I always wanted to catch this Pokémon in the earlier games, but I could never find it... my heart is still broken... 

It's Clefairy! 

Clefairy is a fairly popular Pokémon both in real life and in the world of Pokémon. In real life, Clefairy was meant to be the mascot before Pikachu took over, and in the world of Pokémon, the Pokédoll is based on Clefairy! Clearly, this Pokémon is fairly beloved. So without further ado, let's hop into it!

(Note: since this guide only covers the Kanto Pokédex, Cleffa nor the Fairy type will not be considered in this guide.)

Type Factor: 

Prior to Generation VI, Clefairy was a pure normal type. This means that Clefairy has no offensive advantages, but is weak to fighting type moves. It's also immune to ghost type moves. Even with no attacking advantages, Clefairy's typing can be seen as a decent advantage. Few strengths, but few weaknesses! It's all about what you value the most in a Pokémon's type.

Design Factor: 

Clefairy and Clefable are both incredibly adorable! They're round, fluffy, and pink—what more could you ask for? Not to mention, the little bow-looking appendage on Clefairy and Clefable adds to the overall cuteness factor. 

This evolutionary line leans heavier toward the cute factor rather than the cool or tough factor, so there isn't much variety in that sense. But I don't think that's a bad thing! Some Pokémon just lean heavier toward a certain look. In my personal opinion, this is one of the cutest Pokémon in the game!

Lore Factor: 

There are two common narrative threads throughout Clefairy's Pokédex information: the moon, and their rarity. 

These Pokémon love the moon and gather to dance under a full moon whenever they can, floating in the moon's rays, but other than that they are rarely seen. The same can be said for Clefable, as this Pokémon is said to have a high aversion to being spotted by others. This Pokédex information gives this evolutionary line a mysterious, otherworldly vibe. To me, the lore for this line is one of the most interesting in game!

Stats Factor: 

By the time Clefairy has fully evolved into Clefable, its stats will be stronger, but they won't compare to the more top tier Pokémon. That doesn't mean Clefable can't be useful, though! Clefable's strongest stat is generally going to be its HP, while the lowest stat will often be speed. So, if you're going to be using this Pokémon on your team, just keep these stats in mind!

Evolutionary Factor: 

As much as I love Clefairy and Clefable, I do think that there could be a little more variation between the two stages. If they had given Clefable a splash of another color (perhaps a color not on Clefairy), I think that it would have made the changes between the two more interesting. 

Still, I love this evolutionary line, and I think that both stages are very cute and interesting! Even if I personally think that there could be more variety in the change between stages, that doesn't mean that there's anything actually wrong with this evolutionary line.

Conclusion:

Although there are plenty of interesting Pokémon in the Kanto Pokédex, and every Pokémon is interesting in its own way, I think that the Clefairy line really stands out amongst the others! The design is adorable, the lore is fascinating, and this Pokémon is rare enough (in the older games, at least) to make an encounter with it a truly special one. So, if you're looking for an adorably unique addition to your team, look no further than Clefairy! 

To my fellow researchers: 

Do you think Clefairy is rare? Or is it easy for you to find?