I'm currently enjoying the latest iteration of the Pokemon franchise for the Nintendo Switch, and I wanted to contribute something Pokemon related to the world wide web, somehow. I then remembered that I don't have anything meaningful to contribute to the Pokemon content that is already out in the wild. So I'm gonna make a very self-indulgent top 5 list for my 5 favorite fighting type Pokemon.
Why fighting type? In a fictional world where your trained pets can wield the power of nature's elements, psychic powers and earth-destroying otherworldly abilities, I just really like the idea that my dog knows kung-fu and can punch you really hard.
Disclaimer: this is not a list for which Pokemon are the most competitively viable or statistically popular. These are just the musings of some random guy on the internet gushing about his punchy kicky children.
5. Hawlucha
I was an avid fan of professional wrestling when I was a young child. To me it was like seeing a live battle of superhumans; heroes and villains with striking personalities taking part in flashy, high-flying battles. Hawlucha's design is based heavily off of wrestling, particularly the Mexican Wrestling event known as Lucha Libre.
When I have him on my team, I can't help but imagine the fierce, high-flying superhero spirit embodied in this little guy. Fight on, little bird man. Fight on.
4. Lucario
Within this list, Lucario is probably the most popular within the whole fandom, and it's easy to see why. He has a great design of pointy spikes with blue and black stripes. Very cool, while still retaining that animal-like Pokemon quality.
He can also fire spheres of energy from his palms, ala hadouken. That's pretty rad.
3. Sirfetch'd
Ever since the original 151, I always had a soft spot for Farfetch'd. There's just something about a relatively regular looking bird that wields a leek as a sword that really resonated with me. So when I heard that the new game would finally give my boy the glow-up he always deserved, I was over the moon. Now he's a trained and distinguished knight bird, using his LANCE LEEK to smite all those who oppose him.
Also LOOK AT THEM EYEBROWS DAMN.
2. Falinks
There have been Pokemon in the past that have employed a sort of 'group' or 'collective' theme, like Dugtrio or Exeggcute, but none have been as creatively designed as Falinks, in my opinion.
Named after the phalanx formation, where a group of soldiers would line up close together and cover all sides with shields deployed, Falinks is a battalion of small Spartans, always sticking together and fighting as one. Don't be fooled by their cute appearance: these tenacious little tots will not give up a fight no matter what, as shown in their signature move "No Retreat", which raises all of its stats, but forbids the trainer from switching the Pokemon out.
They are fierce, they are small, they are a blessing.
Gif by @Lanbook on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lanbook/status/1203621481113980928
1. Marshadow
Next to fighting types, my second favorite Pokemon type would be ghost types. When I learned that there would be a new legendary Pokemon that was a fighting/ghost hybrid, I promptly lost my mind.
Then I saw him, and I knew that he was perfect.
He is a small, round, friend-shaped boy. The design choice to make his body flare up like fire and glow a vivid green was stupendous. He can also destroy you with killer Fist of the North Star-esque martial arts moves, and look away from you as your body explodes. Because he's just that cool.
He's my perfect ass-kickin' baby boy. His only flaw is that there is only one way to get a hold of him as of now: a digital code that was distributed for a limited time. GAME FREAK PLEASE, LET MY SON BE FREE.
Anyway that's it.
Cover image comes from Tom Salazar's video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiv5GEd0Zzc
