The developers of Pokemon love their rodents, having based a significant number of Pokemon on them. But really, is there anything that hasn't been turned into a Pokémon at this point? Generation Five gave us ice cream cones and chandeliers, so anything is possible.

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Regardless, rodents make a ton of appearances in the Pokemon world, from mice to bunnies to badgers. But which of them are the best? Every single one offers something new and unique, but some are better than others. Focusing solely on base stages, here are the ten best Pokemon based on rodents.

Updated on December 20th, 2022 by Doruk Kaptan: Throughout the years, over 1,000 Pokemon have been released. These are creatures based on a slew of unique inspirations, but a tried and true classic is the rodent Pokemon. Beginning with Rattata back in Generation One and following through with the release of Scarlet & Violet, rodent Pokemon are quite common. Here are the best of the best. Note that evolutions are only taken into account secondarily.

15 Pawmi

Pawmi from Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Pokedex Image

The release of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet was somewhat problematic, with the games being riddled with bugs and performance issues. One thing that the games did well without room for discussion is the amazing new pokemon designs. Pawmi, the Pikachu clone of this generation, is among the cutest rodents out there.

Pawmi is infinitely huggable, with giant soft paws and thick fur. It's got an adorable face, and according to its Pokedex entry, it has to rub its paws on its cheeks to generate electricity, which is just a heart-melting image. It evolves into the Electric/Fighting-type Pawmot too, which is a cool Pokemon in its own right.

14 Skwovet

Skwovet resting in a tree

Skwovet is the early route rodent of Generation 8. While many people have already forgotten all about Skwovet, it's still a great Pokemon, especially in terms of design. This chonky little squirrel is all about stuffing food in its face and hoarding berries, which is reflected in its abilities too.

Skwovet has been shown in the anime to great comedic effect and has one of the more huggable designs in recent years. It evolves into the absolute unit of a Pokemon, Greedent, which is an amazing design that's on its own level.

13 Pachirisu

Pachirisu curled up licking its tail

Pachirisu is the Generation Four Pikachu Clone. It is also the squirrel Pokemon with one of the fluffiest tails, only rivalled by the aforementioned Greedent. Pachirisu is incredibly cute and loveable, which is why it was one of Dawn's contest powerhouses.

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Coincidentally, Pachirisu is a competitive Pokemon world champion too. Back in 2014, Se Jun Park used a support set with moves like Follow Me and Nuzzle to win the World Championship, showing how this little squirrel is more than capable in battle.

12 Cyndaquil

Cyndaquil with his back lit up in flames in the Pokemon anime

Cyndaquil, the Fire Mouse Pokemon, is the Fire-type starter in Generation Two. It is likely the most popular in its trio of options, and for good reason. This little Pokemon has an overall shy demeanor, yet the flames on its back erupt stronger when it's angry or defensive.

Even without taking into consideration the amazing evolutions it has, Cyndaquil is an incredibly cute starter. It strikes that balance of cute and badass perfectly, also showcased by Ash's Cyndaquil in the anime.

11 Tandemaus

Tandemaus from Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Pokedex Image

Tandemuas is among the most adorable designs Game Freak has ever come up with, by far. This stems not just from the creature's look, as it's a relatively simplistic plushie-looking mouse. However, Tandemaus is not one mouse; it's a couple that is inseparable.

This wacky concept stays strong with its evolution Maushold, which depicts the family growing, with children joining the family. While it does raise some questions about why several creatures are considered one Pokemon, the idea behind it being mice that love each other is just heartwarming.

10 Togedemaru

This small Generation Seven Pokemon is probably based on a porcupine or hedgehog, and has the ability to weaponize its spines. It's a Steel/Electric dual-type and considered one of the Pikachu clones. It's adorable, that's for certain, and its little face and round body make it seem huggable, even if it is hard like steel.

Its totem battle in Pokemon Ultra Sun and Moon is a challenging one, and it remains a memorable Pokemon from the seventh generation. Throw in its great shiny form, and this little guy is a loveable rodent. It even has some unique moves, such as Spiky Shield and Zing Zap.

9 Bidoof

pokemon bidoof close up arms out glacier rock meme

There might be riots and mobs with pitchforks considering that Bidoof isn't at the top of this list. This Pokemon is widely-memed to be a god in its own right and has a cult following of Pokemon fans. But that doesn't mean Bidoof is the best rodent Pokemon.

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Seemingly based on a beaver, Bidoof is known for its large front teeth and furry neck adornments. It can also earn some credit for that fluffy little tail, which is not typical of a beaver as we know it. Bidoof is cute, but it's not as cute as some other rodent options.

8 Plusle & Minun

Plusle and Minun Pokemon anime screenshot

These two might be a controversial choice for this list, as many have strongly negative opinions about them. They seem to be the first real Pikachu clones, as they were the ones to begin the Electric-type trend of clones. Nonetheless, these two have always delivered on cuteness.

In the world of the Pokemon Trading Card Game, Plusle and Minun are almost always on each other's cards, telling a little story. What's cuter than that? Plus, they are always shown to be loveable best friends that are inseparable, and if you like cute stuff, they're deadly. They work best as fast support Pokemon in battle, with moves like Baton Pass and Charm.

7 Alolan Rattata

Two Alolan Rattata with an Alolan Raticate in the background.

Rattata is the original rodent Pokemon, and it would have almost made it on this list had it not been for its more recent form. The original purple rat was a great design, and many have fond (or frustrating) memories of it from their childhoods.

But, Rattata's Alolan form takes it to the next level. There's something so satisfying about the coloring, and its patterns make it so much more interesting than its Kantonian equivalent. It lost its little swirly tail, but it made up for it with a funny mustache, adding to its cuteness considerably.

6 Morpeko

Morpeko sitting relaxed in a sunset forest

Do you remember Mighty Beanz? Morpeko kind of looks like one of those, with little arms and ears. The strange pill-shape of its body is reminiscent of those old fighting beans, and its angry face matches the ones Mighty Beanz would often have.

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Despite this, Morpeko has a memorable design. Its coloring makes its typing clear, and its Hangry mode, while a bit dated of a reference, is a fun touch that some of us can probably relate to. It played a great sidekick to Marnie in Sword and Shield, too. It has a signature move in Aura Wheel too, which is always nice to see.

5 Minccino

Minccino is an often-forgotten Pokemon, but that doesn't mean it isn't great. This little chinchilla is probably as soft as you can imagine, and it looks like it is very friendly, too. The white-tipped tail and ears are a nice touch, and the little tufts of fur on its head and chest are adorable.

While this list is mostly looking at base stages, credit has to be given to the regal Cinccino as well. Minccino's evolution takes the chinchilla concept and makes it literal, wrapping itself in a fur scarf and regal attire. These two are great additions to the Pokemon world. Cinccino is also a powerhouse in battles, so there's that.

4 Marill

Marill

Marill could be considered one of the original Pikachu clones, but it would be a mistake born from a weird situation as the second generation of Pokemon was releasing. Early, pre-internet leaks of information would run rampant in the Pokemon fanbase, leading to weird rumors that would be eventually debunked.

One of these was a new evolution or related Pokemon to Pikachu, titled Pikablu. This hoax would eventually turn out to be Marrill, of course, who would be one of the first Pokemon to debut in the anime before the games. Besides all of this, Marrill is a great Pokemon with cool typing. It's one of the best of the older rodents.

3 Nidoran Male and Nidoran Female

Split image screenshots of Nidoran Female and Nidoran Male in Pokemon.

These two Pokemon, who are confusingly part of separate evolutionary families while being part of the same one, will eventually evolve into large armored beasts that seem to be based on the rhinoceros. But before that, the base stages are seemingly inspired by hamsters or mice, perhaps rabbits.

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They have great designs, and their gender-determinant coloring was a first for the series. Their shinies swap their colors, which is super cool, and they've always been considered among the best of the original 151. While they're weak in battle, you can get to some powerhouses with enough care and a Moon Stone.

2 Galarian Zigzagoon

Zigzagoon and its evolution, Linoone, appeared to be based off of raccoons. They have the adorable stripes, fun eye masks, and strange human-like paws that raccoons have, and their designs were widely loved by fans. The developers of Pokemon decided to take that to the next level by giving this beloved evolutionary line Galarian forms.

These new forms launch Zigzagoon into the stratosphere in terms of great design. The colors are great, the eye makeup is reminiscent of early British punk, and the new addition to the family, Obstagoon, is a scary but welcome change. It's also become a staple in the Pokemon TCG, adding to its time under the spotlight.

1 Pikachu

pokemon pikachu

How could anyone be at the top of this list other than the original rodent and series mascot itself, Pikachu? The electric mouse is one of the most recognized game icons in the world and is widely beloved by fans despite its oversaturation. Everybody's grandma even recognizes this little mouse.

Pikachu is perhaps the most important Pokemon of all time, and its design is the face of the entire franchise. Ash's Pikachu, in particular, is a famous celebrity all its own. Even with all of this, Pikachu is still a great design and a fantastic Pokemon. It's cute, it's tough, and it's aesthetically pleasing. Throw in the fantastic Raichu and Pichu as well, and you've got a winner.

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