Ash Ketchum has collected and trained an impressive list of Pokémon throughout his journey across multiple regions, from his humble beginnings in the Kanto Region to his sun-soaked antics in the Alola Region. From the rebellious and mighty Charizard to the playful and loyal Pikachu, Ash’s Pokémon have allowed him to further his quest of becoming a Pokémon Champion while showcasing his myriad talents as a Trainer.

Yet Ash’s journey, as lengthy and impactful as it was, saw the Pokémon Trainer miss out on prime Pokémon that would have helped him grow as a Trainer, especially the Grass-type Pokémon. From the charmingly adorable Cottonee to the classical Oddish, these Grass-type Pokémon would have brought exciting new prospects to Ash’s tale if he’d caught them and added them to his team.

James From Team Rocket Had a Victreebel

Die-hard fans of the Pokémon Indigo Journey series will undoubtedly recognize Victreebel, as Team Rocket member James traveled with his own Victreebel and Wheezing, as he and Jessie constantly attempted to kidnap Pikachu. The carnivorous Pokémon had a running gag of swallowing James at the most inopportune moments, often at the outset of battles when James released it from its Poké Ball. This comedic dynamic added a level of comedy to the series, making it a perfect bit to engage the audience while ensuring Victreebel became an unforgettable part of Team Rocket’s misadventures.

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Having Ash catch — and then battle with as a core component of his team — a Pokémon owned by the villainous Team Rocket would help erase the line between the “good” and the “bad” Pokémon that the villain groups own. By Ash catching a Victreebel, especially in the first anime series when James also travels with his own Victreebel, audiences would get a solid chance to fall in love with Pokémon that might be otherwise corrupted in the viewers’ eyes by their affiliation with the villains.

9

The Cute Cottonee Would Have Given Ash a Chance to Play With a Fairy-Type

Cottonee’s Adorable Charm Could Have Brought Out a New Side of Ash’s Training

Many of Ash’s Pokémon tended to embody a cool vibe, which opted for an impressive or powerful style and can best be seen in some of the other Pokémon Ash traveled with through the Unova Region, like Boldore, Scraggy or Krokorok. Cottonee and its next evolutionary stage, Whimsicott, would see Ash interacting with a different tonal aesthetic, namely a softer and cuter one. Even Leavanny, with its elegant and refined appearance, veers closer to cool than cute, yet Cottonee would allow Ash a chance to connect with a smaller, gentler and endearing Pokémon.

Thanks to the dual-typing of Grass and Fairy, Cottonee would also inject a refreshing Fairy-type Pokémon into Ash’s team. While Mr. Mime does eventually get the Fairy-type classification, it proves to be the only Fairy-type Pokémon Ash previously worked with. Cottonee then would allow Ash the opportunity to dabble with styles and strategies central to Fairy-type Pokémon in a way that the anime never truly explored.

8

Deerling Could Have Marked the Passage of Time

Deerling Changes Forms Depending on the Season

Known as the Season Pokémon and introduced in Generation V, Deerling possesses the unique ability to change its aesthetic form with the passing of the seasons, making it one of the most lovable Pokémon in the Unova Region. If Ash had caught and traveled with a Deerling, the series could have shown the progression of time in a visually engaging manner. Further, the metaphoric opportunities for growth and adaptation could have been played out, giving marked development of Ash as he matures and journeys through different regions and experiences.

With Deerling possessing such a strong connection to nature, themes of the environment and ecosystems could have been easily added, allowing the anime to expand on the impact nature poses on Pokémon. Some of this is already teased with other Pokémon, especially Legendary Pokémon like Celebi and Shaymin, but a non-legendary could have proven to be a unique and refreshing choice.

7

Snover’s Grass- & Ice-Typing Would Have Showed Off Ash’s Training Sense

Snow Warning Would Have Been a Fun Mechanic for Ash to Use

Snover, and its next evolutionary stage, Abomasnow, offer the incredibly rare and unique dual Grass- and Ice-type combination, making its use in combat reliant on sound battle strategies and tactics. Such a Pokémon would test Ash’s chops as a Pokémon Trainer, easily earning Snover a place among the Grass-type Pokémon that Ash should have caught. Further, its Snow Warning ability would require Ash to navigate weather-based strategies, adding depth to his battle repertoire.

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Through a narrative lens, Snover could have offered Ash a chance to work with a Pokémon that often has a lonely and misunderstood nature. Themes of acceptance and friendship — which are already some of the core themes of the anime series — would truly hit home with Snover joining Ash’s team. Their bond would make for heartwarming television, easily adding an entertainment element to the ever-growing list of reasons why Ash should have caught a Snover.

6

Oddish Would Have Made for an Excellent Pokémon to Transition Between the Kanto & Johto Regions

Oddish’s Split Evolution Path Between Vileplume & Blossom Would Have Made It the Perfect Greeter for Gold & Silver

Ash’s journey to become a Pokémon Master has strong roots in the Kanto Region, as the series really cemented its popularity in large part to the original Pokémon Indigo League anime. If Ash had caught and journeyed with an Oddish, one of the quintessential Grass-type Pokémon and underrated stars from the Kanto Region, he could have deepened his connection to Kanto while picking up a Pokémon that would have taught him strategic versatility in combat, thanks to its status moves like Sleep Powder and Stun Spore.

Oddish would also have allowed Ash to better develop his nurturing side, especially in the early stages of his Pokémon Master quest. Many of his other Pokémon tended to be self-sufficient and self-reliant, but the timid and gentle nature of Oddish would test Ash’s skills as a Trainer. While Chikorita did eventually draw out those talents from Ash, Oddish’s rampant popularity would have made it a better fit. Plus, as Oddish could eventually evolve into Vileplume or Blossom, Oddish’s inclusion in Ash’s team would have added an amazing narrative element for when Ash eventually traveled to the Johto Region.

5

Phantump Would See Ash Battling Alongside a Ghost-Type

The Tricky Nature of Ghost-Type Moves Would Require Ash to Switch Up His Battle Tactics

In the anime series, Ash has notoriously eschewed his use of Ghost-type Pokémon, with only Gengar from Pokémon Journeys nabbing a spot. Under Ash’s direction, Gengar helped Ash through the World Coronation Series, showcasing the creepy yet mighty use of Ghost-type Pokémon. Phantump, then, would prove to be a worthy inclusion into Ash’s roster, as it would bring with it a slew of Ghost-type moves while also providing the consistent versatility of a Grass-type.

With a Phantump on his team, Ash would have access to the tricky Ghost-type moves such as Night Shade or Phantom Force, both powerful moves. Yet with its dual Grass-type affinity, Ash would likewise be able to use moves such as Grassy Glide or Solar Beam. Plus, since Water-type and Normal-type are the most common types of Pokémon, Phantump would excel in type advantages, proving its worth, especially should it evolve into the stronger Trevenant.

4

Skiddo Would Have Been a Great Non-Starter Grass-Type to Ash’s Team

It Would Have Given Ash a Stronger Connection to the Kalos Region

During his lengthy journey in the Kalos Region, Ash would have benefited largely from catching and battling with a Skiddo, especially if he allowed it to evolve into a Gogoat. Ash’s Grass-type Pokémon tend to stick with the starter Pokémon of the region he’s traveling through, as seen with Bulbasaur, Chikorita, Treecko, Turtwig, Snivy and Rowlet, yet Ash rarely works alongside other Grass-type Pokémon. With an empty Grass-type Pokémon slot on his Kalos Region team, Skiddo could have easily slid into that role.

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Skiddo’s gentle nature and strong empathetic bonds with humans could have led to a heartwarming story line, especially if it gave Ash the chance to further showcase his leadership and overall love for Pokémon. Further, as Kalos possesses close ties to the Kalos culture — with the people of Kalos relying on Skiddo and Gogoat for transportation — the Pokémon’s presence could have introduced more lore about the region and its traditions.

3

The Single-Stage Tangela Could Have Seen Ash Trying to Work With a Pokemon That Can’t Evolve

Tangrowth Didn’t Join the Pokemon World Until Generation IV

When Tangela debuted in the original Pokémon lineup, it lacked any kind of evolutionary line, with Tangela being a rare single-stage Pokémon (there were only eighteen single-stake Pokémon from the original 151, not counting the Legendary Pokémon). While Ash did catch an unusually high number of Tauros, Ash’s main team during his stint in the Kanto Region always involved Pokémon that did have an evolutionary path upward. Even Pikachu, Ash’s iconic best friend and Pokémon mascot, made the decision not to evolve into a Raichu.

Having Ash foster a friendship and fight alongside a Pokémon that didn’t evolve would open up an interesting dialogue about single-stage Pokémon, even if Tangela was eventually retconned in the best way possible. Before that happened, though, Tangela would have made for the best poster-child for the merit of single-stage evolution Pokemon, as some of the other single-stage Pokémon from Kanto — like Lapras or Kangaskhan — boast impressive stats on their own. While the series flirted with that line by having Ash share Mimey with Delia, having Ash catch a Tangela on his own would have made for an engaging dialogue.

2

Applin Would Have Given the Galar Region Some Much-Needed Love

Pokémon Journeys Saw Ash Traveling All Over the World

Pokémon Sword and Shield, which features the Galar Region that Applin calls its home, coincided with the release of the Pokémon Journeys anime. Up until this point, Ash’s adventures were predominantly set within the singular region featured in the video game released around the same time. Yet for Pokémon Journeys and Pokemon Sword and Shield, the anime diverged from this tradition, instead showcasing Ash visiting many different places in his quest to conquer the World Coronation Series.

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With this shifting focus, many of the Pokémon from the Galar Region lacked the same spotlight that the anime had previously done for other areas, like the Sinnoh Region or the Johto Region. Applin, one of the most iconic Pokémon from Galar and an impressive dual Grass- and Dragon-type Pokémon, would have made for an amazing inclusion into Ash’s team, both from a narrative and strategic point of view. Applin’s joining of Ash’s team would have given some much-needed exposure to the Galar Region while also giving Ash a strong Pokémon fighter, with the added bonus of storytelling as Ash would inevitably have to decide which evolutionary path Applin should go down.

1

Leafeon Would Have Made for a Great Eeveelution Plot Point

Ash Never Caught an Eevee of His Own

Known as the Verdant Pokémon, Leafeon serves as the Grass-type evolution of fan-favorite Eevee, with a Leaf Stone or leveling up near a Mossy Rock triggering this particular evolutionary path. Boasting an incredible defensive stat and a moderately impressive showing in attack and speed, Leafeon proves itself to be one of the stronger Eeveelutions in the Pokémon world. Its use of powerful Grass-type moves such as Synthesis and Leaf Blade reveals its versatility in combat, making it a solid choice for any Pokémon team.

While the anime explores Ash’s relationships with many varied Pokémon, Eevee never made the cut, with the world’s most iconic Pokémon Trainer never having to make the choice of choosing an Eeveelutionary line. The conundrum this would present would make for an interesting episode, if not an overall arc within the series. The fact that Ash retired from the Pokémon stage before such a question could be posed will forever be a sore spot for Pokémon fans, with the missed opportunity for Ash to own a Leafeon felt keenly by Leafeon fans.

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