Despite his famous catchphrase "Gotta Catch 'Em All," Ash Ketchum has never truly attempted to live by that mantra over the course of his Pokémon journey. However, having been to many different regions home to eight generations of Pokémon, he's still managed to collect a number of different species, enough to give him a unique team for each region.
He has actively pursued Pokémon, caught some by accident, and given away or released others. There have also been some examples of Pokémon he looked after, but never actually owned, such as Nebby and Larvitar. No matter the circumstances of the Pokémon he did actually catch, it's still interesting to see which Pokémon typings Ash has appeared to favor over others.
Updated on January 4th, 2023 by Tom Steel: Ash Ketchum has had a long and storied Pokémon journey, as he has traveled across numerous regions while making countless friends in both people and Pokémon alike. However, his journey in the Pokémon anime is finally coming to an end. This list has been updated to look back on all the Pokémon that Ash has owned throughout his extensive travels, from his first day as a bumbling Trainer with big aspirations, right up to winning the Masters Eight Tournament in Pokémon Journeys.
13 Pikachu & Gengar Are The Sole Representatives For Their Respective Electric & Ghost Types
With Pikachu being Ash's best friend and most trusted Pokémon companion, Ash has never needed to even consider getting another Electric type. While he has doubled up on other typings on occasion, it just wouldn't make sense with Electric types. With Ash and Pikachu nearing the end of their journey together, Pikachu has been a constant presence from the beginning right up to the end.
Ghost types are a different story. Ash never technically owned the Haunter that helped him defeat Sabrina by making her laugh, and fans were left waiting for Ash to get another Ghost type. This long wait finally came to an end in Pokémon Journeys, when Ash finally got himself a Gengar, his first official Ghost-type Pokémon of the series. Both Pikachu and Gengar played a crucial role in getting Ash through the Masters Eight Tournament, with him even emerging triumphant in the end.
12 Mimey Is The Only Psychic & Only Fairy Type That Ash Has Ever Owned
Effectively adopted by Ash's mother Delia back in Kanto, Mr. Mime is technically the only Psychic type and only Fairy type that Ash has ever owned. His ownership of Mimey could well be disputed if not for the fact that Delia left Mimey with Ash at the start of Pokémon Journeys.
Ash used Mimey in the Battle Frontier Flute Cup, and the two worked together really well, with Mimey easily defeating Hodge's Hariyama before it was switched out for Pikachu. Fans were ultimately left wanting to see more of this fearsome family duo working together.
11 Glalie & Lapras Are The Only Ice Types Ash Has Owned
Ice types are one of the least popular types in the entire Pokémon series, as apart from their super-effectiveness against Dragon types, there are usually better alternatives to a given situation. That said, Ash still owned two Ice types at different times during his adventures.
His Lapras helped him travel across the Orange Islands before he eventually released it, but it's widely argued that he should have kept it. Ash also ended up with a Glalie while in Hoenn, after his Snorunt evolved. Glalie even ended up becoming one of his main players, helping him through a couple of rounds in the Ever Grande Conference.
10 Ash Has Owned Three Of Both Steel & Rock Types
Despite Steel types being introduced back in Generation II, Ash didn't end up owning a Steel-type Pokémon until Generation VII in Alola. Meltan appeared to be more of a mascot than an integral part of the team in battle, but then it evolved into the powerful Melmetal. Ash also technically caught the Rock/Steel dual-type Ultra Beast Stakataka before having to send it back through the Ultra Wormhole.
The infamous Lucario would later become Ash's third Steel type in Pokémon Journeys, with it eventually mastering Mega Evolution and helping Ash to his Masters Eight Tournament victory. In addition to Stakataka, Ash owned two other Rock types at different times, Boldore while in Unova and his prized Lycanroc during the Alolan adventures. Lycanroc helped Ash to victory and his first proper Pokémon League title at the Manalo Conference.
9 Ash Has Caught & Battled With Four Dark Types
Dark types are not a type that Ash particularly aims for, but he has had some heavy-hitting Dark types on his teams over the years. He had Scraggy and the cool sunglasses-wearing Krookodile while in Unova, but his Greninja was arguably his best Dark type with it becoming a main player in his Kalos team.
Ash's fourth Dark type was his Incineroar, which evolved from Torracat after the Manalo Conference at the end of Sun & Moon. Ash never really got to use Incineroar in its most powerful form, and fans will likely consider it a missed opportunity, with Ash's journey coming to a close.
8 Bulbasaur Leads The Way For Ash's Five Poison Types
Initially, it would be easy to say that Muk has been the only Poison type that Ash has ever owned, but he has in fact owned four other Poison types at some point. Bulbasaur and Gengar are generally known for being Grass and Ghost types respectively, but they both have the secondary Poison typing.
During the Johto adventures of Gold & Silver, Ash caught a Beedrill in a Bug-Catching Contest, but he quickly gave it away to Casey in honor of her love for black and yellow Pokémon. The fifth Poison-type Pokémon that Ash has owned is the Ultra Beast Naganadel, a fighter that helped Ash to his first Pokémon League victory in Alola.
7 Ash Has Actually Owned More Bug Types Than Expected, With Six Different Pokémon
Two main Bug types spring to mind when thinking of Ash's teams over the years: Heracross and Butterfree, though the latter was released early on. Ash also acquired a Beedrill in a Bug-Catching Contest, and he owned a Leavanny during his Unova adventures.
During the Ultra Beast part of Sun & Moon, Ash also technically caught two Bug types in the form of Buzzwole and Pheromosa before having to release them and send them home. The episodic format that quickly introduced and bade farewell to these Ultra Beasts made sense, but fans were still left wanting to see more of these two powerful Bug types.
6 Ash Has Had Six Of Both Dragon & Ground Types
Ash has owned six of both the Dragon and Ground types through his various travels, with the Gible he caught in Sinnoh belonging to both categories. Ash also caught two other Ground types in Sinnoh, Torterra, and Gliscor, and he also used his Donphan at the Lily of the Valley Conference in Sinnoh. He then also owned a Palpitoad and a powerful Krookodile while in Unova.
After Gible, the first Dragon-type Pokémon Ash caught in the series in Generation IV, he went on to catch Goodra in Unova, Noivern in Kalos, and Naganadel in Alola. Ash finally caught himself a Dragonite in the latest Pokémon Journeys, which was swiftly joined by Dracovish. Dracovish and Dragonite both played their part in helping Ash's formidable team reach the impressive heights of winning the Masters Eight Tournament, as they surpassed Leon's intimidating Champion team.
5 Ash Has Owned Seven Of Both Fire & Grass Types
Ash has owned five of the eight Fire-type starter Pokémon, ending up with Charizard, Quilava, Infernape, Pignite, and Incineroar. With May owning Torchic in Ruby & Sapphire and Serena having Fennekin in X & Y, Ash caught alternative Fire types in Torkoal and Talonflame respectively.
Similarly, Ash has owned numerous Grass-type starters, namely Bulbasaur, Bayleef, Sceptile, Torterra, Snivy, and Rowlet. However, unlike with Fire types where he tries to have one even if they aren't a starter, his seventh Grass-type Leavanny was also caught in Unova, giving him two, in addition to Snivy. This meant that he went without a Grass type in both Kalos and the most recent Pokémon Journeys, suggesting that there are better type alternatives in the perfect team composite.
4 Ash Has Had Nine Normal Pokémon
The Normal typing is often attached to Flying types, which is the case with Ash's Pidgeot, Noctowl, Swellow, Staraptor and Unfezant. However, he has also owned four other Normal types during his many travels in the Pokémon world.
Back in the original Kanto series, Ash technically owned a Raticate for half an episode when he traded away his Butterfree before insisting that they trade back. He also traded his Aipom with his friend Dawn while in Sinnoh, with it being more interested in contests than battles. Ash also inadvertently captured thirty Tauros in Kanto, with him eventually also adding a Snorlax to his team, making nine Normal types in total.
3 Ash Has Caught Ten Fighting Types
Ash has owned ten Fighting types in all, with two of those being the Ultra Beasts Buzzwole and Pheromosa that he had to immediately release. Apart from the Primeape that he released after a few episodes, the rest of the Fighting types that he has caught over the years have been integral parts of his teams.
The other seven Fighting types are Heracross, Infernape, Pignite, Scraggy, Hawlucha, and most recently in Pokémon Journeys, Sirfetch'd and Lucario. The latter duo both played a crucial role in catapulting Ash to success in the Masters Eight Tournament, providing Ash with a huge win as the end of his long Pokémon journey edges ever closer.
2 Ash Has Owned Eleven Water Types
For whatever reasons, Ash has rarely been seen evolving his Water types, with Kingler and Greninja being the only exceptions. He has also had Squirtle, Totodile, Corphish, Buizel, Oshawott, and Palpitoad, all of which arguably would have been better use to him if they were fully evolved.
Ash technically owned a Seaking at one point, having caught one in a contest before immediately releasing it. During his Orange Islands adventures, Ash also had a Lapras that helped him travel around until he eventually released it. The eleventh and final Water type that Ash has owned is the mysterious Dracovish, which he obtained in Pokémon Journeys, with it being immortalized in his triumphant winning team.
1 Ash Turns To Flying Types The Most
In what quickly becomes the norm for Ash, he develops a pattern where he almost always catches the first Flying type he comes across in every region. This is the case for the first six generations, proven by Pidgeot, Noctowl, Swellow, Staraptor, Unfezant, and Talonflame. In Sun & Moon he gets a Rowlet early on, another Flying type.
The other Flying types that Ash has owned are Charizard and Butterfree from Kanto, Gliscor from Sinnoh, Hawlucha and Noivern from Kalos, and Dragonite, which Ash finally caught in Pokémon Journeys. This makes thirteen Flying types that Ash has owned in total, as he finally nears the end of his long Pokémon adventure.