Discussion around which Pokemon have the best stats typically focuses on fully-evolved Pokemon or Legendaries. But, before you get to a certain point in each game, you won't have access to Pokemon like that. However, there aren't many resources that look at Pokemon before they've evolved.
If you're starting a new playthrough of a game, you'll need to deal with base stage Pokemon before you can evolve them, and some of them are better than others. Some of them are even better than fully-evolved Pokemon, actually. Here are the ten Pokemon that have not yet evolved (but can!) with the highest base stat totals or BST.
Updated by Jeremy Hanna February 23, 2023: Ever since the fourth generation, Pokemon from previous generations have been receiving evolutions in order to keep them relevant and prevent power creep. Generation nine is no different, introducing many new evolutions to Pokemon that were formerly in their final stage. This includes the formerly non-evolving Dunsparce and Girafarig. On top of this, Pokemon Legends: Arceus introduced ancient forms of Pokemon, qualifying Hisuian Qwilfish for this list. Add on two more to round things out, and you have the fifteen unevolved Pokemon with the highest Base Stat Total.
15 📖 Wailmer (400)
Sometimes, all you need to stand out is a single stat above the rest. That is absolutely the case with Wailmer, a Generation 3 Water-type Pokemon that is easily the largest on th🌳is list.
Most of Wailmer's stats are downright bad, totalling to only 270. This is abruptly changed by its massive HP stat, which at 130 is easily the highest on this list. This gets even higher when it evolves into Wailord and that HP stat jumps to 170, the fourth-highest HP in the game.
14 🎐 Archen (401) ꦑ
Archen has the most frustratingly numbered base stat total on the entire list with 401. Despi💧te that, its stats are pretty impressive for a Pokemon t𝐆hat was intended to evolve from its conception, with decent Speed and Special Attack and a great Attack at 112.
Unfortunately, Archen is let down by the signature ability of its evolution line: Defeatist. This makes Archen's Attack and Special Attack stats halved when its HP is below half. This is bad for Archen's evolution, Archeops, but catastrophic for this little prehistoric bird.
13 Murkrow (405♚) 🏅
Long before it received an evolution in Generation 4, Murkrow was a pretty decent Pokemon since it has a nice total of 405. This may seem like it pails in comparison to Honchkrow's total of 505, but Murkrow has many advantages over its dapper evolution.
Most 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:are wary of evolving a Murkrow because of its Speed and ability. Murkrow's base Speed is a whole 20 points higher than Honchkrow's, though its Special Attack, Physical Attack, and HP are much lower. However, this doesn't matter when it's meant to be a support Pokemon.
With its Prankster ability, all no🎉n-damaging moves take priority in battle. Add on an Eviolite to boost its Defenses and you h🐓ave one of the best supporting Pokemon of all time.
12 🌊 Galarian Corsola (410)
Johtonian Corsola — the original form of this Pokemon — has a respectable base stat total of 410. But it doesn't evolve, so it typically wouldn't fit for this discussion, and it has a pretty terrible Water/Rock dual typing. However, it received a regional variant in Generation 8 which does evolve, and is much more effective.
Galarian Corsola 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:also has a total of 410, although it is distributed differently with more of an emphasis on its Defenses than its HP and Speed. It also gets the bonus of being able to hold an Eviolite to make it even bulkier. When it evolves, Galarian Corsola's new form, Cursola, has a base stat total of a cool 510, but you'd probably be better off keeping it in its original state.
11 🅺 Ponyta (410)
Another Pokemon that received a Galarian form is Ponyta, although its original form, Kantonian Ponyta, evolves too. Both regional variants of Ponyta have a total of 410, and they're actually distributed the same way.
Interestingly, both Kantonian and Galarian Rapidash have the same stat distribution as well. When choosing which form of Ponyta you might use for something, it's at least nice to know the stat distribution doesn't change, so you can focus on other factors.
Kantonian Ponyta is only available in Sword & Shield through an in-game trade or by transferring from older generations, but you're guaranteed a shiny version in Pokemon Legends: Arceus
10 𓆉 Dunsparce (415) 🧸
Despite its status as a joke Pokemon (Jokemon?), fans have been clamoring for an evolution of everyone's favorite land snake. And while people have either loved or hated Dundunsparce, a new evolution means that Dunsparce is more effective than ever 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:in the Paldea region.
Built with HP in mind, most of Dunsparce's 415 stat total is about being bulky and taking advantage of paralysis and flinching. With an Eviolite, Dunsparce's Defense and Special Defense jump to 105 and 98 respectively, both higher than Dundunsparce. And since it can heal itself with Roost, this just means more opportunities for Dunsparce to do what it does best.
9 Poipole (ꦬ420𓆉)
The only Ultra Beast that's part of an evolutionary line is Poipole. As a result, this Ultra Beast has a high base stat total for a first-stage Pokemon, even if none of its individual stats are particularly impressive with a high of 73.
Poipole has a total of 420, the lowest of all the Ultra Beasts. Unfortunately, this trend continues after evolving into Naganadel where it has a total of 540 while every other Ultra Beast has exactly 570. But don't worry, Naganadel can still hold its own with massive Speed and Special Attack stats.
8 🐬 Sneasel (430)
The fastest unevolved Pokemon that's part of an evolutionary line is Sneasel, with its fantastic base Speed stat of 115 and the original form shares that with it Hisuian equivalent. The big difference is the typing. Sure, they both have quadruple weakness, but Hisuian Sneasel only has three total weaknesses while Johtonian Sneasel has six.
As for their base stat totals, they both sit at a respectable 430. This high of a total makes both forms very useful even before they evolve with high Speed and Attack. However, Johtoni♍an and Hisuain Sneasel get decent boosts in both of those stats when they evolve into Weavile and Sneasler respectfully.
7 𓂃 Gligar (430)
Joining Sneasel in the Generation 2 Pokemon that got an evolution in the fourth generation is Gligar, a Flying/Ground-type. Gligar also has the same total but it heavily favors Defense with an impressive 105 base stat i❀n that area.
Since Sneasel and Gligar are somewhat counterparts, it's unsurprising that the latter's evolution is similar to Sneasel's. Gliscor also has a total of 510, again with an emphasis on Defense like Gligar. However, it also gets a much better Attack stat as well as an awesome ability in Poison Heal, so it is probably worth evolving Gligar despite its impressive bulk.
6 🌳 💙Misdreavus (435)
The third Johto Pokemon that already had respectable stats before receiving a Sinnoh evolution is Misdreavus. T⭕he only Ghost-type introduced in Gen 2, Misdreavus boasted a base stat total of 435. It has an interesting and unusual distribution of these stats: 60 in HP, Attack, and Defense, and 85 in Speed, Special Attack, and Special Defense.
Even though it sits five points ahead of Sneasel and Gligar, its evolution, Mismagius, doesn't measure up to the jump in stats that those two receive. Mismagius has a total of 495 and only its Special stats and Speed increase. Its HP, attack, and defense are the same as Misdreavus'.