March 6th will bring the North American release of both Pokémon Black and Pokémon White for the Nintendo DS, and we’ve decided to re-cast our votes and update our list of the Top 25 Pokémon of All-Time! Last time around, Mew came out on top, while you readers voiced your surprise that the famous Charizard was nowhere to be found. This time, voting has been opened to all 649 Pokémon spread out over five generations… but has anything changed?
We continue this week’s countdown after the break, where we take a look at our picks for #20 through #16. As usual, we’ll reveal a little bit more of the list each day for the rest of the week, leading to our current pick as our favorite Pokémon of all-time on Saturday evening! Which five Pokémon grace our list today? Click on to find out!
#20 – Lugia
Who’s That Pokémon?
Lugia is known as the Guardian of the Seas. The Diving Pokémon, as it is called, appears when storms brew and uses its abilities to calm those storms. Ironically, Lugia possesses enough power to cause a 40-day storm with the flaps of its own wings and so chooses to live at the bottom of the sea in order to protect the above world from devastation.
According to a Shamouti prophecy, if the harmony among Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres was ever to be disturbed, they and their legendary might would wreak destruction upon the world. A Chosen One that would then help to awaken Lugia and raise it from the depths of the great ocean waters in order to save world. Melody, a girl from Shamouti in the Orange Islands, performed Lugia’s Song at the Shamouti Shrine, helping Lugia to calm the legendary bird trio.
Why did we pick it?
The mascot of Pokémon Silver and its DS remake SoulSilver, Lugia earned a spot on this list as one of our favorite Legendary Pokémon. Prior to the the release of SoulSilver, Lugia was only available to owners of the DS games through promotional events making this Pokémon rare and in high demand. Lugia also stared in an important role in the second Pokémon feature film, Pokémon: The Movie 2000, and appears several times in the anime on television. As the fabled leader of the legendary bird trio, there are a lot of reasons to like Lugia.
#19 – Jirachi
Who’s That Pokémon?
Jirachi sleeps for a thousand years at a time. When sung to with a voice of purity, the Wish Pokémon will awaken from its slumber for a period of seven days. Any wishes written on the notes attached to its head will be granted. Jirachi will then go back to sleep within the protection of a crystalline shell.Should Jirachi sense significant danger, it will fight and defend itself — without awakening.
In the anime, Jirachi’s awakening coincides with the passing of the Millenium Comet, visible from the Pokémon World for seven nights at a time every thousand years. Jirachi absorbs energy from the passing comet and slowly releases that energy back into the land, keeping the ecosystem in balance.
In the video games, Jirachi is one of the very few Pokémon that cannot be found naturally. During the Game Boy Advance era, Jirachi was available to a limited number of players via local distribution at Pokémon Center stores around the world and special downloads from GameCube discs. Since the release of the Pokémon games for the Nintendo DS, Jirachi has become more widely available thanks to wireless and Wi-Fi distribution.
Why did we pick it?
Jirachi is the Hoenn equivalent of Mew, Celebi, Manaphy, and Victini. It’s also the closest thing in the Pokémon world to a resemble a “genie” Pokémon… at least until the Unova games. It’s a minuscule twelve inches in height and two-and-a-half pounds in weight, and somehow this little guy can command the powers of the universe to grant any and all wishes asked of it… provided the wish is made by someone pure of heart. Like each of the “cute” legendaries, Jirachi also comes with a fantastic backstory, something which some of the countless legendaries in the newer games sadly lack.
#18 – Rhyperior
Who’s That Pokémon?
Rhyperior is the final form of Rhyhorn, and is known as the drill Pokémon. Weighing at over 600 pounds and sporting a carapace that can withstand volcanic eruptions, Rhyperior will intimidate all who encounter it. Interestingly enough, Rhyperior packs even more punch thanks to the holes in its palms: by placing rocks (or even Geodude) in those holes, Rhyperior can flex its muscles to shoot those rocks (and Geodude) out at targets like a high-speed missile.
Why did we pick it?
You have to applaud Rhyperior for sticking to his guns. Why mess around with all these silly special attacks and defenses? That half of the Poké-battles is best left to leaf eaters and the velcro shoed. Rhyperior has some of the highest HP, attack, and defense in the entire game. Which means his engine is running on unfiltered, unadulterated, 100 percent pure diesel hatred. They can fire rocks directly out of their palms, making Spider-Man look like… well.. like Spider-Man. Throw him in a volcano? He doesn’t care! Hit him with a bus? Hope you have insurance. Say one bad word about his mother? Well, no one has gotten back to me on that one. Because. They. Are. Probably too scared.
#17 – Alakazam
Who’s That Pokémon?
Alakazam’s brain grows continually from birth to death. This presents a problem for Alakazam, whose muscles are actually very weak. To cope, Alakazam uses its psychokinetic powers to support the weight of its head and even to move its legs around.
With an IQ of 5,000, the Psi Pokémon’s brain is capable of outperforming a supercomputer. By closing its eyes, Alakazam can actually heighten its other senses and use its powers to the extreme. In fact, these powers were said to create the spoons that Alakazam clutches in its hands, which — subsequently — greatly increase its psychic ability even further.
Why did we pick it?
Boasting one of the highest special attack stats in the Pokémon series, Alakazam’s psychic abilities are rarely matched. The final evolution of the elusive Abra, Alakazam is a powerful ally in any trainer’s party. Alakazam is also unique in that it was one of the earliest Pokémon to evolve in a special way. In the first generation of games, Alakazam was one of a handful of Pokémon that only evolved during a trade, encouraging trainers to try out the trading dynamic that the franchise is now well-known for.
#16 – Snorlax
Who’s That Pokémon?
While Snorlax are supposed to be found in mountains, they can often be found deep in forests, conveniently blocking pathways. Their busy schedule consists almost entirely of eating and sleeping, as a Snorlax weighs over half a ton and yet manages to eat almost its own weight in food each day and can be found snoring away pretty much any other time. According to Snorlax’s Pokédex entry, it is such a docile Pokémon that little children will come to play on its large belly. In the anime, Snorlax remains a part of Ash’s reserves, spending most of its time back at Professor Oak’s lab (which saves Ash quite a bit of money on food). Snorlax was called upon several times for crucial battles, including some against his former rival, Gary.
Why did we pick it?
I’m convinced that Snorlax was Japan’s way of poking fun at Americans. Or at least Milwaukee. Poor Snorlax was also forced to be the gaming cliché equivalent of that pesky boulder blocking your path in several of the games. Snorlax might get the shaft with respect around the Pokéworld, but we embrace our big, burly, and adorable Snorlax around these parts.Think about it this way, which would you rather snuggle up with at night- the alarmingly skinny and rock hard Kabutops, or the super soft and snugly Snorlax? That’s what we thought.
Alright, with Snorlax out of the way, that’s a load off! Be sure to check back here tomorrow night as we continue counting down our favorite Pokémon all the way down to our #1 all-time favorite on the eve of the North American launch of Pokémon Black and White, coming March 6th! Be sure to leave some comments below regarding your thoughts on these picks, and your predictions for the rest of the list!
