With every generation of Pokémon games, fans find their new favorite Pokémon and work towards building a strong roster that can help them become champions. Along the way, they also tend to find their favorite of each type in a given region, as well.
When looking at the water-types of each region, starters are the obvious default choice as the favorites, but there are some generations where that isn’t necessarily as clear cut as you’d assume. Let’s look at the best water-type from every generation through Pokémon Sword & Shield.
8 Drednaw
Though Sobble is such a sweet and lovable pile of sadness, it can’t hold a candle to the Galar region’s premier water-type, Drednaw. Described as the Bite Pokémon, this giant snapping turtle is one of the earliest Galar native Pokémon you’ll run into, albeit in its base form named Chewtle.
This thing can easily become your best friend and be by your side for your entire journey through the region. Drednaw’s shiny form is lackluster, but its Gigantamax form turns this quadrupedal powerhouse into a modern-day version of the Pokémon Red & Blue favorite, Blastoise. It may not have the cannons on its back, but it makes do with its powerful jaw.
7 Primarina
When looking at the Alolan islands and the water-types that call it home, it comes down to Primarina and Toxapex in terms of which reigns supreme in paradise. Despite being an interesting design, water and poison dual-typing feels like familiar territory.
Primarina’s strength is that it brought the Fairy-type to the forefront and gave the type a viable option for most people that isn’t another Eevee evolution. Primarina’s shiny form also happens to improve the base design and makes it feel even more like the mermaids it was inspired to represent.
6 Greninja
You’d be hard-pressed to find a better water-type in the Kalos region than Greninja. Not only was this creature named the Pokémon of the year for 2019, but it also has arguably the best shiny form in the entire franchise. The ninja-inspired stealth attacker dresses in all black with a red scarf when found in its shiny form, but even then, its regular form isn’t anything to scoff at, either.
It also happens to have a solid dual-typing of water and dark which opens up a variety of moves it can learn based upon what its trainer is trying to accomplish with it in battle. None of this is taking into account the special design of Ash’s Greninja which was obtainable at one point in the games.
5 Seismitoad
Not only does Seismitoad make Swampert less impressive retroactively, but this toad can also shift the momentum of battle given the proper matchup. You’d think that a creature covered in bumps wouldn’t be too visually appealing, but, somehow, Seismitoad pulls it off pretty well.
Not only does its combination of water and ground-types make it a nuisance to deal with in battle, but it has a shiny form that makes it even more endearing. When shiny, it ditches the blue skin for one that’s an aqua green color that makes it pop.
4 Empoleon
Many fans feel that the fourth generation of games has a roster of Pokémon that aren’t all that defining, as a majority of them are evolutions to previously existing Pokémon in addition to a good number of lackluster designs.
One Pokémon that is defining is, however, is Empoleon, the water and steel starter Pokémon who fans can obtain at the beginning of the game. Not only is it the only penguin-inspired Pokémon in existence, but its regal design also makes it feel like a Pokémon any trainer worth a heck would own. Nothing hurts worse than a metal claw scratch after getting hydro pumped. It must hurt even worst when the source of those attacks is a giant emperor penguin.
3 Crawdaunt
Crawdaunt may seem like an odd choice for the third generation of games as its best water-type, but it has a solid case. Its only competition, Swampert, has both a typing and a shiny form that have been used numerous times. Crawdaunt features the combination of both water and dark-types that isn’t super common and adds a bit of variety to a trainer’s team of six.
The design is much more than just a lobster, as GameFreak gave Crawdaunt a shiny gold star on top of its head and some vibrant blue stripes across its chest to make it distinct. Making a lobster look cool seems almost impossible, but Crawdaunt is as useful in battle, as it is as a representative as to how fish and water-type Pokémon can have neat designs.
2 Feraligatr
In many ways, Feraligatr is the Charizard of the Johto region. It’s the highly aggressive final evolution of an adorable starter Pokémon that was easily the most popular choice among your group of friends at school. It also happens to be one of the few starter Pokémon whose middle form isn’t entirely awkward.
One could make a case that Quagsire offers a bit more strategy and upside when battling due to its dual-typing, but there isn’t a single other water-typed Pokémon in the Johto region trainers would rather own than Feraligatr. It’s half part dinosaur, half part alligator, what is there not to love?
1 Gyarados
One glance at Gyarados lets you know how cool it is. Despite following the trope of an unassuming and worthless creature becoming an all-powerful being, Gyarados is still a fan favorite that even new trainers flock to once they discover it.
Not only is it strong in battle, but it also happens to have a shiny form that’s heavily desired by trainers. Water-types can often feel bland or retreaded territory, but, in the case of Gyarados, it’s a shining example of what Pokémon designs require to become popular and legendary. You know you did a great job designing something when people can point to it as something cool. This may seem easy but is a lot harder than you’d imagine.
NEXT: Pokémon: Ranking The 10 Most Underrated Alola Pokémon
