Hall of Fame

Zapatos "Zap" the Pikachu

Zap is a lovely little boy and between Thunder Wave and Flash, great at making opponents useless (helpful for jumping around the world underleveled.) He has a real problem not dying if he skips the setup though. I wish the game would still love him if he evolved, because I would.

Kratos the Primeape

He's not named after God of War but he's not not, I guess. I've always been a big Primeape fan but this is the first time I've actually used one. Wish he wasn't hampered by terrible gen 1 movesets. (If his always-crit Karate Chop had STAB? Untouchable.)

Astra the Rapidash

I think I'm lowkey a horse girl, if there's any way to be a lowkey horse girl. Used her because I've been thinking about what team I'd have in, like, a trainer-sona kinda way, and Rapidash is probably my favorite Flame Body Pokémon.

Kaiba the Rhyhorn

I think Rhyhorn is underrated. Just look at them. Their gen 1 back sprite on the other hand...

Wyvern the Starmie

Starmie's just really cool. And in gen 1, way OP. And I've never used one, so I decided they'd be my surfer.

Skeledirge

When they revealed the starters I wasn't sure who I'd pick (not Quaxly) though I tend to pick fire (but not overwhelmingly). At launch I checked their evolutions and that cinched it. (If meowscarada was cooler (quadrapedal? I love furry Pokémon, but I think they'd be better off) I cetainly could've gone that way (though all three of the people I play with went Sprigatito, which is a point in the crocs favor).) He's a sick little guy with a sick little bird and some of the most embarassing teens I've ever seen in a Pokémon (and that's saying something).

Pawmot

I didn't care for Pawmi when it was revealed. I don't care for most Pika clones, I guess. I caught one before the lighthouse, and kept her on my team on a whim. It wasn't long before I fell in love with her and now Pawmot is my favorite gen 9 Pokémon. I think if she hadn't evolved (like the other pikas), she probably wouldn't have stayed with me long. I love how cute and small Pawmi/o are but then she evolves into the cutest, most anime little cleric I've ever seen? Revival Blessing is so cool; I love this little defibrilator bitch.

Oinkologne

Lechonk is the cutest mofo. Look at those ears. She was the first addition to my team, and though I thought of replacing her a few times, she stayed with me the whole game. I went in blindish (I saw all the official reveals but nothing between launch and getting the game ('cept for starters)), but I was told she had gendered evolutions. I didn't check 'em but chance gave me the good one imo. (I firmly believe they should be normal/ground. At least after evolving.)

Tauros

I accidentally spoiled these guys for myself doing other things on Bulbapedia. And I knew I would have one on my team. I love OG Tauros (underrated). So with a team already full of fighting types and a fire starter I got the Violet breed and kicked palafin off the team to shove him in there. Worth it. I love goth Tauros. My only complaint is the breeds should have more color in their manes. They'd be so sick.

Baxcalibur

Frigibax was an ugly little surprise when I found him and I instantly fell in love. Arctibax is very cool and I almost wish I'd caught Frigibax at a lower level; he was fully evolved pretty quick. But I love my big kaiju and his big stupid Glaive Rush animation.

Toedscool

oh my god look at him run. I love him so much. Frankly I think the mimic Pokémon should've just been regional forms, but as soon as I saw him move I fell in love. Unfortunately, without evolving he was lagging behind the team so he was the one who got booted when I discovered Scream Tail.

Scream Tail

What if Jigglypuff was a rockin' vampire? Yes please?

Ariados

Basically my DLC starter. I'm more of a Ledyba man, but Spinarak is cute. He's a crit machine. Probably not adding much to the double battle of it all but I love him anyway.

Hisuian Arcanine

Perrin said raise him up strong so I did. Rock Head makes him a real beefy guy (though I prefer og Arcanine, if I'm being honest).

Hydrapple

Dipplin is kinda weak design-wise (applin 2.0) but I didn't use the apple in Galar so why not now? After adding Florges I was thinking of replacing her with a cooler grass type but then I found out she evolved again and beelined to get Dragon Cheer. She's so cute now.

No Hydrapple cards yet :(

Florges

Using Florges in single battles only ever disappoints me. So given the double battle of it all I went and grabbed a shiny from the event outbreaks to take to Blueberry. I love cleric Pokémon even though they don't have as much use as I'd like outside of competitive.

Flygon

Found a full odds shiny Trapinch shortly after arriving in the terrarium so I put him on the team. Flygon's a good lookin' shiny. Earthquake is dangerous, sure, but both Porygon2 and Hydrapple can take it no problem so he rarely has to hold back.

Porygon2

Flygon was the only valid Pokémon I had for Drayton's trial so I grabbed Porygon (and Lapras). I've never given Porygon much thought but I've fallen in love. What a wacky little guy (and a powerhouse). (Unevolved for eviolite, and also because I have mixed feelings about the Dubious Disc.)

Crawdaunt

She was dumped for not fitting into double battles well, but she was my guy in Kitakami and she deserves a shoutout.

Gandalf the Delphox

I took Chespin the first time I played X and I loved him. Picked fennekin this time in the interest of mixing it up. She's objectively cool, and I love her, but she just doesn't have anything on Chesnaught's cute lil face.

Wendy the Delcatty

I love Skitty and Delcatty. I expected to replace her with something cooler (read not Normal type) but actually there isn't anything cooler so she's still here.

Yarne the Azumarill

My love of Azumarill is largely born from my love of fairies but she's cute and Huge Power makes her a beast.

Wilbur the Salamence

Another guy I didn't think would make it to the end. I just really appreciate when psuedo-legends are available early enough to bother training. Just wish Mega Salamence hadn't been an ORAS addition.

Corundum the Carbink

I've never given Carbink a lot of thought but when they popped up in a cave and the camera zoomed in on their face I fell in love.

Art the Xerneas

Deer are my favorite animals and Xerneas is gorgeous so of course I fell in love with them instantly. Needless to say, Art held their own.

AUgust the Skarmory

I'm not usually one to make Victory Road substitutions, but I didn't think Corundum would add much against the Elite Four. Skarmory's cool and I always misremember Diantha as a fairy trainer so he got the spot.

Jet the Pidgeot

Pidgeot is a classic, what can I say. Unimpressive, stat-wise, but just really cool.

Cakester the Wigglytuff

Did my love of Wigglytuff come post gen 6? Of course. Is that gonna stop me from loving her as a normal type? Of course not.

Ryder the Flareon

I can't really pick a favorite eeveelution but I'm definitely a Flareon fan. The time spent grinding out coins at the game corner to get him Flamethrower was annoying but fuck if it didn't instantly make him a beast.

Anastasia the Muk

Muk is one of those sleeper favs for me. I can't tell you why but I just really like this weird lil slime guy. And she has proven impossible to kill, which is neat.

Clams the Cloyster

I don't have a lot of feelings about Cloyster but he performed admirably. And he's pretty cute.

Cola the Electabuzz

Big Electabuzz fan. Is it because we only got one copy of this card from the theater and our mother held on to it in the interest of fairness (and possibly to keep it safe)? Who can say. But I can say that I outlasted them all in love of Pokémon and now it is mine.