Samtendo09
Ability: Light Power
Here's something that I really felt is an unpopular opinion.
There is the fact that Pokémon that are purely single-staged (no pre-evos and no evos), aside of Legendary Pokémon or those in similar categories, undermine the "Evolving" point of the Pokémon.
Now, at first, this is not so bad by itself. It is obvious that not everything needs an evolution (or already reached a third stage of an evolution line)... until you realizes that a pre-evo can benefit as much when executed well. And there is also the fact that there are Pokémon that are weak single-stage and yet still cannot evolve, regardless of their excuse (so no, having a gimmick does not excuse Castform to be weak or unable to evolve).
The Pika-Clones misses one point that Pikachu have; an actual Evolution. While Raichu isn't the best for competitive (at least in Smogon), it does at least perform its job much better than Pikachu, who had to rely on Light Orb to be even viable. Having an actual evolution will give the Pika-Clones at least more viable in casual. Togedemaru, Morpeko and to an extent Pachirisu could work fine, but on there are still stronger Electric-type to consider. Had they had an actual, workable evolution (and avoid the same pitfalls of Raichu's), then maybe they could be a little more memorable.
While Farfetch'd, Smeargle and Dunsparce (with Mawile and Sableye, though its largely thanks to the Mega Evolution they have) got great fan reception despite their severe weaknesses, other weak single-staged Pokémon ended up being forgettable at best. While those have their own fans, they also get accused to be PokéDex fillers. Zangoose and Seviper are borderlines, as while not exactly useless, there are better options that are more consistent such as Snorlax and Drapion, respectively. There's a part of reason why Sirfetch'd and Cursola are well received, in that it was to make sure the Galarian Farfetch'd and Galarian Corsola aren't completely deadweight (though Cursola benefited Galarian Corsola in a way how Blissey's remaining existence benefited Chansey thanks to Eviolite).
(Although Smeargle's evo had to be done carefully, or at least have an handicap Ability to counterbalance so many moves it can learn via Sketch.)
Likewise, single-staged strong Pokémon do fare better, but could benefit a more common pre-evolution to be easier to obtain. Granted, it can result an extra step for Breeding via having to evolve it, but not everyone are into Breeding to begin with. And not for Pokémon which the fully evolved form is already weak or otherwise unviable (though that don't apply for Clefable, which still works fine and certainly don't need an Evolution even if Cleffa didn't exist). This is one of the reason why Pichu and Igglybuff are lambasted; they are pre-evolution to already weak Pokémon and stripe away any chance of a further evolution.
Now, stuff like Bonsly and Mime Jr. are okay since their respective evolution can still evolve does to being now stage-two, if Mr. Rime via Galarian Mr. Mime is anything to go by)... in which Mime Jr. can evolve into in Galar region. The fact some artists are making baby Pokémon to a two-staged Pokémon that is already weak (i.e. Parasect and Persian) is quite a pet peeve, all it ends up is striping away their potential chance of an evolution (in fangames anyways). Whether that happens, a Mega Evolution become a good excuse for them.
As much as Regional Evolutions are exclusive to the regional variants, those are still league better idea than just giving Regional Forms to weak Pokémon that don't normally evolve. A cross-gen evolution (regional evo or not) is generally the best solution for weak single staged Pokémon, as actual evolutions don't need mix-maxing or borked Abilities to actually work, provided that you are also careful with stat distribution as a whole.
Thanks to the existence of Regional Evolutions, I am quite happy to see what weak single-staged Pokémon could obtain a new Regional Evolution next. I don't know if genuine cross-gen evolutions will return, but time will tell.
Still... if you are weak single-staged Pokémon, expect to be quickly forgotten or even completely lambasted. And it never for strong single-staged Pokémon to get new pre-evos to expend on Little Cup.
There is the fact that Pokémon that are purely single-staged (no pre-evos and no evos), aside of Legendary Pokémon or those in similar categories, undermine the "Evolving" point of the Pokémon.
Now, at first, this is not so bad by itself. It is obvious that not everything needs an evolution (or already reached a third stage of an evolution line)... until you realizes that a pre-evo can benefit as much when executed well. And there is also the fact that there are Pokémon that are weak single-stage and yet still cannot evolve, regardless of their excuse (so no, having a gimmick does not excuse Castform to be weak or unable to evolve).
The Pika-Clones misses one point that Pikachu have; an actual Evolution. While Raichu isn't the best for competitive (at least in Smogon), it does at least perform its job much better than Pikachu, who had to rely on Light Orb to be even viable. Having an actual evolution will give the Pika-Clones at least more viable in casual. Togedemaru, Morpeko and to an extent Pachirisu could work fine, but on there are still stronger Electric-type to consider. Had they had an actual, workable evolution (and avoid the same pitfalls of Raichu's), then maybe they could be a little more memorable.
While Farfetch'd, Smeargle and Dunsparce (with Mawile and Sableye, though its largely thanks to the Mega Evolution they have) got great fan reception despite their severe weaknesses, other weak single-staged Pokémon ended up being forgettable at best. While those have their own fans, they also get accused to be PokéDex fillers. Zangoose and Seviper are borderlines, as while not exactly useless, there are better options that are more consistent such as Snorlax and Drapion, respectively. There's a part of reason why Sirfetch'd and Cursola are well received, in that it was to make sure the Galarian Farfetch'd and Galarian Corsola aren't completely deadweight (though Cursola benefited Galarian Corsola in a way how Blissey's remaining existence benefited Chansey thanks to Eviolite).
(Although Smeargle's evo had to be done carefully, or at least have an handicap Ability to counterbalance so many moves it can learn via Sketch.)
Likewise, single-staged strong Pokémon do fare better, but could benefit a more common pre-evolution to be easier to obtain. Granted, it can result an extra step for Breeding via having to evolve it, but not everyone are into Breeding to begin with. And not for Pokémon which the fully evolved form is already weak or otherwise unviable (though that don't apply for Clefable, which still works fine and certainly don't need an Evolution even if Cleffa didn't exist). This is one of the reason why Pichu and Igglybuff are lambasted; they are pre-evolution to already weak Pokémon and stripe away any chance of a further evolution.
Now, stuff like Bonsly and Mime Jr. are okay since their respective evolution can still evolve does to being now stage-two, if Mr. Rime via Galarian Mr. Mime is anything to go by)... in which Mime Jr. can evolve into in Galar region. The fact some artists are making baby Pokémon to a two-staged Pokémon that is already weak (i.e. Parasect and Persian) is quite a pet peeve, all it ends up is striping away their potential chance of an evolution (in fangames anyways). Whether that happens, a Mega Evolution become a good excuse for them.
As much as Regional Evolutions are exclusive to the regional variants, those are still league better idea than just giving Regional Forms to weak Pokémon that don't normally evolve. A cross-gen evolution (regional evo or not) is generally the best solution for weak single staged Pokémon, as actual evolutions don't need mix-maxing or borked Abilities to actually work, provided that you are also careful with stat distribution as a whole.
Thanks to the existence of Regional Evolutions, I am quite happy to see what weak single-staged Pokémon could obtain a new Regional Evolution next. I don't know if genuine cross-gen evolutions will return, but time will tell.
Still... if you are weak single-staged Pokémon, expect to be quickly forgotten or even completely lambasted. And it never for strong single-staged Pokémon to get new pre-evos to expend on Little Cup.