Top 6 Best and Worst Middle Evolutions in Pokémon 

Even as a single stage Magmar had clear growing pains...

@@emperorcubone that’s an interesting point because I think Magmar does represent the early growing pains of Pokémon design in general. And that’s why I love it- It shows how the designers used to think about Pokémon when they were just starting to put a concept for this series together

@@JohnnyHikesSW To be fair, I don't think pokemon designs are strictly better now than they used to be. I think they especially did monstrous designs better back in the early days. They really put the "mon" in "Pokemon." As EC kind of pointed out in the video, Rhydon is great example of what earlier designs excelled at. Despite obviously being fictional and exaggerated, it looks almost like a creature that could feasibly exist in the wild. Rhyperior, on the other hand, is a cluttered mess of a design. You can tell they were struggling to improve on Rhydon, and it seems their solution was to just throw a bunch of extra crap on it, like an extra drill horn, a ton of orange bricks for armor, a wrecking ball tail and cannon arms. It really looks like some mad scientist took a Rhydon and turned it into some kind of construction-themed cyborg. My best guess is that happened because starting around Gens 3 and 4 they began pushing towards the sleeker, sometimes plushier, sometimes human-like designs and Rhyperior is what happens when you try and graft those kind of features onto a more animalistic design.

I'm confused why he has swadloon and hattrem, they are totally adorable and oozing personality

@@matthewzakrzewski1797 agreed with those two.

I was looking for this comment! Much prefer Haunter's design to Gengar

HAHAHAHA! Best laugh. :D

@@JOCoStudio1 same, honestly I think gengar and haunter (just there designs) should be swapped, gengar looks like gas forming into a body, then it becomes bigger, and it's hands detach and get claws. Overall I'd just prefer if gengar was the middle and haunter was the final.

Haunter is also owner for the single best sprites from both Gens 1 and 2.

Haunter > gengar

Totally agree! The Shiny is way better too...

Milotic looks like how the dratini/dragonair line always should have turned out in a 3rd form. Maybe, one day we will get a divergent evolutionary pathway for Dratini.

As a dragonite fan,I respect you.:)

I feel something to note regarding dragonair->dragonite Its based on a wyrm, which is basically a dragon but snake. And i think its showing a wyrm changing into a true western dragon

@@everetthopper884 I know, but I don't think it makes it much better. It could have easily stayed a wyrm or turned into an asian dragon (lung, I think?)

I love Swadloon's expression! Looks so grumpy, like someone woke them up from deep sleep ☺️

Swadloon is just, weird? It's just a very strange way to do a cocoon, but then again so is Whirlipede. Although the one time I used a Sewaddle it liked me so much that it was only a Swadloon for one level and then evolved immediately so I didn't get to really use it...

@@emperorcubone I usually like how they try to make the cocoons more interesting, changing it up a bit; I think Silcoon/Cascoon and Metapod are the weakest of the cocoon designs, being only one colour and really not doing much to give them character, they just stay really close to real life, whereas the later designs tend to give the cocoons more mobility, like they really can fight themselves as well. This makes Spewpa the weakest cocoon beyond gen 3 for me as well, going back again to the weaker more motionless cocoon (all of this is also reflected in their movepools). I really can't describe why I like them so much beyond that. Swadloon is just a lil guy.

@@emperorcubone I would argue that the middle stage acting as a seemless transition doesn’t make sense from a thematic perspective, because growth is not just a physical process but an emotional process as well. And I think awkward middle states represent the emotional aspect of growing up (or, more generally, experiencing a transformation in your life) really well

@@emperorcubone everytime i see someone using a sewadle they literally just stay with swadloon for one level, because for some reason the swadloon loves you so much that they evolve into leavanny almost immediatly.

I always wanted the claws to come back so Kakuna could learn moves other than harden.

It still has the claws, they're just tucked in to the spot where it looks like a tie

Kakuna actually does have claws in all its depictions, it just holds them to its chest most of the time (that "tie" it appears to wear is actually its forelimbs). The gen 1 sprites are the only ones which depict them extended.

I too am a fan of the original cocoons. Metaphor for whatever reason is one of my favorite gen 1 designs.

Hmm, that'd be cool, but maybe they didn't because of the move already called Will-o-wisp?

@@emperorcubone Or maybe literally just a flame with eyes is a bit bare and a little lame.

So tell me, exactly which one represents the Dark type, the bright pink or the bright green?

@@emperorcubone colors are the only way types are represented now? And who said ignore all the hair?

@@emperorcubone the being a mischevious demon goblin thing engulfed in black hair is not enough dark type?

@@emperorcubone Color does not denote a Pokemon's type, strictly speaking. I recall someone thought Inkay should be a water type because it's blue, when I personally would more make that connection based on it being a squid. A similar example can be seen with 3 different steel type Pokemon in Bronzong, Metagross and Lucario, all of which are largely blue in coloration rather than a more metallic color like silver or gray. Having said that, certain types are often associated with certain colors, but it's by no means a hard and fast rule that they need to have a particular color to represent their type

I love Morgrem and it's signature move is perfect for it in my opinion. I was so excited about having it on my team and it lead my party ... until it evolved. I don't like a single thing about Grimmsnarl and honestly feel this like is almost as disconnected as the dragonair line. The first two are small thin tricksters. The final is a big buff monster. It doesn't fit with the line at all stylistically. Morgrem is a perfect continuation of Impidimp and looks just like I would expect impidimps older brother to look

Same here!! Shocked actually that it wasn't even mentioned.

Did I just not make it clear enough that I already did this list years ago with all different Pokemon?

​@@emperorcubone link to that one?

@@emperorcubone you mentioned it, but my take was that since that list was old your opinions changed and those Pokémon don’t apply anymore. I see what you mean now though

@@emperorcubone You said that you have covered this topic before, but not that you wouldn't use the same mons again though.

Are you a serial murderer now?

An awesome line indeed! Doublade with eviolite is a menace! I don’t mind Drizzile either. It does deviate a bit but not in a bad way.

Maybe some Pokemon would be better without them? We've got some big jumps like Shroomish to Breloom, or Bergmite to Avalugg...

@@emperorcubone Bergmite and Avalugg are fine.

@@emperorcubone yeah. Id love pidove -> unfeasant

@@KrispyKitty66 but tranquil is the best of the line. It’s perfect that mix of cute and cool that a middle stage needs

@@cryptidclaws3640 true

That's what I thought making it as well! :)

I was like,"Another Top 6 Best & Worst list? Let's goooo!"

Rhydon dee-

@@RiftyLuca -eems you worthy.

What the heck is Sizzile?

​@@gregorywood7554drizzile

Possibly; there are certainly plenty of options that would be worthy of a spotlight!

Me too!

I super love Drizzile, and tbh, it's because of the anime. I'm not big on Galar, but I do have a weakness for emo bangs nowadays. I wanna buy a plush of him one day.

Sobble line was my favorite to use in Galar and I don’t mind the first two design wise. It’s Inteleon I have an issue with 😂

I agree with all of this 100%, and I don't want to spoil my old video, but you might be pleased with the outcome...

@@emperorcubone Pleased to hear that then. But you should have mentioned that in this video, that you wouldn't use the mons from your older one.

I think I would actually prefer if Morgrem WERE a single stage as the lone first Fairy/Dark type; I would appreciate it a lot more, but as it stands it's trying to hold onto two other Pokemon that barely resemble it...

Pretty sure concrete isn't natural though; if it were they would have called it Stonurr! Wait... that probably wouldn't work for a kids game...

@@emperorcubone even if it's made of concrete. The fact that he is not just lifting 1 but two pillars, is the fact that he's gotten much stronger than Gurdurr.

Gurdurr is my favourite from the line. I wouldn't evolve it, even if I could :D

Plus the design is based on a strongman, and a clown which is why they have the big ol red nose

Yeah Croconaw is awesome. He doesn’t like it because of a spot pattern? Lol dumb reason. Caveman croc is just fine.

Tbh, I never even saw the "caveman" like look until he said it in his vid...I still like the mon, though. Because I prefer Feraligatr over either Johto starter! :P

It is a fighter is Smash!

Hah, that's a good idea actually! I did a run where I never evolved Braixen, trained it with an Everstone all the way to level 100.

I don't know about you but braxian creeps me out

@@disconcerningcitizen2224 agreed. It’s too humanoid.

I do not care for Brionne either, so you're good!

I kind of adore Brionne...and I strongly dislike the entire Chespin line. It's funny how we all have different preferences. Lol.

My first time playing White 2 I kept my Lampent the whole game, it was pretty great!

@@emperorcubone an excellent design

Yeah I disagree with his analysis. I think Staravia is really good because it's the middle stage/more mature, more edgy "teen" phase: growing up from the cute baby Starly and evolving into the fierce and strong adult Staraptor.

I love staravia too! It looks sweet

I will say I do appreciate it more than an *actual teen phase like they try with recent starters, such as Dartrix or Raboot. I just wish Staravia had a personality of it's own; it's basically a blank slate, when a Pokemon like say Lairon dose adolescence much better...

As you could tell drizz is one of my favorite pokemon of all time. Jigglypuff is first, but Drizzile is right in second place for me.

If you don't like that you'd hate to hear my thoughts on Quaxly...

@@emperorcubone "if I had a penny for everytime a person slandered one of my fav water starters, I'd have two pennies, which isn't much but it's strange that it happened twice."

For sure; I didn't even pick it but it's the best one from Gen 9!

You know, that would actually be a true revolution of the battle system, unlike the constantly thrown out gimmicks, but if base stages could have fully evolved stats, that could change a lot!

@@emperorcubone would feel like an easy step for them

Yeah, luckily Legends: Arceus helped a lot by adding the flames most of the time, so hopefully that will carry on going forward...

@@emperorcubone Hopefully. Also I am glad it's you who commented and not some wrinky dink poser telling I one something

Gotta agree with facts!

Facts!!

*cough not the first list I've done *cough

@@emperorcubone just watched the first one

I don't really care for Raboot, but Thwackey does get excess hate...

Really? Thwacky? It looks way too goofy and simple

I love raboot, but I’ve never seen anything positive about thwackey

You couldn't be more true!

Dude, I did this topic years ago, clearly I covered some of them before...

Helps with the mood!

Combusken is a bold choice, many people hate it and easily say Blaziken is way better, so I admire your courage!

Trust me he isnt

No I actually think Thwackey get far too much hate, I didn't mind it when I used it.

@@emperorcubone I feel like he's better than Rillaboom, he could work well as a 2-stage

How Grovyle wasn't on this list?!

Guys, you're acting like I didn't cover this in the old video years ago. If you haven't seen it, you'll be pleased with the rankings...

@@emperorcubone Apologies, probably haven't watched the video yet

Yes, some of these are fine as standalone Pokemon, but their job as middle evolutions must be taken into account, so thank you for understanding the exercise! :)

I'd agree with that...

Yessss grovyle so cool

@@sergeynazaro1768 Treecko is the name of my Gecko. I prefer Grovyle over Sceptile.

I felt so bad for Hop once I saw it in our mid-game rival battle, and of course poor Sobble...

Even so, there's like 13 better ways they could have made a pixel cocoon then just copy pasting the head of the previous stage on top...