew what I was doing with the Kalos Pokémon. I thought this brought some of the most bold designs when it came to its Pokémon as well.

1. Pyroar

A Fire-type starter and it resembles a majestic lion. That is two check marks in my book.

2. Noivern

"I'm Batman". Pokémon really likes its bat-like monsters, but this one is also part Dragon-type. Again, more exposure to this Pokémon after it joined Ash's team in the anime.

3. Greninja

One of only 6 Pokémon with dual Water/Dark typologies, Greninja was made a hella cool Pokémon when it becomes Ash's main throughout the XY anime.

4. Trevenant

A big, scary, haunted tree could never be left off a list of mine. That is all.

5. Yveltal

I have always been a sucker for Legendary Pokémon and Yveltal fits the bill of one my younger self would have made his favorite. A dark dragon/bird with a red/black color scheme. FIRE!!!

6. Chesnaut

Wow. Not only a Grass-type, but a Grass starter. Can't help that this armored juggernaut looks like it can hand out beatings like the best of them.

Alola Region

Generation 7

I remember when this region was first announced and they revealed the Alolan forms of Pokémon, I presumed Alola would just be a ripoff tropical Kanto. I HATED the animation style they used with this Gen and the series is where all my familiarity comes from. Also, the whole Ultra Beast concept is really odd and feels like a Digimon rip-off.

1. Lycanroc (Midnight Form)

As a 90's kid, you either had an emo phase or just lied to yourself. Lycanroc's midnight form is the Pokémon equivalent of that emo phase.

2. Solgaleo

Similar to Zekrom from Gen 5, seems this was a Pokémon designed for me: a Psychic/Steel-type legendary lion.

3. Salazzle

The only Pokémon I know of that evolves only from a female pre-evolution, with the male pre-evolution having no evolution. A slick-looking Poison-type.

4. Decidueye

I may have to re-think the idea that I don't like Grass-types, but of course, Decidueye is also a Ghost-type. Bonus. Owls are cool animals and this one is wearing a hoodie.

5. Necrozma

More than just a Psychic-type Legendary Pokémon, Necrozma can also fuse with either of this Gen's main legendaries (Solgaleo/Lunala) to take on new forms.

6. Golisopod

A bit of an oddity with a Bug/Water-type, but this heavily armored bug has samurai-like qualities and a cocky attitude in the anime. It is also pretty unforgiving in its battles.

Galar Region

Generation 8

I had not been involved in Pokémon lore for years before Pokémon Sword/Shield were released on the Nintendo Switch. A traditional Pokémon game on a home console got me very interested and I do not regret it one bit. I was continually pleasantly surprised with the new Pokémon and the underlying lore of this region. The jurys still out on Dynamaxing, though.

1. Corviknight

After I raised it from a Rookadee, it was the first Sword/Shield Pokémon I fell in love with and is the first traditional Flying-Type Pokémon to make the list. Quoth the Raven, nevermore.

2. Grimmsnarl

Only one Fairy-type can make this list and it is my favorite little Gremlin. I knew nothing about the Gen 8 Pokémon going in to this game and this Pokémon was a pleasant surprise.

3. Toxtricity

A punk rock-based Pokémon, Toxtricity is my favorite Poison-type and it is a dual Electric-type as well. It rocked its way all the way to my Championship team.

4. Dragapult

Here we go again, an easy win for a Dragon/Ghost-type, but my first impressions of this Pokémon were negative. Such an odd looking dragon, but it surprised me with how strong it was.

5. Zacian

One of the two mascots for this generation, you can either choose the Sword or Shield-based Legendary. For me, the best defense is a good offense.

6. Eternatus

With such an unusual design, resembling a digital skeleton, this immensely powerful Pokémon has a dark history, with an origin extraterrestrial in nature.