As fans continue to celebrate Pokemon’s 25th anniversary, players are returning to their favorite games from the past. Fans are getting reacquainted with the creatures they haven’t seen in a while and are loving the reunions. Each of these reunions gives the player an opportunity to compare Pokemon over the various generations to see how they stack up.
It’s time for a few reminders about just which Pokemon is the strongest for each Generation. In this list, we will look at the Non-Legendaries that you definitely want on your side when you’re building a strong team. Here is the strongest non-legendary of each Pokemon Generation.
Due to that incredible value, these creatures have become fan favorites across the entire series. As such, we are updating this list and adding any special information that players need to know as far as where to find and catch each Pokemon, or how they are evolved.
8 Dragonite
Dragonite has always been a fan favorite, and for good reason. It is a Dragon/Flying-type Pokemon with a base stat total of 600. It is the final evolution of the only Dragon-type family in Generation 1. Dragonite’s stats are good overall, but its Attack stat, in particular, is really high. This combines well this its extremely diverse movepool, giving the player lots of options to work with.
Dragonite has an amazing Ability in Multiscale, making it so when it gets hit at full HP, the attack only does half of its usual damage. The only glaring drawback to using Dragonite is its extreme weakness to Ice-type attacks.
Dratini, Dragonite’s first form, evolves into Dragonair at level 30, which then evolves again at level 50 into Dragonite. Dratini can be bought at the Celadon Game Corner for 2,800 Coins in Red/FireRed, and 4,600 Coins in Blue/LeafGreen.
7 Tyranitar
Generation 2 brought us Pokemon Gold and Silver along with Tyranitar. This is the only Rock/Dark-type Pokémon, and it carries a whopping base stat total of 600. While the type combination is one of a kind, it’s the middle of the road in terms of usefulness. The Rock/Dark typing gives Tyranitar 7 weaknesses (one of which being quadruple in Fighting), but it also gives it 7 resistances and an immunity.
The overall stats are incredible. Yes, Tyranitar is a bit slow compared to some other Pokemon on this list, but every other stat is fantastic. Sand Stream is also a great Ability, that will damage any of Tyranitar’s opponents that aren’t Rock/Steel/Ground-type, and gives it a 50% Special Defense boost to itself and other Rock-types.
Tyranitar starts off as Larvitar, which turns into Pupitar at level 30, which then becomes Tyranitar at level 55. It can be found on Mt. Silver in Gold/Silver and specifically during the morning/day if you’re playing Crystal.
6 Slaking
Slaking may well be the most controversial of all Pokemon. There’s no doubt that Slaking is strong. So strong, in fact, that it is often mistaken for a pseudo-legendary. It is a pure Normal-type Pokemon with a base stat total of 670 from Generation 3. However, due to its ability called Truant, it can only move on every other turn. Many players say that while this is a big handicap, it’s absolutely made up for with Slaking’s tremendous strength.
All of its stats are high, but its HP and Attack are especially good, and due to being a Normal-type, it can learn just about any good offensive move. So Slaking is no slouch when it comes to offense, defense, or variety. The pure Normal typing also gives it only one weakness and as if it wasn’t scary enough, Slaking is also immune to Ghost moves.
Surprisingly, players can start working towards getting a Slaking very early in Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald, as Slakoth are found in the Petalburg Woods. On top of that, players only need to take said Slakoth to level 18 for into evolve into Vigoroth, and then to 36 for Slaking, meaning it has a significantly lower level requirement than most of the other Pokemon on this list.
5 Garchomp
Garchomp is a Dragon/Ground-type Pokemon which first appeared in Generation 4, with a base stat total of 600. Dragon/Ground is an extremely strong type combination for offense, and defensively it’s not horrible (although it is super weak to Ice).
Additionally, Garchomp is surprisingly fast for a Ground-type. Combine that with its very high Attack stat, varied movepool, and excellent Ability in Rough Skin (damaging any users who hit you with Physical moves) and you have a deadly combination on your side.
Gible is Garchomp’s first form. It needs to be raised to level 24 for it to evolve into Gabite, and then that needs to be raised to level 48 for Garchomp. Wild Gible are native to the Wayward Cave in Diamond/Pearl/Platinum, however, it’s better to use one in Platinum specifically, as Wayward cave is open much earlier in that game.
4 Hydreigon
Generation 5’s Hydreigon is a Dark/Dragon-type Pokemon with a base stat total of 600. Similar to Tyranitar, this combination has its ups and downs, hosting 5 weaknesses with Fairy dealing 4x damage. However, it also comes with 6 resistances and an immunity to Psychic.
With Levitate being Hydreigon’s only Ability, it’s also immune to Ground-type attacks. Hydreigon has another advantage in its variety. It is much more varied in terms of offenses compared to the rest of this list. This is a good combination with Hydreigon’s large movepool, making an extremely varied attacker with both Physical and Special moves as well.
Wild Deino are found at Victory Road in Black/White, and its evolution, Zweilous, is also found at Victory Road in Black 2/White 2. Deino evolves at level 50, and Zweilous evolves at level 64.
3 Goodra
Generation 6 introduced a lot of solid Dragon-types, and Goodra is no exception. Goodra is a pure Dragon-type with a base stat total of 600. Like Hydreigion, Goodra has nearly even attacking stats both Physically and Specially, but with a huge Special Defense stat on top of that.
All of Goodra’s Abilities are great! Sap Sipper gives you an immunity to Grass-type moves. Hydration cures status conditions in rain. Gooey decreases your opponent’s speed if they hit you with a contact Move. Goodra’s highlighting feature is probably the movepool, as it learns strong attack moves from so many different types.
Goomy is the pre-evolution of Sliggoo which evolves at level 40. Sliggoo must then be raised to level 50 while it is raining or if there is fog present in the overworld. Wild Goomy can be found on Route 14 in X/Y.
2 Wishiwashi (School Form)
Wishiwashi is a pure Water-type Pokemon with a base stat total of 620. Wishiwashi’s Ability “Schooling” automatically turns it into this from when its HP is above 25%, meaning it does have some small limitations. In terms of stats, while its HP and Speed are lacking, the remaining stats are monstrous.
Wishiwashi’s pure Water typing is certainly a bonus in battle as gives it only 2 weaknesses but 4 resistances. The movepool is nowhere near as varied as some other Pokemon on this list, but the other stats combine to keep Wishiwashi among the strongest.
Wild Wishiwashi can be captured on Routes 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, Melemele Sea, Kala’e Bay, Brooklet Hill, and Akala Outskirts while fishing in Sun/Moon and Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon.
1 Dragapult
Closing out the list on the latest generation of Pokemon, Generation 8, we have Dragapult. Dragapult has a base stat total of 600 and a Dragon/Ghost typing. It’s very much the “fast but frail type,” being incredibly speedy with high offenses, but mediocre defenses and low HP.
Dragapult also has 3 very good Abilities. Cursed Body has a 30% chance to disable the move your opponents last hit you with for a bit, Infiltrator allows you to ignore Reflect, Light Screen, and Aurora Veil, and Clear Body prevents stat reductions coming from your opponent. Dragon/Ghost as a type combination is, once again, some good with some bad. You have 5 weaknesses, but 6 resistances and 2 immunities, making the best of the “half and half” type combinations on this list.
Dragapult starts off as a Dreepy, who turns into Drakloak at level 50, who then becomes Dragapult at level 60. Wild Dreepy can be found in the grass 1% of the time in cloudy weather, and 2% of the time in a thunderstorm/foggy day at the Lake of Outrage in Sword/Shield. Wild Drakloak can also be found there as a visible encounter under the same restrictions, with the exception it also appears 1% of the time in the rain.
