There are currently 932 Pokemon in existence with no end in sight. This poses a massive challenge for those who actually want to catch them all, but not every trainer has that end goal in mind while playing these games. Some trainers just want to catch the ones that they like, raise them, and use them in battle.
In that regard, 932 Pokemon is actually a massive boon. This allows trainers of all tastes and preferences to find a Pokemon with typing and visual design that suits them perfectly. That leads us to today’s topic: 10 Pokemon main team choices that reveal their trainer’s playstyle. Let’s begin.
10 Garbodor - #Relatable
Garbodor is the Trash Heap Pokemon and was first introduced in Generation V. It is a Poison-Type and was given a Gigantimax form in Sword & Shield. It doesn’t see much competitive use at the moment – especially since all Gigantimax usage is banned in most competitive play.
This Pokemon says one thing about its trainer – they’re trash and they know it. That’s not trash in the “bad at the game” sense or even that they’re a bad person. It just means that they can relate to trash. Garbodor is a living pile of trash, and that’s just relatable for many of us. Garbodor is endearing and magnetic because of it.
9 Lucario - Wannabe Superheroes
Lucario is a Fighting and Steel-Type Pokemon first introduced in Generation IV. It is known as the Aura Pokemon and has been spotlighted in the Super Smash Bros. games and the Pokemon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew Movie.
Lucario has been presented as a fairly heroic Pokemon, and its trainers are often drawn to that fact. If you like Lucario, you’re probably a fan of superheroes. Lucario’s signature move, Aura Sphere, draws upon the internal energy of Lucario and is practically an attack made from sheer will. That’s a very superheroic move.
8 Pikachu - Makes Things Their Own
Pikachu is the Electric-Type Mouse Pokemon and the mascot of the Pokemon franchise writ large. It’s the star of Pokemon Yellow, it’s Ash’s partner Pokemon in the anime, and it even received a live-action movie in Detective Pikachu.
If you choose Pikachu, it shows that you don’t care if something is super-popular; you can still connect to it on a personal level. Pikachu is both cute and tough, and you can love it along with everyone else. Just because something is shared by millions of people doesn’t mean it can’t still be yours.
7 Swampert - Assertive And Confident
Swampert is the Mud Fish Pokemon, and it’s a Ground and Water-Type Pokemon as well as one of the starter choices for the Generation III Hoenn games. This Pokemon can actually say a couple of different things about the trainer. Firstly, it can say that the trainer was attached to the cuteness of Mudkip and can still connect to the fairly goofy look of Swampert.
However, it can also say that the trainer is fairly competitive and knows about Swampert’s reputation as the toughest Hoenn starter and status as still one of the strongest starter Pokemon ever designed. Swampert is an absolute beast, and you know it–so let’s use that beast.
6 Eevee And Family - Does It For The Gram
Eevee is the Normal-Type Evolution Pokemon and the star of Pokemon: Let’s Go Eevee and Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness. It has eight different evolved forms to date, and each one is a different type.
Choosing Eevee means you know a thing or two about aesthetics. Eevee is a ridiculously cute Pokemon – cuter than Pikachu if we’re being honest. Furthermore, all of its evolved forms are a slam dunk. Which one are you going to choose? You don’t have to decide yet, and you can just keep Eevee as Eevee. Either way, you have some taste.
5 Toxapex - Probably A Scorpio
Toxapex is the Brutal Star Pokemon and was introduced in Generation VII. It is a Water and Poison-Type Pokemon known for how tough and dangerous it is. It is a choice that shows both how devious and competitive the player can be.
Toxapex currently occupies a slot on the Overused Tier of Smogon University competitive play, and it’s no wonder how it got there. Toxapex is a brute that can take any number of hits and then poison the opposing Pokemon. Its Merciless Ability grants Toxapex the ability to land consecutive Critical Hits on poisoned Pokemon, or its Regenerator Hidden Ability allows Toxapex to heal upon being switched out.
4 Mimikyu - All Goths Are Valid
Mimikyu is the Ghost and Fairy-Type Disguise Pokemon that has hidden its true form under a facade resembling Pikachu. It’s said that Mimikyu’s true form is unspeakably horrible.
Choosing Mimikyu for your team shows that you can feel sympathy even for damaged and potentially dangerous things. You feel for Mimikyu and its desire to be loved. You won’t leave this poor creature behind, and you’re willing to use it on your team to make sure Mimikyu knows it’s cherished.
3 Galarian Rapidash - Does Things For Themselves
Galarian Rapidash is the inverse of Toxapex for this list. The Unique Horn Pokemon is both Psychic and Fairy-Type and corresponds to the Fire Horse Pokemon of Kanto. Unfortunately for Galarian Rapidash, it’s so unused in Pokemon competitive play that it occupies the Untiered category on Smogon.
That isn’t to say that Galarian Rapidash is the worst Pokemon, but it’s on the lowest rung. Regardless, you chose it because it’s just so darn pretty, and that’s your prerogative. You don’t need the absolute toughest Pokemon so long as it looks good and makes you happy, and that’s all you’re required to do – choose the Pokemon that you want.
2 Charizard - What Are Stats?
Charizard occupies a similar slot to both Galarian Rapidash and Pikachu for this list. Charizard is arguably the second-most popular Pokemon behind Pikachu, but it’s also taken a beating in the current competitive scene, sinking to the Practically Useless category on Smogon.
Regardless of this, Charizard still looks cool and is intimidating. He was a lovable and misbehaving member of Ash’s team in the show, and that spoke to you for some reason. Even if he’s not in his prime anymore, you still love him and will use him at every opportunity.
1 Any Legendary In The Pokemon League - Why Not Use It?
There was once a sort of unwritten rule among Pokemon players that it was bad taste to use Legendary Pokemon against the Elite Four and Champion in the Pokemon games. In fact, you can’t catch Zacian, Zamazenta, or Eternatus until after defeating the Pokemon League in Sword & Shield.
However, many trainers still used their Legendary Pokemon against the Elite Four in the older games. Even though the stats on Legendary Pokemon so often outclass other Pokemon of a similar level, many trainers still brought Pokemon like Groudon and Kyogre to bear against Steven in Ruby, Sapphire, & Emerald. What that says about you is, you see a big beast of a Pokemon and you’re going to use it. Why catch something as majestic as Lugia and not unleash it on the Elite Four of Johto? It’s your partner Pokemon now, and you’re going to use it.
NEXT: Pokemon: Every Different Design Of Ash Ketchum’s Hats, Ranked
