Japan Has Chosen Greninja As The Most Popular Pokemon
Out of 720 Pokemon, Japan has selected generation six water starter, Greninja, as the most popular across the entire franchise.
Barring the yet to be (officially) released Volcanion and the Pokemon shown to debut in Sun and Moon, Japanese participants were asked to vote for any one of the current 720 Pokemon as their favorite between April 16 and May 8, with the winner to be distributed to copies of Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire as a bonus for pre-purchasing tickets to Pokémon the Movie XY & Z: Volcanion and the Exquisite Magearna. While it was surprising to see a non-generation one Pokemon win the poll, the wider results show a bigger picture.
First, Greninja has had a pretty big push since it debuted in X and Y. Not only was it arguably the best looking form out of all the other generation six starters, but it was easily the most viable in battle thanks to its hidden Protean ability. By changing its type to match whatever attack its using, it helped the water / dark type play both offensively and defensively, letting it adapt to various situations to make up for its lackluster defensive stats. On the anime front, Froakie became Ash’s main Pokemon during the most recent season of the long running anime, eventually evolving into Greninja and taking on some of its trainer’s characteristics in the process, (which is a heavily rumored mechanic for the upcoming Sun and Moon.) Lastly, Greninja was the sole playable X and Y representative to be featured in the most recent Super Smash Bros. title, with a variety of fast attacks that lay waste to its opponents in unique ways.
Rounding out the rest of the top 12 is Arceus, the creator of the Pokemon universe who debuted in Diamond and Pearl, Mew, the first Mythical Pokemon, Pikachu, the series mascot, Sylveon, the sole fairy type in the top 12 who is also the most recent Eevee evolution, the man made Mythical Pokemon, Genesect, from Black and White, the sky dragon, Rayquaza, X and Y‘s Zygarde, (who still got no game,) Charizard, best known as the $100 trading card that got stolen out of your card folder, the musical Meloetta from the fifth generation, the ultra powerful gen 1 secret boss, Mewtwo, and Eevee itself, the Pokemon that can become eight other types. What’s especially telling to me, is that despite gen 1 being held in such high regard, the list is full of a surprising amount of gen 5 and 6 Pokemon. Notorious for the former’s trash bag and ice cream monsters, while the latter had a living set of keys, it’s good to see that the voters acknowledged how awesome the rest of the roster could be. Now, where’s Latios, Latias and Volcarona!?
What wasn’t a surprise however, is Simisear was dead last. Sorry, fire poop monkey. There’s always next election. Stunfisk is still worse though…
Did any part of this list surprise you? Who would you put at the number one slot? Choose your favorites in the comments!
