When it comes to the world of Pokémon, strength is often the first attribute that springs to mind. Trainers dream of capturing powerful Legendary beasts or cultivating a team that can dominate in battle. However, amongst the vast array of creatures, some Pokémon find themselves on the other end of the spectrum. These Pokémon might not make the cut when it comes to raw power or competitive battling, but they often hold a special place in fans’ hearts due to their unique designs, stories, or the challenge they present to trainers looking to overcome the odds with an underdog team. Today we’ll be exploring these underappreciated and often overlooked Pokémon—the top 10 weakest in terms of base stats, competitive viability, or in-game usefulness. Let’s embark on our journey of gentle strength, starting with number ten.
#10: Delibird
Delibird is a jolly, holiday-themed Pokémon that is unfortunately not so jolly when it comes to battle prowess. With a base stat total of just 330, Delibird’s stats are spread thinly, lacking in both offense and defense. What makes Delibird particularly weak is its shallow move pool—it’s known for its signature move, “Present,” which can either heal or damage the opponent, adding an element of unreliability. Despite its festive appearance and its role as Santa Claus in the Pokémon world, Delibird is rarely seen in competitive play due to its statistical shortcomings.
#9: Luvdisc
At first glance, Luvdisc may capture hearts with its cute, heart-shaped body, but it won’t be capturing any battle victories anytime soon. With a low base stat total of 330 and high speed, its only viable strategy might be to land a quick attack before being knocked out. Luvdisc is also known for having a limited move set that lacks the power or diversity needed to make it a contender. While its “Swift Swim” ability can double its speed in the rain, this boost often isn’t enough to overcome its other disadvantages.
#8: Magikarp
The eternal meme of the Pokémon world, Magikarp is the very symbol of weakness—famous for its feeble “Splash” attack, which simply does nothing. With the lowest base stat total of all Pokémon tied with a few others at 200, Magikarp is virtually ineffective in battle until it evolves into the mighty Gyarados. While its incredible evolution redeems it somewhat, there is no denying that Magikarp is a true underdog, challenging trainers to endure its helplessness until it can realize its full potential.
#7: Metapod/Kakuna
These two Pokémon are in a similar boat—or should we say cocoon? Both Metapod and Kakuna are known for their defensive strategy, featuring the move “Harden,” which boosts their defense stat. However, with base stat totals of 205, they are some of the weakest Pokémon available. Since they can mostly only increase their defense, they are virtually unable to deal damage until they evolve into either Butterfree or Beedrill, respectively. While they serve as a testament to the power of metamorphosis and evolution, as standalone battlers, they’re almost completely defenseless.
#6: Sunkern
With the dubious honor of having the lowest base stat total (180), Sunkern is considered the weakest Pokémon statistically. Despite a diverse move pool, which includes some Grass-type attacks and support moves, this little seed Pokémon can’t seem to grow past its inherent frailty. Even with its evolution into Sunflora, Sunkern remains more of a collector’s item than a warrior on the battlefield. It’s definitely a Pokémon that requires careful training and a lot of patience to see any sort of success in battle.
#5: Azurill
Azurill looks like a Pokémon that would be full of potential, being the baby form of Marill and Azumarill, but it falls flat with a base stat total of 190. What truly makes Azurill weak, however, is its peculiar type combination of Normal and Fairy, which doesn’t provide much in terms of defensive or offensive synergy. While it does evolve into Marill, where it gains the Water type and a significant increase in power, Azurill itself is rather ineffective in a fight, with low stats across the board.
#4: Wimpod
Wimpod is a Bug/Water-type Pokémon with a base stat total of 230 that has a rather distinctive approach to battle: running away. Its ability, “Wimp Out,” causes it to flee or switch out once its HP drops below half in a battle. Even without this cowardly characteristic, its low stats make it a poor choice for trainers looking for a fighter. Wimpod does evolve into the formidable Golisopod, but until then, its role is more about scuttling away than standing its ground.
#3: Feebas
Much like Magikarp, Feebas is a Pokémon that has a hard time in battle until it evolves. With a base stat total of 200, Feebas can’t do much apart from flailing around, hoping to withstand opposing attacks. However, Feebas’s eventual evolution into the beautiful Milotic, which is known for its elegant and powerful presence in battle, is a reward for those who endure its initial weakness. To evolve Feebas requires high beauty in some games or a special item in others, making it not only weak but also somewhat difficult to evolve.
#2: Cosmog and Cosmoem
Believe it or not, the Legendary Pokémon Cosmog, and its evolution, Cosmoem, fall into the category of weakest Pokémon. With their meager base stat totals of 200 and 400, respectively, and an extremely limited move set consisting of only “Splash,” “Teleport,” and “Cosmic Power” until they evolve, they offer no offensive capabilities. They eventually evolve into either Solgaleo or Lunala depending on the game, becoming creatures of formidable power, but until that transformation, they are as helpless as they come.
#1: Unown
Taking the top spot for the weakest Pokémon is Unown. Although it is shrouded in mystery and ancient lore, Unown’s stats tell a less impressive story. With a base stat total of 336, which is not the lowest, it’s the lack of versatility that hinders this Psychic-type Pokémon. Unown can only learn one move—”Hidden Power”—which changes type depending on the Pokémon’s IVs (individual values). However, the damage output of Hidden Power is generally low, and combined with Unown’s lackluster stats, it struggles to make any impact in battle. Unown’s design is based on the 28 characters of the English alphabet, plus two punctuation marks, making for 28 different forms—yet this wide variety doesn’t translate to battling success.
While these Pokémon may not be the first choice for trainers looking to win battles, they add depth and diversity to the world of Pokémon. Whether it’s watching a Magikarp evolve into a Gyarados or training an Unown just for the fun of it, it’s worth remembering that every Pokémon has something unique to offer, even if it’s not raw battle strength. After all, it’s the combination of powerful champions and weaker companions that makes the journey through the Pokémon world so enchanting and varied.