10 Most Useless Hoenn Pokémon You Shouldn’t Even Bother With

Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire was a reboot for the franchise — they are incompatible with the previous two generations and replace their dated Stat Experience and Determinant Value systems. In exchange, they introduced many new aspects that would become franchise standards for all future generations: Effort Values, Individual Values, Natures, and Abilities. The last among them had the most immediate impact on gameplay, as players were incentivized to invent new strategies to utilize this never-before-seen feature. This generation also added Double Battles, which would later become the golden standard for all competitive Pokémon events.

Unfortunately, some of the newer Pokémon were not spared from the shame of mediocrity, despite having an Ability. One evolutionary tree is only terrible because it is held back by a horrible Ability. While a few of these Pokémon gain upgrades in later generations that make them worth considering, none of them were likely to be in any competitive team during their debut. Since Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire excludes 184 Pokémon from the first two generations before Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen filled the void, they may have left players wondering why their beloved favorites had to be left behind.

10

Castform’s Unique Ability Is Squandered by Mediocre Stats

No. 351 / Base Stat Total: 420

Castform has a cool concept — its Forecast Ability changes its form and Type based on the weather. Castform’s Sunny Form is Fire-Type, its Rainy Form is Water-Type, its Snowy Form is Ice-Type, and it has no ‘Sandy Form’. Players will automatically obtain a Castform holding a Mystic Water after saving the Weather Institute on Route 119.

Unfortunately, Castform proves that having a unique gimmick does not make a Pokémon strong. While being the sole user of Weather Ball (in this generation) allows it to be flexible for or against certain Pokémon, the simple truth is that 70 base stats around the board can only go so far. Really, Arceus and Silvally do the malleable Type thing better.

9

Truant Is the Bane of Slaking’s Existence

No. 289 / Base Stat Total: 670

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Slaking would have been on par with Legendary Pokémon if it did not have that atrocious Truant Ability, which prevents it from using a move every other turn. It is the final evolution of Slakoth, which also has Truant and has a 5% spawn rate in the Petalburg Woods. Interestingly, Slaking’s pre-evolution, Vigoroth, is exactly the opposite but has middling stats at best.

It is technically possible to get some competitive use out of Slaking — a Choice Band bolsters its already incredible Attack but locks it to one move. Since players can switch Slaking out if it is about to loaf around, it becomes more like a hit-and-run Pokémon. At least, it would be if Protect did not wall it completely.

8

Despite Being Evolved, Delcatty Has Weaker Stats Than Castform

No. 301 / Base Stat Total: 380

Some players may not realize it, but none of Delcatty’s base stats exceeded Castform’s until Pokémon Sun & Moon gave it an additional 20 base Speed. It lacks any unique Ability either, only having Cute Charm in this generation. While a 1 in 3 chance of infatuating an opposing Pokémon on contact sounds decent, it only works against those of the opposite gender.

Players can get a Delcatty by evolving a Skitty with a Moon Stone, and they only have a 2% spawn rate in Route 116 without a swarm. It is also possible to get one by trading a Pikachu to a girl who lives in Fortree City, but those are only available in the Safari Zone at a 5% spawn rate in Areas 1 and 2.

7

Plusle Tried To Advertise Double Battles and Failed

No. 311 / Base Stat Total: 405

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Plusle is one of two ‘Pikaclone’ Pokémon in this generation and has higher offensive stats. They are both mediocre, but Plusle has a decent base Sp. Attack to work with. Players can find Plusle on Route 110 in both versions, though they are much more common in Pokémon Sapphire. Opposing NPCs often use Plusle with Minun as a partner in a Double Battle to make use of its Plus Ability.

If partnered with Minun, both Pokémon gain a 50% Sp. Attack boost until one of them falls. Unfortunately, their pitiful bulk makes this easy for the opponent to accomplish, leaving the surviving Pokémon as little more than dead weight. At least Plusle has a great base Speed to fire a Thunderbolt or two at 1.5x effectiveness before it inevitably falls.

6

Minun Is Just a Worse Plusle

No. 312 / Base Stat Total: 405

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Minun is the other ‘Pikaclone’ Pokémon and has higher defensive stats. They are both mediocre, but Minun is arguably worse because it cannot attack as effectively. Players can find Minun on Route 110 in both versions, though they are much more common in Pokémon Ruby. Opposing NPCs often use Minun with Plusle as a partner in a Double Battle to make use of its Minus Ability.

If partnered with Plusle, both Pokémon gain a 50% Sp. Attack boost until one of them falls. Unfortunately, their pitiful bulk makes this easy for the opponent to accomplish, leaving the surviving Pokémon as little more than dead weight. While Minun also has that great base Speed, its Thunderbolts simply do not hit opposing Pokémon as hard.

5

Mawile Is the Worst Mono Steel-Type in Ruby & Sapphire

No. 303 / Base Stat Total: 380

While Mawile is actually quite good in Pokémon X & Y thanks to its Mega Evolution, its terrible base stat total renders it mediocre at best in its debut generation. Since the Fairy-Type does not exist at this point, its only claim to fame is being one of two mono-Steel-Type Pokémon in this generation, the other being Registeel. Mawile does have access to Intimidate though, which is never a bad Ability.

Mawile can be found in several locations — Granite Cave, Cave of Origin, Victory Road, and Sky Pillar — but it is exclusive to Pokémon Ruby. Though the Steel-Type has an incredible 11 resistances and one immunity in this generation, Mawile is slow, fragile, and easily melted by a Fire-Type attack.

4

Sableye Had No Weaknesses, but Nothing Else

No. 302 / Base Stat Total: 380

Compared to Mawile, Sableye has less base Attack and Defense, but more base Sp. Attack and Sp. Defense. Its real claim to fame is being the first Pokémon in the franchise to have absolutely no weaknesses — at least, that was true in its debut generation. The Fairy-Type does not exist until Pokémon X & Y, but Sableye only becomes useful after Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire introduces its Mega Evolution.

Sableye is Mawile’s counterpart, exclusive to Pokémon Sapphire and found in the same locations. Unfortunately, Sableye has no good stats or Ability whatsoever. Only its three Type immunities (Normal, Fighting, and Psychic) prevent it from being utterly fragile. Even then, its only other resistance is against Poison-Type attacks.

3

Nosepass Is Basically a Worse Shuckle

No. 299 / Base Stat Total: 375

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Nosepass is first introduced to players as the first Gym Leader’s ace Pokémon. This may lead them to think it is strong, but it is really not. It has a very good base Defense and Sp. Defense, but its other stats are terrible — Shuckle did this concept one generation ago, and it is also terrible for competitive play. At least Nosepass gains an evolution in the next generation.

Nosepass is only found in one location: Granite Cave’s second basement floor. Players can only find a Nosepass by breaking rubble with Rock Smash on that floor. It has access to two Abilities, but neither of them helps Nosepass at all. Sturdy only provides Focus Sash-like protection from Pokémon Black & White onward, while Magnet Pull traps Steel-Type Pokémon that Nosepass really cannot overcome.

2

Spinda Has an Impressive Movepool, but Its Stats Are Atrociously Bad

No. 327 / Base Stat Total: 360

Spinda is little more than a gimmick — it exists to show off how its unique Personality Value affects its appearance. It actually has over four billion possible patterns with its spots. Players can only find Spinda on Route 113, though it has an incredibly common 70% spawn rate. Teeter Dance is Spinda’s signature move until the fifth generation, which confuses all other Pokémon in a battle.

Unfortunately, there is little else to note about Spinda. Although it has a fantastic movepool, it has a pathetic 60 base stats around the board. Aipom from the previous generation has a similar problem, but at least it has a decent base Speed. Spinda is just too slow for a reliable support strategy.

1

Luvdisc Exists for Heart Scale Farming and Nothing Else

No. 370 / Base Stat Total: 330

Despite a great 97 base Speed, Luvdisc has absolutely nothing else going for it. Players should only ever fish for more than one if they are in desperate need of Heart Scales. Each one has a 50% chance of holding a Heart Scale, which is used as currency for the Move Tutor living in Fallarbor Town. Players find Luvdiscs by fishing in Ever Grande City or Route 128 with a Good or Super Rod.

That’s about it. Luvdisc is absolutely atrocious in battle. It even lacks access to Hydro Pump which, while unreliable, would have been the only way this heart-shaped fish could inflict any real damage outside a Type advantage. Anything that can attack can beat a Luvdisc, period.

Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire

Platform(s)

Nintendo Game Boy Advance

Released

March 19, 2003

Developer(s)

Game Freak

Multiplayer

Local Multiplayer

Engine

Unreal Engine

ESRB

e

How Long To Beat

35 Hours

Metascore

82

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