Baby Pokemon are considered useless in battle by most fans of the Pokemon franchise. They serve no purpose except to be weaker pre-evolutions of previously existing Pokemon. But the games are about more than battling; they're about the friends a trainer makes along the way. Baby Pokemon are awfully cute, and it's rewarding to see them grow up. Introduced in Johto, every game has received new baby Pokemon for a total of 19 as of the time of this writing.
Updated May 5, 2023, by Ben Painter: Baby Pokemon are quite useless when it comes to battle, but what they do have going for them is their cuteness. In pretty much every Pokemon game, the trainer will receive an egg that will hatch a baby Pokemon. In HeartGold & SoulSilver, gamers receive a Togepi; in Diamond & Pearl, the player gets a Happiny and a Riolu. Their pre-evolved form is somewhat of a sleeping dragon. A lot of those lovable creatures can evolve into powerful and useful Pokemon that gamers can use in their teams, and they often require little effort. This update adds the remaining nine Baby Pokemon, ranking them in order of their usefulness and design.
19 Chingling
Chimecho was introduced in Generation 3, based on a Japanese wind bell. In Generation 4, GameFreak decided to give it a pre-evolution. This came in the form of a baby Pokemon, Chingling, with a bell design which makes perfect sense.
However, Chingling offered very little to the franchise. Unlike Roselia, another Gen 3 Pokemon that received a pre-evolution in Gen 4, Chimecho didn't receive an evolved form along with Chingling. This Psychic-type evolution line is not a very solid one, so it takes the place of bottom on this list.
18 Igglybuff
While its evolution is nowhere near the tier relevance of Pichu, Jigglypuff can still tear it up with the best of them. As such, why shouldn't the singing ball monster get a baby form?
Igglybuff, a Normal/Fairy type, is a lot like its evolution in the fact that it loves to sing, but also has the unique distinction of literally never being able to stop bouncing if it ever starts. Do not use Igglybuff as a basketball — dire consequences will ensue.
17 Cleffa
This Fairy-type is on par with Igglybuff. Jigglypuff, and Clefairy, and their evolutions have been entwined since their debuts in Pokemon Red & Blue. Cleffa gets the edge as Clefable tends to be more useful than Wigglytuff, with solid stats and an impressive moveset.
Metronome is always a fun move, as gamers never know what they're going to get; it could be a game-winner. Pairing this with some devastating Fairy-type moves, Clefable can be a monster in a playthrough.
16 Wynaut
Wobbuffet is a bit of a weird Pokemon that many fans consider gimmicky, and who somehow has a niche in Ubers. He has a son, and his name is Wynaut. Wynaut features the same vibe as Wobbuffet, featuring the same black tail (that is likely the actual Pokemon that's in control) and body style.
Wynaut is very cute and features arms on its ears because...well, Wynaut? The baby Psychic-type Pokemon is also consistently featured in the anime, partly because of its adorable design.
15 Mantyke
Mantine was introduced in Generation 2, and continuing the trend, it got a baby Pokemon in Generation. There is no real reason for this, as they offer little in battle.
Like its evolution, Mantyke is a Water/Flying type, which is useful type as long as players avoid any form of electricity. It has an interesting method of evolution too. Gamers must have a Remoraid in their party to evolve Mantyke into Mantine. Though it's not very strong, its design is very cute; after all, who doesn't love a little manta ray?
14 Smoochum
Smoochum is a Pokemon whose whole gimmick is kissing...and it only learns Sweet Kiss at level 36, even though it evolves into Jynx at level 30. Very strange. Smooch is just a small version of its evolved form, which has been somewhat blacklisted in the anime for its controversial design.
Regardless, Smoochum has a great Ice-Psychic typing, which is very underused. It's a shame this typing is wasted on such a forgettable line. Only Mr. Rime and Calyrex have this typing in addition to Smoochum. Jynx is crying out for an evolution, just like Electabuzz and Magmar received in Diamond & Pearl.
13 Bonsly
One of the cutest baby Pokemon out there is the pre-evolution of Sudowoodo, Bonsly. The aptly named Pokemon is based on a potted Bonsai tree and must be taken great care of to evolve.
One fun factoid about this Rock-type is that it leaks water from its eyes to adjust its moisture levels. Basically, it's always crying. This makes it even more adorable than it already was, very fitting for a baby Pokemon. Since Sudowoodo is iconic as the fake tree that blocks the player's path in Gen 2, its pre-evolution deserves a decent ranking.
12 Mime Jr.
Ash's father Mr. Mine has a second son that his wife does not know about: Mime Jr.! The pre-evolution to Mr. Mime, Mime Jr. evolves when it knows the move Mimic.
While Mime Jr. is adorable in its own right, this Pokedex entry describes why this aspiring mime is just so perfect: "When this gifted mimic surprises an opponent, Mime Jr. feels so happy that it ends up forgetting it was imitating something." Mime Jr. has the hearts of many fans.
11 Togepi
Togepi is the original baby Pokemon, so it deserves a decent ranking. The Spike Ball Pokemon eventually evolves into Togekiss, but its cute design alone is enough to carry a lot of the weight.
Famously owned by Misty in the anime, this Pokemon is a fan-favorite. Togepi is a frequent Metronome user and in the show would use this move often to get the gang out of trouble, even if they didn't quite know it was him using the move. This Normal-type is a staple of the anime that is just too cute for words.
10 Budew
Budew's cute little flower bud design is iconic. Roselia needed some love after its Ruby & Sapphire debut, and it received that with a pre-evolved form in Budew and evolution in Roserade in Gen 4.
Roserade is a great Grass/Poison type. Even the Sinnoh Champion Cynthia has one on her team, with powerful poison and grass moves that will decimate many of the opposition. It's impossible not to love Budew's little smiling face. This Grass/Poison Pokemon will evolve with high friendship during the day, so take in Budew while it is still young.
9 Azurill
How much of a personal brand it is to just be crying in official artwork? The Normal/Fairy-type Azurill seems to know, because it seems to be sobbing. What happened? Who could hurt such a lovable blue ball?
Azurill spends all of its time bouncing on its own big, round tail. The Pokemon is absolutely adorable and evolves into Marill once it reaches full happiness — and the crying stops when it does. That's adorable. Azumarill follows on from Marill, and it becomes a strong Water/Fairy-type, a rare and exciting typing.
8 Happiny
Fans of the anime will remember Happiny as one of Brock's Pokemon, a small, pink, Normal-type baby Pokemon which had a surprising amount of strength. Gamers receive a Happiny in Hearthome City in Sinnoh. It hatches from an egg and can evolve into a Chansey and then to Blissey.
Blissey is a tank in the game and competitively. With its high defense and HP, it can tank moves. Its only weakness is Fighting, and even if it loses HP, it has Softboiled to heal itself right back up. This alone makes Happiny one of the more sought-after baby Pokemon.
7 Tyrogue
Tyrogue is one of the more interesting Pokemon on the list, as it has the option to evolve into three different evolutions of the player's choice. When it hits level 20, it can evolve into Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, or Hitmontop based on its attack and defense stats.
Due to the fact that its evolutions can't usually be found through normal gameplay, this makes Tyrogue a baby Pokemon that's relevant to have. Players may find themselves catching several of this Fighting-type, to get all the evolutions.
6 Munchlax
Received as the public's first taste of Generation 4, fans have the baby form of Snorlax, the Normal-type Munchlax. This little guy isn't as monstrous as its evolution, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't love to eat.
Munchlax eats a modest helping of its body weight per day, sometimes hiding food in its fur. This Pokemon can be evolved into an absolute unit when leveled up with high friendship. Snorlax is beloved by all fans, and Munchlax has had its fair share of the spotlight being used by Dawn in the anime.
5 Toxel
The latest addition on this list, and also the first since the massive wave of babies in Generation 4, Toxel made its debut in Pokemon Sword & Shield. And boy, did it make an impression.
Depending on its nature, this Electric/Poison type evolves into a Toxtricity in a low-key or amped form. This rocker Pokemon was on many teams in Generation 8 and made quite an impression, even making the cut for the list in Scarlet & Violet. Toxel just looks adorable, and gamers can even receive one early on in Route 5 as a gift Pokemon.
4 Pichu
While fans still get some sort of Pikachu clone every generation, Johto's electric mouse representative was actually a pre-evolution of the series mascot, and its name is Pichu. This tiny Electric-type Pokemon retains all of Pikachu's features, just in a smaller and cuter form.
While it is an incredibly weak Pokemon (it is a baby, after all), it can easily take out the likes of legendary heroes such as Marth and trained fighters like Little Mac in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Other important examples of Pichu include the Pichu brothers and Spikey-eared Pichu. It's safe to say this Pokemon has cemented its place in fan's hearts.
3 Magby
Magby and Elekid are paired heavily. Both made their debuts in Generation 2 after their evolved forms were part of the original 151 Pokemon. Both also received a much-needed evolution in Generation 4.
This Fire-type is a decent Pokemon to use. Gamers may receive one as an egg in Pokemon Crystal, with an increased chance of being shiny. Magby evolves into Magmar at level 30, and when traded holding a Magmarizer, it will reach its final form of a Magmortar, a Pokemon that literallly brings the firepower.
2 Elekid
Elekid gets the edge over Magby as its design is brilliant: a plug with a striking yellow and black design. Like its fire sibling, Elekid evolves into Electabuzz at level 30, and then into Electivire when traded with an Electrizer.
Electric-types are always needed in the games, and players should look no further with this line. Anime fans will remember Paul's Elekid and the damage it did to Ash's team as one of his strongest rivals. A well-deserved second place, but it doesn't quite have enough to reach the top spot.
1 Riolu
Without a doubt the best baby Pokemon in the franchise, this Fighting-type's design is perfect with its black and blue color scheme. Gamers receive it in egg form in Diamond, Pearl & Platinum, and it may be the best gift Pokemon in the franchise.
Ash himself had one of these during his final season in the anime, evolving it into the fan-favorite Lucario. It's the perfect Pokemon, with an amazing design and superb battle skills. Riolu has the most potential out of all the baby Pokemon.