K is for Kyogre, a generation III water-type legendary Pokemon.

The next letter is L (I remembered to put that this time).

L is for Ledian

Ledian is a tragic case of being an early generation route 2 Pokemon that the developers just threw random stats at and called it a day. I mean literally no care or effort was made when they designed it. I'd go as far as to say it's one of the most disrespected Pokemon with how they treated it and how little they have done to fix at least some of its issues.

Ledian is an early route bug type Pokemon from Johto. It's kind of the counterpart to Ariados, being one of our first introductions to daytime and nighttime encounters. Ledian is a Bug/Flying type, which already means it can't be better than average in the first place (I mean this typing is just too horrendous to put into words). It evolves from Ledyba at level 18, which is early and means you gain access to Ledian sometime around the second gym. That's good right? Well unfortunately it is about the worst Pokemon in the game. It's reasonably fast for a generation 2 Pokemon with 85 speed, and it has a very nice 110 special defense stat, but its next highest stat is 55. Yeah. It isn't doing anything. It has no redeeming factors, they later gave it Iron Fist for a hidden ability (WOOOO go Ledian with your 35 attack stat). It's laughable.

It's such a shame because Ledian has a really fun design and ladybugs are apparently symbolic for being heroic in some way in Japanese lore. I really hope this thing gets an evolution or something to set it apart. Even Ariados got stuff like Sticky Web, Megahorn and Toxic Thread later on.

The next letter is M

M is for Misdreavus, the only Ghost-type Pokemon introduced in Gen 2, and the first pure Ghost-type Pokemon. Also a great Pokemon to use in Pokemon Colosseum.

The next letter is N.

N is for Ninetales, a generation I fire-type Pokemon. It's also the evolved form of Vulpix.

The next letter is O.

O is for Oricorio

This thing is interesting, having 4 different forms with 4 different typings. You'd think that would make it great but honestly I mainly use the Electric one because its typing is the best. The ghost one is okay too.

Oricorio's main problem is not having any actual attacks of its element until it learns Revelation Dance. The move is really nice, good damage and always changes to the type of the current form, but it learns it rather late and until then you are stuck clicking only flying moves.

Oricorio is decently fast and strong, but nothing to write home about either. It's ability is probably its defining trait, copying all the dance moves used by any pokemon on the field. Your opponent could be using Quiver Dance to set up, and your stupid bird just copies the dance moves and gains all the benefits as well.

The next letter is P

P is for Pichu.

It's Pikachus original form, you get more electric moves to learn if you go Pichu to Pikachu versus just having Pikachu.


There's all the new variants of course, but only one's the original and that's this little one.


Next up is Q.

Q is for Quagsire.

This loveable Johto friend is a water/ground type with above average stats, especially for the point in the game you obtain it. Water/ground is one of the best typings in the game, only having one (admittedly 4x) weakness to Grass. Still, being a water type immune to electric and in Quagsire's case a ground type immune to water is really nice.

Quagsire evolves from Wooper at level 20 and plays a bit like a tank, especially on the physical side. 95/85/65 is a pretty good bulk spread and Quagsire will very rarely if ever go down to one attack unless it's grass.

Quagsire gets two standard abilities. One is Damp, preventing explosion being used. Useful for catching pokemon, but for sure outclassed by Water Absorb, its other ability. Make sure you catch one with Water Absorb!

Another big benefit of Quagsire is that it learns Earthquake really early on, often getting it around level 32 or 36. It will make for a very strong friend on your team. Plus who can't help but fall in love with such a cutie?

If you can get one with a hidden ability, you'll be treated with Unaware. Quagsire is so derpy that it doesn't notice the opponent's stat buffs. So a +6 attack opponent will hit you as if it never set up those buffs. This is what makes Quagsire a frequent sight at the highest competitive battling tier, OU, despite never being in the tier itself. Pretty cool for a guy like Quagsire.

Next up is R!

R is for Regigias a Pokemon that sucks because gamefreak hates it and gave it slow start for some reason I will never understand.

Next up is S

S is for Salamance, yes dragon flying type(?)

Next is T

T is for Turtonator! A turtle Pokemon (did you know that?) from Sun and Moon. It's Fire/Dragon and relies on countering opponents. When it uses the move Shell Trap, any physical move the opponent uses against you will set off the trap, dealing massive Fire damage. Pretty cool guy, should get a (Mega) Evolution at some point in my opinion.

Next letter is U!

U is for Umbreon a Dark type Pokémon, and the tankiest of the eeveelutions after Vaporeon. It boasts an excellent defensive spread of 95/110/130 and can run all kinds of obnoxious stall strategies with moves like Wish, Protect, and Foul Play. It also has an S-tier shiny form! Definitely up there with Sylveon for me personally, lol.

The next letter is V!

V is for Victreebel. You know I had to represent the original GOAT here after he just got a new Mega Evolution!

Victreebel is a Grass/Poison type introduced all the way back in generation 1! It's the final evolution of Bellsprout. Victreebel has a pretty weird stat spread. It's clearly meant to be a strong attacker, with 105 attack and 100 special attack (which were really high at the time), but then all its other stats are just very mediocre, in the 65-80 range. It's not fast enough to make use of its offensive capabilities, nor is it tanky enough to make sure it can get its attacks off. It does get Chlorophyl as its ability, making it fast in the sun, but that makes Victreebel a one trick pony.

Mega Victreebel, on top of looking indredibly funny and a peak mega design, unfortunately doesn't really help it any in the stats department. It gets marginally tankier, though nothing to write home about, and its offenses increase to be good by today's standards, but it still retains its bad 70 base speed. It also gains the ability Innards Out. It's effectively a way to completely halt a Pokemon sweeping you by taking it down with you, or neutering it with something like Strength Sap, but you don't really want your Mega Evolution to fill a role like that. Still love my boy though

W is next, big W

I was going to say Wingull, but after the phrase the "big W" was thrown out.. W is for Wailord. I can remember using super rods on the infamous water routes to get Wailmer in Emerald, even though I rarely used Wailord on playthroughs. I just thought it was cool as a kid.

I do remember however, having to get a Wailord, along with a Relicanth, to complete the Regi puzzles. I really don't know how anyone could have completed those puzzles without some sort of guide haha.

Anyways, I really like the idea of Wailord being a floaty whale. The science behind it makes no sense whatsoever, but I think that's what makes it so intriguing. I find that as I get older, I have to train myself to think like a kid sometimes and just be able to accept fantastical things, regardless of logic.

Next letter is X (boy am I glad I didn't get this letter).

Xerneas is the lame pick here... there's three Pokemon that start with an X and I don't know what on Arceus' green Kanto a Xurkitree is... so let's go with XATU!!!!!!!!!

Although Generation 2 itself is held very dearly to many fans, and the remakes are easily a Top 3 contender game, I feel as if the Pokemon introduced in Johto are pretty vastly overlooked, and this includes Xatu. I do think that Xatu is a more unique Pokemon among the bunch, but still fails to make an impression between it's very common typing combo, and it's meager BST. However, I think the design of the Pokemon absolutely stands out much more compared to others in the Gen 2 group, and if I were playing a memory game, Xatu would more than likely be in the first 25% that I remember.

Next up is Y! Probably a bit easier than X, I imagine.