10 Pokémon I would never pick
10. Magikarp
The ultimate "underdog" of the franchise. Magikarp is famous for having the lowest base Attack stat of any Pokémon (initially) and knowing only Splash, a move that literally "does nothing." While its evolution into Gyarados at level 20 is one of the most rewarding moments in the game, the journey there involves constant "switching out" in battles just to soak up experience points.
9. Shedinja
Shedinja is a high-risk, high-reward experiment. Its ability, Wonder Guard, makes it immune to any attack that isn't "Super Effective." However, because it has exactly 1 HP, it is instantly knocked out by passive damage like Sandstorm, Poison, Burn, or even entry hazards like Stealth Rock. One wrong turn, and Shedinja is gone before it can even move.
8. Metapod / Kakuna
These mid-stage Bug types are the definition of a "filler" phase. If caught in the wild, they usually only know Harden, meaning they can only sit there and increase their defense while the opponent slowly chips away at them. Unless you evolved them from a Caterpie or Weedle to keep their original attacking moves, they are effectively dead weight in your party.
7. Feebas
Feebas is essentially "Magikarp 2.0" but with a much higher barrier to entry. In earlier generations, it was notoriously difficult to find, only appearing in a few specific, randomly changing water tiles. To evolve it into the powerful Milotic, you originally had to max out its "Beauty" stat with Poffins or Pokeblocks, making it a tedious project for all but the most dedicated collectors.
6. Luvdisc
Unlike Magikarp or Feebas, Luvdisc has no "glow-up" evolution to look forward to. Its stats are consistently poor across the board, except for its Speed. Most players only interact with Luvdisc to use the move "Thief" to farm the Heart Scales they often carry, which are used to help better Pokémon remember lost moves.
5. Delibird
Delibird is a Christmas-themed gimmick that can actually be a liability in battle. Its signature move, Present, has a random chance to either damage the opponent or heal them for up to 1/4 of their max HP. While it has niche uses with its "Hustle" ability, its low defensive stats make it a very fragile choice for any serious campaign.
4. Farfetch'd
For over 20 years, Farfetch'd was a "monotype" disappointment—a single-stage Normal/Flying bird with stats that didn't excel in any category. While its Galarian form eventually gave it a powerful evolution (Sirfetch'd), the original Kantonian version remains a Pokémon that most players skip in favor of more powerful flyers like Pidgeot or Fearow.
3. Zubat
The frustration with Zubat isn't just about its strength—it’s about its frequency. As the "King of Caves," Zubat’s constant use of Confuse Ray and Supersonic makes it an annoyance to fight. While its final form, Crobat, is actually a top-tier competitive Pokémon, many players are so traumatized by "Zubat burnout" that they refuse to catch one on principle.
2. Bidoof
Bidoof became a legendary meme specifically because of how "plain" it is. Often found on the very first routes of the Sinnoh region, its stats are underwhelming. However, it became the quintessential "HM Slave"—a utility Pokémon used solely to learn moves like Cut, Rock Smash, and Strength so the player's actual team doesn't have to waste move slots on them.
1. Unown
Unown is arguably the least functional Pokémon in the entire Pokédex. It can only learn one move: Hidden Power. Its stats are low, it doesn't evolve, and its only real purpose is a "collect-em-all" gimmick involving 28 different letter-shaped forms. While it is central to the lore of the Pokémon world, in an actual battle, Unown is almost entirely useless.
