The gamers of the internet have been talking aboutPokemonand their stats on and off for a while. Ever since the first generation of adorable pocket monsters, there have been Pokemon who have caused players to tilt or scratch their heads. Add in Pokedex entries and in-game or out-of-game lore, and some stats become even more baffling.
Can the series keep over 1,000 Pokemon completely balanced and make sense? Probably not. It’s a massive number of individual Pokemon. But that doesn’t mean that players can’t discuss why some of these ‘mons have gotten worse treatment, stat-wise, than others.
This list was compiled not just based on stats but also Pokedex entries and lore.
10Rolycoly
This Baby Pokemon Has Super Baby Stats
The distribution of stats for Rolycoly isn’t the worst crime committed against a Pokemon, but it is still surprising. For being The Coal Pokemon, its health is really low. The defense and special defense spread help make up for it, but HP isn’t the only stat that’s odd.
Rolycoly’s speed is pretty low too, considering that its bottom half is one big wheel. InPokemon Shield, it’s described that Rolycoly can race on its wheel as if it were a unicycle. Game Freak could have robbed from Roly’s special attack and given a little to its speed, especially in this early stage before it starts growing bigger.
9Arceus
God Isn’t Really Throwing Hands… Hooves
Arceus has well-rounded stats. 120 base power in every category. So the issue with Arceus isn’t so much about how low the numbers are, as it is that Arceus is God in Pokemon lore. For a God, there are a lot of Pokemon that out-stat this celestial being.
Granted, Pokemon has made room for this by saying that the Arceus we see is just a fraction of its true power. But it’s always been one of those Pokemon that players have wondered about. Why doesn’t Arceus have the highest number for overall stats? If they raised that, lore-wise it would make more sense.
8Dragonite
Traveling The Globe Faster, Well, Actually Slower Than Most
There’s certainly an argument to be made that Dragonite is actually pretty well taken care of when it comes to its stats. But Pokemon Ruby cracked the Pokedex wide open and made Dragonite’s speed come into question.
Its Ruby entry states that Dragonite can circle the world in only 16 hours. But when you look at Dragonite’s stats, its speed is pretty low. And that’s not even addressing numerous scenes in movies and anime episodes where Dragonite is racing at top speeds to deliver mail or help people. So why does its in-game speed not match those ideas?
7Leafeon
Paper-Thin Leaf Beats Rock
Have you taken the time to look at the stats on Leafeon? Apparently, despite looking on the frail side, this thing is built like a tank. Leafeon, a Pokemon that is evolved either by a stone or being near a certain mossy rock depending on the game, has a defense stat that is just as high as Golem’s. Golem is a third-stage, trade-evolution Pokemon and should, on paper, be more defensive than a leaf creature.
Leafeon doesn’t even have anything covering its body. When it comes toPokemon types, Grass is super effective against Rock, but it shouldn’t be bulkier and more defensive than a Pokemon that is completely encased by rock.
6Veluza
This Pokemon Is Gaslighting Us
Have you been cruising through the large bodies of water inPokemon Scarlet & Violet? If you have been, you have likely been absolutely accosted by this speedy fish Pokemon. They’re called the Jettison Pokemon. And in-game, that is reflected by them speeding toward you while you’re minding your own business.
But have you seen the Pokemon’s base 70 speed stat? No Pokemon Company. This is not right. This speed feels even worse if you load Veluza intoThe Indigo Disk’s Synchro Machine. This Pokemon, that has been seen sprinting across water like it’s nothing, moves so slow that it feels lethargic by comparison.
5Rhyhorn
Rhyhorn Racing, Yeah Right
In Pokemon X & Y, when you first talk to your mom in the game, you start to find out that she was a Rhyhorn Racer. Someone who would compete competitively by racing these beautiful, stone Pokemon. 25. That is Rhyhorn’s base speed. 25.
This Pokemon is slower than Metapod. You know, the Pokemon who is currently in a cocoon? A Pokemon that sits in one place and hardens its own shell. What’s so strange about this is that the Pokemon Company could have picked a different, speedier Pokemon and no one would bat an eye. But they chose to give Rhyhorn this lore despite those stats. Why?
4Onix
This Debate Has Gone On And On And On
Onix is the giant Rock Snake Pokemon. And being completely made out of rocks, its defense is really high, as it should be. So how, for the love of all things, doesOnix have lower HP and attack than Oddish? Yes, the little Weed Pokemon hits harder and has better health than Onix.
One argument for Onix’s stats to be spread out like this is that in Gen One, Onix is one of the first Pokemon you face in a Gym environment. Would they want to pit first-time trainers against an absolute unit? Maybe not. But, all this time later, how has Game Freak not given Onix a buff?
3Vikavolt
What Are Their Wings Made Out Of, Steel?
Grubbin is the first stage of the evolutionary line and Vikavolt is the third and final part of the family tree. Grubbin is a little Larva Pokemon. So how does it have higher speed than the adult of the line? The adult who grows up to have fast-moving wings, no less.
In every other way, Vikavolt grows stronger than its baby form. But it would take a lot of convincing to make anyone believe that Vikavolt moves slower than a literal worm. How much ground can Grubbin really cover? How quickly can Grubbin really attack an enemy? They could have left the stat the same or given Vikavolt a few more points and no one would have really cared.
2Latias And Latios
Flying At The Speed Of Smell
These two Pokemon are probably the most cried over when it comes to stats. Although they are called the Eon Pokemon, they resemble and are often compared to jet planes. Even in the Pokemon Sapphire Dex entry, it is said that they can overtake jets. So why don’t their stats reflect that?
Their speed is good, but there are quite a few Pokemon that beat them in a race. One of those isn’t even a legendary Pokemon. Ninjask, who is a Bug and Flying type, is apparently faster than these majestic Pokemon that can speed past Man’s fastest mode of transportation. What’s going on here?
1Shuckle
No, This One Is Not For The Memes
Shuckle, a non-legendary or mythical Pokemon, has the second-highest defense and special defense in all of Pokemon. A bug. Hiding in a rock. And the only Pokemon that overtakes them is Eternatus in their powerful Eternamax form? What is happening here?
Shuckle having high defense and special defense makes sense, sure. But there isn’t even a Pokedex entry to explain why their shell is better than that of other Pokemon like Blastoise and Torterra. The Pokemon Company was giggling and kicking its feet when it told the team to ship Shuckle’s design.
