Pokémon is one of the most popular franchises of all time. Starting out as a video game, the series developed into a card game, a highly successful anime, and a successful movie series. While several 90s franchises have declined in popularity, Pokémon continues to remain successful, with highly anticipated video game releases every other year.
As the series has been running for the best part of two decades and 890 Pokémon have been released in this time, there are several individual Pokémon that are generally considered to be awful, either from a design point of view or a gaming perspective. What is worse, though, is when a Pokémon starts out life as a promising first stage evolution before then turning into something that’s either useless or ugly.
Sobble
This entry will be controversial among Pokémon fans. The water type starter Pokémon from generation 8 was hugely popular when it was originally announced, with fans loving the goofy looking design of the creature.
However, some fans were split at seeing Sobble’s final evolution, Inteleon. Many believed that the Pokémon didn’t look like a Pokémon, with some even suggesting that its design was unimaginative.
Chansey
Chansey is one of the most iconic Pokémon designs of all time, with the pink Pokémon being closely related to Nurse Joy in the animated series. Chansey does indeed evolve into Blissey, but doing so would be pointless in terms of strengthening a Pokémon team for battle.
Rather than evolving a Chansey into a Blissey, it would make far more sense to simply give a Chansey an Eviolite, greatly boosting its defense and special defense stats, making it far more difficult to kill than a Blissey.
Glameow
For those who may not be too familiar with Glameow, the cat Pokémon is an adorable and fancy looking cat Pokémon. However, while Glameow is adorable, it’s evolution is a Purugly and, as the name suggests, it’s not a pretty Pokémon.
While Purugly certainly has its advantages in Pokémon battles and can pack a punch, evolving a cute cat into a Purugly is something that ought to be avoided.
Oddish
Oddish is an adorable little plant creature. The little guy is often at the start of a new player’s adventure, and its happy little demeanor is bound to draw in some admirers. However, evolve this creature at your own peril.
While Oddish is adorable, it evolves into Gloom, one of the ugliest and most disgusting looking creatures in the Pokémon universe.
Murkrow
Murkrow is far from the most famous Pokémon, but if used correctly in battle it can be a tricky little pest to deal with. A Murkrow can be given an Eviolite, which boosts its defense and special defense, making it a particularly tough nut to crack.
Further, its hidden ability of prankster means it can use status moves at +1 priority. This means Murkrow can use moves such as Confuse Ray and Feather Dance to weaken an opponent. However, evolving a Murkrow into a Honchkrow is far more difficult to use well in battle.
Dusclops
Dusclops, similar to Chansey and Murkrow, is another Pokémon that benefits greatly from an Eviolite to boost its defensive stats. With the Eviolite equipped, a Dusclops has higher defensive stats than its evolution, Dusknoir.
Consequently, Dusclops with Eviolite makes for a brilliant defensive wall, being able to absorb several attacks and weaken opponents in return. The Pokémon also features some defensive moves such as Will O Wisp that will make any physical attack barely leave a scratch.
Pikachu
Naturally, Pikachu had to make this list. The mascot of the Pokémon brand is difficult to evolve for any fan, with many feeling an attachment to the mid stage evolution. However, aside from sentimentality, there are practical reasons to stick with a Pikachu.
The first is that a Pikachu gets its attack stats boosted when holding the Light Ball, making it potentially pack more punch than a Raichu. Further, Pikachu also has its own Z-Move, as well as various different cosplay Pikachu variants.
Yamper
Yamper is one of the most adorable Pokémon to ever grace a Nintendo game system. Based on the insanely cute Corgi dog breed, this electric type Pokémon captured millions of hearts when it was announced as part of generation 8.
While it’s evolution, Boltund, isn’t exactly ugly, it’s far from the adorable little Corgi that Pokémon fans around the world had come to love.
Tepig
This one will almost certainly be controversial, as Tepig and its evolution line is one of the most popular fire type starter Pokémon. However, it’s a real shame that this adorable little piglet evolves into a massive, angry looking pig.
It would be impossible to blame a trainer for refusing to allow their Tepig to evolve, keeping the cute little piglet around forever. Even though Tepig's final evolution can work well in battle, in terms of design, it's a huge let down from the promising first stage evolution.
Rowlet
In a similar manner to the Tepig entry, Rowlet is simply too adorable to evolve. The Pokémon is the perfect round shape, combined with a perpetually happy face that never seems to look upset.
While the future evolutions of the Pokémon are fine, in terms of design, there is simply no topping the iconic ‘cuteness’ that is inherent within the first stage evolution of the gen 7 grass starter Pokémon.