It is an undeniable fact to all Pokémon fans that one of the best aspects of the franchise is building a unique team of monsters to conquer the challenges the world of the series has to offer. The characters of the anime also share these ideals, as the show has depicted hundreds of creative and iconic combinations. Ash, whose journey as the protagonist of the series ended three years ago, is by far one of the best examples of this concept, as each new challenge prompted him to build a new team.
Every single one of these squads left a mark on not only the history of the series, but also the fans, as they were a vital part of the protagonist’s journey to become one of the strongest trainers in the franchise. Still, not all of Ash’s teams saw the same level of success, nor did they have the same approval among fans. Despite his long list of teams, there are only a few that can be considered the strongest, the most versatile, and the most beloved.
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Unova
Despite his rocky beginnings as a cocky novice, Ash’s journey through the first four regions of the world gave him more than enough experience to become a competent trainer. Lamentably, all the knowledge he acquired was thrown out the window during his time in the Unova region, during which Ash made some of his biggest mistakes. The show tried to reboot his character, turning him back into the loud and overconfident trainer he used to be, traits that reflected on his Pokémon choices.
Pokemon: 7 Strongest Unova Trainers
The Unova region is home to a plethora of formidable, fearsome and simply extraordinary Trainers.
His team during the Unova season was, in a few words, less than stellar, with only a few members worth talking about. Unlike in previous seasons, during which the boy focused on training a small and varied team, the series decided to give him a large roster of monsters to instruct, resulting in most of them not being given the proper time to evolve and better themselves. This resulted in several members of Ash’s Unova team ending up among his worst partners ever when accounting for loss rates.
Johto
The Johto Region is often ranked by fans as one of the best in the entire Pokémon franchise, with amazing views, incredible creatures, and some of the best episodes in the anime. Millions of viewers remember this time fondly, as it was a major step in cementing Ash’s journey as an icon of the 90s and 2000s. Woefully, despite the many fond memories this time gave fans, there is no denying that it also has one of Ash’s least impressive teams.
Pokemon: 7 Strongest Johto Trainers
The Johto region not only has well-known Gym Leaders, but heroes embarking on their own journeys.
Similar to what happened in Unova, the Pokémon the hero used during this time were never given the proper time to become reliable fighters, something that becomes apparent when considering only one of them evolved during this era. This resulted in several of Ash’s teammates, like Quilava, Heracross, and Totodile, feeling underwhelming. Many fans agree that this team would have been much better if Ash had taken the time to evolve his Pokémon.
Hoenn
Despite being somewhat overshadowed by other regions, the Hoenn era of the Pokémon anime is still dearly loved by fans who grew up alongside Ash’s adventure. When the hero arrived in this region, he was no longer the reckless boy he had been, but he was still trying to find himself and his path in life. The Ruby and Sapphire seasons had one of the most realistic depictions of Ash as a growing trainer, experienced enough to learn from his mistakes, but also immature enough to still make them.
Pokemon: 7 Strongest Hoenn Trainers
The Hoenn region has many fantastic Pokemon, with equally fantastic Trainers working with them.
Besides introducing some of Ash’s strongest companions in the franchise’s history, Hoenn was also a great midpoint for the hero’s journey, and his team is a manifestation of that. While Pokémon like Aipoom and Swellow were particularly strong and useful in combat, others like Torkoal and Corpfish were more often than not a burden to the rest. While not awful in terms of combat, this team proves how much more Ash needed to grow.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
Kanto
What began as a rocky friendship between a young boy with a dream and his unruly Pikachu quickly became an icon of the 90s, as well as one of the best shonen anime of all time, all thanks to the Kanto region and its many mysteries. When Ash began his adventure, he was an impatient trainer desperate to achieve his dreams. As such, he would more often than not allow his feelings to cloud his judgment both in combat and during team-building.
Pokemon: 7 Strongest Kanto Trainers
The Kanto region is full of amazing Trainers, all who have different roles and Pokémon rosters.
It is a fact that the Pokémon that accompanied the hero during his early years are more than iconic, as they have been a part of the franchise for more than 2 decades. However, this does not mean that the team is without fault, not by a long margin. Due to Ash’s inexperience, not all the monsters in his team were given a proper chance to shine, with Bulbasaur and Squirtle being good examples. The overreliance on other members, such as Charizard or Pikachu, caused Ash to make many mistakes his older counterpart would learn to avoid.
Orange Island
The Orange Island arc has always been a point of inflection for a large portion of the Pokémon fandom. Even though this season was not bad by any means, it did not feel as iconic or memorable as the original series. This is, in large part, due to the fact that Ash’s team around this time was not unique or appealing in its own right. Most of the monsters he chose to face this challenge had already been with him for some time, like Charizard, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle, some of the best and most beloved starters, but not novel in any way.
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The new additions to the team, Snorlax and Lapras, did end up becoming iconic partners in due time, but their contributions during the Orange Island left much to be desired from fans. This in no way means the team suffered from bad writing or was lacking in any way, as it did end up making what most considered a throw-away season enjoyable. Moreover, it was during this era that Ash earned his first big victory by winning the tournament and becoming a champion, albeit not an official one.
Sinnoh
Although the original Indigo League season will always be a beloved part of the Pokémon franchise, there is consensus among fans that the Diamond and Pearl era was the pinnacle of what made the anime so special. It was around this time that Ash let go of his novice ways and began carving the path of the champion he would become later in life. Several of the best moments in the anime Sinnoh series prove just how much the boy has grown since leaving Pallet Town.
Pokemon: 7 Strongest Sinnoh Trainers
The Sinnoh region is famous for being the home of several amazing Trainers and their equally fearsome Pokemon.
There is no better proof of this than his team, which was not only powerful but compelling in every single way. It was a balanced group, with advantages against several types, which allowed Ash to come up with ingenious strategies to defeat the powerful trainers residing in this region. Not only that, but a couple of his partners around this era had stories that left a mark on the hearts of millions of fans. Such is the case of Infernape, who began as an abused and cowardly Chimchar discarded by Paul, and ended up having one of the best-written story arcs in the entire Pokémon franchise.
Alola
While there has been far more than one controversial Pokémon design over the long history of the franchise, few have been as infamous among followers of the anime as the animation changes that took place during the Sun and Moon era. Nevertheless, whether the appearance of the characters was popular or not, there is no denying that Ash’s team during this time was an excellent example of what an experienced and talented trainer like him can achieve.
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One of this team’s most admirable traits was how impressively each member performed from the beginning, with Pokémon like Rowlett and Litten proving themselves as strong even without evolving. It was also the only time during which Ash had control over not one but two creatures of legend, the Mythical Melmetal and the Ultra Beast Naganadel. This was a striking contrast to all the previous times Ash didn’t bother catching other Legendaries, a decision that did indeed end with his crowning as the Alolan Champion.
Kalos
Often hailed by fans as one of the best eras in the Pokémon anime’s history, the X and Y series was by far one of the most difficult challenges Ash had ever faced. The Kalos region, while vibrant and welcoming, was also home to some of the most imposing trainers in the world, including two of Ash’s strongest rivals ever. The hero was forced to create a team that would not only allow him to surpass the obstacles on his way but also cement his legacy as a great trainer.
Pokemon: 7 Strongest Kalos Trainers
The Kalos region has a rich history, though new legends are made each day thanks to these powerful Trainers.
His team members during this era were more than just great fighters; they were valued friends who embodied the hero’s philosophy of love above strength when training with his friends. This led to the emergence of some of Ash’s strongest Pokémon ever, such as his unique Greninja, which awakened a whole new form. Lamentably, even this amazing team was not enough to beat the plot, as Ash’s final battle against Alain resulted in a defeat, a decision fans still do not completely accept to this day.
World Coronation Series (Galar)
Pokémon Journeys was not only one of the most important seasons in the entire franchise, as it marked the ending of Ash’s journey, but also one of the most exciting. Faced with the World Coronation Series, the tournament where the strongest trainers from all regions of the world would battle for the title of Champion, the protagonist had to use all the knowledge he acquired in his adventures. This mastery over the art of battles was shown in his amazing and balanced team.
Each member of this elite group was carefully selected by Ash because of their strength, type-advantages, and the deep bond they shared with the trainer. From the mischievous but brave Gengar, to his trusted companion Pikachu, who reaffirmed his place as one of the most loved Pokémon characters ever. This team is not only iconic for being the embodiment of everything Ash had to learn, but also because their efforts awarded the hero his dream of becoming the best trainer in the world.
Pokémon
- Release Date
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1997 – 2023
- Network
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TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC
- Directors
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Shigeru Omachi, Koji Ogawa, Fumihiro Ueno, Hideki Hiroshima, Maki Kodaira, Makoto Ooga, Ayumi Moriyama, Keitaro Motonaga, Shigeru Ueda, Fumihiro Yoshimura, Minoru Ohara, Yoshitaka Makino, Kiyoshi Egami, Makoto Sokuza, Bjarne Heuser, Naoki Murata, Kenichi Nishida, Tomoe Makino, Masahiko Watanabe, Hiroaki Takagi, Tazumi Mukaiyama, Ryohei Horiuchi, Yoshihiro Oda, Hiromichi Matano
- Writers
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Junki Takegami, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Hideki Sonoda, Yukiyoshi Ôhashi, Yuka Miyata, Takeshi Shudo, Shouji Yonemura, Shinzo Fujita, Michihiro Tsuchiya, Deko Akao, Reiko Yoshida, Aya Matsui, Junichi Fujisaku
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Rica Matsumoto
Satoshi (voice)
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Ikue Otani
Pikachu (voice)
