ThroughoutAsh Ketchum’s 25-year run in thePokemonanime, he has captured, traveled with or just used over 60 Pokemon - so much for catching ‘em all. Some of thesePokemonwere temporary, not even his or caught for someone else. It is a surprise just how manyPokemon Ash didn’t officially have in his collection.
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Ash’s journey is coming to a close inPokemon,with a new cast of characters taking the mantle, so now is a good time to look back at the Pokemon that Ash has had, even those who were only briefly in his possession. Pikachu, Charizard and Bulbasaur are certainly safe from this list.
10Rotom Phone & Pokedex
Just like in the games, the Pokedex was replaced with a Rotom Pokedex and then a Rotom Phone for Ash. Rotom is a Pokemon,one that can take over machines. Rotom regularly helps Ash through the show giving him information and guidance on his journeys.
Although technically a Pokemon, Ash did not capture it and nor can it be used in battle, it is much more of an aide therefore it is not his Pokemon, but it is a Pokemon that he does travel with.
9Primeape
Primeape was Ash’s 8th Pokemon that he caught in the original series, but it didn’t stick around for long, lasted just two episodes, a lot longer than some of the others on this list.
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As a Mankey, it stole Ash’s hat and evolved, but it was aggressive and wouldn’t listen to Ash. He entered it into a fighting Pokemon competition, the P1 Grand Prix. Ash gained its trust but left it behind for further training. It has never been seen since but has been included in several flashbacks where the Pallet Town trainer reminisces about his Pokemon. Maybe Ash will go back for his fighting type in his new adventures beyond his series.
8Haunter
Back in the original series, when Ash was set to face Sabrina, the Psychic-type Gym Leader of Saffron City,he needed a Ghost-type to counter. Ash, Misty and Brock traveled to Lavender Town to the Pokemon Tower and encounter Gastly, Haunter and Gengar.
After some tomfoolery, Haunter decided to travel with Ash, he didn’t capture it in a Pokeball. Instead of being useful in battle, Haunter made Sabrina laugh and Ash won his badge and lets Haunter stay with Sabrina. Ash missed out on a cool Pokemon, but he eventually owned his evolved form of Gengar inPokemon Journeys: The Series.
7Raticate
After impressing Ash during a battle with a Starmie on board the St. Anne, Ash decided to battle against its trainer, just known as the Gentleman, using his Butterfree. The man was impressed with Butterfree during the battleand the two decided to trade.
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Raticate was just used once by Ash in a battle against Team Rocket, but upon this battle, Ash decided that he missed Butterfree and the two decided to trade back. Unlike Haunter, Ash did officially own this Raticate, although it was just for a brief time. Perhaps Ash should have kept hold of this strong Raticate, as Butterfree was released anyway.
6Seaking
Not much to say about this one, Ash in the episodeHook, Line, and Stinkerin the Johto series, Ash took part in a Seaking catching competition, where he caught a Seaking using a Lake Ball.
But the contest rules stipulated that the Seaking must be released back into the lake at the end of the contest, which is what Ash did. Ash did not even win the competition, but instead Misty did with help of her Poliwhirl. As it was a part of the competition there is no real reason to say that Ash owned a Seaking.
5Beedrill
Another Pokemon caught during a catching competition, however, this time Ash won the competition but got to keep Beedrill. He did not keep this Bug/Poison-type for long, however, instead choosing to give it to Casey, a trainer he has befriended.
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Casey has a love for black and yellow striped Pokemon due to her affinity to the Electabuzz baseball team, it is nice that Ash decided to give this Pokemon to her showing how thoughtful he is. It would have been amazing to see Ash use a Beedrill in the anime, especially with its fearsome mega-evolution.
4Larvitar
Ash originally had Larvitar as an egg, and it hatched in his care, in the games this would mean that the Pokemon belongs to the trainer. But in this case, there is some debate whether Ash officially owned Larvitar.
It remained with Ash for a few episodes, but it was eventually returned to its mother, so it fits the bill for this list as it was a temporary Pokemon regardless of whether Ash officially owned it. What backs the claim that he did was Larvitar is regularly featured in flashbacks and showcases of Ash’s Pokemon. If only he kept it, he couldhave had a powerful psuedo-legendary Tyranitar in his arsenal.
3Solagleo (Nebby)
Just like Larvitar, Nebby traveled with Ash for some time, this time during his Alola adventures, Nebby was in Ash’s care when it evolved from a Cosmog, to a Cosmeon and finally into a Solgaleo.
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Ash never had Nebby in a Pokeball, so it can not really be described as his just a Pokemon he traveled with, eventually Ash left Nebby, so it can return to Ultra Space. If only Ash kept hold of this powerful legendary Pokemon. It would have been his first and only as Melmetal is classed as a Mythical Pokemon.
2Buzzwole, Stakataka & Pheromosa
Ash has captured three Ultra Beasts in Alola, but only to return them to their home, and not for him to use in battle,Ultra Beasts can only be captured in a Beast Ball. After Ash caught each Pokemon, they were quickly returned through an Ultra Wormhole.
Having an Ultra Beast at his disposal would have been a powerful weapon, although in Alola Ash didn’t need it as he was the champion of Alola. He would have breezed past the opposition with a team of Ultra Beasts, a Legendary Pokemon, a Mythical Pokemon, and Pikachu.
1Rowlet
In a special episode of the anime to go along with the release ofPokemon Legends: Arceus, Ash, Goh and Dawn each caught one of the starter Pokemon available in these games, Rowlet, Cyndaquil and Oshawott, using the old style of Pokeballs.
Ash already has a Rowlet, so apart from the 30 Tauros’ this a Pokemon that he has caught twice, however, this Rowlet was just a temporary catch for education purposes, and it was soon released after.
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