Riding Pokemon as a trusty steed is not a new phenomenon for the Let's Go series to introduce, but these remake games definitely capitalized on it. There are a total of 18 different Pokemon the player can ride — some on land, some in the air, and some in the water.
These ride Pokemon are not all created equal, though some are much cooler as a steed than others. Here are all the Pokemon you can ride in Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee, ranked.
Updated September 7, 2022 by Doruk Kaptan: With the fast-approaching generation nine games Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, the hype around Pokemon is getting higher by the day. Especially with the recent news concerning the Paldea Region and the competitive scene, the new games are looking to be very interesting.
One exciting thing about Scarlet & Violet is that the cover legendaries Miraidon & Koraidon seem to also act as mounts, with different forms for ground, air, and water travel. This is not the first time Pokemon were ridable, though, as Game Freak experimented with the idea in both Sun & Moon and the Let's Go games. So it's fun to look back at how different Pokemon were ridden by the player and how strong they were.
18 Lapras
Unsurprisingly, the player can sit atop the spiky shell of a Lapras to glide effortlessly across the water. Sure, it's cool, but we've seen this before. Lapras is not only rideable in other games — even as obscure as the World of Light in Smash Bros. — but it served as the animation for Surf in Generation II.
Lapras is not exceptional in terms of strength, with better Water and Ice-types roaming around the region. Lapras may be iconic, acting as the sea mount for even the anime protagonist Ash at times, but it's not the strongest, unfortunately.
17 Kangaskhan
Kangaskhan is a fun Pokemon to ride, but it ranks low because of how the player does so and how weak it is. Rather than sitting in the pocket on the front like a cute baby, the player sits on the shoulder. This is probably the biggest bummer in the entire Let's Go series. Eevee and Pikachu get to sit down there, which is adorable, but not the player. Too bad.
Kangaskhan could have potentially made up for that with its strength, considering Mega Evolutions are in this game. Unfortunately, Pokemon do not have abilities in this game, and the Parental Bond ability made Mega Kangaskhan strong in the first place. Such a shame for the mama kangaroo.
16 Haunter
There are a few Pokemon that the player can ride which haven't fully evolved. Haunter is one of them, interestingly being rideable, while Gengar is not. It is nice to see Game Freak occasionally giving attention to middle-stage Pokemon, so we'll take it. Sure, it's cool to ride a ghost around, but isn't Haunter also a Poison-type? It could hurt you. Also, many Pokedex entries state that it is "gaseous" and can slip through solid obstacles.
Looking past the in-universe implications, Haunter is a cool-looking mon to ride around on. It's also decent in the middle game until you get the much stronger Gengar.
15 Machamp
Machamp served as a ride Pokemon before these games, specifically in Sun and Moon. It was weird there, having a muscular humanoid Pokemon cradle you in its arms, and it's weird here, too. There's just something so creepy about how human-like Machamp is, making this one a bit uncomfortable.
Despite the awkward feeling of sitting on your dad's shoulders at a concert, Machamp is definitely worth using. With decent offensive stats and good offensive typing with Fighting, Machamp will surely help throughout your playthrough.
14 Rapidash
Who doesn't want to ride a fiery horse? This is such an obvious choice for a ride Pokemon, which is part of why it isn't at the top of this list. However, it's not near the bottom because it's still cool despite being predictable. Rapidash is quick, too, meaning if you're using a ride Pokemon to increase your travel speed, it's a good choice.
In the anime, we've seen Ash ride a Rapidash before, and it's always felt like a mount Pokemon even in the games. Unfortunately for Rapidash, it's completely lacking in the combat department. With mediocre stats and moves, almost all other Fire-type Pokemon are preferable to this gorgeous steed. Not even Blaine could turn this horse into a star.
13 Rhydon
Rhydon is the ultimate middle-of-the-pack choice for this list. It's fine. It's rideable, strong, and big, and that's it. There's nothing weird, bad, or wrong with riding this guy, but it also isn't that interesting or cool. It just...is. It would be cool if it were rideable in water since it notoriously learns the move Surf.
While not the coolest looking mount, Rhydon is a decent battler in the games. Yes, a four-times weakness to both the Grass and Water-type moves hurt a lot. However, considering the bare-bones mechanics of Let's Go games with no abilities or held items, Rhydon can pull its weight and then some.
12 Rhyhorn
Rhyhorn is rideable in this game, making it the only evolutionary relative of another ride Pokemon. It's slightly more stylish to ride than Rhydon for two reasons. First, it's unexpected, as Rhydon is fully evolved and rideable. Second, it hits the ground at a bit more of a gallop, making it a little more fun and interesting than its evolution.
We've heard about Rhyhorn riders before in the series, specifically in X & Y, since the protagonist's mom was one in those games, which has to be one of the coolest professions in the Pokemon world. Now you get to be one! While Rhyhorn offers very little in terms of battling, the cool factor is definitely up there.
11 Onix
One of the first ride Pokemon to grab people's attention on a wide scale was Onix, which was shown in early gameplay trailers and promotional material. It's fun, especially given its gigantic size. It feels like you're towering over all the NPCs and traveling with something very powerful. It seems like you could smash through buildings on Onix's back.
Obviously, Onix is one of the worst battlers in the game, so using it to defeat opponents is out of the question. Riding on such an iconic giant creature is fun despite how weak it is. The style is really what keeps Onix from being in the last place.
10 Arcanine
Every kid who grew up with the first seasons of the anime watching Ash running alongside an Arcanine in the opening theme can now live that nostalgic experience for themselves — but better. Hop on this fiery dog's back and sprint quickly around Kanto. It's large and in charge, and it's a great experience.
Arcanine usually is not that bad in the competitive sense either, acting as a decent tank with Intimidate and some support moves, which makes it sad that Arcanine is pretty weak in this game. Not having Intimidate hurts it, and having better alternatives such as Mega Charizard X is just the nail in the coffin.
9 Tauros
Ever dream of being a bullfighter or taming the wild beast? These games give you that chance. With Tauros being a ride Pokemon, you can enjoy being the powerhouse champ of the rodeo, charging around on a fierce beast without much to stop you. Like others on the list, Tauros provides a bit of a quicker pace.
Tauros on the competitive side once ruled the game all the way back in Red & Blue. Unfortunately, the iconic bull fails to repeat that success. Due to the physical/special split existing, its coverage moves fail to hit hard enough.
8 Dodrio
While Tauros might be an obvious choice for a mount, this next Pokemon definitely isn't. Dodrio is a rideable Pokemon that fully ostrich-gallops across the land, bobbing its three confused heads back and forth. It's comical and entertaining, if not a bit awkward. Its hunched design makes it seem like your weight is harming it, though.
Dodrio manages to be a decent battler as well. With high speed and the ability to boost via Swords Dance, Dodrio can become a dangerous sweeper. It gets an okay coverage move in Jump Kick too. While not great, this multi-headed creature is far from bad.
7 Persian
Giovanni would be so proud to see someone using Persian as their steed. This cat-like Pokemon is also an interesting choice, but definitely a good one, as it's fast. It's one of a few ride Pokemon with increased movement speed. Is there anything more intimidating than sprinting through town on an expensive luxury cat? You'll feel bougie if nothing else.
Persian shares a similar fate to Tauros, held back by the lack of items and abilities. Unlike Tauros, however, Persian was never that good. Giovanni must have known this, keeping Persian as a regular pet instead of an ace.
6 Gyarados
Speaking of strong Flying-types, Gyarados is also ridable in this game. Gyarados is an excellent Pokemon that many people would call their favorite, thanks to its intimidating and fierce attitude. Riding a Gyarados in the water is great in itself, although since it's a Flying-type, it would be cool to ride it on land or in the air, too.
Where Gyarados truly shines is on the battlefield, though. With an excellent typing of Water/Flying and the ability to mega evolve and become a Water/Dark-type, Gyarados is quite versatile. It is undoubtedly one of the better ridable Pokemon in Let's Go.
5 Charizard
Bouncing back to another obvious choice is this entry, Charizard. Of course, Game Freak would add their poster child Charizard as a ride Pokemon. Unfortunately, they didn't include Venusaur and Blastoise, which are perfect candidates. The favoritism just persists with Charizard, it seems. Charizard, despite being obvious, is still pretty cool. It's a great Pokemon, and soaring through the sky on it makes you feel majestic.
Charizard is also a pretty good option in battle. Especially with both its Mega Evolution forms being available. With some setup moves and defensive teammates, Charizard can easily be the crown jewel of your LGPE team. Charizard X is totally where it's at, though.
4 Starmie
There's something so weirdly comical about riding a Starmie around Kanto. It might be the weird way it walks with its starfish legs, or it might be the fact that it both flies and swims, making one think it might be a ride Pokemon in the water or air. Nope — it's going to waddle around on land with you on its back.
As awkward as Starmie is when riding on, it's an absolute beast on the battlefield. Starmie has an incredible speed of 115 and has access to impressive moves such as Recover, Scald, and Thunderbolt. The loss of abilities doesn't bother it too much either, as it's a good Pokemon, even without one.
3 Aerodactyl
What's cooler than flying around on a fiery Charizard? How about an extinct flying dinosaur with huge claws and teeth? If Pokemon was a more violent franchise, it'd be hard to find something better suited to rip through Kanto than this intimidating beast. Throw in the fact that it's revived from an extinct dinosaur, and Aerodactyl is just one of the best.
Aerodactyl is also a beast on the battlefield. It's already one of the fastest Flying-types and has the Attack stat to back it up. You can easily shred through a weakened team using Mega-Aerodactyl as your late-game sweeper. While its weaknesses to priority moves such as Aqua Jet and Ice Shard sucks, the sheer power is worth it.
2 Snorlax
The developers of Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee probably didn't need to make this as funny as it is, but who isn't glad they did? Riding Snorlax around means hopping on its stomach and apparently hanging on for dear life as it stomps around. Who knew this sleepy dude was so willing to cart you around?
Snorlax is not so funny in battle, though. It's possibly the best tank in the game, absorbing both special attacks and status moves. It can then fire back with a devastating Facade. Snorlax is just incredible in taking a hit and returning the favor.
1 Dragonite
Everyone loves Dragonite. This cuddly dragon is actually a fierce beast with some powerhouse stats. Luckily, Let's Go allows players to soar through the skies on this mighty dragon, probably dominating any flying Pokemon that get in their way. There's just something so satisfying about being able to fly this powerful Pokemon, provided you can find a Dratini in the first place.
Dragonite has incredible damage output too. Having the stats of a pseudo-legendary will do that to you. With strong moves like Outrage & Earthquake, combined with the setup moves Agility & Dragon Dance, Dragonite is way less cute when it begins ripping your team to shreds.