AlphaMouse

So, this blog is ranking Ash's Pokémon, from #44 down to the best.

Here we go. At #44, Ash's worst Pokémon is:

Butterfree!

Profile:
Type: Bug/Flying
Time in Ash's Possession: 18 Episodes
Win/Lose/Draw Record: 3W 4L
Position: 44

OK, many people feel nostalgic about Butterfree, and think back to the 'original gang' when it is mentionned. For me, this was the obvious choice for last place, mainly because of the poor guy's inexperience. Being chucked off the cast after 18 episodes is a bummer for anyone. Its win/lose record is pretty awful, evidently, and I don't think that Butterfree would have been given any better treatment any other time. Its moveset is appaling, and its strategy revolved around powder-attacks. Definitely Ash's worst Pokémon.

Away from last place, let's see who will take up spot #43:

Lapras!

Profile:
Type: Water/Ice
Time on Ash's Team: 29 episodes
Win/Lose/Draw Ratio (in battle): 1W
Position: 43

Ash's Lapras, guest star of the Orange Islands arc. To me Lapras never seemed like a true battler, more of a mode of transport. Its one battle, against Drake's Gengar, ended with Lapras victorious, and he did well overall. However, 29 episodes isn't nearly enough to prove itself, and it was doomed to score low. Its moveset is mediocre, with Ice Beam and Water Gun, and its strategy was too Original Series.

So, number 42, who will it be?

Boldore!

Profile:
Type: Rock
Time in Ash's Possession: 74+ episodes.
Win/Lose/Draw Ratio: 2W 2L
Position: 42

Boldore had a lot of potential at first, beating Ash's Tepig with ease. The problem, like with many of Ash's Unova Pokémon, was that it was sidelined for too long. Like Swadloon and Unfezant it was ignored, given an evolution, and ignored again. I'm appalled that he's only had four battles so far. His moveset is quite good, especially for Ash's Unova Team, but he's still a Boldore, and isn't fit to be a tank in his own right. If Boldore evolved it would be a beast, but as it is, it sucks.

Getting Lower now, to #41

Totodile!

Profile:
Type: Water
Time on Ash's Team: 143
Win/Lose/Draw Ratio: 2W 5L
Position: 41

Totodile, the comedy act of Johto, strangely reminiscent of Oshawott now. Totodile could have been treated better, but never got the chance to shine. His League Battle with Sneasel really showed his potential, but it was never exploited. His moveset was weak too, with Water Gun and Slash as his more powerful moves. Totodile was never really a battler, just a form of light relief.

The Penultimate Entry today, at number 40, is:

Unfezant!

Profile:
Type: Normal/Flying
Time on Ash's team: 101 + episodes
Win/Lose/Draw Ratio: 2W 2L
Position: 40

Unfezant, a generic regional bird, and, evidently, the worst in my opinion. She has only won twice, one of which being a gymvolution plot armour victory. Her moveset lacks the firepower of Noctowl's or Staraptor's, or the adaptability of Swellow's, and she isn't as physically powerful as Pidgeot. The birds have been demoted back to baloon poppers, but without any baloons to pop, Unfezant gets poor screentime, and a poor ranking.

The last member of the bottom 5, at 39th, is:

Muk!

Profile:
Type: Poison
Time on Ash's Team: 5 episodes
Win/Lose/Draw Ratio: 1W 1L
Position: 39

I've always loved Muk in the anime. He's comedic, yet relatively strong in battle. His moveset is limited, but he makes up for that with his absorbative abilities, and flexibility in battle. However, he is the least used of Ash's Pokémon, and could do with some time out of comic relief. His two battles in the anime have shown him to be a strong battler, taking out Jeanette Fisher's Bellsprout effectively, and fighting well against Gary's invincible Blastoise, and strong Scizor. If we saw Muk more, he'd be much higher ranked.

Basically, looking at these results, the moral of the story is that mistreated Pokémon become weak.