Ash’s iconic journey to become a Pokémon Master is well-known around the world. But for someone with such lofty goals and ambition, Ash arguably doesn’t catch anywhere near as many Pokémon as he should. Having fewer Pokémon certainly makes it easier for Ash to properly bond with them, but he has still found himself in situations where he could have made new additions to his team.
A majority of these situations have ended in Ash failing to catch Pokémon due to inexperience, impatience, or just bad luck. However, for all the times that Ash has tried and failed to catch a Pokémon, there have been occasions where he has decided against even attempting it.
Updated on June 28th, 2023 by Chelsea Steele: Throughout the years, Ash has encountered many incredible Pokémon. But despite having every opportunity to catch some of the best and strongest species, he often lets the chance pass him by. From Legendaries that deserved to remain free to Pokémon with a special mission at hand, Ash has given up many potential companions. We’ve updated this list we’ve even more moments where Ash stopped himself from even trying to catch a Pokémon.
15 Seaking
Though it was for a very brief time, Ash technically caught a Seaking during his adventures, but not for good. In the episode “Hook, Line, and Stinker”, Ash participates in a Seaking catching competition. Participants use fishing rods to capture the wild Pokémon, similar to fishing in real life.
Ash was one of the many contestants to bag themselves a Seaking. However, the rules of the contest strictly forbid anyone from keeping their catches, meaning all Seaking had to go back in the water by the end. Naturally, Ash abides by these rules and puts his new aquatic friend back where he finds it.
14 Haunter
In the early days of Pokémon, Ash, and friends had an encounter with a mischievous Haunter that decided to join the gang for a while. Ash met Haunter during his time in Saffron City, where he faced off against the gym leader Sabrina. The Ghost-type Pokémon took a liking to Ash, and the two became friends.
However, during Ash and Sabrina’s battle, Haunter formed a close connection with the gym leader. As a result, it ultimately decided it wanted to be Sabrina’s Pokémon, and Ash was happy to oblige. He could have caught this Pokémon easily, but he didn’t have the heart to break up such a sweet friendship.
13 Latias & Latios
In Pokémon Heroes, Ash meets two new Legendary Pokémon — Latias and Latios. He immediately hits it off with these two and agrees to help them protect the city while keeping them safe from Team Rocket’s agents.
Because Ash forms such a close bond with these two, he could have caught Latias and Latios. Together as team, their strong bond would have become even stronger. However, Ash knew that his new friends had an important job as guardians and in order to do it, they needed to be free.
12 Celebi
Celebi is a unique Mythical Pokémon that Ash encounters during his adventures. When he first meets Celebi in Pokémon 4Ever, it’s being hunted down by relentless poachers. Ash and the gang do everything they can to stop the fiends, but the poachers successfully capture Celebi and nearly kill it.
Thankfully, Celebi is revived by the end of the film, where Ash and friends say goodbye to it before it leaves for its original time. After such a harrowing experience, Ash would never put Celebi through even more trauma by trying to capture it himself. Instead, he’s just happy his friend is safe and sound, even if it means they’ll never see each other again.
11 Ho-Oh
Ho-Oh is the very first Legendary Pokémon Ash Ketchum ever sees while on his journey. He catches a glimpse of this incredible Pokémon early on in the original series, an inspirational moment that sticks with him long after. After this early encounter, Ash dreams of seeing the bird Pokémon again, and maybe even getting a chance to fight it.
But though Ash hopes to battle Ho-Oh and put his skills to the test, he shows no interest in capturing and keeping it. When Ash and Ho-Oh meet again, the Legendary gives him a feather to keep as a sign of friendship and mutual respect. This seems to be more than enough for Ash, who is thrilled by his gift.
10 Clefairy
Towards the beginning of his Pokémon journey, Ash wanted to catch every Pokémon he saw. In “Clefairy And The Moon Stone’”, while passing through Mt Moon, Ash was desperate to catch a Clefairy. However, he was stopped by a scientist named Seymour, who vowed to protect the cave’s Pokémon from troublemakers.
Despite his initial desires and not owing Seymour anything, when the scientist begs him to leave the Pokémon in peace in their natural habitat protecting the Moon Stone, Ash understands and agrees. This is where Ash starts to learn more about truly caring for and respecting Pokémon.
9 Solgaleo
For a brief period within the series, Ash keeps a Solgaleo as a companion. He first meets the Pokémon as a young Cosmog, affectionately naming it Nebby. From here, Ash cares for Nebby as though it were one of his own, though he never catches it and makes it part of the team. Two evolutions later, it becomes the magnificent Solgaleo itself.
Ash has opportunities to capture Solgaleo properly, as he did with another Ultrabeast Poipole, but he opts not to make it official. Instead, he bids farewell to Solgaleo after they all band together to defeat Necrozma.
8 Larvitar
Larvitar is one of many Pokémon that Ash and his friends have taken care of or helped over the years. In the episode ‘Lapras of Luxury!’, Professor Elm phones Ash and asks him to take an egg to Mt Silver in his stead. A Larvitar hatches and although it is somewhat shy and distrusting to most humans at first, it takes an instant liking to Ash and Pikachu.
The group arrives at Mt Silver several episodes later, having endured hardships and grown closer to the Larvitar. However, they must leave Larvitar with its mother at Ranger Mason’s preserve. A Larvitar would have been a great addition to Ash’s team, but Ash understands that a newborn needs to be with its family.
7 Wimpod
During Ash’s Sun & Moon adventures, he and Pikachu come across a scared and trapped Wimpod while exploring a local island full of Pokémon in ‘Partner Promises!’. Initially the Wimpod is terrified, but once Ash and Pikachu jump down to help with the assistance of an Alolan Exeggutor, it relaxes somewhat.
While saying goodbye to the Wimpod as it goes to rejoin its friends, it doubles back to thank Ash. In the earlier days of his Pokémon journey, Pokémon that did this would more often than not want to join his team. On this occasion, however, he decided against it.
6 Beedrill
In ‘The Bug Stops Here’, Ash and their re-appearing friend Casey enter the Bug Catching Contest. Ash wins the contest and gets to keep his captured Beedrill but because he feels that Team Rocket’s interference cost Casey the win, he gives up his Beedrill to Casey.
As Beedrill is a Pokémon that Casey has always really liked, Ash forgoing his catch to make someone else happy is a true testament to how he has evolved.
5 Lugia
As seen in Pokémon 2000 and Pokémon Journeys, Ash has a special bond with Lugia, a mutual respect of sorts. Obviously, Ash would love nothing more than to catch such a magnificent Pokémon but the events of Pokémon 2000 show the destructive consequences of catching legendaries that actively contribute to the balance and order of life.
In Pokémon Journeys, Ash encounters Lugia again, where he opts ot battle the majestic Legendary. Whether he intends to capture isn’t explicitly shared but it certainly seems like he chooses to share moments with any Lugia he sees rather than obsessing about capturing them.
4 Suicune
In the movie Pokémon 4ever, Suicune trusts and helps Ash and company several times. It protects them from a vicious Tyranitar, lets them on for a ride, and ultimately helps to purify the lake. It isn’t explained if this is the same Suicune that Ash, Brock and Misty saw at the start of their Johto adventures but if it was the same, it could explain the immediate trust.
By the time they say their goodbyes to this legendary Pokémon, there is a feeling that the Suicune would have wanted to join Ash and his team, but Ash makes no effort to stop it from leaving.
3 Hippopotas
Hippopotas is another example of a Pokémon that Ash and friends help on their many adventures. In the Diamond and Pearl series, they rescue a young Hippopotas that was trapped on a high ledge, having been separated from its herd.
They subsequently help it find its way back home, with the Hippopotas enjoying traveling atop Ash’s head. If Ash lacked compassion and genuine care for Pokémon, he could have caught the hippo Pokémon instead of helping it.
2 Meloetta
In Pokémon the Series: Black and White, Meloetta is introduced as a graceful and mysterious Pokémon constantly having to evade Team Rocket’s attempts to capture it. After a brief encounter, it becomes fascinated by Ash, following and observing him until it eventually introduces itself to everyone.
Oshawott and Piplup are especially smitten by Meloetta and saddened when it eventually leaves with Ridley. It certainly liked Ash and he could have capitalised on this. However, due to its origins and duty, it ultimately belonged with Ridley, and Ash respected that.
1 Litten
In the Pokémon Sun and Moon series, Ash encounters a stubborn Litten that refuses to trust him. Ash only wants to care for it and endures multiple scratches in the process. He eventually learns that the Litten is selflessly taking food to its friend, an old Stoutland in an abandoned house.
Ash, understanding the situation, says that he will come back tomorrow and leaves them alone for the time being. Even Rotom-Dex says that it’s sad that Ash did not catch it, but Ash doesn’t seem to mind. He does eventually catch the Litten at a later point in the story but mostly due to this show of respect.
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