If you’ve been playingPokemonsince the beginning, then you’ve probably faced the same impossible decision we have: choosing a party of six Pokemon. Whether you choose your favorites, the strongest available, or you like to switch things up every time, it’s nearly impossible to try every one of the over 1,000 Pokemon to choose from.
Luckily, you won’t have to deal with that FOMO for much longer, as there are a few standout Pokemon with great abilities and use cases that you’ll love testing. Using your favorite Pokemon might be more viable than you realized if you take advantage of their best qualities.
8Ditto
Ditto is one of the most unserious Pokemon to ever exist; just look at the derpy expression on its face, and you won’t be able to argue otherwise. However, it’s a seriously underrated option to use as a scout, especially if you’re rolling with a partner in a double battle.
Ideally, use a Ditto with the Imposter Hidden Ability so you don’t have to waste a turn using Transform to scout out your opponent’s moveset. While you’d only be able to reveal the moveset of the Pokemon directly in front of Ditto, this information could be essential to making a key switch that could save valuable Pokemon.
7Wobbuffet
Wobuffet is another great option to add to your doubles team, even if the Pokemon doesn’t offer the biggest offensive threat to your opponents. Telepathy isa massively helpful ability to use,so you avoid damage from your ally who may have spread moves, like Earthquake.
Alternatively, you could rely on this Pokemon’s Shadow Tag ability to keep a Pokemon from switching out. This can be extremely powerful in tandem with a Pokemon that can exploit the foe’s weakness, aseven the most cunning opposing trainerwon’t be able to switch their Pokemon out for at least a full turn.
6Psyduck
This genuinely isn’t a meme choice, even though it might seem like one. Psyduck is a better option than you might think, especially if you give it an Eviolite to prop up its defenses to more respectable levels that would justify stopping its evolution. Cloud Nine is a massive boon if you want to eliminate weather as a factor, or you’re able to lean into rain instead, using the Swift Swim Hidden Ability.
Even the Damp ability has a niche usage if you’re up against Pokemon who would normally Self-Destruct when their health gets low instead of going down. On top of that, you’ll need a Psyduck with Damp if you want to shiny hunt any Pokemon that naturally learns Self-Destruct, or you’ll be in for a lot of crying.
5Lanturn
Lanturn is a sneaky option if you enjoy playing mind games with your opponent via the Volt Absorb ability and Water Absorb Hidden Ability, which completely negates Electric or Water attacks, respectively, turning them into HP recovery for Lanturn.
You probably shouldn’t use this strategy against the AI trainers in difficult challenges like the Battle Tower, since they will just cheat and read your ability to work around it, if the opposing Pokemon can use a move that won’t be absorbed.
While your opponent probably won’t be attacking you with Water or Electric-type attacks in most cases, this is a niche way to enable some healing for this Pokemon, and create a frustrating situation for an opponent if you switch into their attack.
4Cloyster
This incredibly toughclam, oyster, whatever it is,will be the bane of your opponent’s existence if you know how to use it. Cloyster can be deployed either offensively or defensively, depending on whether you opt for the Shell Armor or Skill Link ability.
Shell Armor prevents critical hits. Skill Link increases the frequency of multi-strike moves.
Icicle Spear is the top attack choice for a Skill Link build, as it will enable the attack to hit either four or five times, rather than possibly only hitting two or three times.
3Shedinja
If you want a possible partner to use alongside Ditto, or an option to switch into in the back, then Shedinja is one of the top choices, thanks to its fantastic Wonder Guard ability. Scouting the foe’s moveset will allow you to safely switch in when there’s a Pokemon who doesn’t know a move that would bypass Wonder Guard.
This is one of the funniest Pokemon to use on your team, since you can just completely wall your opponent if they’re ill-prepared, and even when it crashes out, at least you can laugh about it.
2Sableye
If you thought Shedinja was a troll, then Sableye will redefine what that word means to you; there’s no better ‘troll’ Pokemon than Sableye, period. Prankster is the most fitting ability possible, as this Pokemon will go first when it uses a status-inflicting move on its opponent.
This Pokemon can also function well in a Trick Room team, and for battles with Mega Evolution availability, it offers a top-tier Mega Evolution option. While you may have dabbled in Sableye as a competitive player, this Pokemon rarely sees much love in casual play.
1Milotic
Milotic isn’t particularly underrated, but the long journey it takes to raise your own from a Feebas can make it hard to justify putting in the effort to get a Milotic. Water-type Pokemon are typically in high supply, so there’s usually no need to waste time getting Milotic.
However, the variety of viable strategies makes Milotic as strong as it is beautiful. Marvel Scale raises its defense when affected by a status condition, while Competitive can reverse an attempt to lower your Special Attack, instead, raising it. Last but not least, the Cute Charm ability can make your opponent infatuated, and nothing is funnier than watching a Pokemon too busy being in love to attack Milotic.
