The Only 32 Pokémon That Matter, Ranked

Most of us here at Gamespot grew up watching and playing Pokémon -- the game has been a part of our lives for six generations and over 20 years. In that time, a lot of Pokémon have been introduced. Like, a lot, lot.

Of course, only a select few of the nearly thousand pocket monsters actually matter. Whether they're cherished first generation starter Pokémon, the legendary you chased for days, a Smash favorite, or a character from the Pokémon anime that you simply can't imagine life without, these -- and only these -- are the Pokémon that really and truly matter.

To start: Even before Sun & Moon launched, we all fell in love with Mimikyu. Its heartbreaking story is a huge part of the reason: He drew Pikachu's face on himself because Pikachu is a more popular Pokémon than he is. Mimikyu is super lonely and just wants to make friends.

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

Who could have predicted this, the current Exeggutor renaissance? This guy went from total joke Pokémon to total beast, and it's all thanks his ridiculously high stats in Pokémon Go.

And if that's not enough to stoke your Exeggutor Fever, this guy got a new evolution in Pokémon Sun & Moon. The Internet pretty much lost its mind over it.

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

According to our Pokédex, lazy, forgetful stoner Pokémon Slowpoke evolves into badass, giant stoner Pokémon Slowbro when a Shellder clamps on its tail and starts dosing its brain with weird shellfish chemicals.

This bro looks pretty derpy, but in Pokémon Go, his CP is off the charts.

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

Raichu, the evolved form of Pikachu, has always been badass. But Raichu's Alolan form in Sun & Moon, a rad throwback to Pokemon Stadium, takes his Pokemon-related badassery to a whole new level.

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

Mudkipz: We heard you like them.

(Image credit: Composition by Fox Van Allen)

Lapras are gentle creatures often used for transportation.

But in Pokémon Go, this top-tier water-type has such absurdly high stats that it can routinely be found battling at Pokémon Gyms.

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

Who is your favorite Pokémon? Because Ditto can be that.

Ditto can be ANYTHING.

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

Step 1: Acquire unicorn.

Step 2: Light it on fire.

Step 3: You are now a master Pokémon trainer. Grats.

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

The bumbling-yet-loveable Psyduck is frequently used as comic relief in the Pokémon anime, and for good reason. After all, what other Pokémon can be defeated by feeding it an aspirin?

Psyduck is hardly the best Pokémon, but we just can't imagine the series without him in it.

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

So far as Pokémon go, Magikarp is absolutely useless. Until ...

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

Magikarp evolves into the wildly aggressive Gyarados, but it's a long process. In Pokémon Go, the evolution requires 400 pieces of candy.

This is something you should definitely keep in mind before angrily kicking a Magikarp off a boat.

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

Are we heavily biased in favor of the original 151 Pokémon? Absolutely. But there are some worthy gems in some of the more recent generations.

Take Zekrom, for instance. This big black mascot of Pokémon White is the coolest creation to come from the fifth generation of the game.

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

Bulbasaur is the sad, lonely starter Pokémon that no one picked. It's really cute, though!

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

Some Pokémon are so badass that they can beat you down with a pair of spoons and a nasty thought -- just like Alakazam.

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

Evolved from Growlithe, Arcanine is a lightning-fast, fire-breathing dog that looks like a tiger. He's relatively easy to get in Pokémon Go, at least when you consider how strong he is.

Can we have one as a pet?

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

Dragonite is absolutely adorable. But don't let the cute face fool you -- Dragonite has an extremely high attack stat and a deep inventory of brutal moves.

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

Prepare for trouble!

Meowth taught us all that the best way to beat any problem is to throw money at it. Literally.

(Image credit: Fox Van Allen/Niantic)

Snorlax may be more of an inconvenient biological roadblock than anything else, but we have to say: We are in love with the concept of a plush and cuddly narcoleptic that can double as a bounce house.

Oh, and he's a total beast in Pokémon Go.

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

Designed after the Egyptian God of Death, Lucario is a badass in Pokémon, Super Smash Bros. and now Pokken Tournament.

Lucario is the only damn Pokémon that matters from the fourth generation of the series. (Sorry, Bidoof fans.)

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

Super-cute Squirtle may not be the world's favorite starter Pokémon, but he was Ash Ketchum's first choice in the anime series.

Of course, that jerkwad Gary is the one who gets Squirtle, forcing Ash to take Pikachu instead.

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

Eevee is a special Pokémon in that it can evolve into eight different forms (three in Pokémon Go), depending on its environment. That's pretty damn awesome.

Maybe not Charmander-level awesome. But still.

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

The water-type evolved form of Eevee looks more slick and slimy than plush and cuddly. But we still argue that Vaporeon is Eevee's best evolved form -- especially in Pokémon Go, thanks to its powerful, rapid-fire attacks.

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

This sea-dwelling legendary Pokémon was the game box mascot of Generation II and Pokémon SoulSilver, and the star of the movie Pokémon 2000.

Lugia is, of course, incredibly rare in the Pokémon universe. But given how destructive its attacks can be, that's probably for the best.

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

Because Mew's DNA contains the genetic code of every Pokémon, it can learn virtually any move.

In Super Smash Bros., meanwhile, finding a Mew in a Pokéball leads to being showered with some pretty sweet gifts. Thanks, buddy!

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

There is no more important moment in a child's life than choosing a starter Pokémon.

And while some of us chose Bulbasaur and others chose Squirtle, most trainers wind up choosing the adorable Charmander as a first Pokémon ... probably on account of him evolving into a crazy-sick dragon.

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

Ghost-type Pokémon Gengar spends the bulk of his time hiding in shadows, terrifying its victims, and being a absolute troll in general.

Why would you want to play as anything else, right, Pokken Tournament fans?

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

Frog/ninja hybrid Greninja is, hands down, the raddest Pokémon to come out of Generation VI.

He can be brutal in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, too, if you can keep from accelerating right off the edge of the damn stage.

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Jigglypuff may look cute, but don't be mislead: This singing pink terror will scribble mean and nasty stuff on your face after it sings you to sleep. Or just launch you clear across a Super Smash Bros. stage and murder you.

Savage.

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

Yo, Squirtle, dude -- we love you. But we love you even more once you evolve into Blastoise and have those rad water cannon blasters coming out of your shell.

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

Pikachu is the most iconic Pokémon in existence. But -- sorry -- he's way too overrated to grab the No. 1 spot. He's not that strong, either.

Our list, our rules.

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

Charizard has been the absolute badass king of fire-type Pokémon for the last 20 years.

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

A clone of Mew, this Pokémon remains one of the most powerful ever created. And probably the biggest Pokémon movie star ever, so long as you don't count that overrated Pikachu guy.

Mewtwo is an unlockable character in Pokken Tournament. Here's how to get him.

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)