It’s extremely rare for a series to connect in the way that Pokémon has, and it’s even more uncommon for that success to stick around for so long and only become more intense. Pokémon has evolved from a niche RPG video game series into a worldwide multimedia franchise that dominates most of the areas that it sets its sights on. The series and scope of Pokémon continue to grow and change, but it’s the creatures themselves that have become so important to so many of the fans.
With nearly 1,000 unique Pokémon in circulation, these creatures cover a wide spectrum. That being said, there are many adorable Pokémon that seem like they’d be perfect pets for respective Pokémon trainers, but in reality, they’re actually major inconveniences or outright dangerous.
10 Sneasel Has Vicious Survival Tactics & Are Hard To Trust
When it comes to Pokémon that are under consideration for pets, it’s only natural to turn to the creatures that pull inspiration from cats, dogs, and other natural animal companions. Sneasel is a hybrid Ice- and Dark-type Pokémon that debuts in Generation II. Dark-type Pokémon aren’t routinely evil, but Sneasel is still a cute creature that looks innocent, yet hides a much more sinister side. Sneasel is naturally mischievous and is prone to violent outbursts. It also has a reputation for eating stray Pidgey eggs for sustenance, which means that it’s likely to intimidate any other pet that’s nearby.
9 Gengar Is The Poster Child For Ghost-Types That’s More Of A Commitment Than It Seems
Anyone that has even partial Pokémon experience knows that the Kanto region’s Gengar is one of the wildest and most rambunctious creatures from the series. It’s a generally smart practice to avoid most Ghost-type Pokémon, but Gengar’s playful demeanor can be oddly disarming. It doesn’t look like it can do much harm, but it’s a Pokémon that will constantly have the owner in fear. For what it's worth, Gengar has such a nefarious reputation that it's even one of the main threats in the first Pokémon Mystery Dungeon game. The novelty of any of Gengar's pranks will quickly wear thin.
8 Drifloon Is Responsible For The Disappearance Of Children & Isn’t Worth The Risk
It’s fair to say that Ghost-type Pokémon have some of the creepiest and more foreboding Pokédex entries from the entire series that can helpfully recontextualize Pokémon that look harmless in a new light. Drifloon is a Ghost- and Flying-type that originates in the Sinnoh region and bears a resemblance to a balloon.
Drifloon’s cute design makes it look like a fun pet, but the Pokémon has a history of luring children to grab ahold of it and then flying off with them. This is too big of a risk, especially for anyone that wants a pet but also has children.
7 Mimikyu Houses Horrible Secrets & Masquerades In A Disarming Disguise
The animal kingdom is full of creatures that have deceptive appearances as subtle means of defense or camouflage, so it's not unexpected that this principle would translate over to Pokémon. However, Mimikyu is a frightening cautionary tale. It's a Ghost- and Fairy-type Pokémon from the Alola region that takes advantage of the world's inherent love for Pikachu. Mimikyu disguises itself as the Electric rodent, but underneath is something truly horrifying. Mimikyu's Pokédex entry claims that those that have seen the Pokémon's true form painfully perish from the experience. That's not exactly a smart idea for a pet.
6 The Galarian Corsola Is Mored Cursed Than It Is Cuddly
A fascinating development to Pokémon that’s added a surprising amount of life to the series is the concept of regional variants. Sometimes these regional Pokémon variants are just cosmetic in nature, but others, like Galarian Corsola, are much more drastic. The standard Corsola is a Water- and Rock-type, but the Galarian version is a Ghost Pokémon that comes with dire consequences. A Galarian Corsola will apparently curse someone and perpetually drain their life force if they get kicked, even if it’s by accident. Galarian Corsola looks like a fun addition to an aquarium, but it’s not worth the risk.
5 Bewear Is Proof That Cuddly Doesn’t Always Translate To Comfortable
There are lots of dangerous Pokémon that look adorable, yet could slice a trainer to ribbons without even trying. Bear Pokémon are always going to be a risk, but Bewear is trouble because it doesn’t understand its own strength.
The Alolan Normal- and Fighting-type Pokémon exhibits such love for its owner that it can’t help but constrict them, which has the potential to be deadly. Stufful, Bewear’s pre-evolved form is likely still a liability that’s not worth it, but it’s at least slightly more tolerable and less capable of crushing its owner in a debilitating bear hug.
4 Yamask Is A Harbinger Of Sadness That Can’t Let Go Of The Past
Yamask is a Pokémon that's proof of why it's always important to have a firm understanding of a Pokémon. Yamask is one of the more harmless-looking Ghost-type Pokémon to come out of the Unova region. It might seem like an innocent enough creature, but it's a Pokémon that's consumed in grief. Yamask is actually a manifestation of lost spirits, which means this pet would essentially be someone's soul. Furthermore, the mask that's a part of the Pokémon is said to resemble the person's face, which frequently saddens the Pokémon. It's not exactly the most cheerful creature to have around.
3 Duskull’s Adorable Appearance Gets Undercut By Its Mission To Spread Fear
Any Pokémon that resembles a floating skull might seem like a poor pet choice, but Duskull from Generation III’s Hoenn region is strangely comforting. Duskull is quite weak for a Ghost-type, and its smaller size turns its iconic skull into an inviting image. Duskull might not be able to do much physical harm, but it’s still a Pokémon that’s driven by the desire to scare others. A pet that only wants to hide and frighten its owner seems like a recipe for disaster. Another red flag with Duskull is that it also receives extreme joy from "the crying of children.”
2 Ditto Is Full Of Surprises & Hard To Trust
Ditto is a revolutionary Pokémon when it comes to biology and advancements that have been made in Pokémon breeding, but it’s a creature that would be an absolute headache to have as a pet. Ditto’s squishy and unassuming design makes it one of the cuter Pokémon to come out of the Kanto region, yet Ditto’s ability to replicate other Pokémon means that it’d be a constant guessing game with this pet. Furthermore, if the individual has any other Pokémon pets, then it’s safe to say that Ditto would eventually copy them and turn a fun experience into a stressful dilemma.
1 Cubone's Story Makes It Tragic Instead Of Darling
Most experienced Pokémon trainers know the tragic tale that surrounds Cubone, but that doesn’t mean that some individuals might think it’d make for a cuddly pet. Cubone is one of the original Pokémon to come out of Kanto. At first, its skull helmet comes across as striking, but then the truth behind it comes out. Cubone wears the skull of its deceased mother as part of the mourning process. Additionally, the Pokémon is prone to constant crying, which melodically echoes within the skull. These Pokémon’s incessant cries would make any fun with it rather difficult.