Unveiling Ash's Ultimate Pokemon Roster - Ranking His Strongest and Weakest!

When it comes to Ash's Pokémon, a few standout among the rest, such as Pikachu and Charizard, who frequently assist Ash in achieving victory. However, for every successful Pokémon on Ash's team, there is another that fails to meet expectations. The reasons behind this can vary - some Pokémon struggle due to personality conflicts, hindering their performance in battles. Others consistently find themselves at a disadvantage in matchups or simply crumble under pressure.

Identifying Ash's weakest Pokémon depends on several factors, with win rates being the most crucial. After all, a Pokémon's performance in battles means little if it doesn't translate into victories. Nevertheless, the importance of winning isn't the only factor to consider. Some Pokémon have different roles in the show's storylines and aren't primarily meant for battle. Despite their inability to secure wins, they still contribute to the narrative, albeit appearing relatively weak.

15 Tauros

14 Torterra

Ash's Tauros remain a baffling enigma for many fans. This is primarily due to the fact that the episode in which Ash caught them was banned from being aired in the US and other regions. Despite being utilized in battle only a few times, Tauros struggled to emerge victorious on these occasions. Its record stands at 1 win, 3 losses, and an unfortunate draw. Astonishingly, Tauros suffered two defeats during the climactic showdown of the Orange League, showcasing an alarmingly lackluster performance. Ash had hoped to rely on "beginner's luck" by deploying Tauros, but unfortunately, his strategy did not prove successful this time.

Before evolving, Ash's Torterra had a decent performance. However, throughout its time in the series, Torterra's battle record was rather disappointing, with only 4 wins, 7 losses, and 2 draws. This was not what fans were expecting from a starter Pokémon. One significant factor for Torterra's poor performance seems to be the loss of speed after evolving. Turtwig, in its previous form, utilized its agility to gain an advantage in battles, which Torterra could no longer achieve.

13 Unfezant

12 Muk

Unfezant was Ash's first Unova catch, but it proved to be a disappointing addition to his team. Throughout the Black and White journey, Unfezant's record stood at 2 wins and 3 losses. One of those wins came right after its evolution from Tranquill. However, Unfezant differed from other battling Pokémon, as its strong flying abilities were primarily employed for search and rescue missions, locating missing people and Pokémon. This unique skill set made Unfezant a valuable asset in a different aspect of Ash's journey. Additionally, Ash frequently rotated his team members during his time in Unova, resulting in fewer battling opportunities for Unfezant compared to Pokémon from previous regions.

Muk had a limited stint in battles, participating in only two. Its overall record stood at 1-1 before being relocated due to its unbearable stench. The odor emitted from Muk was so pungent that it permeated through the Poké Ball, causing annoyance to the entire team. Muk emerged victorious in its initial encounter at the Indigo League, effortlessly defeating a Bellsprout. However, its second showdown against Gary in the Silver League resulted in a swift defeat. Subsequently, it remained unused, except for occasional appearances at Professor Oak's laboratory whenever Ash returned. Even in clashes with Team Rocket, Muk struggled, as it encountered James and was promptly lulled to sleep, rendering it unable to battle.

11 Gliscor

Gliscor's performance was incredibly poor, with only 2 wins, 4 losses, and a draw, establishing it as the weakest member of Ash's Sinnoh team. When it was still a Gligar, this Pokémon demonstrated great emotional fragility, often crying out of fear, even when faced with heights, which is unexpected for a flying Pokémon. Although Gliscor's victory in one battle helped Ash earn a badge, it was generally not a wise choice in most encounters. However, once Gliscor evolved, it became valuable for scouting and aerial searches, allowing it to retain some usefulness in this aspect.

10 Lapras

Lapras is generally regarded as a formidable Pokémon in the games, but Ash's Lapras failed to prove its worth. It participated in battles on only two occasions and suffered defeat both times, resulting in the worst possible track record. However, in the anime, Lapras had a different purpose; it primarily served as a means of transportation for Ash, Misty, and Tracy between the various islands of the Orange Archipelago. Living up to its title of the Transport Pokémon, Lapras excelled in this role. Nonetheless, it remains disappointing that its combat performance was extremely poor, and Ash's ownership of Lapras was relatively short-lived.

9 Totodile

8 Snivy

Totodile is a fascinating case. It achieved one official victory, which was no easy feat considering it defeated a formidable Charizard. Additionally, during its first appearance, Totodile courageously defeated Team Rocket all on its own before getting captured. Regrettably, its string of triumphs ended there, as it suffered defeats in its following three battles and failed to finish a fourth. Despite its affectionate character, Totodile's poor performance was evident when it was unexpectedly knocked out by a mere Tackle attack from an Onix. While fans may remember Totodile fondly, the reality remains that it struggled to secure victories when it truly mattered.

Snivy, a starter Pokémon, has a disappointing record of 2 wins and 5 losses. Not only that, but Snivy also has a snooty personality and abandoned its first trainer because they didn't meet its expectations. Ironically, Snivy's attitude doesn't match its subpar win rate. It's even more disheartening to know that one of Snivy's wins was solely due to using the move Attract, which made the opponent unwilling to attack. However, any attempts to replicate this strategy ended in quick failure. In the end, Snivy simply wasn't meant for battling.

7 Palpitoad

Palpitoad, a fan favorite, had a disappointing record of 1-2-1 in official matches. However, its losses were undeniably embarrassing. One such defeat occurred during a gym battle against Elesa's Zebstrika, where Palpitoad possessed a significant type advantage. Unfortunately, this early loss shattered Ash's strategic plan and ultimately led to failure. Additionally, Palpitoad faced Roxie's Garbodor in a six-versus-three match, once again having the upper hand in terms of type effectiveness. Despite being Ash's fifth Pokémon in the battle and therefore theoretically fresh, Palpitoad was swiftly defeated. Even under these advantageous circumstances, Palpitoad was unable to overcome the challenges posed by Roxie's well-experienced Garbodor.

6 Heracross

Heracross has a 2-3 record, falling just short of a 50% win rate. Its battles were often cut short due to its easily distracted nature. Team Rocket took advantage of this weakness by tempting Heracross away with sweet nectar, resulting in defeats. Despite one impressive victory against a Magmar, despite its type disadvantage, Heracross couldn't compensate for its overall losses. Furthermore, Heracross faced the unfortunate circumstance of battling against Tobias's powerful Darkrai, leaving it with no chance against the formidable Mythical Pokémon.

5 Boldore

4 Oshawott

Boldore participated in only three official battles, but unfortunately, it was defeated in two of them. Surprisingly, it even suffered a loss against Roxie's Koffing, despite having a supposed advantage. Interestingly, Boldore's previous form as Roggenrola proved to be more valuable due to its incredible hearing abilities, which helped it locate an Audino. However, as Boldore, it lacked effectiveness and failed to make a significant impact in battles or other situations. Despite this, it managed to deliver an impressive finale by launching Team Rocket away one last time in the Black and White series. Although Boldore often displayed a friendly demeanor and occasional glimpses of potential, it ultimately had limited usefulness overall.

Oshawott's performance has been less than stellar, with a record of 4 wins, an equal number of losses, and one draw. One of Oshawott's weaknesses lies in its vulnerability to falling for Attract tactics, often leading to infatuation with opposing female Pokémon. Additionally, Oshawott struggles with executing certain moves effectively, such as Aqua Jet, which, despite being powerful, frequently misses its intended target. Despite these challenges, Oshawott demonstrates undeniable determination, as its victories are hard-fought battles, even when facing opponents with advantageous types. Interestingly, Oshawott's Scalchop (the shell on its abdomen) presents both advantages and disadvantages. While it serves as a valuable tool, Oshawott often becomes easily distracted when it loses the shell during battles. Moreover, the shell is indispensable for executing certain moves like Razor Shell.

3 Squirtle

2 Torkoal

Surprisingly, Squirtle shares the same win rate as Oshawott: 4 wins, 4 losses, and a draw. However, when it came to significant battles, Squirtle often fell short. For instance, it managed to land only one attack against Drake's Dragonite and suffered a defeat at the battle frontier when it crashed into a wall. Despite these setbacks, Squirtle had its strengths. It proved its worth in non-combat situations, such as the gym challenges in the Orange Islands where it performed admirably. Eventually, Squirtle returned to its roots as a member of the Squirtle Squad, using its skills to extinguish fires - a role that suits it better than battling.

Among all of Ash's Pokémon, Torkoal holds the unfortunate distinction of having one of the poorest win records, with only 2 victories out of 6 losses and a draw. It suffered an even greater setback as it often succumbed to defeat in a single strike, preventing it from showcasing its battling skills entirely. This recurring pattern of failure became a source of humor, with Torkoal frequently expressing its disappointment through tears. Torkoal, despite its lack of success, participated in a noteworthy number of battles, particularly during the Evergrande Conference, where it featured in four matches and was ultimately knocked out in each one.

1 Pidgeotto

Unfortunately, Pidgeotto is ranked as Ash's weakest Pokémon, as it has never emerged victorious in a real battle. Pidgeotto, similar to Unfezant, was primarily utilized for scouting purposes, contributing by surveilling from above and bursting Team Rocket's balloons, but not much else. Shortly after evolving into Pidgeot, it was regrettably released, eliminating any possibility of improving its win record through evolution. Pidgeot did reunite with Ash in his final episode, but this reunion occurred more than a thousand episodes later, rendering it incapable of fighting once again.

However, it is essential to clarify that these rankings are solely based on Ash's weakest Pokémon from a statistical standpoint. Many of these Pokémon were still highly regarded and cherished on the show. The Pokémon anime has taught fans not to judge a Pokémon solely based on its battle performance, but rather as a complete living entity. After all, these Pokémon were not only tools for combat but were also fully-fledged characters whose victories and defeats contributed to their personal growth. Despite being Ash's weakest Pokémon, they can still be captivating to observe as characters.