To the vast majority of Pokémon fans, it is absolutely no secret that Blue is a legendary powerhouse of a Trainer. His whole character has inspired the first in many well-known and fondly remembered rivalries within the series. Whether in manga, anime, or video games, Blue as a character is built on the concept of power — getting power, utilizing power, and actively trying to balance that power. How else could he manage to reach the top spot of Pokémon League Champion before you?
How else could he retain his position as Viridian City Gym Leader going forward? Well, like the central message of the game series would suggest, while Blue does have power and is seen as “powerful,” he would be nothing if not for the Pokémon who remain steadfast by his side. Here is every member of Blue’s team ranked according to strength; for the sake of consistency, this article will focus more on Blue’s recent and/or consistent Pokémon he’s sent out in battle.
10 Pidgeot
Arguably Blue’s signature Pokémon, he has raised his Pidgeot since it was but a fledgling Pidgey! Pidgeot is typically Blue’s lead; it serves as a taste of what’s cooking in Blue’s lineup and isn’t meant to wipe the floor with you (just yet). With middling base stats all around but an above-average Speed stat, Pidgeot is here to scout, confound, and stall, and is very susceptible to any Electric-, Rock-, or Ice-type attack that is thrown at it.
9 Alakazam
Fast, powerful, and fragile. Alakazam is the definition of a glass cannon; he can dish out the pain but can’t exactly take it all either. Its special defense is average, but the same cannot be said for its physical defense. As a Psychic-type, Alakazam boasts some of the most powerful moves in the franchise, but 3 weaknesses in Dark-, Bug-, and Ghost-type attacks. Come prepared with a powerful physical attacker and watch how quickly Alakazam may fall.
8 Exeggutor
Exeggutor struggles with almost the opposite problem as its contemporary, Alakazam. While it has more bulk overall than its pure psychic counterpart, its secondary typing in Grass (while allowing it to cover more bases) leaves it open to a lot more common attacks in Fire-, Flying-, Bug-, Poison-, and Ice-type moves, while retaining the same weaknesses it’s Psychic typing hinders it with. In terms of the overall power scale though, its bulk affords it more ways to take hits from the opposing team, and with access to moves like Hypnosis, it can definitely hinder your strategic approach.
7 Machamp
Machamp is built on raw strength. With a monstrous Attack stat and some excellent battling abilities in Guts and No Guard, Machamp can deliver some powerful blows, and that’s the main reason why Blue keeps him on the squad. With moves like Knock Off and Poison Jab mixed in with the main move Cross Chop, Blue tries his best to cover the main bases his Machamp might face, but what holds it back is its average to mediocre other stats. Machamp is slow, and while it might be able to eat at least one common attack, a powerful Psychic, Flying, or Fairy-type move will send it packing.
6 Rhydon
The first Pokémon ever created, this dual-type Rock/Ground Pokémon is a literal beast, boasting a healthy HP, Attack, and Defense stat. Rhydon has powerful access to moves like Earthquake and Stone Edge, hitting a majority of Pokémon HARD. It’s this same power, however, that works completely against Rhydon, cursing it with double weaknesses in Grass- and Water-type moves alongside other weaknesses in Fighting-, Ground-, Steel-, and Ice-type moves. This wouldn’t be nearly as bad if it weren’t for the fact that there are tons of special attacking moves of these types that would otherwise completely wreck Rhydon, who isn’t nearly as fast to take on the threats that would oppose it.
5 Arcanine
Fire is one of the most prevalent offensive types in all of Pokémon. With only three real weaknesses in Water, Rock, and Ground types, Arcanine is one of the best pure Fire-types to use, and Blue recognizes this. Its above-average Attack and Special Attack stats let it see some use as a mixed attacker with a solid Speed stat to get it going and average defenses to let it take a few non-supereffective hits.
Blue’s Arcanine in particular lets it hit Water-types that would otherwise cause it trouble with Wild Charge, hit threatening Rock-types with Iron Tail and hit a finishing blow with Extreme Speed. It can’t keep up the pressure for long though, and that’s what sets it 5th overall.
4 Blastoise
If you started your adventure with Charmander, this was your inevitable final encounter in the main series games. Blue’s Blastoise has been consistently portrayed as his starting partner, to the point where it might seem more memorable than his Pidgeot. As a pure Water-type, Blastoise is the definition of bulky, tanking in many hits with its superb defenses and being able to hit other Pokémon with its okay offenses. The only weaknesses it really has are Grass- and Electric-type moves, but its real lack of a movepool and subpar speed and power keep it from shining as bright as its starter contemporaries.
3 Venusaur
Players will know that upon choosing Squirtle, they have to contend with Venusaur in their big champion battle. Much like Blastoise, Venusaur is big and bulky, but unlike Blastoise, Venusaur has equal distribution in both Special Attack and Special Defense stats, making for a Pokémon who can tank hits and deliver powerful special moves. Most notably is Blue’s combination of Sunny Day/Solar Beam tactic, eliminating the need for Venusaur to spend a turn to fire off its most powerful move. Coupled with moves like Growth and Synthesis, Venusaur is meant to keep going and stand tough. Blessed with a defensive typing as well, this makes it resistant to Fighting-, Water-, Grass-, Electric-, and Fairy-type moves and is weak to Fire-, Flying-, Psychic-, and Ice-type attacks.
2 Charizard
What can be said about Charizard that hasn’t been said before? Charizard is a powerful Pokémon, no two ways about it.
It has a fantastic Special Attack and Speed stat with which it can overtake the competition and fire away some blistering moves, taking full advantage of its offensive typing in Fire and Flying, with access to moves like Air Slash and Flamethrower. Charizard is an “offense is the best defense” type of Pokémon, which fits Blue to a T. While it gains a weakness to Electric types and doubles the weakness in Rock Types, it resists so much more, including Fighting, Bug, Steel, Grass, Fire, and Fairy types. But there is still one more…
1 Gyarados
In a word, Gyarados is…scary. Known as the Atrocious Pokémon, Gyarados is one of the most powerful Pokémon in the series, let alone Blue’s arsenal, and contends with even some of the best in Galar. With a massive Attack and Special Defense stat and great Speed, Gyarados was meant to hit everything and take a lot, while moving quick enough to do it. Most notable is its access to Dragon Dance, effectively bolstering its Attack and Speed just enough to where it can one-shot its two biggest threats, Electric, and Rock types, with Earthquake. Its secondary flying type helps it lose a weakness it would otherwise have to Grass types, and allows it to resist Fighting-, Bug-, and Ground-type attacks. Gyarados is undoubtedly Blue’s most powerful Pokémon; one can only wonder if he caught it after fishing in Cerulean City’s Gym.
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