Delphox Delphox is a rare favourite starter for me; normally my starters are just sort of there, and I've even taken them out if I was looking for a specific team composition. However, as a dual type Fire/Psychic, with the rare opportunity to gain STAB from both types, even its early evolutions with moves like Ember and Psybeam are powerful. Delphox can also hold its own in a contest setting with Flamethrower and Psychic both having a four-heart appeal in the respective categories of Beautiful and Clever. It can also be taught a four-star move in all other contest categories with Fire Punch (Tough), Snore (Cute), and Thunder Punch (Cool). — Anna Marie Privitere

Espurr Espurr is off-putting. Espurr is creepy. Espurr has a stare that just won't quit. You can't escape Espurr. Can't run away. Espurr is always watching. Waiting. Like all cats, really. I'm definitely a cat person (I own four fluffies after all), so I can tell you with confidence that felines spend most of their time watching us do whatever it is we do. Likely wondering why we aren't busy feeding them. They are basically lovable stalkers, and that's why I appreciate the way Espurr is portrayed in Gen 6. Espurr isn't the first feline Pokémon (far from it actually), but Espurr perfectly captures how real house cats look whenever they aren't sleeping. They're creepy. — Trent Seely

Greninja As a ninja frog, Greninja proves to be the best Pokémon from Gen 6. Fast, high Attack and Special Attack, lots of coverage with the moves it learns, and can be a Waterfall and Surf bearer without actually suffering in combat. There was very little in the game that I could not tackle with this guy and I will be keeping a beefed up version of him in my teams for the foreseeable future. — Robert Sinclair

Pangoro Although Goodra comes in a close second, nothing in Gen 6 thrills me quite so much as Mafia Panda Bear. Conchetta the Pangoro led my team through the only difficult part of Pokémon X/Y — The Battle Maison. So maybe she has some anger issues. I put them to good use with the powerful moves available to this rock 'em, sock 'em fighting Pokémon. — Becky Cunningham

Yveltal It was difficult for me to pick a single most favorite Pokémon of the current generation. Part of it is due to X/Y's age, as the games have only been out for a little under than two years, giving me less time to decide on a most favorite. The sixth generation's original Pokémon are also generally very well designed, many of them with strong, unique and imaginative appearances. I did like the design of Yveltal, the mascot legendary Pokémon of Y version. Much like Lugia, Yveltal is a massive monster that resembles a bird, but has other, harder to identify creatures mixed in. Its origin is equally interesting and complicated, seeming to combine Hraesvelgr and the unnamed eagle perched atop Yggdrasil from Norse mythology, and possibly the wyvern. It is a sinister-looking Pokémon and with its ability to absorb the life force from all living things around it, at least according to legend, it is no wonder that its name may be derived from the word "evil." Even so, the Yveltal that awakens in game only wants to help the player stop Team Flare's scheme. It is a shame, though, that its story role is smaller in comparison to the past three generations' version mascots. As a legendary Pokémon, Yveltal is very powerful, with an emphasis on equally powerful Attack and Special Attack stats. It Dark Aura ability, which boosts Dark type attacks, makes those moves especially strong. What really drew me to Yveltal other than its design, basis in myth, and battle prowess, is how it behaves in Pokémon-amie. This sinister Y-shaped bird does not mind perching on the ground, being feed pastries and letting itself be petted on its grey, fluffy-looking neck ruff. It also has strangely goofy, open-beaked expressions in the making faces minigame. Who knew that the great Dark Bird of Destruction is actually a softie? — Cassandra Ramos