The Pokémon anime has seen seven generations of League competitions occurring across different regions. Pokémon's League competitions bring the best trainers together to battle to decide who's best, with Pokémon Journeys focusing more on the World Coronation Series.

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As Ash has been to all of these tournaments, he has encountered some specific species of powerful Pokémon on multiple occasions. In some cases, he has even both owned and faced a particular species of Pokémon at some point, showing them off as a defiant protagonist and as an obstacle that needs to be defeated.

10 Both Barry And Gilbert's Hitmonlee Bring The Fight But Ultimately End Up Defeated

hitmonlee in pokemon

The Kicking Pokémon Hitmonlee is frequently used as a standard Pokémon for tough-guy Fighting-type enthusiasts. It is not really used by the stronger trainers compared to the likes of Machoke, Lucario, and the Meditite-line. However, there have been two instances of one being used in Pokémon League competitions.

The first is under the ownership of Gilbert, who faces Ash in the preliminary round of the Ever Grande Conference, with it losing to Ash's Pikachu after an intense exchange of blows. The second sees a Hitmonlee being used by Barry, a more known and utilized character, during the Diamond & Pearl series. Barry uses a Hitmonlee in his defeat to Paul.

9 Quilava Has Had Mixed Performances With Ash, Macy, And Clark

Anime Pokemon Ash's Quilava Attack

Ash's Cyndaquil stays unevolved throughout the Johto adventures but evolves into Quilava for a returning appearance at the Sinnoh League Lily of the Valley Conference. By the time Ash's Quilava arrives on the Pokémon League scene, the Pokémon has already appeared under the ownership of two other trainers, Macy and Clark, in the Johto and Hoenn Leagues.

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While Macy's can eliminate Ash's Phanpy before falling to Squirtle, Clark's falls during a double battle with Ash without registering a knockout. At the Sinnoh League, Ash's own Quilava manages a draw with Nando's impressive Armaldo. Overall, the Volcano Pokémon's record in League competition is not particularly impressive.

8 Steelix Is Always A Huge Obstacle To Overcome In Gym And League Battles

Steelix from the Pokemon series

Steelix is seen as the embodiment of the Steel typing in both its name and its formidable design. Its performances with multiple Gym Leaders and trainers in Pokémon League competitions have helped to bolster its reputation.

Its first League appearance comes under the ownership of Harrison at the Johto League, with it eliminating Ash's Noctowl before eventually falling to his impressive Snorlax. The dual Steel-Ground type appears at the Ever Grande Conference in Hoenn with Ash's friend Morrison. It arrives to the battle as its trainer has regained his fighting spirit, and it helps by knocking out Ash's Pikachu and Torkoal before falling to Grovyle.

7 Donphan Hasn't Had The Best Of Showings In League Competitions

Ash's Donphan ready for battle in Pokemon

Despite Ash's Phanpy managing two knockouts and a loss during the Silver Conference in Johto, its evolved form has not had such joy in its two Pokémon League appearances.

Ash uses the evolved Donphan in his match with Conway at the Lily of the Valley Conference in Sinnoh. However, it is nothing more than fodder for Conway's Dusknoir, following on from Tyson's Donphan that Ash's Swellow easily defeats during their Hoenn League battle. Donphan possesses a destructive and surprisingly fast offense, but its opponents often seem to have an answer for it.

6 Pikachu Has Been A Constant Presence With Ash But One Also Appears With Ritchie

Ash becomes the Alola League Champion, holds trophy with Pikachu on his shoulder

Pikachu is the Pokémon that Ash has used the most in League competitions. Although, it is often forgotten that another trainer has used the species before as well. Namely, Ritchie used Pikachu during the Indigo Plateau Conference in Kanto.

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Sparky is never truly shown to be on a similar level to Ash's own Pikachu. However, the fact remains that it held its own and earned itself a victory over Ash's Charizard, albeit on a technicality through the Fire types disobedience and disinterest to fight it. Sparky goes on to lose to Assunta's Ivysaur in the next round of the tournament, eliminating Ritchie from the competition.

5 Neither Pete Nor Gary's Arcanine Have Much Success In League Battles

Arcanine smiling in the Pokemon anime

Arcanine is often considered as one of the most underutilized Pokémon of the anime, especially when considering its popularity, cool design, and its canine features. However, the Fire-type known as the Legendary Pokémon has made two appearances at Pokémon League tournaments. Its previous form, Growlithe, also appeared under the ownership of Morrison at the Hoenn League.

Arcanine's first League appearance at the Indigo Plateau Conference in Kanto is with Pete, seeing it defeat Ash's impressive Kingler before falling to Pikachu. Its main showcase comes with Ash's rival Gary on multiple occasions. At the Silver Conference in Johto, it loses to Ash's Snorlax without picking up any eliminations itself.

4 Metagross Is Always A Formidable Force To Bring The Best Out Of Its Opponents

Pokemon Metagross

Since its introduction in Gen III, Metagross has been viewed as one of the most powerful Steel types in the entire franchise, especially when considering its secondary Psychic typing. It has been built up as a mysterious powerhouse belonging to the powerful and respected Steven Stone and has also been used twice in Pokémon League competitions.

Morrison uses the second stage of its evolution line, Metang, against Ash at the Hoenn League. At the same tournament, Tyson shows off Metagross in all its glory with it knocking out Ash's Swellow and Grovllye before eventually falling to Pikachu. A Metagross is also used by Alain in his final bout with Ash at the Kalos League, but it loses to Pikachu without picking up a win for itself.

3 Scizor Has Appeared At Three Separate Pokémon League Tournaments

Scizor - Pokemon

Along with Steelix, Scizor is considered to be one of the pioneers of the Steel typing, being introduced in Gen II as an evolved form of a Gen I original. It has subsequently become a much-used Pokémon in the anime and has even appeared in three different Pokémon League tournaments.

RELATED: Pokémon: Ash Ketchum's First 10 Battles In Johto (& Who Won)

Gary introduces its power in his Silver Conference bout with Ash, as it defeats Snorlax and Muk before losing to Charizard. At the Ever Grande Conference in Hoenn, Katie's Scizor loses to Swellow without picking up a win. At the Manalo Conference in Alola, Scizor is used by Team Skull's Leader Guzma and is shown as a ruthless battler until it eventually falls to Ash's Torracat.

2 Sceptile Has Had Three Strong Showings In League Campaigns With Ash, Tyson, And Sawyer

Sawyer Sceptile

Sceptile doesn't appear as often as Charizard in Pokémon as far as final evolutions of starter Pokémon go, but it has still made many appearances under the ownership of three major characters. All of these characters have battled at various Pokémon League tournaments.

Sceptile is showcased at the Hoenn League with Tyson, as it draws with Ash's Glalie in their bout, while Ash also uses its previous form of Grovyle. Grovyle evolves into Sceptile in time for the Battle Frontier arc. It appears at the Lily of the Valley Conference in Sinnoh, pulling off a shocking victory by defeating Tobias's Darkrai before falling to his Latios. Its third and most recent League campaign comes in the X & Y series with Sawyer, as it utilizes Mega Evolution and looks impressive despite losing to Ash and his Greninja.

Charizard attacking with fire breath

Charizard may be best known as being the problem Pokémon for Ash throughout his Kanto campaign but as a species, it has become the most commonly used Pokémon in League competitions. In addition to Ash's, Charizard belonging to Kiawe, Alain, and Trevor have all been given strong showings in the anime, whether through clear victories or demonstrating power through Mega Evolution.

Another trainer named Clark also uses a Charizard in his double battle defeat to Ash at the Hoenn League. Despite taking down Grovyle in the process, it loses to Ash's Glalie and Grovyle.

NEXT: 10 Times A Pokémon Lost To Its Evolved Form In The Anime