It’s absolutely incredible to consider how much the Pokémon franchise has grown since its humble start in the 1990s and now, decades later, it’s a multi-pronged franchise that seems to dominate whatever field it’s in. There are a fair number of changes to Pokémon since its debut, but the core titles are more or less the same and the monster hunting and battling aspect remains front and center.
There are lots of anime series that showcase a formidable duo, but this concept is embraced in Pokémon in an even more thorough way. There are some Pokémon that don’t just share a bond or connection with another creature, and in some extreme cases, these Pokémon are literally inseparable.
10 Slowbro Evolves When Shellder Makes Contact
The Pokémon series has explored all kinds of creative reasons for why Pokémon evolve as well as their more intricate inner workings that often get reserved for niche Pokédex entries. Sometimes the combination of certain Pokémon can have unexpected consequences and the anime explicitly examines how the act of a Shellder latching onto a Slowpoke’s tail will turn the two into a Slowbro. It’s a very unusual circumstance, and the two Kanto region Pokémon continue to transform through Slowpoke’s other evolutions. The anime even argues that a Slowbro will devolve if the Shellder gets removed.
9 Mew & Mewtwo Are Cut From The Same Genetic Cloth
Pokémon has grown in incredible ways since the original Generation I titles, but these iconic titles also introduced one of the most dangerous Pokémon of its kind, Mewtwo. Mewtwo is an absolute juggernaut that fuels the conflict of the first Pokémon feature film. Mewtwo is an incredibly powerful Psychic-type Pokémon, but it’s actually a man-made creation from the elusive Pokémon Mew’s DNA (although the anime claims it’s directly a clone of Mew). These two Pokémon cover opposite extremes and temperaments, but they’re also intrinsically linked and share an undeniable bond.
8 Magearna’s Empathy Is The Only Cure For Volcanion’s Eruptions
The Pokémon movies often act as more extravagant showcases for the series most dangerous Legendary and Mythical Pokémon. Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel is a movie that puts Volcanion and Magearna, two volatile Kalos region Pokémon, front and center.
Magearna is a man-made artificial Pokémon with an incredible aptitude for empathy. This is crucial for Volcanion, an irate Pokémon that rages at the world and those who have injured it. Volcanion becomes obsessed with Magearna, who also possesses the rare ability to actually get through to Volcanion and soothe the Pokémon.
7 Plusle & Minun Are Designed To Encourage & Compliment Each Other
Many fans of the Pokémon series were skeptical that a creature that’s more adorable than Pikachu or Pichu would be possible, but the addition of Plusle and Minun manages to get a little more cuteness out of the Electric Rodent concept. Plusle and Minun are small in stature, but they make up for it in enthusiasm. The two Pokémon inherently cheer each other on and generate energy at the same time, one of them of the positive variety and the other of the negative persuasion. Together the two Pokémon complete this fetching electrical circuit.
6 Phione Is Only Possible Through Manaphy Breeding
Nature is full of anomalies and some mysteries refuse to be explained. Pokémon breeding and Pokémon Eggs become increasingly important to the series over time. Manaphy is a very rare Pokémon from the Sinnoh region, but curiously, breeding the Pokémon with a Ditto will produce a Pokémon Egg that turns into a Phione. Phione can only be birthed from Manaphy, yet Manaphy Eggs are distinctly different from Phione eggs. It’s murky territory and the two Sea Guardian Pokémon are very similar Pokémon, yet still distinct.
5 Nidoran♂ & Nidoran♀ Are Two Sides Of The Same Coin
Each new Pokémon generation creates a more detailed universe where more depth is given to these iconic creatures. A Pokémon’s mood, items, and what time of day all play factors in later generation evolutions, but right from the start there’s Nidoran♂ and Nidoran♀ that introduce gender to the series.
Gender has become much more prominent in Pokémon, but in the original titles, it gives these Nidoran a unique advantage. Both versions of Nidoran evolve into different creatures, but they originate from this similar starting point. They’re a very important Pokémon duo.
4 Ninjask & Shedinja Are Twins That Grow From Nincada
Evolution is a fascinating, unpredictable process in Pokémon and sometimes a single creature can spawn off several different possibilities. Nincada is a somewhat annoying Bug-type Pokémon from Generation III’s Hoenn region, but it stands out exclusively for the strange process behind its evolution. Nincada evolves into Ninjask at Level 20, but a Shedinja will also be produced if the player has an extra Poké Ball and free slot in their party. Ninjask and Shedinja are literally created through the same process, and so it’s hard to deny their connection.
3 Pachirisu & Emolga Are Both Adorable Electric-Type Squirrels
There are nearly 1000 unique Pokémon in creation, but occasionally new games will turn to preexisting popular designs for new inspiration. Pikachu has become Pokémon’s mascot and there are several Pokémon that are not directly related to Pikachu but certainly bear a lot in common. Generation IV’s Pachirisu and Generation V’s Emolga are introduced in different games, but they’re hard to separate. They’re both Electric-type Squirrel Pokémon that have comparable techniques and nearly look identical. More Pikachu clones have come out over time, but Pachirisu and Emolga continue to stick together among the crowd.
2 Spritzee & Swirlix Are Both Fairy-Types That Play By The Same Rules
Pokémon is a series that’s experimented with counterpoints since the very beginning and there are lots of Pokémon that are presented as mirror versions of others. Spritzee and Swirlix are two especially dainty Fairy-type Pokémon from the X & Y titles that intentionally crossover with each other. The two have similar movesets, abilities, and they both evolve through the same trading process. The only difference here is that the two Pokémon represent different titles, but once they’re combined, it’s impossible to not view them as a team.
1 Remoraid Sustains Itself Off Of Mantine
The world of Pokémon has established its own rules, but it’s always interesting when particular creatures have direct ties to actual animals and nature. Mantine and Remoraid are two Generation II Water-Type Pokémon that convey the symbiotic relationship that’s often present with aquatic animals. Mantine resembles a dominant manta ray, whereas Remoraid is a smaller bottom feeder that uses its fin to connect to Mantine’s underside and survive off of the Pokémon’s scraps. It creates a very unique power dynamic where many Remoraid cannot become sufficiently powerful without the help of a Mantine.
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