He wants to be the very best — like no one ever was. Pokémon‘s beloved protagonist, Ash Ketchum, has encountered and captured numerous Pokémon in the anime’s 26-year-long run. On April 1, 1997, in Pokémon‘s debut episode, “Pokémon — I Choose You!,” Ash was gifted his first-ever Pokémon from Professor Oak — a very reluctant and stubborn Pikachu.
After gaining Pikachu’s trust following the disbanding of an angry flock of Spearow, the determined then-10-year-old goes on to pursue the title of Pokémon Master. When Ash and Pikachu’s blossoming friendship takes form, the Pallet Town native and his newfound Pokémon partner set out on a region-wide journey to “catch ’em all.”
Although Ash doesn’t quite “catch ’em all,” he does offer a valiant attempt. During his travels in the Kanto Region, Ash catches 30 Tauros in a banned episode known only as “EP035.” It was forbidden to air due to the usage of handguns throughout. In this untitled episode, which leaves a major plot hole in the English dub, Ash catches all 30 of his Tauros in the Safari Zone.
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How many Pokemon has Ash caught?
Including those 30 Tauros, Ash has officially owned 83 Pokémon. This staggering amount includes any Pokémon that Ash has caught, owned, or taken on from other trainers — as well as those released into the wild. Apart from the permanent teammates, Ash temporarily held four Pokémon, traded two away, gave one away, and traveled with four at different stages in the anime. Although he has officially owned 83 Pokémon, he has “technically” owned 93 Pokémon overall — including the temporary tag-a-longs. Within those 93 Pokémon, Ash has owned at least one Pokémon of every elemental type.
Without further ado, here’s a full chronological list of Ash’s Pokémon in the anime:
Kanto/Indigo League and Orange League
- Pikachu
- Butterfree
- Pidgeot
- Bulbasaur
- Charizard
- Squirtle
- Kingler
- Primeape
- Muk
- Tauros (x30)
- Lapras
- Snorlax
Johto League
- Heracross
- Bayleef
- Quilava
- Totodile
- Noctowl
- Donphan
Hoenn League/Battle Frontier
- Swellow
- Sceptile
- Corphish
- Torkoal
- Glalie
Sinnoh League
- Staraptor
- Torterra
- Infernape
- Buizel
- Gliscor
- Gible
Unova League
- Unfezant
- Oshawott
- Pignite
- Snivy
- Scraggy
- Leavanny
- Palpitoad
- Boldore
- Krookodile
Kalos League
- Greninja
- Talonflame
- Hawlucha
- Goodra
- Noivern
Alola League
- Rowlet
- Lycanroc
- Incineroar
- Naganadel
- Melmetal
Galar League
- Dragonite
- Gengar
- Lucario
- Sirfetch’d
- Dracovish
- Mimey/Mr. Mime
Ash has certainly come a long way, gaining so much experience as a Pokemon trainer while searching far and wide for adventure. At the end of the 25th season of Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series, Ash continues to reach master status when his storyline concludes. This shift makes way for new trainers that fans of the anime series can follow going forward.
The Pokemon universe continues on with new heroes and adventures in Pokémon Horizons: The Series, the 26th season of Pokemon episodes, which debuted in April of 2023.
