Ash Ketchum is a multifaceted individual who has many strengths, but also many weaknesses. While certain aspects of his character may propel him towards his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master, there are others that hinder him.
If there’s anything fans have learned from watching Ash on his journey for the last 23 years it’s that becoming a Pokémon Master is far from easy. A trainer needs a variety of characteristics in order to deal with the challenges that await them. Ash is still learning, and while his strengths and weaknesses have changed over time, some have been there since the beginning.
10 Strength: Ash Has A Strong Sense Of Justice
If Ash sees someone doing something wrong, he never just turns a blind eye. He will always stick up for people and Pokémon whom he feels are being done an injustice. His good deeds have even lead him to catching Pokémon, such as Heracross, a group of which he helped when he drove off Team Rocket and subsequently an invasion of Pinsir that were cutting down the trees Heracross rely on for food. Ash’s altruism may have distracted him from becoming a Pokémon Master, but he’s made the Pokémon world a better place.
9 Weakness: Ash Is Too Impulsive
While Ash is good at thinking on his feet, relying on this trait has cost him in the past. Certain situations require forethought and strategic thinking rather than blind faith. His decisions are often at the mercy of his temper, which can easily be lost in the heat of battle.
Good trainers have picked up on this and acted accordingly. Ash’s confidence can at times be misplaced, and his impulsive nature has caused him to be at the mercy of more calm and collected trainers, such as Alain and Tobias.
8 Strength: Ash Cares Deeply For His Pokémon
The anime series is replete with stories about trainers neglecting their Pokémon because they weren’t strong enough. Tepig was tied to a post and abandoned, while Charmander was left waiting in the rain for a trainer that never came back. Ash, however, is empathetic towards his Pokémon, and Pokémon in general. He’ll always stop on his journey to help a creature in need, and he knows when to give a Pokémon some extra love and care and what to say to make them feel better.
7 Weakness: Ash Doesn’t Take Type Effectiveness Into Account
On numerous occasions over the years, fans have witnessed Ash disregarding type effectiveness and simply sending out Pikachu to deal with whoever stands in his way. While this has worked at times, battles have not always been as straightforward as they might have been had he considered the typing of the Pokémon he’s battling, and he’s had to rely on luck on more than one occasion. Relying on the strength of his Pokémon to win battles rather than typing makes life harder than it should be for Ash, but that’s his way of doing things.
6 Strength: Ash Has An Intuitive Connection With His Pokémon
Ash seems to develop a bond with almost every Pokémon he catches, whether it’s straight away or over time. He developed a subconscious connection to Lucario before it even hatched, and as it grew, he was able to communicate with it through its aura-sensing capability. He bonded with Greninja to the extent that a new form was created: Ash-Greninja. And of course, his connection to Pikachu is like no other. This sensibility enables him to understand his Pokémon and bring the best out of them.
5 Weakness: Ash Is Ruled By Emotion
Although Ash has won countless battles—not to mention a Pokémon League Championship—it’s his passion and drive that have gained him his victories, not necessarily his ability as a trainer. His heart and passion have disguised and made up for his not being a born trainer. Trainers like Tobias, Cynthia, and Leon have a ruthlessness and an innate sense of what it takes to win that Ash doesn’t have, which is why he hasn’t been greatly successful over the past two decades.
4 Strength: Ash’s Adaptability Makes Up For His Shortcomings
The other side of the coin to Ash’s impulsivity is that sometimes thinking on his feet is what gets him out of trouble, or even wins him a battle. With the help of his Pokémon, his quick thinking has thwarted Team Rocket on countless occasions, and he’s used his ability to adapt to situations to flip battles on their heads.
An example of this was in the Victory Tournament, when Ash had Grovyle dodge Walrein’s Ice Beam so that the water field became frozen. This allowed Grovyle to move better and ultimately get the win with Leaf Blade.
3 Weakness: Ash’s Lack Of Preparation Has Cost Him
Ash has a habit of going into big battles without preparing a whole lot. An example of this was in Unova, when he took on Elesa at the Nimbasa Gym with just a Palpitoad. Failing to prepare any of his other Pokémon for the battle almost cost him, and if it wasn’t for Pikachu bailing him out yet again, he would have lost. If he took the time to prepare instead of just going in all gung-ho, he would have more success in big battles.
2 Strength: Ash’s Persistence Gets Him Up Every Time He’s Knocked Down
No matter how many times he’s defeated, Ash always finds it in himself to bounce back and go again. He can get down on himself, but something inside him just won’t let him quit. While it can be lonely being a Pokémon trainer—training endlessly, traveling long distances, and making friends with people only to have to leave them behind—Ash will never give up on his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master.
1 Weakness: Ash Lacks Maturity
Even though Ash has been trying to become a Pokémon Master for nearly 25 years, he’s still just a kid. Compared to many of the trainers he’s come up against, he lacks the maturity that only comes with age. Being a child means Ash is susceptible to being overwhelmed, as seemed to happen in the Unova region. His confidence is admirable but unearned, which other trainers have shown him in battle. His exchange with Max upon their first meeting in “There’s No Place Like Hoenn” shows how tetchy he can be when people question his ability as a Pokémon trainer.
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