Over the past few decades, Ash has been able to build quite a strong collection of Pokémon. He is an inspiring figure to gamers because of this, as his journey is certainly grueling at times, yet he is managing to find success. These said Pokémon of course do range in power and personalities, but they all offer unique contributions to him. However, an interesting aspect of them that is worth exploring is their overall intelligence.
that does not make these Pokémon unlikable, as a lot of them are actually fan favorites. What also helps is that the smartest of his Pokémon make up for those shortcomings, as they not only can use it to succeed in battle but also fix outside situations as well. Every Pokémon he has matters to him immensely, but that does not mean they are all little Einsteins.
Gible
Gible is not necessarily the brightest of Ash's Pokémon. Although he can be effective in battle because of his combative nature, he has a hard time grasping what goes on around him.
He also does not have control over his actions at times, as he constantly bites things around him. This even includes his fellow Pokémon. Although he does not mean to cause problems, he always seems to if not monitored.
Muk
When first looking at Muk, it is easy to believe that he must be cold and a bad guy. Yet, this is not the case when it comes to Ash's, as this specific Muk is immensely loving and constantly wants to spend time with his owner.
However, Muk's love for humans is a bit misguided, as he is known for hugging Ash's biggest enemies in the series, too. He even does this to Team Rocket ! Although it can be cute at times, his inability to understand why this is a problem does not make him the smartest of the bunch.
Totodile
Totodile is one of the most lovable Pokémon in the entire series, as he is a starter Pokémon of Generation II. Although he becomes the ever so powerful Feraligatr, he is not very intelligent as Ash's Pokémon.
Keep in mind, he's essentially a little kid, as he is full of energy and often looks to have fun. He even dances in battle quite frequently, which does agitate Ash regularly. However, he becomes very effective when he focuses on the task at hand, so it makes sense that Ash keeps him around.
Snorlax
The main issue that comes with measuring Snorlax's intelligence is that he just does not socialize much. He is known for primarily sleeping and eating, but his interactions with others are rather short.
Yet, his constant hunger actually makes him confuse certain Pokémon as food, too. This makes it harder to label him as among the most intelligent of Ash's Pokémon, sadly. Yet, he is a complete beast in battle, so that makes him very useful.
Corphish
Corphish is another Pokémon from Ash's collection that provides humor with its actions. However, it seems to cause more problems than good, as it is prone to attacking anything it sees in its path. It is out of self-defense usually, too.
It also has a deep love for Ash, but he is not necessarily the best with the other Pokémon. However, it is still very useful when it comes to battle, due to its strong personality and constant desire to fight.
Oshawott
Oshawott is certainly one of the cutest Pokémon that Ash catches in the series. An intriguing fact about him is that he knows when he can beat an opponent in battle, so he often shies away from the harder ones.
Although this can be frustrating for Ash, it does show that Oshawott is self-aware of his own ability. He also is a bit manipulative with other Pokémon, as he aims to get on Ash's good side as often as he can. Although it is a bit of a toxic quality, it does show he can outsmart others.
Gengar
Catching Gengar is one of Ash's biggest accomplishments in the series. This is because Gengar is not only one of the most powerful Pokémon in the entire series, but also simply iconic.
When it comes to the specific Gengar that Ash has, he is certainly an aficionado of pranks. This requires him to be clever, so that enhances his reputation of being intelligent. Yet, his inability to control his anger at times does hurt him a bit in this regard.
Charizard
Charizard is among the strongest of Ash's Pokémon in the entire series. However, the road to getting Charizard to listen to him is a very challenging one for Ash. Charizard is smart enough to be extremely disobedient, as he recognizes his own strength.
Although he does eventually become a very useful asset in Ash's arsenal, he shows intelligence in other ways, too. He adapts well when it comes to battles, as he is able to change his tactics with ease.
Noctowl
When Noctowl makes his debut in the series, it is clear from the start that it is very intelligent. It is able to use its psychic powers as an advantage, while also helping Ash in the process, too.
Noctowl being smart makes sense simply by its regal appearance as well. This element allows it to find success whilst in battle, which of course meshes well with its natural power.
Pikachu
Pikachu seems to be the smartest Pokémon of Ash's. He is the first one that Ash gets, so he understandably is the most trained. This, in turn, allows him to be the leader amongst the group.
He clearly possesses a high degree of empathy, which makes him a valuable asset when it comes to resolving conflict throughout the series. All of these factors are also why he is the true face of the franchise and easily the most intelligent Pokémon out there.
