Eevee Is What Pokémon Is All About

The heart of what makes Pokémon so enduring is the sense of adventure and self-discovery. Each game begins with its protagonist taking a rite of passage, their first journey into the world as their own person. In their own ways, every Pokémon You are in the world. Eevee, my longtime favorite Pokémon, is the truest expression of that fundamental human experience. That's because Eevee can be anything.

Introduced in the first game, Eevee could evolve into three different Pokémon, each representing a different element and a different moveset. After seven generations of games, Pokémon type. There is a grass type Eevee, a Dark type, an Ice type, a Psychic type. As for which of these evolutions is the best, that's up to your playstyle and personal preference. I have a soft spot for Sylveon, the fairy type, which has pink ears and paws and a sweet little bow around its neck. None of them are my favorite Pokémon, though. That's still Eevee.

Eevee is adorable, but that's not the only reason why I love them. Somewhere between a cat and a dog, Eevee seems more domesticated than longtime series mascot Pikachu, but still as mischievous as any other wild animal. There's no denying that Eevee is just as popular-the upcoming Let's go! Pokémon Eevee and Pikachu as possible companions. Unlike the bright yellow Pikachu, Eevee is more understated in their cuteness. With big ears and mousey brown fur, Eevee is begging to be touched and pet, snuggled and hugged. Their design feels closer to reality than the Pokémon series' more outlandish offerings, like an anthropomorphic bag of trash or a flying sword.

The potential of Eevee is what makes them so precious to me. They are a blank slate. Eevee is that moment before you step out the door and start your adventure. They represent the innocence of you and the excitement of finding out. They are always the Pokémon I most want to catch because of that. As I learn and grow on my journey, so does Eevee. Eventually, my Pokémon will have the option to take a step towards self-definition. Eevee will become a Flareon or an Umbreon or a Glaceon. But they do not have to. When Eevee is still Eevee, they're free to be anything.

When I play Pokémon games, I resist evolving Eevee as long as I possibly can. Have a normal type, which has a resistance to Ghost Pokémon, is not totally useless in battle, but there will be a time when you really need a powerful water type or something to round your team. Just like growing up, taking your first steps towards adulthood and cementing your values ​​and outlook on life. It's inevitable, assuming you want to stay on your team, but it's a little sad. You're not a child anymore. The world is no longer open to you.

Eevee is the best Pokémon because the story of Eevee is also the story of Pokémon. It's about the last times you'll be able to see the world before you grow up and figure out who you are. By the end of your journey, you'll be changed somehow. Maybe you've foiled Team Rocket, become the Gold Champion Pokémon even caught them all. Your Eevee, too, will have changed, evolved into something more than their raw form. They will always be reminder, though, of those moments when you first stepped out of your door to start your adventure.