Feature: No Love For Simisage? - The 47 Pokémon That Didn't Get A Single Vote In Our Polls

Metang #0375

The curse of the middle evolution strikes again! And I understand: why vote for Metang when you can vote for Metagross, which is basically the same thing but bigger with more legs.

Poor Metang, though. If it weren't for all of those spikes, it would deserve a good cuddle.

It is formed by two Beldum joining together. Its two brains are linked, amplifying its psychic power.

OR

Prinplup #0394

Starters have a nasty habit of having the cutest designs you've ever laid eyes on, so seeing them change into their awkward teenage middle evolutions can sometimes be a tough pill to swallow.

Piplup to Prinplup is a pretty jarring drop in cuteness, it's true, but if Crocnaw (the worst-offending evo in this respect, in this writer's opinion) can get some votes, surely this weird elongated penguin deserves some love too.

It lives a solitary life. Its wings deliver wicked blows that can snap even the thickest of trees in half with a single hit

JN

Staravia #0397

Another middle-stage victim of the voting stand-off, Staravia isn't as cute as Starly, nor is it as fierce as Staraptor — admittedly one of the best "Route 1 Birds" I've seen.

But Staravia has a nobility about it that deserves to be respected. It's also a pretty solid Pokémon, and it needs to be, given that it'll be a part of your team from level 14 to 34, if you intend to use the big bird at the end. There's no way no one has strong feelings about this one, surely?

Recognizing their own weakness, they always live in a group. When alone, a Staravia cries noisily.

AH

Kricketot #0401

What do readers have against little Bug-types? Especially one this cute and this musical? Kricketot might just be an early-game insect, but its striking design, chingy cry, and itty-bitty appearance is enough to melt my heart.

If Pokopia can give Kricketot some love, then surely some of you can too.

It chats with others using the sounds of its colliding antennae. These sounds are fall hallmarks.

AH

Purugly #0432

As a cat person, even I struggle to get behind Purugly. Just look at that disdain! Yeah, this one got precisely the correct amount of love. Well done, everyone.

It would claim another Pokémon’s nest as its own if it finds a nest sufficiently comfortable.

GL

Chingling #0433

Lots of "baby" Pokémon managed to get at least a few votes; Chingling is the rare exception. But why? It has one of the best designs of all of them, looking like a tiny little bell with a really silly face.

Recency bias might be at play from me here, but Mega Chimecho's implementation of Chingling's design just makes me love it even more. It's a shame it didn't resonate as much with others.

Each time it hops, it makes a ringing sound. It deafens foes by emitting high-frequency cries.

AH

Gabite #0444

Oh no, the middle entry in the 'Nibble', 'Bite', 'Chomp' line was another of those borderline cases, wasn't it? It's true, Gabite is nothing like as cute as Gible, nor is it as badass as Garchomp, but there's something about those goofy little teeth and awkward stance that has always appealed to me, nonetheless.

Guess I'm alone in this one, eh?

In rare cases, it molts and sheds its scales. Medicine containing its scales as an ingredient will make a weary body feel invigorated

JN

Simisage #0512

Gen 5 had the most zeroes in our polls with 14 in total, kicking off with #0512. Say what you like about Simisage and its simian pals, but that quiff is unimpeachable.

It attacks enemies with strikes of its thorn-covered tail. This Pokémon is wild tempered.

GL

Panpour #0515

I remember people not being all that keen on the Gen V monkeys back in 2011, and it's plain to see that nothing has changed in the years since (apart from Pansage, who has some fans, apparently). I can't outright defend the trio, either, but they did come in useful in the early game, plugging any gaps left over after my Starter picks.

Hey, Panpour is a part of maintaining that balance.

The water stored inside the tuft on its head is full of nutrients. It waters plants with it using its tail.

JN

Tranquill #0520

I generally like a bird Pokémon — I'd have an entire party of them most of the time if that weren't impractical — and Tranquill fits the bill. Maybe those pinky, pigeon-y claws put the rest of you off. I like 'em.

It can fly moderately quickly. No matter how far it travels, it can always find its way back to its master and its nest.

GL

Gurdurr #0533

Gurdurr like to "show off their big muscles to their friends," although they don't have many friends among NL readers. Probably because they're constantly busting out their bulging, glistening guns for props. Okay, let's take it down a notch, Gurds.

This Pokémon is so muscular and strongly built that even a group of wrestlers could not make it budge an inch.

GL

Venipede #0543

Yes, Venipede might not have the most inspired design of all the Bug Pokémon in the world. But Gen V is arguably where this typing really steps up in terms of usefulness.

I'm just saying, you don't get Scolipede without Venipede. And no. #0543 has some charm to it with its angry eyes and spiky antennae, no?

It discovers what is going on around it by using the feelers on its head and tail. It is brutally aggressive.

AH

Petilil #0548

Clearly, a big Pokédex makes some of us forget the simple designs, and Gen V's Petilil falls into that category. Or maybe you just don't like green 'mons.

Anyway, it's not like Petilil is underloved, either — Lilligant got 30 votes, and it has both an Unovian and Hisuian form, the latter of which has a unique Fighting-type edge.

The leaves on its head are very bitter. Eating one of these leaves is known to refresh a tired body.

AH

Basculin #0550

Before Legends: Arceus, Basculin might have been the most useless fish Pokémon out there. Now, if you get a White-Striped Form, it gets one of the best glow-ups in the franchise.

But this isn't about Basculegion, it's about a generic-looking bass that has almost nothing going for it. Apparently, they're pretty violent and territorial? And people like to eat them. Well, bass is delicious...

When a school of Basculin appears in a lake, everything else disappears, except for Corphish and Crawdaunt. That’s how violent Basculin are.

AH

Frillish #0592

I don't know about you, but jellyfish are pretty scary. So a Pokémon based on the Nurarihyon yōkai should be pretty memorable. Frillish even comes in two colours with different tufts of hair!

Its nature is pretty terrifying to book, paralysing foes and dragging them down to the bottom of the ocean. The sea is a frightening place, and Frillish's dead eyes seem to hide a lot of secrets. I wouldn't want to mess with one...

With its thin, veil-like arms wrapped around the body of its opponent, it sinks to the ocean floor.

AH

Alomomola #0594

Yes, Alomomola should absolutely be an evolution of Luvdisc. But really, it's not a bad Pokémon at all. It's bulky with a huge health pool and its design, removing Luvdisc from the equation, is quite endearing. And it's basically the Chansey of the seas!

I get the controversy, and given the large Unova Pokédex, understand why this slipped through the cracks. But Alomomola should be given a second chance. Perhaps Winds & Waves is its chance, and maybe then you'll vote for it?

Floating in the open sea is how they live. When they find a wounded Pokémon, they embrace it and bring it to shore.

AH

That's 32 down - head to page three to find the last 15 and the poll to determine which of these deserve just a little more love...