The latest installment of the Pokémon series, Sword and Shield, released on Nintendo's handheld hybrid to great acclaim. While there's been a fair bit of controversy over the number of Pokémon from past games you can capture, there has still been a plethora of fans and newcomers enjoying the latest offering from the Pokémon series. So, with a new Pokémon game comes a new season of the TV series for kids and fans to watch. While Ash Ketchum hasn't caught a lot of Pokémon when we last saw him, we're hoping he's able to capture a few more in the latest installment.

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Updated on September 1st, 2020 by Josh Davison: Some time has passed since the release of Pokémon: Sword and Shield, and the Pokémon fans among us have had time to play through the game, catch 'em all, and even enjoy the Isle of Armor DLC. The Galar Region introduced a delightful smattering of new Pokémon for the audience to enjoy and grow attached to. All of this is to say that 10 entries just wasn't enough to fulfill the wishlist for Galarian Pokémon for Ash to catch in the anime. As such, another five entries of Galarian Pokémon will be added to this list to further speculate about what Pokémon Ash Ketchum will add to his roster during his Sword and Shield journey.

15 Kubfu

Kubfu striking a pose in Pokemon

Kubfu is the cute little Wushu Pokémon made available to the player in the Isle of Armor DLC to Sword and Shield. It's small, cute, and a powerful fighter--much like Pikachu himself. Isle of Armor encourages you to walk around with your Kubfu and enjoy the vistas of the island with the little martial artist, so it's hard not to get attached to the little thing. As such, it would be delightful to see Ash get one in the show.

14 Stonjourner

Stonjourner is that weird mixture of cute and a little intimidating that Pokémon does so well. It's a walking relic made to resemble Stone Henge with a cute little face on the front of it. It's something that could do a lot of damage in a fight that nonetheless wins you over with its expressions. Needless to say, Ash needs one.

Falinks is one of the stranger Pokémon to have been introduced in Sword and Shield, due in no small part to the fact that it seems to be made up of several living creatures instead of just one. That, weirdly enough, is no new concept to Pokémon with Slowbro having a vicious looking Shellder on its tale and Mantine having Remoraid under its wings like little torpedos. That said, Falinks still raises a lot of questions we'd like the show to try to answer.

12 Galarian Farfetch'd

Galarian Farfetch'd is a spin on the old bird Pokémon that wields its massive leek like a greatsword or club. Plus, it's a Fighting-Type now instead of a Flying and Normal-Type. It has the air of a noble warrior and it evolves into the knight-like Sirfetch'd. For some reason, it feels like a Pokémon that Ash wouldn't evolve and would just keep as a Farfetch'd.

11 Toxtricity

Toxtricity is the punk-rocker Pokémon that melds the Poison and Electric-Types. Ash rarely captures Electric-Type Pokémon given that his famous partner is an Electric-Type itself. However, anything could change, and it would be easy to imagine Ash getting a cute little Toxel and evolving it into the rocking-out Toxtricity. It would be fun watching Ash try to tame this one like Charizard a couple of years back. Toxtricity also has two forms, but the Amped form seems more up Ash's alley.

10 Rookidee

pokemon rookidee

Excluding last season, Ash has captured every bird Pokémon that first shows up in each Region. He's captured Pidgeotto, Noctowl, Swellow, and so on. Rookidee would make the perfect first Pokémon for the Alola Champion to catch in the Galar region. Rookidee starts as a small little Pokémon but will eventually become Corviknight, the 2nd Pokémon that is both a bird and a Flying/Steel mix. Cross your fingers that he'll add this Pokémon to his team

9 Drednaw

Official game art for Drednaw in Pokémon Sword and Shield.

Drednaw was one of the first Pokémon revealed in Sword and Shield. While there's plenty of Water Pokémon to capture, Drednaw is a Snapping Turtle that has both Rock and Water characteristics. Along with its powerful offensive attacks, Drednaw has a sturdy shell that makes it hard for Opponents to take it down.

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It could also be the first Pokémon Ash gets that has a Gigantamax evolution. While Ash could catch another Water Pokémon on this list, we're pulling out hope that he'll mix things up and capture this powerful Pokémon to his collection.

8 Rolycoly

When it comes to Rock Pokémon, Ash hasn't collected that many. The only ones that Ash has caught were Boldore back in Black and White and Rockruff in Sun and Moon. Rolycoly is a new Pokémon as it may start as a Rock with an eye and wheel, its evolutions, Carkol and Coalossal, gain fire traits and moves. With Ash's new companion, Go, getting Scorbunny, it would be wise for Ash to capture a Pokémon that gains Fire traits when it evolves.

7 Clobbobust

Clobbobust is one of the wackier Pokémon introduced in Sword and Shield. This fighting-type is the second Pokémon to resemble an Octopus in the series. Though it's a much slower Pokémon, it makes up for this disadvantage by containing powerful fighting attacks, such as Brick Break, Rock Smash, and much more. When it evolves into the stronger Grapploct, it gains the signature move Octolock, Which prevents Pokémon from running away while lowering its defense and special defense. It would make for an exciting and intimidating Pokémon for Ash to catch.

6 Impidimp

Impidimp is another one of the odder additions to Pokémon Sword and Shield. Unlike a lot of Pokémon that are based on animals, ghosts, and mythological creatures, Impidimp is based on the fictional imp creature. Impidimp has the distinction of being both a dark and fairy type Pokémon, rather than being pure Dark.

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This little imp also has an impressive attack in False Surrender, which makes it fall and use one of its hair braids to strike it. It would be an exciting addition to Ash's line-up, though we wouldn't be surprised if Team Rocket managed to catch this devious looking Pokémon.

5 Cufant

Back in Gold and Silver, Ash received an egg that hatched into a cute, little Phanpy. This little Elephant Pokémon could curl up into a ball and use Rollout to take down opponents. The following season saw Phanpy evolve into a Donphan and was still just as loyal and strong to Ash. With our recent Pokémon Master already having some experience with an Elephant Pokémon, it would be wise for Ash to add a Cutant to his list. This Steel-type Pokémon not only can endure a lot of attacks, but it can also deal a lot out. It's evolved form, Copperajah, can have a Gigantamax form, sweetening the deal for Ash to get this Pokémon on his team.

4 Galar Ponyta

Pokemon Galar Ponyta

Ash encounters a lot of different Alola variants of the Pokémon he's seen in Kanto. From Rattata to Marowak, he's seen plenty of old Pokémon with new coats of paint. So, we think it would be wise for Ash to catch at least one Galar variant of a Pokémon he's seen. While Galar Farfetch'd, and it's evolution, Sirfetch'd, has been hogging a lot of the spotlight, we think Ash would give Galar Ponyta a shot. He's already befriended and rode one back in Kanto, so it would be safe for him to gain the trust of this version of the Horse Pokémon. You'd even be satisfying the Brony crowd if it evolves into Rapidash.

3 Flapple

Pokemon Flapple spreading wings

Applin is a Pokémon that's an apple... Exciting, we know. This Little Guy may seem like a disappointing Pokémon, but it's the evolved form of Flapple that gets us behind this Pokémon. Whereas Applin's other evolved form, Appletun, specializes in special attack and special defense, Fapple is all about speed and strength.

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This high flying Pokémon is also a Dragon-Type and can learn several Dragon attacks, such as Dragon Pulse and Dragon Rush. He may be a little too odd for Ash, but that doesn't make us pull out hope for Ash catching this weirdo.

2 Grookey

Ash has always caught at least one of the Starter Pokémon in each Region. While we have a feeling that he'll go for Sobble, given the immense praise for it's cute and innocent design, That won't stop us from supporting Grookey. Grookey started as the least favorite of many trainers, but when his evolved forms were leaked, a lot of trainers jumped ships to Grookey. He's become the underdog of Starter Pokémon, giving us hope that we'll see more of this little guy in the series to come. Besides, who doesn't love a good underdog story?

1 Sobble

For Kanto, Johto, and Unova, Ash caught all three, For Alola and Sinnoh, he found the Fire and Grass Starter, and for Hoenn and Kalos, he's captured one. While we're still holding out for Grookey, we can't deny that Sobble is still a likely candidate for Ash to catch in the Sword and Shield series. As mentioned before, Sobble has won over fans with its precious design and personality. He's a Pokémon that starts shy but slowly evolves into a more confidant Pokémon. It would make for a fun character arc if Sobble were chosen for Ash to catch.

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