Pokémon that were not prominent outside of their own generation

[StarFalcon555]

Chatot has really fallen from grace since being introduced. It was one of the first Generation 4 Pokemon revealed, showing up in the Manaphy movie and starring in a later episode of AG. It was one of the most heavily promoted new Pokemon at the time, since its gimmick works perfectly for promoting the DS and its microphone feature. Chatot even got a prominent role in PMD2, being one of the story's most memorable characters. In future generations, Chatot wasn't just forgotten; it was actively nerfed. It was the only non-Legendary/Mythical Pokemon to be banned from Gen 5's online, and in Gen 6, its microphone gimmick was removed entirely despite the 3DS still having a microphone. (This is understandable for... obvious reasons, but still) It was last available normally in Generation 6, was transfer-exclusive in Generation 7, and then got hit with the Dexit hammer in SWSH. At least it will be back in BDSP and Legends: Arceus, but without its gimmick, it's just another boring Normal/Flying type.

 

[Nokocchi]

Chatot has really fallen from grace since being introduced. It was one of the first Generation 4 Pokemon revealed, showing up in the Manaphy movie and starring in a later episode of AG. It was one of the most heavily promoted new Pokemon at the time, since its gimmick works perfectly for promoting the DS and its microphone feature. Chatot even got a prominent role in PMD2, being one of the story's most memorable characters. In future generations, Chatot wasn't just forgotten; it was actively nerfed. It was the only non-Legendary/Mythical Pokemon to be banned from Gen 5's online, and in Gen 6, its microphone gimmick was removed entirely despite the 3DS still having a microphone. (This is understandable for... obvious reasons, but still) It was last available normally in Generation 6, was transfer-exclusive in Generation 7, and then got hit with the Dexit hammer in SWSH. At least it will be back in BDSP and Legends: Arceus, but without its gimmick, it's just another boring Normal/Flying type.

I mean, it was a bit different in that it is specially inclined, but not mostly bulk-focused like Noctowl(And Togekiss was retconned into a Fairy/Flying) It also got access to Boomburst as an Egg move in Gen VI. And while having access to Air Slash and/or Hurricane would've been since, their 65 power special flying move has a 100% confusion rate now instead of it being based on what cry you record.

 

[Yung Dramps]

Most of the time when a Pokemon is neglected for generations on end, it's usually a case of it just kinda being unloved and ignored by fans. Stantler, Chatot, Lumineon, none of these are horrible monstrosities per se, but the best you can say is that they're niche picks both in terms of design and combat application.

Luxray is a very special case, and not in a good way. In last year's Pokemon of the Year poll was voted as the 3rd most popular Sinnoh mon and the 21st most popular Pokemon overall. It was one of the first Pokemon in the core Sinnoh games, a gym leader's ace and a starter in that generation's Pokemon Ranger and Mystery Dungeon titles. When people discuss their childhood teams for DPPt, Luxray is a common staple, and even its shiny form is one of the more well-liked ones. And yet despite all of this, Game Freak just does not want to give this family the time of day anymore. To this day it is in a similar league to the likes of Purugly in that it has never appeared in a regional dex outside its origin, the closest thing being SWSH's Isle of Armor. It's also gotten boned pretty hard competitively, getting few significant buffs despite its popularity and mediocrity in battle. Yeah it's been more exposed lately due to the upcoming new Sinnoh titles, but does that really count?

 

[Chadlad50]

I can definitely understand Chatot being banned from Online use in Gen 5 considering it's gimmick...you know the rest. But it still sucks how little attention it gets cause it's probably my favorite of the Normal/Flying types, design-wise, and the gimmick is fun if you ignore the...you know.

Regarding Luxray, that also sucks but Gamefreak rarely ever buffs Pokemon, atleast directly. The only "major" one I can think of is Farfetch'd getting an extra 25 Attack in Gen 7 (That still cracks me up). The rest are just ability changes or +10 to a certain stat. +10 in anything can definitely affect a Pokemon's viability but Luxray is a Pokemon that needs a little more than that to be good. I guess that's why I wanted Megas to come back in BDSP, I want Luxray to be good for once (and physical electrics in general, Wild Charge is terrible)

 

[Codraroll]

Regarding Luxray, that also sucks but Gamefreak rarely ever buffs Pokemon, atleast directly.

Not really? Gen V introduced Hidden Abilities, which sent many Jokémon to stardom. As did Mega Evolution in Gen VI. The two latest generations have been famously stingy with buffs to Pokémon not introduced in Kanto, but there have still been movepool additions and alternate forms that have given some Pokémon a real boost in relevance.

 

[QuentinQuonce]

I'm not sure if these two qualify as it hasn't even been a full generation since their introduction, but I have a hunch that they won't be prominent in future titles.

Oricorio and Minior

These two were so highly specific to their home region that it'd feel pretty out of place to have them show up anywhere else, a fact that Minior's dex entry even calls out.

Ultra Sun Pokedex entry: Places where Minior fall from the night sky are few and far between, with Alola being one of the precious few.

Now, I know that doesn't really mean anything. Pokemon finds (ever more implausible) ways to shoehorn in older mons all the time, and statements like "these Pokemon are only found in this region" routinely get thrown out with every new title.* But if you'd asked me to predict which Pokemon would be Dexited, these two would have been top of the list, and sure enough they were. Neither has made a return in either of the DLCs, and they seem unlikely to make an appearance in either of the upcoming Sinnoh titles. As most of the Alola critters survived Dexit, I wouldn't hold my breath on these ones coming back any time soon. Every generation's roster has a few missing, and none of the remaining Alola mons (Pikipek et al, Yungoos et al, Crabrawler et al, Komala, and Bruxish) are ones I think there's any major appetite for.

Though I'd love to be proven wrong on that score because both species are favourites of mine. Alola had a lot of really cool single-stage Pokemon.




*prime example: Diantha saying "Does this make you think of something like Kalos's Legendary Pokémon? Found only here in the Kalos region, right? Nowhere else?", which already sounded ridiculous at the time.