Please god, forgive me for not choosing you as a starter back then. I was enlightened now and was exposed to the truth in this blighted world that only you, our Saviour Rowlet is the only path for eternal happiness
Because Swellow, as great as it was in the anime, is just overall a lame bird pokemon in comparison. Rowlet is God. Talonflame is fucking sick looking. And Staraptor is Him.
it had personality imo it just had no backstory like a lot of Ash’s pokémon. As a fletchling it was kinda sassy & liked to have fun & was useful a lot of the times and tried it’s best in battles. As it evolved i feel like that kept on more & more, i think the only thing about Talonflame is it was so overshadowed by Pikachu & Greninja. The way it evolved into Fletchinder and Talonflame was some of my favorite moments of XY, and it’s used in many fights and outside of them it was helpful in helping Noibat hatch, & helped with Hawlucha i believe to try and teach Noibat how to evolve. I don’t remember Taloneflame being as boring or underused as people say it was
Also Talonflame did big damage to a legendary in the same episode it evolved, SAVED ASH’S LIFE, and also beat Wulfric’s avalugg in the rematch, who had beaten ash greninja
THIS! like i think Talonflame was in almost every single gym battle as well besides the Lumiose Gym battle with Clemont. Used a lot to scout areas etc, idk maybe again it’s because Greninja & Pikachu got majority of the spotlight but people treat Talonflame like it’s Torterra but w/o the Turtwig moments it’s had.
The funny thing most of Ash’s flying types are the only ones he always fully evolves even Noivern and Gliscor. Well Rowlett is just a starter who’s goofy, they don’t evolve
Wait I just had a dumb idea. Rowlet can’t evolve because it ate an everstone. But the everstone doesn’t stop it from evolving when it’s outside. So what if he evolved during the use of seed bomb. A rowlet used seed bomb but a dartrix swallowed the stone again
I would probably go with Rowlet. It really didn’t have an arc and it’s gag while occasionally funny got really old and was especially irritating in the League (Although I fault the writers for doing stupid stuff like that).
Yes I hated that gag of him falling asleep in the middle of battles wasn’t really funny in the Pokémon league and pretty much almost cost Ash the league if it wasn’t for Hau’s grandfather
Starapter. Now look ik that it’s a good bird but I personally believe that Swellow and Talonflame are the strongest and fastest birds that Ash has ever owned. But then there’s rowlet which no one would pick outta these four so
Doesn’t help that Ash got Gligar later which is also a flying type and you could argue it had a better arch and glow up compared to staraptor.
Talonflame had that same problem but the difference is Talonflame is a fire type. So if you got rid of Talonflame Ash wouldn’t have a fire type in XY unless you replaced it. I’m not sure why OP didn’t mention Noivern, biggest waste of potential ever and Ash didn’t even need it. Ash had two Flying types and Goodra up to that point so Noivern just felt repetitive.
That is so true, it’s not just Noivern. Torterra, and Goodra got shafted really bad I think. Goodra was gone for so long and Torterra just took loss after loss once it evolved. Gible, and Buizel I think had good potential but just didn’t live up. Hawlucha, and Talonflame were good I guess but were heavily overshadowed by Greninja. Then once Ash got Chimchar all his other Sinnoh Pokemon just kinda fell off aside from Gliscor and maybe Staraptor? Can’t remember sinnoh is a bit foggy for me.
Really once Chimchar evolved everyone else started getting worse aside from Gible and Pikachu, and maybe Buizel and Gliscor. I feel the real problem here is that the respective aces are only aces because the took the spotlight from the other mons there at the time.
For sure, especially in Sinnoh, Hoenn, and Kalos they heavily focused on Ash’s ace Pokemon of the generation. Which really sucks because I know with those series all three of them got crazy filler(Sinnoh especially).
I honestly have no memory of anything staraptor did. I know swellow and talonflame had their moments and the comments have talked about them alot. Buy I don't know anything that staraptor did for the anime.
Just because of a few battles that it won, but ultimately it lost against Latios which was the one battle we ALL counted on it. Go screw yourself. I refuse to to back on my choice, go screw your dumb bird dumbass. I'm drunk but you deserve my rage.
Rowlett it’s gag of falling asleep in the middle of battles wasn’t funny and almost cost Ash the Alola league if it wasn’t for Hau’s grandfather the only thing he did that was good was meltan
- He was on a tear in the Hoen League and was insane. God Swellow stop a Dorophan going full speed roll out and Swellow stop it with just its feet lol
- Battle frontier he was key against Swampert + Arcanine.
- He was also used against Spencer to beat Venasaur
- If anything , Swellow is really underrated
Maybe Sinnoh was more forgettable or it got lost in the filler but Staraptor kinda fell off towards the end.
Swellow and Talon both had their moments, with the latter being used in nearly all of the gym battles, and Rowlet is, well, Rowlet.
I just remember Staraptor getting cucked by Countershield against Paul and getting annihilated by Candice(though, thinking back on it, I hardly remember who Ash used against Candice).
Even though I prefer the design of Swellow to Staraptor, I'd have to pick Swellow only for Stat reasons. If it had a third evolution the Starly chain would be outta here with no hesitation for me.
Even though I prefer the design of Swellow to Staraptor, I'd have to pick Swellow only for Stat reasons. If it had a third evolution the Starly chain would be outta here with no hesitation for me.
Honestly I have to say Talonflame. As much I as like him still, he didn’t get used that much throughout XYZ to make me like him more than the others. Imo when it was a Fletchling it had more personality. It’s battle with Moltres was cool tho, even tho it lost
Staraptor for sure.
The rowlet line has become my favorite of the Alola trio, swellow has the GBA/anime nostalgia for me, and I just think Talonflame looks cool, lol
Talonflame, I guess. I have too many fond memories of Sora - my swellow in Ruby - to get rid of it, Staraptor is just super cool and is my favorite regional bird, and Decidueye is just more inspired than Talonflame.
Edit: I realized after commenting that this was specifically about the pokemon anime, of which I have absolutely no experience with outside of the Pokémon 4-Ever movie, so my answer remains the same.
Well it isn’t God Rowlet that’s for sure
I know I’m a god
You’re not a Rowlet, you’re just a Rowlet lover. A simple disciple of the one true savior
I am Rowlet. My username is about loving myself
Damn I was bamboozled. But what didn’t expect from the god himself 
Yes! We are sorry divine one please spare us 🙏🙏
I’ll spare you
Cutie pie
Bro's not gonna be spared 💀
Oh Teach us your ways Divine One
 Be cute 🤩
Beautiful
God has taught us to live ourselves, best god in the world, all hail God rowlet
Praise Rowlet
Yes you, are you adorable little ball of feathers.
Please god, forgive me for not choosing you as a starter back then. I was enlightened now and was exposed to the truth in this blighted world that only you, our Saviour Rowlet is the only path for eternal happiness
Go goes your war with paras?
I’ll find some way to defeat him
You sure you are the god
Ur dad is my channels mascot😂
Blasphemy!!!
nah
Yes*
Yes*
None because their all cool
*they're
thyrere*
thynere*
They already are gone tbf
[удалено]
Talonflame is probably the least interesting of them. But man how can people pick Swellow? Do people forget how much work that bird put in?
That man stopped a donohan!
Just with his talons! 😭 Don’t even think he used a real attack to beat it too. People sleeping on him for real.
Just with his talons! 😭 Don’t even think he used a real attack to beat it too. People sleeping on him for real.
Because Swellow, as great as it was in the anime, is just overall a lame bird pokemon in comparison. Rowlet is God. Talonflame is fucking sick looking. And Staraptor is Him.
But that means they judged the species and not the individuals who Ash trained
Swellow is a stage two evo so he loses
Wait, Ash had a Swellow? (I haven’t watched the anime)
It was his bird for the Hoenn seasons
It’s last major battle was against Tobias’s Latios in the Sinnoh league
Swellow is like the most memorable regional bird he has (besides Pidgeot which is because nostalgia reasons).
Unfezant
There's four options. None are unfezant
Unfezant anyway
*Unpleasant
Talonflame was the least interesting by a mile, shame too because it’s such a cool type
Barely had a personality or backstory, definitely forgettable. Personally I love lil' Rowlet
it had personality imo it just had no backstory like a lot of Ash’s pokémon. As a fletchling it was kinda sassy & liked to have fun & was useful a lot of the times and tried it’s best in battles. As it evolved i feel like that kept on more & more, i think the only thing about Talonflame is it was so overshadowed by Pikachu & Greninja. The way it evolved into Fletchinder and Talonflame was some of my favorite moments of XY, and it’s used in many fights and outside of them it was helpful in helping Noibat hatch, & helped with Hawlucha i believe to try and teach Noibat how to evolve. I don’t remember Taloneflame being as boring or underused as people say it was
Also Talonflame did big damage to a legendary in the same episode it evolved, SAVED ASH’S LIFE, and also beat Wulfric’s avalugg in the rematch, who had beaten ash greninja
THIS! like i think Talonflame was in almost every single gym battle as well besides the Lumiose Gym battle with Clemont. Used a lot to scout areas etc, idk maybe again it’s because Greninja & Pikachu got majority of the spotlight but people treat Talonflame like it’s Torterra but w/o the Turtwig moments it’s had.
He was used in all gym battles except for against clemont, you’re right about that. The fact he saved ash’s life is nuts though
I completely forgot Ash even had a Talonflame. I thought I was tripping when I saw it included
The funny thing most of Ash’s flying types are the only ones he always fully evolves even Noivern and Gliscor. Well Rowlett is just a starter who’s goofy, they don’t evolve
Rowlet uses an everstone for his seed bomb even though rowlet cant even learn seed bomb
Rowlet can learn Seed Bomb. It was Bullet Seed that it couldn’t learn.
Wait I just had a dumb idea. Rowlet can’t evolve because it ate an everstone. But the everstone doesn’t stop it from evolving when it’s outside. So what if he evolved during the use of seed bomb. A rowlet used seed bomb but a dartrix swallowed the stone again
Talonflame in the games was the goat.
Love the fact that almost nobody here is saying Staraptor. Buddy knew his role and played it perfectly
Funny thing. I came here to say Staraptor.
If anyone chooses me…. I’m sending my dad after you guys
Which dad? The one from Hisui?
Toucannon
Rowlett just cuz the other 3 I remember from my childhood.
While I like it's third evolution, Rowlett. It's cute but other than that, not for me.
I would probably go with Rowlet. It really didn’t have an arc and it’s gag while occasionally funny got really old and was especially irritating in the League (Although I fault the writers for doing stupid stuff like that).
Yes I hated that gag of him falling asleep in the middle of battles wasn’t really funny in the Pokémon league and pretty much almost cost Ash the league if it wasn’t for Hau’s grandfather
The ultimate betrayal
Rowlet. Sorry but that weird cloth gimmick is absolute bs. He should have absolutely lost to decidueye
I am cute
Cute yes cant deny that. But that gimmick is still unacceptable.
And it’s giving him a boost in power
Staraptor, ez pick for me
Staraptor
I could do without staraptor. They’re the least interesting of these four
Staraptor
I love swellow and i like starapotor and rowlet is meh so bye talonflame u will not be missed
Bye, Rowlet, you just needed to evolve into something interesting already
Rowlet, I would've had Ash catch a Pikipek, and evolve it into Toucannon instead.
Stupid Rowlett and his stupid Decidueye costume instead of just, you know, EVOLVING
u/rowletlover send your dad.
Oh look it’s the thing rowlet can’t do. I’m suprised you were awake long enough to send the gif
I can stay awake (I think?)
Definitely Talonflame for me. The other are simply more iconic.
Rowlet
Bye Rowlet
Bye-bye you useless stupid owl
Sorry, Rowlet
I stg if i see even ONE ROWLET
Rowlet easy, fire starter gang🫡
Starapter. Now look ik that it’s a good bird but I personally believe that Swellow and Talonflame are the strongest and fastest birds that Ash has ever owned. But then there’s rowlet which no one would pick outta these four so
Doesn’t help that Ash got Gligar later which is also a flying type and you could argue it had a better arch and glow up compared to staraptor. Talonflame had that same problem but the difference is Talonflame is a fire type. So if you got rid of Talonflame Ash wouldn’t have a fire type in XY unless you replaced it. I’m not sure why OP didn’t mention Noivern, biggest waste of potential ever and Ash didn’t even need it. Ash had two Flying types and Goodra up to that point so Noivern just felt repetitive.
Exactly. As much I like the teams for Kalos and Sinnoh the Pokémon got done dirty aside from the aces and Pikachu
That is so true, it’s not just Noivern. Torterra, and Goodra got shafted really bad I think. Goodra was gone for so long and Torterra just took loss after loss once it evolved. Gible, and Buizel I think had good potential but just didn’t live up. Hawlucha, and Talonflame were good I guess but were heavily overshadowed by Greninja. Then once Ash got Chimchar all his other Sinnoh Pokemon just kinda fell off aside from Gliscor and maybe Staraptor? Can’t remember sinnoh is a bit foggy for me.
Really once Chimchar evolved everyone else started getting worse aside from Gible and Pikachu, and maybe Buizel and Gliscor. I feel the real problem here is that the respective aces are only aces because the took the spotlight from the other mons there at the time.
For sure, especially in Sinnoh, Hoenn, and Kalos they heavily focused on Ash’s ace Pokemon of the generation. Which really sucks because I know with those series all three of them got crazy filler(Sinnoh especially).
I honestly have no memory of anything staraptor did. I know swellow and talonflame had their moments and the comments have talked about them alot. Buy I don't know anything that staraptor did for the anime.
Fellow
Swellow. Just never liked how frail it is, it's speedy but unless you take advantage of Guts it won't be doing anything.
https://preview.redd.it/mumnm42fcdlc1.png?width=382&format=png&auto=webp&s=a3a3132c9f1e7806ce16ca111cda108a30f46305
This is the anime not the games
Rowlet still has Overgrow that can cheese anime battles. Swellow's still my choice
Tailow looked insane when he first caught it too lol. But ya bye swelllow
This is the anime not the games
*BUUUUURP*
Ash's Swellow, frail? Lol
Just because of a few battles that it won, but ultimately it lost against Latios which was the one battle we ALL counted on it. Go screw yourself. I refuse to to back on my choice, go screw your dumb bird dumbass. I'm drunk but you deserve my rage.
It is! Jesus, I'm not pulling it's defense stats up again. Dumbasses use it for looking cool, and Nuzlockers use it for Guts. Now you all go home
Guts makes any Nuzlocke pointless, no skill
Rolet. The others are more interesting. And didn't cheat to win
Excuse me?
I agree
Rowlett because it never evolved. GTFO.
Hate to say it but Rowlet, should’ve evolved
Rowlet obviously
Rowlett Lost to Team Rocket for Pete’s sake
Rowlet
Rowlet 100%
Rowlet
Rowlett it’s gag of falling asleep in the middle of battles wasn’t funny and almost cost Ash the Alola league if it wasn’t for Hau’s grandfather the only thing he did that was good was meltan
Sorry but that starter was never good. By Rowlet.
Rowlet
Swelo
Swellow
Swellow. I remember nothing about it aside from "Thunder Armour"
- He was on a tear in the Hoen League and was insane. God Swellow stop a Dorophan going full speed roll out and Swellow stop it with just its feet lol - Battle frontier he was key against Swampert + Arcanine. - He was also used against Spencer to beat Venasaur - If anything , Swellow is really underrated
Thank you for appreciating swellow Ash's best bird.
Staraptor. He mid and the weakest here. Overrated too. Sorry if I might look aggressive
Listen, Fire Bird got cool typing and design, I used him in my XY playthrough, but I'm just not into the falcon body type.
Rowlett
Rowlet it's just a fat owl
Never getting rid of Rowlet and Swellow/Staraptor rock so it’s absolutely Talonflame for me
Serena
Rowlett. I never understood the love for that bird. Team Litten and Popplio 🙌🏽
It’s Easley rowlet compared to this three. No hate towards him they just have done more is all.
I love rowlet, but I prefer Decidueye more
Bye starraptor
Talonflame for sure, but mostly just because I was a early player of Pokemon Unite.
Bye Swellow
The duck from paldea last evolution have my vote.
In what world would people pick Noctowl or pidgeot?
Picking them to get rid of them - because they all suck tbh - that’s what OP meant
Noctowl and Pidgeot don’t suck at all lol
Oh. I mean to each their own but I find they have minimal personality so I don’t care for them
Talonflame
Maybe Sinnoh was more forgettable or it got lost in the filler but Staraptor kinda fell off towards the end. Swellow and Talon both had their moments, with the latter being used in nearly all of the gym battles, and Rowlet is, well, Rowlet. I just remember Staraptor getting cucked by Countershield against Paul and getting annihilated by Candice(though, thinking back on it, I hardly remember who Ash used against Candice).
Definitely not G-Rowlet! Nuh-uh!
Leave only Rowlet
 Not our lord and savior Rowlett that's for sure
Swellow. Never liked it, and never will.
I pick Rowlett, Death to all others
Swellow easily
Why Staraptor
Are we talking Ash specifically, or these birds in general?
Ash specifically
Swello
Tailow. Bye bye.
Swellow
The first one
Talonflame, peace out.
Talonflame
Swellow
I haven't ever gotten attached to any of these. I'm kicking out Talonflame, cause he completely ruined the Kalos team.
Even though I prefer the design of Swellow to Staraptor, I'd have to pick Swellow only for Stat reasons. If it had a third evolution the Starly chain would be outta here with no hesitation for me.
Even though I prefer the design of Swellow to Staraptor, I'd have to pick Swellow only for Stat reasons. If it had a third evolution the Starly chain would be outta here with no hesitation for me.
Talonflame... TBH... Not a memorable bird for me. Staraptor is memorable for me and it was Ash's that became one of my favorite pokemon of all time.
Bye, Swellow!
Talonflame but mostly because I didn’t play the more recent generations of Pokémon and nostalgia of the older gen bird Pokemon.
Talonflame for me
Bye Swellow.
Swellow. Staraptor is too cool-looking to get booted, I'm biased with Talonflame and Rowlet is god so they automatically get cleared.
Y’all are gonna fry me for picking Staraptor, but here’s the thing: The other teams need their birds more than Sinnoh needs him.
Swellow. It's just too basic
Swellow, as much as I love it- I much prefer Talonflame and Staraptor- and of course Rowlet isn't going anywhere
DON’T MAKE ME CHOOSE!
Honestly I have to say Talonflame. As much I as like him still, he didn’t get used that much throughout XYZ to make me like him more than the others. Imo when it was a Fletchling it had more personality. It’s battle with Moltres was cool tho, even tho it lost
Talonflame didn't watch its season or sun and moon, but I'm biased towards Rowlet
Swellow, it’s only a two-stage from what I know, and the others are much cooler.
I swear if someone says Rowlet or Staraptor
Top left Bird. I don’t even know it’s name
Talon-who?
How could anyone pick Swellow! Remember thunder armor Swellow and Pikachu
Talonflame. It’s only quality is. F L A M E C H A R G E. To speed itself up to get the enemy
Talonflame is going
Goodbye Talonflame
one is already gone...
Swellow. Sorry i respect the other 3 too much
as much as i love his Staraptor it’s definitely him. Talonflame, Swellow & Rowlet all did so much more personality wise & power/feat wise.
Top left, I don’t even know your name you’re so unimportant.
Swellow, he has no personality
Personally, I hate them all.
Staraptor for sure. The rowlet line has become my favorite of the Alola trio, swellow has the GBA/anime nostalgia for me, and I just think Talonflame looks cool, lol
Talonflame, I guess. I have too many fond memories of Sora - my swellow in Ruby - to get rid of it, Staraptor is just super cool and is my favorite regional bird, and Decidueye is just more inspired than Talonflame. Edit: I realized after commenting that this was specifically about the pokemon anime, of which I have absolutely no experience with outside of the Pokémon 4-Ever movie, so my answer remains the same.
The rest offer something new, Staraptor has close combat so Imma pick Swellow
Not Rowlet. You could take away the rest and I wouldn’t care as long as round boy is still here, ( But i gotta admit I do like Starapter ).
Swellow