Pikachu/Raichu. I swear the anime and my first game being pokemon Yellow has made me mentally prone to trying to put one on my team until I find a better electric type/legendary.
I honestly loved Kanto Raichu better than Alolan Raichu as far as battling, but Alolan Raichu looks so much cooler. And the blue eyes remind me of the Surfing Pikachu from the anime that could sense huge waves.
So, def a keeper if on the right team.
Ralts - Gallade is one of the best at helping catch pokemon. False swipe, hypnosis, mean look, swords, dance. Gardevoir is also a great SpAttacker for a playthrough. With the evolution line completing at 30 you'll have a monster of a pokemon just before your starter.
Gyarados - The most borked pokemon since Gen 1.
Alola Dex - Seriously, so many pokemon from Alola are so versatile that anytime I see one, it's so hard not to put one on my team.
I did in USUM. I'm really not a fan of Incineroar so I eventually boxed my Torracat for Alolan Marowak instead. I think that's the only time I've ever ditched a starter outside of nuzlockes or monotype runs
Unless it's a new generation and new starters, I always box them. Been playing pokemon since 2002 and used every starter multiple times in my many playthroughs of every game. So now when I replay I usually try to use pokemon I haven't before.
Alolan ninetales. Teal mask released and I heard vulpix was in the game, so I waited until I could move my shiny alolan ninetales into the game from my SWSH save, and I was surprised that I could. My friend wanted to start a nuzlocke on swsh but we agreed not to use starters, so instead we progressed to the first pokecenter and moved our own starters from home into the game, I picked a shiny alolan vulpix and I don't have the chart in front of me so I forget what she picked since it's been weeks since we last continued. But now with the introduction of Annihilape with SV, mankey may become the new go-to mon for me lol
Super underrated. People forget that the annoying Zubat evolves into the beast Crobat. 4x resistance to Fighting-type is so useful. It's extremely speedy, and with an Attack-plus nature it's powerful as well.
Even just Golbat can be pretty strong, especially in older generations.
Usually i forget its an actually good line until way to late. Admittedly my first time seriously using one was when i found a full odds shiny zubat in oreburg mine in pearl atleast 5 years after getting the game. Shinybat was very good.
Havenāt played in a while but leading with a Crobat who knew U-Turn was so useful. But just the aesthetics of it as well made him a perma in my teams
Nice, I came here to say Altaria. I can't resist a cloud dragon bird. It evolves earlier than most dragons and is good for fly in the games where you need fly.
I don't think i have ever used "discount Salamence" properly before and i started with Sapphire. Probably because Swablu is worse than Swellow by the time you get to it.
That nickname is given with love, it may be weaker than Salamence but it shares the typing, evolves earlier, and is in a faster experience/leveling group. (Erratic at 35 vs Slow at 50) And generally you get access way before you get access to Bagon.
This ended up being a somewhat difficult question for me lol.
There are multiple pokemon I have to convince myself *not* to catch simply for team variety.
These include Rattata, Spearow, Weedle, and Onix.
I replay RBY, HG/SS, and Let's Go often. I have had so many runs start with any combination of those four. I took Beedrill to the Elite 4 in Platinum, and the only reason I didn't use Onix in Sword is because of Shuckle.
There is a pokemon I *almost* always use, and that's Ditto. I have used it in multiple HG/SS runs, multiple Lets Go runs, and my first Violet playthrough. But, I don't like using Ditto in Gen 1 so I can't say I *always* include it.
Honorable mention goes to Doduo. I have used Doduo the first time playing through any game it is in, but on subsequent playthroughs I have purposefully left it off.
Voltorb/Electrode is probably the closest to this for me. Any time I need an electric type and Voltorb is available, I pick it. I even ran two pure electric types on my first Lets Go playthrough so I could use the partner Pikachu and Voltorb.
I just really like the angry ball pokemon.
The Shinx line. Those boys always come through for me. Super fast, a ton of moves that cause paralysis, super cute electric that isn't just another knock-off Pikachu.
I'm partial to ghost types for the rest of my team. Mimikyu the knock-off Pikachu is another of faves š
Ribombee is my number #1 every single game. I love that little bee.
Nuzleaf (Yes nuzleaf, not shiftry.) I usually eviolote him I just think he's so cute.
only been in s/v, but i will never not have Clodsire on my team anymore. in fact i have 2 of the goodest bois on my team rn. a regular one named Loaf and a shiny one named PÄ czki. i also have like 40 more of them in my pc boxes including 2 more shiny ones named Blueberry and Danish.
and no i don't have a problem lol.
Togekiss, galarian linoone, and hisuian decidueye. I will build my teams AROUND them. I don't care if it means boxing other team members (though I'd still feel guilty)
Charizard.
I don't care what anyone thinks; to me, the pandering is a win-win because it means I can use it. My USUM teams were some of the most unbalanced teams I've ever had.
Aggron. Despite its terrible typing it usually does pretty good in a story playthrough because most AI trainers are dumb and have poor coverage. If there's a better option I really really want I usually don't mind doubling up on steel types since they're so good.
Smeargle
Had one I kept around and retrained from Gen 4 to gen 7, although I had to recatch him gen 9 I'm very happy to have him on my team again.
Current moves are Transform, Tera Blast, Tail Slap and Tail Glow.
Technician for its ability and holding Loaded Dice
Normal/Stellar tera type.
Ninjask as soon as it's available, even if I don't take it to the Elite 4, he still gets to show everyone the power of the fastest Cicada in all of Hoenn.
Goes fast, raises evasiveness...it is absolutely annoying to fight against LOL I love Ninjask
gen 1 - Butterfree (even though it gets power crept later on and didnāt get good moves back then, idc)
gen 2 - Girafarig (I loved the concept)
gen 3 - Walrein & Tropius
gen 4 - Pachirisu
gen 5 - Swoobat
gen 6 - Furfrou with the pharaoh like trim
gen 7 - Lurantis
gen 8 - Orbeetle
gen 9 - Farigiraf
Toxtricity. Ever since it was introduced, it has become my defacto favorite. I love the animal it's based on, I love the music and subculture that inspired it. I think its a super clever design.
Raichu. Been my favorite since RBG days and always will be. My boy has been powercrept out like hell, but heās available in almost any game because itās the evolution of the mascot.
Really wish theyād give his base stats a little love or at least let him use Light Ball.
Not specifically this but I do have a system for team building I like to call the familiars system. Basically I'll always endeavor to have at least 5 Pokemon I've never used before on a team plus one familiar Pokemon. There're a few Pokemon that tend to be familiars more than others, Roserade probably being my most frequent familiar
Mawile
Kinda the same as yours, it's not very good, but it's the first mon besides my Starter that I grew attached to and the sole reason I took notice of Fairy types
It's always named Mawnette
I always try and experiment with the new regions pokemon and regularly try to use mons i haven't used before.
And for whatever reason i like doing "bug catcher" runs, probably for the challenge without doing a nuzlock.
But my old reliables include: Gardevoir, Breloom, Claydol, Donphan, Ursaring, Gyarados, Jolteon, Houndoom, Alolan Sandshrew, Alolan Raichu, Krookodile, Leavany, and Luxray. (No particular order, tried to include as many generations as possible, but these are the mons i always find myself coming back to. Also the starter almost always has a permanent seat on the team.)
Snow cloak Beartic w/ blizzard, just because the idea of a massive polar bear hazily peeking through a flurry of snow only to disappear when you look away is as awesome as it is terrifying.
Nidoking
Mr.Nido?
Niedo
Absol, without a doubt
So is that your Absol-ute favorite?
Absol-utely
Same here. Love the little dude
Same! Heartbroken that it didn't make it to SV. Thankfully it's gonna be in ZA(probably)
Kingler
Purely based on Ash's Kingler that dominated an entire team
Always
GO-GHEE!!!
Can't believe other Kingler fans exist, he's awesome!
Togepi line. They're adorable
Gengar. Dragapult has also earned a spot. Ghost is unsurprisingly my favorite type.
Dragapult is on my list for the newer game!
These are the exact same two for me. Gengar has always been my favourite, and then Dragapult got a spot with the Dragon Darts animation.
Pikachu/Raichu. I swear the anime and my first game being pokemon Yellow has made me mentally prone to trying to put one on my team until I find a better electric type/legendary.
same š i just love pikachu
Raichu is and has always been my favorite Pokemon of all time!
Your thoughts on Alolan Raichu?
I honestly loved Kanto Raichu better than Alolan Raichu as far as battling, but Alolan Raichu looks so much cooler. And the blue eyes remind me of the Surfing Pikachu from the anime that could sense huge waves. So, def a keeper if on the right team.
Ralts - Gallade is one of the best at helping catch pokemon. False swipe, hypnosis, mean look, swords, dance. Gardevoir is also a great SpAttacker for a playthrough. With the evolution line completing at 30 you'll have a monster of a pokemon just before your starter. Gyarados - The most borked pokemon since Gen 1. Alola Dex - Seriously, so many pokemon from Alola are so versatile that anytime I see one, it's so hard not to put one on my team.
Love Gallade and Gyarados too, both usually make the team when available
Gallade is so rad but unfortunately I cannot get past my nostalgia for Gardevoir - Wally's journey hit me too hard
Same reason I love the Ralts line! Not that I related to the storyline itself, but I just loved his arc.
A lvl100 Gallade is always a guarantee in my main casual playthrough game file to catch mons
My starter. In fact, I'll go as far as building my team around it
Do people... ditch starters? What?
There is no starter that I LOVE, so I often ditch them. Especially dont like the ones in recent games that become way too humanoid
I did in USUM. I'm really not a fan of Incineroar so I eventually boxed my Torracat for Alolan Marowak instead. I think that's the only time I've ever ditched a starter outside of nuzlockes or monotype runs
I very much regretted choosing the grass starter Gen 5. But I kept having to pull it out for storyline purposes.
I will not take snivy slander. My favorite starter.
Unless it's a new generation and new starters, I always box them. Been playing pokemon since 2002 and used every starter multiple times in my many playthroughs of every game. So now when I replay I usually try to use pokemon I haven't before.
Maybe I'm weirder then I thought... I usually box my starter at the earlier chance because they're so overpowered
No way, me too!
Arcanine
Big dog go brrr
This is the right choice, straight fire power.
Umbreon. Perhaps one of my favorite Pokemon of all time.
Umbreon used to be a staple for me but Iāve moved to Sylveon post-gen 6
Iām exactly the same. Itās my favourite PokĆ©mon and I use it in every single game I play. I always think āoh maybe Iāll use insert different eeveelution here this timeā and then end up with Umbreon. Itās also usually the first shiny Iāll breed for.
Houndoom lol
Didn't think I would be able to find houndoom buddies here, not disappointed! + Metagross for me too
Lapras
Sudowoodo
Ariados is always on the team
This is an insane take lol
Snorlax
Gardevoir or Gallade. Always one or both of the two.
Alolan ninetales. Teal mask released and I heard vulpix was in the game, so I waited until I could move my shiny alolan ninetales into the game from my SWSH save, and I was surprised that I could. My friend wanted to start a nuzlocke on swsh but we agreed not to use starters, so instead we progressed to the first pokecenter and moved our own starters from home into the game, I picked a shiny alolan vulpix and I don't have the chart in front of me so I forget what she picked since it's been weeks since we last continued. But now with the introduction of Annihilape with SV, mankey may become the new go-to mon for me lol
Snorlax. Big boy stomps
Crobat š
Super underrated. People forget that the annoying Zubat evolves into the beast Crobat. 4x resistance to Fighting-type is so useful. It's extremely speedy, and with an Attack-plus nature it's powerful as well.
Even just Golbat can be pretty strong, especially in older generations. Usually i forget its an actually good line until way to late. Admittedly my first time seriously using one was when i found a full odds shiny zubat in oreburg mine in pearl atleast 5 years after getting the game. Shinybat was very good.
Havenāt played in a while but leading with a Crobat who knew U-Turn was so useful. But just the aesthetics of it as well made him a perma in my teams
Crobat is fire
Dragonite š Favorite tubby boi
You have lots of patience
Quagsire.Ā The moment I saw that happy, dopey smile I knew he was going to be my best buddy.
Anytime of butterfly, either Butterfree, beautifly or vivillion.
Ampharos 100%
Ampharos makes the team in most early gens for me too
Kantonian Sandslash
Steelix is my favorite Pokemon and will always be on my team no matter how bad the matchups are.
Mightyena
For me it's Espeon
Haunter
Psyduck
And I donāt evolve mine
Volcarona, fell in love it when it first released.
Charizard. Has been my favorite since gen 1 came out and will always be my favorite
Always pick him first the Kanto games
Kingdra, Azumarill
Gardevoir. My first experience with 3rd generation was ORAS. Gardevior help me beat Steven's team. She was my last PokƩmon and I was LUCKY to beat the last two of Steven's PokƩmon with crits and missed. Yes I did use revives and potions to heal my team. But it was a slow battle.
Big fan of Gardevoir in Gen 3 and 6
Sneasel (M) and I never let him evolve
Dragonite, plump orange boy is always welcome
Shedinja, was pretty happy it was available early in sword and shield
I honestly donāt know why but I always have Altaria on my team, even if only for a little while. I love it and canāt resist using one for a bit
Nice, I came here to say Altaria. I can't resist a cloud dragon bird. It evolves earlier than most dragons and is good for fly in the games where you need fly.
I don't think i have ever used "discount Salamence" properly before and i started with Sapphire. Probably because Swablu is worse than Swellow by the time you get to it. That nickname is given with love, it may be weaker than Salamence but it shares the typing, evolves earlier, and is in a faster experience/leveling group. (Erratic at 35 vs Slow at 50) And generally you get access way before you get access to Bagon.
Lilligant.
ALAKAZAM :) always!
Hydreigon
Hydreigon holds a soft spot for me as the PokĆ©mon I used to sweep through the Black Elite 4. I was young back then and didnāt get type matchups and having a balanced team so I had an Emboar around level 55 and an Unfenzant around level 35 with everyone else in the mid 20s. I was getting dogwalked by Caitlin and Shauntal. Found a random Deion on Victory Road and trained it up and finally beat the Elite 4 after probably 20 attempts.
This is also my favorite one. He's just op, can learn attacks for most types and smacks everything
Zoroark or Hisuen Zoruark
This ended up being a somewhat difficult question for me lol. There are multiple pokemon I have to convince myself *not* to catch simply for team variety. These include Rattata, Spearow, Weedle, and Onix. I replay RBY, HG/SS, and Let's Go often. I have had so many runs start with any combination of those four. I took Beedrill to the Elite 4 in Platinum, and the only reason I didn't use Onix in Sword is because of Shuckle. There is a pokemon I *almost* always use, and that's Ditto. I have used it in multiple HG/SS runs, multiple Lets Go runs, and my first Violet playthrough. But, I don't like using Ditto in Gen 1 so I can't say I *always* include it. Honorable mention goes to Doduo. I have used Doduo the first time playing through any game it is in, but on subsequent playthroughs I have purposefully left it off. Voltorb/Electrode is probably the closest to this for me. Any time I need an electric type and Voltorb is available, I pick it. I even ran two pure electric types on my first Lets Go playthrough so I could use the partner Pikachu and Voltorb. I just really like the angry ball pokemon.
The Shinx line. Those boys always come through for me. Super fast, a ton of moves that cause paralysis, super cute electric that isn't just another knock-off Pikachu. I'm partial to ghost types for the rest of my team. Mimikyu the knock-off Pikachu is another of faves š
Love Luxray for the Sinnoh games
Paras my OG pokemon catcher and hidden ability ditto for the satisfaction of beating down opponents with thier own pokemon.
If I'm doing just a normal playthrough I don't usually favor any one PokƩmon. I try to use either ones I've never touched or in the case of nuzlockes, whatever fits best in the current situation. But when I build competitive teams I always put Hawlucha on there. He's the most mid pokemon ever in terms of performance, but I love my little wrestling hawk. Nidoking had been my reigning favorite PokƩmon from the time I was playing Pokemon Red at 8 years old to the moment I first laid eyes on Hawlucha on my first blind playthrough of Y. Hawlucha is my boy and forever will be.
Charizard typically.Ā
Tropius, sawsbuck- either one I'd fit. Perrserker- i create my team around *it*
Ribombee is my number #1 every single game. I love that little bee. Nuzleaf (Yes nuzleaf, not shiftry.) I usually eviolote him I just think he's so cute.
Zebstrika. Idk why, I just love it Also Gardevoir. Gardevoir is in the game? You fricken bet I'll go look for one.
Blaziken. Always. Kanto Ninetales too.
A fellow ninetales fan. I wish you a very pleasant day/night.
Blaziken is my favorite but since heās a starter heās not always available :/
Absolutely incapable of playing a game without Wishiwashi when it is available. The little fish makes me lose all sense and logic.
Call me basic but, Charizard and Snorlax. Been playing since red version in the 90s. The shiny version is cool too.
Cubone as āHijaMuerteā Farfetchād as āLa Espadāaā
Jumpluff or Goodra
Mai boi Dragonite since pokemon yellow
Ampharos, all day šÆ fr fr no cap
Zorua for sure :)
If Heracross is available I am using it ASAP
If their is a Raichu, I want it. And Iām not even a big fan of Gen 1 š
Alakazam, besides the games its not in, which is just S&V so far.
Zoroark and either of the Sneasel lines
Oddish. Although it's actually very useful lol
Feraligatr or Toxicroak My best pals
Jynx. Ever since I got a Smoochum from the egg in Crystal and then learned about the hate poor Jynx catches.
Ampharos always
Houndour/Houndoom He sucks in every generation and every game but THATS MY BOY
Lycanroc and Charizard
only been in s/v, but i will never not have Clodsire on my team anymore. in fact i have 2 of the goodest bois on my team rn. a regular one named Loaf and a shiny one named PÄ czki. i also have like 40 more of them in my pc boxes including 2 more shiny ones named Blueberry and Danish. and no i don't have a problem lol.
Togekiss, galarian linoone, and hisuian decidueye. I will build my teams AROUND them. I don't care if it means boxing other team members (though I'd still feel guilty)
Joltik, top tier lil guy and I can't stop putting him on my teams :)
Well certainly not a bad pokemon but gyarados always ends up on my team... also Aggron
Yes me too! Aggron especially.
Sandshrew and Ampharos
Charizard. I don't care what anyone thinks; to me, the pandering is a win-win because it means I can use it. My USUM teams were some of the most unbalanced teams I've ever had.
Nidoking and Gengar
Sylveon
Aggron. Despite its terrible typing it usually does pretty good in a story playthrough because most AI trainers are dumb and have poor coverage. If there's a better option I really really want I usually don't mind doubling up on steel types since they're so good.
Flygon every game. Sure every other dragon is better but he is my boi.
i always have a stoutland whenever i play black & white or the sequels!! and a crobat in any game that has it lol
Eevee and Glalie.
Swinub
Gardevoir
they sometimes even have the same name: saphia the gardevoir, maraena the amphoros, feedback the toxtricity, empress the kingdra
Smeargle Had one I kept around and retrained from Gen 4 to gen 7, although I had to recatch him gen 9 I'm very happy to have him on my team again. Current moves are Transform, Tera Blast, Tail Slap and Tail Glow. Technician for its ability and holding Loaded Dice Normal/Stellar tera type.
Clefable and Garchomp. Always. Venusaur if it's in the game.
Flygon
I got three of them Blastoise Tyranitar Snorlax
Bronzong
Spheal
Quilava is my baby.
I'll always have a Beedrill on my team if it is available. Also Shedninja.
my starter and one of the eeveelutions (preferably sylveon or the gen2 ones)
Alakazam
Scizor
Butterfree
Op I love you, my fave is snorunt, so I always have a snorunt on my team, and because you always have a froslass, you must do also.
The zubat line and Bisharp
Starmie! I have one in every single game it's available. It's my very favorite. I even have a rug of starmie in my room.
Any of the eevees or zoroark
Gorebyss
Ninjask as soon as it's available, even if I don't take it to the Elite 4, he still gets to show everyone the power of the fastest Cicada in all of Hoenn. Goes fast, raises evasiveness...it is absolutely annoying to fight against LOL I love Ninjask
Butterfree I will never be without them ever
Lugia :DDD They are forget my fren
Whiscash, love my oblivious boi
I simply can't go without Flygon on my team
glaceon, always
gen 1 - Butterfree (even though it gets power crept later on and didnāt get good moves back then, idc) gen 2 - Girafarig (I loved the concept) gen 3 - Walrein & Tropius gen 4 - Pachirisu gen 5 - Swoobat gen 6 - Furfrou with the pharaoh like trim gen 7 - Lurantis gen 8 - Orbeetle gen 9 - Farigiraf
Zebstrika or Manectric. I like electric types
Milotic, I usually have fighting types, but all my past Milotics have just been so tanky
Also froslass! I love her!
Politoed šø
Trubbish, there's something about that lil bag of rubbish that is adorable.
Starmie
Rhyperior, serperior and Gengar. Maybe Talonflame.
Golurk
Victreebel Since gen 1, always in my team if it is available.
I try to grab a shiny excadrill, every time. At the very least, normal excadrill will be there. Heās trans pride colors!
Toxtricity. Ever since it was introduced, it has become my defacto favorite. I love the animal it's based on, I love the music and subculture that inspired it. I think its a super clever design.
Meloetta. Idk if Mythics count but she's my favorite
Cottonee. I never evolve it, it is always my cottonee
Shynx has a sweet spot for me tbh
Sandslash is my favorite, so there is always a sandslash on my team, usually named Tremor.
since gen 3 metagross is always on my team no matter what.
https://preview.redd.it/jp8mz8hrgp6d1.jpeg?width=3472&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b2702e9a5d23b0294dcbe5aecac166af8f6dde01
A Raichu called Volt
Sneasel/Weavile/Sneasler
Gengar and dragapult
Raichu. Been my favorite since RBG days and always will be. My boy has been powercrept out like hell, but heās available in almost any game because itās the evolution of the mascot. Really wish theyād give his base stats a little love or at least let him use Light Ball.
Breloom, it's one of the best Pokemon to help me catch them all
Garchomp. Even though Charizard is my favorite pokemon, want Garchomp on my team more if heās in the game. I just love the land shark/dragon design.
Gyarados. If I can catch Magikarp, Gyarados is on my team vs the Elite 4.
Persian. I love cats and it generates money with Pay Day.
Raichu is my boy. Always has a spot on my team
Itās hard being a Chikorita fan
Wooper 100%
Tropius. I just love my dinosaur houseplant.
mimikyu or togepi line
Magikarp. I always have a full team of Magikarps no Gyrados allowed.
Crobat always has a place by my side
Goodra, big goopy goober will always have a spot on my team if I can help it.
Not specifically this but I do have a system for team building I like to call the familiars system. Basically I'll always endeavor to have at least 5 Pokemon I've never used before on a team plus one familiar Pokemon. There're a few Pokemon that tend to be familiars more than others, Roserade probably being my most frequent familiar
Hariyama
Mawile Kinda the same as yours, it's not very good, but it's the first mon besides my Starter that I grew attached to and the sole reason I took notice of Fairy types It's always named Mawnette
I always try and experiment with the new regions pokemon and regularly try to use mons i haven't used before. And for whatever reason i like doing "bug catcher" runs, probably for the challenge without doing a nuzlock. But my old reliables include: Gardevoir, Breloom, Claydol, Donphan, Ursaring, Gyarados, Jolteon, Houndoom, Alolan Sandshrew, Alolan Raichu, Krookodile, Leavany, and Luxray. (No particular order, tried to include as many generations as possible, but these are the mons i always find myself coming back to. Also the starter almost always has a permanent seat on the team.)
Thanks to Bank and Home I'm delighted that I can have my actual beloved pokemon from old games in my team.
Gardevoir.
Call me unoriginal, but Gengar. Love that fat purple demon so f**king much
The pidgey evolution line. I am not big on flying types but pidgeot is my boi.
Oddly, miltank and zebstrika. Loved the idea of having miltank since Whitney in silver obliterated me with hers and I like Zebstrika for some reason.
Snow cloak Beartic w/ blizzard, just because the idea of a massive polar bear hazily peeking through a flurry of snow only to disappear when you look away is as awesome as it is terrifying.