Ash Ketchum is the best trainer in Pokémon history and here’s why

As the main hero in the Pokémon series we’ve witnessed the many accomplishments and failures of Ash Ketchum. Here’s why Ash Ketchum is the best Pokémon trainer in Pokémon.

No one will deny that Ash Ketchum has failed many, many times. It’s a constant in the series. He faces many challenges and trials and while he may overcome some he is always just shy of his ultimate goal. Despite his failures, Ash teaches us that being the best trainer doesn’t mean being the most powerful or most victorious.

Ash never gives up. Determination and perseverance are staples to his personality. Nothing keeps him down long. He gets back up and comes back even stronger. What Ash may lack in skill, he makes up for in his hard work and stubbornness to give up. Ash shows the world just what it means to never give up on your dream.

Ash loves all Pokémon, even when they are troubled. We’ve seen Ash deal with some extremely troubled Pokémon in the past, pokémon that hate humans, have been abandoned, or are simply difficult to control. To Ash though, it doesn’t matter. His own Pikachu hated him in the beginning, but Ash refused to give up. Over time we see these troubled Pokémon learn to trust and love Ash in return.

Ash wants what is best for his Pokémon. Throughout the series Ash has had to make one of the hardest decisions more than once: releasing a Pokémon. The first example we saw was when Ash released his Butterfree so that it could migrate. It was a heartbreaking scene and one that tore at many heart strings. Ash could have just forced his Butterfree to stay, but he understood that letting it go was the best choice.

Ash was forced to make that decision again and again. These decisions showed us that Ash truly cares for his Pokémon. He understands that sometimes the best thing for them is to let them go.

He brings out the best in his rivals and friends. In each region Ash makes many friends and foes. In particular his rivals are, usually, pretty terrible people. One example is Paul from Diamond and Pearl. Paul was obsessed with power and even abandoned his Chimchar because he felt it wasn’t strong enough.

Ash and Paul butted heads many times due to their opposite tactics and the way Paul treated others. At the end of Diamond and Pearl, Paul is almost unrecognizable. We know that many of these changes are due to the lessons taught to him by Ash.

Pokémon matter more to Ash Ketchum than power does. Yes, Ash is a Pokémon trainer, meaning battling is very important to him. Becoming stronger is a part of being a great trainer. Ash knows that power and strength aren’t everything. He helps his Pokémon grow as individuals.

One of the greatest examples is his Gligar/Gliscor. Ash caught Gligar when it was a very scared and self conscious. Even after evolving, Gliscor struggled. Ash never gave up on it and helped boost Gliscor’s confidence.

Ash brings out the best of his Pokémon. Previously we discussed Paul, and Paul abandoning Chimchar because it wasn’t strong enough. After that terrible event, Ash was the one to step up and take in Chimchar.

Chimchar had many insecurities and struggles from its past, but Ash never gave up on it. By the end of Diamond and Pearl Chimchar had evolved into an Infernape and was without a doubt one of Ash’s strongest Pokémon. Ash Ketchum was able to bring out a strength that Paul never could. Ash saw its true potential, nurtured it, and under Ash’s care Infernape blossomed.

Ash shows us that power and strength as a Pokémon trainer is more than just physical. It’s how you treat other trainers, and how you treat Pokémon. Ash nurtures every Pokémon, regardless of where they came from or what they are. Even if Ash isn’t the strongest trainer, he has proven time and time again that he is the best.