Pokémon Anime Battle Ratings Thread

[Genaller]

Hey Everyone,

This is a thread where people can discuss the general quality of battles in the Pokémon anime relative to other battles in the Pokémon anime. You can also give ratings for battles in order to give a better idea as to which battle you consider better than which (this part is optional). You can use any system of ratings you’d like such as Letters, Tiers, Stars, Numbers, Emojis etc.. as long as there’s a clear hierarchy. You can rate any battle you want and you can also add new ratings for battles later on (though preferably you should use the same system to rate every battle, so that others get a better understating of your relative placements).

I’ll start by rating the battles in the main Pokémon League Conferences for which at least a majority of the battle was shown. My ratings will be out of 10:

— Indigo League

- Ash vs Mandi — 5/10
- Ash vs Pete — 4/10
- Ash vs Jeanette Fisher — 6/10
- Ash vs Ritchie — 0/10

— Johto League

- Ash vs Salivdor — 4/10
- Ash vs Macy — 6.5/10
- Ash vs Jackson — 7/10
- Ash vs Gary — 8.5/10
- Ash vs Harrison — 7.5/10

— Hoenn League

- Morrison vs Jump — 4/10
- Ash vs Gilbert — 4/10
- Tyson vs Vivica — 5/10
- Morrison vs Gavin — 4.5/10
- Ash vs Dominick — 5.5/10
- Ash vs Clark — 7/10
- Ash vs Katie — 8/10
- Ash vs Morrison — 3/10
- Ash vs Tyson — 8.5/10

— Sinnoh League

- Ash vs Nando — 6.5/10
- Paul vs Barry — 7/10
- Ash vs Conway — 8/10
- Ash vs Paul — 10/10
- Ash vs Tobias — 8.5/10

— Unova League

- Ash vs Trip — 3.5/10
- Cameron vs Bianca — 5.5/10
- Ash vs Stephan — 7/10
- Ash vs Cameron — 2/10

— Kalos League

- Alain vs Trevor — 4/10
- Tierno vs Sawyer — 8/10
- Ash vs Sawyer — 9/10
- Ash vs Alain — 9.5/10


— Some Other Battles

- Ash vs Drake — 7/10
- Ash vs Brandon 3rd Battle — 9/10
- Ash vs Paul Lake Acuity — 9/10

 

[PokemonBattleFanatic-]

Original Series

• 
  
  
  • Ash vs Blaine 4/10
  • Ash vs Ritchie 0/10
  • Ash vs Drake 6/10
  • Ash vs Macy 5/10
  • Ash vs Jackson 5.5/10
  • Ash vs Gary 6/10
  • Ash vs Harrison 6.5/10

---------------------------------------------------

Advanced Generation

• 
  
  
  • Ash vs Roxanne 5/10
  • Ash vs Brawly (#2) 5/10
  • Ash vs Norman 6.5/10
  • Ash vs Winona 6.5/10
  • Ash vs Juan 7/10
  • Ash vs Clark 5/10
  • Ash vs Katie 7.5/10
  • Ash vs Morrison 5.5/10
  • Ash vs Tyson 7/10
  • Ash vs Noland 7/10
  • Ash vs Greta 6.5/10
  • Ash vs Tucker 6.5/10
  • Ash vs Lucy 6.5/10
  • Ash vs Spencer 6.5/10
  • Ash vs Brandon (#2) 5.5/10
  • Ash vs Brandon (#3) 6.5/10

---------------------------------------------------
Diamond & Pearl

• 
  
  
  • Ash vs Paul (#1/When Pokemon Worlds Collide) 5/10

• 
  
  
  • Ash vs Paul (#2/Different Strokes For Different Blokes) 5/10

• 
  
  
  • Paul vs Roark 6.5/10

• 
  
  
  • Paul vs Cynthia 4.5/10

• 
  
  
  • Ash vs Paul (#3/Chim Charred) 4/10
  • Ash vs Paul (#4/Aiding The Enemy) 4/10
  • Ash vs Fantina 6.5/10
  • Paul vs Brandon 5.5/10
  • Ash vs Paul (#5/Lake Acuity) 8/10
  • Ash vs Volkner 6.5/10
  • Ash vs Nando 5/10
  • Paul vs Barry 5.5/10
  • Ash vs Conway 7/10
  • Ash vs Paul (#6/Sinnoh League ) 9.5/10
  • Ash vs Tobias 6.5/10

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Best Wishes

• 
  
  
  • Ash vs Trip (#1/In The Shadow Of Zekrom) 2/10
  • Ash vs Trip (#2/A Rival Battle For Club Champ) 4.5/10
  • Ash vs Trip (#3/Ash and Trip's Third Battle) 5/10
  • Iris vs Georgia (Iris and Excadrill Against The Dragon Buster/Rematch) 5/10
  • Cilan vs Burgundy (A Connoisseur's Revenge) 4.5/10
  • Stephan vs Montgomery 5.5/10
  • Ash vs Trip (#4/Ash Iris and Trip Then There Were Three) 3/10
  • Cameron vs Bianca 5/10
  • Ash vs Trip (#5/Unova League) 3/10
  • Ash vs Stephan (#2/Unova League) 5.5/10
  • Ash vs Cameron 5/10
  • Iris vs Drayden 5/10
  • ---------------------------------------------------------------------
    XY
    
    • Ash vs Viola 5/10
    • Ash vs Olympia 6.5/10
    • Ash vs Wulfric 5.5/10
    • Sawyer vs Tierno 6/10
    • Ash vs Sawyer (Kalos League) 6.5/10
    • Ash vs Alain (Kalos League) 6.5/10

 

[345ash-greninja]

Indigo League

• Ash vs Mandi: 3/10
• Ash vs Pete: 3/10
• Ash vs Jeanette: 4/10
• Ash vs Ritchie: negative marking/10; even giving it a 0 isn't good enough

Johto League

• Ash vs Macy: 6/10
• Ash vs Jackson: 7/10
• Ash vs Gary: 7.5/10
• Ash vs Harrison: 7.5/10

Hoenn League

• Ash vs Dominic: 6/10
• Ash vs Clark: 7/10
• Ash vs Katie: 7.5/10
• Ash vs Morrison: 4/10
• Ash vs Tyson: 8/10

Sinnoh League

• Ash vs Nando: 6.5/10
• Paul vs Barry: 8/10
• Ash vs Conway: 8.5/10
• Ash vs Paul: 10/10
• Ash vs Tobias: 8.5/10

Unova League

• Ash vs Trip: 3/10
• Cameron vs Bianca: 6/10
• Ash vs Stephan: 7/10
• Ash vs Cameron: 3/10

Kalos League

• Alain vs Trevor: 3/10
• Sawyer vs Tierno: 8.5/10
• Ash vs Sawyer: 9/10
• Ash vs Alain: 9.5/10

Some Other Battles

• Ash vs Drake(Orange League): 6/10
• Ash vs Brandon(3rd battle): 9.5/10
• Ash vs Paul(Lake Acucity): 9/10

 

[Genaller]

Well since both of you did it out of 10 I converted my earlier ratings to a 10 point system as well. These would be my ratings for the Sinnoh and Kalos GYM Battles:

— Sinnoh GYM Battles

- Paul vs Roark — 6.5/10
- Ash vs Roark I — 6.5/10
- Ash vs Roark II — 7.5/10
- Ash vs Gardenia GYM Battle — 7/10
- Ash vs Maylene — 7.5/10
- Ash vs Crasher Wake — 5.5/10
- Ash vs Fantina GYM Battle — 8/10
- Ash vs Byron — 6.5/10
- Ash vs Candice — 7/10
- Ash vs Volkner — 7.5/10


— Kalos GYM Battles

- Ash vs Viola I — 6/10
- Ash vs Viola II — 7.5/10
- Ash vs Grant — 8/10
- Ash vs Korrina — 7.5/10
- Ash vs Ramos — 8/10
- Ash vs Clemont — 8/10
- Ash vs Valerie — 7.5/10
- Ash vs Olympia — 8.5/10
- Ash vs Wulfric I — 6/10
- Ash vs Wulfric II — 8/10

 

[PokemonBattleFanatic-]

Well since both of you did it out of 10 I converted my earlier ratings to a 10 point system as well. These would be my ratings for the Sinnoh and Kalos GYM Battles:

— Sinnoh GYM Battles

- Paul vs Roark — 6.5/10
- Ash vs Roark I — 6/10
- Ash vs Roark II — 7/10
- Ash vs Gardenia GYM Battle — 7/10
- Ash vs Maylene — 7.5/10
- Ash vs Crasher Wake — 5.5/10
- Ash vs Fantina GYM Battle — 8/10
- Ash vs Byron — 6.5/10
- Ash vs Candice — 7/10
- Ash vs Volkner — 7.5/10


— Kalos GYM Battles

- Ash vs Viola I — 6.5/10
- Ash vs Viola II — 7.5/10
- Ash vs Grant — 7/10
- Ash vs Korrina — 7.5/10
- Ash vs Ramos — 8/10
- Ash vs Clemont — 8/10
- Ash vs Valerie — 7.5/10
- Ash vs Olympia — 8.5/10
- Ash vs Wulfric I — 6/10
- Ash vs Wulfric II — 8/10

And what about the Hoenn Gym/Kanto Frontier Battles?

 

[Genaller]

And what about the Hoenn Gym/Kanto Frontier Battles?

I need to rewatch those though with vs Brandon 3 it’s probably either an 8.5/10 or 9/10 for me.

 

[Genaller]

— Hoenn GYM Battles

- Ash vs Norman I — 4/10
- Ash vs Roxanne — 7/10
- Ash vs Brawly I — 5/10
- Ash vs Brawly II — 6.5/10
- Ash vs Watson GYM Battle — 1/10
- Ash vs Flannery — 6/10
- Ash vs Norman — 7/10
- Ash vs Winona — 7/10
- Ash vs Tate & Liza — 5/10
- Ash vs Juan — 8/10

— Battle Frontier Battles

- Ash vs Noland — 8.5/10
- Ash vs Greta — 8/10
- Ash vs Tucker — 8/10
- Ash vs Lucy — 7.5/10
- Ash vs Spencer — 7.5/10
- Ash vs Annabel I — 7/10
- Ash vs Annabel II — 7.5/10
- Ash vs Brandon II — 7/10
- Ash vs Brandon III — 9/10

 

[Genaller]

So what would a TOP 10 Anime Battles list look like for you guys (including the order in which you’d place battles that you’ve given the same rating)? For me it goes:

1. Ash vs Paul Sinnoh League
2. Ash vs Alain Kalos League
3. Ash vs Paul Lake Acuity
4. Ash vs Sawyer Kalos League
5. Ash vs Brandon 3rd Battle
6. Ash vs Tobias Sinnoh League
7. Ash vs Gary Johto League
8. Ash vs Tyson Hoenn League
9. Ash vs Olympia
10. Ash vs Noland

 

[Ignition]

So what would a TOP 10 Anime Battles list look like for you guys (including the order in which you’d place battles that you’ve given the same rating)? For me it goes:

1. Ash vs Paul Sinnoh League
2. Ash vs Alain Kalos League
3. Ash vs Paul Lake Acuity
4. Ash vs Sawyer Kalos League
5. Ash vs Brandon 3rd Battle
6. Ash vs Tobias Sinnoh League
7. Ash vs Gary Johto League
8. Ash vs Tyson Hoenn League
9. Ash vs Olympia
10. Ash vs Noland

10) Ash vs Iris (Junior Cup)
9) Ash vs Volkner (2nd ofc)
8) Ash vs Spencer
7) Ash vs Misty (SM)
6) Ash vs Olympia
5) Ash vs Alain @ KL
4) Ash vs Brandon (Final)
3) Ash vs Tobias
2) Ash vs Sawyer (Last)
1) Ash vs Paul @ SL

 

[PokemonBattleFanatic-]

1.Paul vs Ash (Sinnoh League)
2.Paul vs Ash (Lake Acuity)
3.Ash vs Katie
4.Ash vs Tyson
5.Ash vs Juan
6.Ash vs Conway
7.Ash vs Spencer
8.Ash vs Norman
9.Ash vs Fantina
10.Paul vs Roark

 

[345ash-greninja]

1) Ash vs Paul SL
2) Ash vs Alain KL
3) Ash vs Brandon 3rd
4) Ash vs Diantha (re-match)
5) Ash vs Sawyer KL
6) Ash vs Paul Lake Acucity
7) Ash vs Tobias
8) Ash vs Noland
9) Ash vs Olympia
10) Ash vs Wulfric (re-match)

 

[345ash-greninja]

And if it goes like Top 10 individual Pokemon battles in the anime, then it will go for me like:

1) Ash-Greninja vs Mega Gardevoir
2) Infernape vs Electivire
3) Ash-Greninja vs Mega Sceptile
4) Ash-Greninja vs Mega Charizard X (KL finals)
5) Pikachu vs Latios
6) Sceptile vs Darkrai
7) Pikachu vs Regice
8) Charizard vs Articuno
9) Pikachu vs Mega Lucario
10) Charizard vs Blastoise

 

[Genaller]

Lol right I forgot about Ash vs Diantha 2 xD (it’s funny because I’ve written essays deconstructing that battle ). That battle goes between Brandon and Tobias for me kicking Noland out of my list. In terms of individual battles for me it goes:

1. (Ash-)Greninja vs (Mega) Gardevoir
2. (Ash-)Greninja vs (Mega) Sceptile
3. (Blaze) Infernape vs Motordrive Electivire
4. Charizard vs Blaziken
5. Pikachu vs Latios
6. Ash-Greninja vs Mega Charizard X (Kalos League Finals)
7. Pikachu vs Regice
8. (Ash-)Greninja vs (Mega) Abamasnow
9. Pikachu vs Mega Lucario (GYM Battle)
10. Charizard vs Blastoise

Honorable Mentions: Charizard vs Articuno, Sceptile vs Darkrai, Snorlax vs Medicham, Pikachu vs Mega Gyarados, Buizel vs Lucario

 

[Genaller]

@PokemonBattleFanatic- and @345ash-greninja would you both care to explain to me why you think Ash vs Tyson is an outright better battle than Ash vs Gary. Also PBF I don’t want to read (“cuz Vs Gary had too many OHKs”) since in that battle 5/11 Pokémon were OHKed (Tauros, Bayleef, Arcanine, Nidoqueen and Scizor, and with Scizor it’s debatable since Gary stated that attacking Muk with QA ended up hurting Scizor) whereas in vs Tyson 6/11 Pokémon were OHKed (Sceptile, Glalie, Shiftry, Corphish, Donphan and Grovyle).

 

[Akkipeddi]

For full battles:
1) Ash vs Paul SL
2) Ash vs Alain KL
3) Ash vs Sawyer KL
4) Ash vs Gary JL
5) Ash vs Brandon (3rd)
6) Ash vs Tobias
7) Ash vs Olympia
8) Ash vs Wulfric rematch
9) Ash vs Volkner
10) Ash vs Maylene / Fantina

As for individual battles:
1) Ash Greninja vs Mega Charizard X KL
2) Infernape vs Electivire SL
3) Ash Greninja vs Mega Sceptile
4) Ash Greninja vs Mega Gardevoir
5) Pikachu vs Latios SL
6) Sceptile vs Darkrai SL
7) Charizard vs Blastoise JL
8) Charizard vs Articuno BF
9) Pikachu vs Regice BF
10) Ash Greninja vs Mega Abomasnow

 

[345ash-greninja]

@PokemonBattleFanatic- and @345ash-greninja would you both care to explain to me why you think Ash vs Tyson is an outright better battle than Ash vs Gary. Also PBF I don’t want to read (“cuz Vs Gary had too many OHKs”) since in that battle 5/11 Pokémon were OHKed (Tauros, Bayleef, Arcanine, Nidoqueen and Scizor, and with Scizor it’s debatable since Gary stated that attacking Muk with QA ended up hurting Scizor) whereas in vs Tyson 6/11 Pokémon were OHKed (Sceptile, Glalie, Shiftry, Corphish, Donphan and Grovyle).

Worser animation and worser individual battles. Sceptile vs Glalie isn't really a usual OHKO case since the collison between 2 moves of those Pokemon lead to a tremendous impact/collision which resulted in both Pokemon getting KO'd. That's different than a standard OHKO case obviously where one Pokemon just directly OHKO's its opponent. The visual depiction the explosion looked hands down intense and appealing which gives that individual battle a plus point.

Apart from Heracross vs Magmar and Charizard vs Blastoise, the other individual battles of Ash vs Gary were simply in a word, cheap. Those individual battle were badly written considering all aspects like move exchanges, trading blows, etc., which were less in quantity, with one Pokemon simply KO'ing the other Pokemon by using a move after dodging/resisting its opponents attacks, a.k.a., a simple dodge/resist your opponents attacks and then straight up OHKO your opponent formula, which is boring. Hardly many move exchanges, trading blows and subtle strategy use took place in those battles. Especially the battles involving Snorlax, they strictly followed that particual boring formula and totally lacked imagination.

In most of the individual battles in Ash vs Tyson, more move exchanges, trading blows, and subtle strategy use took place. The way Ash took down down Tyson's Metagross looked intriguing and tactical, Meowth vs Pikachu had many powerful move exchanges, Shiftry vs Torkoal involved a clever 'jump up' from Torkoal which helped Torkoal land its Flamethrower, Hariyama vs Swellow was decently good too.

 

[Genaller]

Worser animation and worser individual battles. Sceptile vs Glalie isn't really a usual OHKO case since the collison between 2 moves of those Pokemon lead to a tremendous impact/collision which resulted in both Pokemon getting KO'd. That's different than a standard OHKO case obviously where one Pokemon just directly OHKO's its opponent. The visual depiction the explosion looked hands down intense and appealing which gives that individual battle a plus point.

Apart from Heracross vs Magmar and Charizard vs Blastoise, the other individual battles of Ash vs Gary were simply in a word, cheap. Those individual battle were badly written considering all aspects like move exchanges, trading blows, etc., which were less in quantity, with one Pokemon simply KO'ing the other Pokemon by using a move after dodging/resisting its opponents attacks, a.k.a., a simple dodge/resist your opponents attacks and then straight up OHKO your opponent formula, which is boring. Hardly many move exchanges, trading blows and subtle strategy use took place in those battle. Especially the battles involving Snorlax, they strictly followed that particual boring formula and totally lacked imagination.

In most the individual battles in Ash vs Tyson, more move exchanges, trading blows, and subtle strategy use took place. The way Ash took down down Tyson's Metagross looked intriguing and tactical, Meowth vs Pikachu had many powerful move exchanges, Shiftry vs Torkoal involved a clever 'jump up' from Torkoal which helped Torkoal land its Flamethrower, Hariyama vs Swellow was decently good too.

There was “subtle” strategy in Ash vs Gary in battles other than Hera vs Mag and Zard vs Toise (which as an individual battle trumps anything in Ash vs Tyson). A good example is Bayleef vs Blastoise with Bayleef using Wine Whip to jump (a technique that Gary later applied to Nidoqueen) and Blastoise using Rapid spin to deflect Razor Leaf and then efficiently transitioning into Bite; it was a short but effective squash match used to build Blastoise up as a threat. Nidoqueen grabbing Tauros by the tusks is analogous to Hariyama grabbing Swellow by the beak. Blastoise vs Muk has a meta commentary pronouncing “this is not a gag battle!” with Muk trying the same tactic it did in the Kanto League only for it to fail. Gary used Scizor’s speed to counter Snorlax’s power and the way Scizor beat Muk was also a tad creative after Gary realized that standard attacks wouldn’t work. There was also Heracross trying to use a rock for cover though of course Hydro Pump was too strong.

I gave both battles the same rating and if I had to choose, I’d give Ash vs Gary the edge due to the narrative surrounding that battle.

 

[PokemonBattleFanatic-]

Ash vs Gary was pretty much Charizard and Snorlax vs Gary's pokemon,too many 1HKOs and little to no strategy compared to the other battles that came in the future series.

The only satisfaction I get from the battle is just seeing Ash's Charizard and Snorlax stomp Gary's team,Heracross was the only pokemon outside of Charizard and Snorlax to get a victory.A lot of people highly rate this battle solely on just name value instead of the battle itself,it just hasn't aged that well.

Saying Ash vs Gary is one the best pokemon battles is the equivalent of saying Gohan vs Cell is one of the best dragon ball fights.Yeah both of these examples had some special moments but when you break down the examples you'd know that there are other battles/fights that are better than these two.

 

[Genaller]

What are the top 5 contest battles for you guys? For me it’s:

1. Nando vs Zoey SGF
2. May vs Drew KGF
3. Dawn vs Zoey SGF
4. May vs Dawn
5. May vs Ash

 

[Litleonid]

Kalos Gym Battles
Ash vs. Viola: 6.5/10
Ash vs. Viola Rematch: 7/10
Ash vs. Grant: 7.5/10
Ash vs. Korrina: 7/10
Ash vs. Ramos: 8/10
Ash vs. Clemont: 9/10
Ash vs. Valerie: 7.5/10
Ash vs. Olympia: 10/10
Ash vs. Wulfric: 6.5/10
Ash vs. Wulfric Rematch: 8.5/10

Unova Gym Battles
Ash vs. Striaton Triplets: 5/10
Ash vs. Lenora: 4/10
Ash vs. Lenora Rematch: 4.5/10
Ash vs. Burgh: 6/10
Ash vs. Elesa: 2/10
Ash vs. Clay: 7/10
Ash vs. Skyla: 5/10
Ash vs. Brycen: 6.5/10
Ash vs. Roxie: 4/10