The Pokémon series is getting close to approaching its 25th anniversary, and the franchise’s popularity has never been greater. Pokémon has been consistently expanding its rich universe through different forms of media and evolving game mechanics that have changed along with the times.
Pokémon’s world has broadened in incredible ways, but one of the core features that has been around since the very start is that Pokémon can evolve into new creatures under the right circumstances. A Pokémon’s evolution is typically a cause for celebration, but there are occasions where the stronger Pokémon actually looks like a weaker downgrade of its predecessor.
10 Porygon-Z Ends Porygon’s Evolutionary Line On A Weak Note
From the very beginning since Generation I, Porygon has always been one of the more atypical Pokémon, right down to the way in which it’s acquired. Porygon’s design isn’t exactly intimidating, but the Normal-Type Pokémon conveys a certain level of sturdy defense with its sharp edges.
Porygon2 rounds off Porygon’s edges and Porygon-Z doesn’t just look more disposable, it’s also actively weaker in some areas. All of Porygon’s evolutions leave a lot to be desired and it’s further cemented the Pokémon’s niche nature. Porygon2 evolves into Porygon-Z when it’s traded while holding the Dubious Disc, which is a lot of effort for something so disappointing.
9 Lickilicky Adds Nothing To The Equation And Becomes Forgettable
Some of the more memorable Pokémon from the original games are the ones that don’t evolve. Many of the future titles attempt to add evolutions to these Pokémon and some of these creative decisions turn out to be misfires. Lickilicky doesn’t come around until Generation IV and by that point, it feels like a futile attempt at redeeming Lickitung.
Lickitung evolves into Lickilicky when it levels up while it knows the move Rollout. However, Lickilicky almost seems like it was initially meant to be the Pokémon’s pre-evolved form. It’s dopier and nothing new gets added.
8 Spewpa Loses Scatterbug’s Personality In Favor Of Crippling Cuteness
Bug-Type turned out some of the more controversial Pokémon creatures over the years and there are many secondary stages among these Pokémon that feel weaker because of their cocoon-like nature that’s a part of insect life cycle.
Spewpa is the evolved form of Scatterbug, a Bug-Type Pokémon from Generation IV’s Kalos region that’s mighty adorable, but not exactly powerful-looking. Vivillion completes the metamorphosis and looks marginally stronger, Scatterbug brings more to the table in terms of fighting spirit and dexterity than Spewpa.
7 Crobat Completes Zubat’s Transformation With A Whimper
Zubats are a frequent frustration to Pokémon trainers in the original titles. Their evolved form, Golbat, is actually frightening due to its size and elongated mouth. It’s not until Generation II that a thrid form, Crobat, gets introduced in the Johto region.
The Poison- and Flying-Type Pokémon technically packs a greater punch, but it looks weaker in every respect. Crobat is far less intimidating and looks like something that Golbat would have for a snack. Crobat is a lesson in why it’s important to not judge a book by its cover, but it also leaves much to be desired.
6 Flaaffy Feels Like A Lateral Move From Mareep And Not The Necessary Step Forward
There’s lots of creativity in Pokémon when it comes to Pokémon versions of real-life animals and Generation II’s Mareep is an Electric-Type take on a sheep. Mareep has quite the iconic look and it’s one of the more memorable Pokémon to come out of the Johto region. Mareep’s final evolved form, Amparos, is a bold step forward and looks strange and powerful.
The step in between, Flaaffy, ends up feeling redundant. Flaaffy still resembles Mareep in many ways, but the Pokémon’s design is far more minimalist. It has less wool than Mareep, and what’s exposed isn’t exactly threatening.
5 Politoed Is The Cute Alternative Route Away From Poliwrath’s Rage
The original Pokémon titles feature a popular trio of Water-Type Pokémon in the form of Poliwag, Poliwhirl, and Poliwrath. It certainly feels like a full evolution line and not like one that’s in need of an edit. That’s when Generation II began to experiment with branching evolution paths and Politoed functions as a cute yin to Poliwrath’s aggressive yang.
Politoed forms when Poliwhirl is traded while holding the King’s Rock. It’s not necessarily any weaker than Poliwrath, but it looks sillier and less threatening than even Poliwhirl.
4 Furret Doesn’t Pack The Evolutionary Punch That It Should
Generation II of the Pokémon series marks an interesting period that introduces many Pokémon that represent both the best and worst of the series. Normal-Type Rodent Pokémon tend to get lost in the shuffle and there’s nothing inherently wrong with Sentret and Furret’s designs, but they end up feeling like an unfinished concept.
Furret evolves from Sentret and draws inspiration from a ferret, but it remains a very jovial creature that actually looks even more playful than Sentret. Sentret isn’t frightening by any means, but its more unconventional stance and design makes it a more intimidating creature than Furret.
3 Honchkrow Turns Into A Generic Bird Pokémon And Loses Murkrow’s Edge
There are a ton of Bird Pokémon that do a decent job reflecting the wide variety of birds that exist in the real world. Murkrow is a Generation II Pokémon that has some edge. It’s a more sinister Pokémon that’s rather fittingly based on a crow. It’s not until Generation IV that Murkow evolves into the Dark- and Flying-Type Pokémon, Honchkrow. Honchkrow is more powerful when it comes to stats, but it blends in with all the other birds and it squanders the creativity and potential that Murkrow had.
2 Slaking Is A Lazy Step Back From Vigoroth’s Raging Intensity
Slakoth is a Normal-Type Pokémon that debuted in the Hoenn region during the third generation of games and experiences a frustrating series of evolutions. Slakoth evolves into Vigoroth, an upgrade in every sense that comes across like a rabid creature hungry for battle.
However, Vigoroth evolves into Slaking, which completely loses the Pokémon’s fighting spirit and becomes a lazy, unmotivated creature. Slaking can barely pull himself together to even stand. It’s a disappointing end to the evolution line and it’s also hard to utilize its signature ability, Truant, in a fight.
1 Togekiss Tries To Simplify The Form And Goes Too Far
Togepi is a Pokémon that gets a lot of love due to always being by Misty’s side in the anime series. Yet, the mysterious and deceptively powerful Pokémon becomes Togetic, which then evolves into Togekiss after being exposed to a Shiny Stone. This Generation IV Pokémon goes in the opposite direction of Togetic and instead shrinks back down into a form that contains a lot of power, but doesn’t look any more ferocious than when Togepi was still in its egg.
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