It’s hard to believe it, but it’s been more than 25 years since Pokémon entered the video game world. Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue introduced a new generation of gamers to those iconic 151 Pokémon and changed the world forever. Although all the original Pokémon have earned their place in the video game Hall of Fame, not every Pokémon is equal.
Part of the Pokémon experience is training your Pokémon to become stronger so that they can dominate in battles. That process is easier with some Pokémon than others. Some of the Pokémon in Generation I can be major hindrances when it comes to battle. Today, we’re going to figure out which Pokémon are the all-time worst in the generation. Despite the game’s catchphrase, these eight Pokémon should absolutely not be caught.
8. Onix
We’re starting this list off with Pokémon that might surprise you. Everyone knows Onix as the intimidating ace of Brock’s team at the Pewter Gym. This Pokémon would have been many players’ first roadblock on their journey. This is especially true if they picked the Fire-type starter Charmander. Unfortunately, Onix is a very easy roadblock to get around.
To put it plainly, Onix’s stats are terrible. It’s base stat total of 385 would make it formidable on pretty much any other Pokémon. But on Onix, that’s just not the case. The majority of Onix’s stats are in Defense at a ridiculous 160. All of Onix’s other stats, like HP, Attack, and Sp. Atk are tragically low. The only thing Onix does well is being a wall against Physical moves. But even that advantage can be taken away with Grass or Water-type moves since Onix has four times vulnerability to those types.
Onix is so bad they pretty much had to give it an evolution in Generation II to make it any good. The Steelix evolution switches the Rock typing for Steel, so the 4x Grass and Water weaknesses are gone. Steelix also has some better stats, so it’s more of a powerhouse. In later generations, it might be worth it to catch an Onix so that you can evolve it to Steelix, but in Generation II, it’s best to avoid the Rock Snake.
7. Zubat
Next up on our list is a Pokémon that seems to refuse to be ignored. Anyone who’s played Generation I knows that it’s almost impossible to avoid Zubat when exploring a cave. In battle, this Pokémon happens to be just as useless as it is annoying. Zubat’s base stat total sits at a dismal 215, and unlike Onix, it doesn’t even excel in one particular area. All of Zubat’s stats are painfully below average.
Worst of all is Zubat’s move list. Almost every move on its move list has a better version another Pokémon can learn. An example is Leech Life and Supersonic being outclassed by Absorb and Confusion, respectively. Another strange thing about Zubat is that despite being a Poison-type Pokémon, can’t learn any Poison-type moves with TMs.
Sadly, even evolution cannot save this Pokémon. Zubat’s stats only get marginally better when it evolves into Golbat. None of its stats stand out, and it still doesn’t learn any Poison-type moves. Zubat and its evolution line are doomed to mediocrity.
6. Farfetch’d
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Farfetch’d is a Pokémon that often gets forgotten in the Generation I lineup. The Pokémon has a rather mundane design and lacks an impressive evolution like a lot of other Pokémon. Farfetch’d’s stats and move list don’t do it any favors either. Farfetch’d’s has low stats in everything except for Attack, and even that isn’t anything outstanding.
The best moves Farfetch’d can learn are Sword Dance and Slash. Outside of that, it’s really only good for learning HMs. The only reason that Farfetch’d is lower than Zubat is because Zubat can at least evolve into a better Pokémon. Farfetch’d is stuck as an unremarkable Pokémon. The Galarian form of Farfetch’d does a lot to improve it in Generation VIII.
5. Abra
Abra is on this list because although it can be a useful Pokémon eventually, a lot of work needs to be put into it first. Right off the bat, Abra is a frustrating Pokémon because of how difficult it is to catch. Abra tries to teleport away as soon as the battle starts. If you do manage to catch Abra, it can only use the move Teleport, which automatically fails in battle.
Leveling Abra into something useful is impossible without the use of TMs or Exp. Sharing. If you do use TMs to teach Abra some damaging moves, it can actually be pretty effective. Abra has a relatively high Sp. Atk and decent speed, so it hits hard and fast when used correctly. That fact only becomes truer when Abra evolves into Kadabra and later Alakazam. With the right training, Abra can become a powerful Pokémon, but its regular form is basically useless.
4. Venonat
Venonat is another Pokémon that takes a lot of effort to be good. The base stats of 250 easily put this Pokémon at the bottom of the list. With such low stats, this Pokémon will struggle to beat even the weakest Pokémon in the game. While there are other Pokémon with lower stat totals than Venonat, those Pokémon at least evolve at earlier levels. Players will have to grind to level 31 before Venonat evolves into Venomoth.
That evolution doesn’t take this Pokémon out of the bad category. Venomoth has a base stat total of 375, which barely puts it in the middle range of Pokémon strength. The worst thing about Venonat and Venomoth is that both Pokémon have Bug/Poison typing. These types are widely considered some of the worst in the game. With Venonat, you get an awful Pokémon that requires a lot of grinding to get a below-average Pokémon.
3. Weedle/Caterpie
Weedle and Caterpie will likely be one of the first Pokémon you encounter in Generation I and will probably be the first Bug-type Pokémon you catch. Because Weedle and Caterpie are found so early in the game, they have an incredibly low base stat total. In fact, the two twin bugs are tied for the lowest stats in the game at 175. Both Pokémon are only capable of learning two moves until they evolve. Caterpie knows Tackle, while Weedle knows Poison Sting. Both Pokémon can use String Shot as well.
The only saving grace to these Pokémon is that they evolve incredibly fast. They both reach their final evolution at level 10. These Pokémon are so similar that it’s difficult to place one above the other, which is why they share the number three spot. If we had to decide which one was better, Caterpie would just come out on top. Caterpie evolves into Butterfree, which is a Bug/Flying type. That beats out Weedle, who stats a Bug/Poison type for its entire evolution line.
2. Magikarp
Anybody who knows anything about Pokémon shouldn’t be surprised to see Magikarp on this list. Even within the world of Pokémon, Magikarp is regarded as a joke and the weakest Pokémon. Although Magikarp has higher stats than Caterpie or Weedle, its move list is what makes it such a terrible Pokémon. Magikarp can only learn a total of two moves before it evolves: Splash and Tackle.
Splash is a move that has absolutely no effect in-game. It does not damage, it doesn’t affect stats, and it doesn’t even place a status effect on the opponent. The move only exists to be a joke. To add on to the problems with Magikarp, it can’t even learn Tackle until level 15. That means players have to grind through 15 levels with a Pokémon that can’t even deal damage.
If players are willing to put in the hard work to train Magikarp, they can get one of the best Pokémon in the game. At level 20 Magikarp evolves into Gyarados. Gyarados boast an impressive base stat total of 540. This Pokémon, on its own, can carry players through the majority of the game. If you’re willing to suffer through a lot of bad for a lot of good, Magikarp is the Pokémon for you.
1.Ditto
We’ve finally reached the end of the list and found the absolute worst Pokémon in Generation I. Shockingly, Magikarp manages to just avoid the cut, leaving the title of worst Pokémon for Ditto. At first glance, Ditto seems like a perfectly fine Pokémon. It has much higher stats than Pokémon like Caterpie or Zubat. Ditto also has a unique move that allows it to transform into any Pokémon in the game. Technically, Ditto could transform into the strongest Pokémon.
The reason why Ditto is considered the worst Pokémon is because of it’s unique move. The only move Ditto knows is Transform, which copies the target’s appearance, type, stats, abilities, and moves. The only thing that Ditto retains is it’s HP and level. Ditto’s base HP of 48 is so awful that it might as well not keep that either.
Using Transform puts Ditto at a major disadvantage in 1 on 1 fights. Ditto has to waste a full turn using Transform before it can even do anything. That means at best, all Ditto can do when battling is tie stat-wise against Pokémon, who have had a free turn. This objectively makes Ditto worse than every other Pokémon in Generation I.