Pokémon may have started off as a quirky video game series, but it’s steadily grown into one of the most popular franchises of all time. Pokémon is still incredibly relevant in the video game industry, but the property has evolved beyond that point and also made a strong impression in other areas like anime and a collectible card game. Pokémon continues to change and grow, yet retain its core values and make sure that its infectious world hasn’t lost its charm.
Evolutions are a major part of Pokémon, and they don’t just mark the creatures’ growth in strength, but they can sometimes also redeem Pokémon with undesirable designs. There are plenty of Pokémon that have been written off, only for their evolved forms to make them relevant again.
10 Magikarp Goes From Useless To Dangerous As Gyarados
Arguably the best answer to this list’s central question is Magikarp, a Water-type Pokémon from Generation I that’s literally useless and just flops around in need of help. The whole reason that Magikarp exists is that the Pokémon functions as an exercise in endurance, since those that put in the work with Magikarp are rewarded with Gyarados, who doesn’t just look intimidating and awesome, but it’s also a considerably powerful Pokémon. This Pokémon is a fixture for Misty in the video games, but it’s more an example of how worthwhile Pokémon can hide in impractical packages.
9 Snorunt turns Into A Big Deal Once Its Froslass Form Adds A Ghost-Type To The Equation
Froslass is a Pokémon that debuted in Generation IV that is the rare combination of Ice and Ghost-types. Froslass' design is very creative, and it has the quaint gravitas of a Legendary Pokémon like Celebi or Jirachi, but it's just a regular creature. Froslass is even more memorable and worthwhile because it only evolves from a female Snorunt through the use of a Dawn Stone. It's a strange combination, but it helps turn Snorunt into a Pokémon that actually matters. Froslass is a serious improvement, both in terms of design, abilities, and power.
8 Corphish Isn’t The Catch Of The Day Until It Turns Into Crawdaunt
Corphish is a perfectly satisfactory Water-type Pokémon from Generation III’s Hoenn region, which Ash even happens to capture during his exploits in the anime. There’s nothing special about Corphish and the Crab Pokémon feels interchangeable with other creatures like Krabby. Corphish would be entirely forgettable if not for its evolved form, Crawdaunt.
This new Pokémon still draws its inspiration from shellfish, but it brings something new to the table. Crawdaunt’s design is intimidating, genuinely unique, and depicts a Pokémon that’s built to battle. Corphish, on the other hand, just looks clueless.
7 Feebas’ Journey To Become Milotic Is A True Ugly Duckling Story
There are many disposable Fish Pokémon that feel weak as a result, but they’re also frequently the types of Pokémon that yield huge surprises upon their evolution. Feebas isn’t just a generic Water-type Pokémon, but it’s also got an ugly appearance to it. Its evolved form, Milotic, is the exact opposite and almost looks like a Dragon. Milotic has a creative and elegant design, which is fitting since the Generation III Pokémon initially evolved when its beauty stats were at their apex. However, from Generation V onwards, Milotic is obtained by trading Feebas with a Prism Scale.
6 Dragonair Doesn’t Properly Feel Like A Dragon Until It Becomes Dragonite
Dragon-type Pokémon are some of the rarest and most powerful creatures out there and Ash recently completed one of his long-standing goals in Pokémon Journeys when he caught a Dragonite, and with very little difficulty, at that. Dragon-type Pokémon come in many shapes and sizes, but back during the original games, there were barely any examples. Dragonite feels like what a Dragon Pokémon should look like, whereas his previous forms Dragonair and Dratini, are very lackluster and could even be confused with some kind of Eel Pokémon. Dragonite rights these wrongs.
5 Tynamo Is A Small Fish In A Big Pond Before It Evolves Into Eelektrik
Each new Pokémon title introduces many new water-bound Pokémon and Generation V is no exception. Tynamo is an Electric-Type Pokémon that seriously tests trainers’ patience. It looks like the type of fish that would be used as bait for a Pokémon that’s actually decent.
To make matters worse, Tynamo doesn’t evolve until level 39, which is a very painful experience. Eelektrik actually has a personality and does something interesting with an eel-based Pokémon and its following form, Eelektross has an even more creative design that’s a greater leap away from Tynamo’s roots.
4 Porygon Is An Anomaly That Finally Feels Useful In Its Porygon-Z Form
There are so many diverse Pokémon out there that it’s easy to dismiss some of the ones that come across more like novelties. Porygon is a contentious Pokémon, due to its controversial episode of the anime series, but also with how it’s acquired in the Celadon Game Corner. Porygon and its evolved form, Porygon2, are basically two versions of the same creature. It’s not until its final form, Porygon-Z, that the odd Pokémon gains some personality and seems like it can defend itself in battle. Unfortunately, some trainers have never even seen Porygon-Z since it evolves under such unusual conditions.
3 Magnezone Finally Does Something With Magnemite’s Curious Concept
There’s a trend with many Pokémon from the earlier generations where it’s enough to just multiple the Pokémon for its evolved form. This is the approach taken with the Kanto region’s Magnemite when it turns into Magneton, and it’s a fairly forgettable Pokémon. However, its final form, Magnezone, is introduced generations later and actually applies a unique design that makes the Pokémon and its evolutionary line worthwhile. Magnezone looks like a strange UFO spaceship, and there’s actually an idea that’s present here. In that way, it’s now possible that Magnezone will become even more relevant in future Pokémon games.
2 Exeggcute Grows Into A Worthy Pokémon That’s Not Just A Gimmick
Exeggcute is a Pokémon that goes all the way back to the original games when a simple pun was enough for some Pokémon. There’s not much going on with the disparate group of powerful eggs that Exeggcute represents, but Exeggutor actually grows legs and becomes a useful ally in battle. Exeggutor carries the charm that Exeggcute wishes it had, but it’s also considerably more dangerous as far as Psychic and Grass-type Pokémon are concerned. The regional variants for Exeggutor only do more creative things with this Pokémon’s evolved form.
1 Grimmsnarl Carries The Ominous Dark-Type Energy That Morgrem Lacks
By the time that Generation VIII comes along, the Pokémon series has gone to some ambitious places, especially when it comes to its creature designs. Morgrem is a mischievous Pokémon that's a powerful mix of both Fairy and Dark-type Pokémon. There's an interesting idea present in Morgrem, but he's more cute than dangerous, and the same is true for Impidimp. However, level 42 triggers Grimmsnarl, who is sufficiently frightening and feels like the kind of tyrant that Pokémon trainers fear when they talk about Dark-type Pokémon.
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