Every generation there are a handful of new critters added to the Pokemon series that represent the best that gen has to offer, and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are no different. Gen 9 introduced 114 new mons to the Pokedex including Paradox Pokemon, regional fakes, and the series' one-thousandth overall critter. With all of these great additions to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, it can be tough to narrow down Gen 9's best, but among this group, there are nine that stand out as the games' most memorable and best designed.

The best Pokemon of Gen 9 aren't necessarily the strongest creatures, but they represent the cream of the crop in terms of design, their role in the greater Pokemon world, and how impactful they are on the story of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. While mons like the starter trio and box art Legendaries are obviously going to be some of the most memorable given their presence in the games' marketing, the critters that can stand out even without heavy marketing are indicative of how good of creatures they really are. These mons represent the best of Gen 9 and deserve to be the critters players think of when considering Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

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The 9 Best New Pokemon of Gen 9

• Armarouge
• Ceruledge
• Mabosstiff
• Tinkaton
• Clodsire
• Dondozo
• Roaring Moon
• Gholdengo
• Ogerpon

Out of all the new Gen 9 critters shown prior to release, Armarouge and Ceruledge were two mons that immediately caught fans' attention as new Fire types in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. While humanoid designs can be controversial among Pokemon fans, these two became instant favorites due to their sleek, armored designs and unique signature moves. Tinkaton similarly became a fan-favorite due to its cute design and mischievously dark lore that paints this mon as a menace to the Corviknight population of Paldea.

Clodsire may not be the strongest mon of Gen 9, but it captured the hearts of players with its round shape and blank expression, becoming one of the best examples of a new regional evolution for an existing mon. Conversely, Dondozo is memorable not only for its False Dragon Titan battle alongside its partner Tatsugiri, but because this duo represents Game Freak's excellent design decisions for competitive battles in Gen 9. Dondozo and Tatsugiri were clearly designed for Pokemon VGC's double battle format since their abilities shine when they are both on the field at the same time, resulting in one of the most powerful combos in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

Paradox Pokemon were a major part of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's roster of new creatures and their role as past and future forms of previously introduced mons made them the subject of many fan artists. Out of all the Paradox Pokemon, Pokemon Scarlet's Roaring Moon stood out as the best of the bunch due to its intimidating prehistoric redesign for the already popular Salamence. While some mons like Flutter Mane and Iron Bundle may have been stronger, Roaring Moon still can pack a punch and has an awesome design to fall back on. Another great Pokemon from Gen 9 is none other than number 1000 in the Pokedex - Gholdengo, a Steel/Ghost creature that is as powerful as it is unique in terms of design and ways to obtain it.

The story of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is one of the best the series has seen in recent years due in part to the role Mabosstiff plays in it. Along the Path of Legends storyline, players will experience the touching story of Arven seeking the Herba Mystica to try and heal his sick Mabosstiff, causing many players to grow quite fond of this new critter. Similarly, The Teal Mask DLC features Ogerpon at the heart of its story, and the DLC's recounting of Ogerpon's tragic past coupled with its charming design and powerful battle potential makes it one of the best Legendaries of Gen 9.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available for Nintendo Switch.

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