The water. We can't do without it. And we can't live without Water-type Pokémon. These essential Pokémon have the power of wet stuff to extinguish fire-types, destroy ground-types, and wash away rock-types, and there are 150 ~ Water-type Pokemon currently from every region in the Pokedex, and we're going to rank 25 of the best. They are not necessarily the best in terms of power or tournament readiness. Like water, we go with the flow and select the best based on our own aquatic intuition.
# 25: Mudkips
Let's start this list with the starter that melted all our hearts. Mudkips is a perfectly adorable little water starter from Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire, and this little guy has become famous even outside of the Pokemon world. This “I Herd U Liek Mudkips” meme has turned Mudkips into an online symbol, so we can’t ignore this extremely cute little jerk. Who doesn't love Mudkips?
# 24: Psyduck
It's almost unfair to put Generation 1 Pokémon on this list. The first 151 Pokemon in Pokemon Red and Blue are incredibly iconic. Even people who don't know anything about Pokemon can probably identify some of the Gen 1 guys - and Psyduck is one of my favorites. A duck with a perpetually overwhelmed gaze who uses his psychic powers to defeat his enemies? Now it's a duck we can take.
# 23: Golisopode
One of the coolest Pokémon in the entire Pokédex, Golisopod has humble roots. This giant bug/water guy starts life as a worthless Wimpod. As the name suggests, the little guy is barely mobile and definitely not an intimidating bug monster. When he evolves, he becomes a towering warrior that all the kids wanted to catch as soon as possible. Seriously, sometimes you just have to look like a scary big fighter.
# 22: Starmie
Starmie is the fancy, crystalline evolution of Staryu – another favorite, but we have to go with Starmie. It's not just a Pokémon starfish, it's a starfish with a second larger starfish growing out of its back. Like real starfish, Starmie can regenerate naturally – and it looks so weird and alien! The Pokedex for Pokemon Moon even makes reference to this Pokemon looking “alien,” even though it really looks more like abstract art. The Pokémon's core is a crystal that glows seven colors when it uses a psychic attack - and that's the kind of psychedelic we want from psychic Pokémon.
#21: Relicant
Relicanth is a Water/Rock-type Pokemon – and the first fish-shaped Pokemon on our Water-type list. Fish-shaped Pokémon also need love, and Relicanth is interesting to humans more than its fins. Relicanth is based on the coelacanth, an endangered fish that scientists describe as a "living fossil" because its appearance doesn't appear to have changed in tens of millions of years. The same goes for Relicanth, a bottom-feeding deep-sea Pokémon that's literally a fossil thanks to its stone body. There's something about this weird ancient fish that we adore.
#20: Urshifu Quick Strike Style
Here's an interesting example of a Water-type Pokémon that really has nothing to do with water. Really, Urshifu only represents the concept of water – flowing and fast. Urshifu is a unique legendary only found in the Isle of Armor DLC for Pokemon Sword and Shield. The Isle of Armor gives you a Kubfu, the first form of Urshifu, and sends you on a quest to train the little guy. Depending on how you train it, it can become a powerful Single Strike (Fighting/Dark) or Quick Strike (Fighting/Water) style – and we picked the fluid, fleeting Water Style as our favorite.
#19: Empoleon
Empoleon is a whimsical (and sharp) emperor penguin that radiates majestic energy. We had to give Pokemon World some Penguin love, and this has got to be my favorite of the bunch. Prinlup and Prinplup are pretty Pokemon, but we're sticking with the royal aura of Empoleon. Empoleon is a Water/Steel type, so it's both vulnerable and strong against Fire - which doesn't exactly make it ideal, but we still like this type. It has a clean, crisp design - and I love that my Pokemon are a fun twist on real live animals.
#18: Witches
And now we've landed on the second fish-shaped water type on the list. Bruxish is a little fish-lipped weirdo. This is yet another Water/Psychic type, and one of the newest on our list, hailing from Pokemon Sun and Moon. For some reason (perhaps his toothy, fishy grin), this monster fish has a pretty big fanbase online. Maybe it's the seductive bump on its colorful head. Bruxish uses his psychic power to stun his prey, then gnaws at them with his ultra-sharp teeth. His teeth don't just break - they grind like a chainsaw! This is a frightening picture.
# 17: Lavage Rotom
It's a Pokemon washing machine - that has to be on the list! Rotom is an electrified beam of Poke energy, and Rotom can take multiple forms with different secondary types. Her water-type form is one of the cutest and most creative. Wash Rotom becomes an unplugged washing machine with a powerful spin cycle, capable of cleaning at any Pokemon tournament. Look, we love the design, even if electricity and water really don't mix.
# 16: Greenland
Greninja is just cool. When you're skilled enough to achieve a playable appearance in Super Smash Bros., you know you've achieved great success. Greninja is the final form of Froakie, a starter Pokémon from Pokémon X and Y. Fully evolved, Greninja gains the Water/Dark powers, which is a powerful combo that lends to its stealth style. This slender, sly frog's ninja mask is actually its long tongue wrapped around its face — yes, that scarf is actually a gross stretchy tongue.
# 15: Dracovish
One of the weirdest Pokémon out there, and it happens to be (partially) Water-type. Dracovish isn't really a Pokemon - it's a Frankenstein's monster! To create this resurrected dinosaur Pokemon, you need to get two separate fossils and combine them with a Mad Scientist Blender in Route 6 of Pokemon Sword and Shield. Fossils belong to two totally unrelated dinosaur Pokemon, and when mixed together... they do this thing. The head and body do not match at all! This makes Dracovish one of the most unique Pokémon. It's not something you have to find, it's a creature you literally have to make yourself out of ancient parts.
# 14: Sismitoad
A towering Water/Ground-type Pokémon, Seismitoad can generate powerful tremors with its oversized body. The big guy debuted in Pokemon Black and White as the final form of Tympole, the Tadpole Pokemon. The seismic charge generates vibrations from the strange bumps all over its body, and its overall size is quite intimidating. I love the gorilla look of this heavy Pokemon, and we need more frogs on this list. It goes in high levels.
# 13: Inteleon
Inteleon starts out as Sobble, the saddest starter Pokemon in Pokemon Sword and Shield. Look, Sobble is a weird little baby amphibian, and I don't think anyone will like this little thing. The other departures (Scorbunny and Grookey) are much more attractive. Who would choose Sobble? It is a type of water due to tears! But Sobble evolves into one of the coolest final forms, and its Gigantamax form is even better – spawning a huge tower of water for Inteleon to safely shoot enemy Pokemon.
# 12: Magikarpe
Nobody likes Magikarp. Magikarp is the prank of the Pokemon world. Once out of the water, Magikarp collapses sideways. It looks ridiculous. Seriously, does anyone like Magikarp? But we've all caught our own Magikarps, and for very good reason. Magikarp may suck, but his evolution is one of the best in the entire series.
# 11: Gyarados
Gyarados! Look at this sea monster! The massive Gyarados evolves from the simple Magikarp, and it is an underwater leviathan. Gyarados is just awesome – when Gen 1 returned, we all wanted to catch the most awesome Pokemon, and Gyarados was the one we could all get. You just had to level up Magikarp… which was kind of annoying, but worth the effort. Gyarados is a mythological sea dragon who is "capable of destroying entire cities in a rage" according to the Pokemon Red and Blue pokedex. Now that's hardcode.
# 10: Vaporeon
The Water-type form of Eevee had to go somewhere on this list. Eevee has become one of the most popular Pokémon in the entire franchise. Kids love Eevee and Eevee has the miraculous power to transform into many different types. They're all adorable, and Pokemon keep adding more - Leafeon, Espeon, Glaceon, Sylveon, and more. But Vaporeon is one of the first. Using a water stone evolves Eevee into this aquatic variant with fins and a fish tail. It's not exactly my favorite Eevee, but Eevee will always rank high on any Pokémon list.
# 9: Poliwhirl
One of my favorite frogs from Pokemon, Poliwhirl is a weird little abstract design with a swirling pattern on its belly. The Poliwhirl is a slimy little trickster who has the power to cause drowsiness in his enemies. It is known for its sleeping abilities and its slimy skin makes it perfect for quick escapes. Poliwhirl is a staple on Pokemon teams - especially once you've obtained its final form, Poliwrath. But, Poliwhirl is my favorite. He's just one of those weird, weird Pokémon that doesn't feel real, you know? Maybe I'm just hypnotized by this swirl.
# 8: Toxapex
One of the deadliest Pokemon in Pokemon Sun and Moon, this little guy is a powerful Poison/Water dual-type. It is a powerful poison spreader that crawls along the seabed on twelve legs, stinging anything unlucky enough to touch its spines. It's also a huge pain to fight in the game, and many players enjoy its annoying venom-based attacks. The Pokedex even says this guy is strong enough to poke a Wailord! So let's talk about him next.
#7: Wailord
It's a giant whale! Wailord might not be so cool in older games, but when you see one of these guys swimming around in Pokemon Sword and Shield, it's a shock to the system. They are absolutely gigantic, really giving the impression that they are the biggest mammals in the world (Pokémon). Wailord is just a big whale - maybe it's not too creative when it comes to designs, but we all need bigger Pokemon. And Wailord has more HP potential than any other water type…which makes sense. Look how tall this guy is!
#6: Popplio
We go from big to very small. Popplio isn't just a seal pup Pokémon, it's a seal pokemon performer! Please note the adorable clown nose – representing a ball with performing seals bouncing – at the end of Popplio's snout. Popplio is my favorite starter Pokemon Sun and Moon, and she evolves into a total diva. Popplio's starting form is still innocent and filled with cheerful sigil-like energy. This is the closest thing we'll get to a starter pup in Pokemon.
#5: Wishiwashi (School Form)
Wishiwashi comes in two forms – a tiny, insignificant little fish – and this giant monstrosity. In one of the most creative Pokemon designs, Wishiwashi isn't just a Pokemon. It's a whole shoal of fish united to form a menacing monster, capable of fighting off even the most ferocious predators. That's the kind of team spirit I can support in Pokemon. To change form, Wishiwashi must use his Education capacity. Then all of his Wishiwashi friends will join the fight, turning a sweet little guy into a powerful opponent.
# 4: Sharpedo
Talk about mighty, here comes the fastest shark in the seas Pokemon. Sharpedo is a shark with a hydrofoil fin, cutting through water to hunt prey and generally being a real scary creature. Sharpedo is like a shark mixed with a torpedo, and it's the kind of style we can't say no to. If you're looking for a speed-centric Water-type Pokémon, Sharpedo is your pick. Sharpedo even gets a spooky mega evolution, transforming Sharpedo into a flying fighting fish covered in spikes.
#3: Slow Down
Slowing down is our lazy emperor. In their final form, Slowking gains a shell-like crown to further enhance their Water/Psychic powers. Slowdown is just the top of the Slowbro peak – all of them are absolutely amazing, but Slowdown is something special. Slowbro is an adorable, overlooked little Pokémon, and in its Slowking form, it's a super-genius that can solve any problem with a venomous bite from Shellder. the Ultra Sun Pokedex is the funniest and saddest; “He constantly comes up with new ideas that would change the world, but as soon as she comes across a new idea, he forgets about it. »
# 2: Lapras
Lapras is the original Pokemon we all wanted to ride on. Like Nessie the legendary lake monster, Lapras is just friendly to everyone. There is only one Lapras – Lapras does not evolve, but Lapras has a very special ability. Due to his in-universe power to understand human speech, Lapras can carry trainers over water. Lapras is one of the first Pokémon we had to ride, making Lapras an important friend in the series.
# 1: Squirtle
The original. The OG. Squirtle is a squirrel/turtle mix, and one of the most popular starters since its debut in 1998. Pokémon Blue put Squirtle's final form, Blastoise, right on the cover to encourage us kids to get back to playing. And we We've done it in droves – and Squirtle isn't just great for its future evolutions. Pokémon Blue gives trainers a head start with Squirtle, which is strong against early Earth and Fire-type Gyms. For many players, Squirtle is the first Pokémon friend they trained with. Squirtle is still an iconic pocket monster in the long-running franchise, and we just have to place him as #1 on this list.
# 1: Kyogre [TIED BEST]
And finally, we talk about the legitimate best water-type pokemon. Squirtle (and Blastoise) are the most iconic water-types out there, but sometimes we just have to stick with raw power. Kyogre is a legendary water type whale-like Pokemon Sapphire, and it has very high stats. Kyogre has the highest base stats in special attack, special defense, and general stats of all water types, making him the king of this particular wet castle. We couldn't decide, so Kyogre and Squirtle can take advantage of first place.
There are so many Water-type Pokémon that we couldn't list all of our favorites in the top 25! Tell us which Pokemon we missed - as a Pokemon lover, I appreciate all of these "mons", even though I don't have a personal connection.
