Every generation so far has had some kind of Pikachu clone: a cute, small electric rodent Pokémon. What's your opinion on these little critters? Should they stop making them, or are they some of your favorites? Which generation has your favorite clone?
Yes please stop making them, they're usually not that great and they're clearly just made to be as appealing as Pikachu so they can sell toys and other merch. I like Pachirisu even if is honestly not that great really for in-game runs, I know it was in the VGC Worlds and netted its trainer the trophy but that's double battles something there's not a lot of in-game. Mimikyu is not really a pika clone is not electric type like the pikas are nor does it appear to be a rodent. It wants to be pikachu that's its thing, I still prefer it over most of the pikas we have tbh.
With the exception of Plusle and Minun, I don't like Pikaclones at all. Don't like the look of them. I'd be very happy if Game Freak stopped creating more pikaclones, but I can't see that happening any time soon. They're too popular.
Mimikyu is... kind of a Pikaclone. It's biologically not, since it's not in the Fairy egg group and otherwise has no resemblance to any other cheeky rodents aside from its disguise, but I think it fits the aesthetic purpose of a Pikaclone for Gen 7 alongside Togedemaru. On that note though, if Mimikyu doesn't count, I choose Togedemaru as my favorite. That fight against Sophocles in US/UM was intense. Very good defensive typing combined with Spiky Shield and Bounce and access to Toxic and infliction of paralysis? That's a formidable opponent, one who's probably invited onto my team for my next Alola playthrough.
I like the thought of small rodent pokémon, but I would love it if they were maybe a different typing than Pikachu is. Like Marill and Mimikyu. Both of them can be considered Pikachu clones, but they're still distinct and their own Pokémon. I'm not really infuriated with Pikachu clones, because the anime usually tries to at least give them all their own distinct personalities. The only Pikachu clone that really angers me is Alolan Raichu. People don't talk about it as a Pikachu clone, but I think it is. They took Raichu, who has always been one of my favorite pokémon, and they made it cutesy, friendly looking clone of its pre-evolution. That's just crossing the line.
I don't really care for any of the pikachu knock offs other than mimikyu. I just feel like they were trying too hard to make another Pokémon that would be as popular as pikachu.
My favorite is gen 4's pachirisu. I named my first one Treerat, after what my family has always called squirrels. She was never very strong, but she did help me catch many of the Pokémon I caught in platinum so while we weren't partners in getting through gyms or the league, she was my battle buddy for catching and working on my dex and boy did we go on some crazy adventures together. She now resides in my black version in gen 5. As far as continuing, I think they should keep going for it. I love every single one that they have come up with, though I think they need to find a new rodent to do.
