Summary
The firstPokemon Stadiumgame for the Nintendo 64 was released at the height of Poke mania and was understandably a huge hit. Unfortunately, this first game still came with a lot of the design issues that plagued the other releases in Gen 1. Quite a few players think it is unfair that the opponent doesn’t take recoil damage from Takedown if they manage to knock out one of the player’s Pokemon, among other issues.Pokemon Stadium 2was released not long after, and it fixed most of these issues. Plus, players had just over one hundred new Pokemon to try out.
Now thatPokemon Stadium 2is available on the Nintendo Switch online expansion pack. It is time for fans to rediscover the best Pokemon of this era. Gengar may have been a reliable sweeper in the original game, but now it has some serious competition.
10Alakazam
Alakazam has been a reliable team member since its debut in Gen 1. Its range of psychic attacks and few weaknesses meant that Alakazam could almost solo an entire team by itself. However, Generation 2 introduced the Dark type specifically to counter the overpowered psychic type. This changed little for the trusty spoon-wielder.
Fortunately for Alakazam fans, it is still lightning-fast and has all the power it did before. While it is still physically frail and must worry about moves like Bite,Alakazamcan still knock out opponents with a powerful Psychic attack before the enemy gets to respond.
9Wobbuffet
Possibly one of the most iconic Pokemon to come out of Generation 2, Wobbuffet’s unique strategy also comes in useful inPokemon Stadium 2.The thing with Wobbuffet is that it doesn’t attack. Instead, it uses either a Counter or Mirror Coat to return damage to its opponent in equal measure.
It may be a tricky Pokemon to use, but talented Pokemon players have always found a use for this bulky trickster. Perhaps now is the perfect time for naysayers togive Wobbuffet a tryon their team.
8Jynx
A Pokemon that appears on a lot of players' least favorite lists, Jynx has been at the center of a lot of controversy throughout the years. Although, a lot of that dislike is aimed towardits designand not its battle prowess.
Jynx is an Ice/Psychic type. That means that it has access to some of the overpowered psychic moves that were still present inPokemon Stadium 2, without being as vulnerable to the new Dark type. Plus, the new legendary birds don’t stand much of a chance against a vital Ice Beam from Jynx.
7Steelix
Many fans were disappointed when using Onix in the firstPokemon Stadium. The large rock snake looked so cool, but its low attack of only 78, and numerous weaknesses, meant it wasn’t very reliable on a playthrough.
Luckily, Onix receivedan evolutionin Gen 2 in the form of Steelix, and players were instantly smitten. The giant metal snake more than makes up for Onix with its 108-attack stat. Plus, the new Steel typing allows Steelix to resist Grass moves now and the all-powerful Dragon-type attacks.
6Crobat
Golbat was already a reliable Poison/Flying type to use in Gen 1. However, it received an evolution in Gen 2 that made the Zubat line one of the most formidable in the franchise. Crobat is often the ace Pokemon for a lot of players in all Pokemon games and is just as good inPokemon Stadium 2.
The main thing that sets Crobat apart from other poison types is its speed. Plus, it has access to status moves like Supersonic. As such, players can use Crobat to nullify the opponent’s Pokemon before it has a chance to move.
5Ampharos
Every good Pokemon team needs a solid electric type. Fortunately forPokemon Stadium 2players, GameFreak has yet to create anything as reliable as Ampharos. This electric type is so popular that it even received a Mega evolution back in Gen 6 alongside a new dragon typing.
Although, that extra type seems a bit redundant when it comes to Ampharos. InPokemon Stadium 2it has access to both Zap Cannon and Dynamic Punch. Ampharos also has access to Swift for those sticky situations where players need a guaranteed hit. With a special attack of 139, players are to make use of all these moves. Just don’t send it into battle with any Ground types.
4Snorlax
Snorlax has always been a brick wall used to stall opponents. In the firstPokemon Stadium, it had access to rest to keep this stall going. Unfortunately, it loses this move inPokemon Stadium 2. Instead, Snorlax gets access to Defense Curl.
As such, players still get to delay their opponents by routinely raising that 88-defense stat. With an overall HP stat of 238, it makes sense that it takes a while for something like Snorlax to go down. Before that happens, the opponent isbombarded with Fire Punches or a STAB Headbutt for their trouble.
3Starmie
Starmie would probably take the crown as the most useful Pokemon to use in the originalPokemon Stadiumgame. Luckily, not much has changed for the Water/Psychic type between the Generations.
Starmie was favored for its unique typing and high Speed stat. It now has access to Waterfall and Rapid Spin, while still being able to use harden to prove particularly challenging to take down. Although Starmie no longer gets Thunderbolt in this addition, it does get Zap Cannon for that little bit ofextra move coverage.
2Dugtrio
Not many Pokemon fans care for the fact that Diglett’s evolution is three of the same Pokemon just stuck together. However, despite its appearance, Dugtrio is a force to be reckoned with inPokemon Stadium 2.
Before even considering that it is one of the fastest Pokemon in the game, it is worth looking at its move set. Dugtrio can use Attract to protect itself and Curse to power up its STAB Magnitude attacks that will almost always be hitting the opponent first. If the player manages to work around all that, then there is still the worry of taking a critical hit Slash at any time. It may no longer have access to Dig as a rentalPokemon, but Dugtrio is still worth taking.
1Exeggutor
Many Gen 1 fans remember Exeggutor for being troubling on their rival’s team inPokemon Red, Blue, or Yellow. That trouble comes with good reason.
Firstly,Exeggutor is a Grass/Psychictype which makes its list of weaknesses slim. Secondly, the combination of Sleep Powder and Nightmare will be earing through enemyPokemonwhile the player drastically tries to find a solution to this problem. If the player isn’t troubled by the sleep, then Confusion is also an effective move for Exeggutor to use.
Pokemon Stadium 2is available now for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.
MORE:Pokemon Stadium 2’s Mini Games Proves It’s Time For Pokemon Party
