The first generation of Pokémon introduced the world to 151 unique species of Pocket Monsters. Many of these Pokémon remain some of the most popular in the series. This could be for several reasons: nostalgia, design, strength, etc. Certain Kanto Pokémon were initially powerful and fell out of favor as more creatures entered the series. Others, though, stayed powerful. Some of these are meta-relevant even today.
Information such as stats, abilities, and available moves are accessible through Serebii.net. Stats for Pokémon sometimes change, so their current stats should be the ones taken into account. Legendary and Mythical Pokémon would be among the strongest in the region, but if players want to know the strongest creatures that are more accessible, these should be excluded from the evaluation.
Arcanine
Classified as the "Legendary Pokémon" despite not actually being a Legendary Pokémon, Arcanine is one of the strongest Fire-types in the Kanto region. Its high Attack and Special Attack make it an offensive powerhouse, and its Speed allows it to take out opponents before they can strike.
Even if it does not outspeed, though, Arcanine is known for its use of the Normal-type attack Extreme Speed, which is a powerful priority move. Although Arcanine does not benefit from a Same Type Attack Bonus with this move, its high Attack stat paired with the move's great power make it incredibly useful.
Venusaur
The first Pokémon in the Pokédex, Bulbasaur, evolves into the powerful Venusaur. As the best Grass/Poison-type in a region with many, Venusaur is incredibly strong. Bulbasaur is even considered by some to be the best starter Pokémon in Generation I, largely due to its final evolution.
This Pokémon has a fairly even stat distribution, with slightly higher Special stats. This makes it a consistent competitor, able to take attacks of either category and strike back with great force. An extremely strong Kanto Pokémon, Venusaur earns its place as one of the most recognizable Grass-types in the series.
Dragonite
As a pseudo-Legendary and one the cutest Flying-type Pokémon, Dragonite has the highest base stat total in Kanto, barring Legendary and Mythical Pokémon. Although it is extremely vulnerable to Ice-type attacks, Dragonite is capable of taking out a majority of the competition. Its lowest stat is its Speed, which is still relatively high.
With an exceptional Attack stat, Dragonite can use moves like Dragon Rush and Outrage to tear through opponents. In addition, Dragonite's high defensive stats enable it to absorb damage very well. It may look cute, but Dragonite is a destructive force that can withstand the mightiest of blows from other creatures.
Exeggutor
Exeggutor is one of the more surprising when it comes to powerful Kanto Pokémon. Its dual-typing of Grass/Psychic, while unique, leaves it vulnerable to a variety of types. This can be limiting, but Exeggutor can shine when they are involved in proper matchups that emphasize their strengths as a character.
Although it is not incredibly fast, it can take neutral damage and last long enough to unleash powerful Special moves. If opponents can defend against Special damage well, Exeggutor also has a fairly high Attack stat. Overall, Exeggutor is a great combatant and is very capable of holding its own in neutral battles.
Gyarados
The most famous example of a weak Pokémon evolving into a strong one is Magikarp to Gyarados. While Magikarp's stats are abysmal, Gyarados's are fantastic. Its high Attack stat makes it a fearsome competitor, and its other stats, except for Special Attack, make it a well-rounded figure.
It has access to many powerful Physical attacks like Waterfall, Aqua Tail, and Thrash, making it a terrifying opponent for those that do not have a high Defense stat. Unfortunately, it does have some unfortunate weaknesses, like an extreme vulnerability to Electric, that prevents it from being the most desirable character for players to choose. Aside from this deficiency, Gyarados's intimidating appearance suits it well and has worthy qualities.
Charizard
Perhaps the most famous fully evolved starter in the entire franchise, Charizard is also one of the Kanto region's strongest Pokémon. Even eight generations into the series, Charizard is still considered one of the coolest Fire-type Pokémon.
With above-average Speed and Special Attack stats, this beast can move faster than a large number of combatants and defeat them easily. Its Fire/Flying dual-typing leaves it incredibly vulnerable to Rock-type attacks, but in many other matchups, Charizard comes out on top. It is a fan favorite for many reasons, and one of these is its great strength. The creature can easily fight many foes, making it a good option for players to pick if they need a reliable Pokémon on their team.
Snorlax
A Pokémon that is known for its bulk, Snorlax can be incredibly frustrating to fight. It has a great Special Defense stat and a great Attack stat. Although its Defense is fairly low, Snorlax can often withstand attacks of this category due to its excellent HP. A popular strategy with Snorlax is to use the move Belly Drum, which cuts the user's HP in half but maximizes its Attack.
This is popular with players because with Snorlax's high HP, the Belly Drum move often does not bother it. Even if Fighting-type moves are used against it, Snorlax can often take several attacks before going down in battle.
Machamp
Marchamp is still considered one of the best Fighting-types in the series and with good reason. It has an excellent Attack stat, meaning it can utilize most Fighting-type moves to devastating effect. Every attack it learns from leveling up is Physical, which helps it greatly.
Machamp can also have the ability No Guard, which causes all moves used by or against Machamp to be perfectly accurate, barring certain circumstances. While this makes Machamp more vulnerable to attacks, it also allows it to use stellar moves like Dynamic Punch and Cross Chop without fear of missing.
Lapras
One of several Water/Ice-types in Kanto, Lapras rises above the rest. Although these other Pokémon are certainly underrated, there are reasons why Lapras is often remembered above them. It has an exceptional HP stat and a fairly even and relatively high stat spread otherwise, making it bulky and able to deal extensive damage. While its Speed is unimpressive, Lapras does not need it. It rarely gets taken out in one hit, and with access to some strong Water and Ice attacks, it can retaliate with great power.
Blastoise
The only fully evolved Kanto starter with a single type, Blastoise is in a unique position compared to its peers. Pure Water typing gives Blastoise only two weaknesses, but it also means it does not benefit from a Same Type Attack Bonus on more than one type.
This limits the Pokémon's offensive capabilities but also makes it more defensively viable. In addition, Blastoise has a fairly even stat spread, with more emphasis put into its Defense and Special Defense. This solidifies the creature's status as one of the best Pokémon to use if a player's strategy is more defensive than offensive.