How Close Pokémon's Ash Actually Got To Catching Them All

The Myth of Catching Them All

Pok\u00e9mon's long-standing motto, 'gotta catch 'em all,' has been ingrained in the minds of fans since the early days of the franchise. However, when it comes to the anime, one can't help but wonder just how close Ash, the former protagonist, actually got to catching them all. Throughout his journey, Ash caught a substantial number of Pok\u00e9mon, but as the series concluded, it became evident that he never came close to catching every single one.

Pokemon: The movie versions of Ash and Pikachu.

By the time Ash's era in the series ended, there were over 1,000 Pok\u00e9mon known to exist. However, it's important to note that Ash never visited Paldea, so it's unfair to count those Pok\u00e9mon against him. Among all the regions Ash actually visited, there were 898 different species of Pok\u00e9mon that he could have potentially encountered and caught.

Ash with his collection of Pokemon, as of Black & White

If we exclude the 80 Legendary and Mythical Pok\u00e9mon, which are often portrayed as uncatchable in the anime, we are left with 818 Pok\u00e9mon that Ash could have potentially caught during his journey.

Ash on the poster of Pokémon Aim To Be a Pokémon Master

Ash's Pok\u00e9mon Journey: The Numbers

In reality, Ash only managed to catch 57 unique individual Pok\u00e9mon throughout the series, which accounts for roughly 7% of the Pok\u00e9mon available to him. However, the story doesn't end there. When considering the evolutions of these Pok\u00e9mon, Ash's ownership count rises to 98, representing a more respectable 12% of the Pok\u00e9mon he could have caught.

Ash Pokémon Sinnoh team full

There are also some ambiguous situations to consider, such as the Raticate Ash owned for a short time and the Rotom from his Rotom Pok\u00e9dex. Including these instances, Ash's total count reaches 105. Comparatively, Goh, who was introduced in Journeys, managed to catch 108 Pok\u00e9mon in just a few years, including Legendary Pok\u00e9mon. When evolutions are considered, Goh's count rises to 116, surpassing Ash's achievement.

ash ketchum in pokemon journeys team

The Philosophy of a Pok\u00e9mon Master

Contrary to the popular belief that a Pok\u00e9mon Master's goal is to catch as many Pok\u00e9mon as possible, Ash's philosophy has always been different. From the beginning of his journey, he has focused on developing relationships with each of his Pok\u00e9mon, a goal that would be hindered if he had too many Pok\u00e9mon to care for. In the series finale, Ash redefines the concept of a Pok\u00e9mon Master, emphasizing the ability to befriend all Pok\u00e9mon rather than catching them all. This shift aligns with the series' themes of friendship and trust, treating Pok\u00e9mon as sentient beings with their own desires and needs.

Pokemon: Ash's Pokemon collection

Ultimately, Ash's goal was not to catch every Pok\u00e9mon, but to be able to befriend all Pok\u00e9mon. Despite not catching every Pok\u00e9mon and barely surpassing 10% of all Pok\u00e9mon, his approach to training and bonding with his Pok\u00e9mon has been fundamental to the essence of the series. By allowing individual Pok\u00e9mon to have their own personalities, the series has endeared many species to fans, creating a more meaningful and resonant narrative.

Ash in the Pokémon anime running with his Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charizard.