>>53864885>>53865033Pseudos are obvious tops. Metagross, besides being faster than a supercomputer, is also a 2-3 ton death machine that can levitate and mega evolve to be even more deadly, and has homing instincts to stalk and hunt you down for life. Garchomp can break the sound barrier (effectively anything that can break the sound barrier and fly is inherently almost unstoppable but for the strongest of pokemon, and top that off with a fucking immunity to lightning), has prey sensors that makes it effectively a terrestrial shark (keep in mind sharks smell blood from hundreds of meters away), has rough skin as a defensive measure that can penetrate through steel, and battles Salamence for air superiority. Apexes of apexes, evidently.
imo people underrate Volcarona - I believe both of Alder's Volcarona's should realistically be placed in Nuke tier - maybe the fact that moths and Lepidoptera are just too fragile and not durable enough to survive in a long term fight to the death between aces, but Volcarona should be able to provide radiation if it needs to serve as a substitute for the sun. Check the Alolan Pokedex fic for a realistic, biologist's take on what a Volcarona would look like as a bug that doesn't just produce fire, but actually replicates being a miniature sun:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/21106127/chapters/118405957#workskinPikachu shouldn't even be on the list of aces, it's hopelessly outclassed (no, no power of friendship BS should elevate a stupid rat into the same realm as dragons and hyperintelligent machines that could easily replace tank columns. If you like that kiddie shit the anime is to the left.) Really, you could go with Lapras (Blue has Blastoise, Green has Venusaur), but even then it's just not in the same conversation as the pseuds or Charizard even. I just imagine they would be prey for half the creatures in that list if they lived in the same environment and nearly being wiped out by poaching doesn't grant it any favours.