{"id":136277,"date":"2026-03-01T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-01T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/#article-197548"},"modified":"2026-03-01T16:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T16:00:00","slug":"feature-30-pokemon-you-probably-forgot-that-deserve-a-second-chance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/2026\/03\/01\/feature-30-pokemon-you-probably-forgot-that-deserve-a-second-chance\/","title":{"rendered":"Feature: 30 Pok\u00e9mon You Probably Forgot That Deserve A Second Chance"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/a><\/div>\n

Given Pok\u00e9mon\u2019s roaring popularity for three decades straight, it\u2019s a sheer numbers game to figure that each of its titular beasts is someone\u2019s favourite. It\u2019s also true that over 1,000 Pok\u00e9mon can\u2019t all share the limelight, meaning some are bound to fade into obscurity.<\/p>\n

While the most popular Pok\u00e9mon take centre stage for the franchise\u2019s 30th anniversary, I figured space should be made to honour the Pok\u00e9Misfits that didn\u2019t stand the test of time. These include oddities that only the staunchest Pok\u00e9 Maniacs will recall, others of minor notoriety that deserve more love, and phased-out mascots. While they may be easily written off as sideshows, these Pok\u00e9mon still played roles (in some cases, infamously) in keeping the franchise on top for all these years.<\/p>\n

Before jumping in, a quick note: I left out Gen 9 ‘newcomers’ as their legacies are still being written. I also had regional variants, mega evolutions, and their ilk take a seat to keep the proceedings simpler.<\/p>\n

This category covers Pok\u00e9mon that many straight-up forgot about. They\u2019re sure to have their fans \u2014 that\u2019s true of any Pok\u00e9mon \u2014 but by and large, they never caught on, or only enjoyed fleeting relevancy…<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Shedinja (#292)<\/h3>\n
\"Shedinja<\/a>
<\/span> Image: The Pok\u00e9mon Company<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If there\u2019s one element of the Pok\u00e9mon fandom that I\u2019ll forever miss, it\u2019s the schoolyard tall tales that kids told each other when we didn\u2019t have easy internet access. By Gen 3, scepticism had set in, making me disbelieve Shedinja\u2019s existence.<\/p>\n

I have to keep a spot in my party empty and have a spare Pok\u00e9 Ball to obtain it? Sounded about as likely as finding Mew under a truck!<\/p>\n

Of course, it does work\u2026 and that\u2019s about the most I can say. Schoolyard chatter quickly moved on to new leaks and lies. Shedinja\u2019s allure became its undoing as myths were far more compelling than truths. It\u2019s now notable as a historical footnote and its unique Bug\/Ghost dual-typing. That\u2019s more than can be said for a lot of the entries in this category, but nonetheless disappointing for such a conceptually cool Pok\u00e9mon.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Klinklang #601<\/h3>\n
\"Klinklang<\/a>
<\/span> Image: The Pok\u00e9mon Company<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There\u2019s not a lot working in Klinklang\u2019s favour. Its design is simultaneously basic, even among Gen 5\u2019s wave of inanimate object Pok\u00e9mon, and also derivative of Magneton. It\u2019s therefore not too surprising that this gearhead wouldn\u2019t leave much of an impact.<\/p>\n

However, I do believe it has the potential to earn a renewed residency in the minds of fans by having it utilise its utilitarian design to help keep the Pok\u00e9mon world running. For example, imagine a city running on Klinglang-powered machinery, or gadgets that could be brought alive by a Klinglang in your party.<\/p>\n

That sort of worldbuilding is what Klinglang is destined for.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Zarude #893<\/h3>\n
\"Zarude<\/a>
<\/span> Image: The Pok\u00e9mon Company<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This mythical primate was never made available beyond a few online distribution events that occurred a year or more after the release of Sword and Shield<\/a> (let alone after both its expansion packs were available). It\u2019s highly possible that most Sword and Shield players never even learned of Zarude\u2019s existence because of its late addition. Many who did still had a hard time finding love in their heart for this monkey due to a lack of an in-game event to give it the context it desperately needed.<\/p>\n

Zarude could see a renaissance if The Pok\u00e9mon Company decides to reintroduce it with expanded prominence, but for now, it\u2019s a bit of a non-entity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Dhelmise #781<\/h3>\n
\"Dhelmise<\/a>
<\/span> Image: The Pok\u00e9mon Company<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The concept behind Dhelmise is cool enough: a rusty, seaweed-strapped anchor that can supposedly knock out Wailord in one attack (Pok\u00e9mon battles don\u2019t back up this claim). The reality is that it\u2019s ultimately just a possessed anchor, something that wasn\u2019t particularly novel by the time of its Gen 7 introduction.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s well themed for the tropical Alolan archipelago, but then again, so are many of that region\u2019s newcomers. Still, I give props to Game Freak for giving wacky ideas like this a shot, even if they don\u2019t always catch on. For better or worse, they can\u2019t all be Garbodor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Maractus #556<\/h3>\n
\"Maractus<\/a>
<\/span> Image: The Pok\u00e9mon Company<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As the second Cactus Pok\u00e9mon to lay its roots in the franchise, Maractus needed a bit more going for it to stand out. Namely, it\u2019s a type of single-evolution Pok\u00e9mon that feels like it shouldn\u2019t be standalone. The design concept of maracas growing out of its head is the perfect setup for an evolution to run with.<\/p>\n

Without one, it felt like borderline Gen. 5 filler added so that generation wouldn’t include any old monsters until its post-game. I hoped that Legends Z-A<\/a> might\u2019ve given it a plus-up in the form of a mega evolution, but with that opportunity gone, who knows if Maractus will ever get the treatment it deserves.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Huntail #367 and Gorebyss #368<\/h3>\n
\"Huntail<\/a>
<\/span> Image: The Pok\u00e9mon Company<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

These two share an evolutionary base Pok\u00e9mon in the adorable Clamperl, yet neither share in its fandom. In fact, it wasn\u2019t until researching for this article that I remembered Clamperl even had evolutions at all!<\/p>\n

Perhaps that\u2019s because both require trading, which has always been a somewhat frustrating (even if understandably flavourful) barrier to using certain Pok\u00e9mon, especially if you\u2019re a solo player like me. I have to imagine that\u2019s also true for many others whose only encounters with Huntail and Gorebyss came through trainer battles or rare in-the-wild scenarios.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a shame because these groovy, psychedelic eels have been waiting over two decades for their moment in the sun. Or perhaps they just prefer the deep ocean, in which case, live your best lives, sea misfits.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Stakataka #805<\/h3>\n
\"Stakataka<\/a>
<\/span> Image: The Pok\u00e9mon Company<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The alien nature of Ultra Beasts makes them all inherent misfits of the Pok\u00e9mon universe, but that\u2019s also why some have been fondly remembered. Stakataka isn\u2019t usually part of those conversations, though. Its stone colossus design isn\u2019t particularly original or memorable, especially when you consider that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild<\/a> introduced the strikingly similar Guardians months prior.<\/p>\n

Plus, appearing exclusively in 3DS games that launched after the Switch rocked the world was a surefire way to not rock the world. Still, if Ultra Beasts ever come back, Stakataka might find its footing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Gen. 8 Fossil Quartet (Dracozolt #880, Arctozolt #881, Dracovish #882, and Arctovish #883)<\/h3>\n
\"Dracozolt<\/a>
<\/span> Image: The Pok\u00e9mon Company<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Uhhhhhhh, so yeah.<\/p>\n

First, for those keeping count at home, this is one of two scenarios where I\u2019m lumping all four of these\u2026 Pok\u00e9mon?… into one listing since they\u2019re all cut from the same cloth of combining two fossils to create genetic monstrosities.<\/p>\n

The Frankenstein creations that this resulted in might be more believable as something found in Silent Hill<\/a>. In fact, their mere existence is that level of unsettling, which I suppose will be the feature for many players. For others, we\u2019d rather forget.<\/p>\n

That said, I\u2019m open-minded. Game Freak, game on. The ball\u2019s in your court to make me love these patchwork Pok\u00e9mon.<\/p>\n

\n

Next up, The Under-Appreciated Misfits.<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Pok\u00e9mon in this category have a steady presence in the franchise but don\u2019t get the love they deserve. Whether they live in infamy or are overshadowed by their immediate peers, let\u2019s give these beasties a second look on the second page…<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Given Pok\u00e9mon\u2019s roaring popularity for three decades straight, it\u2019s a sheer numbers game to figure that each of its titular beasts is someone\u2019s favourite. It\u2019s also true that over 1,000 Pok\u00e9mon can\u2019t all share the limelight, meaning some are bound to fade into obscurity. While the most popular Pok\u00e9mon take centre stage for the franchise\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-136277","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nintendo-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136277","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=136277"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136277\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=136277"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=136277"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=136277"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}