ThePokemonworld is vast and full of wonders. From tiny electric rodents to gigantic mythical kaiju-like deities, there is an incredible range of topics that Pokemon chooses for inspiration in its Pokemon designs. Still, with over 1,000 Pokemon in the series, there are bound to be some repeats. With all the sentient fauna in the Pokemon world, it’s no surprise that we’ve gotten several mushroom-based Pokemon.
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The idea of a living mushroom is terrifying, as any fan ofThe Last of Uswould agree, but fungus seems to be a lot more fun in the Pokemon universe. Mushroom Pokemon have access to one of the most critical moves in the game: Spore. This move is essentially a Sleep Powder with 100 percent accuracy. Knowing this, many players are looking to add some fun fungi to their team, and there are more than a few options.
11Morelull
Sometimes three shrooms are better than one, and Morelull exists to prove that. Of all the mushroom Pokemon, it may be one of the most forgettable, but it’s one of the few fungal friends to make a live-action appearance.
A multitude of Morelull can be spotted in Pokemon’s only live-action movie,Detective Pikachu, and its appearance is perfectly reminiscent of the mysterious lore that surrounds it. In the Pokemon world, they are commonly used as a light source in dark forests, giving them a distinct role in the Pokemon ecosystem.
10Foongus
There have been a number of Poke ball mimic’s over the generations, but one of the most original has to be the Foongus family. Its red and white cap was frequently used to trick players into an encounter by baiting them with a potential item.
Its value only increases as it evolves since its evolution is one of the best support Pokemon in the game. It’s an incredibly common Pokemon and a great pick for trainers looking for early-game support.
9Shroomish
You may not think Yoshi and mushrooms would have any connection outside the world of Super Mario, but Shroomish proves otherwise. Despite both designs being based on mushrooms, it looks distinctively different from its evolution Breloom.
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This is because Shroomish is actually meant to represent a cross between an adolescent mushroom and a classic dinosaur egg. Its grumpy expression also makes it the maddest-looking mushroom, but there are certainly a few scarier ones.
8Paras
One secret horror in the Pokemon universe is Paras. While this capped critter may seem like a cute design, perfect for any trainer with a cottage core aesthetic, it becomes truly terrifying once you look a bit deeper.
The fungus on Paras’s back is based on the same cordyceps in The Last of Us, which slowly take over the host body to do its own bidding. Before its evolution, the fungus hasn’t fully taken hold, which makes evolving it seems utterly cruel. It’s one terrifying truffle you don’t want to tussle.
7Toedscool
One of the most entertaining Pokemon encounters in all of Paldea has to be Toedscool. This tentacled terranean’s running animation is reminiscent of old “rubber hose” style cartoon characters, and for a creature that’s easily spooked, it’s a fairly common occurrence.
Its Pokedex entry even states that it can run up to 30 MPH, nearly three times as fast as any human. Trainers in the Pokemon world can certainly be thankful that it’s typically seen running away from trainers and not toward them because it would certainly be able to catch up quickly.
6Shiinotic
The most psychedelic portobello in the Pokemon has to be Shiinotic. While its name comes from the Shiitake mushroom, it’s clearly inspired by a much more magical mushroom.
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Shiinotic is known as “the illuminating” Pokemon, and while it does indeed glow, the fact that it’s known for putting Pokemon certainly makes it seem like it’s sending them on a vision quest. It’s one Pokemon that you would definitely see everywhere at Burning Man, and certainly one of the more interesting concepts for a mushroom Pokemon.
5Toedscruel
The “convergent” species gave us a number of ridiculous revamps, but perhaps the most ridiculous is Toedscruel. In Paldea, this giant sea monster walks on land andlooks more like a Dekuthan its Kantonian cousin. It also occupies a unique space in the competitive meta.
Like most mushroom Pokemon, it has access to both Spore and rage powder, which are particularly interesting when combined with its signature ability, Mycelium Might. This ability forces its status moves to go last each turn, but the effect of the moves won’t be impacted by the target’s ability. This allows it to put Pokemon like Gholdengo to sleep, which can provide critical support in a competitive match.
4Parasect
If you thought Paras was creepy, its evolution only gets worse. Anyone who playedPokemon: Legends of Arceusknows just how terrifying this mushroom crab can be. Like Paras, Parasect’s design is based on the same cordyceps in The Last of Us.
This “zombie ant fungus” takes control of the infected’s body and uses it to spread its spores and reproduce. In other words, the Parasect’s lifeless white eyes are exactly as creepy as they seem, indicating that the fungus has taken full control. This means that when a trainer gives it a command in battle, the cordyceps on its back must translate this into action and pilot Parasect’s lifeless corpse. This makes Parasect one of the most utterly terrifying toadstools in the Pokemon world.
3Amoonguss
Of all the mushroom Pokemon, the one you’re most likely to see in a competitive battle has to be Amoonguss. As one of the best support Pokemon in the game, Amoonguss isn’t just another meta Pokemon; it’s a regular in the highest levels of play for a number of reasons.
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Grass/Poison is a surprisingly good defensive typing with resistance to Fighting, Water, Electric Fairy, and Grass. This makes Amoonguss the most defensive Pokemon with access to Spore, allowing it to take hits before putting opponents down for a mid-game nap. Combine this with its Regenerator ability, and Amoonguss becomes a bulky support pivot that works well on just about any team.
2Breloom
One fighting fungus strong enough to take one Joel and Ellie is Breloom. This Fighting/Grass Pokemon’s four times weakness to Flying types hasn’t stopped it from making a regular appearance on the ranked ladder,especially with the Rock Tera Crown.
Breloom’s high Attack stat is further boosted by its ability, Technician, which increases the power of moves with a base power of 60 or less, including Mach Punch and Bullet Seed. While its base 70 Speed leaves much to be desired, it’s still the fastest spore user in the game since Toadscruel’s Mycelium Might makes it go after everyone else. Its offensive viability, combined with its support utility, makes Breloom a super superior shroom.
