One of the three new starters for Pokémon Scarlet & Violet is the adorable Sprigatito. The Grass-type of the trio, Sprigatito is described as being quite the attention-seeker whose kneading releases an aroma with mesmerizing powers. As the game isn't out yet, there's no way of telling just how effective this little green kitten will be in a fight, but there are plenty of others to discuss.
Fans have all kinds of opinions on which cat Pokémon is the best to have, and there's no place better to share and discuss than Reddit. As with any Pokémon, no matter what they look like, every cat Pokémon has its pros and cons, and some are considered better than others (excluding Legendary Pokémon.)
Liepard
This Dark-type Pokémon may be elegant, but that doesn't mean it's not dangerous. Its attack moves include Snarl and Dark Pulse, which involve yelling to lower another Pokémon's Special Attack and firing a beam from its mouth, respectively.
Officially, it's weak against Fairy, Bug, and Fighting types, though according to AlbabImam04, Liepard will "die if [an] opponent happens to bring a dark type." This is why it ranks so low. If it can be instantly defeated by another of its type, Liepard isn't actually the best choice to have.
Luxray
An Electric-type Pokémon, Luxray may look tough, but there are a few things holding it back. Besides being rather slow and a poor fighter, its attacks beyond Guts, a hidden ability that increases attack damage, don't seem to do much. One Redditor, thediesel26, even said that "Luxray’s speed tier is a crime against humanity."
One of Luxray's main attacks, Wild Charge, surrounds it in electricity as it charges towards its target. While the attack hurts the opponent, it also causes some damage to the , making this a non-practical move. It's unfortunate that Luxray has such poor attacks since a Pokémon with X-ray vision sounds useful.
Zangoose
A cross between a cat and a mongoose, this Normal-type Pokémon has quite the history with Seviper, which is considered one of the best snake-like Pokémon. They have been bitter enemies for generations, inspired by the fact that snakes are the natural enemy of the mongoose. Despite its lore, Zangoose doesn't have much to offer in battle, with Redditor FabledClefable stating that Zangoose's "defenses aren't great."
What holds this Pokémon back is that it's just a Normal-type. It has power aplenty and can move very fast but ultimately falls short when compared to Pokémon of two types, like Obstagoon.
Alolan Persian
A Dark-type, the Alolan Persian is actually a decent Pokémon to have. It can even revitalize a worn-out teammate using its Z-Parting Shot move, and "it prevents effects of attacks," states Redditor chibikoi.
Why it ranks lower than others, however, is because it's rather frail and doesn't cause much damage in a fight. Not to mention Persians, in general, are incredibly fickle and hard to train, and can scratch anyone at random.
Perrserker
Perrserker is very strong and can break through almost anything. This Steel-type is especially effective against Fire, Ground, and other Steel-types, and can cause serious damage before being defeated. Despite this Pokémon's great strength, it is considered an abysmal one to have.
"Its stats are mediocre, its bulk is mediocre, its speed is horrendous, and its movepool, while alright, [is] not enough," according to AlbabImam04. Perrserker may be called the Viking Pokémon, but it's not a very helpful one.
Pyroar
Like real-life lions, Pyroars live in prides made up of several females and one male, and can be found in both Kalos and Alola, two of the best Pokémon regions. Both male and female Pyroars are Fire-types and equally matched in fighting ability, and their special abilities include Rivalry and Unnerve. The former deals more damage to the same gender, while the latter makes enemy Pokémon unable to eat Berries.
Since Berries can cure ailments and restore HP, that is one serious move. Additionally, Pyroars can also use fire attacks, if the color of their manes didn't make that obvious. Because of their manes and the hot environments they live in, they're "naturally talented with fire," Redditor CerberusEM commented.
Sylveon
There are eight Eeveelutions players have a chance of getting, but this Fairy-type is considered one of the best. In spite of Sylveon being one of the cutest Fairy-type Pokémon out there, it's actually very effective in battle. It emits hostility-erasing waves from its ribbon-like feelers which can stop conflict in a matter of moments. This is quite the power for such a small creature.
If this Eeveelution can attack first, a fight could be over before it even starts. Though small, Sylveon is more than capable of holding its own. Redditor Tyraniboah89 even said that people "seem to agree that Sylveon is pretty strong." Sometimes it's best not to underestimate the small ones.
Umbreon
Another one of the better Eeveelutions, Umbreon is a Dark-type. The yellow markings on its body glow whenever it's excited, especially when it's in battle. Its main ability is Synchronize, which means that when it has been burned, poisoned, or paralyzed by another Pokémon, that Pokémon will also be affected in the same way.
Additionally, it's been said that when Umbreon is angry, it secretes poison sweat into an opponent's eyes. It can also "absorb a lot of hits," according to Redditor NidoKingClefairy. That means there's a chance it'll last a while in battle. Clearly this little Pokémon is sturdier than it looks.
Incineroar
Though there's been some controversy on whether or not cat Pokémon should stand on two feet, according to Dexerto, Incineroar is one of the most recognizable bipedal Pokémon. A tall, wrestler-looking Fire-type, Incineroar is known for being both rough and always ready for a fight. The live flames around its waist are just as temperamental.
This big cat's main ability is Blaze, which gives a power boost to its fire moves if its HP is low. Incineroar is a good Pokémon to have, as players can train it to be unpredictable in a fight, which can be useful. As Redditor Kaito-kun states, Incineroar is "one of the few good bulky fire types." Speed isn't everything.
Zeraora
This bipedal feline is much calmer than its fiery counterpart, but it can still cause serious damage. Zeraora is an Electric and a Mythical-type Pokémon but lacks an electricity-generating organ, forcing it to draw electricity from outside sources. Apparently, it's the only known Pokémon who knows how to learn the Plasma Fists move. Another move it has is Volt Absorb, which can restore its HP after being attacked by an electric move.
A capable fighter, Zeraora is incredibly powerful. Its attack stat increases when it "takes damage, up to a maximum bonus of 200 attack," and it sometimes has the power to "decimate entire teams," Redditor Bleubongo noted. If players don't have this Pokémon before, they're definitely going to want it now.
