Japan Has Voted For Its Favourite Pokémon, And It's Not Pikachu

nice!

They're all wrong, everyone knows Heracross is the best.

Why no Snorlax. Not to worry, I still love you big guy.

Why choose such a common pokémon if you can get a free download of it?

@riChchestM
I was surprised they usually choose Arceus.

Incidentally, we have the Top 100 https://twitter.com/SerebiiNet/status/740155327916744704

@riChchestM The distribution, while a result of this, wasn't the focal point of this poll. While it would be for many players, for most it was "vote your favourite Pokémon". They also get a merchandise line and CoroCoro will be doing a competition for a special model of New 3DS LL based on it.

Hmm, Lucario would be #1 few years ago.

My wild guess is that people were choosing Arceus hoping there would be an event distributing the winner or something... Because I don't understand it otherwise. (Edit: Oh look, didn't read the whole article, so that actually was the point )

@riChchestM Because they'll probably give it its Hidden Ability of Protean.

No love for Gyarados??? 😢😢😢😢

Hmmm Sakurai you lucky devil, picking Greninja as the Gen 6 Smash rep.

At the time the launch roster was being decided on, X and Y had only begun development, all they had was a handful of completed Pokemon designs, with no way of knowing how popular Greninja would eventually become

Also, the Pokemon based on the Christian God was second place? In Japan? Interesting

Seems a little flavour of the month-y.

Don't get me wrong, I know Greninja is a very popular Pokemon, I'm just wondering if it would get the most votes if it's gen wasn't the current one. Plus it's pretty interesting that Lucario is nowhere to be seen.

The results overall seems pretty "give me a rare Pokemon" rather than a vote for your actual favourites though.

I saw the top 20, it isn't bad actually(4th place isn't bad!)

No love for Totodile.

Poor Simisear. Don't worry, I still like you

Poor Braixen. Not even top 100, and she's in both the anime as a cutie, AND in Pokken. Oh well. I still luv her.

Greninja transcending even God.

It's like a poll that came from the future and Sakurai put in Greninja. Damn dude, imagine Arceus playable.

Mine is Cofagrigus, mostly for its awesom design. I couldn't give you a Top 10 Pokemon tbh. It's like choose between your children-hard.

Yeeey!!!, Meloetta in the top 12!!, very good!! ^.^

Greninja...how...?

Is it Smash? Is it the anime, and Ash-Greninja?

And, call me old-fashioned, but I had in full assuredness assumed Mewtwo was tops. But, maybe in a U.S. poll.

I'm actually shocked Pikachu isn't #1, considering that he's the Hatsune Miku of PokéMon; he's freaking EVERYWHERE!

Come on! Rotom is the best! It's cute, has multiple forms, and there's the Rotom Pokedex. You can't beat the Rotom Pokedex!!!

Not surprised about Greninja, but I wonder what place litwick and all his evolutions are.

More to do with Smash Bros than Pokemon.

@allav866
Meloetta isn't the Hatsune Miku of Pokemon for "Melody"? XD

Well, Sakurai has proved his foresight skills by picking Greninja as the Gen VI representative in Smash. Heck, I was guessing Jigglypuff because his popularity in Japan was what got it into Smash in the first place! (True story, look it up.)

I'm surprised about pikachu aswell. I know 1st and 3rd pokemon and can understand their placement. What is the 2nd pokemon and why it's so popular? I'm not very familiar with pokemon franchise. I've watched 1 season anime, played FireRed and Y

Well, Greninja is gear more towards Japanese since it's a ninja style Pokemon and a cool one at that so it's no surprise they choose that over any of the other ones. I'm just glad Mew is in the top 3, I had no interest in the rest.

Think if there was a poll for most unpopular Simisear wouldn't win.

I'm just wondering what Magnemite is randomly doing there at 24th place between all those legendaries.

Favorite
-Legend: darkrai/Latias Latios
-starter: Piplup
-overall Pokemon: Gardevoir

Surprised at Greninja, I mean nice design but without protein he's pretty garbage.

I was reminded of the time when Mudkip was #2 in a similar popularity poll. (Arceus became #1.)

@SakuraHaruka I mean that Pikachu is on most merchandise, and in Japan that can be anything, even a cup of ramen with Pikachu's face on it! Hatsune Miku is just as commercialized, well actually a bit more.

Not surprised, Smash turned Greninja into a meme.

I wonder if the fact that the number 1 will be offered as a downloadable pokemon influenced the poll. There are a lot of weird legendaries on the list which I highly doubt are actually that popular.

Japan sure love their sexy awesome Ninjas!

Gengar > Other 719

@Ufaowl Second pokémon is Arceus. It is an event pokémon and it is special because it can change its type by holding specific items (it can become all types). He's going to be distributed at GameStop between 1st and 24th August, so you can check it out if you've got a store near you.

@BensonUii
Who... is... that?

Greninja? Eh, not a big surprise. He's got a new form in the XYZ anime and the the Japanese opening is pretty hype. In fact I'm pretty sure that's why Zygarde is in that list too. Though I'm sure it'll be another Pokemon next gen.

@OneArmedGiant I love Snorlax too...
SNOOOOOOOOOOOOOORLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAX

Yay for Greninja!

So glad it's not Pikachu

I was prepared to say "Welp, X confirmed for the next Smash game"!

Not enough people to make a conclusive statement.

I'm actually not surprised by this.

Tip for you; Sonic is joining Lego Dimensions

Better nerf Greninja.

Zygarde in the top 10? I'm surprised.

Saw this on Serebii.net 2 days ago. Wasn't sure if NL was going to report in it or not.

I wonder if it was one Pokemon vote per person or something like 3 per person. Just thinking of the vote #s lower on the list with ties.

Well I'm happy that Raichu (71) and Mawile (84) made it in the top 100 with others favs.

Umbreon and Corphish have always been my favorites!

Most importantly.... where is Ludicolo placed?

Greninja is way more predictable than Pikachu. So they picked their favorite Pokemon based on a stats sheet. Zzzz

Greninja the only pokemon who can overtake a god.

I've always liked Charizard more than Pikachu.
Anyway, Greninja is IMHO the best designed Pokemon of the last few generations.

Everyone knows Hawlucha is the beyst.

I'm still baffled Pikachu is as popular as it is. It is truly one of the worst and most annoying Pokémon ever. And after 20 years with it, one would think people might want to look at something else Buuut that's just my personal opinion. Happy it wasn't in top 3, but still sad Greninja won. (Tho Greninja is perfectly badass, I'd have loved for Meloetta to win)

@BensonUii

My favorites are Jigglypuff, Pikachu, Scyther, Mewtwo, Greninja, and Scyther. Two cute, four cool.

Eh, more like Pokemon most wanted as a free give away. Obviously Sandile would be at the top, otherwise.

So I see Charizard and Mewtwo aren't at the top of the list. What a crying shame (sarcasm). Still wanna know how the both of them got two Mega's when neither really needed one. They were popular enough already and strong for all intents and purposes.

Is the entire list available somewhere? The official site won't go below 100.

None of my absolute favourites are even in the top 50
Oh well, at least some others I really like like Victini, Ditto, Gardevoir and Oshawott ranked relatively high.

Huh. I thought Greninja became the single most pointless fighter in the Smash series the moment Sun/Moon was announced, but I guess he still has a place.

Electrode is clearly the best by default seeing as I can draw him with little assistance. I needed lessons from Pokémon Art Academy to draw Voltorb though.

@Rhydas Have you ever tried battling with Charizard in any competitive setting? That x4 weakness to rock kills it. Charizard needed a Mega with a doubt which was fair since the other Kanto starters got one. While I do agree that two megas for Charizard may of been overkill.
I think Mewtwo having two megas makes sense because he is "special" already so when you are trying to bring in people from generation one all the way to generation six you could advertise one of the most popular characters from that era has new forms but the two forms are exclusive depending on what version you get.

I have a feeling Genesect and Meloetta were only in there because of the free distribution thing. Both of them, Genesect especially, were pretty forgettable to me

Butterfree is not amused.

>Zygarde

Wut.

Greninja is being pushed as a messiah in the anime right now, so it winning the poll is no surprise.

And for the people wondering about the results, the Pokemon popularity poll in Japan is typically heavily influenced by the anime and Pokemon movies, and which Pokemon have made appearances in them.

Blaziken...

@Dogorilla I'd disagree with you there, on a personal level, I actually quite like Genesect. I think it's one of those things with being the 'Last Pokémon' in the (at the time) National Dex. Plus, it's Steel-Type, which generally produces some of my favourite mons.

I'm glad to see the Eeveelutions on there. I have a soft spot for them after Eevee landed itself a place on my Platinum team, the first Pokémon Game I actually owned (I then went backwards, Gen wise to experience Gen III.) and then my Eevee evolved, as if by magic, into Glaceon when I least expected it.

I'm sure Greninja, like Lucario before it, will enjoy large popularity, but will step away from the spotlight after this gen. It'll still be pretty popular though.

@DarkKirby That would make sense because there's no way Dedenne would be in the top 100 without the anime. It's literally a non-evolving Pikachu clone!

@dadajo Well, I'm definitely not going to dispute that Charizard needed the Mega. But... it certainly didn't need two. While I sorta "get" that Mewtwo was given two to sell the concept to the fans and help everyone realize how this could help make things interesting, I'm just upset with how Mewtwo was already really popular and strong - it really didn't even need one when you keep that in mind.

Sableye needed one. Mawile too. But now Rayquaza's one of the strongest pokemon in the game for no reason. And it was already high up there to begin with.

Haven't played X/Y, but I like Greninja in Smash

@allav866
Yes, I know, XD, ^.^
I just amusing commented on the fact how, when the cute Meloetta appeared, many people compared her/it with Miku (and even according to her made a form similar to Miku, XD)

MUDKIP FOREVER!

Come on, Combee, especially if it is a shiny male Combee which I used an action replay and would trade hundreds of these over the wonder trade.

X&Y were my first Pokemon games and Greninja was my starter so I may be biased but JAPAN KNOWS WHAT'S UP.

Happy (but not surprised) to see Sylveon in the Top 5 too. Both of them are about to take a backseat to whoever the Gen 7 mascots are so I'm enjoying the popularity wave while it lasts.

The poll makes no sense at all....how on earth does Greninja make it there in the first place?

I feel like such an old man. I only know 7 of these 12 and 5 of them were from my generation.

Clickbait title. Article clears it up, however

"Vote for your favourite Pokémon" and "vote for a Pokémon that should be distributed as a free download to Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire players who attend this year's new Pokémon movie" are two different things.

Hey hey HEY. Where's the Raichu love?

@Socar Smash Brothers.

Torterra and stoutland master race

Wow.
Of course my personal favourite is Chimecho. Not for it's fighting skills, but rather it's cuteness in the anime (James Chimecho was the one to first impress me) and the game.
That said, I love Greninja too, and I think it deserves the 1st spot. Froakie was my Pokémon X starter, and I would do the same choice over again.

The vote was kind of rigged just because of the distribution incentive.