Evolution often works wonders in the world of Pokémon, giving your team members a boost to their stats, a new design,ꦛ access to different moves, and even new typing. Typically, evolution is a nice꧑ little bump to an already-good Pokémon.

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Sometimes, though, a Pokémon168澳洲幸运5开奖网: needs to evolve to be at all viable. Some species are truly terrible until they've evolved into a useable form. This is either because of their terrible stats or abilities, or sometimes even t😼heir typing. Here are some of the best examples of these types of Pokémon — the ones that are useless until they evolve.

Updated November 25th, 2020 by Michael Christopher: The world of Pokemon is always growing, and with two new rounds of DLC released for Pokemon Sword & Shield, many older-generation Pokemon have returned to the main series and the competitive scene. We thought it'd be worth the time to revisit this list and have a look at a few other candidates for it. 

15 Swinub

swinub piloswine mamoswine pokemon sword and shield

Swinub isn't the worst Pokémon to ever exist, but it is definitely useless before it evolves. As a Ground/Ice-type, it definitely has a unique and interesting type combination. Unfortunately, it isn't that useful alongsidಌe its base stat total of a measly 250.

That total will more than double when it evolves to its final stage, Mamoswine, who has a base stat total of 530, includin💦g a beastly 130 attack and 110 HP. Even as a Piloswine, the middle stage, this Pokémon is better, with a stat total of 450 and access to much better moves.

14 Combee

combee pokemon

On🌃e of the more interesting evolution mechanics introduced over the years is gender-locked evolutionary lines. Some Pokémon, like Combee, only evolve when they are female. The males can never evolve. Unfortunately, those male Combee will have a tough time ever making headway in battle, because they aren't great Pokémon.

Combee only ꧑has a base stat total of 244, a good chunk of which goes to speed. It's great to have a high speed stat, but it's not very helpful when the rest of its stats are so low and it only has access to four moves. Evolve the female Combee into a Vespiquen and you'll be much better positioned to win a battle.

13 Sunkern

sunkern in the pokemon anime

For more than 15 years, Sunkern proudly held the title of the Pokémon with the single lowest base stat total, measuring only 180 in all. In 2016, Sun & Moon would release, finally freeing Sunkern from this title and instead handing it to Wishiwashi, wit🎶h its base stat total of only 175.

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However, that d🔴oesn't mean Sunkern isn't still to🅷tally useless. It has exactly 30 in each stat, and will basically fall to all attacks. It doesn't get much better when it evolves into Sunflora, but it's at least somewhat viable.

12 Snom

Pokemon Sword Shield Snom Group Stampede
Pokemon Snom Group Stampede

One of the most beloved fan-favorite Pokémon in the new Generation VIII games is the Ice/Bug-type Snom. But, for what Snom has in adorableness, it lacks i💝n competitive viability. This poor little bug is very weak, with a base stat total of only 185.

However, evolve it into a Frosmoth and you have a beautiful new Pokémon with a stat total o♋f 475, inclu𝔉ding a beautiful 125 in special attack. Watch out for Fire- and Rock-type moves, though, as it's double-weak to both.

11 Kubfu

A trainer recieving a grumpy Kubfu in Pokémon Sword & Shield

With the release of the Isle of Armor DLC expansion, Cosmog finally has a fellow friend who is both Legendary and part of an evolutionary🌠 family: Kubfu. This small Fighting-type bear will evolve into one of two forms of Urshifu, dependi🌸ng on which tower the player trains it in.

Before it evolves, Kubfu is not very good. It has a base stat t✃otal that's pretty low and isn't fantastic in battle. Both of its evolutionary forms are great, though, with new typing and much higher stats.

10 Cosmog

This galaxy-like little cloud is actually the first time a legendary Pokémon has belonged to an evolutionary family. It's a good thing, too, because if Cosmog remained in its base form, it would be really bad. It evolves into Cosmoem (and switches from 168澳洲幸运5开𒁃奖网:one of the lightest P🌜okémon to the heaviest, hilariously) and then i𒐪nto either Lunala or Solgaleo, depending on your game.

With a base stat total of 200, Cosmog has some of the lowest stꦕats in the games. It also only learns Splash and Teleport. Grind that little guy up to level 53, and one of two fantastic Legendaries can be yours.

9 🧔 Pseudo-Legendaries 🙈

Every pseudo-Legendary (a fan term for extremely powerful Pokémon that meet certain specific requirements) is a three-stage line. Pokémon like Dratini, Larvitar, and Dreepy will eventually become huge behemoths with extremely-high base stat totals and ver🌳y powerful attacks.

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But until they evolve, they're not great. They're not the wors🌺t Pokémon in existence, but they won't get you very far in battle. Some, like Dreepy and Jangmo-o, benefit from good typing. But overall, you'lඣl definitely want to level up these Pokémon as quickly as possible.

8 Seedot

Shiftry and Ludicolo are not the most amazing Pokémon you'll ever encounter, but they're pretty decent and very ꦺuseful in a lot of playthroughs. Most people are probably happy to have either of them on a team when playing through Ruby & Sapphire.

But, in their base s𒁃tage, they're horrible. Seedot and Lotad have terribly low base stat totals, and neither has access to some of the better moves of their types. Lotad does take the edge here over Seedot, though, because its two types cover some of each other's weaknesses.

7 Ralts

St𒀰aying in the early routes of the Hoenn region alongside Seedot and Lotad, you'll find Ralts. It's honestly a bit of a surprise that a Pokémon that will evolve to something so powerful can be found so early. Ralts is one of the worst Pokémon in the franchise, with a 198 base stat total and not much use.

Once you get your Ralts to evolve into its final form, though, you've got a powerful team member. Gardevoir and Gallade are both great Pokémon, but Gardevoir ൲is often considered one of the best.

6 Zubat

From the number of Rocket grunts that utilize Zubat in battle, you'd think that it was a halfway decent Pokémon. But sadly, the smart Zubat trainers who evolve theirs into Crobat are the few geniuses among them. Zubat is really bad before it evolves𒁃.

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If you can spam enough Supersoni🐎cs on y🉐our enemies like the wild Zubats like to do, you'll eventually be able to evolve it into Crobat. This speed demon on wings is a fantastic choice for your team. Crobat has great stats (especially its speed stat) and is a fine addition to any playthrough.