Every new Pokémon in the Scarlet and Violet Area Zero DLC, ranked

The second DLC for Scarlet and Violet is out, which means the Pokémon series now has 1,025 different monsters to catch. How do the latest creatures stack up? Below, you’ll find my extremely biased rankings of every single new Pokémon in the Area Zero DLC.

15. Fezandipiti

Everything about Fezandipiti’s design is off-putting. What’s that pink stuff hanging from its neck? Wouldn’t the extra weight make it hard to fly? Why does it have such a smug facial expression? And this bird isn’t just weird-looking: It has mediocre stats, it’s a huge pain to catch, and it bullies other, cuter monsters. If I didn’t care about completing my dex, I wouldn’t have bothered to catch Fezandipiti in the first place.

14. Raging Bolt

Several creatures in Scarlet and Violet are inspired by legendary Pokémon from previous games, and as far as I’m concerned, Raging Bolt is the worst of the bunch. It’s basically just Raikou with a giraffe neck, and while that design concept is kind of funny, it doesn’t make for a very memorable Pokémon. Raging Bolt will probably stay in my boxes forever.

13. Munkidori

I actually really dig Munkidori’s cartoony design, but this little guy is such a freaking jerk! It’s one of the most evil creatures in the entire Pokémon canon, and that vile personality isn’t a great match for its playful design. I wanted to like Munkidori, but I just couldn’t look past that awful backstory.

12. Dipplin

It pains me to rank Dipplin so low—just look at that cute little face—but it just can’t compare to the other apple Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet’s roster. Flapple is a fruit dragon, and Appletun is a dinosaur pie, but Dipplin? It’s just a candy apple. It’s still adorable, but it’s hard to justify using Dipplin over other, better options.

11. Gouging Fire

Gouging Fire is ridiculously overpowered, and while its insane stats might appeal to some players, I’m not a fan. I don’t feel like battling this guy over and over again every time I play online. On top of being borderline unbeatable, Gouging Fire has a goofy name and an even goofier design. I’m sure some players will love this creature, but it’s not the monster for me.

10. Pecharunt

I really like what I’ve seen of Pecharunt, but I haven’t seen enough of it to have a strong opinion. Even though Pecharunt is in the new Pokémon DLC, there’s no way to catch it right now. Based on what dataminers have uncovered, it looks like it’ll be released in a future event. I might have to revise my rankings once Pecharunt is officially out.

9. Okidogi

Okidogi is basically a cross between the swole doge meme and the Incredible Hulk, and that combination is impossible to resist. It even has a pink balloon scarf! This is one of the goofiest new Pokémon in the Area Zero DLC, and I mean that as a complement.

8. Iron Crown

Iron Crown looks like a goat that wandered out of a Mega Man game, which is everything I want in a Pokémon design. I can’t get enough of its glowing blue horns and its mechanical design. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, Iron Crown is a blast to play with. It has a unique attack, Tachyon Cutter, that’s guaranteed to hit every time.

7. Poltchageist

I love drinking matcha, so a matcha-themed Pokémon is right up my alley. Poltchageist has a fantastic design, and the lore behind this creature is pretty amazing too. According to the dex, Poltchageist was born after a tea ceremony master died with terrible regrets. Now it uses its matcha powder to sap the life force from unsuspecting humans. It’s a really fun Pokémon, and its evolution is even better.

6. Terapagos

Everyone in Scarlet and Violet talks about Terapagos like it’s an eldritch horror, but it looks like the mascot from a ’90s kids movie. I love the contrast between its creepy backstory and its adorable design. It’s cute, it has multiple forms, and it could potentially destroy the entire world. All in all, a pretty good Pokémon!

5. Archaludon

Duraludon was one of the best new Pokémon in Sword and Shield, and its evolution, Archaludon, is even better. Okay, it kind of looks like a walking bridge, but this Pokémon is bursting with personality. It also has incredible stats; this is basically a pseudo-legendary. This metallic dinosaur has been a mainstay in my Pokémon party.

4. Iron Boulder

Iron Boulder has been one of the biggest surprises of the Area Zero DLC. It’s a Rock/Psychic Pokémon, so it has a ton of weaknesses, but it still manages to be really powerful. I wasn’t crazy about its design at first, but that changed after I saw it in battle. When it uses its signature move, Mighty Cleave, the horns on its head expand and combine to form a giant spear. I wasn’t expecting to like Iron Boulder, but it’s already won me over completely.

3. Sinistcha

Sinistcha takes everything great about Poltchageist and turns it up to eleven. It’s extremely expressive, and its special moves are so much fun. It uses the whisk on its head to stir itself and then flings hot tea straight in its opponents face, leaving them with a nasty burn. If I can avoid getting hit with scalding hot liquid, Sinistcha is a Pokémon I’d love to hang out with.

2. Ogerpon

Lore is one of my favorite parts of Pokémon, and Ogerpon has some of the best lore in the entire Pokémon series. Ogerpon is one of the most precious, lovable creatures Game Freak has ever created, and when I discovered its backstory, I had to hold back tears. Not only does Ogerpon have a terrific storyline, but it also has a fantastic design. Since it loves to wear masks, it can change up its look at any time.

1. Hydrapple

Ogerpon might have a moving backstory, but Hydrapple is a multiheaded serpent that lives in a giant candy apple. How could any Pokémon possibly compete with that? It’s a powerhouse, it can shoot laser beams, and it even has a tiny apple crown on one of its heads. Hydrapple isn’t just one of the best new Pokémon in the Area Zero DLC; it’s one of the best Pokémon that Scarlet and Violet has to offer.

What’s your favorite Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet? Share your personal rankings in the comments!