10 Weak Pokemon With Insane Potential

Some trainers might find it hard to resist powering through their Pokémon journey using an excessively strong Starter Pokémon or a Legendary Pokémon obtained with a Master Ball without much effort.

In the course of playing Pokemon, with its open-ended style, some Pokemon tend to be underestimated or considered weak, often because of their appearance or the combination of their initial statistics.

In my experience, much like what the insightful Karen from the Johto Elite Four put it, “Strong and weak Pokemon are merely a biased perspective held by some individuals. A truly talented trainer aspires to conquer with their beloved ones.

In the right hands, even the weakest Pokemon can stand tall and fell giants. Arceus beware.

10. Linoone

Stats, Stats, And More Stats

Initially, Linoone might appear to be a typical Pokémon that follows a straightforward attack pattern, suitable for a couple of gyms but soon discarded and stored in the PC without further use, much like Raticate and Furret.

Absolutely, anyone familiar with a Nuzlocke challenge in Hoenn region is aware that Linoone possesses an exceptional move, which sets it apart as one of the strongest Pokémon in the game.

As a devotee of Pokémon tactics, I must say that Belly Drum can be quite the challenging maneuver to pull off, but oh boy, is it ever worth the gamble! This move slashes your Pokémon’s HP in half, but the payoff comes in the form of a whopping six-stage attack boost – that’s a 400% or 300% increase in Linoone’s base attack power! Now, while it’s true that Linoone’s basic attacking prowess might not be the strongest, once you’ve given it this powerful enhancement, it becomes a force to be reckoned with. To top it all off, Linoone boasts a fairly respectable speed stat, which means it can sweep through the Elite Four like a breeze if executed properly.

Pop a Sitrus Berry on this little raccoon, and it’ll be good to go!

9. Klefki

Hazards Galore

Klefki refers to a collection of keys. However, it’s not just about keys; it’s got much more depth. This small key-opening device is full of surprises when properly trained. For you, it can be a valuable ally, while for your adversary, it could turn into a troublesome challenge.

As an enthusiastic fan, I can’t help but marvel at how eager Klefki is to join the fray! This is all thanks to its unique ability, Prankster. You see, Prankster boosts the priority of Klefki’s Status moves. What this means is that if your opponent doesn’t have a move with priority, and you’re not aiming for a powerful strike, Klefki gets the first shot!

Use strategic attacks such as Spikes, Thunder Wave, Toxic, Reflect, and Light Screen to disrupt your adversary. Though Klefki likely won’t engage in one-on-one battles, it will turn the battlefield into a challenging environment for the remainder of your opponent’s team.

8. Dugtrio

Don’t Try To Run

Dugtrio presents an unusual scenario; it suddenly emerged as a massive menace during Generation 7. This three-Diglett amalgamation, however, has historically lacked durability, not possessing the necessary statistics to pose a significant threat.

In Sun and Moon, when my beloved Dugtrio was buffed, it was then that its hidden power truly burst forth onto the battlefield. And oh boy, did it become a glass cannon! The aggravating ability to trap opponents within Arena Trap made every encounter with it an enduring ordeal.

Changing tactics is vital in competitive play, and when you’re unable to change strategies while Dugtrio erodes your HP, it’s an extremely harsh sensation. This feeling is so intense that Arena Trap and consequently, Dugtrio were even banned in Smogon’s generation 7 competitive environment.

Banning this fuzzy little mole allowed many Pokemon back into the format and quelled a lot of rage.

7. Mimikyu

My Eyes Are Down Here

Although Mimikyu might remind you of Pikachu, let me assure you it belongs to a totally different class. Despite its stats not being particularly impressive, what sets it apart is something truly extraordinary.

In a unique manner that sets it apart, Mimikyu boasts an exceptional skill: it can dodge the initial attack in every fight by disguising itself.

As a gamer, I’d put it this way: “Mimikyu gets a chance for an untouchable move during its turn, unlike Linoone who’s always vulnerable when using Belly Drum, putting itself on the line every time.

Fortunately, Mimikyu manages to use the move Swords Dance. This means in every fight, Mimikyu gains a significant 100% increase in its physical attack without any additional effort.

With tactics such as using Shadow Sneak to ensure taking the initial turn, or Play Rough for an impressive 90-point base attack, Mimikyu undeniably packs a punch. To inflict the greatest damage, consider arming it with a Life Orb.

Turns out, Pikachu was useful after all.

6. Rotom

That’s One Scary Washing Machine

When the Rotom emerges from the television screen at Sinnoh’s Old Chateau, accompanied by legendary music, you might find yourself perplexed. Contrary to being a legendary creature, this small light bulb-like entity is often revered more than even Arceus itself.

In its base form, Rotom might seem harmless, but once it transforms into Rotom Wash, that’s when things get serious – it’s essentially checkmate. This particular form of Rotom has been a popular choice in competitive battles for quite some time, and it doesn’t look like it will be fading away anytime soon.

Indeed, I’ve come to appreciate Water or Electric as an exceptional defensive typing. With Rotom’s unique ability, Levitate, it skillfully bypasses any Ground-type threats, making it a formidable force in the game!

You can capitalize on its impressive Special Attack stat by employing moves like Hydro Pump and Volt Switch, or you could use Pain Split to slow down your opponents. Rotom Wash is quite versatile, and it’s going to keep drenching foes for many battles ahead.

5. Pachirisu

Looks Can Be Deceiving

As a gamer, when I gaze upon Pachirisu, it’s not just about the adorable electric critter that somewhat resembles Pikachu. People often underestimate this little rodent, thinking they see poor attacking stats, no evolution potential, and zero worth. However, they are mistaken.

Back in 2014, I stood triumphant as the Pokémon World Champion – a title I earned with my Pseudo-Legendary Slayer, the adorable yet formidable Pachirisu. Many were taken aback by my choice at the championships, but history will remember that this tiny, seemingly innocuous Pokémon packed a punch on the battlefield. Proving once again that looks can be deceiving and power lies within.

Utilizing Super Fang, Pachirisu circumvents its low attack power by dealing constant damage that reduces the opponent’s health by half. Moreover, Nuzzle ensures paralysis and shatters Focus Sashes. Lastly, in a double battle, Pachirisu employs Follow Me to shield its companions from harm and absorb incoming attacks instead.

Se Jun Park demonstrated to everyone the art of maximizing the abilities of unconventional Pokémon, thus highlighting the fact that basic statistics don’t dictate everything.

4. Azumarill

With Huge Power Comes Huge Responsibility

Azumarill, seemingly another unassuming Pika-imitation, boasts an unexpectedly terrifying presence within the game. Beneath its blank stare and playful grin hides an ability that is debatably among the most potent in the game.

In earlier generations 2 through 5, Azumarill didn’t play a significant role. However, starting from X and Y, it acquired the fairy type and access to powerful moves such as Play Rough, which was previously highlighted.

With the mighty Double Attack power at my side, all of a sudden, Azumarill became a formidable opponent, leaving everyone in awe.

As a gamer, let me share some exciting news about Azumarill – it’s not just any ordinary Pokémon! Not only does it pack a punch with Belly Drum and Aqua Jet, but it has been a significant threat in the competitive OU scene for quite some time. It seems stats might not be everything in this game after all!

3. Smeargle

A Myriad Of Colors

This tiny Pokeon artist has some of the lowest fundamental statistics across the entire game. To be honest, with a base overall score of 250, it’s practically useless in its original form. However, as always, there’s a twist.

The unique maneuver, Sketch, significantly transformed the game when Smeargle managed to replicate Darkrai’s special move, Dark Void. With this ability, it put everyone on the battlefield to sleep, making it an overpowering tactic. In fact, due to its dominance, the move Dark Void was toned down in generation 7, now having only a 50% chance of success and can only be used by Darkrai itself.

And yet, Smeargle’s demise was not imminent. Clever tactics such as Shell Smash Baton Pass continue to surprise unsuspecting opponents. Although some moves within the game may be questionable, Smeargle remains a constant presence, ready to inscribe them and concoct unusual strategies.

2. Porygon 2

Cyber-Duck Warriors!

This particular Pokemon is an instance where a single, unique item can create a stunningly flawed yet appealing effect.

By itself, Porygon 2 isn’t particularly outstanding in many areas, and typically, there’s not much incentive to keep it from evolving into Porygon Z for its enhanced abilities. However, it’s worth noting that the existence of an Eviolite item can change things…

Eviolite significantly increases the defense and special defense of a Pokemon by an impressive 50%, but this benefit is only available to Pokemon that can still evolve. Porygon 2 is an excellent choice for this role, as it transforms into a formidable tank with high HP, substantial Special Attack, and extraordinary defensive prowess when heavily invested in.

Pair it up with an exceptional repertoire of potent moves, including Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, Recover, and Tera Blast, this Pokémon has the ability to counter most dangers and even maintain its strength over a prolonged period.

Sometimes, Pokemon that appear feeble initially can reveal hidden strength with the help of a powerful ability or strategic use of an appropriate item, allowing them to fully manifest their latent power.

1. Bidoof

And The World Knelt Before Him

Why in the world does Bidoof rank first? It seems improbable that Bidoof holds such power! Considering all points made about Bidoof apply equally to Bibarel, it’s just that Bidoof is more amusing.

However, it’s important to note that this particular entry isn’t meant as a jest. The Pokémon Bidoof, surprisingly, holds one of the most imbalanced abilities in the entire game. This ability is so powerful and unforeseeable that it has been prohibited in Smogon’s competitive play format due to its strength and unpredictability.

Moody is a unique trait that occasionally raises two of a Pokémon’s stats by 2 while reducing another one by 1. To give you an example, let’s consider Bidoof. When it uses Protect, its evasiveness increases by 2. If Bidoof then uses Substitute, its speed gets a boost of 2 as well. After using Protect once more, additional stat changes occur, and so on and so forth.

Over time, regardless of Bidoof’s base stats, you’ll create an unstoppable force that’s seemingly invincible and lays waste to entire teams. It’s a bit overpowered and rather unfair, I must admit. However, it can be defeated, though it requires strategic knowledge of some effective status moves.

Eventually, it was necessary to tone down this skill, which meant reducing Bidoof’s effectiveness, to prevent Moody from influencing both evasion rates and hit accuracy any longer.

Bidoof was too strong; he had to be stopped, whatever the cost.

2025-02-05 18:11