History Characters / PokemonGenerationIFamilies

[[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Generation I]] introduced some of the patterns now taken for granted: [[GreenThumb Grass]]/[[PlayingWithFire Fire]]/[[MakingASplash Water]] starters, [[ComMons early game bugs, birds, and mammals]], an [[ShockAndAwe Electric]] [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter rodent]], [[FossilRevival part Rock fossils]], [[PowerTrio a legendary trio]], [[InfinityMinusOneSword a 3-stage (usually) draconic family with a late evolution and very high stats]], [[OlympusMons a bonus legendary with stats beyond anything in the game]], and a secret Pokémon [[DownloadableContent not obtainable via normal ways]] and with [[JackOfAllStats balanced]] [[GameBreaker high stats]]; all originate from here.

[[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Generation I]] introduced some of the patterns now taken for granted: [[GreenThumb Grass]]/[[PlayingWithFire Fire]]/[[MakingASplash Water]] starters, [[ComMons early game bugs, birds, and mammals]], an [[ShockAndAwe Electric]] [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter rodent]], [[FossilRevival part Rock fossils]], [[PowerTrio a legendary trio]], [[OurDragonsAreDifferent a 3-stage draconic family with a late evolution and very high stats]], [[OlympusMons a bonus legendary with stats beyond anything in the game]], and a secret Pokémon [[DownloadableContent not obtainable via normal ways]] and with [[JackOfAllStats balanced]] [[GameBreaker high stats]]; all originate from here.

* [[Characters/PokemonGenerationIGeodudeToBlissey (74-113)]]
* [[Characters/PokemonGenerationITangelaToMew (and Missingno.) (114-151)]]

* [[Characters/PokemonGenerationIGeodudeToMew Geodude to Mew (And Missingno.) (74-151)]]

The original generation, at 151 Pokémon, was the largest one until [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite Generation V]] surpassed it. However, due to the introduction of many relatives of Pokémon of this gen in ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'' and ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'', it is technically the largest gen, as a total of 181 Pokémon are originally from this gen or are an evolutionary relative, and another 2 have very close ties with Pokémon introduced here.

* [[Characters/PokemonGenerationIGeodudeToMew Geodude to Mew (74-151)]]

!! Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, and Venusaur (Fushigidane, Fushigisou, and Fushigibana)
[[quoteright:189:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/001-002-003_2427.png]]

A green-blue, toad-like creature which has a bulb planted on its back, its evolution pretty much consists of bodily growth and the bulb flowering and eventually turning into a large plant. This family is the first in many aspects: The first Pokémon in the National Pokédex order, the first [[GreenThumb Grass-type]], [[PoisonousPerson Poison-type]] and Dual-typed ones too, and, as a starter in the [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Kanto-based games]], the first Pokémon of roughly one third of the first Pokémon players. In battle, it is more of an utility Pokémon, as its offensive options are somewhat limited. Still, as a Starter Pokémon, it is [[JackOfAllStats quite well-rounded]] and can be used offensively without much problem.

* {{Badass}}: Venusaur. One of the few outright ''manly'' Grass-types, and by far the most useful (in-game and competitively) of the Kanto starters.
* CartoonCreature: Are they toads? Lizards? Dinosaurs? The most popular guess is mammal like reptiles of the Permian period but as Bulbasaur's Japanese name translates into "strange, isn't it" some ambiguity was probably intended.
* CharacterSelectForcing: Bulbasaur almost made ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'' ridiculously easy thanks to its favorable match-ups against a large number of gyms. In order, it is: super effective against [[DishingOutDirt Brock]] and [[MakingASplash Misty]], resistant to [[ShockAndAwe Surge]] and [[GreenThumb Erika]], and then super effective against the [[DishingOutDirt last gym leader]], with only [[PsychicPowers Sabrina]] and [[PlayingWithFire Blaine]] standing much of a chance against it, but by that point, you should either have another Pokémon that can take them out or have leveled Venusaur up to such ridiculous levels that the type disadvantage doesn't matter.
** Also in Gen 1, the Bulbasaur line had access to Leech Seed (which combined with Toxic was deadly in gen 1) and to Razor Leaf, that always dealt critical hits back then.
* EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs: In name only.
* GreenThumb
* MightyGlacier: Speed is not the forte of this line.
** In the sun using Chlorophyll (its Dream World Ability), [[LightningBruiser however...]]
*** Actually becomes more of a GlassCannon because Sun heightens the power of the Fire type (its main weakness).
* PetalPower
* {{Planimal}}: Moreso than anything else released in Red and Blue.
* [[PoisonousPerson Poisonous Pokémon]]: It has never had a large number of Poison moves to choose from though.
* ThePowerOfTheSun: The most famous user of Solar Beam thanks to adaptations and being the first Grass-type of many players. It can also heal itself with Synthesis.
* RatedMForManly: Venusaur. Just look at it, and then compare it to the rest of the Grass Pokémon.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Bulbasaur.
* StandardStatusEffects: Sleep Powder and [=PoisonPowder=].
** LifeDrain: Leech seed
* SignatureMove: Frenzy Plant was exclusive to Venusaur before ''[[VideoGame/PokemonColosseum XD]]'', and nowadays it is the SignatureMove of the fully evolved Grass starters. Grass Pledge, too, as it is a Grass Starter.
* TurnsRed: Overgrow boosts Grass attacks when health becomes low.
* TechnicolorEyes
* TookALevelInBadass: The Dreamworld ability from Gen V, Chlorophyll, doubles Venusaur's speed when under sunlight. That in addition to Growth makes Venusaur one hell of a LightningBruiser.
* WhipItGood: This line heavily relies on Vine Whip in the anime and ''Super Smash Brothers Brawl.''

!! Charmander, Charmeleon, and Charizard (Hitokage, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Lizard]], and Lizardon)
[[quoteright:192:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/004-005-006_712.png]]

A bipedal, orange, lizard-like creature with a flame on the tip of its tail, it first evolves into a more feral version of itself with red coloring and a horn on the top of its head, then regains its original color at the next stage as it grows wings and the single horn becomes a pair. The first Fire-type and single type in National Dex order, as well as the first change of type upon evolution. An offensive-oriented fighter, it has some crippling weaknesses due to its typing, but it may be able to take down an opponent before they can exploit its weaknesses.

* AchillesHeel: Rock-type attacks in general, but [[ScrappyMechanic Stealth Rock in particular]].
* AwesomeButImpractical: Sadly, various new moves and abilities (mostly [[PlayerPreferredPattern Stealth Rock]]) have decreased Charizard's usability in the competitive metagame in recent years, although it can still hold its own if set up ''just'' right. It fits this trope to a T in Generation V: Charizard's Dream World ability Solar Power boosts its Special Attack to ridiculous proportions ''(higher than [[OlympusMons Reshiram]])'', but hampers its already-low survivability by making it lose 1/8 of its health each turn. Without Stealth Rock, it would very easily be one of the biggest threats on the competitive scene.
** Also fits this trope very well in the TCG. Usually has extremely powerful attacks (in the 100-200 base damage range) that require tons of Energy and/or have crippling drawbacks; the Base Set Charizard was infamous for this. [[note]]The only Charizard card considered competitively useful was the one from the ''Arceus'' set, which actually had attacks with ''weaker'' base damage.[[/note]] Not to mention that its cards, despite this, usually fetch ridiculously high prices on the secondary market.
** In earlier generations, if you see a Charizard in competitive play, you can safely assume that it's using Belly Drum, Substitute, Flare Blitz (or Fire Punch), a move that can score super-effective hits on stuff that resists Fire, like Earthquake, and a Salac Berry. This set tries to bring together the boosts from Blaze and Belly Drum to inflict insane physical damage, while also using Substitute both to ensure that it loses enough health to activate Blaze and to ensure that it doesn't lose ''all'' of its health. Good luck on predicting the move to get to that point though.
* {{Badass}}: Charizard, needless to say. It's one of the best-known examples in the franchise.
* BlowYouAway: Charizard, as a part Flying-type, has some wind-based attacks.
* BreakoutCharacter: Charizard; by way of PopularityPower, it became one of the most-recognized characters in the franchise (in the West) and is prominently featured in many pieces of ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' media and marketing.
* [[PowerGivesYouWings Evolution Gives You Wings]]
* ExtraOreDinary: Despite not being part-Steel, this line learns Metal Claw naturally to help in dealing with Rock-types (an addition to the remakes made to help against the first gym leader, whose Rock Pokémon resisted Fire). Charizard, on top of that, is the only Pokémon that can learn Metal Claw, Iron Tail, and Steel Wing, all attacks involving an impact with a metallified body part.
* {{Flight}}
* PlayingWithFire
* ForMassiveDamage: Rock-type attacks for Charizard.
* GiantFlyer
* GlassCannon: Not very defensive, quite offensive...
** TookALevelInBadass: Its Generation V Dream World ability, "Solar Power", [[UpToEleven makes it even more of one]]. Granted, it isn't easy to use by any means, but can be ''devastating'' if set up properly.
* HonorBeforeReason: According to its description in VideoGame/SuperSmashBros (and, for that matter, the official Pokédex), Charizard will never spit flames at a weaker foe unless directly ordered to do so by its Trainer. Apparently, PlayingWithFire is only extended for equals.
* IncendiaryExponent: Fire-type, and the tail-tip being alight is a vital sign.
* InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons[=/=]OurDragonsAreDifferent: Charizard, oddly not a Dragon type (it is in the Dragon egg group, learns many moves of the type and is often treated as a dragon in-universe, though). Chalk this one up to competitive balance[[hottip:*:making Charizard a Dragon would get rid of its weakness to Water, thus breaking the Rock-Paper-Scissors starter type trio [[{{Irony}} which was later broken anyway by the 4th gen starters]] and EarlyInstallmentWeirdness. [[note]]At the time, the Dragon type was intended to be an InfinityPlusOneSword exclusive to the Dratini line.[[/note]]
** FireIceLightning: Forms a trio of sorts with the other two dragon-based Pokémon in the Dex that have Flying rather than Dragon as a secondary type, with Gyarados (Water) and Thundurus Therian Forme (Lightning).
* LightningBruiser: Once it gets going, it's capable of wiping out entire teams if it isn't stopped in its tracks. Granted, getting to this stage is ''quite'' difficult, but it is ''so'' rewarding to see the big guy kick so much ass.
* NonindicativeName: Charmander is a reptile and not an amphibian (as real-life salamanders are), Charmeleon looks more like a dinosaur than any chameleon out there, and Charizard resembles a dragon rather than a lizard.
** Charmander's name more likely refers to the mythical salamander, which was a reptile that lived within flames.
* NonMaliciousMonster: This evolutionary line was said to occasionally cause forest fires by accident.
* OvershadowedByAwesome: Other Fire-types (and Salamence) are often preferred due to their being easier to use and harder to kill, although in Generation V Solar Power finally gave it a niche that made it usable in the higher tiers... at least until ''Black 2'' and ''White 2'' made rain teams even stronger.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: The best Pokémon to be seen as this. It helps that the one most well-known in [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} the anime]] constantly displays such behavior.
* RatedMForManly: Charizard.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Charmander.
* SignatureMove: Blast Burn was exclusive to Charizard before XD, and nowadays it is the SignatureMove of the fully evolved Fire starters. Fire Pledge too, as it is a Fire Starter.
* TurnsRed: Blaze boosts Fire attacks when health becomes low.
* UndyingLoyalty: Charmander. For Charmeleon and Charizard, though... well, you have to ''earn'' their respect first, let alone their loyalty.
* VertebrateWithExtraLimbs: Charizard grows wings.
* YourSizeMayVary: Officially, a Charizard is about as tall as an average adult human, standing at around 5'07" (1.7m) in height - but aside from the main games, you'd be hard-pressed to find a human-sized Charizard in any other form of Pokémon media, be it [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} the anime]], various manga, or fanart. Charizard are more usually shown to be around 8 to 25 feet tall, depending mostly on how awesome/{{badass}} the writer or artist feels like portraying it. Keep in mind that Venusaur is actually supposed to be the largest out of the Kanto starter trio.

!! Squirtle, Wartortle, and Blastoise (Zenigame, Kameil, and Kamex)
[[quoteright:180:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/007-008-009_7058.png]]

A light blue bipedal turtle with a light brown shell, it first evolves into a navy-blue version of itself with feathery ears and tail, and then into a massive, dark blue tortoise with two high-pressure water cannons jutting out of its back. The first Water-types (of many), and the first pure-typed line, these guys are defense-based fighters, but, as a starter, they are quite well-rounded and can play both styles, especially after Gen I, when they started to get support moves.

* BackpackCannon
* {{Badass}}: Blastoise.
* BoringButPractical: A given considering that this is the role of pretty much most water Pokémon, and amongst the three starters. Venusaur is a JackOfAllStats with multitudes of useful moves that can be a sweeper (especially with its Dream World ability), and a Supporter. Charizard is an offensive beast in terms of both physical and special attack, and has a good offensive movepool (Not to mention an ability that INCREASES its offensive power when its HP is low, and a dream world ability that makes it even MORE so). Blastoise, on the other hand, is a StoneWall, and its stats, combined with its limited movepool, make it hard to sweep. On the other hand, Blastoise has several support moves, notably Rapid Spin, and a priority move. This turns Blastoise into a capable Anti Lead and an all around useful teammate.
* {{Expy}}: Blastoise bears a mild, but noticeable, resemblance to [[SuperMarioBros Bowser]].
* HealingFactor: Its Dream World ability, Rain Dish, serves this purpose during rain.
* ImprobableAimingSkills: According to the Pokédex, the water jets from Blastoise's cannons are accurate enough to hit empty cans from over 160 feet away.
* MakingASplash
** KillItWithIce: Like most Water-types, they can use Ice attacks to cover one of their weaknesses.
* MightyGlacier: Quite similar to the Bulbasaur line in this regard.
** StoneWall: Its defenses are higher than its offenses, though it can learn several powerful offensive moves such as '''[[OlympusMons Kyogre]]''''s Water Spout.
* OneOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers: Wartortle's furry tail and ears make it the odd ball out.
* RatedMForManly: Blastoise. He has cannons on his shell.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Squirtle.
* TimeAbyss: Wartortle is said to live 10,000 years. How long Blastoise lives is not mentioned.
* TurnsRed: Torrent boosts Water attacks when health becomes low.
* TurtlePower
* SignatureMove: Hydro Cannon was exclusive to Blastoise before XD, and nowadays it is the SignatureMove of the fully evolved Water starters. Water Pledge, too, as it is a Water Starter.
* WeaponizedAnimal: Blastoise's cannons.

!!Caterpie, Metapod (Trancell), and Butterfree
[[quoteright:157:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/010-011-012_2187.png]]

A green caterpillar with red antennae and an eye-like pattern, its evolution goes along as metamorphosis, first becoming a green chrysalis, then a purple-bodied, blue-winged butterfly. First Bug-types in the Pokédex, and first common Mons, are used fairly commonly early in-game, before being ditched. It is mostly used as a status inducer, but, like most butterfly and moth Pokémon, also learns Psychic attacks, and thus is a good alternative to a proper Psychic Pokémon until one can be obtained.

* BlowYouAway: Butterfree; Whirlwind is even called this in Japanese.
* BigCreepyCrawlies: First Bug-types in the Dex. Plus, Butterfree is 3'07".
* ComMons: The early areas of Kanto and Johto are filled with them.
* CrutchCharacter: Fully evolved at level 10. Outclassed when your starter or anything else evolves. Also subverted; the StandardStatusEffects attacks that Butterfree has are useful for quite some time.
** MagikarpPower: Caterpie and Metapod are fairly useless by themselves.
** JokeCharacter: For a fully evolved Pokémon, Butterfree's Base Stat Total (a not-so-whopping 385) is absolutely ''horrible''.
*** LethalJokeCharacter: It also has the most accurate sleep attack outside of Spore, and a movepool that is most useful for fighting - believe it or not - BRUNO of the ELITE FOUR!
* {{Flight}}: Butterfree.
* OvershadowedByAwesome: Venomoth is a Pokémon that does everything Butterfree does, but (somewhat) better.
* PsychicPowers: Butterfree, for some reason.
* RyuAndKen: With the Beautifly and Beedrill families.
* StandardStatusEffects: Poison Powder, Stun Spore, and Sleep Powder. Other Pokémon get them as well, [[WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer but Butterfree's one of the more common abusers]] [[CrutchCharacter due to its being]] too weak [[JokeCharacter to be useful with anything else]].
* TookALevelInBadass
** In Gen III, we have [=CompoundEyes=], which raises accuracy by a third. In other words, Stun Spore, [=PoisonPowder=], and Sleep Powder now hit 97.5% of the time. (Too bad its stats still suck.)
** Gen V clearly attempted to do this by giving it Tinted Lens and Quiver Dance. However, since Venomoth already had Tinted Lens and also gained Quiver Dance in Gen V, combining [=CompoundEyes=] with its [[StandardStatusEffects Status-inducing moves]] is still really the only thing Butterfree can do [[OvershadowedByAwesome that Venomoth can't do far better]].

!!Weedle, Kakuna, and Beedrill (Beedle, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Cocoon]], and Spear)
[[quoteright:147:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/013-014-015_6725.png]]

A yellowish worm with a poisonous stinger on the top of its head, it also experiences a metamorphosis, first turning into a immobile yellow nymph, then into a giant hornet with 2 additional stingers as hands. Has many things in common with the Caterpie line and is always found at the same locations (but encounter rates tend to change with versions). Beedrill itself is a physically based Pokémon, also able to learn stat boosting moves and pass them to other team mates. However, those moves are not obtainable at low levels, and thus its usefulness is reduced in comparison to Butterfree.

* BigCreepyCrawlies: Beedrill is a 3 feet tall hornet.
* ComMons: Shares its habitat with the Caterpie family in every game they appear.
* CrutchCharacter: Same as the Caterpie family. However, Beedrill is quite a bit less versatile than Butterfree, and has fewer attacks to take advantage of in its usable time-span.
** MagikarpPower: Again, Weedle and Kakuna are pretty much useless, apart from Poisoning opponents.
** JokeCharacter: Like Butterfree, Beedrill's base stat total isn't very high for being fully evolved.
* EverythingsWorseWithBees: Beedrill
* {{Expy}}: Weedle is a [[SuperMarioBros Wiggler]], but with a stinger instead of a flower.
* {{Flight}}: Beedril. Well, [[GameplayAndStorySegregation at least their Pokédex entry says they're capable of this]].
* GlassCannon: Very fragile, but can hurt.
* MinMaxing: Swords Dance, Agility and Baton Pass to something more effective is also a viable strategy, but...
* OvershadowedByAwesome: Scyther does everything Beedrill does, but better. And also evolves into one of the best Pokémon in the game, that also does everything that Beedrill does, better. Beedrill also had access to the only 2 attacks (that weren't so hilariously weak as to be completely and utterly useless) that could score a Super Effective hit on Psychics - too bad those attacks would often do less damage than the widespread (back then) Hyper Beam, and Scyther, again, could do that better without being also hit by super effective damage from Psychics. As the final nail in the Cofagrigus, Beedrill doesn't really have any niche that can make it useful in spite of its pathetic stats (Ninjask is far superior to it as a Baton Passer, and Scyther and Scizor handily trump it at offense). At least Butterfree's good at abusing StandardStatusEffects.
* [[PoisonousPerson Poisonous Insect]]
* RyuAndKen: With the Dustox and Butterfree families.
* SignatureMove: Twinneedle for Beedrill, although it is no longer exclusive to it as of ''Black'' and ''White''.
* TheyCallHimSword: Beedrill's Japanese name is simply "[[GratuitousEnglish Spear]]".
* ThisIsADrill: [[InNameOnly Despite not being able to learn any drill based moves]] (at least until ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2'', in which it can get Drill Run from a move tutor).

!!Pidgey, Pidgeotto, and Pidgeot (Poppo, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Pigeon]], and Pigeot)
[[quoteright:194:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/016-017-018_2910.png]]

A brown bird with a cream-colored belly and elements of both pigeons and birds of prey, still in the chick stage, that evolves into a quite large, more mature version of itself with a small red crest of feathers, and then into a human-sized version of itself with the crest now going all the way down its back. The first Normal-types in the Dex, and also often one of the first Pokémon caught by anybody in the Kanto and Johto games. Their stats are fairly balanced and not weak in any particular regard, but, sadly, they are not very strong in any particular regard either; as a result, they tend to be overshadowed by more specialized Pokémon of the same typing. Still, it tends to be a staple of in-game teams, since ''somebody'' has to be on Fly detail.

* BigBadassBirdOfPrey: Pidgeotto, and especially Pidgeot, which is well-known for hunting Magikarp.
* BlowYouAway
* ComMons: Found in almost all of the routes of Kanto and Johto.
* {{Flight}}
* GiantFlyer: Pidgeot is a flying bird, complete with a compact build, as tall as an emu.
* GameplayAndStorySegregation: Most of its Dex entries say that Pidgeot can fly as fast as mach 2. In game, however, its base speed is only slightly above average - infamously, it's lower than that of Miltank, a cow. (Skarmory and Dragonite suffer from similar exaggeration issues.)
* JackOfAllStats: Pidgeot has quite well-rounded stats - ''too'' well-rounded, in fact, leading to...
** MasterOfNone: Its typing is not good for defense, and it's overshadowed in the offensive department by other ComMons of its ilk.
* NonindicativeName: Have relatively little in common with pigeons, more strongly resembling finches.
* NonElemental: First Normal-types in the Pokédex.
* OffModel: Pidgeot's sprites in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal]]'' had a far shorter crest than in the normal design, despite having the signature long crest in Red/Blue/Green/Yellow. Because the back sprites for the first- and second-gen Pokémon were revamped and carried over to the 3rd-gen games, despite the front sprites in that generation being fixed.
* OvershadowedByAwesome: Fearow and Dodrio had Drill Peck and better stats in the first 2 gens, Swellow was much better in the 3rd, and Staraptor just nailed the coffin for poor Pidgeot. Although the 4th gen did give Pidgeot a much stronger Flying [=STAB=] move than Drill Peck in Brave Bird, 5th gen struck back by giving Fearow Drill Run, which allows Fearow to handle grounded Steels, something most physical based Normal/Flying Pokémon have hassles with. (Plus, Staraptor ''also'' gets Brave Bird ''and'' Close Combat, letting it both hit hard with STAB and pulverize Rock and Steel-type Pokémon.) Though it ''does'' learn ''Hurricane'' by level-up as of Gen V, letting it use its Special Attack stat for offense (something that Fearow and Staraptor can't do very well ''at all''.)
* SignatureMove: [=FeatherDance,=] but it could be bred into other Pokémon in its debut, and as of Gen IV was no longer exclusive via level up. Gust, in a way, too, as nothing else could learn it until ''Yellow'' (but nowadays it is a common move).
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: Pidgeot's Japanese name has been officially Romanized as "Pigeot" and "Pijotto".
* [[YouHaveResearchedBreathing You Cannot Research Breathing]]: Cannot learn Peck, since having both that and Gust for its low-level Flying move would be redundant.

!!Rattata and Raticate (Koratta and Ratta)
[[quoteright:122:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/019-020_6690.png]]

A purple rat with a cream-colored belly that evolves into a brown-backed, cream-bellied nutria/musk rat. The first line in National Dex order made up of two rather than three stages, they are one of the most common species in Kanto and especially Johto, being found in pretty much all Routes and a few caves. In battle, they are rather fast (though not absurdly so), but statistically unremarkable otherwise from the get-go. However, they learn strong moves early on, and tricky moves later, that, combined with their traits, makes them competent, if unconventional, fighters.

* ArmorPiercingAttack: Super Fang halves the current HP of the target. No exceptions. [[NoSell Well, except Ghosts]].
* ComMons: Found ''everywhere'' in Johto and Kanto. Especially Johto.
* CombatPragmatist: They get several Dark-type moves.
* CrutchCharacter: Hyper Fang is twice as strong as most attacks you are using by the point you get it, and Raticate has the Speed and Attack to use it effectively, only being hampered by slightly low Accuracy. It gets overshadowed later when other things also get strong moves, but it may even step into being a DiscOneNuke if you play with its additional tricks.
* FragileSpeedster: Not very strong, quite fast... until it gets the fang attacks and becomes a GlassCannon.
* LethalJokeCharacter: The F.E.A.R. ('''F'''ocus Sash, '''E'''ndeavour, Quick '''A'''ttack, '''R'''attata [[note]] Originally stood for '''F'''ucking, '''E'''vil, '''A'''nnoying, '''R'''odent.[[/note]] ) strategy has lead to low-level Rattatas being quite deadly. ItOnlyWorksOnce, though, and the common Sandstorm and entry hazards render it unusable. (Plus, Aron has provided Rattatta with some stiff competition as of Gen V.)
* NonElemental
* OvershadowedByAwesome: Super Fang becoming a tutor move (as well as learned by the more sturdy Bibarel) hurt Raticate. Hyper Fang also gets overshadowed by Strength or Return, learnable by most other Normal-types.
** The Power Creep of the most recent generations has also hurt Raticate's reputation as a speedy Pokémon, as it's base Speed is only about 97 - which means that ''Hydreigion'' is faster than it. Ouch.
* PlayingWithFire: [[EverythingsBetterWithSpinning Flame Wheel]] can be bred on to them.
* RodentsOfUnusualSize
* SignatureMove: Super Fang and Hyper Fang, although no longer exclusive as of Gen IV.
* TechnicolorEyes: Rattata.
* YouDirtyRat: In comparison to the Pikachu family.

!!Spearow and Fearow (Onisuzume and Onidrill)
[[quoteright:139:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/021-022_4714.png]]

An alternative if you don't want to use Pidgey. Unlike Pidgey, however, they are pretty mean and scrappy birds. Spearow is supposed to resemble a sparrow, with a bit of crow mixed in; it has short wings and a short beak. Fearow, on the other hand, has longer wings and a longer beak, and it looks more like a vulture or a crane.

* BlowYouAway
* CrutchCharacter: Useful early on since Spearow learns a Flying-type move before Pidgey, making it useful against all the Bug-types you'll meet in the first few areas of the game.
* ComMons
* FeatheredFiend: They are this trope incarnate.
** NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: '''Fear'''ow, '''Oni'''drill.
* {{Flight}}
* NonElemental
* OvershadowedByAwesome: Dodrio is essentially Fearow with better stats.
* ThisIsADrill: It learns Drill Peck and Drill Run (and the latter coupled with its Dream World Ability... hoo boy). Fearow's Japanese name is even Onidrill.
** TookALevelInBadass: Its Dream World ability is Sniper. Better? It learns Drill Run, which has an increased critical ratio. Not to mention that Drill Run is a Ground-type move. Rock-, Electric-, and Steel-type Pokémon, prepare to [[IncrediblyLamePun cower in Fearow]].

!!Ekans (Arbo) and Arbok
[[quoteright:127:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/023-024_7518.png]]

Effectively purple snakes, Ekans resembles a rattlesnake while Arbok is a cobra. A pure Poison-type with a fierce reputation, the first version exclusive monsters in National Dex order, only widely available in the ''Red'' version, while ''Green'', ''Blue'', '''and''' ''Yellow'' players had to trade for it. This often carries over to later games, where it's still found in only one version or another.

* CastOfSnowflakes: [[GameplayAndStorySegregation In-game]], no two Arbok are supposed to have the same markings.
* [[PoisonousPerson Poisonous Pokémon]]
* SdrawkcabName
* SignatureMove: [[DeathGlare Glare]], but only in Generation I.
* SuperSpit: Using stockpile

!!Pichu, Pikachu, and Raichu
[[quoteright:158:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/025-026-172_3360.png]]
[-''Pichu debuts in Gen II''-]

A yellow mouse-like creature with ruby-red cheeks, brown stripes on its back and a tail that resembles a thunderbolt. It's cute, but it can appeal to both boys and girls, making it the perfect {{mascot}} for the entire franchise. Practically half of all merchandise has this guy's mug on it. It's also gained a baby form in Pichu (which is also heavily promoted), and a few signature items and moves (mainly Volt Tackle). Raichu is its stronger form, but it isn't given as much exposure as its younger forms. Which isn't to say that it's bad per se; it's still a very good Pokémon to take well beyond the beginning of the game. It's one of your best bets when facing Misty.

* AdaptationalBadass: In the games, it wouldn't be a stretch to say that Pikachu isn't bad as far as unevolved mons found early in the story go. In [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} the anime]], however, it is shown taking down Pokémon that would be ''more than twice as powerful'' as it, base-stats wise. Let's not even get started on ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros''...
** BadassAdorable: And it's so ''[[CutenessProximity cuuuute]]''! Raichu is also this trope, but with more emphasis on the "{{badass}}" aspect.
* BreakoutCharacter: Originally meant to play second fiddle to Clefairy, became the series mascot.
* GameplayAndStorySegregation: Pichu are said to be unable to handle their electricity, often shocking themselves. In the main games, this isn't the case.
* GlassCannon: A Pikachu with a Light Ball strikes really hard, but dies very easily. (If only it was just a bit faster, it could probably be considered a legitimate threat...) Raichu needs Choice Band/Specs to hit as hard, is slightly faster, and ''may'' be able to take a single attack.
* FountainOfExpies: There is at least one Electric Rodent Pikaclone in every generation.
** The one exception was Generation II, which only gave Pichu, which, being a pre-evolution, didn't really count. Generation II ''did'' still have an expy though, in the form of cute water-based rodent Marill.
* KidAppealCharacter: Pichu was basically designed to be this. Pikachu too, especially when Pichu isn't around.
* MakingASplash: Will be able to learn Surf in every generation, one way or another. It's always an unconventional method, though, because the HM won't work.
* NotQuiteFlight: You can obtain a Pikachu with FLY from a Pokéwalker course. According to the card game, it flies via {{Balloonacy}}
* PokemonSpeak: Notable because it's the only Pokémon to have its actual spoken name as a cry in the main series games (''Yellow'' only), although all games afterwards reverted to its original 8-bit cry.
* PowerIncontinence: Pichu shocks itself because of youth and inexperience. This carries over into ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', where it cripples it so much [[JokeCharacter it's the weakest character in the game]].
* PromotionalPowerlessPieceOfGarbage: In ''[=HeartGold=]'' and ''[=SoulSilver=]'', you can obtain a special Pichu with three spikes on one of its ears (Spiky-Eared Pichu). Too bad it can't evolve or be traded to any other game, not even ''Black'' and ''White'', which came after these games.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: [[PunctuatedForEmphasis THE. WHOLE. FREAKING. LINE.]] Pichu is an already cute Pokémon, made even more marketable. Even Raichu has not lost everything here.
* SeriesMascot: Pikachu usurped Clefairy's intended role due to better reception.
** MascotWithAttitude: See AdaptationalBadass and {{Tsundere}}.
** MascotMook: ''Definitely'' counts as this if you consider its role in the main games alone.
* ShockAndAwe
* SignatureMove: [[RideTheLightning Volt Tackle]], from Generation III onwards.
** ShoutOut: it was based on Pulseman's[[hottip:*:one of [=GameFreak's=] previous games]] ''Voltteccer'' attack, which in turn was based on ''Anime/{{Tekkaman}}''.
* ThirdOptionAdaptation: Former TropeNamer in regards to the anime.
* TookALevelInBadass: Gen II gives Pikachu the unique Light Ball item which DOUBLES Pikachu's special attack stat, taking it from "decent" to "devastating with same type attack bonus." This does mean that you can't evolve Pikachu, however.
* {{Tsundere}}: Pikachu as a whole seem to have a knack for being Type 2 in various different continuities.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Can't be caught in any of the Generation V games, for the first time in the series.

!!Sandshrew and Sandslash ([[GratuitousEnglish Sand]] and Sandpan)
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Sandshrew and Sandslash don't really resemble shrews as much as they do armadillos or pangolins. They're the creatures you'll find in place of Ekans and Arbok if you have the ''Blue'' or ''Green'' versions in the original set of games.

* DishingOutDirt
* EverythingIsBetterWithSpinning
** BeTheBall
** RollingAttack
* MightyGlacier
** LightningBruiser: Its Dream World ability doubles its speed under Sandstorm.
* NonindicativeName: As mentioned above, albeit only in the English releases.
* OvershadowedByAwesome: Generation 1 was the only time Sandslash had to shine as an effective ground type, after which it was eclipsed entirely by Donphan, Marowak (in Generation 2), and other faster, sturdier, or more versatile monsters. Generation V brought it Sand Rush, ''and'' its long lost cousin Excadrill, which has the colossal attack and slightly better speed to use the ability far more effectively than Sandslash ever could hope to.
** ThisLooksLikeAJobForAquaman: In [=B2W2=], according to Marriland, Sandslash is recommended for Elesa, complete with Rock Tomb for Emolga and Dig for Flaaffy and Zebstrika.
* PickyEater: Sandshrew.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Sandshrew.
* SpikesOfDoom: Sandslash.

!! Nidoran, Nidorino/a, and Nidoking/queen
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One of the most notable things about these guys is that the males and females are different species. This is because the first generation of games (''Red''/''Green''/''Blue''/''Yellow'') didn't assign sexes for Pokémon yet. They vaguely resemble rabbits at first, but they grow to be reptilian upon evolution. Both Nidoqueen and Nidoking are very dependable Pokémon. Nidoqueen is more defensive while Nidoking is more offensive, but both are extremely well-rounded.

* {{Badass}}: In both forms.
* BizarreSexualDimorphism: So much that they count as separate species.
** Bizarrely, it is also averted, as the differences account pretty much to coloration and horn size. The different species is justified, as they predate gender differences, and even gender.
* CartoonCreature: Bulbapedia describes Nidoking and Nidoqueen as "sharing traits of rhinoceroses, gorillas, rabbits and porcupines." Lord knows what species Game Freak was really thinking of when they made these things, if any.
** Considering Nidoking and Nidoqueen also strongly resemble [[{{Godzilla}} Baragon]], it's likely a ShoutOut of sorts.
* ConfusionFu: Take a look at their movepool. They can throw ''anything'' at you, and have the stats to make good use of both Physical and Special moves.
* DiscOneNuke: In the games that put you in Kanto or Johto, you can find a Nidoran and get it evolved into Nidoking before you challenge the third gym. The third gym in Kanto is Electric and the third in Johto is Normal. As a Ground-type Nidoking is immune to Electric, learns Double Kick for handling the Normal types, and resists Rock so it can handle Miltank's Rollout better.
* DishingOutDirt: Nidoking and Nidoqueen.
* JackOfAllStats: Nidoking/queen have overall balanced stats, and can learn a very wide array of moves.
* {{Lunacy}}: First in the National Dex to require the Moon Stone for evolution.
* OvershadowedByAwesome: Sure, they're balanced, but no base stat over 100 means they are SoOkayItsAverage, with far better choices in general. However, the Dream World variations get Sheer Force, which, coupled with the ''huge'' array of moves with secondary effects they learn, makes Nidoking a feasible threat (Nidoqueen, being more defensive statistically, understandably doesn't benefit as much, even with basically identical movesets between the two).
** MasterOfNone: Prior to Generation V, when it didn't have Sheer Force to give them that extra "oomph."
* PinkGirlBlueBoy: Their shiny versions (Except Nidoqueen's, who's is mostly green).
* [[PoisonousPerson Poisonous Pokémon]]
* RatedMForManly : Nidoking.
* RhinoRampage
* ShoutOut: Both Nidoking and Nidoqueen look like Baragon, a giant monster from the {{Godzilla}} films that is quite popular in Japan.

!!Cleffa, Clefairy, and Clefable (Pi, Pippi, and Pixie[[hottip:*:Were you expecting [[RepetitiveName "Pippippi"?]])
[[quoteright:158:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/035-036-173_13.png]]
[-''Cleffa debuts in Gen II''-]

These pink cute Pokémon can be thought of as a DistaffCounterpart to Pikachu's family. Their stats don't seem remarkable, but they learn a fantastic number of moves, plus later games introduced an ability that prevents damage from anything other than direct attacks. Their Metronome technique makes them very unpredictable in battle. This family is thought to come from space, as they're found on mountains with a history behind them (Mt. Moon and Mt. Coronet).

* BlushSticker
* ConfusionFu: Like the Nidos, ''massive'' movepool, and all around decent stats that allows them to run both defense or offense with ease. Their main move, Metronome, also counts.
* EpilepticTrees: In-universe, it's widely believed that they came from the moon.
* JackOfAllStats: Slighty slow, but good balance.
* {{Lunacy}}
* NoSell: Magic Guard works as this for indirect damage: It just doesn't work. Life Orb? The only penalty is not using Leftovers. Sandstorm? Not a problem (for them, anyways.) Stealth Rock? Nope. Toxic? Great, now they don't even have to worry about Paralysis or Sleep. Leech Seed? Enjoy your fat load of ''nothing''.
* NonElemental
* OurFairiesAreDifferent
* OvershadowedByAwesome: To Blissey.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Depending on who you ask, even more so than [[KidAppealCharacter Pikachu]].
* ShrinkingViolet: All members of the Clef-line are rarely seen, but Clefable is particularly reclusive.
* SignatureMove: In Generation I, it was the only Pokémon to learn Metronome by level up (aside from Mew).
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: As noted in the Pikachu section, Clefairy was originally planned to be the {{mascot}} of the Franchise/{{Pokemon}} franchise.
* WingsDoNothing: They're only there for appearance, apparently. They can't fly, nor even learn Wing-associated attacks.
** They're said to absorb moonlight to enable Clefable (and Clefairy) to float. [[GameplayAndStorySegregation You'll never get to see this happen in-game.]]

!!Vulpix and Ninetales (Rokon and Kyukon)
[[quoteright:140:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/037-038_4246.png]]

If you didn't pick Charmander, you're in luck, because there's Vulpix... if you're playing the ''Blue'' or ''Green'' version that is, as they're only found on those versions (''Red'' players get Growlithe instead). Vulpix resembles an adorable six-tailed red fox, while Ninetales is a large golden fox with... [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin nine tails]].

* BrownEyes[=/=]TechnicolorEyes
* DisproportionateRetribution: Touch one of Ninetales', well, tails, and prepare to be cursed for life. (Specifically 1,000 years - if you're not {{immortal}}, there's ''no'' way you're living that long.)
** Knowing them, they probably know that you're not going to live that long, so maybe [[FridgeHorror it hits your descendants, too]]...
** Or you're still cursed in the afterlife.
* DroppedABridgetOnHim: They are feminine looking and most of them are female, but it's possible for them to be male.
* FantasticFoxes: The line is based in part on mythological ''{{kitsune}}'', Japanese trickster fox spirits. Reflected in the Ghost-type moves Vulpix and Ninetales can learn.
* FusionDance:
** According to a in-universe legend mentioned in a pokedex entry, [[IncrediblyLamePun nine saints were united and reincarnated as Ninetales]]. (One could imagine they'd have quite the ''tales'' to tell about being nine ''tails''!)
** Another pokedex entry says that nine wizards possessing sacred powers merged into one. Whether this is a {{retcon}}, a mistranslation or a separate legend is not clear.
* GlowingEyesOfDoom[=/=]HypnoticEyes[=/=]RedEyesTakeWarning: Ninetales can control minds with its red eyes. They glow when it does this.
* {{Kitsune}}
* LightIsNotGood: Both are cute and Ninetales is light colored, but Vulpix is deceptive if nothing else and Ninetales is a extremely vindictive {{Mon}} with the potentially NightmareFuel inducing power of controlling minds.
** Especially if it's the shiny Ninetales.
* MindManipulation
* {{Nerf}}: Was a LightningBruiser on the Special Side in Generation I. However, the Special Split cut Ninetales' ability to Fire Blast [[TotalPartyKill your team dead]].
* NoOntologicalInertia: Possibly. Both Ninetales curse and it's life span last 1,000 years.
* PlayingWithFire
* PunnyName
* Really700YearsOld: Ninetales lives for 1,000 years.
* SoulPower: They learn quite a lot of Ghost-type moves.
* [[FragileSpeedster Speedy]] StoneWall: Ninetales is fast, and can fend off Special attacks, but its attacks are rather lacking.
* TookALevelInBadass: Getting Drought as an ability really gave a boost to their usefulness. Said ability was previous only known by ''[[OlympusMons Groudon.]]''
** [[WeatherControlMachine Weather Control Pokémon]]

!!Igglybuff, Jigglypuff, and Wigglytuff (Pupurin, Purin, and Pukurin)
[[quoteright:138:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/039-040-174_3490.png]]
[-''Igglybuff debuts in Gen II''-]

Another family of pink Pokémon. These Pokémon have balloon-like bodies, huge eyes and a tuff of hair on their heads. They have a high HP stat, and can learn a large number of moves, but their other stats are very average. Their talents include sleep-inducing singing. Jigglypuff is particularly notable for being the only Pokémon besides Pikachu to be a playable character in all three VideoGame/SuperSmashBros games.

* BreakoutCharacter: Jigglypuff is popular enough (in Japan) that it's made multiple appearances in the anime, merchandise, and all games in the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' franchise.
* DudeLooksLikeALady: 25 percent of them are male.
* KillerRabbit: According to its Pokédex entry, Jigglypuff's cuteness is really a form of self defense, luring enemies in only to put them to sleep and give them a beating.
* {{Lunacy}}
* MakeMeWannaShout
* NamesTheSame: Both Jigglypuff and Aerodactyl are called "PUD" in PokemonVietnameseCrystal.
* NonElemental
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter
* OvershadowedByAwesome: The Clefairy line is generally regarded as superior.
* SignatureMove: Sing, despite being able to be learned by a large number of Pokémon, is strongly associated with Jigglypuff.

!!Zubat, Golbat, and Crobat
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[-''Crobat debuts in Gen II''-]

The bane of trainers everywhere. These bats are found in almost every cave for almost four generations of games. What makes them so annoying is their speed (where your chances of running away is determined by speed stats) and their ability to confuse or poison you. Crobat is excused from this hatred for not being available in the wild[[hottip:*:[[AvertedTrope Except Unova]]. You'll need to befriend a Zubat or Golbat in order to evolve it. It has one of the fastest speeds in the game.

* BatOutOfHell: Golbat and Crobat are person-sized vampire bats, and even Zubat is quite larger than most real bats, as well as being poisonous and [[GoddamnBats generally annoying]].
* BlowYouAway
* ComMons: ''Every'' cave in Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh is filled with Zubat. Except those filled with Golbat. Despite that, Crobat is actually a pretty good Pokémon, with stats on par with the evolved starters.
* EyelessFace: Zubat, but this makes some sense, as it is a blind bat that depends on echolocation.
* {{Flight}}
* GoddamnBats: [[{{in-universe}} The game itself]] even warns you to be wary of them when you first get to Mt. Moon.
* JackOfAllStats: Pretty well-balanced stats, except for the Speed, with Crobat's being the 6th best in the game.
* MagikarpPower: Zubat is much, ''much'' weaker than its evolved forms.
** DiscOneNuke: Crobat is roughly as strong as the evolved starters, and due to how happiness works, can be obtained one level after evolving into the already respectable Golbat with just a little tender loving care. Also, in ''Platinum'', wild Golbat are capturable (but rare) before the first gym, and theoretically one could get a Crobat under level 10.
* OverlyLongTongue: Golbat in its [[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d4iM90TcgCM/TbFT85pv-DI/AAAAAAAAAOA/3gInV29tsYI/s1600/Spr_1b_042.png Red and Blue sprite.]]
* [[PoisonousPerson Poisonous Pokémon]]
* ThePowerOfFriendship: Arguably the first time it's applied as a game element in the series; it's the only way to evolve Golbat into Crobat.

!!Oddish, Gloom, Vileplume, and Bellossom (Nazonokusa, Kusaihana, Rafflesia, and Kireihana)
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[-''Bellossom debuts in Gen II''-]

One of the archetypal Grass-type families, Oddish and its evolved forms are a good choice if you didn't start with Bulbasaur. Oddish resembles a radish that's blue in color and it walks on two feet. As it matures into a Gloom, it gains arms and becomes very smelly, much like a rafflesia. Finally can evolve into either a Vileplume, or a Bellossom... if you have one of the appropriate stones, that is. Bellossom is somewhat unique in that it shrinks in size and loses its Poison typing upon evolution, as well as losing its legs, which are replaced by a leaf-dress of sorts.

* ComMons: In Hoenn, where they are much more common than in Kanto or Johto.
* DanceBattler: Bellossom.
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: Gloom's Japanese name is ''Kusaihana'', which literally translates to "smelly flower". Also, Bellossom's Japanese name is ''Kireihana'', which literally translates to "beautiful flower".
* GreenThumb
* HulaAndLuaus: Bellossom.
* MeaningfulName: A Rafflesia (Vileplume's name in the Japanese version) is the largest flower in the world and produces a highly foul odor, and the flower on its head highly resembles one.
** This may also go to explain why Gloom smells so bad.
* MightyGlacier: Both Vileplume and Bellossom have decent attack stats, but their speed stat is rather lacking.
* PetalPower
* PintsizedPowerhouse: As noted above, Bellossom is the smallest form of the family, yet its stats are on par with the alternative evolution Vileplume.
* [[PlantPerson Plant Pokémon]]
* [[PoisonousPerson Poisonous Pokémon]]: As noted above, Bellossom is the only one that isn't this.
* [[RealMenWearPink Real Pokémon Wear Grass Skirts]]: Bellossom has an even chance of being male.
* SignatureMove: [[CherryBlossoms Petal Dance]], but only in Generation I.

!!Paras and Parasect
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Paras and Parasect are an ''[[http://bulbanews.bulbagarden.net/wiki/On_the_Origin_of_Species:_Paras_and_Parasect interesting]]'' family. It's a cicada-like insect that's in a symbiotic [read:parasitic] relationship with a mushroom that only grows on the bug. Thus, it is capable of using both Bug and Grass type moves. This comes with a cost, though: Upon evolution, the mushroom takes over the insect's brain and it seems that it's the mushroom that is in control of the creature. It's considered a great Pokémon to catch other Pokémon with though, since it has access to Spore, one of the best sleep-inducing moves in the game, and False Swipe, which will never reduce a target's health below one. Just keep it away from heat.

* BlankWhiteEyes: Parasect, as a result of [[MindControlEyes losing its mind to the mushroom]].
* BigCreepyCrawlies
* ForMassiveDamage: Fire-type attacks will do huge damage (it is the ''only'' Pokémon family that can have a 5x weakness to a type), as well as flying-type attacks.
** Without Dry Skin, it "merely" takes quadruple damage from Fire-type attacks. That still hurts a lot.
** If you're playing Red, Blue, Yellow, or Green, Poison also does x4 Damage, as it and Bug were super effective on each other in those games.
* GreenThumb
* PuppeteerParasite: The mushrooms on Paras's back are influencing its thoughts.
* SignatureMove: Spore, of them and the other two mushroom-based families - in fact, the move's Japanese name is ''Mushroom'' Spore.
** There's also [[http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Effect_Spore_%28ability%29 Effect Spore]], which is a signature ability. Again, only the Paras line and the other two mushroom-based families get it naturally (though Vileplume can get it through the Dream World.)
* TookALevelInBadass: Dry Skin gave it viability in Rain Dance teams.

!!Venonat and Venomoth (Kongpang and Morphon)
[[quoteright:167:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/048-049_6833.png]]

A furry bug-like creature that evolves into a moth with poisonous scales. It's kinda unremarkable, apart from the fact that it is a far better choice as a Bug Pokémon than Beedrill or Butterfree, except that it comes ''far'' later than both of them.

* BlowYouAway: Venomoth, despite not being a Flying type.
* BigCreepyCrawlies
* {{Flight}}: Venomoth, in just the same way as Beedrill.
* StandardStatusEffects: Like Butterfree, they learn the 3 powder moves.
* [[PoisonousPerson Poisonous Pokémon]]
* PrettyButterfly
* PsychicPowers: They learn the 3 main offensive Psychic moves via level up.
* TookALevelInBadAss: Venomoth seems to have simply gotten better and better as time's gone by. Generation 2 brought it Poison STAB (Sludge Bomb), Generation 3 brought it a cool ability called Shield Dust which prevents the enemy's added effects of moves (like Flamethrower's burn), Generation 4 gave it the physical/special split, giving it good special STAB (Bug Buzz+Sludge Bomb), and more importantly Tinted Lens which is a new ability that increases damage if the foe resists Venomoth's attack (ie, x.5 damage becomes x1, x.25 becomes .5), meaning it has fewer safe switch-ins. Generation 5 gives it Quiver Dance, a new boosting move that increases Special Attack, Special Defense and Speed by one stage. And it can Baton Pass it. Venomoth is making quite a fuss in the lower tiers, and for good reason!
* WildMassGuessing: Why is Venonat so similar in appearance to Butterfree, a Pokémon from an ''entirely different evolutionary family?'' Were they originally supposed to be part of the same line?
** [[http://www.serebiiforums.com/showthread.php?485151-The-Butterfree-Venomoth-problem Fanon]] speculates that the [[http://pokemymon.wordpress.com/2010/09/27/caterpie-metapod-venomoth/ similarities]] between Caterpie, Metapod, and Venomoth, and the similarities between Venonat and Butterfree, means that the original ''Red'' and ''Green'' versions switched the sprites for Butterfree and Venomoth around, and the mistake [[TheyJustDidntCare was never corrected]].

!!Diglett (Digda) and Dugtrio
[[quoteright:167:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/050-051_6528.png]]

Based on Whack-a-Moles, these are probably tied with Voltorb and Magnemite for the Pokémon with the simplest design. Diglett appears to be only a half-buried brown nub with a bright red nose. Dugtrio appears to be no different, except that it's three of them. What's also unusual about this Ground type (mostly populated by tanks) is that it's also lighting-fast, but can't take a hit well. It's also got the ability to trap land-based opponents.

* BiggerOnTheInside: Fanart frequently depicts the tiny, adorable Diglett/Dugtrio as being a surface appendage for a massive subterranean abomination.
* CrutchCharacter: Can't defeat Lt. Surge because his Raichu is mopping the floor with your Squirtle? Don't worry; just go to the nearby Diglett's Cave and catch a Diglett (or a Dugtrio [[MetalSlime should one happen to crop up]]), then proceed to destroy Surge with a well-placed Dig.
* TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything: They really go out of their way to ensure that Diglett and Dugtrio is never seen leaving the ground, to the point of giving them special animations for when any other Pokémon uses a non-animated hop (Pokéathlon, Poké Transfer) or just appear in mid-air (When sent into battle in Black and White) anyways.
* DishingOutDirt
* FragileSpeedster: In its own right, and especially by the standards of its type.
* MultipleHeadCase: Dugtrio.
* NoSell: Electricity.
* RiddleForTheAges: We will likely never see what the rest of Diglett or Dugtrio's body looks like.
* SignatureMove: Despite being a widespread move, prior to Generation III, they are the only ones to learn Dig naturally.
* StarfishAlien: Diglett and Dugtrio may be this. We just aren't sure. Given that Dugtrio has three heads from a one-headed Diglett, it's not out of the field of possibility.
* TheUnseen: Their lower bodies will never be seen, only implied. They seem to have claws and feet at least.
* YouWillNotEvadeMe: Again, Arena Trap.

!!Meowth (Nyarth) and Persian
[[quoteright:149:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/052-053_1713.png]]

These Pokémon are probably some of the most recognized Pokémon in the franchise after Pikachu, due to one individual being a main antagonist in the anime and because that particular one is unique in that it can speak human languages, something very few other Pokémon can do (and most of those use telepathy). It's only natural to have a cat Pokémon as an antagonist when your protagonist is a mouse. These cats are based on ManekiNeko, a lucky cat that's supposed to grant its owner wealth. Persian has a regal air to it and is quite fast, but nothing note-worthy about it otherwise.

* BadassNormal: This housecat made it to Overused in the days of the Red/Blue/Yellow games because of the fact that, due to the critical hit rate being based on speed, Slash always yielded one.
* CombatPragmatist: Their natural movepool is not one made up of orthodox moves.
* ConfusionFu: They've got a massive movepool. That's par for the course for Normal-types, but Meowth and Persian still get more options than most.
* FragileSpeedster
* ItemCaddy: Meowth can have the Pickup ability.
* ManekiNeko
* NonElemental
* PantheraAwesome: Persian, a ''housecat''.
* SignatureMove: [[MoneySpider Pay Day]] for Meowth; the attack has actually been steadingly limited to Meowth and ''only'' Meowth over the gens (even vanishing from Persian's learnset in Gen IV). Averted slightly in Gen V, as Purrloin has this as an Egg Move, and in Gen3, where it was possible to get a Skitty with this thorough Pokémon Box.
** Also averted in Gen 1, where Pay Day was a TM.
* WeakButSkilled: Their attacking stats are average at best, and [[FragileSpeedster their defenses are lacking]], but their ability, speed, and movepool make them stand out, specially in Gen I.

!!Psyduck (Koduck) and Golduck
[[quoteright:149:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/054-055_8693.png]]

One of the most recognizable Pokémon, Psyduck is an eternally confused yellow duck-thing (some call it a platypus, though). It's got a headache that can somehow enable it to tap into mysterious psychic powers. Golduck is less silly though.

* EverythingsBetterWithPlatypi
* JackOfAllStats
* MakingASplash
** OvershadowedByAwesome: Water is the most widespread type of all, so there will always be a better alternative to these guys.
* PsychicPowers: Despite not being Psychic-type at all.
* [[WeatherControlMachine Weather Control Creatures]]: It's under a different name[[note]]Cloud Nine, which can be possessed by other mons[[/note]], but one of their abilities is essentially '''Rayquaza's''' Air Lock.
* {{Youkai}}: Golduck is based on the {{Kappa}}.

!!Mankey and Primeape (Okorizaru)
[[quoteright:167:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/056-057_3928.png]]

Mankey and Primeape resemble puff-balls as much as they resemble monkeys and apes. They're fighting-types that always seem to be angry at something. In the ''Yellow'' version, this is the guy you want to use to fight against Brock, since Pikachu really cannot do squat against him.

* BareFistedMonk: Primeape's main fighting style.
* ConfusionFu: They can learn moves of every single type, and damage-dealing moves from ''14'' of them.
** ShockAndAwe
* CrossPoppingVeins: Primeape
* EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys
* FragileSpeedster: Primeape is the fourth-fastest Fighting type (among the Fighting-types, only Mienshao, the Musketeers, Infernape and Step Forme Meloetta are faster,) but it can only take ''one'' hit... ''if'' said hit is absurdly weak and/or comes from a type that Primeape resists.
** GlassCannon: High powered moves coming from a high attack spell this.
* HairTriggerTemper: Mankey and Primeape spend most of their lives in perpetual fury, going aggro on anything that even looks at them sideways.
* NamesTheSame: Mankey is also the name of the orangutan enemies in DonkeyKongCountry.
* StatusBuff: Two of its abilities. Anger Point maxes out its Attack if it gets hit by a critical attack, and Defiant increases its Attack by two stages if one of its stats gets reduced by the opponent, including Attack - a great way to turn Intimidate users's strategy [[HoistByHisOwnPetard on its head]].
* UnstoppableRage: Hoo boy. Mankey is ''very'' prone to this, and this is pretty much Primeape's ''default'' mood. [[FridgeLogic You can still get a Calm-natured Mankey.]]
** [[ImplacableMan Implacable Monkey]]: Once it's gotten riled up at something, Primape will ''never'' stop chasing the offending party until it has caught up and beaten the everloving crap out of it.
** Heck, Pokedex entries state that in tree colonies, if one Mankey goes nuts, they ''all'' do.

!!Growlithe and Arcanine (Gardie and Windie)
[[quoteright:172:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/058-059_5546.png]]

These Fire-type dog-like Pokémon are based on Shisa. They vaguely resemble lions and tigers along with their more canine features. Arcanine has one of the highest stats for a non-legendary and access to a wide variety of moves, making it one of the best choices as far as Fire-types are concerned.

* CanisMajor: Arcanine is 6'03".
* BigBadassWolf
* PreciousPuppies
* GameplayAndStorySegregation: Despite all the Pokédex entries rambling on about how it's probably the fastest Pokémon in existence, it's really not that hard to find something with a higher base Speed stat than Arcanine. Even its direct counterpart, Ninetales, are faster than it.
** Worth noting that [=ExtremeSpeed=] was its SignatureMove in Gen II, so it held SOME merit.
* HeroicDog
* JackOfAllStats
* MagikarpPower: Growlithe's weaker than [[JokeCharacter Farfetch'd]], but when you evolve it, Arcanine's got the highest base stat total of all non-(pseudo)-legendaries with a useful ability.[[hottip:*:And the only stronger non-(pseudo)-legendaries, Archeops and Slaking have negative abilities: The former's absurdly high attack gets harshly cut when its HP is below half, and the latter can only attack every two turns, with its inability to attack also overlapping with the recharge effect of Hyper Beam and Giga Impact.]]
* MasterOfNone: Highest base stats total of any non-(pseudo)-legendary without [[BlessedWithSuck a negative ability]], but its stats are too balanced to really abuse, with speed falling just short of the key 100 (it is 95, forcing a scarf, using Agility, or using Extremespeed to sweep).
* PlayingWithFire
* TookALevelInBadass: It seems like every generation makes sure to give Arcanine some handy new moves to move it up another level.
* SignatureMove: [[SuperSpeed ExtremeSpeed]] for Arcanine, on Gen II only.

!!Poliwag, Poliwhirl, Poliwrath, and Politoed (Nyoromo, Nyorozo, Nyorobon, and Nyorotono)
[[quoteright:276:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/060-061-062-186_5991.png]]
[-''Politoed debuts in Gen II''-]

These water Pokémon are based on tadpoles and frogs. They also happen to be Satoshi Tajiri's favorite Pokémon, and as such, they get plenty of showcasing. They're blue in color and have swirling bellies that can make their opponents sleepy by simply undualating it. [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers Politoed is very different in that it's a fully mature green frog]].

* BareFistedMonk: Poliwrath, as a Fighting type.
* AwesomeMomentOfCrowning: The player needs a King's Rock (shaped like a ''crown'') for evolving Poliwhirl into Politoed.
* FrogsAndToads
* [[HypnoticEyes Hypnotic Intestines]]: The swirl pattern they show is perfect for making opponents fall asleep.
* JackOfAllStats: Politoed
* MakeMeWannaShout: Politoed can learn Hyper Voice.
* MakingASplash
* TookALevelInBadass: Poliwrath and especially Politoed got excellent Dream World abilities.
** [[WeatherControlMachine Weather Control Creature]]: Politoed can now have '''[[OlympusMons Kyogre's]]''' Drizzle ability.

!!Abra, Kadabra, and Alakazam (Casie, Yungerer, and Foodin)
[[quoteright:206:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/063-064-065_1632.png]]

The first psychic type you might encounter, Abra and its kin were one of the best Pokémon in the game in the days of ''Red'', ''Green'', ''Blue'', and ''Yellow'', mainly due to how broken Psychic Pokémon were at the time. Abra was notable for teleporting away as soon as it appeared, so you only had one chance to catch it before it ran. Once caught though, it's lightning fast and hits very hard with its special attacks. It's been available from Gens I-IV.

* BadassMustache: Grows one as it evolves.
* BalefulPolymorph[=/=]WasOnceAMan: According to the Pokédex, a boy with psychic powers transformed into the first Kadabra.
* DiscOneNuke: In game Alakazam was second only to [[OlympusMons Mewtwo]] in the first gen, and could be captured before the second badge.
** MetalSlime: But good luck catching an Abra!
** MagikarpPower: And good luck evolving it, as it lacks damaging moves. However, with some [=TMs=], Abra becomes a dangerous creature itself, as it already has respectable Special attack and Speed.
* EyesAlwaysShut: Abra. The only glimpse of an Abra eye is the ''Gold'' sprite, where its left eye is half-open.
* {{Foil}}: Alakazam to Machamp. Both have similar stats and methods of evolving (trade), but opposing types and ways of fighting.
* GameplayAndStorySegregation: Abra supposedly teleports while sleeping, but putting it to sleep is the most effective way to catch one.
* GlassCannon[=/=]FragileSpeedster: Incredible speed and special attack, pathetic HP and defense. The Special defense is passable, but the low HP shoots down that.
** HealThyself: Fortunately it learns Recover.
* HeavySleeper: Abra spends most of the day asleep, and can teleport away from danger even if sleeping.
* IntelligentGerbil: Alakazam has an IQ that exceeds 5,000, making it the smartest Pokémon in existence.
** ImprobablyHighIQ: Not the first (or last) time that the Pokedex is hilariously inaccurate, but given the way the IQ scale works[[hottip:*:''300'' is considered to be "super-genius", and the scale is constantly adjusted so that 100 is the average intelligence of the ''world'' population; furthermore, this constant adjustment means that [[http://www.cracked.com/article_18983_5-complaints-about-modern-life-that-are-statistically-b.s..html an IQ of 150 from 10 years ago might be something more like 135 now]], Alakazam's stated intelligence just breaks it into tiny whimpering pieces.
* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Kadabra is based on Uri Geller (its Japanese name is even a corruption of his name), a man who claimed to be able to bend spoons with his mind. Geller was not impressed, and sued Nintendo over it (he lost).
* NoSell: Any variant of indirect damage, due to its Dream World ability Magic Guard.
* OvershadowedByAwesome: Not getting anything meaningfully new over the generations, as well as Psychic receiving gradual {{nerf}}s, meant Alakazam was to be overshadowed not only by its foil, Machamp, but by other Psychic types like Espeon and Reuniclus.
** TookALevelInBadass: In Gen V, it's back up to OU thanks to getting the Psyshock move and (even more so) the Magic Guard ability, which essentially makes it a [[FragileSpeedster quick]] version of Reuniclus with [[FragileSpeedster lackluster defenses]].
* PsychicPowers: Yeah, this is a given.
* SignatureMove: Kinesis for Kadabra and Alakazam.
* {{Synchronization}}
* TeleportSpam: Abra, especially in Spinoffs, although this is more of a case of WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer.
* ThemeNaming: even the pre-production names of Abra and Kadabra (Hocus and Pocus, respectively) have a theme.

!!Machop, Machoke, and Machamp (Wanriky, Goriky, and Kairiky)
[[quoteright:188:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/066-067-068_2196.png]]

In the same way that the Abra kin represents brains, the Machop line represents brawn. These Pokémon are fantastically strong and use their muscles very effectively when it comes to manual labour. In order to get the four-armed Machamp, you need to trade it into another game.

* BareFistedMonk: With four fists!
* BicepPolishingGesture: Machoke; on some sprites, Machop, too.
* {{Foil}}: Machamp to Alakazam, as mentioned above.
* LadyLooksLikeADude: Their male-female ratio is 3:1, yeah, but females don't even get any visible difference.
* MightyGlacier: They're not ''that'' fast, but their defenses are solid.
* MultiArmedAndDangerous: Machamp.
* NamesTheSame: Both Machamp and Dragonite are called "GUAIL" in PokemonVietnameseCrystal.
* OvershadowedByAwesome: In early games, despite being a physical counterpart to the Abra line, due to Psychic (its prime weakness) being overpowered. Between nerfs to Psychic, an expanding of its movepool, and a new ability that's DifficultButAwesome, this has [[TookALevelInBadass gone away]].
* PecFlex: Machoke in its ''Crystal'' sprites.
* PowerLimiter: According to the Dex, their belts.
* RatedMForManly: And HOW !
* SignatureMove: The only ones to learn Submission naturally in Generation I.
* SmarterThanYouLook: It's said that Machop is actually quite intelligent. Whether or not this applies to its evolutions is unknown.
* SuperStrength: As expected from the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Superpower]] Pokémon.
** Machop can hold a sumo wrestler aloft on ''one finger'', Machoke can lift dump trucks without effort, and Machamp can punch a man with enough force to send him flying away. Ridiculous strength much?
* WrestlerInAllOfUs

!!Bellsprout, Weepinbell, and Victreebel (Madatsubomi, Utsudon, and Utsubot)
[[quoteright:166:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/069-070-071_6229.png]]

This family of carnivorus plants were exclusive to the ''Green'' and ''Blue'' versions of the original games, in place of the Oddish family. Much like them, they're Grass/Poison-types. You would need a Leaf Stone to get a Victreebel though.

* BigEater: It can digest pretty much everything it can swallow, except for itself.
* CharacterNameLimits: Victreebel is missing the second "l" that Weepinbell had room for.
* GlassCannon: In both the physical and special sides.
* GreenThumb
* HiddenElfVillage: Apparently, they live in huge colonies in jungles.
* ManEatingPlant: It's implied that Victreebels have eaten any and all explorers who stumble upon their secret society in the jungles.
* [[PoisonousPerson Poisonous Pokémon]]

!!Tentacool and Tentacruel (Menokurage and Dokukurage)
[[quoteright:172:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/072-073_2769.png]]

Whenever you go surfing on the seas of Kanto, Jotho, Hoenn, and Sinnoh, you're bound to encounter these Jellyfish Pokémon. [[GoddamnedBats Lots of them.]] Luckily for you, you could handle these guys in the same way one handles Zubats: Electric and Psychic moves will normally do the job.

* CombatTentacles
* ComMons: But, like Crobat, Tentacruel is a respectable fighter.
* MakingASplash
* [[PoisonousPerson Poisonous Pokémon]]
* [[FragileSpeedster Speedy]] StoneWall:Tentacruel can fend off any Special Attack, and is also quick at a speed of 100, but its attack stats aren't anything to write home about.
* TentacleRope
* TookALevelInBadass: Tentecruel didn't see much competitive use until Generation IV, when it was discovered that it made an excellent support Pokémon.

!!Geodude, Graveler, and Golem (Isitsubute, Golone, and Golonya)
[[quoteright:211:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/074-075-076_7932.png]]

Simple in design, Geodude and kin look like your typical rock monsters. High physical attack and defense, but terrible speed and special stats. They're useful in the early game, but fizzle out later on.

* ActionBomb: Learns Selfdestruct and Explosion.
* ComMons: You can find Geodude in almost any cave, tunnel, or mountain.
* CrutchCharacter: Its powerful attacks tend to make mincement (or pancakes, if you have a Geodude, Graveler, or Golem that knows Rollout or Bulldoze) out of other common mons, but the line's many problems (low HP, low speed, low resistance to Special attacks, and inability to fully evolve it without assistance/[[OneGameForThePriceOfTwo another Game Pak/Card]]) tend to hamper its usefulness.
* DishingOutDirt
* ForMassiveDamage: [[GreenThumb Grass-type]] moves are the best way to defeat them. [[KillItWithWater Water-types]] [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg work well, too]].
* InNameOnly: Golem is '''not''' related to the {{Golem}}s of Hebrew legend.
* MightyGlacier: Slow, but can easily take a punch. [[WeaksauceWeakness If the punch is not watery or covered with leaves]], that is.
** Or if that punch just happens to be a Fighting type move. Which, disregarding special punches, they all should be.
* MultiArmedAndDangerous: Graveler has four arms.
* [[SiliconBasedLife Silicon Based Pokémon]]

!!Ponyta and Rapidash (Gallop)
[[quoteright:191:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/077-078_8086.png]]

These equine Fire-types didn't really get much use when they were first introduced back in the Gen I games; they could only be encountered once the player got to Cinnabar Island (they were found in the Pokémon Mansion in Gen I, but relocated to the Sevii Islands in the {{remake}}s), and by then, most players had a better Fire-type. The trend continued for the Gen II and III games, but it changed with ''Diamond'' and ''Pearl'', when it was literally the only other Fire-type for those who didn't pick Chimchar. Later on, ''Platinum'' introduced the Magmar, Houndour, and Flareon lines to the region, but Ponyta is still the first Fire-type you can catch in Sinnoh.

* CoolHorse: Rapidash. Ponyta can qualify, too, but it's more cute than cool.
* FlamingHair: Ponyta and Rapidash can only allow those they trust to ride with them. Anyone else would get burned by their mane (as seen in the early seasons of the anime).
* FragileSpeedster: Yeah, the hooves are harder than diamond, but still...
* InASingleBound: Ponyta is said to be so fast, it can jump over France's Eiffel Tower and Australia's Ayers' Rock in one leap -- or so their 'dex entries say.
** ...Which explains the Bounce attack in the later Generations.
* NoSell: Fire attacks if it has the Flash Fire ability.
* PlayingWithFire
* RearingHorse: Ponyta's Platinum sprite.
* ThisIsADrill: Rapidash can learn Horn Drill.

!!Slowpoke, Slowbro, and Slowking (Yadon, Yadoran, and Yadoking)
[[quoteright:191:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/079-080-199_7761.png]]
[-''Slowking debuts in Gen II''-]

It's kinda hard to pinpoint the exact inspiration behind this family of Pokémon, but they certainly have a lot of unusual attributes: The most notable one being its intelligence, which is unusually low for a Psychic-type Pokémon (For Slowpoke and Slowbro at least). They spend their days by the riverside in a lazy attempt to fish. They only seem to get Shellder to bite their tails and apparently this counts as an evolution. Slowking is highly intelligent, though, but that's only through its method of evolution: It requires a King's Rock and somehow, a Shellder to bite its head and release toxins into its brain.

* AwesomeMomentOfCrowning: Like Poliwhirl, in order to evolve Slowpoke into Slowking, the player needs the King's Rock.
* DelayedReaction
* TheDitz: The characterization for Slowpoke. Slowbro isn't known for its intellect, either.
* EasyAmnesia: Slowking forgets everything it has learned if the Shellder on its head comes off.
* GameplayAndStorySegregation: A trainer doesn't really ''need'' a Shellder to evolve a Slowpoke.
* HealingFactor: They can have Regeneration as an ability come Generation V. (They also got Slack Off in Generation IV, but that's more along the lines of HealThyself.)
* {{Irony}}: One of the stupidest Pokémon in existence (so far) can become incredibly intelligent, perhaps even the smartest Pokémon ever [[WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs when a clam bites it on the head while it's holding a special rock.]]
** Despite Slowbro and Slowpoke being complete morons, they are Psychic types-a type that is generally reserved for the smart Pokémon.
* MakingASplash
* MightyGlacier
* PlayingWithFire: For some reason, and against logic, they can be taught Flamethrower and Fire Blast.
* PsychicPowers
* ResetButton: Removing the Shellder on Slowbro (supposedly) causes it to devolve. Removing it on Slowking causes it to lose its memory of what it has learned.
* SuperIntelligence: Slowking.
* SurroundedByIdiots: Slowking tends to lead Slowpoke and Slowbro groups. Contrast their intellects.
* TheSymbiote
* UpliftedAnimal: Slowking.
* UrbanLegendOfZelda: According to the Pokédex, Slowbro and Slowking will revert back to an ordinary Slowpoke if they lose their attached Shellder. There is no way for this to happen in the games, though that hasn't stopped the usual band of nitwits from trying.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse and RiddleForTheAges: What happens to the Shellder if it is removed is not explained.

!!Magnemite, Magneton, and Magnezone (Coil, Rarecoil, and Jibacoil)
[[quoteright:201:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/081-082-462_7663.png]]
[-''Magnezone debuts in Gen IV''-]

Magnemite and its kin are robotic lifeforms that use electromagnetism to float through the air. In the Gen I games, they were pure Electric-types, but later generations made them part Steel-types as well. A Magnemite evolves by simply forming a cluster of three to make a Magneton. In Gen IV and later games, it evolves further by being exposed to a special magnetic wave that's given off in certain locations. But don't try to evolve Magnezone further by forming clusters of other Magnezones. It doesn't work.

* AnimateInanimateObject
* CyberCyclops
* ExtraOreDinary: [[{{Retcon}} Retroactively]], they're the first Steel-types in the series (although not pure Steel).
* FacelessEye: Magnemite and Magneton are basically steel eyeballs with magnets. Magnezone has more proportionate eyes, but still no face.
* ForMassiveDamage: Ground-type attacks, but thankfully, they can learn Magnet Rise to offset this.
* GameplayAndStorySegregation: You wouldn't expect a Pokémon that can naturally float to not have Levitate.
** They use Magnetism. Shaking earth may disrupt magnetism. Though, they can use Magnet Rise to make themselves immune to Ground-type moves for five turns.
** Maybe the move just makes them exert the force ''even harder''.
* MagnetHands: Literally, with the trope taking effect as the Magnet Pull ability, which attracts fellow Steel-types...
** YouWillNotEvadeMe: ...and traps them as well.
*** HoistByHisOwnPetard: ...and themselves, too.
* MightyGlacier: Having high special attack, as well as ''the most'' number of elemental resistances (13 out of 17) does say something...
* NoBiologicalSex
* ShockAndAwe
* SignatureMove: The only Electric-types to learn Zap Cannon naturally[[note]]Note that that's ''Electric'' Pokémon; Porygon has had it since Gen II, and a number of other non-Electrics have gotten it since[[/note]], prior to Generation V. And even then, there's only one other.

!!Farfetch'd (Kamonegi)
[[quoteright:86:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/083_5120.png]]

Back in the Generation I games, there's a girl who's willing to trade this Pokémon for a common-as-dirt Spearow. It was literally the only way to get this Pokémon, so this might have been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, right? Sort of. As it turns out, rarity doesn't really equal power. Based on a Japanese proverb, it's a duck that bears a leek. In other words, an extremely rare and extremely fortunate occurrence... although this doesn't apply for the duck.

* BlowYouAway
* CrutchCharacter: It ''is'' stronger than Pidgey or Spearow. But Pidgeotto and especially Fearow greatly outclass it.
* EndangeredSpecies
* EdibleBludgeon: The leek in its wing.
** OralFixationFixation: Prior to Generation IV, it can often be found between its beak.
* FeatherFingers: While not to the full extent of the trope, it usually holds its leek with one wing.
* {{Flight}}
* NonElemental
* ImprobableWeaponUser
* JokeCharacter
** JunkRare
* MeaningfulName: According to [[http://bulbanews.bulbagarden.net/wiki/On_the_Origin_of_Species:_Farfetch%27d this article]], the above Japanese proverb also means something to the effect of "a sucker is born every minute".
* PigInAPoke: Specifically the circumstances that you can get it in Generation I, and related to the proverb that it's based on.

!!Doduo and Dodrio ([[GratuitousEnglish Dodo]] and Dodorio)
[[quoteright:149:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/084-085_4608.png]]

Doduo and Dodrio are an intriguing species. Their most famous attribute are their multiple heads. Otherwise, they mostly resemble ratites [[note]]any of a diverse group of large, flightless birds of Gondwanan origin, such as ostriches, emus, cassowaries, kiwi birds, rheas, etc[[/note]]. Like ostriches, they excel at running rather than flying... although, they can somehow fly without visible wings. Perhaps they just jump really really high and [[WesternAnimation/ToyStory fall with style]]?

* ArmlessBiped
* BlowYouAway: One of the weirdest ways to pull this one off.
* {{Flight}}
* FragileSpeedster
* GameplayAndStorySegregation: They're flightless, yet Flying-type.
** Amusingly, there's some AlternativeCharacterInterpretation in regards to [[http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lk4nouqKVx1qfd0ebo1_500.png Doduo's]] and [[http://www.player-two.com/2011/02/dodrio-fly/ Dodrio's]] ability to fly.
* FireIceLightning: One of the few Pokémon that can have Tri Attack.
* InASingleBound: Apparently, they both "fly" this way (The Japanese name of the move can also be translated "Great Leap"). Remember that these guys can take you from Lavender to Cinnabar if needed.
* MultipleHeadCase
* NonElemental
* NotQuiteFlight
* SingleMindedTwins: Played straight with Doduo; averted with Dodrio, as they have three heads and three distinct personalities, despite sharing a body.

!!Seel and Dewgong (Pawou and Jugon)
[[quoteright:156:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/086-087_7170.png]]

These pinniped Pokémon kinda resemble harp seal pups. They seem to prefer frigid marine environments best. Dewgong is named after a real sea mammal called a dugong (which isn't a seal, but a kind of sea cow). Seel is probably notable for being the only Pokémon whose name can be spelled on a calculator.

* [[AnIcePerson An Ice Pokémon]]: Dewgong. Seel is also strongly associated with cold areas.
* JackOfAllStats
** MasterOfNone: Yeah, they have this problem, too.
* MakingASplash
* OvershadowedByAwesome: To Lapras, pretty much from day one.

!!Grimer and Muk (Betbeter and Betbeton)
[[quoteright:165:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/088-089_4294.png]]

Poisonous blobs that seem to appear wherever pollution is. They were born from toxic sludge that were exposed to x-rays or something and are now living. These Pokémon may in fact be useful by absorbing poisonous material from the environment and putting it into their own bodies.

* BlobMonster
* MightyGlacier
* MuckMonster
* [[PoisonousPerson Poisonous Pokémon]]: By far the best example in the series. If a Grimer slides along some grass, expect the soil to be so contaminated that not even weeds will grow there. Muk's toxicity is more extreme than that; one drop of its essence can turn a pristine lake into a stagnant cesspool in minutes, and touching it causes immediate illness (and, in some cases, death).
* WalkingWasteland: Just read the "Poisonous Pokémon" entry again.

!!Shellder and Cloyster (Parshen)
[[quoteright:185:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/090-091_3057.png]]

Cheeky bivalve Pokémon with extremely sturdy shells. Their highest stat has always been their defense. It's just pointless to hit it with physical attacks; try hitting it with Special ones instead.

* [[AnIcePerson An Ice Pokémon]]: Cloyster; Shellder also learns several Ice attacks naturally.
* MakingASplash
* SignatureMove: Shellder's Icicle Spear, before Generation IV.
* StoneWall: Cloyster has the highest defense in Gen 1...
** MightyGlacier: ...and it also has decent attack stats too.
** GlassCannon: "[[StatusBuff Cloyster used Shell Smash!]]"
** LightningBruiser: "Cloyster consumed Lum Berry!"
* TookALevelInBadass: As of Gen V, Cloyster has arguably taken the most levels in badass out of all old Pokémon. Its Icicle Spear now has 25 base power (meaning that factoring in STAB and its ability, its power is higher than that of Outrage) and has a better side effect. This also applies to all his multi-hit moves. Finally, he gets the move Shell Smash, which despite reducing its defense and special defense, ''raises its attack, special attack, and speed '''twice'''''.

!!Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar ([[ShapedLikeItself Ghos]], [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Ghost]], and Gangar)
[[quoteright:219:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/092-093-094_5373.png]]

This family was once known for being the only Pokémon who were Ghost-types and arguably the best ones to deal with Psychic-types... in theory, as they were also part Poison-type with a weakness to Psychic-type attacks. Due to balance issues, they didn't really do their job all that well. However, each generation made them better and better. Gen II gave them strong Ghost-type attacks it can use, Gen III gave them Levitate and an immunity to Ground-type attacks, Gen IV gave them new toys to play with by making them work off their best stats. Even with the introduction of other Ghost-types, they're still one of the best.

* {{Badass}}: Alongside Starmie (see below), Gengar has the honor of being a high-tier Pokémon in all five generations so far.
** HandicappedBadass: In Gen 1, despite Psychic types' [[GoodBadBugs immunity]] to Ghost, Gengar still managed to be OU in that generation.
* CastingAShadow: [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness Since this was before the Dark type existed]], they usually have Ghost-type moves with a more sinister feel to them, like Night Shade and Shadow Ball (The latter move didn't exist until Dark types did appear, but it should make a point).
** In later generations they get Dark moves too, namely Sucker Punch, Payback and Dark Pulse.
* ConfusionFu: Besides the Ghost, Poison, Dark, Normal and Psychic moves you'd expect given its typing, it can learn a few Electric, Fighting, Grass, Ice and Fire moves too, as well as a wide variety of status attacks.
* CuteLittleFangs: Gastly!
* [[{{Doppelganger}} Doppel-Gengar]]
* EvilCounterpart: To the Abra family, a position the anime reinforces with Ash recruiting a Haunter to battle Sabrina's Kadabra. Their stats are also very similar--compared to Alakazam, Gengar trades a few points of Special Attack and Speed for (slightly) less horrible HP and physical stats.
** Also of note, their original cards in the Pokémon [=TCG=]--Alakazam's Pokémon Power lets it move damage counters around on the player's Pokémon, Gengar's Pokémon Power moves around damage counters on the opponent's Pokémon. Both had one attack requiring three Psychic energy, which did 30 damage with an additional effect.
* FrogsAndToads: At first glance it might not be obvious, but Gastly strongly resembles a tadpole, Haunter as an adolescent (just with front limbs instead of back ones) and Gengar can be seen as a toad. Plus they all have [[OverlyLongTongue long tongues]].
* GlassCannon: Just like Alakazam, Gengar has high Special Attack and Speed but pitiful defenses. However, it has the advantage of three type immunities (Normal, Fighting, and Ground via Levitate), and more status attacks to disable enemies like Hypnosis and Confuse Ray, so Gengar is a bit more durable.
* LarynxDissonance: In the games, Haunter and Gengar have very deep cries, yet have a 50/50 chance of being female. Gastly only faces this {{trope}} in [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} the anime]].
* LivingShadow: Gengar
* OurGhostsAreDifferent: They're really more like clouds of [[DeadlyGas noxious gas]]...
* OverlyLongTongue: Haunter's licks are said to cause paralysis, convulsions, and death, and both its evo and preevo are quite well endowed in that department, too. As in ''larger than its body'' in the case of Gastly.
* [[PoisonousPerson Poisonous Pokémon]]: Notably, can't learn any poison moves, only can be taught them via TMs.
* RaymanianLimbs: Haunter's hands.
* RedEyesTakeWarning: Gengar again.
* SignatureMove: [[FixedDamageAttack Night Shade]], but only in Generation I.
* SlasherSmile: All of them, and they almost never ''stop'' smiling.
* SoulPower: The only Ghost-types until Misdreavus came along.
* SupernaturalIsPurple
* TookALevelInBadass: For a while Gengar was unable to take advantage of its typing because Poison and Ghost-type moves are physical. Then Generation IV came and Shadow Ball and Sludge Bomb became special moves. OhCrap.[[note]]At 90 power boosted to 135, Sludge Bomb is the second-strongest attack Gengar has access to short of Hyper Beam, the first being Sludge Wave with 95/137.5 power. However, Poison isn't really a good offensive type. Shadow Ball on the other hand is 120 power and ''really'' wrecks the day of Psychics and Ghosts.[[/note]]

!!Onix and Steelix (Iwark and Haganeil)
[[quoteright:188:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/095-208_9163.png]]
[-''Steelix debuts in Gen II''-]

Onix are massive snakes made entirely out of boulders. Sounds pretty [[{{badass}} awesome]], right? Too bad its only good stat was defense and its typing left it with a ton of weaknesses. It was a pretty terrible Pokémon. They fixed it by having it evolve into a massive snake made entirely out of steel. It isn't super-amazing, but it's still a huge improvement over Onix.

* DishingOutDirt
* ExtraOreDinary: Steelix
* FakeUltimateMook: Onix was the former trope namer; ''Geodude'' tends to hurt more when attacking.
** Consider this: Alakazam, GlassCannon to end all GlassCannon[=s,=] was not killed by an EXPLOSION pre-Generation V Nerf.
** Onix's Attack stat is the same as ''Wurmple''. It has lower HP than it too.
* ForMassiveDamage: Onix to [[GreenThumb Grass]] and [[MakingASplash Water]] type attacks.
* [[SiliconBasedLife Silicon Based Pokémon]]
* StoneWall: Steelix moreso than Onix. Being free of crippling weaknesses helps.
** MightyGlacier: Its Attack isn't too bad either.
* TookALevelInBadass: Steelix, when compared to Onix. It has two immunities (Poison and Electric), two neutral matchups (Ice and Grass), only four 2x weaknesses (Fire, Water, Ground and Fighting), and everything else not very effective, doubled Attack and tied for 2nd-highest Defense, and a larger and more varied move pool (Steelix's Speed drops from 70 to 30, though, but that also powers up its best STAB move, Gyro Ball). Special attacks are still painful, however. Steelix also gets the ability Sheer Force in Gen V, giving its moves that have secondary effects more power in exchange for removing the effects.
** It can also relearn Thunder Fang and Ice Fang, which helps deal with Water and Ground Pokémon.

!!Drowzee and Hypno ([[GratuitousEnglish Sleep and Sleeper]])
[[quoteright:142:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/096-097_3557.png]]

Those who didn't have the luck or patience to capture Abra would have to settle for this Pokémon instead. These Pokémon love eating dreams and are willing to put anyone to sleep just to sample their dreams. Unfortunately, this habit made them earn a seedy reputation.

* AdultFear: Hypno likes to kidnap children and brainwash them with hypnosis [Insert [[PedoHunt pedophilia jokes]] here].
* HypnoPendulum: Hypno uses one.
* MightyGlacier
* OvershadowedByAwesome: A rather strange example, Hypno is often passed up for Alakazam by appearances alone, except that among Psychic Pokémon, it holds a rather dubious role of being one of the more well rounded Pokémon in the game. Its stats are by no means bad and it is actually sturdy. This gives it a level of versatility without relying on pure power like Alakazam.
* PsychicPowers
* StandardStatusEffects: Apart from the obvious hypnosis, they learn Poison Gas naturally for some unexplained reason.
* YouHaveResearchedBreathing: Their diet is made up of the dreams of other beings. The only way they can learn Dream Eater is by TM, and that is arguably the reason behind said move being a TM consistently across generations.
* {{Youkai}}: They're based on the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baku_%28spirit%29 baku]], spirits who devour dreams.

!!Krabby ([[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Crab]]) and Kingler
[[quoteright:170:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/098-099_5723.png]]

Crab Pokémon that are bright red in color, these guys boast a respectable attack stat, although it couldn't really be utilized well by their typing until Gen IV. Other talents include slicing and walking sideways.

* DivergentCharacterEvolution: Unlike most {{Expy}}ed species, Kingler and [[Characters/PokemonGenerationIIIFamilies Crawdaunt]] have steadily been made more dissimilar playwise (while keeping both equally viable) with future generations. Kingler has usable physical bulk, gained Agility (double speed) in Generation 4, and received the ''very'' nice Sheer Force ability (boost damage of moves with a chance of inflicting [[StandardStatusEffects secondary effects]] by 33% but remove the effect chance) in Generation 5; Crawdaunt, on the other hand, has enough special attack to run [[ConfusionFu mixed sets]], gets [[StatusBuff Dragon Dance]] (raise speed and attack by 50% each) in Generation 4, and the ''very'' nice Adaptability ability (boost the bonus from using attacks of the same type as the user from 1.5 to double damage) in Generation 5.
* GiantEnemyCrab
* [[RightHandOfDoom Left Claw Of Doom]]: An exaggeration of the real-life fiddler crab's oversized claw.
* MakingASplash
* MightyGlacier
* SignatureMove: Crabhammer, no longer exclusive since Gen III.

!!Voltorb and Electrode (Biriridama and Marumine)
[[quoteright:117:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/100-101_264.png]]

Pokémon that look like Poké Balls. Since their game sprites resemble item sprites, unsuspecting adventurers will get a nasty shock when they find that what they thought was an item is actually an angry Pokémon that's prone to exploding. It was once known as [[strike:one of]] ''the'' fastest Pokémon in the game, and is still only surpassed by Deoxys, Ninjask, and Accelgor.

* ActionBomb: They tend to explode at the slightest provocation.
* ChestMonster
* FragileSpeedster: The 4th fastest Pokémon overall (1st before Gen III [[OvershadowedByAwesome brought in]] [[GradualGrinder Ninjask]] and [[GlassCannon De]][[StoneWall ox]][[LightningBruiser ys]]), but sub-par other stats, save for decent Special Attack.
** SquishyWizard: With Electro Ball in play.
* NoBiologicalSex
* ShockAndAwe
* SignatureMove: The most well-known users of [[StuffBlowingUp Selfdestruct and Explosion]], thanks to the anime, if only they had the attack power to back it up.
* WildMassGuessing: About their origin, in-universe at that.

!!Exeggcute and Exeggutor (Tamatama and Nassy)
[[quoteright:145:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/102-103_9399.png]]

Exeggcute is a clutch of what appears to be six eggs with faces on them (actually plant seeds), each with distinctive expressions and cracks. Despite this, they all constitute as a single Pokémon, linked together by telepathy. They evolve together to form Exeggutor, a coconut tree with 3 heads, courtesy of the Leaf Stone.

* ForMassiveDamage: Bug-types will wreck it with 4x damage, but why stop there? It has six other weaknesses (Ice, Dark, Flying, Poison, Ghost, and Fire) and there are a lot of Pokémon out there that have these types (or know moves that are these types).
** KryptoniteIsEverywhere: The family has ''7'' weaknesses in total, giving it the most weaknesses out of every Pokémon, not counting [[OlympusMons Celebi]], which shares its typing. Though it somewhat averted this trope in Gen I, having only 5 weaknesses, with the Dark type not made yet and [[GoodBadBugs Psychics being immune to Ghost type attacks]].
* GreenThumb
* HiveMind: Six distinct seeds form an individual Exeggcute
* MightyGlacier: Exeggutor has a monstrous Special Attack stat (among Grass types, only Roserade matches it), but it's rather slow.
** LightningBruiser: If it uses Sunny Day to activate Chlorophyll.
* MultipleHeadCase: Though how a group of ''six'' eggs only evolves into a ''three''-headed coconut tree is rather puzzling.
* OurMonstersAreWeird: Six egg-shaped seeds with random bruises, cracks and holes in them (plus faces on all six of them) which can turn into a giant pineapple-tree hybrid with three coconut heads -- ''and'' both of these forms have psychic powers. How it makes sense is beyond anyone's understanding.
* OvershadowedByAwesome: One of the most commonly used choices early on due to its resistance to Psychic and ability to abuse Leech Seed, plus a near-total lack of usable Bug attacks (the stray Jolteon with Pin Missile was the only real worry). Pretty much any Psychic or Grass type outclasses it now, with the Special split and the much wider movepools of Pokémon.
* PsychicPowers
* SignatureMove: [[SpamAttack Barrage]]
* StatusBuff: Their Dream World ability "Harvest" effectively gives unlimited berries.
* {{Youkai}}: May be based off of the Jinmenju, a supernatural tree that has ''human heads'' for fruit that constantly smile and laugh.

!!Cubone and Marowak (Karakara and Garagara)
[[quoteright:129:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/104-105_7090.png]]

These Pokémon resemble dinosaurs that wear skulls as helmets. In Cubone's case, the skull it wears is that of its dead mother, and the stains on it are the poor creature's tears as it cries for its long-gone mommy. This made sense back in Gen I when breeding didn't exist. Starting with Gen II and the introduction of breeding, the story has been called into question, since Cubone can be bred complete with the skull and with no ill effects on the mother, so it might be an urban legend. Either way, Marowak is still a badass. Especially when holding a Thick Club.

* {{Badass}}: When holding a Thick Club.
* BadWithTheBone
* CombatPragmatist: Marowak is addressed as such (despite not being a Dark-type, as Dark-types didn't come until later and it wasn't retconned like Magnemite and Magneton were), being weak but using bones as weapons.
* DishingOutDirt
* GameBreakingBug: Victim of one in Generation 2, where a max attack Marowak that used Swords Dance would hit the Attack cap and wrap around to very low Attack. The most common solution was to run a lower attack and take advantage of it to use Hidden Power Bug.
* MightyGlacier: Marowak's not too fast, but with a Thick Club, it can hit like a Mack truck.
** StoneWall: ''Without'' a Thick Club, Marowak's attacks aren't especially strong, and are surpassed by its (still only middle-of-the-road) defensive stats.
** GlassCannon: In competitive play, its very-low-for-a-defensive-Pokémon defense stats will not stop any Pokémon that is meant to attack from scoring a [[OneHitKill one-hit KO]] on Marowak.
* {{Revenge}} : Their reason for evolving.
* SignatureMove: Bone Club and Bonemerang. Also Bone Rush in Gen II, but no longer is exclusive to the family.
* SkeletonsInTheCoatCloset: Cubone wears the skull of its dead mother.
* StockFemurBone
* TookALevelInBadass: With the introduction of the Thick Club item, which doubles both Cubone and Marowak's Attack if held, putting them at having ''the'' highest Attack stat possible in the game, only trumped by Power Trick Shuckle (which isn't a reliable tactic anyway).
** also [[In-universe]], when you evolve Cubone into Marowak, it is said to become confident from what is initially a shy Pokémon.
* [[YouKilledMyFather You Killed My Mother]]

!!Tyrogue, Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, and Hitmontop (Balkie, Sawamular, Ebiwalar, and Kapoerer)
[[quoteright:216:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/106-107-236-237_691.png]]
[-''Tyrogue and Hitmontop debut in Gen II''-]

In Gen I, when you defeated the Karate King in the Fighting Dojo, you were given a choice between two fighting Pokémon: Hitmonlee, who specializes in kicking attacks and Hitmonchan, who specializes in punching attacks. Both these Pokémon seemed to be related but didn't evolve into one another. That changed with Gen II when they introduced Tyrogue, a fighting type that [[MasterOfNone didn't seem to specialize in anything]] -- yet. It needed to be trained in a certain stat to evolve into Hitmonlee (higher attack), Hitmonchan (higher defense) or the new third member, Hitmontop, who specializes in spinning on its head (its attack and defense are even).

* BareFistedMonk: Hitmonchan is supposed to be the punching specialist, but moves like Mach Punch can be passed down to the other two via Tyrogue.
* DanceBattler: Hitmontop is based on Capoeira.
* ElementalPunch: Hitmonchan can learn all of the ElementalPunch attacks in the games...
** CoolButInefficient: ...but until ''Diamond and Pearl'', they were tied to the wrong attack stat for Hitmonchan to use them well.
** Hitmonlee can also learn Blaze Kick.
* EverythingsBetterWithSpinning[=/=]SpinToDeflectStuff: Hitmontop.
** Though thanks to breeding, all of them are capable of learning Rapid Spin.
* ExtremityExtremist: Hitmonchan mainly attacks with punches, Hitmonlee mainly attacks with kicks.
* HurricaneKick: Hitmonlee and Hitmontop both learn their own spinning kicks, though the former is more of a roundhouse.
* KickChick: GenderInverted.
* NoMouth: Hitmonlee
* OneGenderRace: Always male.
* RedBoxingGloves: Hitmonchan
* RubberMan: some adaptations indicate that Hitmonlee's legs can be this.
* {{Sarashi}}: Tyrogue
* ShoutOutThemeNaming: in both original and English, in fact. But, respectively...
** OddNameOut: Hitmonlee is [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tadashi_Sawamura Tadashi Sawamura]]/BruceLee, Hitmonchan is [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroyuki_Ebihara Hiroyuki Ebihara]]/JackieChan, and Hitmontop is...capoeira/a top.
* SignatureMove: Hitmonlee is the only Pokémon able to learn Mega Kick via level up, and was the only Pokémon able to learn Rolling Kick, Jump Kick and Hi Jump Kick in Gen I. Hitmonchan remains associated with Mega Punch (one of 3 Pokémon to learn it via level up), the elemental punches (only Pokémon able to learn all 3 in Gen I, and one out of 2 to learn each one) and Mach Punch (only one to be able to learn it in Gen II). Hitmontop gets Triple Kick.
** Mega Kick, Mega Punch, and the Elemental Punches, however, were [=TMs=] or tutor moves, with a large number of Pokémon able to learn them.
* StealthPun: Tyrogue evolves into Hitmontop when it has a balance of attack and defence. [[DontExplainTheJoke Hitmontop balances on its head]].


!!Lickitung and Lickilicky (Beroringa and Berobelt)
[[quoteright:156:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/108-463_6008.png]]
[-''Lickilicky debuts in Gen IV''-]

Lickitung is a weird lizard-like Pokémon known for having a very long and sticky tongue, reminiscent of a chameleon or a skink. It had a pretty wide movepool, but it wasn't spectacular. It was never common (it was only available via an in-game trade back in Gen I) and it was largely ignored. However, in Gen IV, it gained a new evolution that had the stats to utilize its impressive movepool. It can learn Explosion, made more powerful via STAB.

* ActionBomb: Lickilicky is often used for its absurdly strong Explosion. It can destroy ''anything'' that isn't a Rock, Steel, or Ghost type (and a few things that ''are'',) but it makes Lickilicky faint.
* BigEater
* NonElemental
* OverlyLongTongue
* {{Retcon}}: Lickitung became able to evolve into Lickilicky by leveling up while knowing Rollout, a move it could already learn in earlier generations.
* YouHaveResearchedBreathing: Lickitung could not learn Lick until Gen II

!!Koffing and Weezing (Dogars and Matadogas)
[[quoteright:186:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/109-110_6760.png]]

Koffing and Weezing are strange Pokémon with origins that are hard to pinpoint. It might be the living manifestation of smog, or it might be a levitating SeaMine. Either way, it's a very good defensive wall, with only a single weakness (once abilities came about in Gen III) and a high defense. It may be odd, but it's also the offical mascot of at least three Pokémon fansites, Website/{{Smogon}} being one example.

* ActionBomb
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Though not exactly a "moron" unless you consider its role in the anime, you probably wouldn't guess at first that Weezing has a base stat total of 490, the same as Alakazam, Electabuzz and Kangaskhan, among other heavy hitters. It also has a larger movepool than you might expect too, including Shadow Ball, Flamethrower and Thunderbolt.
* DeadlyGas
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness[=/=]OffModel: In the Japanese ''Blue''/international ''Red'' and ''Blue'', Koffing's skull-and-crossbones marking is above its eyes. In every single other official depiction, it's below the mouth.
* [[WalkingWasteland Floating Wasteland]]
* MightyGlacier: Fair offensive stats and great Defense, but pitiful Speed and HP.
* MuckMonster: Like the Grimer family, they are animated waste, but not such a literal example.
* MultipleHeadCase: Weezing, although the two heads are conjoined. According to a few Pokédex profiles, there are occasionally ''three''-headed Weezings.
* PerpetualFrowner: Weezing.
** PerpetualSmiler: Koffing.
* [[PoisonousPerson Poisonous Pokémon]]
* SignatureMove: Most commonly associated with Smog, and the only Poison-types to learn it until Generation IV.

!!Rhyhorn, Rhydon, and Rhyperior (Sihorn, Sidon, and Dosidon)
[[quoteright:239:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/111-112-464_2333.png]]
[-''Rhyperior debuts in Gen IV''-]

Rhyhorn and Rhydon vaguely resemble rhinoceros or ceratopian dinosaurs. It's a great physical Pokémon, but its special stats and speed are rather lacking. Its nose horn may draw electrical attacks to it, but luckily, it's immune to the damage due to being a Ground-type (except for in the anime). Rhyperior is basically Rhydon on steroids; it's even chunkier then before, and it's now gained some armor in the form of orange rocks which reduce super-effective damage by a third.

* ArmCannon: Rhyperior.
* AscendedMeme: Rhydon having the Lightningrod ability
* ConfusionFu: While not as varied, due to its poor Special Attack stat, Rhyhorn and evolutions have an incredibly diverse movepool, and can use almost all of the elements in one form or another (Psychic can't be used at all).
* DishingOutDirt
* TheDitz: Rhyhorn is said to be so dumb that it has rocks for brains and [[DelayedReaction can charge into a brick wall and not feel any pain until the next day]].
* ForMassiveDamage: Grass and Water-type attacks. One of Rhyperior's abilities, Solid Rock, reduces damage from such attacks as well as several other weaknesses.
* MightyGlacier
* MythologyGag: Rhydon was the first Pokémon ever created, and appropriately its index number was 1 in Gen 1.
* NoSell: Electric Type moves.
* RhinoRampage: Will charge straight ahead (no matter what -- or who -- is in its path) and only stop when it either hits a wall or [[TheDitz forgets why it's charging in the first place]].
* SignatureMove: Rock Wrecker for Rhyperior, although no longer exclusive as of Gen V.
* ThisIsADrill: Rhydon and Rhyperior are the Drill Pokémon, and have drill nose horns.

!!Happiny, Chansey, and Blissey (Pinpuku, [[GratuitousEnglish Lucky]], and Happinas)
[[quoteright:172:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/113-242-440_9631.png]]
[-''Blissey debuts in Gen II, while Happiny debuts in Gen IV''-]

Chansey is a much sought-after Pokémon. Catching it is literally all up to chance, as it's normally only found in the Safari Zone; an area of the game where you don't battle the Pokémon (thus making them ''very'' hard to capture) and the Pokémon can run away from you at any time. Once caught, though, it can prove to be one of the best special walls in the game. With access to a number of healing moves and ''the'' highest HP stat (and a fantastic special defense) of any Pokémon, it can last for quite a while... unless it has to deal with a Pokémon with strong physical attacks, at which point it's screwed eight ways to Sunday. Unlike Chansey or Blissey, Happiny is too young to lay its own eggs, so instead it carries an egg-shaped rock in its pouch in imitation of its evolved forms.

* TheMedic: Chanseys are used as nursing assistants in Pokémon centers (except for Unova in the ''Black and White'' games, where Audino takes its place)
** In game as well, with a ton of support moves like Wish (heal whatever Pokémon is on your side next turn) and Aromatherapy (heals all conditions Pokémon have). One possible ability is "healer" which has a chance to heal any Pokémon on your side in double or triple battles.
* MetalSlime: Insanely rare, hard to catch, and prone to fleeing.
** Bonus points for also having a small chance of holding a very desirable item.
** Less rare in Sinnoh, but still ''not'' easy to find. Aside from that guy who gives you a free Happiny egg.
** They weren't as rare in Gen I either, as in addition to appearing in the Safari Zone, they could also appear in the Cerulean Cave at an abnormally common rate (5% or 10% chance, depending on what floor you're on and the game). This was fixed in Fire Red/Leaf Green, where the only place to get a Chansey in that game (and indeed that entire gen, [[VideoGame/PokemonColosseum XD]] aside) was the Safari Zone.
* NonElemental
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Happiny, full stop.
* OneGenderRace: Always female.
* SignatureMove: Softboiled, outside of Generation III and Mew in Generation I.
* StoneWall: On the special side; the physical side, not so much.
** MightyGlacier in Gen 1, due to the special stat not being split yet, meaning Chansey was as formidable an attacker as she was a wall.
* UnskilledButStrong: The evolutionary line has enough HP to make them broken (Blissey's HP can go the highest out of any stat of any Pokémon!) but their attack and defense is SEVERELY lacking.
* TookALevelInBadass: Thanks to the new Eviolite item, which boosts the Defense and Special Defense of Chansey only and not Blissey, Chansey replaces her evolution as one of the best special walls.

!!Tangela and Tangrowth (Monjara and Mojumbo)
[[quoteright:172:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/114-465_3331.png]]
[-''Tangrowth debuts in Gen IV''-]

Tangela was a pretty dull Pokémon back in Gen I; the only notable attribute was that it was a pure Grass type (all the others were dual-types, mostly Grass and Poison), but that wasn't anything to write home about. When Tangrowth was introduced in Gen IV, its usefulness jumped tendfold since it's a great physical wall, and capable of utilizing physical and special moves.

* GentleGiant: Despite being unintelligent, Tangrowth is noted to be very friendly.
* GreenThumb: Tangela is the only of the original 151 to be a pure Grass-type.
* HealingFactor
* [[TheWormThatWalks The Mass of Vines that Walks]]: No one knows what either Pokémon look like underneath all those vines.
* MightyGlacier: Decent Attack (both physical and special) and Defense, but has crippling Special Defense and Speed...
** LightningBruiser: ...but turns into this in sunny weather, thanks to one of its possible abilities.
* YouHaveResearchedBreathing: Tangela, despite being covered in vines and aptly called the "Vine Pokémon", could not learn Vine Whip unil Yellow.

!!Kangaskhan (Garura)
[[quoteright:103:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/115_3330.png]]

Another Safari Zone exclusive, Kangaskhan is supposed to be a kangaroo, but it also resembles a dinosaur. It's usually depicted with a baby in its pouch. [[MamaBear Don't try and mess with the baby; if you do, it will kill you]].

* ActionMom
** MamaBear: See above warning about messing with its baby.
* BoxingKangaroo
* DiscOneNuke: In HG/SS, Kangaskhan was a common Pokémon in early Pokewalker routes, came with Dizzy Punch, and has stats high enough to last you throughout the game.
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Having one based off of GenghisKhan is pretty much a given.
* NonElemental
* OneGenderRace: Always female.
* SignatureMove: Dizzy Punch, until ''Crystal''.

!!Horsea (Tattu), Seadra, and Kingdra
[[quoteright:192:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/116-117-230_6527.png]]
[-''Kingdra debuts in Gen II''-]

Based on seahorses, Horsea and Seadra were typical water types, although that isn't saying much since there are a lot of water types to choose from. Then Gen II came around and it gained an evolution in the form of Kingdra, and a new typing which leaves it with a big number of resistances. Dragon-type is the only type that can be super-effective, but this is risky since Kingdra is likely to pack Dragon-type moves itself.

* JackOfAllStats: Kingdra's stats are well balanced and somewhat above average, and is the first Dragon-type to withstand their [[KillItWithIce dreaded weakness]]; the only other mons that possess this kind of resistance are Legendaries. In fact, its ''only'' weakness is [[HoistByHisOwnPetard Dragon]].
** LightningBruiser: Face one with Swift Swim in the rain and you are plain boned. It gets worse in Generation 5, thanks to permanent rain being obtainable in OU. The fact that Water+Dragon is awesome STAB (resisted only by Shedinja, Empoleon, and Ferrothorn) helps.
* MakingASplash
* OurDragonsAreDifferent: Kingdra. Who, like the rest of its family, is a seahorse. And said rest of the family is identified as the Dragon Pokémon in the Pokédex.
** Makes sense, because Kingdra is based off the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllopteryx Weedy Sea]] '''Dragon'''.
* PerpetualFrowner: Seadra.
* SeahorseSteed: technically, since they can be taught Surf.
* TechnicolorEyes: Horsea and Kingdra.

!!Goldeen and Seaking (Tosakinto and Azumao)
[[quoteright:159:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/118-119_3831.png]]
These Pokémon are goldfish with horns on their heads, what else can be said about them, besides the fact that they naturally learn an HM move?

* MakingASplash
* OvershadowedByAwesome: There are much better Water types around; in particular, the also-readily-available Gyarados outdoes them throughly.
* SignatureMove: Waterfall, in the first Generation.
** Even to this day, Goldeen and Seaking are the only two Pokémon that can learn it by leveling up, putting them among the very, very few Pokémon that can learn [=HMs=] by such method, alongside Salamence and Rayquaza (Fly), and the 5 families that can learn Dive, and the few Pokémon that could learn Whirlpool when it was still an HM (although the first Pokémon who could learn it were in Generation III where it was no longer an HM, it regained its HM status during [[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver HeartGold and SoulSilver]], before losing it again in Gen V).
* TookALevelInBadass: Got the improved Lightning Rod in the fifth gen, transforming one of its weaknesses into an immunity.

!!Staryu (Hitodeman) and Starmie
[[quoteright:149:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/120-121_6420.png]]

Staryu and Starmie are very unusual Pokémon. Unlike real starfish, which move by creeping along the bottom, Staryu and Starmie are best known for speeding around at high speeds like shuriken. They also have amazing healing powers, but don't have much in the way of a face, which is just a glowing red gem and the source of their power. Starmie is part psychic as well, and learns a variety of special-based attacks: Surf, Psychic, Thunderbolt, Ice Beam, and you're good to go.

* {{Badass}}: Starmie is one of the two Pokémon, along with Gengar, to have the distinction if being a high-tier Pokémon for all five generations.
* CoolButInefficient: Starmie is ''way'' too fast to be able to make good use of Analytic, its Dream World ability (which boosts the power of moves if the user goes last.)
* ConfusionFu: Just TRY guessing what its movepool is.
* EverythingsBetterWithSpinning: Starmie has another star attached to its back that is constantly spinning, which it uses to propel itself along. They also learn moves such as Rapid Spin.
* TheFaceless
* HealingFactor: Can regenerate any part of its body as long as the core is intact, learns the move Recover, and can have the Natural Cure ability.
* JackOfAllStats: While its base stats easily favor various LightningBruiser special-based builds, its absurdly broad movepool allow it to do nearly anything - even both agility-based (Minimize/Recover) and defense-based (Cosmic Power/Recover) StoneWall builds. Its only real flaw is its comparatively low hit points, and the various HealingFactor moves handle that.
* LightningBruiser
* MakingASplash
** It also commonly uses [[KillItWithIce Ice Beam]] and, somehow, [[ShockAndAwe Thunderbolt]], in addition to the usual Water and Psychic moves.
* NoBiologicalSex: One of the only examples of a fully biological, non-legendary Pokémon to be this.
* PowerCrystal
* PsychicPowers: Starmie.
* SignatureMove: Camouflage (Generation III only).
* StarfishAliens: Literally.
* SupernaturalIsPurple: Starmie.

!!Mime Jr. and Mr. Mime (Manene and Barrierd)
[[quoteright:149:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/122-439_7396.png]]
[-''Mime Jr. debuts in Gen IV''-]

Mr. Mime is a clown Pokémon with a talent for mimicking and miming, It is especially talented at creating transparent walls, which is very useful for repeling attacks. The English name Mr. Mime may imply that it's supposed to be male, but they can be either male or female. In the Gen I games, there was an NPC who was willing to trade their Mr. Mime for an Abra, and it was the only way to get it. In later generations it became more common, and it even received a baby with the name Mime Jr., going with the theme of having a title in their name. Just like its evolved form, it's good at mimicking people and Pokémon.

* DittoFighter: to a certain extent, as Mime Jr. can learn Mimic (the requisite for its evolution into Mr. Mime), as expected from the ''Mime'' Pokémon.
* EnemyMime
* GlassCannon[=/=]FragileSpeedster: high Special and Speed stats to make up for low HP and mediocre physical defense. Its signature Filter ability slightly decreases its vulnerability, but not by much.
* MonsterClown: When it's attacking you.
* [[ShesAManInJapan It Can Be Either Gender In Japan]]: The English localization turned Barrierd, a gender-neutral name, into Mr. Mime, implying a OneGenderRace, back when there wasn't gender data.
* PerpetualSmiler: Mime Jr.
* PsychicPowers
* SignatureMove: [[BarrierWarrior Barrier]]

!!Scyther and Scizor ([[GratuitousEnglish Strike]] and Hassam)
[[quoteright:160:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/123-212_5067.png]]
[-''Scizor debuts in Gen II''-]

Savage mantis bug-types, Scyther and Scizor have a lot of fans, and for good reason. Scyther is a green person-sized Pokémon with a raptor-like head and scythes for arms. It's a pretty cool Pokémon, but it suffers a bit for being a Bug/Flying type. It later gained an evolved form in Scizor. It loses its dinosaur-like characteristics and its blinding speed, but it more then makes up for it in terms of attack, defenses, resistances, and moves.

* {{Badass}}: In both forms!
* BigCreepyCrawlies: Person-sized ninja mantis-dinosaurs.
* BlowYouAway: Scyther
* DivergentCharacterEvolution: With Pinsir. They started as direct counterparts as version exclusive Bug Pokémon that didn't suck, but then Scyther got an evolution, and Pinsir became part of a JapaneseBeetleBrothers duo with Heracross. Still quite close, however.
** Also applies inside the same species: Scyther is a GlassCannon, while Scizor is a MightyGlacier, and the former is a quite usable Pokémon even though it's unevolved (in fact, the stat total '''DOESN'T CHANGE''' upon evolution), so 2 identical Scythers will end up playing quite differently if one is evolved and the other is not.
* ExtraOreDinary: Scizor
* ForMassiveDamage: Rock-type attacks to Scyther. Fire-type attacks to Scizor.
** Scizor's Fire weakness arguably qualifies as AchillesHeel, as that's the ''only'' type that does better than neutral damage to it.
* {{Flight}}: Scyther (although it can't learn Fly). Scizor's ability to do so is subject of FlipFlopOfGod.
* GlassCannon: Scyther. Unless playing against other unevolved Pokémon.
* {{Irony}}: The anime Pokedex entry in episode 42 states that Scyther and Electabuzz are enraged by the color red. Guess what color a Scyther becomes when it evolves into '''[[color:red:Scizor?]]''' Shinies, naturally, are excluded.
* LightningBruiser: Scizor using Bullet Punch will feel like this. Scyther is this in Little Cup, as it is by far the strongest unevolved Pokémon.
** Not just Bullet Punch. It can also use Agility too to boost its speed.
* MightyGlacier: Scizor.
* {{Ninja}}: Scyther has a ninja-esque motif.
* NinjaPirateZombieRobot: Both of them are person-sized ninja mantis-dinosaurs (and one's made of metal).
* {{Samurai}}: Scizor fittingly has some samurai-ish traits.
* {{Sinister Scythe}}s [[BladeBelowTheShoulder As Hands]]: Moreso Scyther, though Scizor can count as well with its scissorhand pincers.
* TookALevelInBadass: While these guys are plenty awesome on their own, they weren't exactly notable in the competitive scene. Along came ''Platinum'', bringing Bullet Punch to their arsenal...

!!Smoochum and Jynx (Muchul and Rougela)
[[quoteright:137:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/124-238_2067.png]]
[-''Smoochum debuts in Gen II''-]

Lots of things can be said about Jynx. It's an Ice/Psychic Pokémon with poor attack and defense, but wonderful special stats and speed. It's got a lot in common with other human-shaped Pokémon. It's been compared to Mr. Mime (Both were only available in in-game trades and both are Psychic-types that look similar and have similar stat totals) and Magmar and Electabuzz (They form a [[FireIceLightning Fire, Ice, and Lighting trio]], and they all received babies in Gen II). Their kisses can confuse or put its target to sleep. Jynx became the subject of controversy for allegedly promoting racist UnfortunateImplications against black people, so its black "skin" was changed to purple skin.

* AnIcePerson
* DistaffCounterpart: To Mr. Mime (despite its sexual ratio), AND to Magmar and Electabuzz (despite them also being able to be females).
* InnocentFanserviceGirl: Smoochum will kiss anything that grabs her interest.
* OneGenderRace: Always female.
* PsychicPowers
* {{Retcon}}: Jynx's skin was changed from black to purple due to UnfortunateImplications, this is possibly why Smoochum was introduced.
* SignatureMove: Lovely Kiss for Jynx.
* SupernaturalIsPurple: After Jynx's skin was turned to purple.
* TookALevelInBadass: It is commonly agreed that giving Jynx the ability Dry Skin heavily increased her usefulness in the metagame, both by taking advantage of the now much more common rain, and by allowing Jynx to not only shrug off [[GameBreaker Kyogre's]] [[KillItWithWater best attack]], Jynx actually ''heals itself'' when hit with it.
* {{Youkai}}: Jynx is ''probably'' based on a combination of the Yama-Uba, A mountain crone/witch with dark skin and white hair (explaining it's unusual typing of psychic/ice), and [[SubculturesInJapan Yamanba]], a subculture named for it's resemblance to said crone. Of course, since this was a distinctly Japanese cultural reference, it [[BlackFace didn't]] [[UnfortunateImplications translate]] [[EverythingIsRacist very well]].

!!Elekid, Electabuzz (Eleboo), and Electivire (Elekible)
[[quoteright:194:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/125-239-466_8227.png]]
[-''Elekid debuts in Gen II, while Electivire debuts in Gen IV''-]

The Electabuzz family are yellow and black-striped Pokémon that have great control over electricity. If they have a basis though, they appear to be based on Oni of Japanese legend. Their best moves involve pummeling their opponents with electrified fists. They seem to be direct counterparts to the Magmar family.

* AstonishinglyAppropriateAppearance: Elekid having a plug-like head, Electivire having a socket on its back and live-wire twin tails.
* EverythingsBetterWithSpinning: Elekid spin their arms around to charge up electricity.
* GlassCannon: Electabuzz has high Speed and offensive stats, but low defenses and HP.
** MightyGlacier: Electivire has even better Attack and higher Defense and HP, but much lower Speed...
** LightningBruiser: Unless it has the Motor Drive ability which boosts its Speed when hit with an Electric attack.
*** Electivire can still count as a LightningBruiser - for such a bulky-looking Pokémon, it's surprisingly fast.
* {{Irony}}: See Scyther and Scizor's entry. Also, in the original Red and Blue (and the remakes), guess which game they were exclusive to.
* OvershadowedByAwesome : It has good stats, and nice movepool that covers a lot of type that you can hit many Pokémon super effectively and a pretty nice ability. Sadly, its lacking speed to sweep effectively, and its ability is still a gamble, and it has no moves that is strong enough to deal high damage, so much that even its Super Effective coverage cant help.
* PsychoElectro: Natures aside, this family is said to have less-than-friendly dispositions.
* ShockAndAwe
* TailSlap: Electivire is said to use its twin tails in combat.

!!Magby, Magmar, and Magmortar ([[HehHehYouSaidX Booby, Boober, and Booburn]])
[[quoteright:214:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/126-240-467_5024.png]]
[-''Magby debuts in Gen II, while Magmortar debuts in IV''-]

Despite being in the humanshape egg group, Magmar and its kin don't seem to look human-like at all, seemingly having more in common with duck-billed dinosaurs. They're nominally based on a bird(the booby) but are more like anthromorphic personifications of fire itself. They've usually appeared alongside the Electabuzz family.

* ArmCannon: Magmortar has two and retracts its claws before using them in some materials.
* IncendiaryExponent
* GlassCannon: Magmar has all around decent Attack, Spec. Attack and Speed, and while Magmortar's got better offenses and worse speed, Physical Attacks will ruin it.
* MagmaMan
* [[SeanConneryIsAboutToShootYou Magmortar Is About To Shoot You]]: in the [=DP=] sprites.
* PlayingWithFire

!!Pinsir (Kailios)
[[quoteright:103:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/127_9210.png]]

A stag beetle with two oversized horns, which act much like pincers. It likes to crush things with them, and anything it can't crush, it tosses far away. This Pokémon is ''evil''. It's the version counterpart to Scyther.

* BigCreepyCrawlies
* DivergentCharacterEvolution: See Scyther.
* JapaneseBeetleBrothers: A Kuwagatamushi, Heracross being the Kabutomushi.
* MightyGlacier
* OvershadowedByAwesome: Heracross is pretty much Pinsir doing 50% more damage. Still, Pinsir is one of the best Bugs out there. Even after [[TookALevelInBadass getting a level in badass]] thanks to getting Moxie from the Dream World, it doesn't make a difference, because Heracross also got it.
** Even in Gen I, Pinsir was largely ignored in favor of Scyther. Poor guy has never been able to catch a break.
* WrestlerInAllOfUs: Not a Fighting type, but learns more Fighting moves than Bug ones.

!!Tauros (Kentauros)
[[quoteright:103:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/128_9688.png]]

A Safari Zone exclusive in ''Red'', ''Green'', ''Blue'', and ''Yellow''. Due to how rare it is in the Safari Zone, he is usually the very last guy you needed to complete your Pokédex (unless Chansey was really living up to its name). It has a very good attack stat, but what's most surprising is its speed. This made it a top-tier Pokémon back in the color generation.

* ALoadOfBull
* OneGenderRace: Always male.
* OvershadowedByAwesome: Deadly in competitive battling in Generation 1. Then came Steel pokémon, Fighting type boost, and now Tauros has nothing to do in competitive battling.
* LightningBruiser: Fast, strong, has good defenses, only the Special Attack is lacking, and that is only ''after'' the special split. This guy, and not the overpowered Psychics, was the most used Pokémon in the ''Red/Blue'' metagame.
* NonElemental
* RatedMForManly
* SpearCounterpart: To Miltank.
* UnstoppableRage: Tauros is one of the few Pokémon with the ability Anger Point. When it gets hit by a CriticalHit and survives, its attack gets ''quadrupled''.

!!Magikarp (Koiking) and Gyarados
[[quoteright:178:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/129-130_4381.png]]

Magikarp is infamous for being completely useless, so many don't bother to use it. Many others ''do'' bother, though, because it evolves into Gyarados, one of the best Pokémon in existence. With an awesome Attack stat, Intimidate, powerful physical STAB, respectable speed, good Special Defense, and a solid movepool, Gyarados is perfectly capable of wrecking ''anything'' in its way.

* AlwaysChaoticEvil: Gyarados is pretty much pissed as soon as it evolves. When it's pissed, it destroys everything around it. It only stops being pissed when it's already destroyed everything around it. Go figure.
* {{Badass}}: Gyarados. [[CaptainObvious Averted with Magikarp]].
* BlowYouAway: Gyarados, InNameOnly: The only Flying move it can learn is Bounce (also Flying InNameOnly), and only thanks to Magikarp learning it through the Dream World.
* ButtMonkey: Most Pokémon get very flattering dex entries, such as [[http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/7/73437/1431218-rr4he1_super.jpg Pidgeot flying at Mach 2 and Magcargo's given body temperature being hotter than the surface of the sun]]. Meanwhile, here are some excerpts of [[http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Magikarp#Pok.C3.A9dex_entries_2 Magikarp's dex entries]]:
-->Yellow Version: "Famous for being very unreliable [...]"
-->Gold Version: "An underpowered, pathetic Pokémon [...]"
-->Ruby Version: "Magikarp is a pathetic excuse for a Pokémon that is only capable of flopping and splashing. This behavior prompted scientists to undertake research into it."
-->[=FireRed=] Version: "[...] It is the most weak and pathetic Pokémon in the world."
-->Diamond Version: "[...] No one knows why it has managed to survive."
** Incidentally, Magikarp isn't the weakest Pokémon in terms of base stat totals or movepools, nor does it even place in the bottom five.
* ComMons: Fish in a body of water, and you'll find a Magikarp. (excepting Gen V, where it's Basculin) Became {{egregious}} when in [=DPPt=], any body of water that yielded Magikarp could also yield Gyarados if using a better rod. Including ponds smaller than it.
* ForMassiveDamage: The only thing that stops Gyarados from being banned is its ''crippling'' weakness to electric attacks.
* {{Flight}}: Averted. Although part Flying-type, Gyarados inconsistently is able to do so.
** In ''[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver]]'', if you walk with a Gyarados on the cliff route before the Safari Zone, it will [[CrowningMomentofFunny "fly through the air with grace!"]] as do all Flying types.
* {{Foil}}: They gained one in the shape of the Feebas line.
* HairTriggerTemper / UnstoppableRage: Gyarados is easily enraged. When it gets enraged, it'll destroy entire cities and villages for a '''month''', leaving nothing alive. Considering its OmnicidalManiac status in the Pokédex entries.
* JokeCharacter: Magikarp, of course, was intended to be as weak as possible before getting some MagikarpPower.
** LethalJokeCharacter: Though there's no reason to do so except to humiliate your opponent, with the proper set-up Magikarp can sweep a team of legendaries on its own.
* {{Kaiju}}: Gyarados.
* LegendaryCarp: DoubleSubverted, Magikarp is [[JokeCharacter by no means legendary]], but when it evolves into Gyarados...
* LightningBruiser: The only bad thing about Gyarados is its special attack, which hasn't been needed as of Generation IV.
* MagikarpPower: TropeNamer, and played as straight as possible, leading to...
** DiscOneNuke: Gyarados is one of the most used Pokémon in competitive play, and has seen far better times. It can be captured early in-game, and wreck anything that isn't electric. (And it wrecks anything that ''is'' electric, save for Zapdos, Rotom, Emolga, the Eelektross line, and Thundurus, if you teach it Earthquake. [[OhCrap And those are covered if it has Ice Fang or Stone Edge.]] Hell, its phenomenal Attack may allow it to just wreck the Electric-types anyways if it gets to act before them, since most of them are {{Glass Cannon}}s.)
*** Also, keep this in mind: Magikarp evolves into Gyarados 12 levels earlier than the earliest-evolving starter in Red/Blue. It has a stat total of 540, higher than ANY of that generation's starters-not to mention any starter in general.
* MakingASplash
* OmnicidalManiac: Gyarados, once it is enraged from its HairTriggerTemper, will destroy ''everything'' in sight. Cities have been destroyed from a Gyarados' rage.
* OurDragonsAreDifferent: Although not a Dragon-type per se, Gyarados is a sea serpent with aspects of a Chinese dragon, learns several Dragon-type moves by level-up and is in the Dragon egg group. Like Charizard and Thundurus Therian Forme, it's essentially a non-Dragon-type dragon.
** It was apparently planned to be half-Dragon-Type, but the idea was scrapped because that would've given it no weaknesses due to the only Dragon-Type attack in R/B/Y being a FixedDamageAttack.
** FireIceLightning: Forms a trio of sorts with the other two dragon-based Pokémon in the Dex that have Flying rather than Dragon as a secondary type, with Charizard (Fire) and Thundurus Therian Forme (Lightning).
* RedEyesTakeWarning: Gyarados.
* ShoutOut: Magikarp and Gyarados are a reference to a Chinese legend of a carp that leapt over "The Dragon's Gate" and became a dragon. The legend is an allegory of the hard work needed to overcome a difficult task (such as getting a Magikarp up to level 20 when it doesn't learn an actual attack until level 15).
* SignatureMove: Splash is strongly associated with Magikarp, who was the only Pokémon able to learn it in Gen I.
* TookALevelInBadass: Not that Gyarados ''needed'' one, but it gets Moxie as an ability from the Dream World. Cue its enemies [[OhCrap soiling themselves]].
** He got a level in badass before then, with the physical/special split in Gen IV. Physical Waterfall and Aqua Tail gave him two good STAB moves. The addition of Stone Edge, physical Outrage, and Dragon Dance truly made him a beast.
*** And of course the obvious example of Magikarp turning INTO Gyarados in the first place.

!!Lapras (Laplace)
[[quoteright:116:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/131_280.png]]

A gentle plesiosaur that ferries people and other Pokémon on its back, it is sadly endangered due to overhunting. In fact, only one was available in the original games, given to you by a grateful worker in Silph Co.; later games have seen it become a ''little'' more common. One is available every Friday in ''Gold'', ''Silver'' and ''Crystal'' and their remakes.

* [[AnIcePerson An Ice Pokémon]]: And has a warm personality, as well.
* EndangeredSpecies
* MakingASplash
* OneHitKill: Can learn 3 out of the four attacks.
* SignatureMove: Perish Song, which will force just about any Pokémon to faint in three turns (save a few with Soundproof)...
** HoistByHisOwnPetard: ...but do the same to Lapras should it stay in battle. Switch out for your own good.
* StockNessMonster: [[WhatCouldHaveBeen Lapras's original English dub name was even going to be "Ness"]].
* UniqueEnemy: Well, only one every week in ''Gold/Silver'' and their remakes, but still counts.
** MetalSlime: In the games it appears as a standard Pokémon, and it has less than a 5% chance of appearing.

!!Ditto (Metamon)
[[quoteright:116:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/132_338.png]]

Ditto is a pink-purple blob creature with not much of a shape or form to speak of... what can it do? "What can't it do?" is the question that should be asked. It has the ability to transform into any other Pokémon and use all of their moves just as effectively as the real thing. It's also amazing at bypassing all the complications of breeding. With a Ditto's help, nearly anything can be bred to produce another of that Pokémon. The only things it can't breed with are almost all legendaries, baby Pokémon... and itself (since Gen III)... [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg and Nidorina and Nidoqueen, for strange reasons]].

* AnythingThatMoves: It breeds with male, female, and even genderless Pokémon to make eggs.
* BlobMonster
* DittoFighter: TropeNamer.
* NoBiologicalSex
* NonElemental: In its base form. It takes on the elemental attributes of whatever it transforms into.
* ScrewYourself / OppositeSexClone: Likely invokes this during breeding.
* SignatureMove: Transform, as it is the only move it learns, and the whole concept behind it. Mew (And Smeargle with Sketch) also learns it, however.
* TeamMom and/or TeamDad: Is quite likely to be one or even both of these literally.
* TookALevelInBadass: It gets the ability Imposter from the Dream World, which makes it automatically transform into its opponent, without wasting a turn. It went from battle gimmick and egg maker to the ultimate check to any sweeper.
** Not to mention it copies ''every one of their stats except HitPoints''. Yes, that includes stat boosts.
* UnstableGeneticCode
* VoluntaryShapeshifter

!!Eevee, Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, Espeon, Umbreon, Leafeon, and Glaceon (Eievui, Showers, Thunders, Booster, Eifie, Blacky, Leafia, and Glacia)
[[quoteright:244:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/133-134-135-136-196-197-470-471_4697.png]]
[-''Espeon and Umbreon debut in Gen II, while Leafeon and Glaceon debut in Gen IV''-]

Eevee is unique in the Pokémon world as the only Pokémon with ''seven'' possible evolutions, though it started with three. Eevee and all of its evolutions are designed with a very cute, basic sort of appeal and remain fan-favorites.

* AscendedFanon: The fan nickname "Eeveelution", used in ''VideoGame/PokemonRanger''.
* CompetitiveBalance
** FragileSpeedster: Jolteon
** GlassCannon: Espeon
** LightningBruiser: Leafeon
** MightyGlacier: Vaporeon, Flareon, and Glaceon.
** StoneWall: Umbreon
* ElementalPowers: They each have one type, all different ones.
** [[AnIcePerson An Ice Pokémon]]: Glaceon
** CastingAShadow: Umbreon
** GreenThumb: Leafeon
** MakingASplash: Vaporeon
** PlayingWithFire: Flareon
** PsychicPowers: Espeon
** ShockAndAwe: Jolteon
* FeedItWithFire[=/=]ElementalAbsorption: Flareon's ability makes it immune to Fire attacks and powers its own while Jolteon and Vaporeon get healed from Electric and Water attacks respectively.
* {{Invisibility}}: Vaporeon is able to camouflage in water.
* IKnewIt: Leafeon was always joked about ever since Generation I, because of how Eevee evolved (Fire Stone, Thunder Stone, or Water Stone), and the Leaf Stone being the only Stone you could purchase more of that wasn't used to evolve Eevee. Generation II just added more fuel, as Espeon and Umbreon could fit with the Sun and Moon Stones. Come Generation IV, and we get an actual Leafeon.
* LuckySeven
** PowerTrio: In Generation I.
** FiveManBand: In Pokémon XD, and in Pokémon Rumble (although only on the tickets).
* MoonRabbit: Umbreon is based on the legend about it.
* NonElemental: Eevee itself is not only a Normal type, but has one of the least diverse movepools of said type.
* OvershadowedByAwesome: All 7 Eeveelutions suffer from some of this, due to their awkward movepools and stat distribution. Vaporeon suffers the least from that, while [[TierInducedScrappy Flareon's lack of a decent physical movepool]] has become a RunningGag for the fandom.
** In Generation V, Espeon also avoids this thanks to its Dream World ability, Magic Bounce, which automatically reflects non-damaging attacks back at their users, and is only shared by Xatu.
** Jolteon too to an extent. It's been OU in every generation except the first (although in Gen V this was mostly due to Thundurus' banning).
* PoorPredictableRock: An underlying problem for all of these Pokémon, who are all hindered by having utterly pathetic movepools. Even the newly improved Espeon is used more for support than anything else.
* SignatureMove: [[ThePowerOfTheSun Morning Sun]] for Espeon and [[{{Lunacy}} Moonlight]] for Umbreon (both attacks are [[HealingFactor HP restoring moves]]), but no longer exclusive as of Gen III.
** Also, Pin Missile for Jolteon in Gen I, mostly due to it being in competitive movesets to counteract [[GameBreaker Psychic types]].
* ThemeNaming: All the evolution names end in -eon. In fact, Eevee's original English name was even going to be Eon.
* ThirdOptionAdaptation: More Third Option Spinoff. Starting in ''Yellow'', where the rival couldn't have one of the normal starters due to the player not having one and therefore got Eevee instead, the family has a tendency to be used as a replacement starter. Examples include ''Colosseum'', ''XD'', and ''VideoGame/PokemonConquest'', and Eevee's also a possibly starter for the ''Mystery Dungeon'' games.
* TookALevelInBadass: Espeon as of Generation V (due to its Dream World ability). How does it feel to be the [[OvershadowedByAwesome overshadowed]] one now, Alakazam?
** They wouldn't know. Considering they're still slightly faster than Espeon, slightly more powerful, [[TookALevelInBadass now have a similar Hidden Ability of "Magic Guard"]](which also allows them to carry a Life Orb with impunity), and have an ''infinitely'' better attacking movepool, Alakazam still completely outdoes Espeon in terms of special sweeping.
* TronLines: Umbreon. It's especially evident in the Pokémon Stadium series.
* UnstableGeneticCode
* {{Youkai}}: Espeon is based on a nekomata.

!!Porygon, Porygon2, and Porygon-Z
[[quoteright:166:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/137-233-474_9400.png]]
[-''Porygon2 debuts in Gen II, while Porygon-Z debuts in Gen IV''-]

Porygon is an artificial Pokémon created by [[MegaCorp SilphCo]]. As such, it can be upgraded to its Porygon2 model, which was created for space exploration, but became able to learn. Porygon2 itself can further be "upgraded" to Porygon-Z, a model created for interdimensional travel, though a glitch in its program allowed it to gain emotions. Unfortunately, [[FlawedPrototype neither upgrade succeeded in their intended purposes]]. This line is especially notable for being banned from the anime due to the Porygon-centric episode ''Dennō Senshi Porygon'' in which flashing lights from an explosion [[MisBlamed (caused by Pikachu, not Porygon)]] caused viewers (most of which were children) to have seizures. As a result, the episode is [[BannedInChina banned in a lot of countries]] (including its home country of Japan) and Porygon and its line are rarely mentioned in the anime series (except in the Pokerap at the end of season one's episodes).

* [[ArtificialHuman Artificial Pokémon]]
* CopyProtection: In-universe example, it is stated in the ''Emerald'' Dex to be why it can't be duplicated. [[GameplayAndStorySegregation Not that it manages to stop anything using]] [[DittoFighter Transform]] [[GameplayAndStorySegregation from copying it, Not to mention that the only way to breed one is with a Ditto and not with its own species]].
** Ironic, in that ''Emerald'' is the game where Pokémon Cloning is more easily done. That includes the Porygons.
* GameMod: In-universe. Porygon2 is stated to be an upgrade by the developer, but Porygon-Z is clearly an unauthorized hack that increases power but causes huge graphical glitches.
* GlassCannon: Porygon-Z, whose defenses are lower than Porygon2's while being more powerful.
* FireIceLightning: All three are of the few Pokémon that learn Tri Attack.
* JackOfAllStats: Porygon2
* NoBiologicalSex
* NonElemental
* RaymanianLimbs: Porygon-Z's ''head''.
* {{Retcon}}: It was the first manmade Pokémon created on purpose until Generation V added Golett and Golurk (two man-made robot-like golems possessed by ghosts and created to protect ancient villages from outside danger).
* [[RidiculouslyHumanRobot Ridiculously Pokémon-like Computer Program]]
* TheScapegoat: Poor Porygon wasn't even the one who caused the seizures on that infamous Pokémon episode; it was Pikachu's lightning blowing up rockets.
** Because of this, the entire Porygon family suffers from RetGone in the anime to this day.
* SignatureMove: Conversion, Conversion 2, and, until Generation V, Sharpen. Porygon-Z is also the only Pokémon able to naturally learn Trick Room.
* TookALevelInBadass: Porygon2 is the strongest Pokémon able to evolve (and unlike its closest competitor Scyther, its stat total increases upon doing so). With the Eviolite introduced in Gen V, it turns Porygon2 into one of the bulkiest Pokémon in the game with a decent Special Attack. While Porygon-Z is a GlassCannon, Porygon2 turns into a MightyGlacier.
* UselessUsefulSpell: Conversion and Conversion2 allows it to change its own typing, allowing it to get STAB or gain resistance against anything, but usually takes too much effort to set up to be useful.
* VirtualGhost
* WaveMotionGun: Due to being given evolutions within different generations, ''all of them'' can learn Hyper Beam, but Porygon-Z is one of the few Pokémon in the entire franchise for which [[AwesomeButImpractical Hyper Beam]] is considered a valid move choice. With the right setup, it can potentially ''[[ImpossibleTaskInstantlyAccomplished OHKO Blissey]]''.


!!Omanyte and Omastar ([[SpellMyNameWithAnS Omnite and Omstar]])
[[quoteright:136:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/138-139_2766.png]]

A previously extinct Pokémon and its evolution. They have seen a revival in the modern day thanks to fossil restoring technology. Since the fossil that allows Omanytes restoration is exclusive from the one which allows the restoration of Kabuto and their overall similarities they are often considered Foils to each other.

* {{Badass}}: Despite its unfortunate typing, it still has the highest Special Attack of all non-legendary Water Pokémon, and the highest Special Attack of ''all'' Rock-types.
* CombatBreakdown: Literally, it can have Weak Armor as its ability.
* DishingOutDirt
* EverythingsSquishierWithCephalopods
* FossilRevival
* MakingASplash
* ForMassiveDamage: By grass-type attacks.
* PrehistoricMonster

!!Kabuto and Kabutops
[[quoteright:153:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/140-141_4756.png]]

Another previously extinct Pokémon and its evolution, they have seen a revival in the modern day thanks to fossil restoring technology. Since the fossil that allows Kabuto's restoration is exclusive from the one which allows the restoration of Omanyte, and they have many overall similarities, they are often considered Foils to each other.

* CombatBreakdown: Has Weak Armor as its Dream World ability.
* DishingOutDirt
* MakingASplash
* ForMassiveDamage: By grass-type attacks, same as the Omanyte line.
* FossilRevival
* FragileSpeedster: Kabutops, in rain.
** [[GlassCannon Glass]] [[FragileSpeedster Ninja]]: "Kabutops used Swords Dance!"
* [[GiantEnemyCrab Giant Enemy Horseshoe Crab]]
* PrehistoricMonster
* {{Samurai}}
* {{Sinister Scythe}}s [[BladeBelowTheShoulder As Hands]]

!!Aerodactyl (Ptera)
[[quoteright:114:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/142_1113.png]]

Yet another previously Extinct Pokémon, Aerodactyl is a Flying [[PteroSoarer Pterosaur]] / [[DinosaursAreDragons Dragon/Wyvern]] with a Rock typing, rather then a Water-Rock Invertebrate. Unlike nearly every other Rock type of this generation (and most later ones), it's extremely fast, once one of the fastest.

* BlowYouAway
* BoringButPractical: Despite it having potential as an offensive Pokémon, Aerodactyl rose to OU mostly to set Stealth Rock up and prevent the opponent from doing so.
* DishingOutDirt
* FireIceLightning: Naturally learns all the elemental Fang attacks, as of Gen IV.
* {{Flight}}
* FossilRevival
* GlassCannon: It has the highest speed stats out of every Rock-type Pokémon, and it's also a powerful attacker.
* NamesTheSame: Aside from the fact that Aerodactyl's French and German names are the same as its Japanese and English names respectively, both Aerodactyl and Jigglypuff are called "PUD" in PokemonVietnameseCrystal.
* PrehistoricMonster
** [[DinosaursAreDragons Pterosaurs Are Dragons]]: It can learn various Dragon-type attacks. Also, Lance owns one.
** StockDinosaurs: Technically not a dinosaur, but still...
*** PteroSoarer.
* UselessUsefulSpell: It gets Rock Head (prevent recoil damage) as an ability, but the only move it learns that gets recoil damage is Take Down (and Double-Edge via generation 3 tutor). This is in spite of the presence of Brave Bird and Head Smash, two moves of its type that have recoil.

!!Munchlax and Snorlax (Gonbe and Kabigon)
[[quoteright:154:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/143-446_5251.png]]
[-''Munchlax debuts in Gen IV''-]

Snorlax is a large, gluttonous and lazy Pokémon, and because of that combination it tends to be responsible for the [[BrokenBridge Broken Bridges]] in the games by falling asleep in the middle of roads. Of course this may have been a good thing since said solving said Broken Bridges gave the chance to catch one for yourself. Got a Pre-evolution in Generation IV in the not quite as large but still gluttonous and lazy Muchlax, who was notably harder to catch since it could only be encountered via [[ScrappyMechanic Honey Slathering]].

* AcquiredPoisonImmunity: one of their abilities is Immunity, owing to their tendency to try to eat anything that's edible.
* BadassNormal: Its been OU in four generations, and its considered as the best Pokémon in generation 2 even when compared to most Ubers. That says something.
* BigEater
** [[ImplacableMan Implacable Mon]]: nothing can stand in the way of a Snorlax's appetite; the only way for it to stop is when it's time to sleep.
* EarlyBirdCameo: Munchlax appeared in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonColosseum Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness]]'' before the Gen IV games came out.
** And VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeon.
* EyesAlwaysShut: Snorlax
* GentleGiant: Snorlax has shades of this...
** BerserkButton: ...as long as you don't interrupt its nap.
* HeavySleeper
* ItemCaddy: Munchlax
* {{Keet}}: Munchlax, in stark contrast to when it evolves.
* MightyGlacier: Has very good HP, defensive stats (especially Special Defense), and Attack, but is one of the slowest Pokémon out there.
** Using Curse forms the popular Curselax set, making it even more mighty but slower. The set is known for dominating generation 2.
* NonElemental
* OvershadowedByAwesome: Snorlax is a solid Pokémon, that's true, but the 4th and 5th gens introduced very heavy hitters that both made Blissey the only 100% reliable special wall, AND grabbed Snorlax's place as a heavy hitter.
* PsychicPowers: They can be taught Psychic and Zen Headbutt. (The former uses more Psychic power)
* StoutStrength
* UniqueEnemy: There are 2 in ''Red/Blue'' and one in ''Gold/Silver'', all three blocking routes. That's all the wild Snorlax you'll find in the wild so far.
** MetalSlime: And Munchlax is the only Pokémon in the franchise to be harder to find than Feebas, and involves at least 6 hours of just waiting. Most people got Munchlax by breeding one of the Snorlax from ''[=FireRed=]'' or ''[=LeafGreen=]''.

!!Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres ([[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Freezer, Thunder, and Fire]])
[[quoteright:265:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/144-145-146_9467.png]]

A trio of Birds who are the very first legendary Pokémon to appear in the series, they represent [[FireIceLightning Ice, Lightning, and Fire]], respectively, and are considered to have a strong connection to Lugia.

* [[BigBadassBirdOfPrey Big Badass Birds Of Prey]]
* BlowYouAway
* TheCorruption: Shadow Chill (Articuno), Shadow Bolt (Zapdos), and Shadow Fire (Moltres). Just too much for Greevil to pass up.
* DiscOneNuke: Zapdos can be captured with 3 badges, and will utterly decimate anything it comes across. But you'll probably have five or six badges without SequenceBreaking.
* DubNameChange: Along with the lake trio, the only legendaries to change name in different languages, probably because of...
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: Their rather boring Japanese names: Freezer, Thunder, and Fire. Guess which bird has each name.
* AwesomeMcCoolname: They get named after [[NorseMythology Odin, Thor]], and [[EgyptianMythology Ra]] (respectively) in French.
* FireIceLightning: They even provide the page image.
* {{Flight}}
* ForMassiveDamage: Articuno and Moltres die if they get hit with a pebble. Stealth Rock being widespread and chipping away half of its health is what keeps Moltres out of the standard competitive scene.
* {{Hellfire}}: Leave your Water, Rock, and Dragon Pokémon at home; Shadow Fire burns them all the same.
* [[AnIcePerson An Ice Pokémon]]: Articuno.
* InfinityMinusOneSword
* LightningBruiser: All 3 of them have quite high all around stats.
* NoBiologicalSex
* NumericalThemeNaming
* OlympusMons: The first examples.
* ThePhoenix: Moltres, in a different [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firebird_(Slavic_folklore) myth]].
* PlayingWithFire: Moltres.
* PowerTrio
* {{Pun}}: In the original [Japanese] version, Shadow Pokémon are called Dark Pokémon (the type is called Evil), the birds are called Freezer, Thunder, and Fire, and the attacks are Dark Freeze, Dark Thunder, and Dark Fire. Dark THUNDER used DARK THUNDER.
* ShockAndAwe: Zapdos.
* SignatureMove: Moltres' Sky Attack, but only in Generation I.
* StoneWall: Articuno, due to an odd handling of the Special split.
* YouAreNumberSix: Artic'''uno''', Zap'''dos''', Mol'''tres''' ([[GratuitousSpanish Spanish]] equivalents for the numbers one, two, and three).
** Naturally, this led to people thinking Missing'''no''' was a forgotten legendary.

!!Dratini, Dragonair, and Dragonite (Miniryu, Hakuryu, and Kairyu)
[[quoteright:191:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/147-148-149_2097.png]]

A group of serpentine dragons, and the original dragon [[{{Mons}} Pokémon]], period. Dragonite is notable for having the highest Attack stat in Generation I.

* {{Acrofatic}}: Dragonite is quite chubby, but isn't the slowest dragon around and learns [=ExtremeSpeed=].
* BadassAdorable: Dragonite.
* BlowYouAway: Dragonite. It even learns Hurricane.
* BossInMookClothing: ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'' has a location where there is a very small chance of fishing up one. Wild Dragonite Appeared!
* ConfusionFu : Thanks to its rather high defense and high offensive stats combined with absurd movepool, Dragonite is a subject of this in the competitive metagame, in a much more bigger extent than its counterparts(with the exception of Tyranitar, who is just as versatile).
* [[PowerGivesYouWings Evolution Gives You Wings]]
** {{Flight}}: Dragonite. Dragonair too, [[GameplayAndStorySegregation in their Fire Red Pokédex entry]] and in Pokémon adaptations.
* [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers The First Of These Is Not Like The Others]]: Dragonite is pretty much the only pseudo-legendary that isn't supposed to be some sort of savage predatory beast.
** TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers: Dragonite's more traditional dragon design differs a lot from the more serpentine look of its pre-evolutions, although its body is still serpentine; it's just hard to notice that because of the limbs and how wide it is in proportion to its length.
* GameplayAndStorySegregation: Dragonair is said to be able change the weather at will, yet it needs to be taught the weather-changing moves via TM.
** A more extreme example is with Dragonite. It is said to circle the globe in 16 hours, but its speed, its weak spot, is nothing to write home about. [[hottip:*:What about [[FragileSpeedster Deoxys?]]
* GentleGiant: Dragonite is both one of the strongest Pokémon and one of the nicest...
** BewareTheNiceOnes: ...however, DON'T make them angry; their strongest move is called Outrage for a reason.
* InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons: The only Dragon-types in the first generation.
* InfinityPlusOneElement: Dragon is just an awesome type, except for ...
** ForMassiveDamage: Ice kills Dragonite. (But at least it takes it better than Salamence).
* JackOfAllStats: Out of the pseudo-legendaries, Dragonite has the most balanced stats, and has one of the largest array of moves out of any Pokémon.
** MightyGlacier: The preferred way to use it, however is to take advantage of its bulk and reliable healing moves (Roost and the XD originating Heal Bell), and Dream World ability in generation 5 (Multiscale, reduces damage by half if at full HP, not compatible with Heal Bell), as a straight physical attacker is an inferior Salamence and a straight special attacker is now an inferior Hydreigon.
*** LightningBruiser: Or abuse one of the few unique moves of value, [[ActionInitiative ExtremeSpeed.]]
* MercurysWings: Dragonair has these wings on its head.
* NamesTheSame: Both Machamp and Dragonite are called "GUAIL" in the infamous PokemonVietnameseCrystal.
* OurDragonsAreDifferent
* TookALevelInBadass: If you got a Dragonite from the Dream World, it will have the ability Multiscale, which halves the damage it takes if it's at full HP. This is ''much'' better than Inner Focus.

!!Mewtwo
[[quoteright:99:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/150_8851.png]]

Possibly the best-known legendary, Mewtwo was cloned from Mew to be the most powerful of all Pokémon. While it's now tied with several others, it does come very, ''very'' close. Even if not truly evil (and less so in [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} the Anime]], from where it goes from WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds to Type III AntiHero), it is stated to be the least compassionate Pokémon in existence, with its single objective being [[BloodKnight defeating its opponents.]] Also a huge fan favourite.

* ArtificialHuman: Has some human material mixed into its genes in a few continuities, and mostly behaves like one, also leading to...
** [[PersonOfMassDestruction Pokémon of Mass Destruction]]
* '''{{Badass}}''': The only Pokémon stronger than it are Arceus (basically '''GOD''') and Kyurem's [[FusionDance formes]], and even they can't stand up to Mewtwo at times. ''And this is after it got nerfed.''
* BloodKnight: It ''really'' likes fighting and shows no mercy towards its opponents.
* BraggingRightsReward: Mewtwo in the original RBY was this for anyone who only played single-player (or with friends who banned it), as there is literally nothing left to do in-game after catching Mewtwo.
** Unless you decided to use it in the ''Pokémon Stadium'' games or trade it over to the Generation II games.
* BreakoutCharacter: Like Pikachu, Charizard and (formerly) Jigglypuff, it's commonly regarded as one of the "staple" characters of the franchise due to its popularity and significance.
* [[CatsAreMean Genetically Mutated Cats Are Mean:]] Subverted. It's not "mean" so much as it just is incapable of feeling compassion towards its enemies. This is taken further in the Anime in which it was only trying to protect its fellow clones it felt were being treated poorly.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: In the games, it's only hinted at that Mewtwo's violent behavior was so destructive that they had to subdue it and imprison it in Cerulean Cave. It's made even more explicit in the Anime where it being treated as little more than a slave/pet/experiment caused it to finally snap and declare war against non-clone life.
* DeathGlare: Its glare is said to strike fear into its enemy.
* DependingOnTheWriter: In the games Mewtwo is a simple BloodKnight while in the movies he started out as an AntiVillain before his HeelFaceTurn into an AntiHero who looks after his clone Pokémon.
* DeusExHomine: Originated as "merely" a clone of ''the'' original Pokémon. Nowadays, it's even stronger than [[Characters/PokemonGenerationIIIFamilies the avatars of land, sea]], and [[Characters/PokemonGenerationVFamilies balance]], while equal to the avatars of [[Characters/PokemonGenerationIIIFamilies the sky]], [[Characters/PokemonGenerationIVFamilies time, space, and anti-matter]] as well as the embodiments of [[Characters/PokemonGenerationVFamilies yin and yang]]. It's even in sight of ''[[Characters/PokemonGenerationIVFamilies the creator of the universe]]''.
** And the beings it resembles the most power-wise are [[Characters/PokemonGenerationIIFamilies the draconic bird that can make humongous 40-day storms by flapping its wings ONCE, and the immortal phoenix able to bring the dead back to life]]. Both of those are worshiped as gods.
* DivergentCharacterEvolution: In the first Gen, Mewtwo and Mew were the ultimate Pokémon (the former stronger than the latter anyway), and pretty much packed together, but each getting a somewhat different treatment. In the second gen, Lugia, Ho-Oh and Celebi were introduced; the first 2 got the treatment Mewtwo usually got, while Celebi got paired with Mew, and there was no exclusive treatment for Mewtwo and Mew that did not include the newer legendaries. Nowadays, Mewtwo will get the same treatment as the different legendary version mascots, while Mew gets lumped with newer event Pokémon that have the same balanced stats; the only things they seem to have in common is that they are Psychic Pokémon banned in the Battle Tower that learn Aura Sphere by level up. Until Gen V, where Mewtwo gets his own signature move and now has even ''more'' of a reason to be banned.
* {{Expy}}: The original ultimate Pokémon looks quite a bit like [[VideoGame/EarthboundZero Giegue]], and also resembles [[Manga/DragonBall Freeza]].
* GameplayAndStorySegregation: Despite being said to lack compassion in the Pokedex entries, it's possible to get a Mewtwo with a "Gentle" nature.
* GoneHorriblyRight: It even provides the page quote. Or, rather, the scientist who led the project that resulted in Mewtwo's creation does:
--> '''Dr. Fuji:''' We dreamed of creating the world's strongest Pokémon...and we succeeded.
* InfinityPlusOneSword
* JigsawPuzzlePlot: The exact details about its backstory in the game are quite vague, with hints being scattered here and there throughout the generations.
* LackOfEmpathy: It's said to have the most savage heart among Pokémon, having no compassion and only thinking of defeating its foes.
** Subverted in the Anime. It does care for its fellow clones.
* {{Leitmotif}}: It doesn't have one per se, but is strongly associated with the Kanto wild Pokémon music, down to getting remixes of it.
* LightningBruiser: Its weak point are its defenses. They are on par with those of the starters labeled as {{Mighty Glacier}}s. (They have been nerfed a bit since Gen I...)
** GlassCannon: Only in comparision to other Pokémon with stats on par with it. Compared to other Pokémon that fit that criteria, Mewtwo ends up as being somewhat like this, with his defenses being its weak point. Although its bulky enough to run a defensive set and having the right move to do the job.
* NoBiologicalSex: Since it's a clone of Mew, which also has no defined sex either. It's treated as male.
* OffModel: Mewtwo has been consistantly portrayed as plantigrade on all of its official game sprites and artwork, which makes sense since Mew also stands flat on its feet. However, because of the popularity of the first movie, which had a Mewtwo character model that stood on its toes (and also had a disporportionately tiny head and massive hips) it's almost always portrayed as digitigrade in fanart.
** If not noticeable in Generation IV, the back sprite from Generation V shows Mewtwo ''is'' standing on his toes.
* PintsizedPowerhouse: Only slightly taller than the average human, but short (or even minuscule) compared to other Pokémon of its power rank.
* PowerupLetdown: The super secret Dream World ability for this incredibly powerful Pokémon? It prevents opponents from eating berries. That's it.
* PsychicPowers
* PunnyName: Well, not exactly punny, but the fact that it sounds quite similar to "mutant" managed to stop English-savvy Japanese from looking for a certain "Mew One" until [=GameFreak=] started the rumors. That included Nintendo itself.
* PurpleEyes
* PurpleIsPowerful
* PurposefullyOverpowered: And it still remains as such '''AFTER''' its type got {{Nerf}}ed. The games actively limit its use in the Battle Tower, most cups in 3D fighters, most official tournaments, and random Wifi.
* [[RealMenWearPink Real Genderless Yet Masculine Legendaries Are Pale Lavender]]
* ShoutOut: [[http://local-static4.forum-files.fobby.net/forum_attachments/0008/4539/neck_1_.png This picture sums it up...]]
* SignatureMove: Psystrike, introduced in Generation V, much to the fans' delight: It's a Special attack... which deals Physical damage. Now the very thing it feared most (special walls, AKA Blissey) will flee on sight instead of laughing in its face or forcing Mewtwo to [[TakingYouWithMe detonate]].
** Most of Mewtwo's PurposefullyOverpowered brethren have higher special defense than physical defense, making Psystrike a very powerful move even against opponents who don't use Blissey.
* SingleSpecimenSpecies: The scientists at Cinnabar'll probably won't be making any more of [[GoneHorriblyRight these]].
* UrbanLegendOfZelda: There was an infamous rumor back in the Red/Blue/Yellow days that you could evolve Mewtwo into "Mewthree" by smashing the rocks (A move which would not even exist until later generations) and picking up a non-existant item.
** Another rumor was that Mewtwo could learn a move called "Tombstone" which would OneHitKO any Pokémon instantly. Such a move does not exist.
* YouAreNumberSix

!!Mew
[[quoteright:99:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/151_6933.png]]

Mew is Pokémon #151. It set a trend which would later be followed by Celebi, Jirachi, and others as a rare and cute-looking Legendary Pokémon that was unable to be obtained outside of promotional events. Though its stats might be lacking compared to other Legendary Pokémon, it's notable in that it is compatible with every single TM. As its name might suggest, it's related to Mewtwo; indeed, Mewtwo was cloned from its DNA, though the games seem to imply that this was done through Mew giving birth ([[ShownTheirWork just like real-life cloning procedures]]), while the anime implies that Mewtwo's DNA was extracted directly from Mew's hair and grown independently.

* ConfusionFu: With stats that favor no one skillset and the ability to learn every TM and HM, good luck predicting its moves.
* CuteBruiser: It looks like a cross between a cat and a jerboa. Above average stats in everything, can learn very nearly ''everything''[[hottip:*: (Learns every TM and all but 9 move tutors; and it all adds up when you consider multiple Generations)]], and via Metronome can use about 92.84%[[hottip:*: (519 out of 559 to be precise)]] of all moves that exist.
** BadassAdorable: Isn't it just the most adorable thing ''ever''?!?
* CatsAreMean: Subverted as well. In the first movie, Mew's reasoning for fighting Mewtwo was because it felt clones were inferior to natural-born Pokémon. However, its feelings towards clones were more misguided than downright malevolent.
** Likewise, Mew is shown to have a rather playful and child-like personality compared to Mewtwo's more agressive nature.
* DiscOneNuke: Know the glitch? You can get it before beating Misty. Have fun wiping the floor with everyone in your way.
** You can even get a ''second'' one by the time you reach Celadon City if you know the glitch well enough.
* DivergentCharacterEvolution
* CuteKitten: Or rather what appears to be a mix between a kitten, a jerboa, and a fetus.
* FantasticRacism: In the subbed version of the first movie, it thinks clones are inferior.
* FetusTerrible: Kind of-it's primarily based off a fetus, and while not evil it's certainly powerful and dangerous to its enemies.
* FountainOfExpies: Celebi, Jirachi, Shaymin, Manaphy, and Victini.
* InfinityPlusOneSword: You cannot get it during normal gameplay.
** GoodBadBugs: But you can exploit a bug to get one in the first gen games.
* InnocentBlueEyes: Given its nature.
* KillerRabbit
* LightningBruiser: Its stats are equal, but high.
** JackOfAllTrades: Can learn everything, has good stats for anything. Versatility, thy name is Mew.
* MythologyGag: Mew is said to be the ancestor of all Pokémon, and it happens to be the first one whose trademark was registered.
* NoBiologicalSex: Though one Mew is described as giving birth, implying that it's either truly asexual/hermaphroditic (reproducing asexually) or female; though the one in PokeparkWii being referred to as male somewhat complicates things. [[LarynxDissonance And it's voiced by]] KoichiYamadera [[LarynxDissonance in the anime]] (though [[ManOfAThousandVoices his performance]] does sound convincingly like a small, cute pink creature).
* OlympusMons: The ancestor of all Pokémon.
* OvershadowedByAwesome: In the Uber tier (and OU in Generation V), there are things so much better at offense or defense, that Mew's role is pretty much MinMaxing and passing large stat boosts to something stronger. And now it's fallen to under used. How the mighty have fallen...
* PintsizedPowerhouse
* PsychicPowers
* PurposefullyOverpowered: Like its clone above, it has its use restricted in the Battle Tower, most cups and tournaments, and random Wi-fi.
* VoluntaryShapeshifter: Can learn Transform.

!!Missingno. (Ketsuban) and 'M
[[quoteright:183:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Missingno_3610.png]]
[[caption-width-right:183:Some of the variations of Missingno.. The top left is the most common and iconic.]]

The most popular and well known "glitch" Pokémon. To encounter it, the player must talk to the Old Man in Viridian City and watch his Pokémon-catching demonstration. Because of limited memory space and the need to display a name other than the players the player's name ("OLD MAN"), the player's name is temporarily held in the memory slot where wild Pokémon encounter rates are held. Normally this isn't an issue (the data is loaded, then overwritten when the player enters a new area, while the current area has no places to encounter wild Pokémon), but flying to Cinnabar Island means it is ''not'' overwritten and is read as encounter data.

The resulting gobbledegook has three types of encounters: Pokémon from whatever normal encounter zone you were just in, Pokémon over level 100, and this guy [[labelnote:*]]What exactly makes up the Pokémon over level 100 [[http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Old_man_glitch is dependent on the player's name]], but Missingno. is spawned by the bit that indicates the end of the player's name and any blank spaces, so it will always appear.[[/labelnote]]. An encounter with Missingno. causes the item in the sixth slot to gain 128 copies. Comes in several different forms, with two main variants: Missingno. and "(glitchy block)'M(glitchy block)", or M-Block/'M for short.

They're Bird/Normal types (''not'' Flying/Normal), but as "bird" lacks programed weaknesses/resistances, Missingno. is functionally a normal type except when dealing with the "Move Zero" and "Cool T" glitch attacks.

* AscendedGlitch: In part. Porygon-Z references them slightly as a Glitch Pokémon, while Giratina seems to be based on some of the more GameBreakingBug aspects they have.
* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: When first caught, 'M knows Sky Attack, Water Gun, and Water Gun.
* DummiedOut: Its "Bird" type. Interestingly, a lot of [=NPCs=] refer to Flying as "Bird", which is even kept in the remakes.
** [[WildMassGuessing Maybe Bird was the original name of Flying types?]]
* EldritchAbomination: They'd definitely be this to the character, and are described as much in many fan-work.
** DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: Missingno and M Block, strong as they are, have very low defense. Lovecraftian as they are, they aren't that hard to beat.
*** BrokeYourArmPunchingOutCthulhu: If you manage to capture a glitch Pokémon, there's a very high chance your game will glitch out in such a way as to make in unplayable.
* GameBreakingBug: Some of its effects on the game. Missingno. is fairly harmless; the worst effect it's likely to have is corrupting hall of fame data or breaking things if you're stupid enough to duplicate a key item. 'M can cause far worse effects if you catch it and store it in the PC.
** GoodBadBug: On the other hand, who can resist the temptation of 128 [[TooAwesomeToUse Master Balls]]? Especially when the same glitch allows normal encounters with [[LuckBasedMission Safari Zone Pokémon]]?
*** If you catch a level 0 M' (keep a space open in your party first...[[GameBreakingBug or else]]) and give it a Rare Candy, it evolves into Kangaskhan, meaning you can get a Kangaskhan with Sky Attack. First of all, it's pure hilarity to see the big brute using a flying attack. Second of all, she can crush Fighting-type Pokémon with it.
* GlassCannon: The most common variation has 136 attack[[note]]Alakazam has a 135 special attack, while Dragonite has an Attack base stat of 134[[/note]], with 33/0/6 defenses. Sadly lacks the attacks (only the powerful, [[AwesomeButImpractical but unwieldy]] [[ChargedAttack Sky Attack]]) and speed (29) to abuse it.
* MakingASplash: 'M knows Water Gun twice.
* TheMissingno: TropeNamer.
* NoBiologicalSex: Or more like "Gender Unknown"...
* TheUnpronounceable: M-Block's ingame name.
* UrbanLegendOfZelda

** GlassCannon: [[AvertedTrope Averted]]. Compared to other Pokémon that fit that criteria, Mewtwo ends up as being somewhat like this, with his defenses being its weak point. Although its bulky enough to run a defensive set and having the right move to do the job.

** LightningBruiser: Face one with Swift Swim in the rain and you are plain boned. [[ItGotWorse It gets worse]] in Generation 5, thanks to permanent rain being obtainable in OU. The fact that Water+Dragon is awesome STAB (resisted only by Shedinja, Empoleon, and Ferrothorn) helps.

** They wouldn't know. Considering they're still slightly faster than Espeon, slightly more powerful, [[TookALevelInBadass now have a similar Hidden Ability of "Magic Guard"]](which also also allows them to carry a Life Orb with impunity), and have an ''infinitely'' better attacking movepool, Alakazam still completely outdoes Espeon in terms of special sweeping.

** They wouldn't know. Considering they're still slightly faster than Espeon, slightly more powerful, [[TookALevelInBadass now have a similar Hidden Ability of "Magic Guard"]], and have an ''infinitely'' better attacking movepool, Alakazam still completely outdoes Espeon in terms of special sweeping.

* NamesTheSame: Both Jigglypuff and Aerodactyl are called "PUD" in VideoGame/PokemonVietnameseCrystal.

* NamesTheSame: Both Machamp and Dragonite are called "GUAIL" in VideoGame/PokemonVietnameseCrystal.

* NamesTheSame: Aside from the fact that Aerodactyl's French and German names are the same as its Japanese and English names respectively, both Aerodactyl and Jigglypuff are called "PUD" in VideoGame/PokemonVietnameseCrystal.

* NamesTheSame: Both Machamp and Dragonite are called "GUAIL" in the infamous VideoGame/PokemonVietnameseCrystal.

[[PokemonRedAndBlue Generation I]] introduced some of the patterns now taken for granted: [[GreenThumb Grass]]/[[PlayingWithFire Fire]]/[[MakingASplash Water]] starters, [[ComMons early game bugs, birds, and mammals]], an [[ShockAndAwe Electric]] [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter rodent]], [[FossilRevival part Rock fossils]], [[PowerTrio a legendary trio]], [[OurDragonsAreDifferent a 3-stage draconic family with a late evolution and very high stats]], [[OlympusMons a bonus legendary with stats beyond anything in the game]], and a secret Pokémon [[DownloadableContent not obtainable via normal ways]] and with [[JackOfAllStats balanced]] [[GameBreaker high stats]]; all originate from here.

A green-blue, toad-like creature which has a bulb planted on its back, its evolution pretty much consists of bodily growth and the bulb flowering and eventually turning into a large plant. This family is the first in many aspects: The first Pokémon in the National Pokédex order, the first [[GreenThumb Grass-type]], [[PoisonousPerson Poison-type]] and Dual-typed ones too, and, as a starter in the [[PokemonRedAndBlue Kanto-based games]], the first Pokémon of roughly one third of the first Pokémon players. In battle, it is more of an utility Pokémon, as its offensive options are somewhat limited. Still, as a Starter Pokémon, it is [[JackOfAllStats quite well-rounded]] and can be used offensively without much problem.

* OffModel: Pidgeot's sprites in ''[[PokemonGoldAndSilver Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal]]'' had a far shorter crest than in the normal design, despite having the signature long crest in Red/Blue/Green/Yellow. Because the back sprites for the first- and second-gen Pokémon were revamped and carried over to the 3rd-gen games, despite the front sprites in that generation being fixed.

* NamesTheSame: Both Jigglypuff and Aerodactyl are called "PUD" in PokemonVietnameseCrystal.

* NamesTheSame: Both Machamp and Dragonite are called "GUAIL" in PokemonVietnameseCrystal.

** In game as well, with a ton of support moves like Wish (heal whatever pokemon is on your side next turn) and Aromatherapy (heals all conditions pokemon have). One possible ability is "healer" which has a chance to heal any pokemon on your side in double or triple battles.

* YouHaveResearchedBreathing: Tangela, despite being covered in vines and aptly called the "Vine Pokemon", could not learn Vine Whip unil Yellow.

* DiscOneNuke: In HG/SS, Kangaskhan was a common Pokemon in early Pokewalker routes, came with Dizzy Punch, and has stats high enough to last you throughout the game.

** Even to this day, Goldeen and Seaking are the only two Pokémon that can learn it by leveling up, putting them among the very, very few Pokémon that can learn [=HMs=] by such method, alongside Salamence and Rayquaza (Fly), and the 5 families that can learn Dive, and the few Pokémon that could learn Whirlpool when it was still an HM (although the first Pokemon who could learn it were in Generation III where it was no longer an HM, it regained its HM status during [[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver HeartGold and SoulSilver]], before losing it again in Gen V).

* WaveMotionGun: Due to being given evolutions within different generations, ''all of them'' can learn Hyper Beam, but Porygon-Z is one of the few Pokemon in the entire franchise for which [[AwesomeButImpractical Hyper Beam]] is considered a valid move choice. With the right setup, it can potentially ''[[ImpossibleTaskInstantlyAccomplished OHKO Blissey]]''.

* NamesTheSame: Aside from the fact that Aerodactyl's French and German names are the same as its Japanese and English names respectively, both Aerodactyl and Jigglypuff are called "PUD" in PokemonVietnameseCrystal.

* NamesTheSame: Both Machamp and Dragonite are called "GUAIL" in the infamous PokemonVietnameseCrystal.

* AscendedGlitch: In part. Porygon-Z references them slightly as a Glitch Pokemon, while Giratina seems to be based on some of the more GameBreakingBug aspects they have.

*** BrokeYourArmPunchingOutCthulhu: If you manage to capture a glitch Pokemon, there's a very high chance your game will glitch out in such a way as to make in unplayable.

The original generation, at 151 Pokémon, was the largest one until [[PokemonBlackAndWhite Generation V]] surpassed it. However, due to the introduction of many relatives of Pokémon of this gen in ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'' and ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'', it is technically the largest gen, as a total of 181 Pokémon are originally from this gen or are an evolutionary relative, and another 2 have very close ties with Pokémon introduced here.

* Badass : In both forms !

** ImprobablyHighIQ: Not the first (or last) time that the Pokedex is hilariously inaccurate, but given the way the IQ scale works[[hottip:*:''300'' is considered to be "super-genius", and the scale is constantly adjusted so that 100 is the average intelligence of the ''world'' population; furthermore, this constant adjustment means that [[http://www.cracked.com/article_18983_5-complaints-about-modern-life-that-are-statistically-b.s..html an IQ of 150 from 10 years ago might be something more like 135 now]]]], Alakazam's stated intelligence just breaks it into tiny whimpering pieces.

** LightingBruiser: "Cloyster consumed Lum Berry!"

* Badass : When holding a Thick Club.

* Revenge : Their reason for evolving.

** Even to this day, Goldeen and Seaking are the only two Pokémon that can learn it by leveling up, putting them among the very, very few Pokémon that can learn [=HMs=] by such method, alongside Salamence and Rayquaza (Fly), and the 5 families that can learn Dive, and the few Pokémon that could learn Whirlpool when it was still an HM (although the first Pokemon who could learn it were in Generation III where it was no longer an HM, it regained its HM status during HeartGold and SoulSilver, before losing it again in Gen V).

* Irony: See Scyther and Scizor's entry. Also, in the original Red and Blue (and the remakes), guess which game they were exclusive to.

* BadassNormal : Its been OU in four generations, and its considered as the best Pokémon in generation 2 even when compared to most Ubers Legendary. That says something.

* NoBiologicalSex: Though one Mew is described as giving birth, implying that it's either truly asexual/hermaphroditic (reproducing asexually) or female. [[LarynxDissonance And it's voiced by]] KoichiYamadera [[LarynxDissonance in the anime]] (though [[ManOfAThousandVoices his performance]] does sound convincingly like a small, cute pink creature).

* OvershaadowedByAwesome: Deadly in competitive battling in Generation 1. Then came Steel pokémon, Fighting type boost, and now Tauros has nothing to do in competitive battling.

* CharacterSelectForcing: Bulbasaur almost made ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'' ridiculously easy thanks to its favorable match-ups against a large number of gyms. In order, it is: super effective against [[DishingOutDirt Brock]] and [[MakingASplash Misty]], resistant to [[ShockAndAwe Surge]] and [[GreenThumb Erika]], and then super effective against the [[DishingOutDirt last gym leader]], with only [[PsychicPowers Sabrina]] and [[PlayingWithPower Blaine]] standing much of a chance against it, but by that point, you should either have another Pokémon that can take them out or have leveled Venusaur up to such ridiculous levels that the type disadvantage doesn't matter.

* CharacterSelectForcing: Bulbasaur almost made ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'' ridiculously easy thanks to its favorable match-ups against a large number of gyms. In order, it is: super effective against [DishingOutDirt Brock]] and [[MakingASplash Misty]], resistant to [[ShockAndAwe Surge]] and [[GreenThumb Erika]], and then super effective against the [[DishingOutDirt last gym leader]], with only [[PsychicPowers Sabrina]] and [[PlayingWithPower Blaine]] standing much of a chance against it, but by that point, you should either have another Pokémon that can take them out or have leveled Venusaur up to such ridiculous levels that the type disadvantage doesn't matter.

* CharacterSelectForcing: Bulbasaur almost made ''VideoGame/Pokemon Red and Blue'' ridiculously easy thanks to its favorable match-ups against a large number of gyms. In order, it is: super effective against [DishingOutDirt Brock]] and [[MakingASplash Misty]], resistant to [[ShockAndAwe Surge]] and [[GreenThumb Erika]], and then super effective against the [[DishingOutDirt last gym leader]], with only [[PsychicPowers Sabrina]] and [[PlayingWithPower Blaine]] standing much of a chance against it, but by that point, you should either have another Pokémon that can take them out or have leveled Venusaur up to such ridiculous levels that the type disadvantage doesn't matter.

* CharacterSelectForcing: Bulbasaur almost made ''Red'' and ''Blue'' ridiculously easy thanks to its favorable match-ups against a large number of gyms. In order, it is: super effective against [DishingOutTheDirt Brock]] and [[MakingASplash Misty]], resistant to [[ShockAndAwe Surge]] and [[GreenThumb Erika]], and then super effective against the [[DishingOutTheDirt last gym leader]], with only [[PsychicPowers Sabrina]] and [[PlayingWithPower Blaine]] standing much of a chance against it, but by that point, you should either have another Pokémon that can take them out or have leveled Venusaur up to such ridiculous levels that the type disadvantage doesn't matter.

A green-blue, toad-like creature which has a bulb planted on its back, its evolution pretty much consists of bodily growth and the bulb flowering and eventually turning into a large plant. This family is the first in many aspects: The first Pokémon in National Dex order, the first Grass-type, Poison-type and Dual-typed ones too, and, as a starter in the Kanto-based games, the first Pokémon of roughly one third of the first Pokémon players. In battle, it is more of an utility Pokémon, as its offensive options are somewhat limited. Still, as a Starter Pokémon, it is quite well-rounded and can be used offensively without much problem.

* CharacterSelectForcing: Bulbasaur almost made ''Red'' and ''Blue'' ridiculously easy thanks to its favorable match-ups against a large number of gyms. In order, it is: super effective against Brock and Misty, resistant to Surge and Erika, and then super effective against the last gym leader, with only Sabrina and Blaine standing much of a chance against it, but by that point, you should either have another Pokémon that can take them out or have leveled Venusaur up to such ridiculous levels that the type disadvantage doesn't matter.