ThePokemonseries is known for releasing ahandful of spin-offsbetween mainline entries. From Pokemon Snap to Pokken Tournament, these titles allow you to interact with and observe Pokemon in new environments. Each one expands the world of Pokemon in fascinating ways, but few spin-offs were as ambitious or surprising asDetective Pikachufor the 3DS.
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This adventure game turned Pokemon’s mascot character - Pikachu - into Benoit Blanc as he searches for his friend and solves other mysteries along the way. Detective Pikachu can talk andloves to drink coffee, but is it really the Pokemon you would want to hire to solve a case? There are other Pokemon with abilities that would make them much better detectives than Pikachu.
10Smeargle
Detective Pikachu is not known for taking meticulous notes on the cases it is working on. While it’s impressive that it can keep so much information in its head, it might be more reassuring as a client to see your detective put pen - or tail - to paper to sketch the suspects and details of your case.
Smeargle may not look like a brilliant detective, but its spectacular attention to detail and ability to jot down names or locations with its tail could make it a valuable member of any investigation. Smeargle could make a great detective, but it might also be responsible for more graffiti crimes than any other Pokemon.
9Sudowoodo
Detectives must work long hours to track their targets, and one of the most grueling parts of the job must be waiting in one place until they finally appear. There are few Pokemon with that amount of patience, but Sudowoodo is known as the Imitation Pokemon and spends most of its time standing in one spot pretending to be a tree.
This is usually a defense mechanism to help Sudowoodo avoid unnecessary combat, but its ability to stand in one spot for long periods could also be used tactically. If Detective Sudowoodo gets a tip that something is going down in the woods, it could easily blend in and prevent any illegal activity from happening.
8Noctowl
One of Detective Pikachu’s defining qualities is its everlasting love of coffee. Being a detective sometimes means early mornings and late nights, so having caffeine is essential for one to stay alert at all times. There is a few Pokemon who could easily do the job without coffee though, including the night owl Noctowl.
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Noctowl might not be great for daytime shifts, but it would excel at surveying areas at night due to its excellent vision. As long as there is the tiniest amount of light from the stars or moon, Noctowl can see nearly everything and can use this skill to catch bad guys at night or locate lost items for its clients.
7Mimikyu
Detective Pikachu is known for many things, but being a master of disguise is not one of them. While it would be great to see the yellow mouse occasionally throw on a fake mustache and wig, other Pokemon like Mimikyu would be much better at going undercover without immediately drawing attention toward themselves.
Mimikyu is known as the Disguise Pokemon, and though we only ever see it dressed as a Pikachu, it could be easy to throw another outfit on it to help it blend into certain areas. Detective Mimikyu is also incredibly short, making it a great choice if you need someone to squeeze into a small space undetected.
6Mr. Mime
After hearing about a crime or accident, it might behoove the detective investigating to recreate the situation to help them step inside the victim or culprit’s shoes. Detective Pikachu might not have the patience to act out every possible scenario to reach a verdict, but Mr. Mime’s imagination and pantomiming skills could help solve a case faster than a Quick Attack.
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After stealing a scene in the live-action Detective Pikachu movie, it would be great to see Mr. Mime join Pikachu as a co-detective on his next adventure. Though Mr. Mime can’t speak as fluently as Detective Pikachu, its ability to create invisible objects might make catching bad guys feel like a walk in the park.
5Kecleon
A detective’s ability to go undetected for extended periods of time is essential to their success, but Detective Pikachu’s obsession with coffee and exuberant personality make it stand out like a sore thumb. While it is not known for disguises or blending in, there are Pokemon like Kecleon that could easily camouflage themselves as they go undercover.
Kecleon can change its color to match whatever environment it is in, making it the perfect choice for a stealth-based operation. The only caveat is that the stripe across its belly doesn’t change, but that should only be a small hiccup for this Pokemon that could also use its extended tongue to catch villains.
4Alakazam
A handful of infamous detectives tend to stumble toward the conclusion of a mystery rather than use logic and reasoning to get there. Jonathan Ames from Bored To Death and Johnny English come to mind, and while they ultimately catch the bad guy and save the day, it might be nice to put someone with a substantial IQ on the case to help deduce who committed the crime.
Alakazam has an IQ of 5000, making itthe smartest Pokemonby a large margin. Its brain is so big that Alakazam’s neck can barely support it, but it uses psychokinetic to hold its head up instead. Alakazam has little physical power, so it might not be great on the field, but its intelligence could be essential for connecting the dots and figuring out the intention behind a crime.
3Audino
Some people like Rick Deckard from Blade Runner and Eddie Valiant from Who Framed Roger Rabbit are often described as hard-boiled detectives. Cynical, rude, and often seen under the influence, these types of characters have a tough exterior and street smarts that either help them get what they want or beaten up by the people they’re intimidating.
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Rough and tough might not always be the safest route, and a Pokemon like Audino loves helping people. Its incredible hearing abilities make it possible for Audino to hear heartbeats, which could be helpful during interrogations to determine if someone is lying. Audino can also hear everything from up to a mile away, making it one of the best choices if you need a Pokemon to survey an area from a safe distance.
2Lucario
When all the clues a detective has gathered don’t seem to paint a picture, a Detective may need to rely on a sixth sense or gut feeling to make a decision. It might not always work out well, especially if they’re wrong, which is one of the reasons a Pokemon like Lucario would be perfect for investigations and interrogations.
As displayed inSuper Smash Bros., Lucario has a unique ability that allows it to read auras and also use them during battles. It can use this skill to sense the aura radiating off of someone and read their thoughts and emotions. It would be impossible to lie to Lucario and get away with it. Also, its ability to understand human speech would allow it to work alongside other authorities without issue.
1Raichu
Pikachu might not be a perfect detective, but who knows what could happen once it has a few more years of experience to learn and grow. After some time to mature, Pikachu could end up overseeing a team of detectives as Lead Detective Raichu, a more down-to-earth and responsible investigator that’s worked hard to earn their title.
Detective Raichu may not have as many one-liners as Pikachu, but their maturity and knowledge could make them invaluable members of any investigation. There are a ton of Pokemon that could make better detectives than Pikachu, but after years on the job, it could evolve into a Raichu and prove to everyone that talent comes in many shapes and sizes.
