Two of my favourite things that have kept me company through the monotony of the pandemic are Pokémon and Dungeons & Dragons. These two vastly different games have managed to keep me sane during the very strange year that is 2020, and so of course I was going to write about them eventually. Rather than two articles, I wanted to find a way to combine them into a monstrosity of my nerdiest delights, which I will now share with you all.
We’re going to be taking the 13 officially released classes, along with the Blood Hunter home-brew class, and choosing which of the almost 900 officially released Pokémon would be the best representation and companion for each class.
Artificer
We start with the most obvious choice on this list, and are going to pair the class whose identity centres around creating gadgets with the Pokémon who loves possessing gadgets. An artificer and a Rotom could be an industrious partnership, with one creating complex and specific machinery for the other type to take control of. Using their combined ingenuity and resourcefulness, they could get out of any sticky situation.
Rotom is also a very smart Pokémon – since Generation 7 of Pokémon, they’ve replaced the old Pokédex and can convey complex information with far more ease than other Pokémon would be able to. They truly are a perfect pairing, and I’m sure that anyone familiar with both franchises would have seen this one coming.
Barbarian
This one is a slightly less obvious choice. Barbarians are often depicted as hulking brutes, smashing their way through walls and shrugging off enemy attacks with ease. I’ve paired it with Morpeko. Looking at the two, one a muscled force of destruction and the other a cute electric hamster, it’s pretty difficult to see any similarity. That is, until you learn of Morpeko’s very unique ability.
At the end of every turn, this lovable little fluff ball turns into a danger rat of pure aggression. The similarities between this ability and the Barbarian’s signature Rage ability, where anger courses through their veins and gives them almost supernatural strength, are obvious. Picture them both, calm one moment and then flying into a synchronised fits of rage. An adorably fearsome combination.
Bard
What better Pokémon to accompany a musical magical marvel than a Bellossom, a Pokémon who loves to perform and dance. Bards can manipulate the world using their magic, just as a Bellossom can perform attacks with the movements of its dance.
In addition to their artistic talent, Bards are also known for being slightly attention seeking and quietly mischievous. Bellossom are very rare in some regions, only being possible with the help of an evolution stone, and would draw a lot of attention in crowded taverns. It could be distracting enough that some members of the audience might not even notice their coin purses going missing…
Blood Hunter
The only non-official class on this list, Blood Hunters are powerful magical fighters that draw powers from dark sources. They hunt vicious beasts and terrifying monsters, using any tactics available to them to get the upper hand. Salazzle is a Pokémon who shares this fighting technique, using a vast arrays of abilities to win any combat they might find themselves in.
They are both intelligent, tactical and deadly. Salazzle’s Fire/Poison typing pairs perfectly with the Blood Hunters range of self destructive magics, and the two in combination would be a true force to be reckoned with. That is, if the enemy even had time to react before the fight was already over. Of all the pairings on this list, fighting this combination may be the one that would terrify me most of all.
Cleric
Cleric’s are incredibly interesting as a class due to their crazy versatility. A Cleric could be in robes, reading a religious text that heals his allies, or clad in a suit of armour and swinging a mace gleeful into their foes. They could command storms to obey them, or subtly tweak the minds of others to get what they desire. With so many different paths to choose from, it is both impossible and easy to find the perfect Pokémon pairing for this class.
Eevee, the evolution Pokémon, can adapt to be the perfect companion for a Cleric, no matter where their divine path might take them. They can be aggressive or timid, fearsome or adorable. Depending on the fighting style of their trainer, an Eevee could evolve into the most complementary form. The sheer amount of different combinations between this class and this Pokémon is exciting, and could lead to something incredibly strong.
Druid
A Druid is a magical caster who has dedicated themselves to nature, and who nature has welcomed with open arms. Plants and animals bend to their will, and a skilled druid can even transform into hulking beast forms to devastate their enemies. With such control over nature and animalistic power within themselves, it’s difficult to find a Pokémon that could in fact pair well with such an all round class. After some thought, I have decided Tangela would be the ideal partner for any druid.
The actual physical details of Tangela are unknown, as they’re constantly surrounded by a mass of writhing blue or green vines which they use to trip and ensure any who step too close. This pairing would be able to change the battlefield from an open field to a toiling mass of roots and vines, striking from afar and escaping back into the undergrowth. Additionally, a Tangela’s vines would be the perfect restraints for an enemy trying to escape a bear shaped druid barrelling towards them. The final, and most important factor, is that Tangela are adorable little balls of noodles and should be cherished.
Fighter
It used to be that Fighters would the front line of the battlefield, bracing their shields against a charge and counterattacking with deadly precision. These days, Fighters are far more varied in how they approach combat. Some prefer cold steel while others infuse magic into their strikes. With such a varied fighting style, Galade is a very good choice here. Strong and noble, Gallade is a Fighting/Psychic type and so could fight alongside their squad-mate regardless of their role in the combat.
This Pokémon is deadly in close range, tough enough to shrug off most enemy attacks and can harness psychic attacks to deliver powerful blows from range. This pairing would support each other well in battle, fighting in trained unison and cleaving through any enemy forces foolish enough to get in their way.
Monk
Monks forgo any fancy weapons that might slow them down, choosing to fight with fast unarmed strikes that daze and overwhelm their foes. Their styles can vary, with some harnessing the inner power of Ki to heal and support their allies while others just hit hard and hit fast. The Pokémon that pairs perfectly with the Monk is Tyrogue, a small fighting type with a lot of potential. While most Pokémon can’t evolve or only have one option to evolve into, Tyrogue can choose any one of three possible fighting styles.
Hitmonlee is the perfect partner for more aggressive Monks, attacking with devastating kicks and sweeps. For a more defensive Monks, Hitmonchan can jab and swing with precision while keeping light on its feet and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Hitmontop is all about balance, resulting in extremely fast attacks and agile dodges. For the Monk and Tyrogue, martial arts are indeed a form of art, and they can find their style together.
Paladin
Paladins are the paragons of the D&D world, using holy magic and raw strength to claim victory in the name of their deity and the oath they have sworn to uphold. They can wear the heaviest armour, swing the most damaging weapons and heal with a touch of their holy hands. A noble warrior of the light needs a companion just as impressive and just as tough as they are, and Kommo-o fits that need perfectly.
What a paladin needs to complete the crusading hero look is an awe inspiring mount. Kommo-o would be able to carry its righteous companion into battle, defended by the thick plates covering its body and striking with its strong arms and club-like tail. Of all of the combinations on this list, this is the combination that I believe would win if they were all to fight. The sheer power of Kommo-o paired with the divine fury of a Paladin would be a sight to behold.
Ranger
There are two things that Rangers stereotypically like – shooting projectiles and animal companions. What better partner for this nimble combatant than a Pokémon that fires smaller Pokémon at its foes? It may sound like Dragapult would go against the Ranger’s love of animals, but its Dragon/Ghost typing means the small Dreepy it fires are unharmed and apparently very much enjoy the experience, hence why they keep returning to do it again and again.
Rangers are stealthy and dangerous, and the hovering semitransparent Dragapult would only aid with this playstyle. They can float above traps and move without making noise, scouting out areas with the Ranger in near perfect silence before delivering ranged attacks at supersonic speeds. While Ranger’s may be a little underwhelming in some versions of D&D, this companion would turn them into a damage dealing powerhouse.
Rogue
A Rogue relies on stealth, cunning and deception to get the upper hand. They can be devious assassins or grinning tricksters, but they’re always up to no good whenever you look the other way. Aipom shares a lot of these traits, being a mischievous trickster by nature with the ability to scale almost any surface using the third hand on its tail.
The pair could have both of their arms fully visible and still manage a subtle pickpocket or poisoning using the extra hand, making them a terrifyingly effective combination. Whether sharing the fun of some light fingered thievery or scaling a castles walls with ease, these two partners go hand in hand. Possibly with a third hand in there as well.
Sorcerer
Sorcerers are magic users that draw power from inside themselves. They might have descended from a dragon or have celestial blood, but they are capable of powerful spells that can bend the very nature of reality. No matter where the sorcerer comes from or what the source of their power is, there is one thing they all have in common – they love throwing fireballs. The perfect pairing is therfore a Pokémon that practically is a fireball: Talonflame.
Talonflame can emit burning embers from its wings as it flies, and attacks with flaming talons at speeds reaching 310mph. Not only would it resemble a sentient fireball, but a fireball that can make pinpoint strikes with blistering speed. This combination would no doubt be just as dangerous to allies as it would be to foes, but that’s to be expected sometimes. A fireball is the answer to every D&D puzzle and problem, and a fireball bird just makes it all the better.
Warlock
The bad boys of the magical world, Warlocks gain their spellcasting by striking a deal with an often dangerous patron. Evil entities, trickter fae and malicious gods lend them their power, for a price. The surprising thing about warlocks is that while they may have terrifying powers, they’re often one of the most persuasive and charming members of the party. For a character that excels in mind bending powers and manipulation, you cannot find a better candidate for a partner than Malamar.
With its sprawling tentacles and evil glare, Malamar is a fearsome sight to behold. On top of that, it has the strongest mind control properties of any Pokémon and even bends reality to reverse some spells effects. Either this partnership would work incredibly well together, with the two striving towards the same malevolent goal, or would be something far darker. A Pokémon trainer is normally the one in charge, but with a Malamar you could never be sure.
Wizard
Wizards are the studious nerds of the D&D world, learning powerful magics through years of education and research. They, like the sorcerer and warlock, can grow to wield phenomenal cosmic power, but they can also decide how to use this power in incredibly varied ways. I needed a Pokémon that would fit with any school of wizardry, from friendly enchanting to nefarious necromancy. Zoroark is steeped in mystery with a strong control of magic itself, and so I believe it is a good fit.
This Pokémon can manipulate the light around them to create illusions and displays, while also being cunning enough to know how to use this power to its advantage. Any type of wizard would gladly study a Zoroark and its light-bending abilities, and the Pokémon would be able to function as both a tough defender and research assistant for its trainer.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed this silly list. Do you agree? Think I chose the wrong partner for your favourite class? Let me know in the comments!
