For 25 years, Ash acted as the protagonist of the Pokémon anime. During this time, he encountered, befriended, and trained some of the most powerful creatures we have seen in the show. Each new season of the anime came with new friends who joined Ash on his journey.
While all of his Pokémon are just as important and special to the boy, there are undoubtedly some that excel because of their strength. Below, we will talk about the most powerful partners Ash had during his adventure to become the very best there ever was.
Spoiler Warning: Beware spoilers for the Pokémon anime series!
10 Gengar
Years before Ash encountered him, Gengar was abandoned by his trainer. He spent years training, wishing to take revenge on the human that left him alone. Thankfully, Ash helped this scary-looking and sheepish Ghost-type.
His training, as well as his deep bond with Ash, made Gengar a truly frightening opponent to face. His Mega Evolution managed to defeat mighty opponents like Raihan’s Flygon. However, Gengar was still defeated several times in the anime, due to his inexperience in battle and his type weaknesses.
9 Dracovish
Despite his strange and slightly scary appearance, Dracovish is a friendly and loyal Pokémon who loves to show his love for Ash. Nonetheless, behind this friendly demeanor hides a powerful creature who loves a good fight.
Dracovish’s jaw is one of his strongest features, capable of causing massive amounts of damage to any Pokémon he bites. He also can manifest sharp spikes in his body that can hurt anyone caught by Dracovish. Still, his childlike attitude caused him to act irrationally during fights, taking away from his efficiency as a fighter.
8 Infernape
As a Chimchar, this Pokémon was a part of Paul’s team. Sadly, the stoic and rude trainer saw him as a failure and decided to abandon him. Ash saw this happen and decided to adopt Chimchar, training it until he evolved into Infernape. Once in his final stage, Infernape was a ruthless fighter who would not give up until the bitter end of any match.
Due to his ability, Blaze, Infernape became stronger the more damage he took. This ability, combined with his already strong Fire-type attacks made Infernape a fearsome opponent. Tragically, Infernape’s ability did not prevent him from taking damage, so their wounds still affected him in a fight.
7 Dragonite
Ash’s Dragonite is arguably one of the friendliest and most adorable members of his collection. She is always hugging those she cares about whether they be Ash or another one of his Pokémon. But never make the mistake of underestimating this cuddly creature, as she is a fierce warrior whenever needed.
Not only has Ash’s Dragonite fought against some of the most powerful Pokémon of Galar’s Gym Leaders like Corelia’s Mega-Lucario, but also a heavy hitter like Iris’ own Dragonite. The latter was known for being the partner that helped Iris become the Kalos Region Champion. Nevertheless, Dragonite sometimes lacks the confidence to use her full power, preventing her from being one of Ash’s aces.
6 Sceptile
When we first met the iconic Sceptile, he was still a young and careless Treecko. With time he evolved into a calm and focused warrior that served Ash greatly during the Hoen Pokémon league. While Sceptile was known for his laidback attitude, he was by no means a lazy or unmotivated partner.
Whenever Ash needed a trusty partner to help him, he would rely on Sceptile for his quick reflexes and agile moves. Sceptile may not look like much of a fighter, but he was one of the few Pokémon in Ash’s roster to beat a legendary being, Darkrai. Although, it is important to remember that Ash’s other Pokémon helped debilitate Darkrai, making the job easier for the low-defense Sceptile.
5 Snorlax
Since the franchise was first released, Snorlax has been one of the most emblematic Pokémon. Many fans were ecstatic when Ash managed to catch one of these gigantic beings during the first seasons of the anime. As expected, Snorlax proved to be a major powerhouse, taking down some of Ash’s mightiest opponents.
This tank of a Pokémon was also the only member of Ash’s team to have learned six different moves, as opposed to the four every other Pokémon possessed. Snorlax may have been very powerful, but he was also extremely lazy, making it difficult for Ash to consistently rely on him during hard battles.
4 Lucario
For many years, fans were clamoring for Ash to get one of the most iconic Pokémon from the fourth generation, the Fighting-type Lucario. This wish came true during the Journeys’ saga of the anime, where Ash received one of the most efficient partners he has ever gotten. Lucario and Ash formed a bond deeper than the one the trainer had with most of his other Pokémon.
This bond allowed both of them to join their minds and spirits during a fight, turning them into an almost unstoppable team. In Mega form, Lucario even managed to defeat Cynthia’s feared Garchomp. However, he was still severely damaged during that fight, proving he still has a long way before perfecting his combat skills.
3 Greninja
The Kalos Pokémon League was the closest Ash ever got to becoming a regional champion before his win in the Alolan Region. This feat was made possible thanks to Ash’s powerful and unique Greninja, the first Pokémon he connected with on a deeper level.
Thanks to the friendship Greninja and his trainer formed, the Pokémon obtain a distinctive transformation, making it look similar to Ash and giving him a massive boost in power. This Greninja was strong enough to fight against Alain’s Charizard, one of the most powerful creatures in the entire anime. Sadly, this power was not enough to defeat Alain, which is why he cannot be considered Ash’s most powerful partner.
2 Charizard
Like many of his most powerful friends, Ash’s Charizard began his journey as a little abandoned Charmander. With the help of Ash’s support and friendship, Charmander evolved into a fierce and proud Charizard. After evolving, Charizard began ignoring Ash’s requests for a while but also gained an exorbitant amount of power.
When Ash finally gained Charizard’s trust and respect, this dragon-like Pokémon became one of his ultimate weapons. Not only was Charizard vital during his fight against Gary, but also one of his most important partners during the Pokémon League in the Unova region. Charizard is without a doubt one of the most powerful partners Ash has ever teamed up with, but he is still slightly weaker than Ash’s real ace.
1 Pikachu
All the adventures Ash had in the Pokémon anime began when he received his best and most loyal friend Pikachu. Even though their relationship started rocky, Ash and Pikachu became an inseparable team that travel through many regions together. During this long journey, Pikachu kept fighting powerful opponents, gaining more experience and strength with each combat.
Pikachu has not only faced regular Pokémon like most of Ash’s team, but also Legendary creatures like Regice, Silvally, and Latios. He even managed to defeat one of Alola’s guardians, the tempestuous Tapu Koko. Still, his biggest achievement yet is his victory against Leon’s undefeated Charizard, without which Ash would have not been crowned as World Champion. Pikachu will forever be Ash’s most capable and closest friend.