My Favorite Generation I Pokémon: Fire Edition

The Fire Type

Any game based on the standard elements are going to have a Fire type.  And while the Pokémon of this nature are often fan favorites, you'll rarely see them in a competitive scene in Generation I, due to the lack of Grass, Bug, and Ice types for them to defeat (and an abundance of Ground, Rock, or Water types).  Wile your team could usually survive without a Fire element, I always liked to have one for appearances.

5. Flareon

Yes, it is the weakest of the Eeveelutions, but it is an Eeveelution nonetheless.  While infamous for its lack of good moves, I still like the design.  Besides, an Eevee has to evolve into a Fire-type.  And no other Eeveelution looks as cuddly as Flareon, even if it can get searing hot.

4. Moltres

While not may favorite of the Legendary Birds, I do like how it has a more significant impact in the series' mythology.  In the anime, Moltres's eternal flame lights the Pokémon League torch.  But even cooler is its association with Blaine, acting as the Gym Leader's savior, which suggests he began worshiping the creature by training Fire types.  It's an interesting moment when hints at the world's religion shines through, and how these legends are more than just the random boss at the end of a dungeon.

3. Arcanine

Speaking of legends, Arcanine is that famous non-legendary Legendary Pokémon.  Due to its origin based on the mythological Shisa and similar creatures, Arcanine gets a special status, above all other Pokémon.  It has the highest base stats of a non-Legendary Fire type, and is ranked 9th overall.  It will be your best choice competitively.

2. Ninetales

Foxes are never not cool.  Like Arcanine, Ninetales has its origins in Asian mythology, this time playing the part of the ghost fox Kitsune and deadly old grudges.  I enjoy using Ninetales' various powers on my team (Fire Spin and Confuse Ray create a wonderfully annoying combination).  I wish it had actually been a part Ghost type, because it would have given it a competitive edge.  But still, everyone agrees that it is one of the best designed Pokémon with one of the coolest backstories.

1. Rapidash

Ninetales was close to being my #1 here, but this is a unicorn that's on fire.  Where else can you find that?  Even in future generations, it seems like the designers understood they couldn't top this, so they didn't even bother with another horse Pokémon until the end of Generation V.  Horses are such majestic creatures in real life that all they had to do was add some flames and voila!  Instant perfection!

Honorable Mentions:  Magmar, for it's wacky design with a mysterious origin, Vulpix, for being the cute baby Ninetales (and was one of my favorites at the time Brock caught one), and Charmeleon, for being underappreciated but still cool.  What about Charizard?  Well, wait until we get to our Flying types.

My Favorite Generation I Pokemon: Normal Edition

Everyone has their favorite Pokemon, and every Pokemon is someone's favorite.  And due to the sheer number of Pokemon, it is hard to choose just one or five or ten.  So I shall be looking at 50(ish) of my favorites, starting with the first generation.  Because I like placing things in categories, I shall break down my lists by type.  So our first five Pokemon shall be of the Normal type.

Remember, a lot of factors go into choosing a favorite Pokemon: visual design, species mythology, battle statistics, and noteworthy appearances in the various canons.  These aren't the best of each type.  These aren't even necessarily Pokemon I would keep on my team.  They are ones I like to discuss.

The Normal Type

Normal is the default type category.  This means you can find run-of-the-mill, average species or strange, unclassifiable species here.  Most of them learn Normal type moves on their own and a variety of elemental moves with the aid of Technical Machines.  A lot of Pokemon end up in this category, with nearly 16% of Generation I Pokemon having this typing (and two/thirds of those are pure Normal while the remaining third represent birds with a secondary Flying type).  They aren't super-effective against anything, but they are immune to Ghost types (playing on a spirit's intangibility) and weak to Fighting types (because fighters are stronger than normal individuals?).  Due to their neutrality, they can provide great support to any team.

5. Tauros

Tauros is the strongest Normal Pokemon in Generation I, with a Base Stat total of 450 (making it the 11th strongest Pokemon overall).  I usually have one on my team in the Game Boy games, for this reason, making good use of its high Attack an Speed.  I also like the simplicity of the design.  It is just a fierce bull with three whip-like tails that keep it energized and focused.  No need for improvement.  Outside of Ash's 30 rampaging Tauros, it never got any special attention, character wise.  It's more of a force than a personality.

4. Clefairy and Jigglypuff

I'm already cheating, but Clefairy and Jigglypuff are so similar, you can hardly blame me.  Both are pink, round fairies.  They have virtually similar movesets.  Clefairy gets a stronger chance to shine in the Pocket Monsters manga while Jigglypuff is more famous from the early anime episodes and the Super Smash Bros. series.  I like that both of them exist however, as their interactions in various stories play off each other very well (big egos in little bodies).  If they weren't as heavily promoted as attempted secondary mascots to Pikachu, I probably wouldn't think about them too critically.  But they are popular in Japan, so they must be doing something right.

3. Porygon

Throughout my Pokemon lifespan, I've gone through periods of "#1 favorites," and for a while, Porygon held that spot.  Part of it had to do with the mystery surrounding the character.  Since Americans didn't get the Porygon episode of the anime, I never knew his full story.  He was the first "man-made" Pokemon and he can travel through computers?  And he learns Psychic and Electric attacks?  And what exactly was it doing on the River level of Pokemon Snap?  Plus, that design is so cool.  And it would only improve from there.

2. Eevee

Eevee represents the best of what Normal has to offer.  It is both average and a wild card at the same time.  Everyone has their favorite "Eeveelution," but I just like the fact that all of them exist.  I completely understand the mindset of not evolving ones Eevee because it represents unlimited potential.  I feel that Eevee should be everyone's starter Pokemon because it would better reflect each trainer's personality and team choices.

1. Meowth

If it weren't for Meowth, Eevee would be #1 without a doubt.  But Meowth has the benefit of years as a main character in the anime, so I've seen a lot more growth can better relate to this character.  Chosen as a foil for Pikachu, Meowth is able to speak for Pokemon kind.  Sure, he might make a lot of bad jokes, but Team Rocket's Meowth has a strong backstory and character arc.  Anime aside, I also like that he represents the "lucky cat" concept in his design and is definitely my favorite of all the cat Pokemon.  I just wish he got his chance in Super Smash Bros. like Pikachu and Jigglypuff, because I've always wanted to play as him in a game.

Honorable Mentions:  Snorlax, for being a big, strong Totoro that sleeps all the time, Kangaskhan, for its classic design and omnipresent baby (that should have been its own Pokemon), and Dodrio for being a cool, speedy three-headed kiwi-ostrich.