Like No One Ever Was: What Is the Most Popular Pokémon?

With over 1,000 different Pokémon, and more being added to the series all the time, it can be hard for fans to narrow their Pokédex down to just one favorite creature. Even when there were only the original 151, many a debate was had by children and adults alike about which pocket monster was coolest, strongest, and best overall. So, how do we know which is the most popular Pokémon?

Thankfully, things like official fan votes and general brand recognition can help shed some light on the subject. With that in mind, today we’re wading into the tall grass off Route 1 to take a closer look at which Pokémon can claim their spot as the most popular in the franchise. Ready, Trainers?

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Pikachu Is the Most Iconic Series Mascot

Even if someone doesn’t know any other Pokémon, they know Pikachu. Just think of how many times you’ve ever heard a parent or grandparent point at any colorful creature and say, “Is that a Pikachu?” (In fact, Pikachu’s name is often synonymous with Pokémon for the uninitiated.) As the main series mascot, Ash’s starting companion in the original animated series, and even a combatant in the Super Smash Bros. video games, Pikachu might arguably be the most recognizable character of all 1,025 (more or less) battling monsters. With this fame comes well-deserved popularity.

Pikachu’s iconic, deceptively simple design makes it easy to spot among a crowd of characters, and its feisty attitude has endeared the character to many a child or child-at-heart. Pikachu’s popularity has even led to an entire subgenre of electric rodent Pokémon, though our red-cheeked, charged up superstar still reigns supreme as the most popular Pokémon globally. Pika pi!

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Charizard Has a Famous Trading Card

Charizard, part of the original 151 Pokémon, is the epitome of cool. Ash’s own winged monster had a rude attitude and unbeatable strength. You would be hard-pressed to find a child who didn’t want to train their Charmander starter into a full-fledged Charizard. Its draconic design and fiery moveset propelled this Pokémon into top-tier status that still holds strong to this day. As the series expanded, Dynamax and Mega-Evolution forms have only made Charizard even more impressive.

Beyond the video games and animated series, though, Charizard captured the imagination and attention of trading card gamers thanks to the classic holofoil Charizard card in the original Pokémon base game set. A true first edition card can be worth anywhere from a few thousand dollars to over a hundred thousand, depending on the official grade, whether it’s “shadowless” or not, and other factors — ultimately, it’s worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. And thanks to Charizard’s popularity and the card’s rarity, that’s a lot more than you’ll earn for defeating the Elite Four.

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Greninja Won a 2020 Fan Vote

While it may seem that the earliest Pokémon designs dominate the popularity charts, as new generations of fans discover their contemporary game releases, more and more characters are finding their fanbases. Take Greninja, for example. Introduced in Gen VI from the starter evolution line beginning with Froakie, this Water-type frog Pokémon quickly became an in-game fan favorite for its speed and overall stats, as well as certain abilities and attacks it could utilize to get an edge over competition.

But where this ninja frog really found its sticky foothold was with fans of the anime. Ash Ketchum remained the protagonist of the animated Pokémon series until his recent “retirement” in 2023 (after 26 years of training!). Through this time, he has captured and trained many pocket monsters, including a Froakie which eventually evolved into Greninja. Ash’s Greninja (also called Ash-Greninja) even had a surprise evolution form that incorporated design elements from its trainer’s signature hat and hairstyle, making it unique among all the Pokémon he’d ever trained.

An official 2020 fan vote conducted by The Pokémon Company International cemented this more recent character’s popularity, where it claimed the #1 spot with over 140,000 votes to become Pokémon of the Year.

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Bulbasaur Is the Most Popular Starter

It’s hard to deny the overwhelming popularity of the entire original 151. They formed the basis of the classic games, the beloved animated series, and as first generation fans grow up and introduce their own children to the franchise, many start at the humble beginning. Every player who embarks on their Pokémon journey will be given a starter companion, chosen from three in each game release. And for most fans, Bulbasaur claims the crown when it comes to Generation I starters.

While Charizard may be the most popular evolved form, Bulbasaur is considered one of the most popular starters in the franchise. The animated series definitely helped this thanks to its prominence on Ash’s team. In the games, its typing was strong enough that many considered it the “easy” choice when starting a strategic team. But overall, its cute design, reliable powers, and longevity in the series give it more of an edge over the starter Pokémon of later generations.

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Gengar Is Getting More Beloved

While Gengar mostly kept to the shadows in earlier generations as a part of the mysterious and often eerie Ghost-type family, its popularity has only grown over the years. Urban legends of Lavender Town hauntings scared and intrigued people in equal number, and it’s no secret that Halloween has grown huge in current culture. The Pokémon Company International has even leaned into the world’s love of ghosts and monsters with unique Pokémon collectibles and costumes, spotlighting the Ghastly-Haunter-Gengar evolutionary line as mascots of the fall holiday.

Like other Gen I designs, it has a fairly simple and iconic appearance, with its round purple body and stark red eyes. Gengar crosses between the creepy and cute categories seamlessly, appealing to a wide fanbase. It was also one of the first Pokémon ever created, though in concept art it originally had a longer torso and more of a snout (it honestly looked like a tiny Godzilla). Creator Ken Sugimori purposely incorporated “charming” and “funny” elements to balance its ghostly manner. Fans wholeheartedly accepted this purple prankster, and Gengar has since scared itself a spot among the most popular Pokémon of all time.

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Mimikyu’s Tragic Tale Has Captured Hearts

Another new Pokémon with a terribly familiar appearance, Mimikyu’s design is enough to catch some eyeballs. But it’s this eerie creature’s tragic backstory that cemented its place as one of the most beloved modern Pokémon. If Pikachu is the most popular character in the franchise, that means every other pocket monster is simply living in its shadow, including this lonely Fairy/Ghost type.

In its world, Mimikyu is not nearly as popular or well known as other Pokémon, and remains hidden beneath a rag that it has fashioned to look like Pikachu. It does this to gain humans’ trust and befriend them, though most people find its crude form to be creepy. It’s also terribly shy and protective of its secrecy, so any attempts to look under the rag are punished. Still, it just wants to be loved and find affection with others — Mimikyu just doesn’t have the confidence or popularity to be loved for who it is.

This heartbreaking and rather relatable story has led to a massive surge in popularity for Mimikyu among sympathetic gamers, goths, and geeks who identify with the desire for love and connection. While some find the Pikachu costume to be creepy, it’s also oddly endearing, especially for those who don’t mind the uncanny. In 2020’s fan vote, it reached #3 for most popular overall.

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Lucario Is an Animated Favorite

In 2020’s Pokémon of the Year poll, Lucario took spot #2 overall, placing first in the Sinnoh region specifically. This jackal-like Fighting/Steel type creature is well-loved for its striking, bipedal design and powerful in-game stats. Beyond the mainline franchise titles, Lucario has also had plenty of spotlight in the animated series as well as in the Super Smash Bros. games. He was even the focus of a feature animated film, Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.

Many fans often misremember Lucario as being a pseudo-Legendary Pokémon because of the film and its broad appeal in other Nintendo titles. But technically, it’s considered a regular member of the Pokédex roster. Still, it’s a difficult companion to obtain in the games and is evolved through a high level of “friendship” in the game — Trainers really feel like they have invested in their Lucario by the time it levels up from its Riolu form. Its rarity and tough-but-cute appearance are just two of the factors that really set this Generation IV character apart.

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The Pokémon series is all about being the best, like no one ever was! But with so many incredible, unique characters to collect, every Pokémon is sure to be someone’s #1 choice. Yes, even you, Mimikyu. Especially you.

Tell us your favorite Pokémon and show off your own team of Pokémon collectibles at side.show/geekgroup or in the Sideshow Social Network. And as always, don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!