The Pokémon series has been largely defined by its initial tagline of "Gotta catch 'em all," a sentiment that often rings true not only for players going through the games but for characters within the series as well. After all, Ash is on a journey to become a Pokémon Master and to catch as many different kinds of Pokémon as he possibly can. Even trainers who don't aim to fill out their Pokédexes often end up going through at least a handful or two of teammates throughout their journies.
This is even true of Jessie and James from Team Rocket, even if catching Pokémon isn't their initial goal. For a group that claims to want to steal powerful Pokémon from other trainers, they actually do a surprisingly large amount of encountering and catching.
10 Jessie & James Both Bring Partner Pokémon With Them From Their Childhood
Before they ever met Meowth and formed the iconic Team Rocket Trio that fans know and love, they had their own partner Pokémon that they've been extremely close to since childhood. In Jessie's case, she has her Arbok that she's known ever since it was an Ekans, though she does release him to let him be with her own kind.
James brings three of his childhood Pokémon with him, one being his Growlithe that's affectionately nicknamed Growlie. The others are a Carnivine that James rescued when he was quite young, as well as Weezing, which he received as a Christmas gift when it was still Koffing.
9 Meowth Joins The Team, Creating The Iconic Team Rocket Trio
Naturally, the next Pokémon to join Jessie and James—and the one that solidifies them as the ever-iconic Team Rocket Trio—would be their trusty Meowth. Whenever they were first put together, Jessie especially didn't get along well with him, and while they still bicker from time to time, their relationship is quite good.
This is especially true when it comes to James and how he views Meowth. He sees the other less as a Pokémon and more as an equal, with the two considering each other to be best friends.
8 Jessie Catches Lickitung Out Of Irritation, Not Out of Desire To Have A New Partner
The next Pokémon to join Team Rocket's roster is Lickitung, which Jessie catches, although she doesn't do so with the desire to obtain a new Pokémon partner. She actually meets Lickitung when it attempts to steal food from her, and she chucks a Pokéball at it in frustration, which works to the trio's surprise.
Jessie is rarely ever seen using Lickitung in battle, and there's only a single instance in which she uses him while in Kanto. This is shown during her battle against Misty in the Queen of the Princess Festival contest, which Jessie loses.
7 James' Weepinbell Evolves Into Victreebel & Permanently Joins The Party
It isn't actually shown exactly when James catches his Weepinbell, but he goes to retrieve it from a breeding center a few episodes after Jessie catches her Lickitung. Upon doing so, it's revealed that it's actually evolved into Victreebel, much to James' delight.
Much like many of James' partner Pokémon, Victreebel often shows its affection by physically gripping James with its leaves or making him fall into its mouth for comedic effect. He eventually is forced to trade Victreebel away after Jessie and Meowth goad him to, much to his disapproval.
6 Jessie Obtains A Wobbuffet After Accidentally Trading Her Lickitung Away
Wobbuffet is the next Pokémon to join the group, although this is completely by accident. Jessie is sent flying into a trade machine, and her Lickitung's Pokéball falls out of her pocket and into the machine. She doesn't initially realize that her Lickitung was traded away, and simply grabs her Pokéball and leaves.
Wobbuffet is more useful in both battle and contests than many of her other Pokémon, and it even gains its own place within the Team Rocket motto. It's also one of the longest-standing members of the group, not having been traded away or left behind as of Pokémon Journeys: The Series.
5 James' Cacnea Helps Them Out When It's Still Just A Wild Pokémon
Cacnea joins the group next, and it actually proves itself before even becoming a part of Team Rocket. Jessie and James are forced to run for cover from a swarm of Beedrill, and a Cacnea shows up to help them.
In a surprisingly sweet move, they give the Cacnea a small bag of treats before it runs off. The Cacnea reappears at the end of the episode holding the same bag, and James opens it and gives Cacnea one of the treats before asking if it wants to come with him, to which the Pokémon agrees.
4 After Seviper Angers Jessie, She Fights It Herself Without Pokémon Assistance & Catches It
Seviper is the next to join Team Rocket, and it follows the trend of Jessie catching Pokémon after they attempt to steal food from her. She attempts to fight Seviper with Wobbufett and then Meowth, and neither succeeds, resulting in Jessie's hair getting caught in Seviper's jaws, effectively ruining it.
Jessie loses it and takes out Seviper on her own using her own human variations of Fury Swipes and Mega Kick. She actually has to be reminded by James and Meowth that she's supposed to catch it, and it becomes the main fighter of her team until she has to leave it behind following Sinnoh.
3 Jessie Raises Dustox From A Wurmple & Releases It To Let It Find Love
The next addition to the Team Rocket roster is Dustox, which Jessie catches back when it's just a Wurmple after watching May catch one. She originally caught Wurmple with the intention of having it evolve into a Beautifly, but Jessie adores Dustox regardless.
Dustox is of incredible help to Jessie during contests, and she even wins her first contest ribbon single-handedly while using it. She eventually releases Dustox when she realizes it's in love, to allow it to be free and follow its heart.
2 Chimecho Agrees To Join James' Team After Floating By Them
The next addition to the team is a Chimecho that agrees to come with James, and it's one of the easiest 'catches' that Team Rocket has. Originally, James buys a 'Chimecho' from the same salesman that scammed him before with Magikarp, and it turns out to be a painted Hoppip.
Hoppip happily floats away as a breeze flies through, and this is when Chimecho floats by and agrees to join James when he asks. He ends up leaving Chimecho with his grandparents when it falls ill, so that they can take proper care of it.
1 Mime Jr. Joins James On The Same Day That He Has To Leave Chimecho Behind
While James is still at his grandparents' house, waiting to see if Chimecho will recover, the family's Mime Jr. comes in and keeps him company. Once James and the others are about to leave, Mime Jr. follows him, and his grandparents tell him that the Pokémon has taken a liking to him.
Out of all of James' Pokémon, Mime Jr. is indisputably babied more than any of his other team members. He refuses to use Mime Jr. in battle, and also allows it to hang out outside of its Pokéball when it pleases.