All of Ash’s Pokemon that he releases in the anime

Despite sharing memorable moments with him, many of Ash’s Pokemon were released in the anime. In the journey of becoming a Pokemon Master, he traverses different regions and manages to get iconic monsters. However, he frees some of them by giving them to a friend or releasing them in the wild. By doing so, the anime shows how strong of a character Ash Ketchum is.

Some events in the animation have left fans in awe of Ash’s decision to abandon his Pocket Monsters. Although he believes his partners will be fine on their own, it has saddened some fans.

That said, this article details each of Ash’s Pokemon that he lets go of in the anime.

All of Ash’s Pokemon that he frees in the animated series

1) Butterfree

Ash giving up on Butterfree (Image via TPC)

One of the saddest moments for anime fans is when Ash allows his Butterfree to go with a pink-colored female Butterfree. He tells his butterfly to be with the female form because he sees that it is in love. This incident occurs in the Bye Bye Butterfree episode of the Pokemon Indigo Disk series. Among all of Ash’s Pokemon, the release of his Butterfree is emotionally overwhelming.

In the episode, Ash Ketchum bids farewell to his beloved monster for its happiness, showing fans a different side of his personality. It reflects his wisdom and kindness, as he allows Butterfree to go with its newly found love.

2) Haunter

Haunter is one of Ash's Pokemon (Image via TPC)

The Ghost vs. Esper episode from the Indigo Disk animated series shows us what kind of character Ash is. He needs a Pokemon on his team to fight Sabrina, a Gym Leader of Saffron City. She is a strong leader, making the battle against her challenging. However, Ash finds a Haunter to face her in the episode. He manages to win but decides to leave his Haunter with her.

While battling the Gym Leader, Haunter demonstrates outstanding performance, but it doesn’t fail to amaze Sabrina with its silly pranks. The mischievousness of the Ghost and Poison-type Pokemon lights her up and makes her smile after a long time.

This makes Ash feel that his Haunter would be much happier if it stayed with Sabrina instead. For this reason, it becomes the second Pokemon Ash disowns.

3) Larvitar

Larvitar becomes a dangerous Rock and Dark-type Tyranitar when it reaches its final stage. However, the Larviatar that Ash has in the anime is technically not Ash’s Pokemon. He takes care of the creature to keep poachers away before releasing it to its mother at Mt. Silver in the Mother of All Battle episode from the Pokemon: Master Quest.

In the anime, Professor Elm gives Ash Ketchum an egg, which hatches into Larvitar. It bonds with Ash and his team while they travel to the mountain region. Professor Elm did not know that the egg he gave Ash to take to Mt. Silver would hatch before reaching there. This is how our protagonist gets a Larvitar in the anime, but only for a limited time.

4) Solgaleo

Solgaleo is one of Ash’s Pokemon in the anime, but he releases it into the wild as it can take care of itself in the Ultra Adventures of the Sun and Moon series. Although it needed help when it was a Cosmog (Nebby), it didn't require assistance later due to its Legendary status. What amazes fans is that Nebby feels more secure, loved, and cared for with Ash and his company.

Because of his and Lillie’s care, guidance, and support, Nebby evolves into one of the strongest of Ash's Pokemon in the series. Although he moves on with the idea of not including Solgaleo in his team, he never forgets their memories.

5) Pikachu

Ash visits a new location called Pikachu Village with his team in Pikachu's Goodbye from the Indigo Disk. Upon reaching the area, he sees that many Pikachu live there. The team of protagonists explores the village and finds that all Electric-type mouse Pokemon are happy with each other’s existence. This leaves our protagonist to ponder whether his Pikachu is fine being with him.

Because of this conflicting situation, he decides to let go of Pikachu with other species of its kind. He believes the decision he is making is the right one; however, he quickly finds he is wrong.

After leaving his most loved Pikachu, thinking it wouldn't return, it comes back to him. This moment is memorable since all Pikachu from the village cheer for Ash’s Pokemon to go back to its master.

6) Primeape

Ash never sees Primeape after leaving it to train with other Fighting types in Kanto. But, it doesn’t hurt to imagine their reunion happening sometime in the future. At first, Ash’s Pokemon was a mischievous Mankey, which evolves into a Primeape when Team GO Rocket members make him go mad and berserk.

The new form, a second-stage form before Annihilape’s evolution, becomes a critical teammate for Ash Ketchum in the Fighting Types tournament in Kanto. The character and his monster win the tournament; however, he leaves it there to train with its species in the Errand Endurance! of the Pokemon Journey series.

7) Charizard

There is no doubt that Ash and Charizard are best friends in the anime. However, to become close to each other, they had to sort out various differences. Charizard listens to Ash for the first time when he is unable to win against a trainer with Poliwrath. The night when the Fire-type creature loses the battle, Ash, Pikachu, and the team stay up all night taking care of it.

As time passes, Ash and Charizard win multiple battles. However, he contemplates that the monster can become more powerful if it hangs around and trains with its kind in the Charicific Valley in "Charizard's Burning Ambitions.” He sees that his partner is not as robust as other Charizards in the valley.

Due to this, the Flame Pokemon becomes another one of Ash’s Pokemon, which he ditches (for good reasons) in Charizard's Burning Ambitions in the anime.

8) Goodra

Ash’s Pokemon, Goodra, aims to become a supportive pillar of his family in the homeland. However, it isn't able to do that because of its personality and battle capabilities. In the X and Y series, the episode A Slippery Encounter shows Ash encountering Goomy. It then likes his presence and decides to be with him on his journey.

Once Goomy evolves into Goodra, it trains with Ash to grow stronger. However, Ash believes that Goodra should use its new power to help out his friends and families in the wetlands (Goodra’s homeland). For this, Ketchum encourages the monster to return to its original place.

9) Lapras

The stories of Lapras and Goodra are similar on one ground: separation from family members. Still, Lapras doesn’t suffer as big a loss as Goodra does in the anime. When Ash finds Lapras on the beach in the anime, it is just a baby washed up by the ocean current. Moreover, he sees other entities ganging up on it.

Ash manages to get rid of them with the help of his Squirtle and Pikachu. He promises that one day, Lapras will meet its family on Orange Island. To make this dream come true, Ash and his friends rescue Lapras’s mother from Captain Crook and Team Rocket by defeating them. Later, Ash unites the family in the Pokemon Journey series.

10) Pidgeot

Ash’s Pokemon Pidgeot has to protect its flock from the attacks of multiple wild Spearows led by a fierce Fearow. This Fearow is the same Spearow that Ash unsuccessfully tried catching as a trainer for the first time.

In a desperate situation to protect its family members, Pidgeotto evolves into Pidgeot. Since the latter is much more powerful than the former, it decides to be with its family to safeguard them again. All these incidents take place in the 81st episode of the Pokemon anime.

11) Squirtle

Ash’s Pokemon Squirtle returns to the classic glass-wearing Squirtle Squad, where it is the leader. Before inviting the leader to join his team, Ash and his friends had helped them in the past against Team Rocket attacks. Their bravery wins its heart and it decides to join Ash on his adventure.

However, Ash recognizes that the squad is incomplete without his Squirtle, and they need it more than he does. As a result, Ash Ketchum does what he feels is rational. He tells it to be with its friends in The Fire-ing Squad!

12) Greninja

Greninja is one of Ash's Pokemon (Image via TPC)

Greninja is the last of Ash’s Pokemon that he relinquishes in the Pokemon series XYZ. The Dark and Water-type species is Ash's reliable fighter in the animation. In fact, their relationship triggers a unique evolution-like state, making his Greninja much more robust.

Nonetheless, Ash gives up on Greninja because it plays an important role in eliminating the roots rather than being around him. Even Zygarde requests the frog-like entity to help fight against the roots, so he releases it in the 139th episode.