Throughout his time in the anime, Ash Ketchum explored the Pokémon world accompanied by an interesting assortment of characters. Some he met along the way, and others joined him from other regions. All remained by his side out of loyalty and a desire to experience an adventure like no other.
Out of all his companions, who’s the most charismatic? Characters like Misty, Brock, Dawn, and Serena are fan favorites, but what about the others? Not all of them can be as engaging, so where do they rank when it comes to being likable? And which of them gets the short end of the stick to become unlikable?
10 Iris
Someone has to be the least likable companion, and that’s probably Iris. Fans don’t hate her, but they do find her annoying. She’s something of a snob and the closest thing the Pokémon franchise gets to an entitled character. It’s also puzzling how she constantly points out Ash’s immaturity while being so willfully oblivious to her own.
Iris’ goal to become a Dragon Master is also controversial. She has only one dragon Pokémon for most of the Black & White series, Axew. She’s also unable to control her Dragonite most of the time, showing her lack of experience as a trainer.
9 Bonnie
Similar to Iris, Bonnie isn’t unlikable per se, but she is annoying. Far younger than any of Ash’s other companions, Bonnie’s trademark is to embarrass her older brother, Clemont, by asking any and every girl she meets to “please take care of her brother.”
Bonnie is sweet and good-natured, but her immature ways get tiresome after a while. Despite her admiration towards him, she’s also very critical of Clemont, especially if his inventions fail in any way. Most of her more annoying traits come from her still being a child, so they may disappear once she matures.
8 Tracy
Tracy is one of Ash’s earliest companions. He is a Pokémon watcher who essentially invites himself to join Ash and Misty during the Orange Islands saga. His goal is to meet Professor Oak once Ash eventually returns home to Pallet Town.
In a lot of ways, Tracy is just a substitute for Brock. Like the Pewter City Gym Leader, he’s knowledgeable when it comes to Pokémon and has a soft spot for pretty girls. Tracy isn’t unlikeable, but he is forgettable. Hardly anyone remembers him these days.
7 Kiawe
Kiawe is one of Ash’s classmates in the Alola region. He’s a trainer who loves Fire-type Pokémon and takes battles very seriously. He is the most experienced trainer in the school, other than Ash, and has a deep respect for Z-Rings and Z-Moves.
Kiawe is a welcome change from Ash’s other companions. He is more mature, serious, and stoic, providing a nice contrast to Ash’s other Alola classmates. Kiawe is also wildly competitive, more so than Ash, which also makes for an amusing character trait.
6 Clemont
Clemont is Bonnie’s older brother and an Electric-type specialist. In the main series games, he serves as the leader of Lumiose’s Gym. He fills Brock’s spot in the group, having a great deal of Pokémon knowledge and sharing it with his friends.
He has one of the least annoying catchphrases — “The future is now, thanks to science!” — which he utters every time he unveils a new invention. Clemont is also a stereotypical “geek,” excelling in areas like math and history but failing in athleticism and lacking confidence overall.
5 May
May was Ash’s first female companion since Misty, so she had some big shoes to fill. It didn’t take long for fans to warm up to her, though. And while her little brother, Max, didn’t have the same luck, May is fondly remembered by fans of the anime.
Her goal is to become a Top Coordinator, which she actually discovers while traveling with Ash and Brock. May is notorious for being a character with considerable development from her first appearance to her last. She is also a fan favorite because of her status as the female player in the Generation III games and their remakes.
4 Serena
Fans of the franchise agree that Serena is Ash’s most prominent love interest. She shows deep affection for him and even kisses him goodbye when the two part ways, a moment that’s still talked about to this day. Like other female characters in the anime, Serena is the female player in the Generation VI games.
Serena aims to be a Pokémon Performer, but she started with a lack of knowledge about which path she wanted to take. Serena considerably matures during her journey, which is one of the reasons fans like her so much.
3 Dawn
Like May, Dawn is a Pokémon Coordinator. Unlike other characters in the anime, Dawn is extremely confident and sure of herself. However, it never comes out as egotistical or annoying, on the contrary. Her relationship with Ash is notable for being one of siblings, without any romantic undertones whatsoever.
Dawn became a fan-favorite thanks to her upbeat personality and individuality. Her Pokémon are also responsible for her popularity, most notably Piplup, Buneary, and Pachirisu. Like May and Serena, Dawn is the female player character in the Generation IV games and their upcoming remakes. She’ll also appear as the protagonist of Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
2 Misty
Misty holds a special place in every Pokémon fan’s heart, particularly Genwunners. As Ash’s first-ever travel companion, she journeys throughout all of Kanto and Johto with him. She shares a somewhat adversarial relationship with him, although the two show deep feelings for each other. Hints at a potential romance occurred during their time together, but nothing ever came out of them.
Misty is a Water-type specialist and one of the strongest of Ash’s companions. She’s the Leader of Cerulean Gym in Kanto and one of the most respected trainers in the franchise. Misty’s spirited behavior makes her unique among the anime’s characters. She’s loyal and brave but still vulnerable, making her one of the most three-dimensional characters in the franchise.
1 Brock
Brock is not only the first of Ash’s male friends, but he’s also the longest-serving companion ever. He travels with Ash through Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh before going his own way. Mature, wise, and levelheaded, Brock acts like a big brother towards Ash and all the other companions he meets. He becomes overbearing and embarrassing in the presence of beautiful girls, though, and both Misty and Max physically hurt him when his flirtation becomes extreme.
Brock is the prototype for all other male companions that come after him, including Cilan, Clemont, and Sophocles. He is one of the series’ most popular characters, perhaps only outranked by Ash himself. Brock’s goals aren’t showcased, although he expresses a desire to become a Pokémon doctor at the end of his journey with Ash.
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