Throughout the many years of Ash Ketchum’s Pokémon journey, he’s traveled alongside many different people. These companions have helped Ash to grow as a person, whether they be fellow Pokémon trainers, Pokémon coordinators, or some other Pokemon enthusiast. Here we are going to review some of Ash’s closest companions and rank them based on their Pokémon expertise, how much they helped Ash grow as a person, and the overall impact they had on the story of the Pokémon anime.

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7 May

     The Pokemon Company International

May would prove to be an exceptional Pokémon coordinator despite being the daughter of the Petalburg Gym Leader. Many believed May would follow in her father’s footsteps, though after an encounter involving a Tentacool, May would grow to dislike Pokémon. After choosing Torchic as her starter, May would eventually grow to admire Pokémon coordinators and the contests they competed in and wished to join.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

Having grown with such a dislike of Pokémon, May didn’t have much knowledge of how to train her Pokémon or help them use attacks, so Ash would take on a mentor role for May, a shift from how Ash usually is portrayed alongside his companions. Though the two of them would sometimes disagree, they would always work together to help each other succeed in their dreams, with May joining Ash in his return to Kanto so that she could participate in Pokémon contests there as well. May would grow to be well renowned in the Coordinator field, with others knowing her as the “Princess of Hoenn.”

6 Goh

Goh’s fascination with Pokémon began with a chance encounter with the legendary Pokémon, Mew. After having this encounter at such a young age, Goh initially claimed that his first Pokémon would be Mew, though he would eventually relent after bonding with a Scorbunny. Goh would also initially be opposed to Pokémon battles, wishing to focus on catching as many Pokémon as possible, though witnessing Ash in action would teach him to appreciate battles.

Goh’s story arc of wishing to capture Mew would lead to quite the focus being placed on him and his addition to the Project Mew expedition team alongside Ash’s former rival Gary. Many fans had even speculated that with such a focus, Goh may have been being prepared to take over as the franchise’s main protagonist, with Goh even opting to leave Ash and set out on his own adventure, capturing as many new Pokémon as he possibly could. As we know now, however, Goh will not be the new main protagonist when Ash says goodbye to the series.

5 Dawn

Another Pokémon coordinator, Dawn, wished to follow in the footsteps of her mother, who had been one of the most excellent Pokémon coordinators the Sinnoh region had ever seen. Dawn would prove to be very similar to Ash, with both carrying a strong determination to succeed in their chosen field and keeping their resolve in the face of defeat.

Dawn would grow to have a close bond with Ash, with the two respecting one another’s styles and even admitting when it was necessary for the two to trade Pokémon, with Ash trading his Aipom and Dawn her Buizel. Dawn would also be an advocate for teamwork, often competing in double battles and teaching her Pokémon to combine their moves. Dawn would go on to become a successful coordinator, competing in tournaments in Sinnoh, Hoenn, and Johto.

4 Brock

Brock is the major obstacle in Ash’s journey to becoming a Pokémon Master. Brock is the Pewter City gym leader, acting in place of his father, and after helping to teach Ash that one must never give up in the face of opposition, Brock elects to join Ash on his travels and sets out to become a Pokémon Breeder before ultimately becoming a doctor.

Brock would remain at Ash’s side for a large portion of his adventure, starting with Kanto and rejoining Ash during the journeys into Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh before ultimately deciding to venture out on his own to become a Pokémon Doctor. One notable feature of Brock is that he is a tremendous cook, often taking on the responsibilities of feeding his companions as well as everyone’s Pokémon.

3 Iris

Iris grew up in the Village of Dragons and, as such, would grow up desiring to be a Dragon Master. Before leaving her village, she was gifted a baby Axew, and tasked with raising it to be a strong Haxorus. During her journey, Iris would begin a tense friendship with Ash after Ash had mistaken her for a Pokémon and attempted to catch her.

Iris would have some of the most significant growth during her story arc, learning to bond with her Pokémon as well as communicating with dragon types such as Druddigon and Dragonite. She would also face her fear of ice types, and eventually defeat her rival, as well as having the strength to challenge her former town’s gym leader. After Iris departed from Ash, she would go on to become the Unova regions Champion and compete in the Master’s Eight tournament alongside Ash.

2 Misty

One of the first people Ash encounters on his Pokémon journey, Misty, initially would have a contentious relationship with Ash, claiming only to be following him to ensure she is repaid for the bicycle Ash had accidentally destroyed. It would shortly be revealed that Misty was a gym leader for Cerulean City alongside her sisters. Throughout the journey, Misty grows close to Ash, with many fans speculating that Misty may have grown romantic feelings towards him. Although she would eventually leave Ash to return to her duties as a gym leader, Misty would still support Ash through his journey, being seen watching him compete in the Master’s Eight tournament.

1 Serena

Serena quickly became one of the most popular companions Ash has ever had because of how relatable she was. While most characters introduced in the show have a set purpose, Serena’s journey involves her not knowing what she wants to do right away and discovering what she wants to do in her Pokémon journey.

During the course of the group’s adventures, Serena learns that she wants to put smiles on people’s faces by becoming a Pokémon Performer. Using her Delphox, Pancham, and Eevee, Serena would set out to put on the performances of a lifetime, all the while supporting Ash in his journey to becoming a Pokémon Master. It is also revealed that Serena carries a crush on Ash, and it is implied that she actually kisses him when the two say their goodbyes. Many speculate that Serena and Ash eventually have a family, with their daughter becoming the main character in the future Pokémon series.