Pikachu is a Bad Pokemon - That's Why it's a Great Mascot

By all metrics, Pikachu... kinda sucks.  Its abysmal stats, mediocre movepool and 'meh'-inducing evolution would in any other case, make it a pick in very few teams, from casual playthroughs to hardcore competitors. But when you take into account all the things in the message of Pokemon, Pikachu goes from terrible to one of the very best.

This all starts with Trainer that made Pikachu the franchise's face: Ash Ketchum.  From the first episodes of Indigo League to the final battles of his share of the anime, Ash is inherently an underdog.  In fact, he's one of the few anime underdogs who loses fairly often, adding to the realism of his story. And what happens an underdog Trainer with the Pokemon that he got because he showed up late to get a Pokemon at all?

You get one of the most well-known protagonist duos of all time.

Despite the losses Ash and Pikachu face together, neither gives up on their goal or each other.  And eventually, no matter how long it took, the duo went all the way to championship.

But the pitches the franchise makes to Pikachu's worth don't stop at the Pikachu.  From the origin of the franchise and the words of Karen all the way to the latest games, the teams you build in Pokemon games are encouraged to be personal.  Time and time again, NPCs have told you to go with Pokemon you like, not simply those that are powerful.  And with the work Game Freak put into making Pikachu a beloved Pokemon, the fact that many players will use Pikachu for that reason alone speaks volumes.  The message definitely works.

In fact, the weakness that Pikachu has juxtaposed with its huge appeal makes it one of the only Pokemon suited to represent the whole series.  And even with its departure from the anime, it will be remembered for that reason.