Doppelgänger
Superancient Member
Disclaimer
There are many ways to evaluate team strength. This is one such way. Please don't come in here and argue my numbers are wrong because of X irrelevant reason. These numbers are facts and should be used in conjunction with other evidence like feats, perception, and moves to paint a broader picture of strength.
Introduction
Ash doesn't evolve all of his Pokemon and is often at a disadvantage in the league by evolution. But just how severe is that disadvantage? Using Bulbapedia, I calculated the BST of all the 6x6 Pokemon battles for relevant rivals and friends of Ash featured in the series.
Evolution has been shown to play a prominent role in the anime when it comes to depicting strength. BST is correlated with evolution. But some Pokemon, like pseudo legendaries, are consistently portrayed as strong or benchmarks for strength without any special attention drawn to their stats or typing.
Therefore, this list seeks to meet two criteria:
-quantify the evolution advantage opponents have over Ash
-quantify the species advantage opponents have over Ash
Notes
1. All Pokemon are considered Mega Evolved/Battle Bonded that are capable of doing so
2. BST used is during the generation the battle happened
3. Cameron is listed twice, with 5 Pokemon and his full team
4. Alola Ash is listed with 5 Pokemon and with a full team including Poipole.
5. I included Acuity Paul + Electivire since Paul could easily have used the same team in the Sinnoh League
6. because Drake has a Ditto, his total depends on what Ditto copies. Against Ash, Ditto has a higher BST than Pikachu (48 versus 35 HP), and is so he is listed twice to show the base and actual cases.
The List
3400 - Sawyer
3322 - Alain
3120 - Paul/Electivire [Acuity]
3094 - Ash [Kalos]
3070 - Paul [Acuity]
3060 - Gary
3035 - Cameron/Watchog
3010 - Remo
3008 - Finalist [Sinnoh]
3003 - Dino
2981 - Paul [Sinnoh]
2969 - Ash [Gary]
2958 - Ramone
2950 - Virgil
2893 - Harrison
2874 - Tyson
2820 - Katie
2801 - Drake [Pikachu]
2788 - Drake [Base]
2700 - Morrison
2674 - Ash [Sinnoh]
2615 - Cameron
2535 - Ash [Harrison]
2530 - Ash [Tobias]
2491 - Ash [Orange]
2425 - Ash [Acuity]
2393 - Ash [Hoenn]
2267 - Ash/Poipole [Alola]
2202 - Ash [Unova]
1847 - Ash [Alola]
Quarterfinalists:
2981 - Paul [Sinnoh]
2958 - Ramone
2535 - Ash [Harrison]
2393 - Ash [Hoenn]
2202 - Ash [Unova]
Semifinalists:
3400 - Sawyer
3035 - Cameron/Watchog
3010 - Remo
2530 - Ash [Tobias]
Finalists:
3094 - Ash [Kalos]
3008 - Finalist [Sinnoh]
3003 - Dino
Winner:
3322 - Alain
2950 - Virgil
2874 - Tyson
Interpretation
By this metric, Kalos Ash is the strongest team Ash has ever fielded, but a comparable disparity in strength compared to his opponents in prior leagues.
Ash is never at a BST advantage, he is always the underdog in every battle.
A BST of 3000+ is generally necessary to make it into the semis.
Tyson sticks out and despite a Sceptile/Metagross, he has a pretty underpowered team.
There are many ways to evaluate team strength. This is one such way. Please don't come in here and argue my numbers are wrong because of X irrelevant reason. These numbers are facts and should be used in conjunction with other evidence like feats, perception, and moves to paint a broader picture of strength.
Introduction
Ash doesn't evolve all of his Pokemon and is often at a disadvantage in the league by evolution. But just how severe is that disadvantage? Using Bulbapedia, I calculated the BST of all the 6x6 Pokemon battles for relevant rivals and friends of Ash featured in the series.
Evolution has been shown to play a prominent role in the anime when it comes to depicting strength. BST is correlated with evolution. But some Pokemon, like pseudo legendaries, are consistently portrayed as strong or benchmarks for strength without any special attention drawn to their stats or typing.
Therefore, this list seeks to meet two criteria:
-quantify the evolution advantage opponents have over Ash
-quantify the species advantage opponents have over Ash
Notes
1. All Pokemon are considered Mega Evolved/Battle Bonded that are capable of doing so
2. BST used is during the generation the battle happened
3. Cameron is listed twice, with 5 Pokemon and his full team
4. Alola Ash is listed with 5 Pokemon and with a full team including Poipole.
5. I included Acuity Paul + Electivire since Paul could easily have used the same team in the Sinnoh League
6. because Drake has a Ditto, his total depends on what Ditto copies. Against Ash, Ditto has a higher BST than Pikachu (48 versus 35 HP), and is so he is listed twice to show the base and actual cases.
The List
3400 - Sawyer
3322 - Alain
3120 - Paul/Electivire [Acuity]
3094 - Ash [Kalos]
3070 - Paul [Acuity]
3060 - Gary
3035 - Cameron/Watchog
3010 - Remo
3008 - Finalist [Sinnoh]
3003 - Dino
2981 - Paul [Sinnoh]
2969 - Ash [Gary]
2958 - Ramone
2950 - Virgil
2893 - Harrison
2874 - Tyson
2820 - Katie
2801 - Drake [Pikachu]
2788 - Drake [Base]
2700 - Morrison
2674 - Ash [Sinnoh]
2615 - Cameron
2535 - Ash [Harrison]
2530 - Ash [Tobias]
2491 - Ash [Orange]
2425 - Ash [Acuity]
2393 - Ash [Hoenn]
2267 - Ash/Poipole [Alola]
2202 - Ash [Unova]
1847 - Ash [Alola]
Quarterfinalists:
2981 - Paul [Sinnoh]
2958 - Ramone
2535 - Ash [Harrison]
2393 - Ash [Hoenn]
2202 - Ash [Unova]
Semifinalists:
3400 - Sawyer
3035 - Cameron/Watchog
3010 - Remo
2530 - Ash [Tobias]
Finalists:
3094 - Ash [Kalos]
3008 - Finalist [Sinnoh]
3003 - Dino
Winner:
3322 - Alain
2950 - Virgil
2874 - Tyson
Interpretation
By this metric, Kalos Ash is the strongest team Ash has ever fielded, but a comparable disparity in strength compared to his opponents in prior leagues.
Ash is never at a BST advantage, he is always the underdog in every battle.
A BST of 3000+ is generally necessary to make it into the semis.
Tyson sticks out and despite a Sceptile/Metagross, he has a pretty underpowered team.