10 Forgotten Pokémon Rivals Ash Should’ve Remembered

For almost two decades, the original anime series has garnered immense popularity, with Ash Ketchum’s adventure steadily bringing him nearer to being recognized as the best Pokémon trainer globally. Throughout his journey, Ash encounters a host of extraordinary characters, some of whom don’t get enough attention compared to their significance.

In contrast to some Pokémon characters who are eclipsed by more significant figures during their respective arcs, Sawyer stands out as an exceptional trainer. However, his impact is overshadowed by Alain’s contributions to the entire series. Interestingly, many of Ash’s most intriguing companions and adversaries have faded into relative obscurity. These trainers symbolize some of the most compelling opportunities that the original Pokémon creators may have missed exploring more fully.

Sawyer Is Only Remembered Because of His Sceptile’s Duel With Greninja

In the Kalos region, Sawyer could seem like a new character, but his origins lie in Hoenn. He acquires his Treeko from Professor Birch before journeying to Kalos for insights into Mega Evolution. This rival of Ash’s poses a genuine threat and even manages to triumph in one of their most critical battles. The style of his Pokémon choices, character traits, and overall design are unmistakable references to the earlier seasons of the original series. However, he is somewhat overshadowed by a pivotal figure within the anime.

Similar to numerous intriguing personalities, Sawyer’s Mega Sceptile pales in comparison to Alain’s Mega Charizard. Despite being instrumental in one of Ash-Greninja’s most epic battles across the entire series, Sawyer is primarily remembered for this single achievement. It’s evident that the character possesses untapped potential, yet within the anime, he hasn’t fully demonstrated it. One of the rare characters to traverse different regions, Sawyer provides a fresh, contemporary take on classic Pokémon. However, he consistently fails to match up against Alain and frequently fades from fans’ memories when recalling the iconic seasons.

Bianca Is More of a Companion Than One of Ash’s Credible Rivals

In combat skills, Bianca is quite formidable and this is matched by her vibrant personality. Frequently, she’s seen as one of Ash’s adversaries, even though they’ve only faced off a few times within the series. Regrettably, without her video game version, Bianca could easily fade into obscurity, much like Barry. Her anime character shares many similarities with her game counterpart in terms of narrative development.

Bianca is a bit older than most trainers in the anime because her parents didn’t think she was ready for a Pokémon journey until now. This means she has some challenges compared to many of her peers, but it also pushes her to show that she can pursue her dreams, just like Ash. She even competes in the Pokémon League in Unova.

Many Newer Pokémon Fans Haven’t Heard of Tyson

Among the original Pokémon anime seasons, Hoenn stands out as a fan favorite. During this season, Ash gains popular companions like May and Max, and embarks on an adventure through one of the most cherished settings within the series. However, there’s a particular event in Hoenn that left many fans feeling disappointed. In this instance, Ash suffers a defeat at the hands of Meowth. This moment can be surprising for viewers who are accustomed to witnessing Pikachu’s success despite its smaller size. The anime frequently highlights how impressive it is that Pikachu prevails in spite of its diminutive stature, so it’s unsettling when the situation is flipped.

Meowth, on its own, isn’t particularly special among Pokémons. However, Tyson’s Meowth stands out as exceptional within its species. Regrettably, Ash only battles Tyson in a league match where Meowth makes a substantial impact. In the world of Pokémon, Tyson is one of the characters introduced to create a formidable obstacle for Ash on his path towards winning the League. While Tobias’ victory might be more concerning due to its lack of justification, Tyson’s success is almost equally unmerited.

Barry Is An Easily Forgettable Part of Ash’s Journey

Barry, a rather unmemorable coach hailing from the Sinnoh League, might have slipped into obscurity if not for his video game counterpart. While he does make some notable appearances in the anime, Barry never truly solidified as Ash’s main rival. He shares various intriguing escapades with Ash and his group, yet is often overshadowed by more prominent characters from Sinnoh.

Fortunately, Barry delivers an impressive finale in a thrilling confrontation with Paul. Despite losing the match, Barry stands his ground against one of Sinnoh’s most powerful trainers. Barry’s character mirrors his game version perfectly and is captivating when he appears on-screen. Unfortunately, although Barry showcases strong emotions, he doesn’t leave a lasting impact on the audience like Paul does.

Conway Is a Much More Technical Battler Than Ash Is Used to

In numerous aspects, Conway’s strategic and well-considered tactics often serve as a clever contrast to Ash. His strategies are so impressive that even Dawn has resorted to using them occasionally. Regrettably, Conway is just another character introduced in Sinnoh to enhance Paul’s intrigue. He demonstrates to Ash that what works for others in battles may not bring the same success when applied directly.

At the Lily of the Valley Conference, Ash defeats Conway as the initial opponent before eventually losing to Tobias. Despite his exceptional battling skills, Conway’s personality is somewhat off-putting. It’s no surprise that he appears to have a peculiar fondness for Dawn, a trait shared by many of Ash’s less well-known adversaries during that era. Notably, Conway’s Pokémon team is one of the most technically proficient seen in the anime, which highlights a strategy often overlooked within the series.

Ritchie Causes Ash to Lose His Very First Pokémon League

In the anime, one of Ash’s early major defeats occurs against Ritchie during their league match. While it isn’t entirely Ash’s fault for this loss, he decided to bring Charizard along, a Pokémon that was having trouble following instructions. The combination of his difficulties with Charizard and interference from Team Rocket made it challenging for Ash to secure a victory in the League. After acknowledging defeat, Ash showed remarkable sportsmanship by offering his hand to Ritchie.

Since Ritchie seldom shows up after that point, many fans speculate he’s just a copy of Ash. Given his potential for inclusion in the Pokémon Horizons series, and his similarity to Ash in terms of providing Roy with a mirror Pikachu on his team, it’s not hard to see why Ritchie and Roy are closely connected. However, it’s worth noting that Pokémon Horizons has been cautious about introducing new anime content due to this connection.

Alain’s Charizard Completely Overshadows Trevor’s

As a bystander, I can’t help but notice Trevor – one of the most captivating trainers in Kalos. His battling style is intricately technical, and he boasts an astonishing depth of knowledge about Pokémon. Much like other trainers here in Kalos, he’s a bit enigmatic. What sets him apart, though, is his use of the widely acclaimed Mega Charizard; however, Alain’s Mega Charizard casts a much larger shadow over Trevor’s impressive version.

1. Firstly, it’s worth noting that Trevor opts for the comparatively uncommon form of Mega Evolution, specifically Mega Charizard Y. Despite being proficient in this ability, Trevor is significantly less self-assured when it comes to battling compared to other skilled users of Mega Evolution within the series.

2. Although there might be a character resembling Trevor in the game, he doesn’t have as much charisma as many characters who only appear in the anime. This is mainly because Trevor doesn’t get as much screentime.

Nando Competes In Both the Pokémon League and Contests

Nando stands out as one of the most adaptable Pokemon trainers across the entire series. He participates in both contests and the Pokemon League, posing a challenge not only to Ash but also to Dawn. However, his character arc continues throughout the storylines, yet he eventually fades into obscurity and is seldom remembered.

The minstrel, who often roves around, has a preference for sophisticated or insect-like Pokémon, which makes him somewhat predictable. Nevertheless, his background in contests gives him an unanticipated advantage, but it doesn’t quite match up against seasoned trainers like Ash. Nando is intriguing, yet he falls short of reaching his full potential. He had the chance to recur frequently across subsequent seasons and elect to journey from region to region, similar to Ash.

Many Newer Fans Assume Morrison and Stephan Are the Same Character

Morrison ranks among Ash’s less memorable competitors throughout his journey. Known for his emotional nature, Morrison often finds himself torn during battles. Despite having fewer appearances compared to some of Ash’s other opponents, Morrison boasts an exceptionally varied squad of Pokémon. Beneath the surface, it appears he harbors significant untapped potential.

In the Ever Grande Conference, it was quite close between the rookie trainer and Ash, with the former almost emerging victorious. If Morrison hadn’t hesitated about battling his friend, winning would have been a certainty for him. Truthfully, losing to Tyson felt less fitting than if he had lost to Tyson. After all, Tyson made fewer appearances compared to Morrison, and despite having more compelling Pokémon, he is often overlooked as a character.

Stephan Has Been Largely Forgotten in Recent Years

Stephan, during one of the least favored seasons of the original Pokémon anime, serves as a notable bright spot. In contrast to trainers like Trip, Stephan shines brighter as a more engaging trainer and intriguing character. Furthermore, he played a significant role in a particularly intense battle within the entire series – his Pokémon Sawk’s match with Montgomery’s Throh was almost unbearable to watch due to its brutality.

In this interpretation, both Pokémons share characteristics similar to humans and mainly employ combat techniques. This suggests that their encounters are reminiscent of Mixed Martial Arts matches rather than typical Pokémon battles. Sawk nearly suffers a significant loss in the fight, making it one of the grittiest showdowns in the series. Stephan’s narrative seems unfinished and could greatly benefit from further development in his storyline.

2025-05-11 04:01