Pokémon Black & White: The Secret Story of Pokémon’s Creation Complete Collection [ポケモン誕生秘話 完全総集版] is a bonus book bundled with the July 2011 issue of Nintendo Dream Magazine.
The following article is the Pokémon popularity poll, both going over the results and the special bonus pages for the top 3 winners.
The article was originally published on Gear Station Archives on July 5, 2026.
Chosen by Nintendo Dream Readers!! Unova Region Exclusive
Pokémon Popularity Poll
Announcing the Results
The Pokémon popularity poll held in the May issue received approximately 1500 votes, the largest number ever for a popularity poll held by Nintendo Dream!! How did this system, which allowed each person to freely cast three votes, go on to shape the results…? Let’s begin by announcing the top 30 in the Pokémon category!!
Around 1,500 total entries! Thanks for voting!
This popularity poll was held in the May issue of Nintendo Dream, and voters could freely cast 3 votes for each of the 152+1 Pokémon from the Unova region and 2 votes for each of the 31 human characters.
[Note: a scan of this issue is available HERE. The poll section begins on page 78]
1st place
Chandelure
Luring Pokémon ● Ghost/Fire
286 votes
First place is none other than Chandelure!! And it won by a landslide, beating second-place by over 100 votes. Honestly, even the editorial team was surprised. Its gorgeous form, distinctive expression, and battle prowess seem to have garnered it widespread popularity, especially among women.
2nd place
Whimsicott
Windveiled Pokémon ● Grass
167 votes
This one’s also a familiar face in battles. Contrary to its cute, fluffy appearance, it torments its opponents with tricky tactics. That contrast is irresistible!
3rd place
Reshiram
Vast White Pokémon ● Dragon/Fire
143 votes
The legendary Pokémon featured on the box of Pokémon Black came in third place! Incidentally, between Reshiram and Zekrom, Zekrom was more popular among men, while Reshiram was more popular among women.
4th place
Reuniclus
Multiplying Pokémon ● Psychic
142 votes
With its squishy body, it’s incredibly popular with women! In battles, it wreaks havoc on a “Trick Room” team. It’s a strong, cute, and annoying guy.
5th place
Hydreigon
Brutal Pokémon ● Dark/Dragon
135 votes
Appearing towards the end of the story, it’s undoubtedly given many players a hard time. Its straightforward appeal, being both evil and powerful, makes it the number one choice among male voters!!
6th place
Serperior
Regal Pokémon ● Grass
132 votes
Serperior, the final evolution of Snivy, came in 6th place! Its noble and pompous(?) form, reminiscent of a European knight, has made it popular.
7th place
Snivy
Grass Snake Pokémon ● Grass
130 votes
Among the three starter Pokémon, Snivy came out on top! Many people voted for it together with Serperior.
8th place
Oshawott
Sea Otter Pokémon ● Water
112 votes
Following Snivy in 8th place is Oshawott! Its serious expression and downturned mouth are quite striking.
8th place
Joltik
Attaching Pokémon ● Bug/Electric
112 votes
Tied for 8th place with Oshawott is Joltik!! Many people are saying that its quivering movements during battle are cute!
10th place
Lilligant
Flowering Pokémon ● Grass
93 votes
The Atsuko Nishida-san designed Lilligant, along with Whimsicott, made it into the top 10! Its ladylike appearance is charming.
11th place
Zekrom
Deep Black Pokémon ● Dragon/Electric
85 votes
Zekrom, who graced the box of “Pokémon White,” came in 11th place!
12th place
Galvantula
EleSpider Pokémon ● Bug/Electric
80 votes
Following Joltik in 8th place, its evolved form, Galvantula, came in 12th place. A great showing!!
13th place
Pansage
Grass Monkey Pokémon ● Grass
77 votes
Of the three monkey Pokémon, Pansage placed the highest. That expression is great!
14th place
Scolipede
Megapede Pokémon ● Bug/Poison
76 votes
It’s rare to see Bug/Poison-type Pokémon place this high. It’s so cool!
15th place
Volcarona
Sun Pokémon ● Bug/Fire type
75 votes
Its sun-like form and strength have made it popular. It’s also a prevalent choice in battles.
16th place
Emolga
Sky Squirrel Pokémon ● Electric/Flying
74 votes
It looks undoubtedly cute, but it seems like many people have had a very tough time with it at the Nimbasa Gym.
17th place
Zoroark
Illusion Fox Pokémon ● Dark
68 votes
It played a major role in last summer’s Pokémon movie! Its ability, “Illusion,” is surprising.
17th place
Litwick
Candle Pokémon ● Ghost/Fire
68 votes
Litwick, the pre-evolved form of Chandelure, also placed. I just love its mouth!
19th place
Victini
Victory Pokémon ● Psychic/Fire
64 votes
If you buy a special advance ticket for this year’s Pokémon movie, you’ll receive one as a gift!
19th place
Minccino
Chinchilla Pokémon ● Normal
64 votes
It left an impression when it appeared right at the start of the game alongside Professor Juniper.
21st place
Haxorus
Axe Jaw Pokémon ● Dragon
63 votes
This Dragon-type Pokémon looks incredibly strong. It’s definitely reliable!
21st place
Bisharp
Sword Blade Pokémon ● Dark/Steel
63 votes
The cool-looking Dark-type Pokémon are popular. Bisharp placed highly too!
23rd place
Tympole
Tadpole Pokémon ● Water
62 votes
Its unique face proved popular, leading to a high placement!
24th place
Samurott
Formidable Pokémon ● Water
61 votes
The final evolution of Oshawott. Its dignified appearance is nice.
25th place
Audino
Hearing Pokémon ● Normal
58 votes
Its gentle expression made it popular. Also gave lots of experience points.
26th place
Zorua
Tricky Fox Pokémon ● Dark
56 votes
It ranked highly alongside Zoroark. It looks mischievous, but it’s cute!
27th place
Stunfisk
Trap Pokémon ● Ground/Electric
53 votes
Many people cast all three votes for it. Those who like it really love it!
28th place
Mienshao
Martial Arts Pokémon ● Fighting
52 votes
Nimble-looking fighting-type Pokémon are surprisingly rare.
29th place
Cofagrigus
Coffin Pokémon ● Ghost
48 votes
It looks scary at first glance, but it actually has a rather endearing face, doesn’t it?
30th place
Vanilluxe
Snowstorm Pokémon ● Ice
47 votes
What a delicious-looking Pokémon! Is it very popular in the summer?
Overall Impressions: Traits like “Cute” and “Strong in Battle” rank highly?
Top 5 by Male Voters
| 1 | Hydreigon |
| 2 | Oshawott |
| 3 | Zekrom |
| 4 | Snivy |
| 5 | Reshiram |
Top 5 by Female Voters
| 1 | Chandelure |
| 2 | Whimsicott |
| 3 | Reuniclus |
| 4 | Serperior |
| 5 | Joltik |
And so, Chandelure, who had an overwhelmingly strong showing, takes first place!! In this popularity poll, there were more votes from women than men, so Pokémon that are popular with women ranked high overall. Chandelure, Whimsicott, and Reuniclus are prime examples of this.
Furthermore, in addition to being cute, being “strong” is also a key factor in their popularity. Chandelure, Whimsicott, Reuniclus, and Hydreigon are Pokémon that are frequently seen in Wi-Fi battles and are familiar to players who are serious about battling. Unless a Pokémon is “strong” as well as “cute,” it won’t capture the hearts of Nintendo Dream readers.
Another noteworthy point is the rapid rise of Bug-type Pokémon. Leading the pack at number 8 is Joltik, followed by Galvantula, Scolipede, and Volcarona, all of whom made the list. Women might find their realistic insect-like appearance off-putting, but perhaps their designs strike a good balance.
Popularity Poll TOP 3 Congratulations Project
Pokémon Edition
As a special feature, the #1 ranked winner of the popularity poll is given a full page, while the #2 and #3 ranked winners each receive half a page! A must-see for fans!
The captivating flame that shines as number 1 in Nintendo Dream
Unova Pokédex No. 115: The Luring Pokémon
Chandelure
Type: Ghost/Fire
Height: 1.0m
Ability: Flash Fire or Flame Body
Weight: 34.3kg
To think that Chandelure was so popular, especially with women… From the start, Litwick is already cute. That squishy mouth is just unfair.
When it evolves into Chandelure, it’s not only cute but also has a gorgeous appeal. During battle, Chandelure sways from side to side along with its flames, appearing like a chandelier. The contrast between its appearance and its strength is probably what makes it so appealing.
During battle it’s wobbly~
Its sleeping face is lovely ♡
→ If you’re wondering what expression it would have while asleep, sure enough, its eyes(?) are narrowed.
In French, it’s Lugulabre
← シャンデラ [shandera] is “Chandelure” in English, which is not much different from the Japanese name, but it has a completely different name in French.
How to obtain
Give Lampent a “Dusk Stone”!
Chandelure is a Pokémon that doesn’t appear in the wild. First, catch a Litwick at the Celestial Tower. Raise it to Lv. 41 and it will evolve into Lampent. Use the item “Dusk Stone” on Lampent and it will evolve into Chandelure. Note that once it evolves into Chandelure, it will no longer learn moves by leveling up, so evolve it only after it has learned the necessary moves.
↑ If you want Chandelure, first get Litwick at the Celestial Tower.
↓ A “Dusk Stone” can be obtained on Route 10 or other locations. It’s a rare item, so use it wisely.
Battle
An incredibly powerful special attacker
Chandelure’s appeal isn’t just its design. It’s a battle-oriented Pokémon that’s frequently used in Wi-Fi battles. Its Special Attack is on par with legendary Pokémon, making it an excellent attacker. The power of its type-matching moves, “Fire Blast” and “Shadow Ball,” is truly astonishing! In double battles, “Heat Wave” can deal massive damage to both opponents! Its Speed is somewhat average, so it’s easier to use if you give it a “Choice Scarf” or “Focus Sash.”
↓ Defeating Litwicks makes it easier to raise Special Attack. So if you want to increase that stat, battle in the Celestial Tower.
↑ It’s also the trump card of Shauntal of the Elite Four. I bet many players have had a rough time with it, huh?
↓ “Inferno,” a new move from Pokémon Black and White, has a low accuracy of 50, but a power of 100, and if it hits, it’ is’s guaranteed to inflict the burn status.
A mischievous wind spirit
Unova Pokédex No. 053: Windveiled Pokémon
Whimsicott
Type: Grass
Ability: Prankster or Infiltrator
Height: 0.7m
Weight: 6.6kg
Whimsicott is adorable with its fluffy appearance, like a pile of snow. Its distinctive feature is its sheep-like form. However, despite its cute looks, its Prankster ability allows for some pretty brutal tactics in battle. Truly a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”?
← Since it’s a mischievous Pokémon, its ability is “Prankster.”
↑ From the back, it looks like the base of a flower…
How to obtain
Give Cottonee a “Sun Stone”
Cottonee, the pre-evolution of Whimsicott, can be found in places like Pinwheel Forest, but it only appears in the wild in Pokémon Black. If you’re playing Pokémon White, you can trade a Petilil for one in a house in Nacrene City.
← It can also be obtained through trading in Pokémon White.
Battle
A variety of tactics that make the most of its ability
Its ability, “Prankster,” allows it to use status-changing moves first. It’s incredibly useful for using such moves without fear of “Taunt,” or for waiting to see the opponent’s actions before using “Encore.” It’s a versatile Pokémon that can utilize a variety of tactics based on the player’s strategy.
→ In double battles, it’s very useful in a supporting role using moves like “Tailwind” and “Sunny Day,” and can significantly change the course of a battle.
The Revived Myth of the White Yang
Unova Pokédex No. 149: Vast White Pokémon
Reshiram
Type: Dragon/Fire
Ability: Turboblaze
Height: 3.2m
Weight: 330.0kg
A legendary Pokémon obtainable in Pokémon Black. It boasts an astounding Special Attack stat that surpasses even Chandelure. In Pokémon White, it can only be battled as part of N’s team, but you can obtain one if you attend this summer’s Pokémon movie!! For more details, read the “Pokémon Company Special Edition” on page 47 of this supplement.*
*Note: This refers to the companion films Pokémon the Movie: White—Victini and Zekrom and Pokémon the Movie: Black—Victini and Reshiram, released in Japan July 2011. You can read more about this gift distribution here.
→ The majestic image of Reshiram seen on the title screen of Pokémon Black
← A fateful showdown with Zekrom!! It’s a pure white Pokémon, but during battle, flames turn its tail red.
How to obtain
Available at N’s castle in Pokémon Black!!
Reshiram is only obtainable in Pokémon Black. It can be caught near the end of the story at N’s castle. You can try again as many times as you like until you catch it, so you’ll obtain it for sure.
→ It appears in Pokémon Black. Catching it shouldn’t be too difficult.
Battle
Use “Fusion Flare” immediately after “Fusion Bolt”!
Using “Fusion Flare” immediately after Zekrom’s “Fusion Bolt” will double its power. Try this in the final battle against N.
← The special moves will also be spectacularly flashy. Be sure to take a look!
