10 Popular Pokémon That Struggle Battling Online

Only PokéNewbs use these guys.

Pokemon pikachu
Nintendo

The Pokémon series is known for creating some of the most inventive and charming creatures ever seen in a video game. With their bright colours and slick designs, most gamers have found themselves enamoured with the hardened battlers at some point in their lives. But not every Pokémon is equal.

There are many strong Pokémon that can hold their own in battle, as a team member during the main play-through, and on the online metagame. And yet, most have been cast aside and forgotten about by the majority of trainers. Maybe they weren't cute enough, or eye-catching. Perhaps they lacked a certain flair, and just seemed as dull as dishwater in comparison to the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed monsters in the neighbouring patch of grass.

Conversely, we have Pokémon who are popular beyond comprehension, but can't hold a candle to their rough-round-the-edges brethren.

Every Pokémon is different, and each one comes with their own strengths and weaknesses. Part of the game's fun comes from working these differences out, and adapting your play style to the Pokémon. However, there are others that will always choose to use their set-in-stone favourites, even in the competitive world, and that ultimately ends in a multitude of losses.

10. Flygon

Pokemon pikachu
Nintendo

A Gen 3 favourite, Flygon's popularity was proven when Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby were released. Fans of the Pokémon series were eagerly awaiting the Mega Evolution announcements, but as weeks went by, it seemed less and less likely that Flygon was going to receive a Mega Stone. In the end, Flygon had to do without the awesome power, and trainers world wide were outraged.

Mega Stones provide a huge stat boost for Pokémon, and Flygon needs all the help it can get when being used to battle online, so the omission has cost it dearly.

Flygon's less than stellar bulk means it loses health points rapidly, and it can't last long in anything other than a 'pivot' role, utilising U-turn for chip damage, and to help its trainer get a better match up against the opponent.

Its Attack and Speed stats are fairly average, so it can be overpowered by bigger, faster Pokémon, even if it's holding a power boosting item such as Life Orb, or a Choice Scarf to increase its speed. Flygon's typing is also a disadvantage as it can be knocked out by Ice-type moves that are very common on the online metagame.

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