Pokémon 10 Pokémon We Were Scared Of As Kids But Grew To Love
TheGamer
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Pokémon 10 Pokémon We Were Scared Of As Kids But Grew To Love
Some Pokémon that fueled our nightmares as children are ones we've come to love as adults, but which were the scariest? Some are cute and cuddly. Some are ferocious and imposing. Some are just plain weird. Then there are the Pokémon that genuinely put the chills in kids, whether intentional or not. No matter if it’s one of the many Ghost Pokémon with haunting backstories or a bizarre outlier whose gets it banished to a PC Box, Pokémon can no doubt be scary, especially to young kids. As we grow up, we can learn to appreciate the fears that challenged us as children, and this list of Pokémon is no different. Here are ten Pokémon that wormed their way into everyone’s hearts. THEGAMER VIDEO OF THE DAY Mr Mime
Starting off this list is Mr Mime, one of the Pokémon on this list who could be considered unintentionally scary. Unlike the many Ghost Pokémon designed to give nightmares, Mr Mime hits the creepy factors being not only but humanoid and Clown-like, all while not being able to speak. Its eerie, repetitive miming animations from Generation VI certainly doesn't help its case, nor does the popular fan theory of the anime that Mr Mime is Ash's father. Its depiction in the Detective Pikachu movie allowed Mr Mime to cash in on the hilarity of mimes themselves and the nostalgia factor it possesses by being a generation I Pokémon. It's been a good time for Mr Mime! Mega Pinsir
Perhaps an arguable opinion, but for children who were utterly terrified of bugs or monsters (or both, Arceus forbid), Mega Pinsir was absolute nightmare fuel. Reading Pinsir's Diamond and Pearl Pokédex entry was scary enough as a child: "It grips prey with its pincers until the prey is torn in half. What it can't tear, it tosses far." Now Mega evolved, it has horizontal fangs sharpened like knives and piercing yellow eyes, and can also now it can fly after its opponents. Standing at 5'07", Mega Pinsir taller than the average child. As an adult, the sheer monstrous coolness of Mega Pinsir can be appreciated, but no kid can be blamed for their fears over this bug. Sableye
Besides the massive gemstones for eyes, Sableye looks rather typical (for a Pokémon, that is). Pokémon Ruby's Pokédex entry tells a different story, however: "They are feared because these Pokémon are thought to steal the spirits of people when their eyes burn with a sinister glow in the darkness." Its unsettling appearance is tripled with the fear that eye contact will have one's spirit stolen. Sableye's Mega form gave it a lot more love than it previously received, with its chest gemstone expanded and ripped out of its body. Still appalling to read, but Sableye is definitely cooler than it used to be. Gengar
Both beloved and feared by trainers alike, Gengar walks the perfect balance of and mischief-maker. Pokémon Pearl's Pokédex entry describes how Gengar will wait in the shadows to "steal its prey's life force." Gengar has owned by many tough trainers, such as Morty in the Pokémon anime, and going up against one is no laughing matter. Another Pokémon on this list to receive a Mega Evolution, Mega Gengar's power is undeniably epic, with its shiny form referencing a classic sheet ghost. With major appearances in games such as Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, Gengar has gone from feared to fawned over, proving it impossible not to love this spectral troublemaker. Froslass
Froslass was arguably glossed over during its introduction in the Generation IV games, existing as an alternate evolution of Snorunt. Existing as the only Ice/Ghost-type in the games, Froslass is most likely based on the Japanese legend of the Yuki-onna, a Japanese yōkai who is often depicted wearing a kimono and who floats across the snow. Most legends before the 18th century of the Yuki-onna portrayed the spirit as evil, freezing travelers caught in snowstorms or leading them astray to their ultimate deaths. This is absolutely in line with Froslass' Pokédex entries, with SoulSilver's Dex stating "a woman who was lost on an icy mountain was reborn as Froslass." Now, as many stories have aimed to humanize the Yuki-onna, so too has depth been granted to Froslass, allowing us to truly appreciate such a unique and storied Pokémon. Shedinja
Call it what you want: a gimmick Pokémon, a worthy opponent, or simply a side effect of Nincada's evolution, but Shedinja has quite the lore behind it. Pokémon Ruby's Pokédex entry speaks of a legend that it will "steal the spirit of anyone peering into its hollow body from its back." Considering it is an empty husk brought to life by some unknowable force, the idea of having one's soul stolen by a bug shell was a frightening notion as a child. Now, Shedinja exists as a fascinating example of storytelling, as well as a great example of what unique creatures Pokémon can conjure up when they put their minds to it. Parasect
Parasect has no scary qualities at first...until you read its Pokédex entry. Parasect is a bug who was essentially possessed by a mushroom spore, and the mushroom is in complete control. It does all the thinking, simply draining the bug of all its energy. If this isn't eerie enough for you, when the mushroom is separated from the bug, it simply stops moving, effectively dead. If this was a child's first exposure to the concept of spores that invade host species, they would be understandably creeped out, perhaps ever worried that they could be controlled by a mushroom. Luckily, real-world parasites aren't nearly as mind-controlling as Parasect's mushroom is, leaving us to appreciate the Pokémon's fascinating albeit creepy existence. Kadabra
Kadabra makes a surprise appearance on this list, being a relatively popular and loved Psychic Pokémon. It is known to utilize silver spoons to make its powers stronger and can make clocks run backward. However, the scare-factor of Kadabra lies in its Generation III Pokédex entries, specifically Pokémon FireRed's entry: "It happened one morning - a boy with extrasensory powers awoke in bed transformed into Kadabra." Brushing aside the eerie storybook vibe of this entry, the sheer idea of a human being turned into a Pokémon through Psychic abilities was shocking to read as a kid. The more haunting part is that it was never mentioned again in later generations, simply becoming a spooky tidbit of Kadabra's history. Drifloon
First a clown, now a balloon? Nintendo must enjoy giving kids nightmares. Drifloon is a must on this list, with its Pearl Dex entries specifically relating to children: "It tugs on the hands of children to steal them away." If that isn't creepy enough, its soul will spill out with "a screaming sound" if its body is pierced. How does a Pokémon like this become lovable? Certainly, the way it utterly fails to kidnap children is strangely cute, getting dragged around instead. Drifloon has also become a merchandising favorite, with plushies both released by Nintendo and created by dedicated fans. Phantump
Considering Pokémon is a game for children, there certainly are a lot of Pokémon designed to scare them. Pokémon Y's Dex states that Phantumps are said to be tree stumps "possessed by the spirits of children who died while lost in the forest." This might be the saddest entry in the entire Pokédex, not to mention terrifying. Phantumps are essentially dead children who have come back to life and are attacking people in the forest. When not malevolent, however, it becomes easy to love and comfort this poor soul who never got a real chance at life. Phantump, you are loved.