Ash's Worst Pokémon?

[Bouffalant Herdier]

Boldore. One of my favourite aspects of the Pokemon in the anime is that, even though we can't understand what most of them are saying, you can analyze their behavior and facial expressions to discern their personality, all without any proper dialogue. Not only does Boldore have a non-existent personality, it doesn't even have the benefit of a face.

[Angel~]

It would just have been neglected like the rest of her Pokémon, and thus would receive a huge decrease in both screen-time as well as battles.

Sure there were some neglected like Goldeen & Horsea but saying that ALL her pokemon were neglected is NOT true.

It wouldn't have been a Feraligatr, it would just have been a weaker Totodile.

Right, your opinion on the matter. When Ash's three starters in Johto ended up as a fiasco as we got to see. With Misty as Water Specialist, Totodile would have be under better care and long term looking benefit more from training and battling in the Cerulean Gym compared to the case at Prof.Oaks lab where he is being wasted.

[Titanium]

Shh, don't speak of Misty.
Can Ash just get his own thread for once?

I'd say Pikachu. That thing should be over the top powerful in reality yet it has a hard time winning against Pokemon that aren't even near as strong as it should be.

[Chiplet]

Sure there were some neglected like Goldeen & Horsea but saying that ALL her pokemon were neglected is NOT true.

In comparison with the treatment Ash's Pokémon received in Johto, yes. Not Psyduck, though.

Right, your opinion on the matter. When Ash's three starters in Johto ended up as a fiasco as we got to see. With Misty as Water Specialist, Totodile would have be under better care and long term looking benefit more from training and battling in the Cerulean Gym compared to the case at Prof.Oaks lab where he is being wasted.

Opinion? Well, yes, but it's also a fact. I still see no statement that you made which supports the idea of Totodile being a Feraligatr by now. Oh, and how did them end up as a fiasco? By not evolving? Just because a Pokémon doesn't evolve doesn't mean that it's not strong, y'know. Just look at Pokémon like Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Piplup, Snivy, and Oshawott.

Just because she does indeed specialize on Water-types she isn't necessarily a better trainer for Totodile than Ash is. Iris specialize in Dragon-types, does that mean that she would've been a better trainer for Gible than Ash is? No, it doesn't. Just because a trainer is possibly focusing on training his Pokémon more than another trainer does he isn't necessarily a stronger/better trainer than the other one is. It's also all about how the Pokémon itself feels for its trainer, and how the relationship between the two of them are growing and developing.

Paul had Chimchar for quite a while, and by the looks of things it seemed like he trained Chimchar endlessly, right? Still, Chimchar never seemed to become much stronger under Paul's care, while it suddenly got very powerful, and even managed to trigger Blaze when he was under Ash's care. That was because Ash and Chimchar were friends and had a great relationship, while Chimchar from Paul's perspective was nothing more but a tool for battles, that yet wasn't really useful either due it not living up to his expectations regarding strength.

So, the relationship is a key factor too, and I'm not saying that the relationship between Misty and Totodile would've been bad, but I definitely can't see it becoming better than the relationship Ash is having with his Pokémon.

And please, don't take up completely irrelevant stuff as what Misty is doing in the presence, because that has nothing to do with how Totodile would've been treated in Johto, which I was aiming the discussion toward. Not to mention that Misty might never even appear again, which only brings the argument further down in relevance, but I never saw her having stronger Pokémon than she had in Johto during her two cameos in the AG saga, did you? (Don't bring up Gyarados, because he wasn't even part of her team in Johto)

[Angel~]

Not Psyduck,

Or Corsola, Poliwhirl/Politoed & Staryu.

So, the relationship is a key factor too, and I'm not saying that the relationship between Misty and Totodile would've been bad, but I definitely can't see it becoming better than the relationship Ash is having with his Pokémon.

Well I think it would have been better with her, they were a good combination and Ash has TOO MANY pokemon so I can't see how it's relationship would have been better with him. Misty has less pokemon than him so I can see it being treated better. And please, don't try to disprove what I think because it's my opinion.

And please, don't take up completely irrelevant stuff as what Misty is doing in the presence, because that has nothing to do with how Totodile would've been treated in Johto.

Well I decided to mention it, because right now Totodile isn't being treated well AT ALL under Ash's care. And all those battles you aforementioned Totodile lost A LOT of them. The fact that Cyndaquil & Chikorita evolved and not Totodile says enough it self.

[Chiplet]

Or Corsola, Poliwhirl/Politoed & Staryu.

In comparison with Ash's Pokémon, yes.

Well I think it would have been better with her, they were a good combination

Definitely not better than the duo of Ash and Totodile, not to mention that I'm not even able to recall Misty and Totodile interacting.

and Ash has TOO MANY pokemon so I can't see how it's relationship would have been better with him.

How? With the addition of Totodile in his team, he had six Pokémon. How was that too many Pokémon?

Misty has less pokemon than him so I can see it being treated better. And please, don't try to disprove what I think because it's my opinion.

I'm not trying to convince you to chance opinion, I'm just stating what I think regarding the matter. And Misty really didn't have less Pokémon. She had Togepi, Palpitoed, Corsola, Staryu, Psyduck and Goldeen, and while a few of them were neglected during Johto none of Ash's Pokémon were neglected during the Johto saga. Right?

Well I decided to mention it, because right now Totodile isn't being treated well AT ALL under Ash's care.

How is Totodile not being treated well? Does it seem to you like he's not enjoying his time being at Professor Oak's lab? If you give me some kind of proof of him being treated bad or of him being dissatisfied with being there I'll consider listening to this argument of yours.

And all those battles you aforementioned Totodile lost A LOT of them. The fact that Cyndaquil & Chikorita evolved and not Totodile says enough it self.

Was Totodile used in the league where Cyndaquil evolved? No, he wasn't. Besides, have you seen Squirtle evolving? Or Oshawott/Snivy evolving either, for that matter? All of those Pokémon have not evolved yet either, and does that mean that they're not good enough trained? That's nonsense. Besides, they probably do not want to evolve Totodile because of his hilarious traits that might would've disappeared once it evolved to Croconaw. Just like the way that they don't want to evoplv Piplup for being a huge mascot in Japan and being loved by lots of kids, or the way they do not want to evolve Buneary because of it being in love with Pikachu. Not to mention Pikachu. So, it always doesn't depends on the amount of training/experience they received, but mostly depends on its fanbase and popularity among the audience. It'd be the same thing if it belonged to Misty.

[pokemon fan 132]

I don't think Totodile should went to Ash either being mistake to give him all three starters again. When he transferred to new region Kanto starters, this resulted in Johto team ending up neglected and not being given adequate amount of screen time because of having to share it with Ash older pokemon.

Misty may have battled less in Johto than Ash did, but when taking in account how her Poliwhirl and Corsola had more wins and achievements than Totodile there, it says a lot. She as water expert would be ultimately better choice for Totodile always showing bigger knowledge about water types and their characteristics than Ash did, and she always had better success in water based competitions because of being more familiar about water pokemon, their qualities,as well flaws. Hence explaining why most of her pokemon were stronger than Totodile there.

Not to mention in long term, considering how Totodile would be actually used in gym battles being trained at Cerulean he would had a hell lot of better chance to evolve even all way to Feraligator by now instead of ending as wasted potential on prof. Oak ranch treated as last hole on fluke. Not to mention if Misty had starter she would gain bigger marketing potential which would help her to receive more focus in Johto, something which would be much appreciated.

You honestly think that Totodile would've received more battles and experience if he belonged to Misty? How?

Even though it's true that Totodile didn't participate in the same amount of battles like Ash's Cyndaquil did, he still was frequently used lots of times through out the saga. He battled against Seel, Seaking, Poliwhirl, Charizard, Sneasel/Hypno, Slugma/Electabuzz, Miltank, Lanturn, Ditto and Rhydon, and surely did he battle others too, but naturally I can't remember them all.

The point is, that's like more battles than Misty has ever participated in herself in Johto, so why would it be different if Misty had caught it? It would just have been neglected like the rest of her Pokémon, and thus would receive a huge decrease in both screen-time as well as battles. It wouldn't have been a Feraligatr, it would just have been a weaker Totodile.

Im not here to start debate, but i could at least count 20 battles right of the top of my head where Misty participated in Johto(not counting TR blast offs) being huge exaggeration to say how Totodile battled more.

In comparison with the treatment Ash's Pokémon received in Johto, yes. Not Psyduck, though.

Poliwag line, Staryu and Corsdola got generally more screen time than Totodile did.

Definitely not better than the duo of Ash and Totodile, not to mention that I'm not even able to recall Misty and Totodile interacting.

Misty was incredibly excited about Totodile fan girling all over it, im sure his enthusiasm would work quite well with her eager and quirky personality.

[QUOTEG
How? With the addition of Totodile in his team, he had six Pokémon. How was that too many Pokémon?

Difference is that Totodile had to share focus not only with Ash Johto pokemon, but Kanto starters too as well other older pokemon which were used fairly often in Johto with Ash Johto pokemon suffering from result of it.

Misty actively only used Poliwhirl, Staryu and later Corsola. And since she probably wouldn't catch Corsola if she got Totodile there would be less pokemon to compete with and fight for screen time so Angel~ has a point.

I'm not trying to convince you to chance opinion, I'm just stating what I think regarding the matter. And Misty really didn't have less Pokémon. She had Togepi, Palpitoed, Corsola, Staryu, Psyduck and Goldeen, and while a few of them were neglected during Johto none of Ash's Pokémon were neglected during the Johto saga. Right?

Noctowl, Totodile, Phanphy were all neglected and underdeveloped in Johto series with only Cyndaquil, Bayleef and to some extent Heracross receiving decent focus there.

[Iteru]

This isn't a Misty thread, and you guys know well enough where the real Misty threads are. Seeing "Misty" mentioned isn't an a-okay to go offtopic. This reoccuring problem needs to stop.

[Flying Christi]

This seriously isn't me wanting to fanboy about Flying-types as usual, but Satoshi's Pidgeot...so much wasted potential, and also potentially the trend setter for all the birds that he got.
So the Kanto journey's over, Pidgeotto gets some well-deserved time fighting off a powerful Fearow and its herd, FINALLY evolves into Pidgeot, wins in the end AND THEN...gets released. Who knows what it could have done in the Orange League. Ended up being one less pokémon for Megumi Hayashibara to voice, sadly.

[Artichoker]

for me torkoal, he was a shame in hoenn (only defeated Norman's Slakoth and a plant (Shiftry) in the league

[BlazeMaster]

Whoever thinks that Infernape's Ash's worst Pokémon really has some balls...

[SammyW27]

I am really starting to think Leavanny is his worst Pokemon. Yes it won Ash some battles...but man...the thing is a chore to look at. Its like a bastardized version of Sunflora.

Its also so damn boring. If they wanted to give Ash another bug type there were so many other better choices. Leavanny is one of the most disturbing, ugliest and blandest Pokemon I have ever seen on Ash's lineup.

And that absolutely horrid voice TPCI gave it!

I dread every time one shows up, because when they say their names it sounds like an old lady being murdered.

On that note, I'm going with that one or one of the other Unova guys who evolved so damn fast

BW has the worst pacing the show has seen in years, but that's no reason to have Ash's pokes evolve to act as a deus ex machina to get him out of a jam. In Levanny's case, I really, really miss the cute, fun Sewaddle, who was like the Pokemon version of Spiderman when he was introduced. Boldore and Unfezant aren't so great either (it's almost like the writers hate this series' bird for some reason).

So yeah, I'd go with one of those three. Say what you will about ones that weren't around very long, barely used or have a lousy win/loss ratio, but the way these three aren't very likable yet get evolutions & new moves handed to them on a platter bothers me.

[3Dchu]

Boldore. One of my favourite aspects of the Pokemon in the anime is that, even though we can't understand what most of them are saying, you can analyze their behavior and facial expressions to discern their personality, all without any proper dialogue. Not only does Boldore have a non-existent personality, it doesn't even have the benefit of a face.

According to Misty, Starmie does have a soul and a face, would she say the same about Boldore? :p

Ash's worst Pokémon...probably Unfezant since Ash has already like 3/4 birds.

[Contrary]

...Excluding Oshawott and the DP mons because I am really biased against them (and I'm sure you're all sick of me going on and on about the otter), I'd say Torkoal. At first it was interesting: the overemotional crying and bizarre attitude were hilarious. But then the gag got old, and Torkoal became less interesting. It seemed to be the weak link of Ash's Hoenn team. And even when it won matches, I thought its performances in battle were usually lackluster.

[The Fighting Misty]

Torkoal wasn't particularly great, they merely needed Ash with a fire pokemon back in Hoenn. I think if Torkoal had an evo it would have helped matters.

The battle it had with Brandon's Registeel redeemed it in my eyes though, even if it is Ash's least popular fire pokemon.