Ash Ketchum has achieved a lot over the course of his long and storied Pokémon journey, but his adventures in the anime are finally drawing to a close. For many fans, it took Ash way too long to win his first major Pokémon League title in Alola, but in Pokémon Journeys, he went further and defeated multiple Champions to win the Masters Eight Tournament.
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With Ash now at the top of the mountain following his latest and greatest triumph, the question then arises of who can actually beat Ash Ketchum? There are several strong Pokémon Trainers in the games with high-leveled Pokémon who would certainly have a strong chance of doing so. Ash also managed to avoid various tough trainers from certain regions during his time there in the anime, and would likely have struggled against them if he had met them back then.
10 Red's Old-School Team Would Frustrate & Grind Down Ash's Endless Optimism
Red will be the first name on the lips of Pokémon fans, in terms of a Trainer who could still beat Ash even in his current rich vein of form. Red appears at the end of the Gen II games, acting as the final boss of the Kanto region, as the Elite Four and Lance did for Johto.
Red's core team in the games is Pikachu, Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise and Snorlax, with Espeon completing the team in the original games, and Lapras replacing it in subsequent appearances. Machamp and Arcanine joined Red's team in Let's Go, Pikachu and Eevee, but this felt like a step back. Red's main team is a fairly standard Kanto squad, but would likely be a handful for Ash with its sheer power.
9 Professor Turo's Futuristic Paradox Army Would Surprise & Overwhelm Ash
Now that Ash Ketchum has reached this new high level of skill and achievement, the Trainers looking to defeat him would have to command a seriously impressive team. That's where some of the new characters introduced in come in. Professor Turo is one of the toughest tests in Pokémon Violet, as players have to navigate their way through a team of formidable Paradox Pokémon and then the Legendary Pokémon Miraidon.
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Ash Ketchum would likely be overwhelmed by the sheer mysticism of these Paradox Pokémon, perhaps even showing glimpses of his old naivety in presuming they are exactly like the species they resemble. Turo's futuristic team of Iron Moth, Iron Bundle, Iron Hands, Iron Jugulis, Iron Thorns and Iron Valiant would just be too much. Miraidon would certainly seal the deal if also involved.
8 Giratina & Volo's Chaotic Energy Would Make Him A Tougher Foe Than Cynthia
Pokémon Legends: Arceus ended up being revolutionary for the Pokémon franchise after its release at the start of 2022. Pokémon battles against Trainers were less common than in normal Pokémon games, but when they did occur, they had higher stakes and a more generalized intensity.
Volo appeared to be a friendly face for most of the game, until he eventually showed his true colors and his villainous intent. Volo's team is very similar to that of the Sinnoh Champion Cynthia, with Hisuian Arcanine being added to Lucario, Garchomp, Roserade, Spiritomb and Togekiss. Ash managed to get past Cynthia during the Masters Eight Tournament, but Volo differs in one major area, having the Legendary Pokémon, Giratina on standby.
7 Legendary Pokémon Would Turn N Into A Monstrous Opponent For Ash To Overcome
Throughout his anime appearances, N was shown to have befriended a number of Pokémon, both in the present and in his past. Yet it is his game counterpart who really gets to shine with a huge array of different Pokémon. In Black & White, N raises a fairly modest team, until the fifth battle with the player, where the Legendary Pokémon, either Zekrom or Reshiram depending on the game, joins the fray.
The legendary accompanies a strong team of Carracosta, Vanilluxe, Archeops, Klinklang and Zoroark, but it would still be nothing without the addition of the Legendary Pokémon. Ash has managed to dig down deep and get past Pokémon like Darkrai and Latios in the past, but battling N could be a similar situation to said battle with Tobias, getting past the main obstacle but at the cost of his entire team.
6 Lysandre Would Be A Dangerous Foe At His Full Power With Mega Evolution & A Legendary
Lysandre is the big bad of the X & Y games, as the leader of Team Flare. Lysandre showed off his dastardly plans and manipulative side in the anime, but rarely battled with any Pokémon other than Mega Gyarados or Pyroar.
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An alternative version of Lysandre returned to the franchise in the Gen VII games Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon as a part of Team Rainbow Rocket. This version of Lysandre packs a heavy-hitting team, with Pyroar and Mega Gyarados not only being joined by Mienshao and Honchkrow, but also a Legendary Pokémon in Xerneas or Yveltal. Ash managed to get the best of Lysandre in the anime, but this game version with an additional legendary would be one step too far.
5 Alternate Ghetsis Would Overpower Ash's Team
Like Lysandre, Ghetsis is another villainous team leader who returned in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, as a part of Team Rainbow Rocket. This alternate universe version of the Team Plasma leader sports a formidable team.
Bouffalant, Cofa*grigus, Bisharp and Hydreigon are already a powerful and formidable team by themselves, but are accompanied by Zekrom in Ultra Sun, and Reshiram in Ultra Moon. Ghetsis got to show off his evil intentions in the anime, but his various game iterations being manifested as this one opponent, would cause Ash all sorts of problems.
4 Cyrus Would Tire & Outspeed Ash's Team Before Unleashing The Legendary
To continue the theme, Team Galactic boss Cyrus, or at least an alternate version of him, was another villainous leader to join Team Rainbow Rocket in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon. This version of Cyrus boasts a formidable team of Houndoom, Crobat, Honchkrow and Weavile.
These teams are then completed by the Gen IV Legendary Pokémon, Dialga in Ultra Sun and Palkia in Ultra Moon. Regardless of the given legendary used, Cyrus would have a lot of speed and power, which even Ash's Masters Eight team would have problems with.
3 Ash Taking On Professor Sada's Ancient Paradox Pokémon Would Be An Incredible Sight
While Professor Turo provided one of the biggest tests of Pokémon Violet, Sada filled that role in Pokémon Scarlet. Sada favored research on the ancient past rather than the distant future, and that is where her Paradox Pokémon came from.
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Scream Tail, Brute Bonnet, Slither Wing, Flutter Mane, Sandy Shocks and Roaring Moon would also overwhelm Ash, just as their futuristic counterparts would, and the Legendary Pokémon Koraidon would just add insult to injury. Sada's ancient powerhouses just have too much coverage and shock-factor on their side to lose, even to someone as capable as Ash.
2 Ash Would Encourage Nemona To Unleash Her Best Efforts
Professors Sada and Turo may bring a more formidable presence as the toughest Trainers that Scarlet & Violet have to offer, especially with their Paradox and Legendary Pokémon, but Nemona comes close in her own right. At face value, Nemona appears to be the classic overly-enthusiastic rival who just wants to battle the player all the time, but she is actually so much more than that.
From the very start, players know that Nemona is a Champion, but they don't truly understand what that means until much later. Nemona is in a position where she is never properly tested by anyone, which leaves an emptiness in her life, that she tries to fill with boundless energy and enthusiasm. Nemona eventually gets to unleash her full power against the player, which makes for a compelling battle. Lycanroc, Goodra, Dudunsparce, Orthworm, Pawmot and whichever starter, makes up a fun team that Ash wouldn't know how to deal with.
1 Grand Master Greevil Would Be The Final Boss To Humble Ash
When considering the toughest Trainer battles in all of Pokémon, not just in the mainline games, Grand Master Greevil from Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness certainly deserves recognition. The title of Grand Master is not just for show, as his teams back up.
Greevil uses Shadow versions of Lugia, Moltres, Articuno and Zapdos in his teams, as well as various other powerful Pokémon. Ash has shown his resourcefulness against tough opponents in the anime, but four Legendary Pokémon and other capable supporting species would be way too much for Ash, unless he added Legendary Pokémon of his own.
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