Every few years, The Pokémon Company introduces fans to a new generation of games and approximately 100 new creatures to capture and train. Naturally, every generation of Pokémon will include some that are more memorable than others. Generation 3 Pokémon are no exception to this rule, with a few fan favorites... and a few Pokémon that are only recognized by dedicated fans.
Of course, every generation of Pokémon games introduces a fresh set of starter and Legendary Pokémon. Starter and Legendary Pokémon are obviously some of the most widely recognized Pokémon from any generation. Therefore, it is more interesting to explore which Generation 3 Pokémon outside of these groups still managed to earn a place in players' hearts.
Some of the most intriguing Pokémon discovered over the years are the Pokémon that change forms for any reason. One Pokémon that players were introduced to in Generation 3 that changes form regularly is Castform. Castform is known as the 'weather Pokémon' and alternates between 4 distinct forms (normal, sunny, rainy, snowy) depending, of course, on the weather.
In the original Generation 3 Pokémon games, Castform is obtained as a reward from the Weather Center. Any Pokémon fans who made it this far into the games will surely remember this gift.
While there are a number of multi-stage Ghost-type Pokémon as of 2022, Generation 3 introduced fans to Dusclops and Duskull as the first Ghost-type evolutionary line since Gastly, Haunter and Gengar. As of the release of Pokémon's Generation 3, Duskull was the second Ghost-type Pokémon capable of evolving past this first stage.
Admittedly, Nincada's final evolution, Shedinja, exhibits one of the best Bug/Ghost dual-typing, but the line still features only one Pokémon with Ghost-typing. Ghost-type Pokémon fans will quickly recall Dusclops and Duskull as thrilling additions to Generation 3.
While younger Pokémon fans may first envision Galar's rock-and-roll style Zigzagoon, older fans will generally think of the classic Normal-type Pokémon introduced in Generation 3. Zigzagoon was often one of the first Generation 3 Pokémon that players would catch after acquiring their starter Pokémon due to the fact that it commonly appears in the tall grass on early routes in the games.
Fortunately, Linoone is an incredibly fast Pokémon, so players who captured Zigzagoon early on could utilize this speed very quickly. Beyond this, both Zigzagoon and Linoone are curious Pokémon and may demonstrate the Pickup ability, allowing them to randomly acquire items both in and out of battle. Free items can save players from quite a few tricky situations early on in their travels.
Ralts could perhaps be one of the most frustrating Pokémon introduced in Generation 3, simply due to the nature of how it appears in the games. Players first encounter Ralts early on in their journey, as Wally (one of the player's rivals) catches Ralts as his first Pokémon on Route 102. Once players have seen Wally capture his level 5 Ralts on Route 102, it seems reasonable to expect that the player may also encounter a level 5 Ralts on Route 102.
However, Ralts appears very rarely with a mere 4% appearance rate. Beyond this, Ralts only ever appears as a level 4 Pokémon, making it impossible for players to capture a level 5 Ralts. Players who are unaware of this may accidentally miss their opportunity to catch Ralts by passing up a level 4 Pokémon in the hopes of finding a level 5 instead. Finally, players can only obtain Kirlia and Gardevoir in the Generation 3 games by leveling up their level 4 Ralts.
Pokémon fans will surely remember the drama of facing Norman: the Petalburg Gym Leader and the player character's father. While a Normal-type Pokémon Gym may not sound particularly intimidating, the Petalburg Gym is the fifth gym that players face in the Generation 3 games and Norman utilizes incredibly hard-hitting Pokémon.
Norman's strongest Pokémon, of course, is an overpowered Slaking. While Fighting-type Pokémon with high health may be able to take on Slaking, players who neglect their type matchups in this gym battle will surely remember Slaking as one of their strongest opponents from Generation 3.
Any casual Pokémon fan will recognize Pikachu, the original electric mouse Pokémon. However, Pikachu is not the only adorable electric mouse in the franchise. Fans are introduced to a new Electric-type rodent in nearly every generation of Pokémon games. In Generation 3, The Pokémon Company actually introduced fans to one of the cutest pairs of Pokémon seen thus far: Plusle and Minun.
While neither Plusle nor Minun are the most powerful Pokémon that players will encounter in Generation 3, these two Pokémon are interesting in that they are specifically designed to play as a pair. Pokémon trainers facing a partner battle in any of the Generation 3 games should expect to encounter a Plusle and Minun pairing.
Roselia is a Grass/Poison dual-type Pokémon first introduced in Generation 3 and happens to be one of the most popular Pokémon played by Aroma Lady trainers. Seeing as Roselia is depicted with two large roses for hands, it should come as no surprise that this Pokémon is favored by trainers who are fond of flowers and pleasant scents.
Roselia was also introduced as a single-stage Pokémon originally but was so popular with fans that it received both a pre-evolved form and an evolved form in later generations. While the single-stage version of Roselia introduced in Generation 3 may not be quite as popular now as Budew or Roserade, Roselia certainly paved the way for the rest of its evolutionary line.
More often than not, fans of the Generation 3 Pokémon games will envision Wailmer and its evolved form, Wailord, as the perfect Pokémon for the move Surf. Wailmer in particular is an incredibly cute Water-type Pokémon introduced in Generation 3 and appears very commonly in most bodies of water in Hoenn.
Despite how common Wailmer may be, it evolves into Wailord, which has the highest base HP of any Water-type Pokémon. Considering the defensive and transport abilities offered by these Pokémon, it is hard to imagine Generation 3 without them.
Numel is an adorable Fire-type Pokémon introduced in Generation 3 as a signature Pokémon for Team Magma grunts. However, Numel is also utilized by Flannery, the Lavaridge Gym Leader, in Pokémon Emerald. Beyond this, Numel can be found commonly on Route 112, Fiery Path, and Jagged Pass as one of a limited number of wild Fire-type Pokémon in the Generation 3 games.
Pokémon fans trying to incorporate Fire-type Pokémon into their team later on in the games will surely remember Numel as an easy choice. Beyond this, Numel evolves into Camerupt, a very intimidating Fire-type Pokémon prized by Team Magma Leader Maxie.
One particularly intriguing Pokémon first introduced in Generation 3 is only available to players who successfully defeat both the Elite Four and Hoenn's Pokémon Champion, Steven. Beldum alone is not the most impressive Pokémon introduced in Generation 3, but Beldum evolves into Metang and, eventually, Metagross. Metagross is well-respected by fans as the pseudo-Legendary Pokémon with the highest base Attack and base Defense stats of all of the pseudo-Legendary Pokémon.
Admittedly, Metagross shares the record for highest pseudo-Legendary base Attack with Salamence, but Metagross's exceedingly high Defense stat combined with its impressive Attack stat ensures that Pokémon fans treasure this Pokémon even in 2022.
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