Summary
- Early route Normal-type rodent Pokemon in Pokemon games are often forgettable and overshadowed by stronger Pokemon.
- Some early routes rodent Pokemon, like Gumshoos and Sentret, have received little attention from the Pokemon franchise and lack memorable features.
The early parts of the Pokemon games are always a struggle as only weaker Pokemon can be found, and many gamers heavily rely on their starter. One category of Pokemon found in every game is the early route Normal-type rodent Pokemon that were very useful as Hidden Machine users back in the games that used them.
Many of these are quickly caught and then left in the box, but there are some which hold a better place in the hearts of fans and may be included in the teams going forward. None of them are amazing in battle, some are a lot better than others.
9 Patrat/Watchog
Introduced in Generation 5, Patrat and Watchog are just forgettable Pokemon. They have no real major appearances in the anime and in the games they are even overshadowed by a second early route evolution line. Lillipup, Herdier, and Stoutland are better Pokemon in both design and battle. They aren't classed as an early route
Pokemon Black & White were brought as a reboot to the franchise, with 156 new Pokemon added and before the post-game, no Pokemon from previous generations were able to be caught. This leaves Pokemon like Patrat completely forgettable.
8 Yungoos/Gumshoos
Just like with Patrat, Yungoos and Gumshoos are very forgettable and since Sun & Moon, they have received virtually no love from the Pokemon franchise and remain a product of their games.
What Gumshoos has over Watchog is its likeness to a certain former US President which has formed some memes in the Pokemon community. It also is one of the Totem Pokemon, which are larger Pokemon that act as a Gym Leader in Alola, this leaves much more of a mark on the franchise than its Generation 5 counterpart.
7 Sentret/Furret
Nostalgia aside Sentret and Furret are standard Pokemon, with a basic design, un-useful ability, and very unremarkable stats. Furret is cute but Sentret is strange with its tiny little beady eyes, however, Generation 2 is adored by the older fans and Sentret does leave many fond feelings.
Furret and Sentret need another form, mega-evolution, gygantamax, or anything to help push this Pokemon into more fans’ hearts and keep it up with the new Pokemon released in each generation.
6 Skwovet/Greedent
Complete with a great ability, Cheek Pouch, which heals some HP back when it consumes a berry, Greedent is a great early-route Pokemon. Complete with an amazing 120 HP, 95 attacks, and 95 defense it is great in battle and its design is perfect.
It is simply just a squirrel which sometimes works in Pokemon, many of which are overdesigned but with Skwovet and Greedent it is kept simple. What holds it back is the fact it hasn't received any new forms or types in the franchise and the Pokemon further down this list all have that little something extra.
5 Zigzagoon/Linoone
Zigzagoon is remembered for chasing around Professor Birch in Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, which prompts the player to receive their starter Pokemon to save the Hoenn professor.
Unlike Sentret, Zigzagoon received a new form in Galar which helped raise a few more points. In Galar Zigzagoon and Linoone have a black-and-white color scheme, which works and adds the Dark typing. Another evolution is added for the Galarian form, Obstagoon also. Hoenn Zigzagoon is great as an HM slave as it can learn Cut, Surf, and Rock Smash, useful for traversing the land of Generation 3.
4 Bunnelby/Diggersby
The early route Pokemon are based on a common mammal found throughout the world and in Bunnelby and Diggersby's case it is a rabbit. Another simple and basic design, but it does the job of presenting a bunny 'mon.
Diggersby gets the secondary typing of Ground, which adds a lot more coverage in the game, capable of a same-type-attack-bonus move of Earthquake. Despite being a strong-looking Pokemon Diggersby's stats aren't anything to write home about so it gets deducted a few points.
3 Lechonk/Oinkolonge
From its first appearance in the trailer for Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, gamers fell in love with the perfectly named Lechonk. The chunky big Pokemon was an instant meme and fans rushed to Paldea to catch one of their own.
Lechonk evolves into Oinkolonge, which has two different looks depending on whether it is male or female, a first for the early route Normal Pokemon. The second stage has decent HP and attack, it can certainly hold its own in battle, but let's be real this line is all about Lechonk.
2 Rattata/Raticate
The OG early route rodent, Rattata is recognizable to many fans as part of the original 151 Pokemon and thus it deserves a high ranking. This Pokemon also got an Alolan form receiving the Dark typing making it a little bit more useful in the game.
Raticate, its evolution has some use in battle striking hard with a powerful STAB Hyper Fang attack. It is also the only early route rodent that has been owned by Ash Ketchum, even if this was just for one episode on St. Anne. Rattata is an iconic Pokemon and it deserves a high ranking.
1 Bidoof/Bibarel
Bidoof was an instant hit for fans, become a meme, and went as far as some fans calling Bidoof a god. The cute little beaver Pokemon isn't much in battle but that doesn't stop players using the Plump Mouse Pokemon in their rosters.
When it reaches level 15 it can evolve into Bibarel which adds the Water type to it which is a fantastic type as it can take down Ground, Rock, and Fire Pokemon. Bibarel is very useful in Pokemon Diamond, Pearl & Platinum due to its use as an HM user and its dual typing. Bidoof carries this line a lot, how could the real Pokemon god not be the first place in this ranking?