10 Terrible Pokémon That Could Be Redeemed With New Evolutions In Gen 10

_

By

Megan Peters

Published May 3, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT

Megan Peters is the Deputy Editor at ScreenRant for comics, anime, and manga. Her career in entertainment journalism spans more than a decade as she built coverage lanes at ComicBook under CBS and Paramount following years of freelancing. **

Megan is an experienced video host and event reporter. She previously hosted podcasts such as Anime Initative and is the current co-host of That Pokemon Podcast. 

You can find Megan on X or LinkedIn for contact. Read her reviews at Rotten Tomatoes. 

Sign in to your ScreenRant account

It feels like it's been ages since Pokémon Scarlet & Violet _expanded Nintendo's most beloved series for a new generation. The best-selling Switch title has kept fans entertained since November 2022, but soon, the time will come for gamers to redirect their focus. After all, Game Freak and Nintendo are putting the final touches on Pokémon**’s new era. It won't be long before the Switch 2 welcomes Pokémon Winds & Waves, and when it does, the game needs to rescue some of the franchise's most tragic monsters.

From overlooked faves to nerfed disasters, Pokémon has a number of unsung monsters on hand. You can find these neglected creatures across the franchise as regions like Johto and Hoenn churned out flops with disturbing speed. As Pokémon eyes its next generation, the series has a chance to right some of its most egregious wrongs. After all, a few evolutions could save some of Pokémon’s most forgettable monsters.

As Pokémon Winds & Waves looks to Southeast Asia for its tropical region, the game's untapped potential is on everyone's minds. From its underwater reefs to its diverse fauna and sweltering coasts, there are a number of Pokémon whose evolutions would thrive in this region if given the chance. Below, ScreenRant has broken down ten overlooked Pokémon who desperately need an upgrade in Generation 10, so you can check out the wallflowers below:

Sunflora

_

The wait for justice is still ongoing in the wake of Pokémon_’s second generation. While Nintendo solidified the franchise's success with Pokémon Gold & Silver, there's one monster who is still waiting to join the spotlight from Johto, and it is none other than Sunflora. Evolved from Sunkern, the pure Grass type has been a favorite with fans for ages, but their power set makes them all but impossible to use in modern day. With its stats well below most mid-tier monsters, Sunflora is begging for a third evolution in the wake of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet's special Artazon tribute. The series' next generation could give us that evolution with ease given its tropical climate, so here's to hoping this Generation Two curse ends ASAP.

Ledian

_ closeup of artwork for Ledian Secret Rare card from the Japanese Pokemon set Stella Miracle which is also coming to the English set Stellar Crown

It's hard to see a Pokémon with as much potential as Ledian go unfulfilled. First introduced in Generation Two, Ledian is broken in the worst way when it comes to base stats given their weak HP and paltry defense. Despite being hailed as a fighting champ, Ledian's attack stats are laughable at best if you compare them to other fully evolved monsters in Pokémon_. When paired with its notoriously disadvantaged typing, Ledian falls short of its sentai roots, but Pokémon Winds & Waves could change this. A major makeover for Ledian is way past due, after all.

Luvdisc

_ Truly fearsome.

There are few Pokémon in video game history that feel as unfinished as Luvdisc. The seafaring monster has been ignored for ages, and despite being a fully evolved creature, its stats are tragic. With a total base stat of 330, the monster is weaker than many first-stage evolutions in Pokémon_, and it cannot stand any longer. When Pokémon Winds & Waves debuts, the franchise has the perfect opportunity to bolster Luvdisc from a weak pure Water type to the Fairy/Water fans have dreamed about. Given the monster's obsession with eternal love, Luvdisc has an opportunity to become one of Pokémon’s cutest characters in ages, but this glow-up can only happen if Generation 10 grants our biggest wish.

Carnivine

_

Despite its threatening aura, Carnivine is all bark and no bite. The predatory plant has lived in Victreebel's shadow since it debuted years ago, and its meager stats are not impressive enough to give the monster a leg up. The pure Grass type is a slow-moving monster whose special attack capabilities are wasted by Carnivine's very restrictive ability. As Pokémon Winds & Waves_ prepares to bring fans to a region inspired by Southeast Asia, Carnivine has the perfect way to redeem itself with a major makeover. By embracing dual typing, Carnivine is just begging for a regional evolution that embraces the region's mangrove landscapes and its many carnivorous plants. So if Carnivine is overlooked in Generation 10, you might as well write the monster off entirely.

Kecleon

_

Once upon a time, Kecleon was a rather special Pokémon, but the franchise has since left the fan-fave monster in the dust. Following a massive nerf in Generation Nine, Kecleon is drifting aimlessly with players as its Protean ability no longer makes it a clutch pick. Saddled with a strange stat spread, Kecleon is now in need of a makeover befitting its cult-classic status. Pokémon Winds & Waves_ could easily upgrade the chameleon given its Southeast Asian origin, but it could also diversify Kecleon's typing by leaning into the region's dragon myths. The potential behind Kecleon is unmatched, but for now, that promise is far out of reach.

Qwilfish

_

Despite receiving its own Hisuian variant, the Pokémon_ franchise has yet to redeem Qwilfish. The underdog made its debut in Johto ages ago, and sadly, this original version has not been upgraded. The monster's sad reputation would benefit from a makeover, and Pokémon Winds & Waves could see this plan through easily. Given the game's Southeast Asian roots, its archipelago setting is the perfect place to diversify Qwilfish with a regional variant. It's high time Pokémon tapped into the monster's explosive history as its original design is similar to a naval mine. There is plenty of room to evolve this concept, and this exploration could turn Qwilfish into one of the most dangerous Water-types in the franchise.

Magcargo

_

For a Pokémon as charming as Marcargo, the poor monster does not have much going for it. Despite the creature's body temperature rivaling the sun, Marcargo is a defensive nightmare given its Fire/Rock typing. Not only is the evolution slow as a rock, but Marcargo's HP is pathetic given how breakable its defense stats are. There is no denying the Pokémon is a mechanical mess, but Pokémon Winds & Waves_ could save the Johto underdog with a type adjustment. Southeast Asia is littered with volcanoes, both underwater and atop the Earth, giving Nintendo two avenues to take with Marcargo's expansion. Fans would kill for a Fire/Steel variant of the monster, and this kind of redemption is honestly overdue at this point.

Tropius

_ Dominic's Tropius on the battlefield in the Pokémon anime.

It is a crime that Pokémon_ has treated Tropius as dirty as it has. Despite looking like a powerhouse, the monster has been overlooked entirely since debuting in Generation Three. While its base stat total is decent, Tropius' skills are stacked unevenly as its defense and speed totals fall short for modern players. The monster is too weak to mine its key Harvest ability, and of course, its Grass/Flying typing gives Tropius a slew of unfortunate weaknesses. As _Pokémon Winds & Waves _nears, its Southeast Asian roots are a perfect place for Nintendo to revitalize Tropius. The area is a haven for tropical fruits, a fact that suits this Generation Three beast just fine. So if we don't get a regional variant of Tropius from Pokémon ASAP, there's no hope for the beloved dinosaur.

Seviper

_

There's no doubt Seviper is tired of living in the shadows. Introduced in Generation Three, the sharp Hoenn snake has struggled to escape comparisons with Arbok since they were introduced. The monster's sleek design made Seviper a favorite with fans, but their uneven speed and defense stats turned Seviper into a problem before long. Hailed as a cruel predator that struck fear into the people of the Hoenn region, Pokémon Winds & Waves_ has the perfect opportunity to turn this monster into a local legend. The region is loaded with venomous snakes in real life, and vipers are deeply connected to local region myths. Pokémon fans would kill for a regional variant of Seviper that turns them into a sea serpent or titanic cobra. Honestly, the possibilities are endless here for the underrated beast.

Lumineon

_

There's a good reason nobody remembers Lumineon. The fish is often hailed as one of the franchise's most forgettable Pokémon, and that is because it is distressingly mid. Lumineon is average across all its stats, and given its pure Water typing, Lumineon pales in comparison when pitted against other fish available in Pokémon. Despite having access to Storm Drain, the monster's special attack stat is too low to make the ability worthwhile, but Generation 10 could fix the fish right up. The game's underwater exploration suits Lumineon perfectly as the fish is said to live on the seafloor alongside Lanturn and others. Pokémon Winds & Waves_ could easily give Lumineon a Fairy-type evolution that is exclusive to its region, giving this forgotten fish a new lease on life.