ManyPokémonfans consider Gen 1 as the unspoiled in the series . Not only was it where most people lead off their journey with the franchise , but it also gave   the world characters that are iconic to this day , most notably of which is the mascot Pikachu . Even Game Freak has caught on to the love for this generation , asPokemon Let ’s Go Pikachu and Eeveewere alone focus on them .

Related:10 Pokémon That Would Make The Best Pets ( According To Reddit )

With 151 darling creatures to pick up in the Kanto Region , we ’re look at the 10 best from Gen 1 . This has small to do with their viability , but   more to do with their designs and overall significance to the dealership .

A character holding a trunk in art from Eberron: Forge of the Artificer

update on February 26th , 2022 by Quinn Levandoski : There plainly has n’t been any fresh Pokémon add to the first propagation , but it ’s been telling how well Game Freak and The Pokémon Company have kept the original 151 pouch monsters relevant . Alternate phylogenesis or forms have granted some new life , and others remain pop due to the gum anime or other pop polish grade of medium .

The Pokémon dealership has shown time and time again that it is n’t going anywhere . While each new generation of Pokemon stick in new buff - favorites and welcomes new gamers to the fandom , for some , there is no drum the originals .

Pikachu

Pikachu is undoubtedly one of the most popular Pokémon   in the franchise ’s storied history . It ’s adorable , chicken , and just plain cool . There was a reason it was chosen to be the series ' mascot . Just about everyone in the world have sex who Pikachu is , and it ’s easygoing to see why it ’s so popular . Pikachu ’s figure is one of the best from the generation , being simple yet different enough to pass on what the world ofPokémonis all about .

Pikachu has since been used in the gum anime , all sorts of games , and was featured in sight of twirl - offs likePokkén TournamentandSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate . The love for Pikachu will never die .

Starmie

Pokémon from several generation have been criticized for unpopular design , and several of them drew ire for look too similar to material - public objects and animals . Starmie , and its predecessor Staryu , seemed to turn tail most complaints despite simple starfish - like ocular styles . This may be because of how rock - whole Starmie has always been in conflict .

Its Water / Psychic typewriting Grant it solid STAB coverage , and entree to out - of - type moves like Thunderbeam and Ice Beam allow it to check off a big portion of foe scrapper . Unfortunately , none of its Abilities are quite as telling .

Charizard

Arguably the most popular choice out of the three Kanto fledgeling was Charmander . The reason for this is that people were rewarded for training a Charmander with a   knobbed Charizard . This orange reptile may seem to bea Pokémon that should have had different typing , but Charizard has since rest one of the most democratic Pokemon in the serial .

Not only was it the only acquire Kanto newcomer that Ash had in the Zanzibar copal ( and the only one to consistently reappear ) , but it was also take to get two Mega Evolutions , a Gigantamax var. , and appeared in three entries inSuper Smash Bros.as a playable fighter . Even when Pokémon Trainer was dropped from the series , Charizard stayed in the game .

Eevee

Eevee is an interesting Pokémon . While most development paths in Gen 1 were linear , player had three choices with Eevee in the form of Flareon , Vaporeon , and Jolteon . This versatility made it a extremely desired Pokémon . On top of that , Eevee also had a cunning design that made it a favourite among fans and the select alternative to serve as a counterpart to Pikachu .

Eevee has only been indue more development as the series has expanded , take a sum of eight different evolutions as of Gen VI . Eevee might not be quite as popular as Pikachu , but there ’s no denying that it has made its own shock on the franchise .

Squirtle

When it follow to the unevolved starter manikin , it ’s difficult to argue with the charm of Squirtle . This adorable turtleneck has everything   fans want in a basic Pokémon . It ’s cute without being too funny - looking , it ’s cool without feel overdesigned , and it will develop into one of the best Pokémon   of the generation .

Squirtle was often take the 2d most out of the three starters , but it ’s still been consistently consideredone of the best starter Pokémon in the franchise . When it number to piss Pokémon , Squirtle is still one of the most popular . This is helped by the fact that Squirtle and its phylogeny made it into a few twirl - off titles as playable characters .

Gyarados

No one catch a Magikarp because they fuck it . Everyone enchant a Magikarp because they wanted to raise it to pull down 20 and utilise a Gyarados . Gyarados is a dire and powerful Pokémon , but the fact that it evolves from something so potentially useless is why it remains so memorable .

Gyarados did n’t become competitively viable until receiving a Mega Evolution in Gen VI , but it remained a popular Pokemon withal . Its sheer size of it and raging appearance were more than enough for people to become familiar with it . It was also the only Pokémon to resemble a sea fiend so vividly , making it stand out .

Gengar

The first   specter - type   in thePokémonfranchise is still one of the most memorable . Gengar is just about as iconic as a ghost Pokémon can get without step on Pikachu ’s toe . Created as a direct reply to the sinewy psychic types , Gengar   is a hefty and rapid Pokémon who would by and by have a serious impact on the meta when it receive a Mega Evolution in Gen VI and a Gigantamax form in Gen VIII .

Gengar ’s design is childlike yet effective . A bonus is that it somehow mirrors Clefable ’s design , which led to a great deal of interesting theories about a connection between the two coinage . unluckily , Gengar is a severe teras to acquire as it ’s one ofseveral Pokémon that only develop through trading .

Articuno/Zapdos/Moltres

It ’s unmanageable to fork these three bird because of how attached they are in the Kanto Region . Articuno , Zapdos , and Moltres were the original legendary troika in the franchise , and they get a lot of love for that . These three would come out in numerous other game that took lieu outside of the Kanto Region , likePokémon X and Y.

They were the first legendary Pokémon that many players ever catch and ask   searching in icy cave and erstwhile baron plants to notice .   This trio was reinvigorated with new Galarian form inPokémon SwordandShield .

Scyther

Scyther did n’t have a bad impact on thePokémonseries , but its design alone made it deserving a blot on the list . Scyther was broadly speaking base on a praying mantid , and Game Freak took a lot of creative shore leave with the purpose . It ’s imposing , cool , and calculate amazingly lowering .

deal most of the   bug - type   Pokémon at the clip were either precious or just anime versions of real - Earth insects , Scyther was a welcome change of step . Scyther would later gain an organic evolution in Gen II in the form of Scizor , and an alternative phylogenesis , Kleavor , inPokémon Legends : Arceus .

Dragonair

While Dragonite is the gen 1 Dargon that most often come out in conflict , Dragonair benefits from having a much more interesting pattern . While it ’s base on a serpent alike to Gyarados , Dragonair is much more lissome and refined .

It shows off the fabulous nature of dragon while not being so overdesigned . It ’s simple , streamlined , and beautiful . It ’s inauspicious that its evolution did n’t think over any of that . Dragonite is coolheaded in its own direction , but many would have preferred something closer to Dragonair . Many players may have miss Dragonairas it ’s one of the hardest Pokémon to catch .

Mewtwo

10 after his innovation , Mewtwo is still one of the most democratic Pokémon of all time . This is partially due to its interesting visual design and combat effectuality , but Mewtwo also acquire fans as the opponent of the first Pokémon pic as well asDetective Pikachu .

Mewtwo fought and looked like no other Pokémon from Gen I , and masses went addict trying to add it to their squad . Mewtwo has since appeared in many other Pokémon games and was the only other Pokemon to be rewarded with two Mega Evolutions that   were   both competitively practicable .

Chansey

Chansey , also known as the Egg Pokémon , has a bizarre excogitation that ’s both endearing and fantastically odd . As its nickname implies , Chansey , as well all its baby variant , Happiny , and its phylogenesis , Blissey , all have eggs in a pouch on their bellies . This " parent " persona is mirrored in their matronly behavior and penchant for working in Pokemon Centers .

Chansey is no private-enterprise slouch , either . While they wo n’t do much damage obnoxiously , their massive health pool and solid Special Defense stat make them grotesque tanks against Special Attackers .

Alakazam

Alakazam garnered substantial attention from many fans due to his outlandish Pokédex entries inPokémon RedandBlue . This Pokemon catalogue claim that Alakazam possesses an I.Q. of around 5,000 , and that places it 500 clock time higher than the average adult .

Alakazam has waved in and out of the private-enterprise meta due to his humiliated Defense / Special Defense and high Special Attack . Alakazam do good from one of the firm Mega Evolutions in the games , but their remotion has once again lowered his function in competitive format .

Cloyster

Cloyster was n’t in reality very good when it was originally resign in the first genesis games , but this angry oyster saw a immense jump in viability when it was yield Skill Link , one ofthe best competitive abilities in the enfranchisement . Skill connection insure that all multi - hit moves landed estate the maximal possible number of attacks .

Fortunately , Cloyster has self-coloured multi - dispatch moves to employ Skill Link , such as Rock Black and Icicle Spear . This makes it a powerful combatant against opposition with Sturdy or that are weak to Ice or Rock move . Cloyster is also a capital defensive tank with an telling Defense stat of 180 .

Lapras

Lapras is a big aquatic Pokémon famous for its favorable nature and willingness to permit people ride on its shield across water . Lapras was a hearty competitive teammate in generation 1 as well due to its well - round off suite of motility . Surf and Ice Beam deal solid impairment , while Confuse Ray and Hypnosis could corrupt meter for healing or cause opponents to knock themselves out .

Lapras was sacrifice a boost in Sword and Shield when it was given a medicine - inspired Gigantamax form . This grade came with a unique move , G - Max Resonance , which deals damage and sets up Aurora Veil .

Next:10 Best Competitive Pokémon Abilities , Ranked

A closeup of Aerith with a concerned look in the ruined church from Final Fantasy 7 Remake.

A split image of Mewtwo, Squirtle, and Gyarados

It’s Ash’s Pikachu from the Pokémon television series

Squirtle

A Starmie in battle as seen in the Gen VIII Pokémon games

Charizard flying through the air in Pokemon

Eevee Sitting on floor in the Pokémon anime

Squirtle

Squirtle

Gyarados in a lake in the Pokémon anime

A Gengar Pokemon

Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres

Scyther in the Pokemon anime

Dragonair ifloats on water in Lets go Pikachu

Mewtwo floating over a city at night

Chansey holds its hands together in Pokemon

Alakazam Pokemon

Cloyster smiling while attacking the Pokemon anime series

Lapras Pokemon floats over water

Gaming

Nintendo