20. Swanna
I would be the first to admit that I have a slightly unhealthy addiction to HMs. Whenever anybody tells me that I should probably think about building up a varied set of moves for my Pokémon I always smile and nod and secretly plan to teach any HMs that I have to every single Pokémon that can learn them. My favourites, in particular, are fly and surf. With both of them you can get pretty much everywhere. As a result, Swanna was bound to be one of my favourite Pokémon from the moment that I learned that it could manage both. No more being chained to a water starter and having to catch the first bird Pokémon that flapped into my path, now I could soar through the air and sail the seas with exactly the same Pokémon! Plus, Swanna is a really pretty Pokémon. The designers, in my opinion, tend to stumble when they look to unusual places for inspiration. With Swanna, however, they were on perfectly solid ground. My favourite Pokémon have always been the ones based on animal designs with Swanna nothing could be more obvious, its based on a swan! And, as somebody who has spent far too long being chased away from various water sources by angry swans, that was something that was also bound to appeal. Its also a really good idea. Swans are elegant and graceful, with beautiful necks that have been captured so very well in the design. Swans, however, are also badass and capable of pecking the life out of anybody dumb enough to come near them and this is also conveyed, the narrowed eyes just daring you to be an idiot. Its the perfect combination of grace and toughness that proves memorable. Or perhaps I just carry too many scars from a childhood spent narrowly dodging angry swans. Either way, Swanna is a beautiful Pokémon that still maintains an air of toughness. And its ability to use two of my favourite HMs at the same time is something that has definitely won it a place in my heart forevermore.