Top 10 Favorite Gen. 1 Pokemon (Neon Trees, Jump Start, NFL Bad Lip Reading) [Daily Bloggity Entry #12]

Date: 05 March 2014
Time: 1:16 PM ET
Mood: Needs a nap D:

Those were the glory days. Remember those days when there were only 151 pokemon? I sure do. I have good memories of when I was a little kid sitting under a tree and playing my Pokemon Yellow on my Game Boy Color. So, to commemorate this overrun of nostalgia, here is a top 10 list of my favorite pokemon from Generation 1: the original 151 pokemon.

#10 - Squirtle
Starting off our countdown is the lovely and the all-around adorable turtle pokemon Squirtle. And I mean come on, how can we hate on a pokemon that shoots adorable bubbles from it's mouth? This loveable reptile not only holds a special place in my heart because of it being a member of the "Squirtle Squad" in the anime, but because he was my very first pokemon ever. Even though I eventually evolved him into the tank that is Blastoise, the hard blue-shelled pokemon starts off this list at #10 due to it's cute nature and nostalgia factor.

# 9 - Beedrill
While Beedrill might not be primarily used in actual battles, this Bug-type pokemon will still go down as one of the most badass pokemond designs in the entire franchise. I mean for crying out loud, the bloody thing has stingers for hands. I remember playing my Pokemon Yellow back in the day and seeing Weedle and saying to myself "what a stupid looking pokemon," but then after encountering a Beedrill in battle I immediately had to go raise one myself. I might hate bees in real life, but Beedrill gets an exception, landing it at #9.

#8 - Tauros
The way the GBC games were set up, you would think Ash really did catch all of the Tauros' in the Safari Park. Tauros - like Kangaskhan, Chansey, and Scyther - were hidden gems in this hunting range. When you (eventually) did find a Tauros, you waited with baited breath. You knew that your chances were very slim in catching it, so your decision on whether to use a rock, bait, or a Safari Ball was crucial. If you were lucky and caught it, you had a hidden gem to show off to all of your friends. The thrill of finding one is why Tauros lands at #8.

Daily Video - "Moving In The Dark" by Neon Trees
# 7 - Starmie
A favorite of Misty's, this mysterious pokemon lands on this list due to it being one of my first ever "competitive" pokemon. When I first gained the understanding of how to EV properly, my Timid Staryu was the first pokemon I decided to test my knowledge on. Not only is this pokemon extremely fast, but it's ability to use Electric attacks like Thunderbolt made this starfish a curiosity to me. For that reason, Starmie lands on this Top 10 list at #7.

#6 - Kabutops
Now I know people are going to blast me for this, but I worship not the Helix Fossil but the Dome Fossil! Who would have guessed that Kabuto would evolve into a Scyther-like crustacean? I certainly didn't. Kabutops is one of those pokemon that is a must-have when it comes to making such a fearsome team in the first generation games. Although it's not the strongest pokemon, Kabutops is a pokemon that strikes fear into the hearts of your opponents just by it's appearance alone. For that reason, Kabutops holds a solid #6 place in this list.

#5 - Sandslash
Mother. F'ing. Sand Attack. One of the first N64 games I owned was Pokemon Stadium, and in this game Sandslash ended up becoming one of my favorite and worst pokemon. If you chose him, your opponent was in for a world of hurt; if he was on the AI's team, you would be yelling at your TV as the AI would unleash a barrage of Sand Attacks onto your pokemon. Grudges aside, I've always had an attraction to porcupines so this porcupine-like guy had to fall somewhere on this list, which is why he lands in the middle of the pack.

Daily Comic - "Childhood" by Robb Armstrong of Jump Start
#4 - Vulpix
Brock is by far one of my favorite characters from the anime so it would only be justified to have at least one of his pokemon on this list. I've always had an attraction to Fire type pokemon; Vulpix's simple color scheme of variants of red complements well. The curled locks of hair on it's head also gives it a playful appearance. It is one of the few pokemon that I actually don't evolve, as I feel it's pre-evolution is more appealing to me than it's latter. Unfortunately, there are 3 pokemon that trump the fox, which is why it will go no further than #4.

#3 - Raichu
Lt. Surge is by far my favorite Gym Leader in the entire Kanto-region centered games, and as such his Raichu lands at #3. In the anime, Raichu proves a formidable opponent to Ash's Pikachu and eventually teaches him a life lesson to not force his pokemon to evolve, but instead to appreciate his relationships with them. Furthermore, Raichu's design is stellar; the slick lightning bolt tail combined with a "I need to hug this pokemon" appearance makes Raichu one sleek pokemon.

#2 - Dragonite
Dragonite is the one pokemon out of this top 10 I use competitively. EV'd properly in Attack and Speed, he has proven to me routinely that he can deliver in the clutchest of situations. Dragonite was also incredible in the anime, especially in the Orange Island when he was showcased by Drake. His Dragonite displayed its might by mopping the floor with Ash's team, proving that this pokemon is a force to be reckoned with. However, as macho as Dragonite is, there is 1 pokemon that has been my favorite through every generation...

Daily Video - "NFL Bad Lip Readings" by parody artists Bad Lip Readings
#1 - Arcanine
"The Legendary Pokemon: A Pokémon that has been admired since the past for its beauty. It runs agilely as if on wings.Its magnificent bark conveys a sense of majesty. Anyone hearing it can't help but grovel before it. Arcanine is known for its high speed. It is said to be capable of running over 6,200 miles in a single day and night. The fire that blazes wildly within this Pokémon's body is its source of power." Quoted above is just a collection of Pokedex entries found throughout the series about the majestic Arcanine. Each game I play I make it my mission to make Arcanine a part of my team, as this tiger-like pokemon I feel is the perfect pokemon. Not only is he beautifully designed, but this fast, Flare Blitz-ing pokemon can prove to pack a powerful patch in battles. I actually own a plush of him that sits on my bureau - almost as if he is fulfilling his duty and Pokedex entry by being "known for it's brave and fierce loyalty." I have very fond memories of using him to clear the Battle Frontier in Pokemon Emerald and again clearing the Elite 4 in Fire Red when their pokemon's levels were boosted. However, I was very disappointed when there wasn't a Mega Evolution of Arcanine, but it's not something to fret on; how can you blame Konami, as it's practically impossible to make an already BA pokemon even more BA? If I could, I would make Growlithe my starter pokemon as Arcanine is the only pokemon that I truly need; with him, anything is possible.

What are you favorite pokemon from Generation 1? Do you believe this order should be rearranged with some higher than others? Comment below, as I would love to have to have a discussion about it!

‡ As always, the "Daily Bloggity" is self written by myself and includes just some of my opinions on different mediums. If you have a subject that you might want me to touch on, feel free to PM me or comment below! I would love to hear some of your ideas! Tune in tomorrow at 5PM Eastern Time for the next edition of the "Daily Bloggity!" Cheers! ‡

- elheroeoscuro