The Pokémon series has emphasized the importance of strong bonds between humans and their Pokémon from the very beginning. Many episodes explore these bonds through issues such as abandonment and mistreatment, and by showing how trainers and Pokémon work together through battles and other emotional moments.
However, there are some standout pairs of Pokémon and trainers featured in the anime that fans particularly adored. From Korrina and Lucario mastering Mega Evolution to Ash and Pikachu's iconic friendship, these bonds are unforgettable.
10 Korrina And Lucario Made For A Supportive Pair
Lucario is heavily featured throughout the anime and has some iconic bonds with trainers like Riley, Maylene, and even the main protagonist Ash. Korrina and her own Lucario's bond gets a special mention due to the conflicts they overcame together. Korrina and Lucario, then Riolu, grew up together since they were young, and Korrina considers them soulmates due to their close bond. But struggles arise when Lucario has difficulty keeping control of his Mega Evolution for several episodes. Korrina doesn't give up on him mastering his Mega Evolution, however, and does all she can to help him. Eventually, the Korrina and Lucario team conquer this difficult period of time, bonding and becoming even stronger together.
9 Misty & Psyduck Were Fun To Watch
Misty and Psyduck are iconic together in the early Pokémon episodes. They had a somewhat rocky start due to Psyduck being caught by accident, as well as his tendency to pop out of his Pokéball when Misty didn't want him to. However, they bonded over time, and Psyduck even helped Misty win some battles, including the Queen of the Princess Festival contest. Fans loved watching the duo succeed and cement their bond. In fact, when Misty reappears in later episodes despite no longer being one of Ash's main companions, Psyduck is often with her.
8 Brock & Croagunk Were A Hilarious Duo
Brock and his Croagunk were considered a hilarious duo by many fans during the Diamond & Pearl seasons. Croagunk was originally picked up by Jessie, but when she and the rest of Team Rocket left him behind after one of their schemes failed, Brock picked him up instead.
During the rest of their time together in the series, Croagunk repeatedly chastised Brock for flirting with the ladies by using Poison Jab on him before dragging him away. Despite this constant running gag of Croagunk interfering with Brock's romantic advances, they became a fearsome duo in battle together.
7 James & His Carnivine Bonded From Childhood
James and Carnivine were a fun combination to watch during the events of Diamond & Pearl. It's revealed in the anime that James caught Carnivine when he was a child visiting his parents' vacation home in Sinnoh. There, he found Carnivine's Pokéball and brought him along while fleeing his fiancée Jessebelle.
Even though Carnivine tended to cling to James a lot, James took it in stride and the two of them were fairly competent in Pokémon battles together. They even managed to win a Pokémon Contest Ribbon for Jessie together, beating Dawn in the semifinals. Even though James was forced to leave Carnivine at Team Rocket's headquarters before heading to the Unova region, fans hope that this duo will reunite later on in the series.
6 May And Her Blaziken Became A Fiery Pair Of Fighters
May picked up Blaziken, her official first Pokémon, as its pre-evolution, Torchic. But she and Torchic initially did not get along; May preferred using Beautifly and Skitty for Pokémon Contests due to Torchic's immaturity and inexperience with battles. However, this changed as they bonded over time.
As May grew stronger in their determination and Torchic later evolved into Blaziken, trainer and Pokémon began to work as a team and became a fearsome duo. They even managed to make it all the way to the Top Four of the Grand Festival, which wasn't an easy journey for them.
5 Ritchie & Pikachu's Bond Awed Many Fans
Fans of the early series may remember Ritchie and his Pikachu, nicknamed Sparky. Both of them were major rivals to Ash, but also incredibly friendly out of battle. Even though they weren't featured in as many episodes as other rival trainers, fans adored their close bond and determination to fight together.
Even though they haven't been seen in person since the episode "The Search For The Legend," fans hope that Ritchie and Sparky will return in future episodes of the series to show off how far they've come.
4 Dawn & Piplup Were An Adorable Pair
Dawn and Piplup were together since the beginning of their Pokémon journey, but unlike May and Torchic, Dawn and Piplup bonded faster. They both trained hard together to succeed at Pokémon Contests, and this paid off with many wins. The duo even made it all the way to the finals of the Wallace Cup together. The adorable way these two supported each other throughout the journey made fans enjoy watching them, and their colorful presence was missed in later episodes of the series.
3 Tracey & Scyther Bonding Made Them A Powerhouse Duo
Tracey Sketchit and Scyther first met when Tracey found it injured, after Scyther lost its status as leader of its group to a younger, faster Scyther. Initially, Scyther wanted little to do with Tracey even after Tracey got it medical help. In the end, Scyther made amends with its replacement after they worked together to defeat Team Rocket and decided to stay with Tracey.
They became a powerhouse duo in battle, with Tracey often using Scyther over all of his other Pokémon. Even though they stopped appearing as regularly in the anime, fans still hope that Tracey and Scyther will come back and show what they've been up to together.
2 Cynthia & Garchomp Are Iconic In Both Battle And Friendship
When Cynthia and Garchomp first appeared in the Diamond & Pearl anime, their teamwork in battle pleased many fans. Garchomp was a tough opponent to beat, even managing to defeat the majority of Paul's Pokémon while barely taking any damage from the opposing team. Cynthia was a strong trainer and Champion who matched Garchomp's experience well, making them difficult to outdo.
Additionally, they were shown to have a fairly close bond with each other. They would work together to help those around them, including Ash and his friends, and even worked with them to stop Team Rocket and Team Galactic's plans. Fans hope that they will reappear in the series with some new tricks.
1 Ash & Pikachu's Bond Is Iconic And Unforgettable
Anyone who's watched Pokémon from the very beginning knows that Ash and Pikachu have a very close bond, but didn't always get along in the beginning. In fact, Pikachu and Ash barely got along in the first episode, with Ash being so inexperienced as a trainer and Pikachu repeatedly shocking him.
However, when a flock of Spearow attacked them both with Ash trying to defend Pikachu, Pikachu realized Ash cared deep down inside and used its Thunder Shock to protect him. The first episode of the series easily cements their bond as trainer and Pokémon, and they only grow stronger together from there.