While most Pokémon in thePokémonanime are restricted to saying their own names, and thus have a limited ability to communicate with humans, there are occasionally Pokémon who can talk as easily as any human can. This is a rare and noteworthy ability when it happens, and often plays heavily into the plot of whatever story they appear in.
Pokémon “speaking” may not be literally speaking with their mouths; in some cases, they’re actually communicating telepathically, butthe important point is that they’re able to communicate with humans in a way other Pokémon can’t. Some Pokémon actually do communicate with their voices, which is even rarer than telepathic communication. And while many of the Pokémon who can communicate with humans are Legendary-tier or rarer, that’s not a universal rule, either. Here are 10 Pokémon who can communicate with humans in the anime, ranked by how noteworthy their speech is.
10The Rotom Dex was Designed to Speak
First Appearance:Pokémon Sun & Moon, “Loading the Dex!”
The Rotom Dex, as he’s known, is a particular Rotom. It usesRotom’s ability to possess machinesto inhabit a special model of Pokédex, with which it’s able to speak in human language and communicate relatively easily.Rotom is not able to speak when outside of the Pokédex, whether it inhabits another machine or not; the ability to speak is a feature of the dex, allowing Rotom to provide its trainer (Ash) with detailed information on the Pokémon they may confront in their journey.
10 Pokémon That Humans Officially Eat
Many Pokémon are captured for the purpose of battling, but there have been many instances of humans eating the various creatures they come across.
Rotom Dex is shown to be very curious, and is interested in gathering new information to store in its data banks, if only for its own sake.InPokémon Journeys, the Rotom Dex’s abilities seem to have been applied to the frequently seen Rotom Phones as well,allowing those phones to speak when using their Pokédex functions, even demonstrating somewhat differing personalities.
9Sir Aaron’s Lucario Could Communicate Telepathically
First Appearance:Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew
This Lucario, belonging to the ancient warrior Sir Aaron, was unique in that it possessed the ability to telepathically communicate, which most Lucario don’t seem able to do. Lucario saw itself as Sir Aaron’s pupil, learning the intricacies ofmastering Aura powers (like those of Ash) from him. When Sir Aaron boldly sacrificed himself to end a war, he sealed his Lucario away in a staff, similar to a Poké ball, where it would remain for untold ages until Ash released it.
Lucario opted to perform the same sacrifice as its former master.
Lucario was resentful of Sir Aaron at first, feeling as if he was abandoned, and this spread to his treatment of other humans. After learning the truth, however, Lucario opted to perform the same sacrifice as its former master,helping to stabilize the Tree of Beginning and sparing Ash, who would’ve been sacrificed attempting the same thing.
8One Zorua Spoke Telepathically
First Appearance:Pokémon–Zoroark: Master of Illusions
Zorua and its mother, Zoroark, were captured by the villainous Grings Kodai in the start of the 13th movie, but Zorua managed to escape, eventually encountering Ash and his friends.It was able to communicate with them telepathically, which seems to have been a unique trait to this particular Zorua, as even its mother couldn’t. Ash and co.ahelped Zorua to locate its mother, who was being used to create the illusion of the Legendary Beasts attacking the city, drawing the ire of the real Raikou, Suicune, and Entei.
After being reunited, Zoroark took a deadly Shadow Ball to protect Zorua. A Celebi which Zorua had befriended helped revive Zoroark, and the happy family were finally able to return to their home.
7Jirachi Used Its Psychic Powers to Communicate Telepathically
First Appearance:Pokémon: Jirachi: Wish Maker
Jirachi is a Pokémon that spends most of its time asleep, waking only for seven days whenever the Millennium Comet passes by.Jirachi used its powerful psychic abilities to communicate telepathically, and quickly befriended Max, one of Ash’s companions. Jirachi had a very childlike personality, a stark contrast from the more mature personalities possessed by most Legendary and Mythical Pokémon who can speak.
Max and Jirachi grew close over the course of the week it was awake, and when a villain attempted to use Jirachi’s powers for evil, Ash, Max, and the rest helped to defeat them and allow Jirachi to return to normal. Jirachi’s parting with Max was sad, but their friendship would last forever.
6Slowking Could Speak Directly
First Appearance:Pokémon the Movie 2000: The Power of One
Slowking appears as the guardian of Shamouti Shrine in the second movie, where it was entrusted with knowledge about the three elemental orbs, which are said to have the power to quell the rampage of the Legendary Birds, Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres.Despite being a Psychic-type Pokémon, Slowking was able to speak human language directly using its voice, and in this way gave Ash the necessary information. As is commonly the case, this seemed to bea special ability to this particular Slowking, and not a trait of all Slowking.
Interestingly, Slowking also seemed to possess the ability to see past the fourth wall, telling Team Rocket that their brave sacrifice had been witnessed by some, while gesturing towards the audience.
5Lugia Communicated Telepathically to Ash and His Friends
Lugia appeared in the same film as Slowking, but where Slowking could speak physically, Lugia communicated telepathically.Lugia came across as exceptionally intelligent, and understood the importance of stopping the Legendary Birds' rampagebefore it would lead to a prophesied destruction of the world.
Another Lugia seen later, inPokémon Journeys, was also able to communicate telepathically.
The agitation of these Legendary Pokémon was, however, a trap by a Pokémon collector attempting to capture Lugia;Ash had to help prevent Lugia from being captured and restore peace to the trio to save the world. Another Lugia seen later, inPokémon Journeys, was also able to communicate telepathically, seemingly indicating that this might be a trait which all Lugia possess.
4Gastly Could Speak Human Language
First Appearance:Pokémon Indigo League, “The Ghost of Maiden’s Peak”
The first Ghost-type Pokémon to appear in the anime, this Gastly possessed a variety of extraordinary abilities which no other Gastly has demonstrated since.Most notably, of course, was the fact that it could speak human language, taunting Ash, his friends, and Team Rocket. It also possessed incredible aptitude with illusions, being able to create an illusory mongoose (a rarePokémonreference to a real animal) and then a fusion of Blastoise and Venusaur, which was dubbed “Venustoise.”
Gastly was acting on behalf of a human ghost, oddly enough, which it was able to speak to with ease.It’s the most solid link between Ghost-type Pokémon and actual ghosts in the series, and opens the door for all kinds of bizarre consequences.
3Arceus Spoke So All Could Understand
First Appearance:Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life
Arceus is widely known as the “god Pokémon,” soit’s fitting that Arceus would be able to speak to humans and Pokémon alike. In the past, Arceus had used up its power to save the world from a meteor, and nearly died if it weren’t for the actions of a man named Damos.
Arceus rewarded Damos, but when it next appeared, Damos had seemingly turned on it, angering Arceus and leading to it promising judgment against humans when next it arrived.
However, Ash and friends helped Arceus, returning its borrowed power and saving its life again.Arceus regained trust in humanity and left peacefully, averting what could’ve been an event of apocalyptic proportions.
2Mewtwo’s Telepathy Was Exceptional
First Appearance:Pokémon: the First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back
Mewtwo was a Pokémon who was genetically engineered to be the strongest Pokémon then known,wielding incredible psychic abilities, including the capacity to communicate telepathically.Mewtwo felt it was being mistreated, however, leading to its escape, which resulted in the facility it was kept in exploding. Mewtwo would go on to create a plot to destroy the world using a storm centered on its island, intending to repopulate the world with clone Pokémon like himself. However, thanks to the interference of Ash, Mewtwo had second thoughts after it clashed with Mew.
Mewtwo ultimately realized that its origins didn’t matter, but the fact that it was alive did, and left with its clone Pokémon to find a peaceful place to live. Another Mewtwo,appearing inGenesect and the Legend Awakened, was also capable of telepathic communication, indicating this is a trait all Mewtwo would possess.
1Meowth Was the Original Talking Pokémon
First Appearance:Pokémon Indigo League, “Pokémon Emergency!”
The Meowth that is a part of Team Rocket was the first Pokémon able to speak to be introduced in the anime. Meowth appears in nearly every episode of the series alongside Jessie and James, and oddly enough, is often the brains behind their schemes.Meowth originally learned to talkin an attempt to impress a female Meowth named Meowzie, who had rejected him by saying she preferred the company of humans. However, upon learning to speak, Meowzie saw Meowth as a freak, and only rejected him even harder than before.
Meowth’s ability to speak has come in handy on numerous occasions, allowing him to translate from Pokémon language to human language. He was even occasionally possessed by certain Pokémon who used him as a mouthpiece, intending to finally get their message across to humans. For this reason,Meowth is without a doubt the most important talking Pokémon in thePokémonanime.
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Pokémon follows Ash Ketchum on his journey to become a Pokémon Master, accompanied by his loyal Pikachu. Released in 1997, the series explores Ash’s travels through various regions, where he encounters new friends and challenges, underscoring the themes of adventure and teamwork.
