Summary
Rivalries inPokemonare always easy to hype up. Blue is constantly putting down Red before becoming champion. Silver and Gold are two opposite ends of the same coin. However, did you know that Pokemon have rivalries too? Some species of Pokemon just hate each other, while other clashes are forever ingrained in our heads, thanks to the anime.
Pokemon rivalries can be a result of a variety of different factors. Some Pokemon naturally represent the polar opposite of others. Meanwhile, other feuds are born in battle or from their own place on the food chain. Here are ten Pokemon species that have rivalries with each other.
10Zangoose And Seviper
Born To Fight
Zangoose and Seviper are two Pokemon that were first introduced in the Hoenn Region. ThesePokemon rivalsare separated in the original Ruby and Sapphire copies. Together, these Pokemon form a story about two species that are constantly at odds with each other.
Not only has each Pokemon adapted to counter the other one, but they have been fighting for so many generations that the actual reason for their rivalry is lost to time. Both Pokemon also have scars to indicate their impact on each other.
9Pikachu And Mimikyu
When Jealousy Strikes
Pikachu is the most iconic Pokemon of all time. It’s the mascot for the franchise, and in-universe, it is also revered as one of thecutest Pokemon of all time. In Alola, one Pokemon takes its jealousy to a new level.
This is Mimikyu, who wears a costume that resembles Pikachu in hopes that it will receive the same level of love as the yellow mouse. In the anime, this rivalry is pushed even further, with Mimikyu downright hating Pikachu and even defeating it multiple times.
8Kyogre And Groudon
Plunging The World Into Darkness
Kyogre and Groudon are the titular Pokemon featured in Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire. Kyogre represents the sea, while Groudon represents the land. So, naturally, both creatures are at odds with each other due to the nature of their powers.
This rivalry is so bad, that when both Pokemon come clashing, they risk bringing the entire world down with them. It takes Rayquaza descending from the clouds to put a stop to their bickering. Though as far as fight locations go, Kyogre would have won that fight.
7Tyranitar And Duraludon
A Heated Kaiju Rivalry
Some rivalries are just downright cool. Tyranitar and Duraludon are both titans of the Pokemon world and in Paldea they both live in the exact same territory. This leads to constant confrontation between the two species as they fight for land.
Their rivalry also goes a bit further with their designs. Duraludon and Tyranitar have a kaiju-like relationship, with the former’s design being compared to Mechagodzilla and Tyranitar often being the original Godzilla of the franchise.
6Tinkaton And Corviknight
Masters Of Land And Sky
Two Pokemon species that absolutely hate each other are Tinkaton and Corviknight. It is canon that Tinkaton uses their hammers to launch rocks at unsuspecting Corviknight in the sky.
It is also known that the hammers themselves are made out of the same steel as plundered from their victims. This includes Corviknight but also extends to Bisharp and Pawniard. This is also the reason that the Corviknight cabs do not exist in Paldea, as it become too dangerous even for humans to traverse this way.
5Cresselia And Darkrai
Light And Dark
Some Pokemon don’t necessarily hate each other, but their rivalries stem from what they represent in nature. Darkrai is literally a nightmare-fueled Pokemon that causes humans to have bad dreams. These nightmares are actually quite deadly if left unchecked.
Meanwhile, Cresselia is the polar opposite, with the ability to dispel nightmares and replace them with good dreams. This creates a rivalry like no other in the Pokemon world, where one is the natural solution to the problems caused by the other. Together, they form balance.
4Heatmor And Durant
The Food Chain Strikes
Some Pokemon don’t just hate each other but eat each other instead. Heatmor and Durant havea predator-prey relationshipsimilar to that of real-world ant eaters and ants. Similar to this relationship, Heatmor is specifically built to take on Durant.
With Durant having a four times weakness to fire, Heatmor can easily gobble them up to survive. Meanwhile, Durant are strong Pokemon that work together as a unit to survive being eaten. It’s a rivalry born more out of necessity rather than actual malice. It’s survival of the fittest.
3Arceus And Giratina
God And The Devil
When legendary Pokemon clash, it’s always going to lead to disastrous outcomes. However, what happens when the creator of all things has beef? Arceus is essentially the God of all existence in the Pokemon world, with the ability to create matter.
Meanwhile, Giratina spawns from the distortion world, a dark pit where only Giratina exists. In addition to this, Giratina is not only demonic in appearance but has been said to represent anti-matter. Naturally, the two have conflicting attributes, with Giratina siding with Volo during the true final fight in Legends Arceus.
2Mew And Mewtwo
The Original Vs The Clone
The Pokemon Movie did a good job of establishing a conflict between Mewtwo and Mew. For starters, Mewtwo is cloned using a fossil of the original. This leads to Mewtwo questioning his own existence. Does he truly have a self, or is he just a cheap knockoff of the original?
While trying to find his own purpose,Mewtwo clones other Pokemonto prove that clones are not inferior to natural ones. This also brings both Mew and Mewtwo clashing together as they both exhibit similar powers.
1Reshiram And Zekrom
Not All Fights Are Black And White
One of the most detailed Pokemon rivalries is that of Reshiram and Zekrom. While both Pokemon are their own separate entities, they both originally inhabited one body. This, however, did not last long as their conflicting beliefs led to them splitting apart.
The legendaries of the Unova region represent conflict and opposing ideals. Both Pokemon are meant to mirror the symbolism of Ying and Yang, with not all conflicts being black and white. Both Pokemon were born together and now are drawn to each other in conflict.
