How does the Pokémon Picker work?

You are shown two Pokémon side by side and choose your favorite. After enough comparisons our Elo ranking algorithm calculates your personalized ranking. The more comparisons you make, the more accurate your final ranking will be.

Do I need to create an account?

No account is required at all! Your progress is automatically saved in your browser using localStorage. You can leave the website and continue your session any time you return.

How many comparisons will I need to make?

It depends on your selected mode. For All Pokémon mode expect around 60–80 comparisons. Smaller pools like Starters (27 Pokémon) take only 15–25 comparisons to rank properly.

Can I undo a comparison?

Yes! Just click the Undo button after any comparison to go back one step. You can undo multiple times during a session.

Can I skip a comparison?

Absolutely! If you cannot decide between two Pokémon, click Skip and a new pair will appear. Skipped pairs may reappear later.

Can I share my results?

Yes! After completing the picker you get a unique shareable URL. You can also share directly to X, Facebook, Reddit, Discord and WhatsApp, or download your results as a PNG image, PDF, or CSV file.

What is the Elo ranking system?

Elo is a method for calculating relative skill ratings. Used in chess and many games. When you pick a winner, both Pokémon's ratings update based on the result and their current ratings. This produces an accurate ranking from pairwise comparisons.

Can I filter which Pokémon appear?

Yes! Before starting a picker you can filter by Generation (Gen 1 through Gen 9), Type (Fire, Water, Grass...), and Category (Starter, Legendary, Mythical, Mega Evolution...). You can combine multiple filters.

About Us

Welcome to FavoritePicker

FavoritePicker is a free, modern, and interactive Pokémon ranking platform built by trainers, for trainers. We help fans of all generations settle debates, battle-test their preferences through head-to-head matchups, and build beautiful custom tier lists without the friction of outdated tier maker tools.

⚡ Our Origin Story: Why We Built FavoritePicker

Since 1996, the Pokémon franchise has expanded from the original 151 monsters in Kanto to a rich universe featuring over 1,025+ unique species spanning nine generations—from the volcanic caverns of Johto and Hoenn to the sprawling regions of Galar and Paldea.

With so many iconic starters, legendary powerhouses, and beloved regional forms, answering the classic question—"Who is your absolute favorite Pokémon?"—became almost impossible. Traditional tier makers require dragging and dropping hundreds of tiny icons into clunky rows. On a mobile phone or tablet, this creates immense decision fatigue, accidental drops, and cluttered screens.

We knew there had to be a smarter, faster, and more engaging way. Inspired by pairwise decision theory, we created a streamlined tournament system: simply choose between two Pokémon on your screen. With every tap, our system narrows down your preferences until your definitive top list emerges.

🧠 The Science: How the Elo Rating System Works

Instead of guessing your preferences, FavoritePicker powers each battle using the world-renowned Elo rating algorithm—the mathematical model trusted worldwide in professional chess, esports matchmaking, and computational ranking systems.

Dynamic Rating Adjustments: Every monster begins with a baseline rating. Whenever you choose a winner, that Pokémon's rating rises based on the difficulty of the matchup, while the other's rating adjusts proportionally downward.
Intelligent Pairwise Matchmaking: The algorithm selects subsequent contenders with closely matched ratings, rapidly testing your true loyalties and minimizing redundant matchups.
Automatic Tier Mapping: Once enough pairings are completed, the algorithm generates your definitive tier list—accurately structured across S-Tier, A-Tier, B-Tier, C-Tier, and D-Tier.

🎮 What You Can Explore on FavoritePicker

Whether you are a casual fan or a competitive VGC battler, FavoritePicker provides dedicated ranking tools for every niche:

🌐 Generation Pickers

Relive your favorite eras with dedicated generation filters: from Gen 1 (Kanto) to Gen 9 (Paldea).

🔥 Elemental Type Battles

Filter by elemental affinity: Fire, Water, Grass, Dragon, Ghost, Electric, and more.

⭐ Curated Specialty Rosters

Rank iconic groups: Starters, Legendary Pokémon, Mythicals, Eeveelutions, and Shiny Pokémon.

🎲 Random Team Generators

Generate balanced battle rosters with the Team of 6 Generator or try spontaneous discoveries with the Random Pokémon Generator.

💎 Our Core Principles

100% Free & Ad-Light: We hate intrusive popups, interstitial blockers, and screen takeovers as much as you do. Our website is completely free to use with a clean, focused user interface.
Privacy by Design: No accounts, no password hassles, and no tracking cookies. Your tournament progress is stored strictly on your device using client-side Local Storage.
Mobile-First & Ultra-Fast: Engineered with progressive image loading, WebP sprites, touch swipe support, and responsive layouts that perform flawlessly on phones, tablets, and 4K desktops.
Export & Share Anywhere: Easily download your finished tier list as a high-resolution PNG card, save as PDF or CSV, or copy a unique shareable URL to post on Discord, Twitter/X, Reddit, or TikTok.

🤝 Powered by Open Data & Community

FavoritePicker is made possible by the incredible open-source community behind PokéAPI, which provides comprehensive Pokémon game statistics, typings, and official artwork assets.

We are a dedicated group of software engineers, UI designers, and lifelong gamers who grew up with Game Boy link cables and trading cards. We continue to update FavoritePicker with every new game release, DLC expansion, and fan feedback.

Ready to find your #1 Pokémon?

Start a tournament now or explore our in-depth guides and articles on our blog.

⚡ Start Ranking Now 📰 Read Our Blog ✉️ Contact the Team