It's 1996, and you’re looking to determine which Pokemon you can go the distance with. You've memorized the type chart, spent hours trying to find Mew, and are ready to jump into competitive Pokemon. Fortunately, we’ve spent exorbitant amounts of time playing, breeding, studying, and writing about Pokemon, so we can get you moving in the right direction.
Whether your goal is to take down the Elite Four in a breeze, dazzle your friends, or make your team the best one in your local game store, these are the Pokemon from Generation 1 you’ll want to keep in your party for the best results. No legendary Pokemon are included in this list. Otherwise, this list would 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:begin and end with Mewtwo, the strongᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚꦕest Pokemon of Generation 1, without question.
Updated November 18, 2022 by Doruk Kaptan: The newest Generation of Pokemon games is almost out 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:with Scarlet and Violet, and it's a great time to look back on the original batch to see how far things have come. These are classic monsters that many of us remember fondly, but were they strong in their prime?
To be fair, Generation One is one of the worst formats you can play in, considering the broken mechanics, janky effects, and outdated design philosophies. Despite that, though, there is a certain nostalgia in indulging yourself in the chaos and using old-school Pokemon. Here are the best ones to consider for your team.
15 Dodrio
Dodrio has unfortunately 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:never been under the spotlight for too long, which is a shame consid🍒ering how cool the design itsel💜f is. However, in Gen 1, Dodrio filled a strong niche. It was extremely fast and hit really hard with a respectable attack stat of 110. Its speed increased its critical hit chance as well, which is what makes it great.
With a move set of Body Slam, Drill Peck and Hyper Beam, Dodrio is an absolute crit-machine. Not many Pokemon manage to stand in its way, onlﷺy being walled by Rhydon and Golem. Its main drawback is its frailty though, as it struggles to take even neutral hits. Once you manage to dispatch the walls though, Dodrio can shred through a team with ease.
14 Lapras
Lapras is as close as you can get to a Special tank in Gen 1. It's got great HP and good Special stats. It also has access to great moves in Blizzard and Thunderbolt. The ability to induce sleep with Sing is also invaluable, as Lapras is sure to be able to take a few hits.
Unfortunately, Lapras is far from perfect. Its water typing doesn't do it any favors except give it an Electric-type weakness. It's also not resistant to the ever-present Psychic. While Lapras is decent, it's generally better to use Starmie in its role. At least it can carry you around 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:as Ash's did all those years ago.
13 ⛎ 𒐪Victreebel
Many trainers look for Pokemon that can deal incredible amounts of damage in a single attack. Big numbers are always more impressive to a newcomer engaging in combat, and in casual play, it's a solid strategy. In higher levels of play, though, some of the most annoying Pokemon aren't the ones that KO you in a single blow but the ones that make you wish you were KO'd.
Victreebel is in that second category. Its stats aren't bad at all for a mixed attacker and is only held back by its typing, being weak to the format staples Blizzard and Psychic. It is, however, great at making your opponent hate the game under the right circumstances. It has access to both Wrap and Sleep Powder, incredibly strong moves in Gen 1, if not straight-up broken, making it a decent utility option.
12 Jynx
Blizzard and Psychic are quite likely the two most commonly used moves in the Red and Blue competitive scene. Jynx makes a name for itself by using both with a STAB bonus and a great Special stat. As if that's not enough, Jynx also has access to sleep with Lovely Kiss and is the second fastest Pokemon that has access to the status.
Jynx has paper-thin physical defense though, so it should be used with caution. Leading with it to put the opposing Pokemon to sleep before dishing out strong Psychics an🌟d Blizzards is the way to go.
11 Cloyster
Cloyster is an interesting Pokemon. While it's mainly a one-trick pony nowadays, usually used with Shell Smash, it used to be a very flexible Pokemon. It has access to Blizzard, Explosion, Rest, and Hyper Beam, all very useful moves. Its main attack is usually Clamp though.
Newer players may not even know what this move is, but it was ✱amazing back in Gen 1. It fu༺nctioned like Wrap, practically locking an enemy Pokemon out of using their moves. This can be used to cripple the likes of Snorlax and Tauros, and combined with a sky-high Defense stat, Cloyster becomes a very good out to these threats.
10 Gengar
Aside from having one of the most messed up Pokedex entries🦩 among ghost Pokemon, Gengar is a nice addition to a team in most formats. At first glance, Gengar may be mistaken for a special sweeper due to its stats, but that's not the case in Generation One. Gengar is weirdly a tank in Red and Blue, used to counter strong Normal-type attacks like Body Slam and Explosion as well as make Wrap users useless thanks to its unique Ghost typing.
There are pros and cons to any Pokemon, and there are reasons to debate including a 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Ghost-type Pokemon at all in Gen 1. While Gengar is weak to the common Earthquake and Psychic, the capability to completely wall certain P⛦okemon and dispense Hypnosis as fast as it c🍬an is usually worth it.
9 Slowbro
This derpy-looking Pokemon🐽 was a beast back in Generation 1, mostly due to a game mechanic. See, back in Red and Blue, the Special stat was singular, acting as both Special Attack and Special Defense. This, combined with the move Amnesia, which boosts Special by two, makes Slowbro an amazingly strong option.
On top of becoming stronger with each Amnesia, Slowbro also becomes more durable against i༒ts greatest weakness, being Electric-type attacks. Unfortunately, with crit rates being so high in Gen 1, Slowbro never quite becomes unstoppable but is surely a worthy set-up sweeper.
8 Jolteon
With how varied 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Eevee’s evolutionary tree is, you're bound to find one of its evolved forms on any list that examines useful Pokemon. For this one, Jolteon is the obvious pick. Jolteon is a critical hit machine with a speed of 130 and a special attack of 110. Thus, it has one of the strongest Thunderbolts in the game.
It can revenge kill Tauros, threaten leads such as Alakazam and Jynx with thunder Wave, and be overall annoying for your opponent. Jolteon's kryptonite is Ground-types. Unfortunately, both Golem and Rhydon are commonly used in Gen 1 teams, so you'll have to find the right time to start firing off your Thunderbolts.
7 Exeggutor
Sleep is incredibly effective in Gen 1, even more so than in later Generations. It can last up to seven turns, leaving a Pokemon potentially locked out of combat for their entire time in battle. Exeggutor boasts a move set that makes it one of the better Pokemon in the format. Its stats aren't bad either, with the Special stat being the highest.
Exeggutor not only has access to sleep and the format staple Psychic but also an array of other attacks. Explosion is probably its most unique tool, allowing it to take threats down with it. It also has Stun Spore and Hyper Beam for versatility. Ge🦄nerally though, Sleep Powder, Psychic, and Explosion are more than enough to make Exeggutor a beast.
6 Starmie
In terms of flexibility in battle, it's hard to beat Starmie. It boasts high Speed and Special stats, allowing it to contest many other threats in the game. Its biggest weakness is a low HP, but that hardly matters when its move set allows it to balance that weakness out.
A great tool Starmie has access to is Recover, a move that few Pokemon in Gen 1 learn. This, combined with access to Thunder Wave, makes it somewhat of a bootleg Alakazam in terms of effectiveness but with more defensive capabilities. It also has access to the trifecta of Blizzard, Psychic, and Thunderbol🌞t, which are the best m𝓡oves you can have in Generation One.