Nidoking
My all-time favorite. Great design, absurd move coverage, and you can snag him before the second gym.
Fun
Ultimate Pokémon squad
Six picks, ordered by squad position.
Heracross
Somehow cute and hits incredibly hard. Heracross was my favorite on Ash's team and Moxie makes him an absolute menace once he gets rolling.
Starmie
Insane special coverage. I used Starmie to single-handedly dismantle Lance's entire team. The shiny doesn't hurt either.
Hydreigon
My favorite pseudo-legendary and the nod to King Ghidorah almost makes up for the grind to evolve him.
Aerodactyl
My favorite fossil Pokémon. That first anime appearance was unforgettable and he's always a treat to get your hands on in any Gen 1 run.
Galarian Weezing
My daughter Eloise goes by Weezy, so this one was non-negotiable. I've always had a soft spot for poison types, and the Galarian fairy variant felt right for her. Neutralizing Gas is also just one of the most fun abilities in the game.