Liking this counting down trend
10. Smeargle - This thing is such a wacky and wonderful pokemon I never would have guessed it would be so useful competitively. Smeargle is not only an excellent and interesting concept and design, but the single best competitive opener in the game if you ask me.
9. Infernape - Infernape is like a weird mix between Charizard and Lucario, except it's an ape. It has a really good design that suits its typing and competitive uses and is by far my favourite of the Sinnoh starter pokemon. It might not be as destructive as Blaziken or Charizard, but it has a decent movepool and good potential as a sweeper. Also Nasty Plot.
8. Whimsicott - I'm not even totally sure why, but there's something about this pokemon that has appealed to me ever since I first saw it and my affection for it has only grown. I think it's just another one with a really amazing design.
7. Feraligatr - Feraligatr is another pokemon with a really well executed design. On top of that, it is an extremely underrated pokemon. Whilst it may not be the best water-type option it is more than capable of destroying enemies in game and even has some degree of competitive potential if used well I believe.
6. Kangaskhan - I've loved Kangaskhan ever since I first used one on Stadium. It's an interesting take on an animal native to my country, with a good movepool and a design I love. Then it got given one of the most destructive mega-evolutions created to top things off.
5. Flygon - Design perfection. Flygon has arguably got the most well-executed design in the entire game and is a really unique and interesting pokemon. It's excellent when used in-game and useful within its own competitive tier even if it is outclassed by the other two dragon/ground lines.
4. Staraptor - The first early bird to actually be useful, Staraptor has rather decent stats, access to some pretty good (and appropriate) abilities and has some seriously destructive options in its movepool. Not to mention it has one of the most badass designs in pokemon.
3. Sceptile - Another amazing design and with a killer moveset Sceptile has never failed me in-game (I've not used it competitively). My very first starter was a Treecko which might have contributed, I don't know. I'm also a fan of its mega although I do wish it had a better ability.
2. Charizard - Charizard has a simplistic, iconic and all around excellent design and it has pretty good mega forms too. It was always my favourite Kanto starter and has been a go-to pokemon for me for a long time. Charizard was also among my first level 100 pokemon.
1. Lucario - Lucario and its mega form are both fantastically crafted design, they really give off a cool, powerful, serious vibe that I like. Not to mention it has the stats to back it up being able to do tonnes of damage as both a special, physical or mixed sweeper. As an added bonus I'm a fan of its characterisations in the anime.
Thinking about it, the usual suspects are all there but also some pokemon I'm surprised to find I like so much.
10. Smeargle - This thing is such a wacky and wonderful pokemon I never would have guessed it would be so useful competitively. Smeargle is not only an excellent and interesting concept and design, but the single best competitive opener in the game if you ask me.
9. Infernape - Infernape is like a weird mix between Charizard and Lucario, except it's an ape. It has a really good design that suits its typing and competitive uses and is by far my favourite of the Sinnoh starter pokemon. It might not be as destructive as Blaziken or Charizard, but it has a decent movepool and good potential as a sweeper. Also Nasty Plot.
8. Whimsicott - I'm not even totally sure why, but there's something about this pokemon that has appealed to me ever since I first saw it and my affection for it has only grown. I think it's just another one with a really amazing design.
7. Feraligatr - Feraligatr is another pokemon with a really well executed design. On top of that, it is an extremely underrated pokemon. Whilst it may not be the best water-type option it is more than capable of destroying enemies in game and even has some degree of competitive potential if used well I believe.
6. Kangaskhan - I've loved Kangaskhan ever since I first used one on Stadium. It's an interesting take on an animal native to my country, with a good movepool and a design I love. Then it got given one of the most destructive mega-evolutions created to top things off.
5. Flygon - Design perfection. Flygon has arguably got the most well-executed design in the entire game and is a really unique and interesting pokemon. It's excellent when used in-game and useful within its own competitive tier even if it is outclassed by the other two dragon/ground lines.
4. Staraptor - The first early bird to actually be useful, Staraptor has rather decent stats, access to some pretty good (and appropriate) abilities and has some seriously destructive options in its movepool. Not to mention it has one of the most badass designs in pokemon.
3. Sceptile - Another amazing design and with a killer moveset Sceptile has never failed me in-game (I've not used it competitively). My very first starter was a Treecko which might have contributed, I don't know. I'm also a fan of its mega although I do wish it had a better ability.
2. Charizard - Charizard has a simplistic, iconic and all around excellent design and it has pretty good mega forms too. It was always my favourite Kanto starter and has been a go-to pokemon for me for a long time. Charizard was also among my first level 100 pokemon.
1. Lucario - Lucario and its mega form are both fantastically crafted design, they really give off a cool, powerful, serious vibe that I like. Not to mention it has the stats to back it up being able to do tonnes of damage as both a special, physical or mixed sweeper. As an added bonus I'm a fan of its characterisations in the anime.
Thinking about it, the usual suspects are all there but also some pokemon I'm surprised to find I like so much.
