The 10 Most Beloved Pokémon of All Time

From the earliest Game Boy releases to today’s mainline entries and remakes, a small group of species shows up again and again in games, trading cards, and the ‘Pokémon’ anime. These Pokémon commonly receive special mechanics like Mega Evolution, regional forms, or Gigantamax, and they’re frequent picks for events, distributions, and starter choices.

Below are ten species that appear consistently across media and generations. Each entry includes typing, evolution details, notable moves or abilities, and key appearances that help explain their lasting presence without leaning on opinions or subjective rankings.

Pikachu

Pikachu is an Electric-type Pokémon (#025) introduced in Generation I. It evolves from Pichu via high friendship and into Raichu with a Thunder Stone, and Raichu has a regional Alolan form with Electric/Psychic typing. Pikachu’s movepool features staples like Thunderbolt and utility options such as Nuzzle and Encore, and Volt Tackle is obtainable via specific breeding with a Light Ball.

As the franchise mascot, Pikachu appears across mainline games, spin-offs, and promotional events, including a Gigantamax form with the G-Max Volt Crash move in later titles. In the ‘Pokémon’ anime, Pikachu serves as the lead partner, and in companion games like Let’s Go entries it gains exclusive partner moves and field interactions designed around early-game progression.

Charizard

Charizard is a Fire/Flying-type Pokémon (#006) evolving from Charmeleon and Charmander, one of the original Kanto starters. Its typing grants Ground immunity from Flying and a quadruple weakness to Rock, shaping battle roles and team support needs. Standard coverage includes Flamethrower, Air Slash, Focus Blast, and Dragon Claw, with Blast Burn available via tutors in certain games.

Charizard has two Mega Evolutions—X changes to Fire/Dragon and Y remains Fire/Flying with distinct stat spreads—and a Gigantamax form that uses G-Max Wildfire to apply residual damage. It appears in numerous in-game events, raids, and special distributions, and it features repeatedly in the ‘Pokémon’ anime and films with storylines that showcase these special forms.

Eevee

Eevee is a Normal-type Pokémon (#133) known for multiple branched evolutions. It can evolve by stones into Vaporeon (Water), Jolteon (Thunder), Flareon (Fire), Leafeon (Leaf), and Glaceon (Ice), by high friendship into Espeon (day) or Umbreon (night), and by high friendship while knowing a Fairy-type move into Sylveon. This flexibility lets players tailor teams to roles such as bulky Water, speedy Electric, or utility Fairy.

Eevee receives frequent event spotlights, exclusive moves, and partner mechanics in certain titles, including field moves and special animations in games that feature it as a starter alternative. The ‘Pokémon’ anime regularly highlights different evolution methods and forms through various characters, demonstrating how in-game conditions translate to narrative examples for new players.

Mewtwo

Mewtwo is a Psychic-type Legendary Pokémon (#150) derived from Mew’s genetic data. It does not evolve, but it has two Mega Evolutions: Mega Mewtwo X adds Fighting typing for mixed offense, while Mega Mewtwo Y emphasizes Special Attack and Speed. Its signature move, Psystrike, targets Defense while using the user’s Special Attack, creating distinctive damage calculations compared to standard Psychic moves.

Mewtwo appears as a late-game or postgame encounter in multiple generations, often tied to special areas or event raids that provide competitive-ready move sets. It is central to feature films like ‘Pokémon: The First Movie’ and reappears in remakes and anniversary content, ensuring periodic availability with varied natures, abilities, or exclusive moves across releases.

Greninja

Greninja is a Water/Dark-type Pokémon (#658) from the Kalos region, evolving from Frogadier. Its movepool includes Water Shuriken, a priority multi-hit option, alongside coverage like Ice Beam and Dark Pulse. The ability Protean (and the separate mechanic Battle Bond in select titles) influences type interactions by changing Greninja’s typing or form based on moves or battle triggers.

Greninja has been featured in limited-time raids, special distributions, and cross-title bonuses that showcase its unique mechanics. In the ‘Pokémon’ anime, the Bond Phenomenon associated with a lead character provided the basis for an in-game transformation concept, linking narrative elements to gameplay mechanics introduced in subsequent entries.

Lucario

Lucario is a Fighting/Steel-type Pokémon (#448) that evolves from Riolu with high friendship during daytime in most games. It learns priority with Extreme Speed and powerful attacks such as Close Combat and Meteor Mash, and it can run physical or special sets thanks to options like Aura Sphere and Flash Cannon. Its stat spread supports offensive roles with utility from Swords Dance.

Lucario’s Mega Evolution further boosts its offensive profile and alters its ability to enhance contact damage. It headlines the film ‘Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew’ and appears broadly in events and raids, with recurring inclusion in competitive formats due to its typing, move coverage, and synergy with weather or terrain strategies introduced in later generations.

Gengar

Gengar is a Ghost/Poison-type Pokémon (#094) that evolves from Haunter by trading, reflecting multiplayer design in early titles. It commonly uses Shadow Ball and Sludge Bomb for special offense and can add utility through Will-O-Wisp, Taunt, or Disable. The ability Cursed Body may disable an opponent’s move after contact, affecting turn-by-turn options.

Gengar has both a Mega Evolution and a Gigantamax form; the latter’s G-Max Terror prevents foes from escaping while active. It appears frequently in the ‘Pokémon’ anime and in-game ghost-themed areas, and it is often available through special raids or event distributions that provide competitive natures or move combinations aligned with the current rule sets.

Snorlax

Snorlax is a Normal-type Pokémon (#143) with high HP and strong Special Defense. It evolves from Munchlax via high friendship, and its abilities include Thick Fat, which reduces Fire- and Ice-type damage, and Gluttony for optimized Berry usage. Common moves include Body Slam, Earthquake, Rest, and Sleep Talk, enabling sustained presence and status pressure.

In Kanto-based titles and remakes, Snorlax appears as a sleeping roadblock awakened with a Poké Flute, a scripted encounter that introduces overworld interaction and fixed battles. Snorlax’s Gigantamax form uses G-Max Replenish to restore consumed Berries, reinforcing its tank role in doubles formats and timed-event raids where resource loops are valuable.

Jigglypuff

Jigglypuff is a Normal/Fairy-type Pokémon (#039) that evolves from Igglybuff via high friendship and into Wigglytuff with a Moon Stone. Its signature move Sing inflicts sleep, pairing with early-game strategies that include Rest, Rollout, and support moves. The addition of Fairy typing provided new resistances and offensive targets in later generations.

Jigglypuff is a recurring presence in the ‘Pokémon’ anime, where Sing is used as a running motif, and it appears early in many games, making it one of the first Fairy-type introductions for new players. Event distributions and special encounters periodically feature Jigglypuff with unique moves or ribbons, offering collectors and competitive players specific builds.

Bulbasaur

Bulbasaur is a Grass/Poison-type Pokémon (#001) and the initial entry in the National Pokédex. It evolves into Ivysaur and then Venusaur via level-up, and its abilities include Overgrow for low-HP power boosts and Chlorophyll as a hidden option for speed increases under sunlight. Bulbasaur’s line emphasizes status and control with moves like Sleep Powder and Leech Seed.

Venusaur has a Mega Evolution and a Gigantamax form, the latter using G-Max Vine Lash to apply residual damage. The line appears in starter distributions, tutorials, and remakes, and it features in the ‘Pokémon’ anime to demonstrate growth-stage evolution and field-control strategies that translate directly into new players’ early-game team building.

Mew

Mew is a Mythical Psychic-type Pokémon (#151) associated with limited distributions and special events. It can learn a broad range of Technical Machines and Move Tutor options, making it one of the most flexible move learners among Mythicals. In many titles, obtaining Mew requires participation in timed events, special peripherals, or transfer systems between games.

Mew’s role in franchise lore underpins the origin of Mewtwo and ties into research narratives repeated across several regions. It appears in the ‘Pokémon’ anime and films as a rare species central to storylines about ancient sites, genetic projects, or mythical encounters, and later games provide occasional raid or distribution opportunities to add it to modern save files.

Share your own top picks and why they’ve stood the test of time in the comments!