What are the best gen 1 Pokémon? These creatures hold a special place in the hearts of many trainers, though that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some clear favorites. 25 years on and Kanto is still going strong, though numerous remakes and the resurgence of the Pokémon franchise in Pokémon Go clearly play a part. I love each and every monster from Pokémon Red and Blue, but when push comes to shove, some gen 1 Pokémon are simply better than others. I mean, come on, it’s a seal called Seel… did they even try?
Before we dive into what’s sure to be a controversial list, we should mention we didn’t include any starter Pokémon or legendary Pokémon, as they’d take up too many of the picks (love you, Blastoise). But if you want to see those and more, you can also raise your nerdy blood pressure with our guides to the best spider Pokémon, cat Pokémon, monkey Pokémon, bear Pokémon, crocodile Pokémon, snake Pokémon, and even the best mythical Pokémon. There are no bad Pokémon in the eyes of our lord Arceus, but some are just built differently.
For more Go-related content, head over to our Pokémon Go Eevee evolution, Pokémon Go raids, Pokémon Go community days, and Pokémon Go events guides.
Here are the best Gen 1 Pokémon:
Ditto
Why be just one thing when you can be anything? Ditto is a prevalent force in the franchise thanks to the normal Pokémon’s unique ability to transform into any other Pokémon, copying their appearance and their moves. It’s become the go-to ‘mon when players need to breed, especially if you can get a Ditto with good IVs, and my personal Ditto is responsible for more eggs than the easter bunny.
The pink gelatinous blob is also just endlessly endearing, and as time has gone on, I’ve become slowly obsessed with the Pokémon plushes that feature popular Pokémon with Ditto’s trademark button eyes and cute smile. It’s just a great little inclusion, and I’ll never forget the time Team Rocket shows it an illustration of a Dratini to get it to transform, and Ditto instead turns into the book the picture was from. God bless you, Ditto. You tried your best.
In the Pokédex, Ditto clocks in at number 132, and its entries explain its unique ability to transform into an exact copy of any Pokémon, especially those who are standing directly in front of it. An interesting thing to note is that Ditto do not get along with their own kind, so maybe try to avoid having two of them on your team.
If you find yourself wanting to find this lil guy in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, make sure you check out our Pokémon BDSP Ditto locations guide. Heck, we can even tell you how to catch a Pokémon Go Ditto.
Lapras
While many Pokémon from the first generation have had different forms or evolutions over time, one Pokémon I always think deserves more love is Ash’s stalwart companion across the Orange Islands, the one and only Lapras. It’s synonymous with travelling across the water in the games and is based on the Loch Ness monster. It’s also just a majestic beast in its own right, and outside of a Gigantamax Pokémon form in Pokémon Sword and Shield, I’d love to see it revisited with a new variation or evolution down the line.
Lapras is also one of the few Pokémon that don’t communicate by saying their own name, instead letting out a joyous noise reminiscent of whale sounds. It did reappear in New Pokémon Snap as a homage to its appearance in the original, and it looks absolutely incredible in the gorgeous art style of the recent photography game. Lapras has been there for seafaring trainers since the very beginning, and I wish it got more love. Read our guide to the best water Pokémon in Pokémon Go for more.
