1. http://www.serebiiforums.com/showthread.php?641691-Is-Ash-really-that-bad/page14 Second post down is a brief list of explanations about Pikachu's power level that I have said the past several years (probably more times than that too). Sceptile is definite tier-1 after tanking Darkrai's Ice Beam + DV/DE combo and KO'ing Darkrai. Darkrai had two DV/DE combos to heal up some of the damage and exertion from the previous fights. Snorlax hasn't killed any legendaries yet, but he's always taking down a few before going down that it's hard not to put him in tier-1. Infernape's consistency (starring in half the gyms as Chimchar and performance against Paul) and power + Blaze earns its place alongside those others.
2. Gliscor was also tired and took damage from battling Ninjask and against the Toxic Spikes. In fact, he looked visibly worse than Drapion. Kingler is hard to judge because he needed more battles. I don't rank Muk high because it doesn't seem like he has much offense (which is bad for Ash), but not sure if his defense is all that high either. Maybe tier-5 is too harsh, but honestly don't think he's any higher than the tier-4s. Totodile is a tier-6; enjoys dancing more than battling, and Gible is clearly what Totodile should have been.
3. That's exactly why I rank him in tier-3 alongside Corphish and Buizel. He never was on the same level as the other three, but still not bad.
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Hard to explain, but I subscribe to the belif every Pokemon has a 'power range,' with a power minimum and power maximum and a general median. Some Pokemon, like Pikachu, have humongous ranges. Others, like Charizard, have narrow ranges. Some have ranges beneath the ranges of others (Totodile's power range is below that of Charizard's, ergo his maximum is still below Charizard's minimum). Usually, a Pokemon performs at the median level, but on occasion, like when Torkoal battled Registeel, it performed beyond its normal capabilities.
2. Gliscor was also tired and took damage from battling Ninjask and against the Toxic Spikes. In fact, he looked visibly worse than Drapion. Kingler is hard to judge because he needed more battles. I don't rank Muk high because it doesn't seem like he has much offense (which is bad for Ash), but not sure if his defense is all that high either. Maybe tier-5 is too harsh, but honestly don't think he's any higher than the tier-4s. Totodile is a tier-6; enjoys dancing more than battling, and Gible is clearly what Totodile should have been.
3. That's exactly why I rank him in tier-3 alongside Corphish and Buizel. He never was on the same level as the other three, but still not bad.
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Hard to explain, but I subscribe to the belif every Pokemon has a 'power range,' with a power minimum and power maximum and a general median. Some Pokemon, like Pikachu, have humongous ranges. Others, like Charizard, have narrow ranges. Some have ranges beneath the ranges of others (Totodile's power range is below that of Charizard's, ergo his maximum is still below Charizard's minimum). Usually, a Pokemon performs at the median level, but on occasion, like when Torkoal battled Registeel, it performed beyond its normal capabilities.