Pokémon Anime Battle Ratings Thread

[NPT]

Alright, here goes —

GYM BATTLES

Kanto Gym Battles:

- Ash vs. Brock — 0.5/10
- Ash vs Brock Rematch — 1/10
- Ash vs. Misty — 2.5/10
- Ash vs. Lt. Surge — 2.5/10
- Ash vs. Lt. Surge rematch — 4.5/10
- Ash vs. Sabrina — 1/10
- Ash vs. Sabrina Rematch — 0/10
- Ash vs. Erika — 1/10
- Ash vs. Koga — 5/10
- Ash vs. Blaine — 3.5/10
- Ash vs. Team Rocket — 1/10

Johto Gym Battles:

- Ash vs. Falkner — 7/10
- Ash vs. Bugsy — 6.5/10
- Ash vs. Whitney — 5/10
- Ash vs. Whitney Rematch — 3.5/10
- Ash vs. Morty — 6/10
- Ash vs. Jasmine — 8/10
- Ash vs. Pryce — 5/10
- Ash vs. Clair — 9/10

Hoenn Gym Battles:

- Ash vs. Norman — 3/10
- Ash vs. Norman rematch — 6/10
- Ash vs. Roxanne — 7/10
- Ash vs. Brawly — 4/10
- Ash vs. Brawly rematch — 7/10
- Ash vs. Watson — 0.5/10
- Ash vs. Flannery — 6.5/10
- Ash vs. Winona — 8/10
- Ash vs. Tate & Liza — 3.5/10
- Ash vs. Juan — 8.5/10

Battle Frontier Battles:

- Ash vs. Noland — 9/10
- Ash vs. Greta — 9/10
- Ash vs. Tucker — 8/10
- Ash vs. Lucy — 8/10
- Ash vs. Spencer — 7.5/10
- Ash vs. Annabel — 5.5/10
- Ash vs. Annabel Rematch — 8/10
- Ash(?) vs. Brandon — 1/10
- Ash vs. Bradon Rematch — 7/10
- Ash vs. Brandon Rematch 2 — 9.5/10

Sinnoh Gym Battles:

- Ash vs. Roark — 7/10
- Ash vs. Roark rematch — 8.5/10
- Ash vs. Gardenia — 8/10
- Ash vs. Maylene — 5.5/10
- Ash vs. Crasher Wake — 6/10
- Ash vs. Fantina — 9/10
- Ash vs. Byron — 10/10
- Ash vs. Candice — 8.5/10
- Ash vs. Volkner — 7/10

Unova Gym Battles:

- Ash vs. Stration Brothers: 5/10
- Ash vs. Lenora: 3/10
- Ash vs. Lenora Rematch: 4/10
- Ash vs. Burgh: 5.5/10
- Ash vs. Elesa: 1/10
- Ash vs. Clay: 7/10
- Ash vs. Skyla: 6/10
- Ash vs. Brycen: 8/10
- Ash vs. Roxie: 2/10

Kalos Gym Battles:

- Ash vs. Viola: 5.5/10
- Ash vs. Viola Rematch: 6.5/10
- Ash vs. Grant: 8/10
- Ash vs. Korrina: 10/10
- Ash vs. Ramos: 10/10
- Ash vs. Clemont: 9.5/10
- Ash vs. Valerie: 10/10
- Ash vs. Olympia: 10/10
- Ash vs. Wulfric: 6/10
- Ash vs. Wulfric Rematch: 9/10

LEAGUE BATTLES

Indigo League:

- Ash vs. Mandi — 4.5/10
- Ash vs. Pete — 3.5/10
- Ash vs. Jeanette Fisher — 5.5/10
- Ash vs. Ritchie — 0/10

Johto League:

- Ash vs. Salivdor — 5.5/10
- Ash vs. Macy — 7/10
- Ash vs. Jackson — 7.5/10
- Ash vs. Gary — 8.5/10
- Ash vs. Harrison — 5/10

Hoenn League:

- Ash vs. Gilbert — 5/10
- Ash vs. Dominick — 6/10
- Ash vs. Clerk — 6.5/10
- Ash vs. Katie — 9/10
- Ash vs. Morrison — 5/10
- Ash vs. Tyson — 4.5/10

Sinnoh League:

- Ash vs. Nando — 7/10
- Ash vs. Conway — 7.5/10
- Ash vs. Paul — 10/10
- Ash vs. Tobias — 8.5/10

Unova League:

- Ash vs Trip — 4/10
- Ash vs Stephan — 7/10
- Ash vs. Cameron — 0.5/10

Kalos League:

- Ash vs. Sawyer — 8.5/10
- Ash vs. Alain — 5.5/10 (If it weren't for Pikachu, I would have given this 1.5)

 

[Genaller]

@NPT Thanks a lot for sharing your ratings :-D! I’m curious as to why you have the Tyson and Alain battles so low; would you mind elaborating on those placements? Also what would your ratings be for Ash vs Drake (OI) and Ash vs Paul Lake Acuity?

 

[NPT]

@NPT Thanks a lot for sharing your ratings :-D! I’m curious as to why you have the Tyson and Alain battles so low; would you mind elaborating on those placements?

I rated some of the battles based on how much I liked/disliked them. The Tyson battle was already so bland, and Ash losing to a Meowth made it even worse. As for Alain and his hackzardX, not much to say here. Pikachu was the only saving grace of that battle.

Also what would your ratings be for Ash vs Drake (OI) and Ash vs Paul Lake Acuity?

- Ash vs. Drake - I don't quite remember that battle so I'm not gonna rate it.
- Ash vs. Paul (Lake Acuity) - 6.5/10

 

[Rock Captain 99]

GYM BATTLES

Kanto Gym Battles:

- Ash vs. Brock — 1/10
- Ash vs. Brock Rematch — 2/10
- Ash vs. Misty — 3/10
- Ash vs. Lt. Surge — 3/10
- Ash vs. Lt. Surge Rematch — 6/10
- Ash vs. Sabrina — 1/10
- Ash vs. Sabrina Rematch — 0.5/10
- Ash vs. Erika — 2.5/10
- Ash vs. Koga — 4/10
- Ash vs. Blaine — 2/10
- Ash vs. Blaine Rematch — 7.5/10
- Ash vs. Team Rocket — 0.5/10

Orange Gym Battles:

- Ash vs. Cissy — 1/10
- Ash vs. Danny — 1/10
- Ash vs. Rudy — 6/10
- Ash vs. Luana — 4/10
- Ash vs. Drake — 10/10

Johto Gym Battles:

- Ash vs. Falkner — 6/10
- Ash vs. Bugsy — 6/10
- Ash vs. Whitney — 3/10
- Ash vs. Whitney Rematch — 3/10
- Ash vs. Morty — 7/10
- Ash vs. Chuck — 4/10
- Ash vs. Jasmine — 6/10
- Ash vs. Pryce — 4.5/10
- Ash vs. Clair — 2/10
- Ash vs. Clair Rematch — 8/10

Hoenn Gym Battles:

- Ash vs. Roxanne — 5/10
- Ash vs. Brawly — 3/10
- Ash vs. Brawly rematch — 6/10
- Ash vs. Watson — 0.5/10
- Ash vs. Flannery — 6/10
- Ash vs. Norman — 3/10
- Ash vs. Norman rematch — 6.5/10
- Ash vs. Winona — 6.5/10
- Ash vs. Tate & Liza — 6/10
- Ash vs. Juan — 8.5/10

Battle Frontier Battles:

- Ash vs. Noland — 10/10
- Ash vs. Greta — 9/10
- Ash vs. Tucker — 8/10
- Ash vs. Lucy — 8/10
- Ash vs. Spencer — 8/10
- Ash vs. Annabel — 4/10
- Ash vs. Annabel Rematch — 8/10
- Ash(?) vs. Brandon — 1/10
- Ash vs. Bradon Rematch — 7/10
- Ash vs. Brandon Rematch 2 — 10/10

Sinnoh Gym Battles:

- Ash vs. Roark — 6/10
- Ash vs. Roark rematch — 8.5/10
- Ash vs. Gardenia — 8/10
- Ash vs. Maylene — 7.5/10
- Ash vs. Crasher Wake — 5/10
- Ash vs. Fantina — 9/10
- Ash vs. Byron — 10/10
- Ash vs. Candice — 8.5/10
- Ash vs. Volkner — 7/10

Unova Gym Battles:

- Ash vs. Stration Brothers: 5/10
- Ash vs. Lenora: 3/10
- Ash vs. Lenora Rematch: 5/10
- Ash vs. Burgh: 7/10
- Ash vs. Elesa: 2/10
- Ash vs. Clay: 8/10
- Ash vs. Skyla: 7/10
- Ash vs. Brycen: 8/10
- Ash vs. Roxie: 3/10

Kalos Gym Battles:

- Ash vs. Viola: 5/10
- Ash vs. Viola Rematch: 6.5/10
- Ash vs. Grant: 7/10
- Ash vs. Korrina: 10/10
- Ash vs. Ramos: 8/10
- Ash vs. Clemont: 10/10
- Ash vs. Valerie: 8/10
- Ash vs. Olympia: 9.5/10
- Ash vs. Wulfric: 6/10
- Ash vs. Wulfric Rematch: 9/10

LEAGUE BATTLES

Indigo League:

- Ash vs. Mandi — 6/10
- Ash vs. Pete — 3.5/10
- Ash vs. Jeanette Fisher — 6.5/10
- Ash vs. Ritchie — 0/10

Johto League:

- Ash vs. Salivdor — 3/10
- Ash vs. Macy — 7/10
- Ash vs. Jackson — 7.5/10
- Ash vs. Gary — 8.5/10
- Ash vs. Harrison — 8.5/10

Hoenn League:

- Ash vs. Gilbert — 2/10
- Ash vs. Dominick — 6.5/10
- Ash vs. Clerk — 6/10
- Ash vs. Katie — 9/10
- Ash vs. Morrison — 5.5/10
- Ash vs. Tyson — 6/10

Sinnoh League:

- Ash vs. Nando — 8/10
- Ash vs. Conway — 8.5/10
- Ash vs. Paul — 10/10
- Ash vs. Tobias — 7/10

Unova League:

- Ash vs Trip — 2/10
- Ash vs Stephan — 7/10
- Ash vs. Cameron — 4/10

Kalos League:

- Ash vs. Sawyer — 10/10
- Ash vs. Alain — 9/10

Though i agree with NPT's rating for the most part, i have given ratings to all of them!

 

[Genaller]

— Some Major SM Battles

- Ash vs Totem Gumshoos: 6/10
- Ash vs Hala: 6.5/10
- Ash vs Totem Lurantis: 3.5/10
- Ash vs Olivia: 5.5/10
- Brock vs Kiawe: 6.5/10
- Ash vs Misty: 7/10
- Pikachu vs Mimikyu SM 76: 6/10
- Ash vs Nanu (GT): 4/10

 

[Ignition]

— Some Major SM Battles

- Ash vs Totem Gumshoos: 6/10
- Ash vs Hala: 6.5/10
- Ash vs Totem Tsareena: 3.5/10
- Ash vs Olivia: 5.5/10
- Brock vs Kiawe: 6.5/10
- Ash vs Misty: 7/10
- Pikachu vs Mimikyu SM 76: 6/10
- Ash vs Nanu (GT): 4/10

It's Totem Lurantis, not Tsareena. I agree with your choices as I found almost all of Ash's battles in SM to be lacking

What's yout rating on Ash vs Gladion (Lycanroc vs Type:Null)?

 

[Akkipeddi]

Since 3/4 of major SM battles are done, here's their ratings:
1. Ash vs Totem Gumshoos: 6/10
2. Ash vs Hala: 5/10
3. Lana vs Totem Wishiwashi: 4/10
4. Ash vs Totem Lurantis: 3/10 (this battle was a POS)
5. Ash vs Olivia: 6.5/10
6. Brock vs Kiawe: 6.5/10 (only for seeing Brock opening a can of whoopass on Kiawe)
7. Ash vs Misty: 7/10
8. Pikachu vs Mimikyu: 4.5/10 (was really average, and filled with DEM. First, Pikachu learns Electroweb as a clutch, and we've never seen that move since then, and then the almighty DEM finisher, 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt)
9. Ash vs Nanu: 5/10

 

[Genaller]

What's your rating on Ash vs Gladion (Lycanroc vs Type:Null)?

If we don’t count the mid battle “tantrum” (which according to Ash himself we shouldn’t) then I’d give it a 6.5/10.

@Akkipeddi I’m just going to point out that they did foreshadow Pikachu learning Electroweb before the battle not to mention that Pikachu hasn’t even been in a proper battle since, so saying that Electroweb hasn’t been used since then isn’t really a fair criticism. I honestly really liked the strategic utility of Electroweb (it’s definitely far more useful than Electroball). As for 10MVT I’ll say this; I honestly don’t think it was even needed (GVH would’ve been more than sufficient), so I think this instance was meant to contribute to Ash and Pikachu eventually mastering the Z-move; however, if by EoSM they still can’t use the move at will then yeah this was nothing but a DEM. My 2 least favorite battles hands down go to Totem Lurauntis and Nanu since both of them make me feel very tempted to throw SM in the “mirror verse” pile.

 

[Dragalge]

8. Pikachu vs Mimikyu: 4.5/10 (was really average, and filled with DEM. First, Pikachu learns Electroweb as a clutch, and we've never seen that move since then

Iirc didn’t he use it in the Blacephalon + Xurkitree episode?

 

[Akkipeddi]

Hmm well if Pikachu did use Electroweb again, I apologize, but I stand by my opinion regarding 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt always feeling like a DEM. It was DEM against Mother Beast, and again against Mimikyu, when Gigavolt Volt was the Z Move that was intended and would've done the job anyway.

 

[345ash-greninja]

Ash vs Totem Gumshoos: 3/10 (was really average, lacking in imagination and underwhelming)
Ash vs Hala: 6/10 (was pretty decent though nothing spectacular)
Lana vs Totem Wishiwashi: 4/10 (pretty much underwhelming and the way Aqua Jet ripped apart Totem Wishiwashi looked really DEM)
Ash vs Totem Lurantis: 6/10 (maybe many people would disagree with me here but I thought it was decent, the teamwork between Rowlet/Litten was impressive)
Ash vs Olivia: 8/10 (was quite good this one, really entertaining throughout and with some solid teamwork involved)
Brock vs Kiawe: 8/10 (reminded me of some typical XY battles, had some solid intense vibe in it)
Ash vs Misty: 7/10 (was also pretty good with some nice creative strategy involved, though that climbing on electricity sort of defied logic)
Ash vs Gladion second battle: 6/10 (was decent but Lycanroc's mid battle tantrum takes away some quality from that fight)
Pikachu vs Mimikyu: 7/10 (I thought this was pretty good because Pikachu had to struggle a lot in order to win, the pressure was maintained throughout and 10MVT always looks really cool to me)
Ash vs Nanu: 5/10 (only gets these points because I liked Lycanroc sweeping, otherwise the way Ash acted immature throughout the fight by letting Nanu's trash talking get to him was quite disgusting, also how on earth he forgot Stone Edge initially???)

 

[Genaller]

The “physics” behind Pikachu’s “electricity jumping” actually does kinda make sense. Bascially Pikachu can emit electricity from any part of his body specifically his paws and the (attractive) interaction between that electricity and the electricity flowing in the water resulted in a momentarily stable footing which Pikachu was able to successfully take advantage of. It’s still a bit wonky in that Pikachu would’ve needed to intuitively emit both the correct “amount” and “type” of electricity to make that work though Pikachu has always been a smart Pokémon, so it’s not all that unbelievable.

The reason why vs Totem Laurantis is especially bad for me (in addition to the battle feeling quite lackluster in general) is because of Ash acting stupid. Ash is surprised by Solar Blade which is fair since that is a new move for him. Where things start getting fishy is when Ash is taken back by harsh sunlight causing Solar Blade to charge up faster; I mean Ash should be very familiar with this being the case for Solarbeam (was pivotal during the Spencer battle) and its visually apparent that Solar Blade also works by absorbing particles of light. Ash also seems unfamiliar with “harsh sunlight” eventhough Ash has definitely seen “harsh sunlight” before (e.g. Trevor’s MC-Y’s Drought ability). Now the straw that broke the Camerupt’s bam is...*drum roll*... “It can’t be”. Let me elaborate; Lurauntis uses Synthesis to heal itself during which Rotom states that the harsh sunlight is increases rate of photosynthesis allowing Lurantis to heal itself (and I presume Rotom meant more effectively) to which Ash responds “it can’t be”. Not only has Ash used the move Synthesis with his own Pokémon (Torterra) but Ash has explicitly demonstrated that he knows that strong sunlight makes Synthesis more efficient since he took full advantage of that during the Gardenia gym battle (where Turtwig was able to heal up quickly enough to then dodge the subsequent attack). Yup sorry but this is nothing short of straight up unadulterated grade A Bull$h1t. Hey Ash instead of going “It can’t be” why don’t you actually use the time period when Lurauntis is using Synthesis (and hence is vulnerable) to launch an attack on it! Finally they don’t seem to be factoring in that harsh sunlight would lower the power of water moves and raise the power of fire moves but that isn’t a major issue since nothing contradicts these aspects being factored in when assessing the battle for power scaling purposes.

 

[blizzardblaze]

Isn't there something like that in games such as MMX2 where X is able to jump on top of the water in Bubble Crab's stage to get the heart tank/sub tank?

 

[Akkipeddi]

Isn't there something like that in games such as MMX2 where X is able to jump on top of the water in Bubble Crab's stage to get the heart tank/sub tank?

Well yeah, you had to use a fully charged Bubble Splash to jump really high to obtain the heart tank and sub tank.

 

[Pokegirl Fan~]

Lillie vs Hobbes 6/10 I thought that this was an okay battle considering how Lillie was using a Pokémon that wasn't hers.

Lillie with Alola Vulpix and Alola Sandshrew vs Tyranitar 8/10 I thought this was a pretty good battle and Lillie shows off her strategic skills in this battle.

 

[mehmeh1]

If we don’t count the mid battle “tantrum” (which according to Ash himself we shouldn’t) then I’d give it a 6.5/10.

@Akkipeddi I’m just going to point out that they did foreshadow Pikachu learning Electroweb before the battle not to mention that Pikachu hasn’t even been in a proper battle since, so saying that Electroweb hasn’t been used since then isn’t really a fair criticism. I honestly really liked the strategic utility of Electroweb (it’s definitely far more useful than Electroball). As for 10MVT I’ll say this; I honestly don’t think it was even needed (GVH would’ve been more than sufficient), so I think this instance was meant to contribute to Ash and Pikachu eventually mastering the Z-move; however, if by EoSM they still can’t use the move at will then yeah this was nothing but a DEM. My 2 least favorite battles hands down go to Totem Lurauntis and Nanu since both of them make me feel very tempted to throw SM in the “mirror verse” pile.

tbh, 10MV was also kinda foreshadowed early on in ep 19 in the hamster wheel scene (btw, how would you rate pikachu vs tapu koko round 2? I give it a 6.5/10, what was there was nice but it was a bit too short, hopefully we get a round 3)