It’s difficult for long-running series to find ways to remain relevant and endure the changes of the world. Some video games and anime are very much product of their times, but Pokémon is as popular now as it was back during its inception. Both the games and anime are showing no signs of slowing down and the newest Pokémon Journeys series confronts Ash with new challenges to keep viewers entertained with fresh adventures.
Ash has often been conservative with the Pokémon that he catches but they all have a unique significance to him. Water-Type Pokémon can be incredible in battle and Ash has obtained a number of them that have been able to help him both in and out of battle on his quest.
9 Squirtle Is Ash’s First Water-Type Teammate
Squirtle is a noteworthy starter Pokémon from the first generation of games and it becomes the sixth Pokémon that Ash catches during his many adventures. Ash’s Squirtle is originally part of a gang of outlaw Squirtle known as the Squirtle Squad. They temporarily align with Team Rocket before they understand their true intentions but the altercation and ensuing fire results in Ash gaining the Squirtle Squad’s leader for his party. The Squirtle Squad is ultimately where Ash’s Squirtle returns when he’s reached the end of his Johto adventures but he briefly returns to fight with Ash against the challenging trainers that await within the Kanto Battle Frontier.
8 Ash Catches Krabby To Prove A Point
Krabby isn’t the most exciting Water-Type Pokémon but he’s the seventh Pokémon that Ash acquires during the beginnings of his Kanto journey. Krabby isn’t taken very seriously at first and Ash only catches it in order to prove to Misty that he actually has the skills to catch a wild Pokémon. Krabby is significant because Ash already has a party of six and it’s the first time that a capture gets automatically sent away to Professor Oak. Ash eventually reclaims Krabby and he evolves into a Kingler during an intense battle with Mandi and her Psychic-Type Exeggutor.
7 Lapras Turns Into Fundamental Transportation For Ash
Like many of the Pokémon that enter Ash’s orbit, Lapras is initially in rough shape and becomes a part of Ash’s party only after he’s helped nurse it back to health and restored its faith in mankind. Lapras is Ash’s 13th Pokémon and his first catch within the Orange Islands, which is important because Lapras acts as Ash’s primary transportation during the adventure.
In that sense, Lapras is integral, but Ash does use the Pokémon for help against the Orange League’s second Gym. Lapras returns to its family after its time with Ash, although it’s not the last time that Ash sees his former Pokémon.
6 Totodoile’s Capture Is Treated Like A Prize
Totodile is the adorable Water-Type starter Pokémon from Generation II. It’s a Pokémon that Ash encounters early on during his time in the Johto region and it ultimately becomes the 18th Pokémon that he catches. Both Ash and Misty set their sights on the Totodile that they encounter, who manages to evade them. The two decide to battle each other to determine who can claim the Pokémon and it’s Ash who comes out victorious. Totodile is a valuable ally for Ash up until the point he leaves it behind with the Professor.
5 Corphish Is An Acquired Taste
Corphish isn’t the strongest or rarest Pokémon and it feels highly reminiscent of another of Ash’s previous Water-Type Pokémon, Krabby. Corphish qualifies as the 24th Pokémon that Ash catches and it’s also his third Pokémon from the Hoenn area. Corphish makes its mark by causing mischief around Ash and his friends, only for him to solve the problem by defeating Corphish with his Treecko and then catching him. Corphish initially has a difficult time fitting in with the rest of Ash’s team and it’ll get angry or jealous over Ash’s affection and use of other Pokémon. Ash leaves Corphish behind once he finishes the Kanto Battle Frontier and gets ready for Sinnoh.
4 Buizel Realizes Its Passion Under Ash’s Care
Buizel becomes one of Ash’s most resilient Pokémon during his time in the Sinnoh area, but it’s a creature that he acquires through more unusual means. Buizel is Ash’s 31st overall Pokémon, but it enters the Pokémon anime as the fourth Pokémon that Ash’s companion, Dawn, catches.
Dawn trades Buizel for Ash’s Aipom after Buizel exhibits more of an interest in combat and Aipom shows a love for contests. These Pokémon are better suited for each other and it doesn’t take Ash and Dawn too long to figure this out.
3 Oshawott Is An Offer That Ash Can’t Refuse
Ash encounters several of the various starter Pokémon from the different generations of titles as he befriends the Professors from the different regions of the world. Ash’s time in the Unova region puts him on Professor Juniper’s radar. After Trip chooses Snivy over Juniper’s Oshawott, the Professor gifts the Water-Type Pokémon to Ash. It’s only Ash’s second Unova region Pokémon, but it’s his 35th overall. Oshawott is tiny but it carries a true fighting spirit along with a big ego to go along with it, which sometimes gets the brash Pokémon into trouble.
2 Palpitoad Becomes A Unova Staple For Ash
Palpitoad is an unusual Water-Type Pokémon that makes inspired use of vibrations to help aid its attacks. Ash first runs into the Pokémon during his time in Unova and he unintentionally becomes a part of an underwater ambush. Ash uses his new Pokémon, Oshawott, to wear down Palpitoad’s resistance until he catches the creature and makes it his 40th Pokémon. Ash really only uses Palpitoad during his Unova battles but it’s a Pokémon that he regularly turns to in Gym Battles, even if Palpitoad doesn’t always come out on top.
1 Froakie Bonds With Ash In More Ways Than One
Ash has caught many Pokémon that have grown in significant ways or evolved beyond his expectations, but Froakie is one of the most extreme examples. Froakie functions as Ash’s 43rd overall Pokémon and his first catch when he enters Kalos for the first time. Froakie seems like a decent catch when Ash first battles the Pokémon, yet it continues to evolve and become a more formidable member of Ash’s team as it changes into Frogadier and Greninja. The Pokémon even develops an Ash-Greninja form, which intrinsically links Ash together with the Water-Type Pokémon.