For a while now, i’ve been trying to figure out who my favorite Pokemon are. I was able to figure out my Top 3 of each Generation, but it still felt incomplete. I landed on finding my top 6 of each generation (sorta like a full Pokemon team). I’m also now trying to collect every card of my favorites, for some (like Sirfetch’d) it’s incredibly easy. For others (like Lugia) I will likely never complete it. Anyways without further ado, let’s start with Gen 1!
Arcanine (+Hisuian)
Now if I had to choose my FAVORITE Pokemon of all time, Arcanine (and maybe 1 other Pokemon) come to my head first. It’s a big dog, a Legendary Pokemon (by classification), and a reliable partner both in and out of battle. It’s design with the tufts of hair and black stripes are iconic. I know Arcanine is many many peoples favorite Pokemon, and usually I shy away from anything too popular, but I’ve never had a second guess about Arcanine, it’s simply “legendary”. I’m also in love with it’s Hisuian form, especially with it’s ability being Rock Head, so you can freely Head Smash and Flare Blitz. One of my earliest shiny Pokemon was an Arcanine who I got from breeding in Platinum. I still have that Arcanine today and it’s nickname is LEGEND (I was 11). I also have a Ribbon Master Arcanine from XD named Kenai, and another Ribbon Master Hisuian Arcanine named Saga, who also is shiny. So yeah. Arcanine Rules.
Ivysaur
Ivysaur is a Pokemon that I believe perfectly represents the series of Pokemon. It being a bridge between Bulbasaur and Venusaur, it shows evolution. It has the perfect mix of cuteness and toughness that create these Pocket Monsters. There is so much about Ivysaurs design that I absolutely adore. Oh yeah, Ivysaur is also my main go to in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. That is certainly a factor as well, but regardless, Ivysaur is always enough in any playthrough with it. That’s another thing I love about Pokemon, you don’t HAVE to evolve your Pokemon. Don’t get me wrong I still love Venusaur, and have used one many times, but Ivysaur is just right for me. I have a Ribbon Master Ivysaur named “Enuff”.
Sandslash (+Alolan)
Sandslash is a favorite I discovered much more recently. Partly because of my wifes love for Sandshrew (who I also adore). Armadillo’s are one of my favorite animals on the planet, and although the Sandslash line’s classification is “Mouse Pokemon” (????) it has many similarities to an armadillo. I’ve also always sensed an innocent and beautiful nature from the Sandlash line. It feels like a Pokemon that I would love to just observe if I were living in the Pokemon world. Gotta love them Earthquakes too. Or Triple Axel! I have a Ribbon Master Shiny Sandslash named “Shakespear” and a shiny Ribbon Master Alolan Sandslash named, “Spoon”. They are both amazing.
Meowth
Just Kantonian Meowth (no offense Galar and Alola). This one shouldn’t be too surprising to any fans of the series. Meowth is an iconic Pokemon, with a wonderful design and personality. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention the incredibly entertaining character of Meowth in the original Anime series. Always one with a quippy one liner and comical voice. This is another Pokemon I’m completely content using without evolving. I’m planning on using a Meowth in a long series playthrough coming up before the closure of Pokemon bank. His name will be MEOWOW, if you know you know. Oh yeah also, I LOVE CATS!!
Poliwhirl
Continuing with our not fully evolved Pokemon to the list, we have Poliwhirl! It’s another Iconic one (I guess most gen 1 pokemon are), Poliwhirl even has it’s eyes in the Pokemon logo! Probably just a coincidence, but Poliwhirl has a special place in my heart. That is because of the original Pokemon Adventures manga. Red’s first Pokemon was not Bulbasaur, nor Pikachu, but a Poliwag. And at the start of the Manga, it’s already a Poliwhirl and his most trusted companion as we see it grow throughout the story. Perhaps Poliwhirl was planned on being a bigger hit and one of the series biggest hitters, but for me at least Poliwhirl really hits home. He’s got gloves!! Another one of my favorite designs, if I had to evolve it though, I’d probably choose Politoed 9 times out of 10. Sorry Poliwrath, you got sidelined hard in the manga, and also I hate when Pokemon don’t change much after evolving. (I hate the Pawmi line so much, I sometimes pretend it doesn’t exist) Like Meowth, I’m planning on using a Poliwhirl in an upcoming series playthrough.
Nidoking
This last spot has been changed several times, Psyduck, Paldean Tauros, Raichu, Dragonite, but Nidoking just felt right (although let me say Psyduck was damn close). If Ivysaur was the perfect example of the middle evolution, I’d say Nidoking is the perfect example of the FINAL evolution. It looks so damn cool, you can’t deny that. But the colors! Oh my gosh, the purple makes this monster just pop off the screen and recognize the mountain in front of you. Nidoking in battle is also just a force of nature. Or “Sheer Force” of nature. It’s just a Pokemon that makes the series what it is. I’ve recently used one in a playthrough of Pokemon XG (Mod of XD) and he was so fun to adventure with. His name was “Hack”. I’m also currently using one in my Pokemon Draft League this season, he’s done well. I will always follow Nidoking into battle, my brother, my captain, my (Nido)King. Oh Aragorn would be a good name for Nidoking, hope I remember that.
With that the gen 1 edition of my favorite Pokemon is over. I guess you could say this list is in order of favorite to least favorite, but it switches a lot, and I love them all near equally. I’ve already mentioned some of the Pokemon close to this list like Psyduck. But a few others are Paldean Tauros Aqua Breed, Mega Pidgeot, Alolan Raticate, Sandshrew and Alolan Sandshrew, Raichu, and Dragonite. I’ll give another shoutout to Mega Pidgeot, because damn. That is one of my favorite Mega Evolution designs of all time.
