One of the biggest drawing points for me as a Pokemon Fan are the designs of our player character. You are playing as this character anywhere from 20 hours to 100+ Hours depending on how long you play your game in question. So you want to make sure you choose a protagonist that you visually enjoy looking at. It wasn't recent games that Pokemon began allowing the player to customize their in game character, so thankfully protagonist designs aren't as big of an issue as they used to be. But still, what our Protagonists initially look like have a great impact on us!

Here are Pokemon Protagonists and their designs worst to best. I am primarily picking from the main series games. However, I will feature side games IF the protagonist in question can be chosen/has a gender difference.

15. Florian & Juliana-Scarlet & Violet

I've made my point clear in a previous update that I DO NOT like the Protagonists of Scarlet & Violet. Design wise they're alright, but they're horrible compared to just about every other Protagonist we've ever gotten. I don't like how our Protagonists are literal children when every other protagonist are teenagers. Also, their designs are straight up boring too. Heck, you will NOT be seeing me choose the male protagonist thats for sure. It is also a BIG design flaw that Scarlet & Violet removes alot of creative freedom from the player as Florian & Juliana cannot take off or change out of their school uniforms. Their school uniforms are such an eyesore too by the way. One thing for sure is that I will not enjoy the protagonist of Scarlet & Violet unless they throw in some customization.

14. Nate & Rosa-Pokemon Black & White 2

Their hair! I hate their hair! I firmly thought that Black & White 1s Protagonists were some of their best designs ever made but then their sequels got laughing stocks of a design! I specifically REALLY don't like Nate in particular. His hair is horrible, literally no one wears visors anymore and his clothing choice is questionable. I'm sorry but men shouldn't be wearing leggings let alone leggings under their shorts. I get that Nate is designed to be sporty, but I really don't like it on him. Rosa on the otherhand is cute and her design grows on you. But Nate's design alone makes me rank these two so low.

13. Kate & Kellyn-Pokemon Ranger Shadows of Almia

While these designs are pretty alright, I already made my point clear that I don't like child protagonists. I specifically don't like Kate all that much. Her hair style just bugs me. I initially chose Kate when I played this game and the entire time I had wished I had chosen Kellyn instead due to how much I dislike Kate.

12. Chase & Elaine-Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee

I don't hate nor like their designs. It isn't creative nor does it stand out either. Therefore, I cannot rank them higher.

11. Male & Female Protagonists-New Pokemon Snap

Yeah um... These two actually don't have canon names. As you all already know, I'm not a fan of child protagonists BUT I actually like these designs especially since they're meant to be kids and that they aren't trainers facing a dark evil plot. It's just kids going out into the world taking pictures of Pokemon. For our first protagonists in what looks to be Pokemon's new art style, they did a surprisingly good job. Why aren't they ranked higher if I like them so much? Cause you really don't ever see the protagonist when you play this game. In the end, It really doesn't matter which protagonist you chose as you only see them in cinematic cutscenes.

10. Elio & Selene-Pokemon Sun & Moon/Ultra Sun & Moon

Yes, Sun & Moon as well as Ultra Sun & Moon are different games and have differently designed protagonists HOWEVER according to Pokemon these four protagonists are the same characters just slightly altered depending on the game you play. So, both male protagonists are Elio while both females are Selene. In all honesty, their designs in both games aren't all that different BUT Ultra Sun & Moon make them look younger for whatever reason. I do however absolutely love Sun & Moon's Elio while I love Ultra Sun & Moon's Selene. Or rather, I do enjoy the designs but they can't compete with other Entrees on the list. Therefore, I cannot rank them any higher.

9. Gloria & Victor-Pokemon Sword & Shield

These two are very solid designs. I especially love Gloria and honestly their designs do more justice in game rather than official art. I cannot pin point why exactly I like these two BUT they just aren't as iconic or cool looking as other protagonists Pokemon has given us.

8. Red & Leaf-Pokemon Red & Blue as well as Fire Red & Leaf Green

These two are ICONIC as all heck. There isnt a single Pokemon fan that can't recognize Red by name as he IS the OG protagonist. When Red & Blue got their first remake, a female protagonist was added by the name of Leaf. She's also iconic, iconic enough to be her own fighter in the Super Smash Bros series, but I still prefer Red over her tenfold. However, despite how Iconic Red is, I just thoroughly enjoy the designs of other Protagonists more.

7. Solana & Lunick-Pokemon Ranger

I specifically am in love with Solana. I mean heck, her face is on the cover of this game!!! Also, none of the official art for Pokemon Ranger even features Lunick if that says how widely loved and how well designed Solana was. Also, only Solana was ever featured in the anime, further fueling her popularity. I will not even bat an eye, I choose Solana in every single playthrough of Pokemon Ranger. Reason why Pokemon Ranger protagonists rank so low is because Lunick is such a forgettable design compared to Solana that it definitely weighs them down in the rankings.

6. Calem & Serena-Pokemon X & Y

I really like these two, I struggled to choose which protagonist to play as in X & Y my first playthrough before I was surprised by how it's the first time player customization was introduced. I love how Calem and Serena look like some of our oldest Protagonists to date and that their clothing choices are simple yet effective. When you have me struggling to choose which protagonist to play as, you know you've made some great design choices.

5. Ethan, Lyra & Kris-Pokemon Gold & Silver

Ethan and Kris are the OG protagonists of Gold & Silver before these game recieved a remake where Kris got the axe and was instead replaced with Lyra. I actually REALLY love Lyra as her clothes are so cute, especially her hat! But Ethan is also really iconic and very well designed too. It's also a shame that Kris got the axe and never came back for the remakes as her design is solid! It's not often that we get protagonists with blue hair. Let alone, it's not often at all that the Pokemon anime will give protagonists their very own side series either and yet Ethan had recieved his own series that I especially love!

4. Dawn & Lucas-Pokemon Platinum

I'm not featuring Dawn & Lucas' designs from Diamond & Pearl as their winter outfits in Platinum are top tier and their best designs. It was the Ruby-Sapphire to Black-White area in time of Pokemon that felt the most nostalgic to me (despite how I still love Pokemon with a burning passion.) Therefore, Dawn in particular was like my little mini me & her design holds a special place in my heart. I'm especially fond of Dawn & Lucas' Platinum designs as it somehow made great character designs better, and all they had to do was give them sleeves and a scarf lol!

3. Hilda & Hilbert-Pokemon Black & White

I've always loved Hilda & Hilbert. I mean their names are horrible, but their designs are just chefs kiss! Despite how Hilda & Hilbert aren't our oldest main series Protagonists, that belongs to Calum & Serena, they most definitely look the part! These designs are exactly what us fans want! These two look exactly like they are capable and can venture out into the world on their own. They look capable of taking down an entire crime syndicate! Heck they dress so cool and yet so casually anyone can replicate it in a good way. Despite how much I love these two, two other pairs take the cake.

2. May & Brendan-Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire & Emerald

Hands down, May & Brendan have the best designs out of the main series Pokemon games. They straight up are just cool & iconic. There's reasons why May is a beloved protagonist! Well, she is also the only game protagonist to recieve her own movie! Yup, May has her own film and it's called Pokemon Ranger & The Temple of the Sea. I especially like how May & Brendan actually have design changes depending on which game you play such as if you play Ruby, May & Brendan's clothes are Red. If you play Sapphire, their clothes are blue. And lastly if ypu play Emerald, their clothes are green. Clearly their look in Ruby is the most iconic and widely loved. This was the first time ever that I played a Pokemon game and could not decide between wanting to play as the male or female protagonist. If you make me face a dilemma such as this, then they were designed a little too well. However, only one pair of protagonist beats May & Brendan.

1. Rei & Akari-Pokemon Legends Arceus

Upon the unveiling of our Protagonists for Legends Arceus, everyone went gaga for their designs. I mean yeah, it's literally just Dawn and Lucas of Diamond and Pearl but with a new historical outfit, but this outfit makes all the difference! If you don't remember the worst ranked protagonists, a lot of my criticisms for them was about how they dressed such as in Scarlet Violet the protagonists cannot take off their ugly school uniforms or Nate of Black White 2 who wears a surprisingly bad sport get up. I fell in love with Akari in particular. Her outfit is just perfect and her hairstyle is borderline godly. As in, when I was first given the opportunity to change Akari's appearance, I IMMEDIATELY regret changing her hairstyle as I love her long hair and bandana combo. She's just so gosh darn pretty!!! This is one game where I was 100% alright with never changing out their clothes as Rei & Akari's Survey Corps uniforms was just so perfect in every way. In fact, most of the fanbase who played this game never changed out their outfits as it's perfect as is. When you design a protagonist so well that the player DOESNT want to change them, you know you made the correct design choices.

Alright, that's the protagonists ranked worst to best. Which protagonists do you like the most? The least? Do you agree with my rankings?