After twenty-five years, Ash Ketchum has finally achieved his goal of becoming a Pokémon Master. In recent episodes of Pokémon Journeys, Ash beat Leon, Champion of the Galar Region, in the World Coronation Series, making him the World Champion. Such an achievement is remarkable to see for longtime fans of the anime and video games, but some think this might spell the end of the tv show. However, ThePokémon Company/Game Freak just also released Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, setting the stage for Ash’s next great adventure as he searches for his special treasure in Paldea.
While Scarlet and Violet proved to be polarizing due to some confounding graphics and mechanics issues, the slew of new characters and Pokémon mixed with the expansive open world and story still make them highly enjoyable games. There’s even precedent for Ash to journey there as a World Champion and take part in Paldea’s gym conference as the main rival in Scarlet and Violet, Nemona, is herself a Champion already at the start of the game. Excitingly, there are many great new Pokémon that would make fun and powerful additions to Ash’s team whether for their typings, personalities, and/or connections to his other Pokémon.
The Starters
For years, it was the standard for Ash to catch the new generation’s starter Pokémon, except for when they divided among his traveling companions. However, in Pokémon Journeys, he didn’t catch a single starter from the Galar region. That should certainly change should he travel to Paldea, and he should add Sprigatitto, Fuecoco, and Quaxly to his team – especially if he trains them all up to their final evolutions of Meowscarda, Skeledirge, and Quaquaval respectively.
If he were only to have one of the starters, Fuecoco might be the best option as there are relatively fewer new Fire-type Pokémon. Furthermore, it would add to his collection of crocodile Pokémon with Totodile and Krookodile.
Greavard/Houndstone
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet introduced three new lines of dog Pokémon – the Fairy-types, Fidough and Dachsbun; the Dark-types, Maschiff and Mabosstiff; and finally, the Ghost-types, Greavard and Houndstone. The latter two stand out for their heartbreaking Pokédex entries, and they seem like they’d be the best fit for a trainer like Ash.
Despite being Ghost-types – of which Ash only has one other, Gengar – Greavard is an extremely personable and joyful Pokémon. Ash is great at developing deep connections and loyalty with his Pokémon and this evolution line is perfect for such a trainer.
Finizen/Palafin
Overall, Water-types are an interesting case for Ash as he has always caught those that can also walk on land as opposed to the fish or whale-themed Pokémon. As such, that might be why Quaxly is a good fit for him. However, Finizen, and its evolution Palafin in particular, could make him break from his pattern.
When it is initially sent out in battle, Palafin simply resembles a Finizen with a heart on its underbelly. However, if it is swapped out and back in, it secretly transforms into its Hero form and becomes one of the stronger Pokémon in the game based on base stats. Ash had one Water-type that transformed into a hero with Greninja, so here’s another, not to fill the void, but to give him some cool new opportunities in battle.
Cetoddle/Cetitan
If for some reason Ash would finally want a whale Pokémon that isn’t solely restricted to the sea, then he needn’t look further than Cetoddle and Cetitan. The Ice-types are among the best single-typed Pokémon introduced in Scarlet and Violet, and they’d be powerful additions to his team. While others like Pikachu would rely on their agility, Cetitan is just pure mass and strength.
Adding Cetoddle to his team would also allow him to contemplate whether he’d want to evolve it into a Cetitan as it requires an Ice Stone as opposed to normal evolution. This would make it only his third Pokémon that requires an item to evolve after Pikachu and Gliscor.
Cyclizar
In Scarlet and Violet, the player meets the legendary Pokémon, Koraidon and Miraidon, respectively, early in their journey. While they can join a player’s team until much later in the story, they are along for the ride from the get-go – literally, they serve as transportation only for most of the game. That doesn’t seem likely in the anime for Ash and/or any of his friends, so instead, they should have him catch a Cyclizar.
Cyclizars are Dragon-Normal-types, among the coolest new dual-typed Pokémon, that have some mysterious connection to legendary Pokémon. Supposedly, Koraidons are Cyclizars’ ancestors, while Miradons are their descendants. Allowing Ash to have his own Cyclizar would not only give him a mount to travel on if needed but also a powerful new Dragon-type.
Wattrel/Kilowattrel
Along with the starter Pokémon, Ash has been known to catch the regional bird Pokémon as he had from Pidgeotto all the way to Talonflame. His adventures in Alola strangely broke him of that habit. In Paldea, that line is Wattrel and Kilowattrel. While their Electric-typing might limit their inclusion on Ash’s team, in this case, he should reconsider. Overall, Kilowattrel just looks like a Pokémon he would add to his team.
In particular, it could be cool to see Ash with two Electric-types on his team, in how Kilowattrel and Pikachu might get along and work together. However, if that’s not the case, they’d go with a different bird Pokémon, then there’s also Squawkabilly or Bombirdier to consider as well.
Klawf
Like how Ash already has two crocodile-themed Pokémon, he also has two crustacean Pokémon with Kingler and Corphish. He could add a third with the new Rock-type, Klawf. This would also be his third Rock-type following Boldore and Lycanroc, but it would battle differently from them all.
Klawf is an important Pokémon in the story of Scarlet and Violet as one is a giant Titan Pokémon, so it would be interesting to see Ash catch and train a Klawf of his own to go up against it. Additionally, while it is solely a Rock-type, Klawf could cover some good ground with regard to other type attacks, being able to also use Fighting, Steel, Ground, Normal, Bug, and even Ghost-type moves.
Charcadet/Armarouge/Ceruledge
If Fuecoco is out of the picture, the next best option for a Fire-type Pokémon for Ash is Charcadet. Overall, it’s one of the cooler new Pokémon from Scarlet and Violet, not only for its design but also for its brave personality and its split evolution. Depending on what item it is presented with – or what version of the game is being played – Charcadet either evolves into Armarouge or Ceruledge.
Armarouge is a dual Fire-Psychic-type with a powerful cannon, and Ceruledge is a dual Fire-Ghost-type with blades for arms. As both are among the strongest Pokémon in the wild in Scarlet and Violet, they’d be very welcome additions to Ash’s team. In particular, given its typing and aesthetic, Ceruledge might be the best fit.
Paldean Tauros
Most Pokémon fans probably haven’t seen when Ash caught his thirty Tauros in the Safari Zone, as it is now a banned episode for showing guns. As such, they could rectify this by showing Ash catch a new Tauros in Paldea. Excitingly, there are three new variations of Tauros in Scarlet and Violet. There’s the common Combat Breed, which is solely Fighting-type, and then depending on the game, either the Blaze or the Aqua Breed – respectively Fighting-Fire and Fighting-Water.
He could just add one new Tauros to his herd at Professor Oak's, but it would be great if he could get all three breeds and even multiples of them. The big caveat would then be that the force at which he is run over whenever he visits the lab would be even more severe, but it would be worth it to see him get some big heavy hitters that he could use in rotation with each other.
Annihilape
The last Pokémon currently in the Pokédex, coming in at number 1010, is one of the more exciting additions that could finally do what Pokémon fans have been desiring for over twenty years – bring back Ash’s Primeape. Annihilape is the final evolution of Mankey and Primeape, a dual Fighting-Ghost type, and even without the contexts of his Primeape, it would be a great Pokémon for Ash to train.
The sheer power behind an Annihilape’s punches is incredible, and its dual typing would help it against Psychic Pokémon. The opportunity is perfect, and it would delight many fans, but if that’s not the course the anime takes, well then, there at least needs to be some acknowledgment to Ash’s Primeape if he crosses paths with an Annihilape.
Source:gamerant.com