The Pokémon animated series stars Ash Ketchum and his best friend, Pikachu. The series has lasted for two decades, but he remains a 10-year-old boy who intends on being the world's best Pokémon Trainer. Ash is the first character we meet in the series, but not the last. His first companion is an energetic young girl named Misty. Ash steals her bicycle but gains a lifelong friendship.
Misty is far from Ash's sidekick. She has a long history that is explored the cartoon, movies, comics, and video games. Though she supports Ash on his journey, she has dreams of her own. Her companions Ash and Brock are just as supportive of her as they are of each other. They become a close-knit group of friends before their paths split at the end of the first series.
Misty would soon return in future series. She once again joined him in the Hoenn region, Pokémon Chronicles, and the Sun and Moon series. Though she may not return as a central figure, she'll always have a part of the series.
Misty and Ash are the same age, but their histories and adventures after separating have made put them worlds apart. Ash has remained focused on a primary goal, while Misty has branched out to several different activities. While she has spread her wings, Ash has remained the same.
Our spoiler-filled list compiles some of what Misty can do that outshine Ash. While they are good friends, some things make Misty an asset to the team.
25 Knows Her Strengths
Ash tries to capture almost every Pokémon. He wants to have Pokémon for every battle. Misty is more selective of her team. She knows where her strengths and weaknesses lie.
Misty is aware that there are some Pokémon she can't successfully train. Misty stays focused on capturing Water-types. Though she does temporarily use other Pokémon and raise a Togepi, she focuses her efforts on training Water-types. Her efforts have paid off. She's a tough challenger to face in both the animated series and video games.
24 Never Forgets But Forgives
Misty has had a hard life. She was orphaned at a young age and traumatized by a Pokémon. Nothing had remained on her mind stronger than when Ash stole her bike. He claims he's only borrowing it, but it's charred. She follows him for years, reminding him of the terrible act.
Ash may have forgotten, but Misty will always remember the bike incident. Nurse Joy manages to fix her bicycle, and Misty finally parts ways with Ash. When they reunite again in the future, Misty continues to bring up the terrible bicycle incident, but now in a joking manner.
23 Designs Fashionable Accessories
Misty is not only a talented trainer, but she has skills as a designer. Misty has designed her own set of fishing lures. The lures are unique because they are designed off her appearance. The lures look like tiny versions of her original character design. She uses them to capture fish. Misty doesn't keep these unique "Mini-Misty Lures" to herself. She has given them away as gifts. Ash keeps one on hand in case he ever has to go fishing.
22 Becomes A Teenager
Ash has remained a 10-year-old boy in every Pokémon animated series. Even when he celebrates a birthday, he is de-aged to 10 in the next season. Misty's age has fluctuated in different series. She's grown much older than Ash.
In the comic series, Misty is a 13-year-old, while Ash remains a 10-year-old.
She's had the opportunity to enjoy her teenage years while Ash stays the same. Though she's a few years older, she doesn't let their age come between their friendship.
21 Has Taken Home More Trophies
Ash journeys different regions capturing new Pokémon and training. He wants to be the best trainer. Ash's goals are straightforward, and he doesn't deviate from his goals. Misty is more open-minded than her companion. Though she wants to be a Water-type Pokémon trainer, she is happy to take on different challenges.
Misty's skills gained her first place as Queen of the Princess Festival contest, winner of Seaking Catching Day, and was first to cross the finish line in the Tour de Alto Mare.
20 Is A Champion Racer
Misty is a master of water. Though the series focuses on Pokémon, she excels at any activity involving water. When the group traveled to Alto Mare, she and Ash decided to enter the Tour de Alto Mare. In this competition, trainers use their Pokémon to pull them in chariots. The first across the finish line wins.
Misty and Corsola took first place in the chariot race.
Ash and Totodile trailed behind and didn't place in the competition. Misty took home a special medal embossed with an Eon design for her efforts.
19 Goes Beyond The Cartoon
Ash has appeared every single animated tv series, but his video game appearances have been slim. His most recent mention was in the Pokémon Sun and Moon demo.
Misty has enjoyed several appearances in the game series. She has been featured as the Cerulean Gym Leader in over five games, as a host in Pokémon Channel, and as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee. Even if she's reduced to a brief cameo in the animated series, we'll still see return in future Pokémon games.
18 Has An Official Title
Ash has spent his entire career striving to be the best trainer. He's never won a Pokémon Championship, but he refuses to give up. In Sun and Moon, he changes his ways to become a trainer.
Misty has always been a trainer but doesn't remain in that basic position forever.
In the North American version of the series, Misty's sisters announce that they want to go on a world tour. They ask Misty to watch the Cerulean Gym while they're away. She becomes the Gym Leader instead of a trainer, something Ash has not yet accomplished.
17 Was A Queen In A Contest For Princesses
Misty is one of the only female companions who aren't interested in Pokémon Performances. She does have moments where she wants to be a princess. Thankfully, her friends are always there to support her on these side quests.
Misty competed against Jessie to in the Princess Festival.
Not only did she have to wear stylish clothing, but she had to use various Pokémon in battle. She managed to defeat her competitors and was crowned as Queen of the Princess Festival.
16 Doesn’t Waste A Good Outfit
As the protagonist of the Pokémon animated series, Ash has appeared in every single season. His outfit always has different patterns and colors but has remained the same format of a jacket, white t-shirt, jeans, and a cap.
Ash has never gone back to his previous outfits. Misty's original outfit of a tank top, shorts, and suspenders is iconic. Throughout the series, she has also changed her attire. Unlike Ash, she has re-worn previous outfits. She isn't afraid to go back to clothing she considers comfortable.
15 Stops Brock In His Tracks
Any Pokémon fan knows that Brock is always on the lookout for a relationship. He has a particular interest in Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny. Ash takes no action. He is more concerned about his journey than Brock's interests.
Misty doesn't stand by and allow Brock to mistreat others.
If Misty spots Brock's awful behavior, she'll command him to stop or even pull him away by his ear. Misty isn't afraid to step in when she witnesses Brock's terrible actions.
14 Won A Lifetime Supply Of Sweets
Misty specializes in training Water-type Pokémon. It's no surprise that she has other skills in the water. Misty excels at fishing. Unlike her companions, once she drops one of her custom lures into the water, she can catch dinner or a new Pokémon.
Misty's skills are so advanced that she was named the winner of Seaking Catching Day, beating her competitors, Ash and Jessie. The winner of the competition received a shiny trophy and a lifetime supply of chocolate bars.
13 Quality Not Quantity
Ash doesn't discriminate when it comes to capturing Pokémon. If Ash has the opportunity to gain a new team member, he'll gladly take it. Misty doesn't try to catch Pokémon she knows she can't tame. Misty is aware that she specializes in training Water-type Pokémon.
Others in the series have noticed her skill. Compared to other trainers, Misty's Pokémon are incredibly powerful. When she challenged Ash in Sun and Moon, he had trouble keeping up with her Mega Gyarados. He went on to win the match, but not as easy as he'd hoped.
12 Excels Where Ash Fails
Ash strives to be the best trainer, but some Pokémon have evaded him. Misty isn't interested in capturing every Pokémon for her Water-type team. She manages to capture some Pokémon he can't. She had the patience to care for Togepi until its egg hatched.
Misty has also caught the largest Seaking in the show, which also crowned her winner of Seaking Catching Day.
Another powerful Pokémon on Misty's team is Golduck. Unfortunately, when she calls for the powerful Pokémon, Psyduck often appears instead.
11 Won’t Accept Free Badges
When Ash first visited Cerulean Gym, he was ready to challenge the gym leaders for his next badge. To his surprise, the leaders weren't interested in a battle. They were willing to give Ash the Cascade Badge without a fight. Ash was close to accepting the badge he didn't earn.
Misty became angry at her sisters. She didn't think that gym badges should be handed out without earning them. Her sisters disagreed, but eventually gave in to their younger sister's demands. Misty's pride keeps her from accepting awards for no effort.
10 Made Her Feelings Known
Ash has met several people on his journey. Some travel with him until they achieve their goals and separate as he enters a new area. Misty has stayed by Ash's side for five seasons and has come back to visit him.
According to "Misty's Song," she has strong feelings toward her traveling companion. She has displayed jealousy when seeing him act friendly towards other girls. Her romantic feelings are made more prominent in the original Japanese series. In North America, 4Kids Entertainment decided to remove any mention of Misty's feelings.
9 Experienced A Moment Of Fear
Ash was forced to release Pokémon throughout the series when he could no longer control them. Though he felt sad, he wasn't afraid of them. Misty has shown fear when it comes to training the powerful creatures.
In the episode "Cerulean Blues," Misty reveals she develops a fear of Gyarados after climbing into its mouth as a baby. After taking the time to befriend it and protect the creature in battle, they had a newfound respect for each other. She overcame her fear and gained confidence as a trainer.
8 Struggled To Survive Since Birth
Misty doesn't speak much about her past. We know that she has three sisters and they all live together in Cerulean City. Misty feels like the outcast among them, as they all dress similar and are close to the same age. Though Misty significantly differs from her sisters, they're the only family she has.
Misty's parents abandoned their family at an early age. Misty was only a baby when they chose to become gym leaders instead of parents. She managed to become a strong, independent pre-teen, despite her early challenges.
7 Didn’t Stay The Same
When we first meet Misty, Ash steals her bike. He winds up crashing it, which causes Misty to become furious. She never lets him forget what happened. Over the series, Misty's anger begins to subside.
After raising Togepi, she starts to treat others more kindly. Misty doesn't get angry over little things anymore. Her adventures through the series not only made her grow as a trainer but also as a person. Unfortunately, Ash has remained the same throughout the series.
6 Uses Her Voice, Not Her Pokémon
Misty works hard to become a Water-type Pokémon trainer. One of her skills is how to negotiate with them.
In the episode "Tentacool & Tentacruel," she witnesses the angry Pokémon destroying the city of Porta Vista. She manages to discuss what happened to them. Misty learns the Pokémon are angry the humans have destroyed their homes. Misty speaks to both the human residents and the Pokémon on a compromise. The Pokémon would no longer attack the Port as long as the humans left the reef alone.