Ever since Pokemon Red & Blue Grass-type Pokemon have been given the short end of the stick. They’re always considered to be the third choice among starters every generation, despite numerous generations having a Grass-type starter that’s arguably the best among its class.
In general, most fans consider Grass-types to be supporting role Pokemon and not the lead powerhouse in a Pokemon team. Like all other types, there have been plenty of weak and strong Grass-types, including the new generation featured in Pokemon Sword & Shield.
8 Gossifleur (Galar)
If a Pokemon fan was asked to name a Grass-type Pokemon with a flower in their design there’d be more than a dozen Pokemon for them to choose from. That’s why Gossifleur isn’t terrible but also happens to lack any sort of originality in its design. With a speed base stat of only 10, it’s one of the slowest Pokemon in existence. The reason its stats are so bad is that it’s an early game Pokemon that’s meant to be used as a learning tool for new trainers when it comes to both battling and capturing Pokemon.
7 Bounsweet (Alola)
The best thing going for Bounsweet of the Alolan Islands is that it is a pure Grass-type Pokemon that evolves twice. This means that its terrible base stats aren’t as bad as they seem as they become meaningless as it evolves and becomes more powerful.
By reaching level 18 and teaching its second form the move Stomp trainers can effectively turn their Bounsweet into a powerful Grass-type by the time their starter Pokemon has just hit its second stage evolution. Bounsweet also smells nice, which is a solid reason to own one, if not for its potential.
6 Pumpkaboo (Kalos)
From a design perspective, it’s neat that Pumpkaboo comes in a variety of sizes as it adds a bit of intrigue to the prospect of catching one. The issue is that once one is caught trainers quickly realize just how weak and ineffective they are. The Kalos region in Pokemon X & Y is considered by many to be the low point of the franchise, and despite a neat gimmick attached to it, Pumpkaboo is just another bullet point of the shortcomings that all piled up and led to the reputation of both the games and region have had solidified for them.
5 Foongus (Unova)
Foongus, the Mushroom Pokemon, was introduced as part of the large roster of new Pokemon that made up Pokemon Black & White. Among the 150 new Pokemon that called the Unova region home, Foongus is among the worst in potential, design, and strength. In all three of those categories it doesn’t measure up and for some reason has evolved to resemble a Pokeball. How does a sentient mushroom evolve to resemble a man-made modern object? Everything about Foongus is undesirable to both trainers and collectors alike.
4 Cherubi (Sinnoh)
A dark side of Pokemon people never like to discuss is if some people eat Pokemon regularly. The anime has shown fish Pokemon being cooked, but what about the plants? Cherubi is a sentient pair of cherries that can be found in the Sinnoh region.
It’s rather weak, but it’s unclear if humans have tried eating it and if it tastes like cherries. No sane person would ever try this, and for Cherubi’s sake, it may want to try and earn enough experience to level up as soon as possible before people start getting a little too curious.
3 Lotad (Hoenn)
Now Lotad may not be super popular, but its final form named Ludicolo certainly made a name for the evolutionary line. The Water and Grass-type was a prominent Pokemon in the Detective Pikachu film and fans enjoyed its weird presence. Its base form named Lotad is nothing more than a lily pad with legs, and somehow that eventually morphs into a piñata duck with a sombrero on its head. Thankfully Lotad evolves at level 14, so trainers don’t have to spend a lot of time with such a weak Pokemon.
2 Sunkern (Johto)
It’s hard to argue that Sunkern from the Johto region might be one of the worst Pokemon in the franchise regardless of type. This tiny Grass-type creature burst on the scene with the release of Pokemon Gold & Silver and has been forgotten about ever since. All of its base stats sit at an abysmal score of 30 and they don’t get much better when it evolves into Sunflora with the use of a Sun Stone. Grass-types come by the dozens in Pokemon so it makes sense why not all of them would be viable or hit the mark.
1 Paras (Kanto)
Those who aren’t the biggest fans of the first generation of Pokemon games often complain that the Kanto region and its Pokemon always receive too much attention and treatment. Paras is a shining exception to this line of thinking as it hasn’t been touched or admired by the franchise in over two decades. The fact that the Pokemon is the fungus on the back and not the crab itself is such a bizarre design concept and yet it or its final form named Parasect haven’t been gifted new forms in either mechanics or regional forms.
NEXT: 10 Grass-Type Pokemon That Are Basically Plants
