I'm surprised Pichu_pichu hasn't come into this conversation and start defending pichu

This thread puts the "Pokémon is not a complex RPG" argument to sleep

I don't know what the best pokemon is; they are all weak to something and therefore cannot beat everything. The best normal pokemon that I have found is:
Venusaur with Energy Ball, Synthesis, Leech Seed, and Sludge Bomb.

I'm sure if I gave Naznatips a minute or two he could find a dozen ways to easily beat this, but I don't really care; Venusaur has worked fine for me in enough battles.

 QFT... mostly. Anyways, Dragonite is by far my favorite pokemon, though, so my opinion is biased. =)

I think that the only problem with Dragonite is that it is too much of an attacking pokemon.  Its most obvious strength is strength; there isn't really much more to the whole strategy.  Against a much more strategic pokemon, Dragonite's attacks can probably be turned fairly worthless.  That said, I still use it, because it can tend to take down any pokemon that doesn't beat it on the first turn.

 PIKACHU USE YOUR THUNDERBOLT!

TEAM ROCKET'S BLASTING OFF AGAIN!

The most annoying bit of all time.  Every. Frickin. Episode. ugh

fixed. They're weak to ice as well. thats why i always bring articuno to the elite four when I'm playing blue/red.

Legendary: Mewtwo - Psychic is awesome, and if your health is low, he knows recover!

Non-Legendary - Gyrados is pretty friggin pimp, or Dragonite

I would have to go with Blissey just because of how ungodly annoying she is to fight. A billion hps, and the best recovery move in the game just waiting to laugh at you. Vespiqueen would be beastly as well if not for ice pokemon. Stupid double weakness screws up one of my favorite new ones.

Arceus, because is the god of pokemon.

Gastro Acid works too.

Swampert has the highest base stats for a starter, I believe.

Arceus has the highest base stats total of 720.

EDIT: Vespiquen is weak to Ice, yes, but is 4x weak to Rock.