Defying the odds and overcoming difficult obstacles is a major component of Ash Ketchum’s philosophy in the Pokémon anime. His battle style supports his belief, and he’s never afraid to use a Pokémon that appears weaker than its opponent. His Pokémon frequently challenge their evolved forms, surpassing everyone’s expectations when they win.
These impressive victories are further proof of how powerful Ash’s Pokémon in their current forms and justify his desire not to evolve them. Over time, other trainers accomplished similar feats, revealing there’s much more to their Pokémon than meets the eye.
10 Ash’s Snivy Makes Use Of Its Attract To Surprise & Defeat Trip’s Servine
In “A Rival Battle For Club Champ,” Ash used Snivy in his 5-on-5 battle with Trip, pitting Snivy against Trip’s Servine. Snivy initially struggled against Servine, but soon discovered a way to beat its evolved form. Playing off the two being opposite genders, Ash used Attract to gain a solid advantage and secure a surprising victory.
Though Snivy lost the battle against Trip’s Frillish during the last match, Ash still had a mini victory to look back on. Regardless of its later defeat, Snivy’s victory over Servine was an accomplishment worth celebrating.
9 Misty’s Poliwhirl Picks Up A Win Against Poliwrath
In the episode, “Hook, Line, and Stinker,” Misty and her Poliwhirl developed a rivalry against a trainer named Andreas and his Poliwrath during a Seaking Catching Competition. Both trainers caught Seakings that weighed the same, meaning the competition had to be decided through battle.
Poliwhirl was originally scared of Poliwrath, but thanks some encouragement from its friends, Poliwhirl picked up an impressive win. By defeating its evolved form, Poliwhirl made Misty victorious both in battle and in the primary competition.
8 Ash’s Fletchling Is Able To Defeat Moria’s Talonflame After Evolving Into Fletchinder
Ash’s Flying-type Pokémon have always been spirited battlers that find themselves being used early on in battles to tire out opponents. In the X & Y series of the anime, Fletchling becomes an established member of Ash’s team even before evolving and in “Battles In The Sky,” it gets to face off against the final form of its evolution line, Talonflame.
Fletchling first had to gain Talonflame’s respect by saving it from Team Rocket. During the battle, however, Fletchling defied the odds and evolved into Fletchinder. Using Flame Charge to increase its speed, Fletchinder picked up the unlikeliest of victories.
7 Dawn’s Piplup Defeats Kenny’s Prinplup To Earn Dawn Her First Contest Ribbon
In the Diamond & Pearl series, Dawn prides herself on keeping her loyal Piplup, in its original form, both because of how adorable it is, but also to showcase its talent and tenacity. As Dawn’s Starter Pokémon, Piplup has its fair share of wins and losses, but its wins look even more impressive because of it being in Piplup form.
When Dawn faced off against her childhood friend Kenny in the finals of the Floaroma Contest, the final bout was Piplup against its evolved form Prinplup. Using Whirlpool to disrupt its opponent’s flow, Piplup emerged victorious on multiple points, winning Dawn her first Ribbon.
6 A Vengeful Tepig Is Able To Defeat Its Former Owner’s Emboar By Evolving Into Pignite
Like some other Fire-type Starter Pokémon from the anime, Tepig was shown to have once had an abusive trainer that abandoned. Under the ownership of its new trainer Ash, Tepig encountered its former trainer. After being verbally abused by Shamus once again, a Double Battle ensued pitting Tepig and Snivy against Shamus’s Emboar and Heatmor.
Despite initially being terrified, Tepig was inspired by Snivy’s encouragement and sacrifice. Tepig then evolved into Pignite and destroyed both its evolved forms, Emboar and Heatmor, at the same time.
5 Through Clever Switching Ash’s Buizel Overcomes Crasher Wake’s Floatzel For The Win
Things looked grim during Ash’s Pastoria City Gym Battle against the Water-type specialist Crasher Wake. Ash’s Pokemon Buizel and Pikachu were continuing their argument from earlier in the day, risking disaster and defeat for the team. However, when Pikachu and Buizel challenged Crasher Wake’s Floatzel, the two regained their team spirit.
Thanks to Ash’s clever switches, they shifted the momentum back in Ash’s favor. By using quick movement and staying hidden from view, Buizel launched a surprise attack, defeated its much larger evolved form of Floatzel, and claimed the victory.
4 Ash’s Rockruff Defeats Olivia’s Lycanroc Even After Knocking Out Its Own Partner Rowlet
Ash’s Lycanroc is known for earning Ash his first and long overdue Pokémon League victory at the Manalo Conference. Its fiery battling spirit came from the experience it earned back when it was a Rockruff. During one of its first battles for Ash, Rockruff partnered with Rowlet to face Olivia’s Lycanroc and Probopass in a Double Battle.
As Rowlet defeated Probopass, Rockruff accidentally knocked Rowlet out. As guilt and rage threatened to undo him, Rockruff channeled that rage and used it to defeat Olivia’s Lycanroc. Rowlet’s tenacity earned Ash the grand trial victory and a Rockium Z.
3 Ash’s Rowlet Dresses The Part For Its League Showdown With Hau’s Decidueye & Wins
Rowlet is a great example of a Pokémon that has its own unique personality, but is still an important member of the team. Its habit to eat and sleep, even during important battles, made Rowlet a fan favorite from the start. The Pokémon made an even greater mark when Ash faced off against Hau in “No Stone Unturned.”
In this battle, Rowlet was pitted against Hau’s evolved Rowlet, Dartrix. After an initial defeat, Ash’s Rowlet learned to use Seed Bomb by swallowing an Everstone, an effective attack that cost him the ability to evolve. Rowlet later defeated Dartrix in a rematch and again at the Manalo Conference — beating Dartrix even after it had evolved into a Decidueye.
2 Pikachu Has Won In Rematches Against Raichu Belonging To Both Lt. Surge & Sho
Having been with him since the beginning. Ash’s Pikachu has encountered all kinds of Pokémon. One type that Pikachu has faced plenty of times is its evolved form, Raichu. On two separate occasions, Pikachu lost to a Raichu owned by Lt. Surge and to one owned by Sho — a Pikachu-line enthusiast. Using revised strategies, Pikachu earned redemption by winning subsequent rematches.
Pikachu initially feared Raichu, whose sheer size and conventional power were greater than Pikachu’s. Since then, Pikachu grew to appreciate its own speed and alternative moves. When Ash faced a Raichu during a Double Battle with Tierno in Kalos, Pikachu and Goodra worked together and earned another impressive victory.
1 Torracat’s Intensity Helps It To A Hard-Fought Victory Over Kukui’s Incineroar
Throughout the Sun & Moon series of the anime, the Masked Royal was depicted as a heroic figure of inspiration to most of the Alola region. He developed a reputation for winning Battle Royales with ease, thanks to his powerful Incineroar. After Ash’s win at the Manalo Conference, the Masked Royal was revealed to be Professor Kukui in disguise.
This discovery led to a 6-on-6 exhibition match between Ash and Kukui. With the battle underway, Ash’s Torracat was chosen to fight against its evolved form, Incineroar. The fiery Torracat persevered and defeated its intimidating opponent, evolving itself after its victory.
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