Anime Rules Pokémon Games Should Finally Adopt

Sure, the games have weather effects—rain, sun, snow. But the anime goes full Avatar: The Last Airbender with it. Forests boost Fire-type moves. Oceans supercharge Electric-types.

Why not make terrain a real factor? If you’re battling in a cave, Rock-types should get a buff. If you’re on a beach, Water-types should thrive. It’s not just cool—it’s logical. And it would make location scouting part of your battle prep. It provides a tactical aspect that’s not really explored within the games (now, my Jolteon won’t get KO’d by its disadvantaged opponent!)

Speed Should Mean More Than Just “You Go First”

The anime treats speed like a superpower. Fast Pokémon don’t just move first—they move twice, dodge attacks, and sometimes break the laws of physics.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus flirted with this idea, letting faster Pokémon act multiple times. But let’s take it further. If your Jolteon is blazing fast, let it hit twice before the opponent even blinks. It’s chaotic, yes—but also deeply satisfying.

Let Trainers Tell Pokémon to Dodge—Ash Does It, So Why Can’t We?

Ash tells Pikachu to dodge like it’s a reflex. Meanwhile, in the games, you’re stuck hoping Protect doesn’t fail.

Why not give us a dodge command? Not a guaranteed escape, but a chance to avoid damage based on speed, terrain, and maybe a little RNG. It adds drama, strategy, and lets us live out our anime protagonist dreams.

Unevolved Pokémon Shouldn’t Be Useless

In the anime, Pikachu regularly wipes the floor with evolved opponents. In the games? Good luck getting past Route 3 with a base-stage Pokémon.

Let’s fix that. Give unevolved Pokémon meaningful stat boosts, unique abilities, or synergy bonuses. Make it viable to run a team of unevolved favorites without feeling like you’re roleplaying as a masochist.

Double Battles Need Actual Teamwork

Double Battles are supposed to be strategic, but they mostly boil down to “two Pokémon doing their own thing.” The anime shows real synergy—Machamp tossing Pikachu for a boosted attack, Kirlia amplifying Gardevoir’s psychic power.

Let’s bring that to the games. Give us combo moves, positional assists, and unique interactions between specific Pokémon pairs. It’s not just cool—it’s the kind of depth competitive players would eat up.

Legendary Pokémon Should Feel Legendary

In the anime, Legendary Pokémon bend reality. Latios and Latias disguise themselves as humans. Mewtwo throws opponents with telekinesis.

In the games? Most of them just spam Pressure and hope for the best. Let’s give Legendaries unique, character-driven abilities. If Miraidon can manipulate terrain, why can’t Articuno summon a blizzard that freezes the battlefield? Make them feel mythical again.

More Freedom When Choosing Your First Pokémon

Okay, this one’s personal. The three basic starter Pokémon at the beginning of every game? Sure, they’re efficient. They’re iconic. But they’re also kind of limiting. Not everyone wants to pick between Grass, Fire, and Water every single time. Some of us want options. (Give me my Eevee, darn it!)

The anime proves this isn’t just wishful thinking. Plenty of trainers start their journey with Pokémon that aren’t part of the traditional trio—Ash had Pikachu, for crying out loud. So why are we still stuck choosing from the same three every time?

And don’t get me started on the professors. They’re supposed to be experts with access to dozens of species, but somehow they only ever offer three? I don’t buy it. Let me browse the lab. Let me pick something that fits my vibe. If I want to start with a ghost-type or a bug-type, why not?

Give us more freedom. Let us choose our first Pokémon based on personality, strategy, or pure chaos. Because the starter should feel like your beginning—not just another checkbox on a formulaic journey.

Final Thoughts

The Pokémon anime isn’t perfect—but it’s bold. It breaks rules, bends logic, and delivers moments that stick with you. The games? They’re polished, balanced, and sometimes a little too safe.

It’s time to let the chaos in. Give us anime mechanics. Let us dodge, reposition, and solo the Champion with a Pichu. Because if Ash can do it, so can we.