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Pokemon

Pokemon is the most successful monster franchise in history — over 1,000 species, and it is literally a bestiary: the game is built around the Pokedex, an encyclopedia you fill by catching and studying creatures. Pokemon are not horror monsters; they are companions, athletes, and the descendants of yokai, Western cryptids, and mythological creatures remixed by Game Freak. This page covers the 15 most iconic — the ones everyone knows even if they never played.

Start Here

Pokemon is a franchise of 9 generations (as of 2026). The icons that define it: the starter Pikachu, the mascot legendaries, and the pseudo-legendaries (Dragonite, Gyarados). Bulbapedia is the definitive encyclopedia. If you know only one thing about a Pokemon, it should be its type — every species has one or two types that define its strengths and weaknesses.

The Mascots

Pikachu

Origin: Pokemon Red/Green, 1996 · Type: Electric · Source: Game Freak, Satoshi Tajiri

Pikachu is the face of the franchise: a yellow mouse that stores electricity in its cheeks and releases it as lightning. It was originally just one of many electric Pokemon — it became the mascot when it was chosen as Ash's partner in the anime. Pikachu is the monster as companion: fierce in battle, adorable in peace, and the gateway for millions of children into monster-collecting.

Where to learn more: Bulbapedia: Pikachu · Pikachu history · The anime

Mewtwo

Origin: Pokemon Red/Green, 1996 · Type: Psychic · Source: Game Freak

Mewtwo is the franchise's first legendary: a psychic Pokemon created by scientists from the DNA of the mythical Mew. It is the monster of the laboratory — a being of immense psychic power who questions its own existence and purpose. The 1998 film Pokemon: The First Movie made it a tragic figure: a clone asking what it means to be created. Mewtwo is the monster as existential question.

Where to learn more: Bulbapedia: Mewtwo · Pokemon: The First Movie · Mew

:material-flame: The Starters

:material-flame: Charizard

Origin: Pokemon Red/Green, 1996 · Type: Fire/Flying · Source: Game Freak

Charizard is the final evolution of Charmander — a fire-breathing dragon that is one of the most beloved Pokemon ever designed, and the reason "which starter did you pick?" is a real identity question. It is the monster as power fantasy: a companion that grows from a helpless lizard into an apex predator. Its Mega Evolution and Gigantamax forms cemented its legend status.

Where to learn more: Bulbapedia: Charizard · Charmander line · Charizard in competitive play

Blastoise

Origin: Pokemon Red/Green, 1996 · Type: Water · Source: Game Freak

Blastoise is the final evolution of Squirtle — a massive turtle with water cannons mounted on its shell. It is the tank of the original starters: slower, tougher, and more tactical than Charizard's raw offense. Blastoise is the monster as fortress: a turtle that turned its shell into artillery.

Where to learn more: Bulbapedia: Blastoise · Squirtle line · The Squirtle Squad

Venusaur

Origin: Pokemon Red/Green, 1996 · Type: Grass/Poison · Source: Game Freak

Venusaur is the final evolution of Bulbasaur — a toad-like Pokemon with a giant flower on its back that can absorb sunlight and release soporific pollen. It is the original grass starter and the most strategic of the three. Venusaur is the monster as garden: a creature that weaponized photosynthesis.

Where to learn more: Bulbapedia: Venusaur · Bulbasaur line · Grass-type lore

The Ghosts

Gengar

Origin: Pokemon Red/Green, 1996 · Type: Ghost/Poison · Source: Game Freak

Gengar is the franchise's most famous ghost: a shadowy, grinning creature that hides in the shadows and cools its victims with its body heat. Its lore says it waits beneath a victim's shadow and steals their life force with its icy touch. Gengar is the monster as prankster — dark enough to be spooky, playful enough to be loved. It is the mascot of Halloween in the Pokemon world.

Where to learn more: Bulbapedia: Gengar · The Gastly line · Gengar's Mega form

Ghastly & Haunter

Origin: Pokemon Red/Green, 1996 · Type: Ghost/Poison · Source: Game Freak

The pre-evolutions of Gengar — Gastly, a ball of gas with a face, and Haunter, a disembodied head with claws — are the franchise's purest ghosts. Haunter's lore: it licks its victims, and the lick is so cold it causes shivers that never stop. They are the monsters of the dark corner: the gas in the room that should not be there.

Where to learn more: Bulbapedia: Gastly · Bulbapedia: Haunter · Ghost-type lore

The Water Serpents

Gyarados

Origin: Pokemon Red/Green, 1996 · Type: Water/Flying · Source: Game Freak

Gyarados is the monster of rage: a sea serpent evolved from Magikarp, the weakest Pokemon in existence. Magikarp is a fish that can only splash; Gyarados is a 21-foot dragon that can destroy cities when enraged. The transformation is the franchise's greatest story of growth — the underdog who becomes the apex predator. Gyarados is the monster as temper: beautiful, powerful, and always one step from violence.

Where to learn more: Bulbapedia: Gyarados · Magikarp · The Magikarp evolution joke

Suicune

Origin: Pokemon Gold/Silver, 1999 · Type: Water · Source: Game Freak

Suicune is one of the legendary beasts — a creature that embodies the north wind and purifies water as it runs. It is the mascot of Pokemon Crystal and the most elegant of the legendary trio (with Raikou and Entei). Suicune is the monster as natural force: beauty and purification moving across the land, untouchable.

Where to learn more: Bulbapedia: Suicune · The Legendary Beasts · Pokemon Crystal

:material-dragon: The Pseudo-Legendaries

:material-dragon: Dragonite

Origin: Pokemon Red/Green, 1996 · Type: Dragon/Flying · Source: Game Freak

Dragonite is the franchise's original pseudo-legendary: the final evolution of Dratini, a gentle, kind dragon that flies around the world in 16 hours and rescues people from storms. It is the first dragon type most players ever saw, and the template for the pseudo-legendary line — the rare, powerful Pokemon that is the reward for patience. Dragonite is the monster as good dragon: the classic friend.

Where to learn more: Bulbapedia: Dragonite · Dratini line · Pseudo-legendary

:material-cloud-lightning: Rayquaza

Origin: Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire, 2002 · Type: Dragon/Flying · Source: Game Freak

Rayquaza is the legendary dragon of the sky — a green serpent that lives in the ozone layer and descended to end the conflict between Groudon and Kyogre, the legends of land and sea. It is the monster as peacekeeper: the apex predator who settles the fights of the lesser gods. Its Mega form is among the most powerful in the franchise.

Where to learn more: Bulbapedia: Rayquaza · Hoenn legends · Rayquaza's Mega form

The Modern Icons

Mimikyu

Origin: Pokemon Sun/Moon, 2016 · Type: Ghost/Fairy · Source: Game Freak

Mimikyu is the modern icon: a creature that wears a homemade Pikachu costume because it is so lonely and so terrifying to look at that it needs a disguise to be loved. Its true form is said to kill anyone who sees it. Mimikyu is the monster as tragedy — the franchise's darkest concept wrapped in the franchise's cutest mascot. It became an instant fan favorite.

Where to learn more: Bulbapedia: Mimikyu · Mimikyu's lore · Ghost/Fairy type

Lucario

Origin: Pokemon Diamond/Pearl, 2006 · Type: Fighting/Steel · Source: Game Freak

Lucario is the aura Pokemon: a jackal-like fighter that can read the aura — the life energy — of people and Pokemon, and uses it in combat. It is the star of the 2005 film Lucario and the Mystery of Mew and one of the most popular modern Pokemon. Lucario is the monster as martial artist: power through awareness.

Where to learn more: Bulbapedia: Lucario · Lucario and the Mystery of Mew · Riolu line

Reference

Documentation:

Related:

  • Digimon Bestiary
  • Yokai Bestiary (Pokemon's folkloric roots)

Last Updated: 2026-08-20 | Vibe Check: Collected - A thousand species, and the Pokedex is still the greatest bestiary ever built.

Tags: bestiary, pokemon, monsters, gaming