Ash has made a lot of friends on his Pokémon journey. Whether he travels with them or only spends a brief amount of time with them, more often than not they leave a mark on him, teaching him an important life or Pokémon-related lesson.
The lessons Ash has learned over the years have at times been painful, and range from learning how to be humble, to how to accept defeat, to how to be a teacher himself. The road to becoming a Pokémon Master is paved with a lot of hardship, but also great friendships, some of which last a lifetime.
9 Iris Taught Ash Not To Judge Someone Based On A First Impression
Iris and Ash didn't get off to the best of starts. He thought she was a Pokémon and tried to catch her, which she didn't appreciate. After that, the two would often bicker and call each other names. However, the more time they spent together and the more they learned about each other, the closer they grew.
Iris's quick thinking even saved Ash from falling into boiling water in "A Sandile Gusher of Change!" Her criticism of Ash became more and more jocular as she warmed to him, showing him that one should never judge a person on a first impression.
8 Misty Taught Ash Not To Get Big-Headed
Throughout their travels together in the original series, Misty kept Ash humble and never let him get too big-headed after a victory. She would cut Ash and Brock down to size when they were being cocky or idiotic.
Often angry and with an unpredictable mood, Misty talked a lot about the importance of love. She was the only girl in the group, and while he may not have admitted it, it was important for Ash to have some woman influence.
7 Brock Taught Ash About Romance
If anything, Brock's constant falling for girls and their rejection of him taught Ash what not to do when it comes to romance. Watching the trainwrecks that were Brock's attempts at courtship was like getting a Master's in relationships.
Brock also had some serious advice for Ash, such as never giving up and working your hardest to achieve your goal, and he taught Ash a lot about Pokémon with his extensive knowledge, but his best lessons came in the form of his perpetual rejections.
6 Dawn Taught Ash That There's More To Life Than Battling
When Ash lost to Paul in Lake Acuity, he becomes sad and starts questioning his battle strategies. Dawn, seeing how crushed Ash is, decides to put on a circus show for him with her Pokémon. Seeing this, Ash begins to laugh and become his old self again.
In doing this, Dawn reminded Ash that there is more to life than battling, that laughing with your friends is just as, if not more, important.
5 May Taught Ash How To Be A Teacher
May and Ash had a student-mentor relationship. The fact that May was an up-and-coming Pokémon Coordinator gave Ash the chance to pass on some of the things he'd learned on his journey as a Pokémon Trainer.
Teaching someone else reinforced to himself the things Ash was teaching May, so it was a mutually beneficial relationship, which is probably why the two remained good friends even after May no longer felt the need for a mentor.
4 Serena Taught Ash To Encourage Himself As Much As He Does Others
Ash met Serena when she was a young child. He told her to never give up. The two meet again years later, and while Ash doesn't remember their encounter, Serena tells Ash what he had told her, and how helpful those words were.
Hearing those words helped Ash win a rematch against Viola, showing him that while it's great to encourage others, he should remember to encourage himself, too.
3 Goh Taught Ash How To Be A Role Model
Goh and Ash are very similar in terms of personality. Both are headstrong and competitive while also being ambitious and loyal. Goh admires Ash, and having someone look up to him makes him accountable for his behavior, not wanting to be a bad influence on the young Trainer.
Of course, he doesn't always keep his head, but having someone around that considers Ash a role model has made him a more mature person.
2 Pikachu Taught Ash The Very Meaning Of Friendship
Pikachu and Ash have been together forever. They've had so many experiences together, have an incredible bond, and as they've shown time and time again, the two trust each other with their lives.
Their relationship is so strong it's made them the target of envy, particularly from the Team Rocket trio. If it wasn't for Pikachu, Ash never would have known that this kind of friendship was possible. Pikachu taught Ash the true value of friendship.
1 Clemont Taught Ash How To Analyze A Battle
Ash has never been too scientific-minded when it comes to battling. He's always gone into battle headfirst with his heart rather than his head. Clemont is the polar opposite. The Lumiose City Gym Leader is studious and analytical.
In their long-awaited Gym Battle in "The Moment of Lumiose Truth!," Ash turns the tables on Clemont by using his friend's skill of analyzing a battle, leading to him winning the battle and the Voltage Badge.