Evolution often works wonders in the world of Pokémon, giving your team members a boost to their stats, a new design, access to different moves, and even new typing. Typically, evolution is a nice little bump to an already-good Pokémon.

Sometimes, though, a Pokémon needs to evolve to be at all viable. Some species are truly terrible until they’ve evolved into a useable form. This is either because of their terrible stats or abilities, or sometimes even their typing. Here are some of the best examples of these types of Pokémon — the ones that are useless until they evolve.

Updated November 25th, 2020 by Michael Christopher: The world of Pokemon is always growing, and with two new rounds of DLC released for Pokemon Sword & Shield, many older-generation Pokemon have returned to the main series and the competitive scene. We thought it’d be worth the time to revisit this list and have a look at a few other candidates for it. 

15 Swinub

Swinub isn’t the worst Pokémon to ever exist, but it is definitely useless before it evolves. As a Ground/Ice-type, it definitely has a unique and interesting type combination. Unfortunately, it isn’t that useful alongside its base stat total of a measly 250.

That total will more than double when it evolves to its final stage, Mamoswine, who has a base stat total of 530, including a beastly 130 attack and 110 HP. Even as a Piloswine, the middle stage, this Pokémon is better, with a stat total of 450 and access to much better moves.

14 Combee

One of the more interesting evolution mechanics introduced over the years is gender-locked evolutionary lines. Some Pokémon, like Combee, only evolve when they are female. The males can never evolve. Unfortunately, those male Combee will have a tough time ever making headway in battle, because they aren’t great Pokémon.

Combee only has a base stat total of 244, a good chunk of which goes to speed. It’s great to have a high speed stat, but it’s not very helpful when the rest of its stats are so low and it only has access to four moves. Evolve the female Combee into a Vespiquen and you’ll be much better positioned to win a battle.

13 Sunkern

For more than 15 years, Sunkern proudly held the title of the Pokémon with the single lowest base stat total, measuring only 180 in all. In 2016, Sun & Moon would release, finally freeing Sunkern from this title and instead handing it to Wishiwashi, with its base stat total of only 175.

However, that doesn’t mean Sunkern isn’t still totally useless. It has exactly 30 in each stat, and will basically fall to all attacks. It doesn’t get much better when it evolves into Sunflora, but it’s at least somewhat viable.

12 Snom

One of the most beloved fan-favorite Pokémon in the new Generation VIII games is the Ice/Bug-type Snom. But, for what Snom has in adorableness, it lacks in competitive viability. This poor little bug is very weak, with a base stat total of only 185.

However, evolve it into a Frosmoth and you have a beautiful new Pokémon with a stat total of 475, including a beautiful 125 in special attack. Watch out for Fire- and Rock-type moves, though, as it’s double-weak to both.

11 Kubfu

With the release of the Isle of Armor DLC expansion, Cosmog finally has a fellow friend who is both Legendary and part of an evolutionary family: Kubfu. This small Fighting-type bear will evolve into one of two forms of Urshifu, depending on which tower the player trains it in.

Before it evolves, Kubfu is not very good. It has a base stat total that’s pretty low and isn’t fantastic in battle. Both of its evolutionary forms are great, though, with new typing and much higher stats.

10 Cosmog

This galaxy-like little cloud is actually the first time a legendary Pokémon has belonged to an evolutionary family. It’s a good thing, too, because if Cosmog remained in its base form, it would be really bad. It evolves into Cosmoem (and switches from one of the lightest Pokémon to the heaviest, hilariously) and then into either Lunala or Solgaleo, depending on your game.

With a base stat total of 200, Cosmog has some of the lowest stats in the games. It also only learns Splash and Teleport. Grind that little guy up to level 53, and one of two fantastic Legendaries can be yours.

9 Pseudo-Legendaries

Every pseudo-Legendary (a fan term for extremely powerful Pokémon that meet certain specific requirements) is a three-stage line. Pokémon like Dratini, Larvitar, and Dreepy will eventually become huge behemoths with extremely-high base stat totals and very powerful attacks.

But until they evolve, they’re not great. They’re not the worst Pokémon in existence, but they won’t get you very far in battle. Some, like Dreepy and Jangmo-o, benefit from good typing. But overall, you’ll definitely want to level up these Pokémon as quickly as possible.

8 Seedot

Shiftry and Ludicolo are not the most amazing Pokémon you’ll ever encounter, but they’re pretty decent and very useful in a lot of playthroughs. Most people are probably happy to have either of them on a team when playing through Ruby & Sapphire.

But, in their base stage, they’re horrible. Seedot and Lotad have terribly low base stat totals, and neither has access to some of the better moves of their types. Lotad does take the edge here over Seedot, though, because its two types cover some of each other’s weaknesses.

7 Ralts

Staying in the early routes of the Hoenn region alongside Seedot and Lotad, you’ll find Ralts. It’s honestly a bit of a surprise that a Pokémon that will evolve to something so powerful can be found so early. Ralts is one of the worst Pokémon in the franchise, with a 198 base stat total and not much use.

Once you get your Ralts to evolve into its final form, though, you’ve got a powerful team member. Gardevoir and Gallade are both great Pokémon, but Gardevoir is often considered one of the best.

6 Zubat

From the number of Rocket grunts that utilize Zubat in battle, you’d think that it was a halfway decent Pokémon. But sadly, the smart Zubat trainers who evolve theirs into Crobat are the few geniuses among them. Zubat is really bad before it evolves.

If you can spam enough Supersonics on your enemies like the wild Zubats like to do, you’ll eventually be able to evolve it into Crobat. This speed demon on wings is a fantastic choice for your team. Crobat has great stats (especially its speed stat) and is a fine addition to any playthrough.

5 Babies

Many strong and oft-used Pokémon like Magmar, Electabuzz, and Toxtricity are great additions to any team. Their good stats (and often great typings) are useful in a variety of battle situations, and some of them even received further evolutions like Magmortar and Electivire.

Unfortunately, these three and others have baby pre-evolutions. These baby Pokémon have the combat ability of real babies — that is to say: zero. Baby Pokémon like Magby, Elekid, Toxel, Mantyke, and more have terrible, terrible stats and very few moves available to them. They’re specifically meant to be evolved before being usable.

4 Abra

If you thought Cosmog’s movepool of only Splash and Teleport was bad, just know that Abra is worse. This Psychic-type can only learn Teleport. It does have access to some TMs in each generation, but why bother when you can just evolve it and be done with its terrible moveset and subpar stats?

Not only is Abra terrible, but like Ralts it evolves into an amazing and competitively viable Pokémon. Both Kadabra and Alakazam are great with insane special attack stats, plus access to moves much better than just Teleport.

3 Wimpod

When trying to chase down a Wimpod in Sun and Moon, it might be frustrating that it always manages to escape into its little hole in the cliffside. But, don’t let this fool you into thinking it’s a fast Pokémon with a good Speed stat. Sure, it’s speed is pretty decent compared to the rest of its stats, but it’s just not a good Pokémon.

You’ll want to work on evolving this small Water- and Bug-type as soon as possible. Golisopod is a fantastic Pokémon with a great ability and access to First Impression, which will dominate many battles.

2 Feebas

Feebas is one of the best examples of a Pokémon that is truly useless until it evolves. It ties with Magikarp for base stats and movepool. But, Feebas is less useless as it provides you with a fun challenge of locating it. That is, if you can ever even find one. As one of the most notoriously-difficult Pokémon to find and catch, locating one is actually only half the problem.

Once caught, Feebas is actually almost entirely useless. With a base stat total of only 200, access to just Splash, Tackle, and Flail, and just general ugliness, you’ll want to find yourself the right items to evolve this guy ASAP. Milotic is a really good Pokémon, too.

1 Magikarp

Magikarp is the original patience game in the Pokémon franchise. This thing is so ubiquitous but so useless that you’ll be leaving a trail of them in your wake throughout the region. It has access to the same three moves as Feebas, and an amazingly-bad attack stat of just 10, along with its other terrible stats.

Magikarp has a reputation as a useless Pokémon so strong that it was featured in Magikarp Jump, its very own game that consists of just flopping around. But, once you level your terrible little fish to level 20, you’ll have a Gyarados on your hands, a super cool and powerful Pokémon that many people adore.

NEXT: Pokémon: The 10 Hardest Sinnoh Pokémon To Catch, Ranked