5 popular Pokemon that Ash didn't catch

In the Pokemon anime, the protagonist Ash Ketchum caught plenty of Pocket Monsters during his decades of adventure. However, despite this fact, Ash either encountered and didn't catch or completely overlooked catching several fan-favorite Pocket Monsters. While he's still considered a master of his craft, many viewers are a bit bummed that Ash skipped over many beloved 'mons.

With all of this in mind, and with Ash's journeys taking a backseat for the time being, it might be fun to take a look at some of the Pokemon adored by fans that Ash never caught during his animated run.

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Five fan-adored Pokemon that Ash never caught in the anime

1) Eevee

Ash's friends have had an Eevee, but not Ash himself (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Eevee remains one of the most popular Pokemon of all time among fans based on its adorable appearance and its varied evolutions, and the creature has been featured heavily in animated properties with and without Ash. Still, despite multiple opportunities in both the anime and in movies, Ash never felt the need to get an Eevee of his own even when his companions like May and Serena did so.

It would have been interesting to see how Ash would have taken care of his Eevee and what he would've evolved it into, but perhaps there wasn't a definitive answer the showrunners could come to in those regards.

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2) Flygon

Ash never got a Flygon, though Goh did (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Flygon polls surprisingly high among Pokemon fans, likely due to its appearance as well as its Ground/Dragon type combination, among other things. Despite it being a hit with fans, the closest Ash ever got to a Flygon was when he was around the one owned by his friend and fellow trainer Goh. It's unfortunate because Flygon could've been useful even early on in Ash's journeys.

Catching a Trapinch and evolving it into Vibrava and then Flygon would have been a nice thing to see as well, but it seems as though Flygon wasn't in the cards for Ash even when he was adventuring through the Hoenn region where it and its prior evolutions were initially introduced.

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3) Mewtwo

Mewtwo proved to be too strong for even a skilled trainer like Ash (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Mewtwo's popularity across the Pokemon franchise has made it something of a poster creature for legendary Pocket Monsters in general, and its design, personality, and backstory remain some of the most compelling among fans. Despite this, and despite Ash having encountered it several times in both the anime and movies, our hero never successfully captured Mewtwo.

This task was accomplished by Red in the Origins limited series but even when Ash and Goh took on Mewtwo together in the Journeys series, the savage-hearted Mew clone proved to be too powerful, even with Ash's years of experience at his side.

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4) Latios/Latias

Ash and Hoopa ride Mega Latios (Image via The Pokemon Company)

In both the anime and two movies, Ash encountered and attempted to befriend the Eon Duo of Latios/Latias. While a Latias did follow him for a time in the anime after he nursed it back to health, Ash never made an attempt to capture it, understanding its task as the guardian of Alto Mare.

Latias eventually led Ash to meet Latios as well, who left with Latias but wasn't overly friendly with Ash. It's this defining moment that leads Ash to continue his journey after becoming the World Coronation Series Monarch, realizing that his quest to become a master was far from over, as he still had Pocket Monsters to meet and befriend and grow alongside.

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5) Ho-Oh

Ho-Oh was a symbol of the beginning of Ash's journey (Image via The Pokemon Company)

While not necessarily as popular as some other species that Ash encountered, Ho-Oh remains appreciated by many and is one of the most significant legendary creatures that Ash ever encountered. It appeared after Ash and Pikachu's first major ordeal in the anime's very first episode, creating a rainbow as it flew overhead as Ash and Pikachu survived a fearsome Spearow attack.

Ho-Oh made another appearance in the "I Choose You!" retelling of the first episode. However, Ash never had the opportunity to battle, befriend, or outright catch the legendary monster that was inextricably linked to his first steps on the path of becoming a master.