Each Pokémon's usage in game (Opinion)
In this topic we explore each Pokémon's Usage, Strengths, Weaknesses, and Best Roles. This is only opinion and may be wrong or got incorrect data by mistake. Check before take it in gameplay.
Bulbasaur – Strengths, Weaknesses, Best Roles
Bulbasaur has one of the most charming designs among all starters. Its small, sturdy body and big bright eyes give it a friendly look, while the plant bulb on its back makes it instantly recognizable and symbolic of growth and potential. The combination of reptile-like features and blooming nature elements creates a design that feels cute, natural, and full of personality.
I. Core Strengths (All Generations)
1. Excellent Typing (Grass/Poison)
Bulbasaur's dual typing gives it several natural advantages:
Strong resistance to:
Water
Electric
Fighting
Fairy
Grass
Immune to powder/spore status moves thanks to Grass-type immunity (Gen 4+).
2. Access to Reliable Status Moves
Bulbasaur learns many utility moves early:
Sleep Powder
Poison Powder
Leech Seed
These make it amazing for control-oriented battles.
3. Good Early-Game Bulk
Bulbasaur has high Special Defense and steady Defense for its stage, letting it take hits better than other starters at low levels.
4. Exceptional Early-Game Matchups (Generation 1 especially)
Beats many early game Trainers
Has advantage over the first two Gym Leaders in Gen 1 (Brock and Misty)
Handles many common early-game wild Pokémon with ease
5. Great Sustain Tools
Bulbasaur can heal while dealing damage:
Leech Seed
Mega Drain / Giga Drain
Synthesis
This allows it to stay in battle longer than most early-game Pokémon.
II. Weak Points
1. Several Common Weaknesses
Its weaknesses include:
Fire
Flying
Ice
Psychic
These types appear frequently throughout many game regions.
2. Not a High-Speed Pokémon
Bulbasaur tends to act second, making aggressive sweeps harder unless set up.
3. Damage Output Can Be Average
While tanky, its offenses are:
Good early
Moderate mid-game
Outclassed late-game by stronger Grass types (depending on generation)
4. Predictable Moveset
Most Bulbasaur/Ivysaur/Venusaur builds rely on similar strategies:
Status
Leech Seed
Grass-type attacks
Competitively, opponents can prepare for these.
III. Best Roles for Bulbasaur (By Game Generation)
Bulbasaur's role varies depending on the mechanics and balance of each generation.
Generation 1 (Red/Blue/Yellow, FireRed/LeafGreen)
Best Role: Early-Game S-Tier Starter / Status Controller
Dominates early Gyms
Best defensive starter
Best access to Sleep Powder + Leech Seed, a broken combo in Gen 1 mechanics
Forms the core of many "control" strategies
Ideal Role:
Tanky status setter
Reliable progress-maker for casual play
Generation 2 (Gold/Silver/Crystal, HG/SS)
Best Role: Defensive Utility Partner
Grass types overall are weaker due to many new counters
Still great with Sleep Powder + Leech Seed
Excellent against certain Gym Leaders (e.g., Chuck, Jasmine's Steelix with setup)
Ideal Role:
Support tank
Status spreader
Mid-game stabilizer
Generation 3 (Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald – when transferred)
Best Role: Balanced Tank With Special Bias
Grass types remain niche, but Venusaur gains strong moves like Sludge Bomb
Functions well in battles where status and sustain are valuable
Ideal Role:
Bulky special attacker
Leech Seed staller
Anti-Water/Anti-Ground specialist
Generation 4 (D/P/Pt, HG/SS via transfer)
Best Role: Special Attacker + Growth Booster
Physical/Special split greatly benefits Bulbasaur's evolutionary line:
Sludge Bomb (special)
Energy Ball / Giga Drain (special)
Become more offensively flexible.
Ideal Role:
Offensive tank with setup
Reliable switch-in vs bulky Water/Ground types
Generation 5 (BW/BW2)
Best Role: Sun Sweeper (Thanks to Chlorophyll)
Venusaur (final evolution) becomes a top-tier sun sweeper with:
Chlorophyll (double Speed in sun)
Growth boosting both offenses
SolarBeam + Sleep Powder options
Even Bulbasaur benefits greatly from these mechanics in the game or competitive play.
Ideal Role:
Fast setup attacker under sun
Versatile special sweeper
Generation 6 (XY, ORAS)
Best Role: Mega-Evolving Tank (Once fully evolved)
Though Bulbasaur itself can't Mega Evolve, its evolution line gets:
Mega Venusaur, one of the best tanks in Pokémon
Thick Fat reduces Fire/Ice weaknesses
Bulbasaur benefits greatly while leveling into such a powerhouse.
Ideal Role:
Tanky, reliable contributor for the early game
Generation 7 (SM/USUM, Let's Go)
Best Role: Support & Control
Leech Seed + Sleep Powder remains strong
In Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee, it's extremely good due to smaller Pokédex and early availability.
Ideal Role:
Reliable early- and mid-game controller
Status spreader for catching Pokémon
Generation 8 (Sword/Shield, BDSP)
Best Role: Dynamax Sustain Tank
Bulbasaur can use Max Moves once evolved
Grass types gain utility from Max Overgrowth terrain boosts
Excellent for clearing Max Raid Battles when fully evolved.
Ideal Role:
Grass terrain support
Durable special attacker
Generation 9 (Scarlet/Violet – transfer only)
Best Role: Stallbreaker in Limited Dex Formats
Grass/Poison isn't as central here, but Bulbasaur is still good at:
Neutralizing bulky Waters
Wearing down opponents with status
Supporting teams with Leech Seed
Ideal Role:
Niche-oriented support tank
Hazard stall partner
IV. Bulbasaur as a Pokémon: What Role Should YOU Use It For?
For Casual Play
Early-game leader
Reliable tank
Status spreader for catching Pokémon
Anti-Water/Ground/Fairy specialist
For Strategy-Focused Play
Sleep Powder + Leech Seed control unit
Terrain control support (Gen 8+)
Sun sweeper (Gen 5+)
Tank that scales well with Growth and Sludge Bomb (Gen 4+)
For Beginners
Bulbasaur is one of the most beginner-friendly starters, especially in older generations.
Charmander Line – Strengths, Weaknesses, Roles, and Appearance Notes
Charmander has one of the most adorable and iconic designs in the series. Its bright orange body, big expressive eyes, and the warm flame on its tail give it a friendly and courageous look—even beginners immediately feel connected to it. As it evolves, Charmeleon gains a sleek, sharper appearance that reflects growing confidence and strength.
Charizard's design is both majestic and fierce: broad wings, powerful stance, and dragonlike features make it look heroic without being intimidating. Its design perfectly captures the fantasy of raising a small partner into a mighty flying dragon, which is a core reason why it's beloved worldwide.
I. Core Strengths (All Generations)
1. Strong Offensive Typing
Charmander's line is built for aggressive play.
Fire (Charmander/Charmeleon)
Fire/Flying (Charizard)
Fire-type moves give major advantages against:
Bug
Grass
Ice
Steel
Charizard especially benefits from powerful moves like:
Flamethrower
Air Slash
Fire Blast
Heat Wave
Flare Blitz
Solar Beam (Sun teams)
2. High Special Attack (and later physical options)
Charizard has great Special Attack, making it ideal for sweeping and taking out multiple opponents.
From Gen 4 onward (physical/special split), Charizard also gains:
Dragon Claw
Flare Blitz
Earthquake
Acrobatics
This lets it run mixed sets effectively.
3. Strong Speed
The Charmander line is consistently fast, often striking before the opponent.
4. Amazing Mega Evolutions (Gen 6–7)
Charizard gets two forms, each with a different specialty:
Mega Charizard X → Physical Dragon/Fire powerhouse
Mega Charizard Y → Special Fire/Flying sun destroyer
These are among the strongest Megas ever made.
5. Excellent Synergy With Sun Weather
Charizard thrives under sunlight:
Instant Solar Beam
Boosted Fire moves
Benefits from Chlorophyll teammates
II. Core Weaknesses
1. Fragile Early Game (Especially in Gen 1)
Charmander struggles early due to:
Low Defense
Weak matchups against the first few Gyms (Rock, Water)
2. 4× Weakness to Rock (Charizard Only)
The biggest flaw for Charizard:
Rock-type moves deal quadruple damage
Stealth Rock (competitive) removes half its HP when switching in
3. Common Weaknesses
Across generations, it is weak to:
Water
Rock
Electric (after evolving)
Ground (for Mega X)
Dragon (for Mega X)
III. Best Roles for the Charmander Line (By Generation)
Charmander changes a lot depending on generation and game mechanics.
Generation 1 (Red/Blue/Yellow, FireRed/LeafGreen)
Best Role: Late-Game Sweeper
Charmander is solid by mid-game and excellent late-game.
Learns Slash (high crit rate)
Charizard gains strong Fire moves
Good against late-game Bugs/Grasses in Victory Road
High Speed + Special makes Flamethrower deadly
Player Role:
Fast special attacker
Reliable late-game carry
Generation 2 (Gold/Silver/Crystal, HG/SS)
Best Role: Special Attacker With Niche Coverage
Charizard gets access to:
Flamethrower
Wing Attack
Earthquake
Sunny Day + Solar Beam combo
Fire types aren't as dominant, but Charizard is still very usable.
Player Role:
Versatile sweeper
Sun-boosted special attacker
Generation 3 (R/S/E, FR/LG, Colosseum/XD)
Best Role: Mixed Attacker
This generation gives Charizard:
Hidden Power coverage
Dragon Claw
Brick Break
Overheat
Great for taking down varied targets.
Player Role:
Fast mixed sweeper
Good anti-Bug/Grass option
Strong doubles Pokémon thanks to Heat Wave
Generation 4 (D/P/Pt, HG/SS)
Best Role: High-Speed Mixed Sweeper
The physical/special split massively boosts Charizard:
Flare Blitz (Physical)
Air Slash (Special)
Dragon Claw (Physical)
Charizard can choose either offensive style or blend them.
Player Role:
Flexible sweeper
Wallbreaker against bulky Grass/Steel types
Generation 5 (BW/BW2)
Best Role: Sun-Boosted Monster
Drought Ninetales enables permanent sunlight in competitive play.
Charizard becomes very strong
Solar Power (Hidden Ability) boosts Special Attack further
Player Role:
Sun sweeper
Special wallbreaker
Solar Beam user
Generation 6 (XY, ORAS)
Best Role: Mega Evolution Competitive Threat
Mega Charizard X
Fire/Dragon typing
Tough Claws boost to physical moves
Amazing bulk and Attack
One of the best Dragon Dancers in the series
Mega Charizard Y
Immediate sun
Massive Special Attack
Strongest Fire Blasts in the main series
Player Role:
Mega sweeper (either physical or special)
Sun team leader
Late-game finisher
Generation 7 (SM/USUM, Let's Go)
Best Role: Versatile All-Rounder
Megas remain powerful. Charizard also:
Gets Z-Moves
Works well in doubles with Heat Wave
Benefits from many move tutor options
Player Role:
Mixed sweeper
Mega evolution powerhouse
Z-move nuker
Generation 8 (Sword/Shield)
Best Role: Gigantamax Firestorm Sweeper
Gigantamax Charizard gains:
G-Max Wildfire → damage-over-time effect on opponents
Very strong Dynamax Fire and Flying moves
Boosts from Max Airstream (Speed boost)
Player Role:
Gigantamax sweeper
Terrain/damage-over-time pressure unit
Raid boss for Max Raid Battles
Generation 9 (Scarlet/Violet – transfer)
Best Role: Terastallization Sweeper
Charizard can Terastallize into:
Fire → Maximum damage
Dragon → Surprise offense + resistances
Flying → Strong Tera Blast use
Ground → Coverage vs Rock/Electric
Grass → Anti-Water surprise tech
Player Role:
Flexible offensive Tera sweeper
High-speed breaker
Sun abuser with Protosynthesis teammates
IV. Best Overall Player Roles (All Generations)
Regardless of the game version, players should use Charmander's line as:
1. Offensive Sweeper
Fast
Powerful
Great coverage
2. Late-Game Carry
Especially in games where early Gyms are rough (Gen 1).
3. Sun Team Ace
From Gen 2 onward, but especially Gen 5–9.
4. Flying Coverage User (Charizard)
Switches into Grass/Bug types with ease.
5. Mixed Attacker Specialist
From Gen 4 onward, Charizard can break through more types than almost any other starter.
Squirtle Line – Strengths, Weaknesses, Roles, and Appearance Notes
Squirtle has a wonderfully charming and friendly design. Its smooth, rounded blue body and bright eyes give it a cute, approachable personality, while the little turtle shell makes it look both sturdy and adorable. The curled tail adds a playful charm, making Squirtle feel like a partner that's both fun-loving and dependable.
As it evolves, Wartortle's fluffy tail and ear fins give it a mythical, elegant flair, and Blastoise's armored turtle form with twin cannons looks powerful without losing its heroic, trustworthy appearance.
I. Core Strengths (All Generations)
1. Excellent Defensive Stats
The Squirtle line is built for durability:
Good Defense
Good Special Defense
Stable HP
This makes it one of the tankiest starter lines.
2. Great Water Typing
Pure Water is one of the best defensive typings:
Only two weaknesses (Grass, Electric)
Resistances to:
Fire
Water
Steel
Ice
This makes Squirtle consistently reliable across all games.
3. Access to Support & Utility Moves
Squirtle's line learns several valuable utility moves:
Rapid Spin (Hazard removal)
Aqua Tail / Waterfall
Iron Defense
Aqua Ring
Fake Out (in some games via breeding)
Shell Smash (Gen 5+) — even stronger in later gens
Scald (Gen 5+) — damage + burn chance
These make Blastoise flexible and valuable for team composition.
4. Strong Mega Evolution (Gen 6–7)
Mega Blastoise gains:
Mega Launcher ability
Boosted Aura and Pulse moves
Water Pulse
Dark Pulse
Dragon Pulse
Aura Sphere
This gives Mega Blastoise excellent offensive pressure.
5. Consistent Performance Across All Generations
Some starters fluctuate in strength depending on mechanics.
Squirtle's line stays solid and reliable in every generation, no exceptions.
II. Core Weaknesses
1. Limited Offensive Coverage (Early Generations)
In Gens 1–3 especially:
Few strong moves outside Water-type
Some coverage moves come late or via TM only
Depends on Surf/Hydro Pump for main damage
2. Lower Speed
The Squirtle line tends to act later in battle. This means:
Can't sweep as easily
Relies more on bulk, not blitzing enemies
3. Vulnerable to Grass/Electric
These types appear commonly in mid-game routes and Gyms.
4. Shell Smash is Risky (Later Generations)
While powerful, it lowers bulk, which goes against the line's natural tanky style.
III. Best Roles for the Squirtle Line (By Generation)
Each generation alters Blastoise's strengths and optimal roles.
Generation 1 (R/B/Y, FR/LG)
Best Role: High-Bulk, High-Reliability Starter
Squirtle is arguably the easiest Gen 1 starter for beginners:
Dominates early game
Great against Brock
Good against many mid-game opponents
Surf is extremely strong in Gen 1 mechanics
Player Role:
Durable special tank
Reliable progress-maker
Surf sweeper later
Generation 2 (G/S/C, HG/SS)
Best Role: Utility Defender
Water types remain strong, and Blastoise performs consistently.
Access to moves like Rapid Spin
Still very tanky
Great against many Team Rocket Pokémon
Player Role:
Anti-Fire, Anti-Ground specialist
Defensive pivot
Hazard remover (HG/SS)
Generation 3 (R/S/E, FR/LG)
Best Role: Balanced Tank
The physical/special split hasn't occurred yet, so Water is always Special.
Blastoise becomes:
Good Surf user
Good Rapid Spin user
Stable mid–late game tank
Player Role:
Defensive spinner
Water-type specialist
Utility support
Generation 4 (D/P/Pt, HG/SS)
Best Role: Special Tank + Rapid Spinner
After the move split:
Water Pulse / Surf / Aqua Tail get better distribution
Blastoise gains more coverage
Rapid Spin becomes more valuable
Player Role:
Reliable tank
Hazard removal
Support attacker
Generation 5 (BW/BW2)
Best Role: Scald Tank & Shell Smash Surprise
Two major boosts:
Scald gives burn chance + water damage
Shell Smash turns Blastoise into a dangerous sweeper
Blastoise becomes much more flexible.
Player Role:
Defensive Scald spreader
Shell Smash cleaner
Mixed utility attacker
Generation 6 (XY, ORAS)
Best Role: Mega Launcher Cannon (Mega Blastoise)
Mega Blastoise is one of the best Megas ever designed:
Superb Special Attack
Massive coverage
Very tanky
Extremely consistent
Player Role:
Mega special attacker
Hazard remover + damage dealer
Anti-Ghost/Psychic with Dark Pulse
Generation 7 (SM/USUM, Let's Go)
Best Role: Flexible Tank / Mega Sweeper
Megas still exist and Blastoise gets new move tutor options:
Fake Out
Icy Wind
Aura Sphere
Very flexible.
Player Role:
Mixed bulk tank
Mega special sweeper
Anti-meta utility Pokémon
Generation 8 (Sword/Shield)
Best Role: Shell Smash Dynamax Sweeper
Blastoise gets a Gigantamax form, with:
G-Max Cannonade (damage-over-time effect like G-Max Wildfire)
Increased bulk
Enhanced setup opportunities
Player Role:
Gigantamax tank/sweeper
Shell Smash + Max Move finisher
Water terrain-user in doubles
Generation 9 (Scarlet/Violet – transfer)
Best Role: Versatile Tera Tank
Terastallization allows Blastoise to:
Remove Electric weakness with Ground Tera
Remove Grass weakness with Fire Tera
Increase STAB Water damage with Water Tera
Take on surprise roles
Player Role:
Tera tank
Tera sweeper (Shell Smash)
Defensive pivot
IV. Best Overall Roles for Squirtle (All Generations)
Across all mainline games, players should use Squirtle/Blastoise as:
1. Defensive Tank
Takes hits very well, maintains battlefield presence.
2. Reliable Water-Type Specialist
Perfect for players who want stability and consistency.
3. Hazard Controller (Rapid Spin)
Especially valuable in mid–late generations.
4. Mid-Game and Late-Game Stabilizer
If your team is unbalanced, Blastoise fixes problems.
5. Surprise Sweeper (Shell Smash)
Later gens let Blastoise become a strong offensive threat.
6. Mega Evolution Cannon (Gen 6–7)
One of the best "glass cannon tanks" with Mega Launcher.
CATERPIE LINE – Strengths, Weaknesses, Roles, and Notes
Caterpie has one of the cutest and most harmless early-game designs in the series. Its bright green body, gentle round eyes, and little red antenna make it look friendly rather than intimidating. It perfectly captures the charm of a small woodland creature you would want to befriend on an adventure.
Metapod's cocoon form looks simple but symbolic—representing growth.
Butterfree's large, expressive eyes and delicate, colorful wings give it a beautiful, butterfly-like elegance that feels hopeful and full of life. It's one of the most iconic and lovable bug designs in Pokémon's history.
I. Core Strengths (All Generations)
1. One of the Fastest-Evolving Early-Game Pokémon
Caterpie evolves very quickly:
Level 7 → Metapod
Level 10 → Butterfree
This gives players a fully evolved Pokémon incredibly early, often before the first Gym.
2. Butterfree Has Excellent Early-Game Utility Moves
Butterfree learns:
Confusion / Gust (early STAB)
Sleep Powder
Poison Powder
Stun Spore
Sleep Powder especially makes Butterfree a great Pokémon for catching other Pokémon and controlling battles.
3. Great Status Spreader
Butterfree is one of the earliest Pokémon that can reliably use:
Sleep Powder
Stun Spore
Poison Powder
Toxic (TM)
This makes it valuable even when its damage output is modest.
4. Solid Special Attack (for early game)
Butterfree is surprisingly strong at the start:
Early Confusion hits hard
Decent Special Attack for its evolutionary category
5. Versatile Movepool (Later Generations)
Butterfree's movepool grows significantly over time:
Energy Ball
Shadow Ball
Psychic
Air Slash
Bug Buzz
Quiver Dance (Generations 7–9)
Quiver Dance in particular massively improves its sweeping potential.
II. Core Weaknesses
1. Very Low Defense & HP
Caterpie line is fragile at all stages.
Butterfree can faint easily:
Against strong neutral hits
Against priority moves
Against Rock-, Electric-, Ice-, and Fire-type attacks
2. Very Weak Mid–Late Game (Except Certain Gens)
Butterfree stops scaling well unless it has Quiver Dance or TM support.
3. Struggles With Common Weaknesses
Butterfree's dual typing leaves it weak to:
Rock
Ice
Electric
Fire
Flying
Rock is especially dangerous (4× weakness in many gens due to Bug/Flying).
4. Metapod Is Passive
Metapod can only "tank weak hits and use Harden," so there's a small slow period before Butterfree evolves.
III. Recommended Player Role (All Generations)
Early-game helper
Butterfree shines in the early stages of pretty much every generation.
Status spreader
Its powders make catching and weakening wild Pokémon much easier.
Special attacker (Early/Mid-game)
Confusion → Psybeam → Silver Wind/Bug Buzz give reliable damage.
Controller in strategy play
Sleep Powder remains useful even into late-game.
Quiver Dance sweeper (Gen 7 onward)
Modern Butterfree becomes much more dangerous.
IV. Generation-by-Generation Role Analysis
Generation 1 (R/B/Y, FireRed/LeafGreen)
Strengths
Early Confusion is extremely strong because many early Pokémon have low Special
Powder moves are potent
Great against early-game Bugs and Poison types
Good type matchups against Team Rocket grunts
Weaknesses
Falls off later due to low stats
Weak to many Elite Four threats
Best Role for the Player:
Early-game special attacker
Sleep Powder utility
Support Pokémon for catching or weakening foes
Generation 2 (G/S/C, HG/SS)
Strengths
More move variety
Better special moves available
Still great for early-game support
Weaknesses
Faces more common Electric/Ice moves
Power doesn't scale well into late game
Best Role:
Utility/status spreader
Early-game psychic/damage dealer
Good for catching roaming Pokémon (thanks to Sleep Powder)
Generation 3 (R/S/E, FR/LG)
Strengths
Better move tutor options
Still helpful early on
Gust becomes Flying-type (better STAB)
Weaknesses
Special/physical split hasn't occurred yet → Bug is physical, Flying is special
Limited overall damage potential
Best Role:
Early-game Flying/Psychic-type stand-in
Status user against tough fights
Good utility in double battles (support role)
Generation 4 (D/P/Pt, HG/SS)
Strengths
Move split improves moveset flexibility
Can learn better TM moves
Decent in early–mid game
Weaknesses
Competitive environment harder on frail Pokémon
Best Role:
Mixed utility attacker
Sleep Powder + U-turn scout
Early-game Psychic/Bug attacker
Generation 5 (BW/BW2)
Strengths
Learns Quiver Dance, massive upgrade
Gains Bug Buzz
Good for in-game single battles thanks to buffed moves
Weaknesses
Still fragile
Weather-heavy battles can punish it
Best Role:
Quiver Dance sweeper (early to mid-game)
Sleep Powder support
Great option for players who enjoy setup strategies
Generation 6 (XY, ORAS)
Strengths
Quiver Dance remains amazing
Fairy type introduction gives it better team synergy
More move tutor options
Weaknesses
Mega Evolutions overshadow it in raw stats
Best Role:
Status + Quiver Dance attacker
Early utility
Good partner in doubles with Rage Powder
Generation 7 (SM/USUM, Let's Go)
Strengths
Excellent access to Quiver Dance
Sleep Powder + Compound Eyes (Hidden Ability) is powerful
Moves like Air Slash give flinch potential
Weaknesses
Still fragile but more offensively threatening
Best Role:
Compound Eyes sleep inducer
Fast Quiver Dance sweeper
In Let's Go: S-tier early-game Pokémon
Generation 8 (Sword/Shield)
Strengths
Gigantamax form boosts offense & utility
Better coverage moves
Quiver Dance still great
Weaknesses
G-Max form doesn't fix fragility fully
Best Role:
G-Max attacker
Sleep Powder utility
Early-game carry, mid-game setup Pokémon
Generation 9 (Scarlet/Violet — transfer)
Strengths
Terastallization eliminates many weaknesses
Tera Flying, Tera Bug, or Tera Psychic can help roles vary
Rage Powder for double battles
Weaknesses
Fully evolved stats still modest
Best Role:
Tera-boosted Quiver Dance sweeper
Status support Pokémon
Double-battle redirection user
V. Best Overall Roles Across All Games
Early-game special attacker
Butterfree is one of the best early-game damage dealers in most generations.
Status support (Sleep/Stun/Poison)
Useful throughout the entire game.
Catching helper
Sleep is one of the best catch assist tools.
Quiver Dance sweeper (Gen 5+)
Modern Butterfree can actually hit surprisingly hard.
Doubles support Pokémon
With Rage Powder and powders.
Any updates?
Weedle Evolutionary Line — Strengths, Weaknesses, Roles & Appearance
The Weedle evolutionary line shines as a fast-evolving, high-speed, high-attack early-game line. While it is frail, Beedrill becomes extremely powerful in the right circumstances—especially in generations that provide better moves or Mega Evolution. It's iconic, stylish, and fun for players who enjoy fast glass cannons or early-game challenge picks.
1. Strengths
Weedle
Very fast early-game leveling — Weedle evolves quickly (Level 7 and 10), giving you an early-game advantage in building a stronger team sooner.
Poison typing early on — Being able to inflict Poison (through Poison Sting or Ability Poison Point) helps weaken stronger opponents early in the journey.
High Speed for a basic bug — Weedle often outspeeds other early-route Pokémon.
Kakuna
Early tank-like defense — Despite being limited in moves, Kakuna has surprisingly strong Defense, letting it serve as a short-term shield while you set up or heal.
Fast evolution — Reaches Beedrill in no time, minimizing its weakness as a middle-stage cocoon.
Beedrill
One of the strongest early-game attackers — High Attack and later Speed, especially from Gen 3 onward.
Great STAB combo: Bug + Poison is super effective on early-game Grass and Psychic routes in some generations.
Gen 6 Mega Beedrill (where available) —
One of the fastest non-legendary Pokémon.
Extremely high Attack.
Poison/bug pivot with U-turn becomes a valuable competitive option.
Sharpedo-like "hit hard and escape" playstyle.
2. Weaknesses
General Weaknesses
Very frail defenses — Once Beedrill is evolved, it hits hard but gets knocked out easily by strong moves.
Common weaknesses (Flying, Fire, Psychic, Rock) make it tricky to keep alive.
Limited early movepool — Weedle and Kakuna rely mostly on simple moves until Beedrill learns better ones.
Generation-specific Weakness Notes
Gen 1 (RBY):
Bug-type attacks were weak overall.
Psychic types dominate, making Beedrill fragile and hard to use.
Gen 2–5:
Still overshadowed by stronger Bugs (like Heracross, Scizor).
Movepool remained too shallow until later generations added better coverage.
Gen 6 onward:
Mega Beedrill makes the line MUCH stronger.
Poison typing becomes more valuable due to Fairy-type introduction.
3. Recommended Roles (Per Generation)
Gen 1
Role: Early-game attacker, Poison spreader
Bug-type moves are weak here, but Poison Sting helps chip damage.
Works well against early-game Grass types (like in Viridian Forest or some Gym trainers).
Gen 2–3
Role: Fast physical attacker
Moves like Twinneedle and later Bug/Poison STAB make Beedrill a decent early-mid game team member.
Gen 4–5
Role: Low-tier attacker, utility Poison type
Good for dealing with early-game Grass types or poisoning threats.
Still overshadowed by newer, stronger bugs.
Gen 6 (Mega Evolution era)
Role: High-speed physical sweeper / hit-and-run pivot
With Mega Beedrill, becomes a legitimate threat:
U-turn allows fast switching and chip damage.
Poison Jab destroys Fairy-types introduced in Gen 6.
Gen 7–9
Role: Niche fast sweeper (if Mega evolution is available in that game)
If Mega is unavailable, Beedrill returns to a more modest role.
Works well for players who like speed-based glass cannons.
Pidgey Evolutionary Line Strengths, Weaknesses, Roles, and Notes
Pidgey
Its small, round body and gentle brown feathers give it a friendly, peaceful look.
The little crest on its head adds charm, making it feel like a calm forest companion.
Pidgeotto
Looks majestic yet approachable—its longer feathers and sharper eyes show that it is growing in confidence.
The peach-colored crest and striped tail give it a natural but stylish flair.
Pidgeot
One of the most elegant bird Pokémon in the entire series.
Its flowing golden-red crest gives it noble, almost regal energy.
Sleek, powerful wings make it look both swift and dignified.
Mega Pidgeot emphasizes this beauty further with grand, sweeping plumage.
Pidgey Evolutionary Line — Strengths, Weaknesses, Roles & Appearance
1. Strengths
General Strengths
Reliable early-game Flying type
Available very early in almost all games where it appears.
Helps players deal with early-game Bug and Grass types easily.
Solid speed and respectable bulk
Pidgeotto and especially Pidgeot are faster and sturdier than most early-game birds.
Consistent movepool
Access to moves like Gust, Wing Attack, Quick Attack, Aerial Ace, and later U-turn, Tailwind, and Roost.
Mega Pidgeot (Gen 6+)
Huge Special Attack boost.
Ability No Guard makes moves like Hurricane always hit, giving Pidgeot real sweeping potential.
Balanced stats
Not fragile.
Not dependent on gimmicks.
Works well for players who prefer stability over all-out power.
2. Weaknesses
General Weaknesses
Typical Flying weaknesses
Electric, Ice, Rock.
Rock-type moves (especially early Rock Tombs) can be dangerous.
Lower offensive power before Mega evolution
Many other regional birds in later generations (Staraptor, Talonflame, Corviknight) overshadow it in raw power or utility.
Limited coverage
Its attacks are reliable but not extremely diverse.
Generation-Specific Weakness Notes
Gen 1:
Normal/Flying is everywhere, so Pidgeot feels less unique despite being strong.
Gen 3–5:
Outclassed by newer bird Pokémon with stronger stats or better abilities.
Gen 6–7:
Without Mega Evolution, base Pidgeot is only moderately strong.
With Mega Evolution, it becomes one of the best special Flying attackers.
Gen 8–9 (no Mega Evolution):
Loses the offensive boost Mega gave it.
Still usable, but becomes a "comfort pick" rather than a powerhouse.
3. Recommended Role Across Generations
Gen 1 (RBY)
Role: Stable early-game Flying attacker
Great for handling Grass, Bug, and later Fighting-type Pokémon.
Works well as a reliable, fast team member throughout the story.
Gen 2–3
Role: Utility flyer & consistent attacker
Good for general battles, but not the strongest choice.
Provides early access to Fly (HM) for overworld travel.
Gen 4–5
Role: Mid-speed, mid-power attacker
Useful for players who like balanced, non-fragile Flying types.
Struggles to stand out compared to newer regional birds.
Gen 6 (Mega Evolution era)
Role: Special Flying sweeper (with Mega Pidgeot)
Hurricane becomes 100% accurate with No Guard.
Extremely fast and strong once mega-evolved.
Works well as a late-game cleaner.
Gen 7–9 (no Mega Evolution)
Role: Fast, consistent story-mode attacker
Good for clearing Grass, Bug, and Fighting-type trainers.
Works well for players who want a classic, steady Normal/Flying pick.
Summary
The Pidgey family is a classic, reliable, balanced Flying-type line that supports players throughout early and mid-game battles. It offers speed, stability, and helpful type coverage. While it may not always be the strongest bird in each generation, its elegant design and dependable performance make it a fan-favorite across the entire Pokémon series.
If you'd like, I can also cover other Generation 1 evolutionary lines—or compare Pidgeot to other regional birds across generations.
Rattata Evolutionary Line — Strengths, Weaknesses, Roles & Appearance
Rattata
Its bright eyes and small size make it look alert, energetic, and ready to scurry into adventure.
The purple coat gives it a unique, vibrant style compared to real-world rodents, making it memorable and charming.
Its big front teeth give it personality without looking intimidating.
Raticate
Its round, puffed-out cheeks and strong whiskers make it look tough yet expressive.
The large incisors, while powerful, give it a bold, fearless look—perfect for a Pokémon that never backs away from challenges.
Its rugged, slightly wild fur adds character and makes it feel like a seasoned survivor of every forest and alley.
1. Strengths
1. Extremely Fast for an Early-Route Pokémon
Rattata has very high Speed compared to other early Normal-types.
This allows it to:
Move first in most early battles
Cleanly finish weakened opponents
Help players escape wild fights easily
2. Solid Attack Stat Early On
Rattata hits surprisingly hard thanks to:
High early Attack
STAB on Normal-type moves (which have good neutral coverage)
3. Versatile Movepool
Across generations, Rattata/Raticate can learn:
Dark moves (Bite, Crunch, Sucker Punch)
Normal STAB (Quick Attack, Hyper Fang, Super Fang)
Coverage moves (Flame Wheel, Scorching Sands, Shadow Ball, Ice Beam in some gens)
Status moves (Toxic, Thunder Wave in older gens)
This lets it adapt to many early-game challenges.
4. Signature Move: Super Fang
Super Fang reduces the enemy's HP by half, regardless of level or stats.
This gives Raticate a unique niche in:
boss battles
catching strong wild Pokémon
chipping bulky enemies
weakening foes for teammates
5. Alolan Rattata/Raticate (Gen 7)
Alolan forms add Dark/Normal typing, giving:
Immunity to Psychic
Access to strong Dark moves
A tankier build with bulkier stats
This adds a different style of play.
2. Weaknesses
1. Very Fragile
Rattata and Raticate both have low bulk. They can get one-shot by:
strong neutral hits
Fighting-type moves
priority moves from stronger Pokémon
2. Normal Typing Is Predictable
While Normal is versatile, it doesn't hit anything super-effectively.
This limits offensive potential in later battles.
3. Outclassed in Later Generations
Many later-game Pokémon overshadow Raticate because of:
better stats
better abilities
stronger movepools
But Raticate remains useful early.
4. Alolan Raticate's Weaknesses
Weak to Fighting and Fairy
Slow compared to Kanto Raticate
More niche than universally strong
3. Best Player Roles Across Generations
Below is the recommended role of Rattata/Raticate by generation.
Gen 1 (RBY)
Role: Fast early attacker & Hyper Fang spammer
Hyper Fang is incredibly strong in Gen 1 mechanics (high base damage, early access).
Good for clearing many early routes and trainers.
Can stay viable into mid-game because of speed.
Gen 2 (GSC)
Role: Early-game cleaner & utility Pokémon
Less dominant than in Gen 1 but still reliable early.
Super Fang gives mid-game usefulness.
Good for dealing chip damage against bulky foes.
Gen 3 (RSE/FRLG)
Role: Stable early attacker
Loses some power due to movepool limitations, but still fast and reliable early.
Best as a route clearer, not a late-game Pokémon.
Gen 4–5 (DPPt/BW)
Role: Utility debuffer (Super Fang + status) or fast cleaner
Speed remains good.
Super Fang gains more tactical value.
Still fragile, so its role shifts to supportive chip damage.
Gen 6 (XY/ORAS)
Role: Early-game attacker / chip damage specialist
Fairy type introduction hurts it defensively.
Good early but doesn't scale well.
Gen 7 (Sun/Moon – Alolan Forms)
Kanto Raticate Role: Fast attacker with Technician/Strong Jaw
Technician boosts moves like Quick Attack, Pursuit, and Bite.
Strong Jaw (Hidden Ability) boosts Dark-type biting moves.
Alolan Raticate Role: Bulky Dark/Normal tank
Useful for players who want a more defensive early-game option.
Good against Psychic types and some ghosts.
Struggles with Fighting/Fairy.
Gen 8–9 (Sword/Shield / Scarlet/Violet via transfer)
Role: Niche utility / Super Fang specialist
Falls behind stronger species but kept relevant by:
Super Fang
Sucker Punch
Good Speed
Best used as a support attacker.
Overall Best Uses for Players
Early-game main attacker (strong and fast from the start)
Super Fang user (excellent against bulky opponents)
Route clearer with Quick Attack and Hyper Fang
Status/Toxic support in generations where it can learn them
Fast utility attacker with Sucker Punch or coverage moves
Spearow Evolutionary Line — Strengths, Weaknesses, Roles & Appearance
Spearow
Its sharp, alert eyes and ruffled feathers give it a feisty, energetic personality.
The bright coloring makes it stand out from other early birds.
Its compact, determined look fits perfectly with its aggressive playstyle.
Fearow
Fearow's long beak and streamlined design make it look like a bird built for speed and hunting—a very cool and distinctive silhouette.
The flowing neck feathers give it a majestic, almost proud appearance.
Its color palette—earthy browns and warm reds—gives it an elegant but fierce aesthetic.
Fearow has a classic "predatory bird" vibe that makes it look powerful and independent.
1. Strengths
1. Very strong early-game attacker
Spearow is one of the strongest early birds in the series because:
It learns Peck immediately (a solid Flying move early game)
It has excellent Attack for its level
It is faster than most early-route Pokémon
It can defeat early Bug-, Grass-, and Fighting-type opponents with ease.
2. Fearow is fast, strong, and evolves early
Fearow evolves at Level 20, far earlier than many evolved Pokémon.
It gains:
High Speed
High Attack
Good Flying-type movepool
Effective STAB moves like Drill Peck and later Aerial Ace
Fearow often outperforms many Normal/Flying types until mid-game.
3. Access to powerful Flying moves
Fearow learns:
Drill Peck (one of the best physical Flying moves for many generations)
Drill Run in later gens (Ground coverage!)
U-turn for pivoting (in games that support it)
This makes it surprisingly versatile.
4. Great type coverage
In later generations, Fearow can cover:
Electric (Drill Run)
Rock (Steel Wing)
Grass/Bug/Fighting (Flying STAB)
Psychic/Ghost (with Dark moves in some titles)
This gives it more flexibility than most early birds.
2. Weaknesses
1. Fragile defenses
Fearow is fast and strong but very frail.
It cannot take:
strong Electric attacks
Ice Beam
Rock moves (especially Rock Slide)
priority from physically strong Pokémon
2. Outclassed by later regional birds
Starting around Gen 3–5, many newer birds overshadow Fearow:
Swellow (faster)
Staraptor (much stronger)
Talonflame (priority + Fire typing)
Corviknight (bulk + utility)
Fearow remains solid, but no longer top-tier.
3. Limited utility in late game
Fearow lacks:
setup moves (like Swords Dance on other birds)
defensive utility
unique abilities
Mega or regional forms
So it tends to peak early or mid-game.
4. Normal/Flying typing is common
This gives it:
Weaknesses to Electric, Ice, and Rock
No super-effective targets with Normal STAB
Though it benefits from spammable neutral damage.
3. Best Roles Across Each Game Generation
Gen 1 (RBY)
Role: One of the best early-game Flying attackers
Fearow with Drill Peck is extremely strong.
Outdamages Pidgeot significantly.
Remains viable through most of the story.
Gen 2 (GSC)
Role: Fast mid-game attacker
Still strong, but Drill Peck arrives later.
Useful against Grass, Bug, and Fighting types.
Not as dominant as in Gen 1.
Gen 3 (RSE/FRLG)
Role: Reliable fast attacker
Good for clearing routes quickly.
Useful in FRLG particularly because of limited Flying options.
Starts to be overshadowed by other birds (Swellow), but still good.
Gen 4–5 (DPPt/BW)
Role: Solid story-mode attacker
Speed remains useful.
Access to Drill Peck keeps damage high.
Competition becomes very stiff (Staraptor, Braviary, etc.).
Gen 6–7
Role: Niche physical attacker
Gains new moves like Drill Run for extra coverage.
Without Mega Evolution or new forms, its role is limited.
Still good for players who want a fast, aggressive story Pokémon.
Gen 8–9 (transfer games)
Role: Specialized fast attacker for single-player
Good for quick KO hits.
Still strong with Drill Run + Drill Peck combination.
Rarely used competitively, but fun to use in-game.
Overall Role Summary
Early-game and mid-game physical sweeper
Route clearer with strong STAB moves
Coverage attacker (Ground, Steel options in later gens)
Hit-and-run physical attacker thanks to high Speed