With regards to the Pokémon anime, Ash was by no means actually one to implement that “Gotta Catch ‘Em All” angle. Even over the course of 25 years, Ash solely caught a complete of 78 Pokémon, and 30 of these have been Tauros caught in a single episode.
Whereas there are many the explanation why Ash’s comparatively low catch charge was truly a superb factor, followers nonetheless can not help however be disillusioned at among the nice alternatives he is handed up over time. There are fairly a couple of events the place a wild Pokémon was open to being caught, or had strongly bonded with Ash, however Ash in the end did not find yourself catching them. Listed here are 10 such Pokémon that Ash had the chance to catch, however did not, leaving their potential unfulfilled.
10 Beedrill
Episode: Pokémon Gold and Silver, “The Bug Stops Right here”
Whereas within the Johto area, Ash entered a Bug-catching Contest in Ecruteak Metropolis, alongside a recurring coach by the title of Casey. Casey struggled within the Bug-catching Contest, and acquired into hassle along with her Chikorita, pushing it a bit too onerous. Ash, in the meantime, managed to not solely seek out, however truly efficiently caught a Beedrill. This Beedrill was given away to Casey, as thanks for serving to defeat Staff Rocket and since she adores Pokémon with black an yellow stripes, like her favourite baseball crew.
Beedrill would’ve been an attention-grabbing addition to Ash’s Johto crew, and Ash has such a long history of running away from Beedrill that flipping the script and giving him a Beedrill would’ve been pretty attention-grabbing. In the end, Beedrill may need been a bit redundant, since Ash would have Heracross to behave as his Bug-type within the Johto area.
9 Haunter
Episode: Pokémon Indigo League, “The Tower of Terror”
Ash went to Lavender City after dropping to Fitness center Chief Sabrina in hopes of discovering a Ghost-type Pokémon which might assist him to defeat her Psychic-types. There, Ash discovered a haunted tower the place a Gastly, Gengar, and Haunter have been residing. This trio of Ghost-type Pokémon cherished to tug pranks, however the pranks went a bit too far, leading to Ash having an out-of-body experience. Ash and Haunter bonded all through the expertise, resulting in it accompanying him to struggle Sabrina.
As a substitute of capturing Haunter, Ash merely “befriended” it and introduced it with him, though he might very simply have caught it if he needed to. Haunter would’ve been an attention-grabbing Pokémon for Ash, giving him a uncommon and highly effective Ghost-type early on in his journey. Amusingly, Ash would finally get a Gengar, Haunter’s advanced kind, in Pokémon Journeys.
8 Dunsparce
Episode: Pokémon Black and White, “The Path That Results in Goodbye!”
Dunsparce is named a uncommon and elusive Pokémon, one thing Ash was very a lot conscious of when he encountered one within the Unova area. Ash made an try at difficult Dunsparce with the intent of catching it, however loudly snuck up on the Pokémon, startling it. Dunsparce launched a debilitating Screech assault, which gave it the chance to make a run for it and escape, leaving Ash excessive and dry.
Dunsparce would’ve been an attention-grabbing Pokémon for Ash to catch, regardless of not being notably highly effective. Its rarity alone would’ve made it a reasonably distinctive member of Ash’s crew, and it did handle to stun a number of Pokémon with that one Screech, disrupting Axew and Pikachu together with Ash and his human pals. Maybe Dunsparce had some hidden potential in spite of everything, however resulting from Ash’s failure to catch it, followers won’t ever know.
7 Fearow
Episode: Pokémon Indigo League, “Pallet Get together Panic”
The Spearow that Ash encountered within the first episode of the sequence advanced right into a Fearow, which was simply as a lot of a troublemaker because it was previous to evolution. When Ash returned house to Pallet City, he discovered the Fearow was threatening a bunch of Pidgey and Pidgeotto, and labored together with his personal Pidgeotto to struggle the pest off. Ash’s Pidgeotto evolved into a Pidgeot in the course of the battle, and Ash tried to catch this Fearow, however it in the end broke out of the ball, and Ash did not catch it.
Whereas Fearow itself isn’t too thrilling of a Pokémon, it could’ve been attention-grabbing to see Ash catch this Fearow specifically, since he had a historical past with it. It would’ve been a little bit of a problem for Ash to coach this Fearow correctly, however it clearly had some potential, because it advanced within the wild.
6 Wimpod
Episode: Pokémon Solar & Moon, “Associate Guarantees!”
Ash encountered a bunch of Wimpod, a reasonably weak number of Pokémon, which try to steal some gadgets from his backpack whereas he and Pikachu are resting. They chase off the Wimpod, however quickly uncover one has fallen into the cracks between some rocks and is having hassle escaping. Getting assist from a wild Alolan Exeggutor, Ash manages to get into the area the place Wimpod is trapped and assist free it. It goes to return to its pals, however quickly turns again and appears at Ash, virtually suggesting that he catch it. Ash doesn’t achieve this, nevertheless, and Wimpod returns house.
Wimpod evolves into the highly effective however skittish Bug-type Pokémon Golisopod, which might’ve made an incredible addition to Ash’s Alola area crew. This probably wasn’t completed as a result of Golisopod is a signature Pokémon of Guzma, leader of the evil Team Skull and a coach that Ash must face finally.
5 Spoink
Episode: Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, “Pearls Are a Spoink’s Finest Pal”
Spoink is definitely a recurring Pokémon that reveals up in a couple of episodes, having adopted Ash and pals in a fashion just like Jigglypuff. It was first encountered with out the signature pearl that every one Spoink have, and when Ash discovered how detrimental not having a pearl may be, vowed to assist Spoink get hold of one. Spoink loses the pearl once more, nevertheless, and finally ends up with a blue pearl that Staff Rocket tried to steal. The blue pearl is finally returned to its personal and Spoink will get its pink pearl again, returning to the wild.
After rising near this Spoink throughout a number of episodes, it appeared doable that Ash would possibly truly catch Spoink, like he would go on to do with the recurring Sandile in Black and White. Ash has by no means owned a Psychic-type Pokémon, so Spoink would’ve been fairly distinctive on this regard amongst Ash’s better assortment.
4 Luxio
Episode: Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, “Main a Stray!”
Ash first encountered Luxio when it stole meals from them earlier than retreating into the sewers. Ash adopted it down there, and shortly found it was stealing meals to assist a Wailmer that had turn into caught within the underground. Luxio is definitely the chief of a bunch of Pokémon which all dwell underground within the sewers, and it has been making an attempt to take care of the caught Wailmer. Ash and Luxio work collectively to free Wailmer, creating a bond of belief surprisingly rapidly.
Luxio would have been the primary Electrical-type Pokémon Ash owned besides Pikachu, which might be attention-grabbing in its personal proper. Ash probably wasn’t allowed to catch the Luxio for that precise motive, nevertheless, as Luxio’s talents are simply too just like Pikachu’s to permit them each to function closely in the identical sequence.
3 Grubbin
Episode: Pokémon Solar & Moon, “First Catch in Alola, Ketchum-Model!”
Not lengthy after Ash arrives in Alola, he encounters a Grubbin, a small Bug-type Pokémon native to the area. Ash engages the Grubbin in battle in a forest, attacking it with Pikachu’s Thunderbolt, which it astonishingly manages to endure. Ash throws a ball on the Grubbin, however it breaks out and retaliates, hanging Pikachu onerous and in the end defeating it, permitting Grubbin to flee the state of affairs solely. Ash is compelled to take Pikachu to the Pokémon Middle and regroup.
Grubbin evolves into the Electrical/Bug-type Vikavolt, which is each a reasonably distinctive kind mixture and, like with Luxio, would’ve been the primary Electrical-type Ash owned moreover Pikachu. Grubbin’s Bug typing probably would’ve helped it from falling into the identical issues as Luxio, because it might fill a special area of interest on the crew from Pikachu. Alas, it merely wasn’t to be, and Ash by no means caught a Grubbin.
2 Phantump
Episode: Pokémon XY, “Making Associates and Influencing Villains!”
This episode includes a Shiny Phantump, which is a member of a bunch of Phantump that develop mad at Staff Rocket for consuming their meals. The Shiny Phantump is by accident blasted off with Staff Rocket, nevertheless, and lands close to Ash and co. They rapidly befriend it, and agree to assist it make new pals with different Pokémon. Phantump appears enthralled with tales concerning the wider world, suggesting that it’d truly get pleasure from occurring an journey with a coach like Ash. Finally, it’s reunited with its former group, and goes its personal means.
Ash already owned one rare shiny Pokémon, a Noctowl, so it could’ve been fairly cool for him to catch one other one, particularly all these years later. Phantump, as a Ghost/Grass-type, would’ve been fairly good for Ash’s crew, and XY Ash will surely have recognized how one can make good use of it.
1 Latias
Episode: Pokémon Journeys, “The Highway Most Traveled!”
Ash found Latias when it was injured, and had crashed into a close-by pond whereas invisible. Ash helped to tug Latias out of the water so it didn’t drown and helped nurse it again to well being. Latias repaid the favor by following Ash secretly, and serving to him out on a number of events, even saving his life from a harmful fall at one level. Latias eventually comes to Ash for help liberating its accomplice, Latios, which had been captured by a Pokémon Hunter.
Ash not solely managed to earn the belief of this Legendary Pokémon, but additionally constructed an in depth relationship with it. Given how shut this was to the tip of the sequence, many followers anticipated Ash to catch Latias, as a means of displaying how far he’d come. Nonetheless, this wasn’t to be, and Latias as an alternative returned house to Alto Mare with Latios. It’s an actual disgrace, as this Latias is one Pokémon Ash completely ought to’ve caught.
Ash Ketchum, a ten-year-old from Pallet City, embarks on an journey to turn into a Pokémon Grasp. Together with his first Pokémon, Pikachu, Ash units out to seize and practice Pokémon whereas battling different trainers in Pokémon Gyms to earn badges. Joined by his pals Brock and Misty, Ash constantly thwarts the plans of the nefarious Staff Rocket, all whereas making new pals and encountering Pokémon throughout numerous areas.
- Forged
- Rica Matsumoto , Mayumi Iizuka , Yūji Ueda , Tomokazu Seki , Kaori Suzuki , Fushigi Yamada , Megumi Toyoguchi
- Character(s)
- Pikachu (voice) , Satoshi (voice) , Aipom (voice) , Pichu Youthful Brother (voice) , Self , Pichu Older Brother (voice) , Kasumi (voice) , Gou (voice) , Narrator (voice) , Serena (voice) , Haruka (voice) , Shigeru Oak (voice) , Dent (voice) , Citron (voice) , Eureka (voice) , Iris (voice) , Hikari (voice) , Maamame (voice) , Mao (voice) , Suiren (voice) , Kaki (voice) , Wanpachi (voice)
- Seasons
- 25
- Community
- TV Tokyo , TV Osaka , TV Aichi , TVh , TVQ , TSC
- Writers
- Takeshi Shudo , Junki Takegami , Atsuhiro Tomioka , Aya Matsui , Shoji Yonemura , Dai Saito
- Administrators
- Kunihiko Yuyama , Daiki Tomiyasu , Jun Owada , Saori Den
- Principal Style
- Journey
- Creator(s)
- Naoko Takeuchi
- Producers
- Takemoto Mori , Tsunekazu Ishihara , Keisuke Iwata
