You’d think after nearly thirty years of monster-collecting, we’d have a simple answer. Ask anyone on the street, and they'll probably scream "Magikarp!" while doing a floppy little dance. It’s the obvious choice. The classic. But if you’re actually looking at the numbers—and I mean the cold, hard Base Stat Totals (BST) that keep competitive players awake at night—Magikarp isn't even the bottom of the barrel.
Actually, it's not even close.
Defining what is the weakest Pokemon depends entirely on whether you’re looking at a spreadsheet, a lore book, or a literal battlefield. Are we talking about the creature that dies if a Pidgey sneezes near it? Or are we talking about the one that literally cannot deal damage? Because there's a big difference between being frail and being fundamentally useless.
The Spreadsheet King (of Being Terrible)
If we’re going strictly by the numbers—Base Stat Totals—there is a king. Or a peasant, I guess. For years, Sunkern held the crown of shame with a BST of 180. It has 30s across the board. It’s basically a sentient sunflower seed that hasn't realized it can be eaten yet.
Then Sun and Moon happened.
Wishiwashi showed up and ruined Sunkern’s only claim to fame. In its Solo Form, Wishiwashi has a BST of 175. That is five points lower than Sunkern. It has a pathetic base 20 HP and 20 Defense. Honestly, a stiff breeze in Alola should be enough to wipe out an entire population of these things.
But there’s a massive "but" here. Wishiwashi has the Schooling ability. Once it hits level 20, it transforms into a multi-fish titan with a BST of 620—higher than most legendary birds and beasts. Can we really call it the weakest? Probably not. It’s just a late bloomer.
The "Can’t Hit Anything" Hall of Fame
Stats are one thing. Utility is another. This is where we have to talk about Cosmog.
Cosmog is adorable. It’s a little nebula cloud that lives in a bag (when Lillie can keep it there). It also has a BST of 200, which is actually better than Sunkern and Solo Wishiwashi. But here is the kicker: it only learns Splash and Teleport.
It cannot hurt you.
You could put a level 100 Cosmog against a level 5 Caterpie, and the Cosmog would eventually just struggle itself to death. It has no offensive presence. It is a cosmic paperweight. Even Magikarp eventually learns Flail and can be tutored Bounce or Hydro Pump in later generations. Magikarp can, theoretically, sweep a team if you’re a meme-loving masochist. Cosmog just sits there and vibrates until it faints.
Then there’s Unown. Poor, alphabetical Unown. It has a BST of 336, which sounds decent until you realize it only learns one move: Hidden Power. Since Hidden Power was removed from the main series games in Generation 8 (only to return in limited capacities like Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl), Unown became a literal blank slate in many modern contexts. Even when it works, it’s bad. It’s a psychic-type letter 'F' that fails at everything.
The Fragility Winners
If we’re talking about "weak" as in "dies instantly," we have to mention the specialists.
- Shedinja: It has 1 HP. Period. Doesn't matter if it’s level 1 or level 100. Its Wonder Guard ability makes it immune to anything that isn't Super Effective, but one pebble (Stealth Rock) or a light drizzle (Sandstorm) kills it. It is the definition of a glass cannon without the cannon.
- Blissey: Wait, Blissey? Yes. While Blissey is a legendary special wall, it has a base Defense of 10. If a Machop looks at it funny, it shatters. It’s not "weak" overall, but it has the structural integrity of a wet napkin against physical attacks.
- Wiglett: This Paldean "not-a-Diglett" has a base HP of 10. It is fast, sure, but it has zero bulk. It's basically a noodle waiting to be snapped.
Why Sunkern Still Takes the L
Even with Wishiwashi’s lower stats, the community usually circles back to Sunkern when discussing what is the weakest Pokemon. Why? Because it doesn't have a gimmick. Wishiwashi becomes a god. Magikarp becomes a dragon-thing. Even Feebas (BST 200) turns into the elegant Milotic.
Sunkern evolves into Sunflora.
Sunflora is... fine? It has a decent Special Attack of 105, but it’s so slow it’ll be outrun by a sedentary Torkoal. It’s a Grass-type in a world full of Fire, Flying, and Poison moves. Sunkern is the weakest because its potential is also the lowest. It’s a bad Pokemon that evolves into a mediocre one. That’s a special kind of disappointment.
The Competitive Perspective
In the world of Smogon or VGC, "weak" means "unviable."
📖 Related: Solitaire Klondike Explained: Why This Simple Card Game Still Rules Our Screens
Ledian is a great example of this. It looks like a superhero. It has four arms. You’d think it would be a physical powerhouse. Instead, it has a base Attack of 35. To put that in perspective, the baby Pokemon Azurill—a literal ball of soap—has higher potential damage thanks to its Huge Power ability. Ledian is a fully evolved Pokemon that hits like a pool noodle. It is effectively useless in any serious battle.
Then there's Delibird. I love the festive penguin, but it’s a disaster. Its signature move, Present, has a 20% chance to heal the opponent. Imagine being so bad at fighting that you accidentally give your enemy a juice box and a bandage mid-swing.
What to Do With This Information
If you're looking to actually use some of these "weaklings" or just want to avoid them in your next Nuzlocke, here is how you handle the bottom-tier trash:
- Check the Ability, Not Just the Stats: Azurill has a BST of 190 (nearly as low as Sunkern), but with the Huge Power ability, its actual Attack stat doubles. It hits harder than many middle-stage evolutions.
- Don't Judge a Fish by Its Cover: If you catch a Wishiwashi, keep it. It’s the "weakest" on paper until level 20, at which point it becomes an absolute carry for the mid-game.
- Eviolite is Your Friend: If you’re forced to use a weak, unevolved Pokemon like Galarian Corsola (who isn't "weak" but has low base stats), slap an Eviolite on it to boost its defenses by 50%. It won't save Sunkern, but it helps almost anything else.
- Focus on Niche Utility: Some weak Pokemon have "Prankster" or "Sturdy." A Level 1 Magnemite with Berry Juice and Recycle can technically defeat a Level 100 God-slayer if the RNG gods are smiling.
Ultimately, the "weakest" Pokemon is usually just the one you haven't found a gimmick for yet—unless it's Sunkern. Sorry, Sunkern. You’re just a seed.