Have you ever wondered why Arceus is celebrated as the almighty be-all and end-all of the Pokémon world, above and beyond even other Legendaries? It’s not because this Poké-deity is the source of everything and anything in this franchise’s universe (although it may be). It’s because it actually has darn good stats across the board (base 120 all around).

This just isn’t a thing. A lot of Mythical Pokémon settle for base 100 in everything, but that’s just above average. Even the greatest Pokémon tend to have a weakness in some stat or other, for balancing’s sake. You’d be surprised how many powerhouses have incredibly low Special Attack, as you’re about to find out!

10 Spearow: Base 31 Special Attack

Well, of course, there’s nothing surprising here. Things are going to get a little wild soon, but here’s a simple entry to start things off with. Did you think that the humble Spearow was going to be a special attacking powerhouse? No. No you didn’t.

Any strength Spearow does have lies in its Attack, which is twice as high (base 60). Fearow isn’t especially powerful, but its base 90 Attack is something to work with at least. As is the Ground-type attack Drill Run, which is a rarity for Flying-types.

9 Zubat (And 33 Others): Base 30 Special Attack

So, yes. Just when you thought this would be a simple run-down of individual Pokémon and their hilariously low stats, base 30 Special Attack happened. Apparently, Game Freak has a real liking for assigning this number, because 34 Pokémon share it.

Next time you’re taking part in a Pokémon quiz and you’re asked what Zubat, Axew, Pikipek, Duskull, Starly, Cranidos, Combee, Scorupi, Drilbur, Throh, Sawk, Venipede, Swinub, Sunkern, Sudowoodo, Rhyhorn, Onix, Geodude, Alolan Geodude, Darmanitan, Galarian Darmanitan, Galarian Darmanitan in Zen Mode, Galarian Yamask, Pyukumuku, Yungoos, Rockruff, Bounsweet, Shedinja, Nincada, Taillow, Seedot, Poochyena, Zigzagoon and Galarian Zigzagoon have in common, you’ll darn well know the answer.

8 Cosmog And Cosmoem: Base 29 Special Attack

That’s more manageable, isn’t it? That’s the kind of math we can handle. The kind that doesn’t require us to count on all of our fingers and toes and ask to borrow a friend’s digits, too. Just two Pokémon have 29 base Special Attack: Cosmog and Cosmoem.

These odd-looking Psychic-types, of course, hail from the same evolution line (eventually culminating in the mighty Lunala/Solgaleo). In and of themselves, though, they’re almost entirely worthless. As anyone who got utterly bored of Nebby’s antics in Pokémon Sun and Moon will tell you.

7 Scatterbug And Spewpa: Base 27 Special Attack

Next up, we have another duo: Scatterbug and Spewpa. Interestingly, both of these Bug-types come from the same evolution line, eventually becoming Butterfree’s cooler cousin Vivillon.

Why doesn’t Spewpa gain anything at all in Special Attack upon evolving? With both Pokémon’s all-around awful stats, we shouldn’t question that. We should be grateful it even gains the tiniest boost to its defenses.

6 Metapod (And 14 Others): Base 25 Special Attack

On to another big group. Metapod and Kakuna, of course, are very similar Pokémon, so it stands to reason that their stats would be the same in some areas. Sure enough, here they both are with base 25 Special Attack (which they absolutely cannot use in any kind of way).

Besides that old-school pair, thirteen other Pokémon also have this same meager stat: Rattata, Alolan Ratatta, Alolan Sandslash, Krabby, Wooper, Silcoon, Cascoon, Roggenrola, Kricketot, Lillipup, Timburr, Wishiwash and Blipbug. Of the whole lineup, only Alolan Sandslash is really surprising.

5 Bronzor, Ferroseed: Base 24 Special Attack

Just barely missing out on the previous group by a measly point, we have another pair of Pokémon. This time, it’s Bronzor and Ferroseed, two humble-looking critters that evolve into truly formidable defensive powerhouses.

With Bronzong and Ferrothorn embodying the true spirit of Steel Pokémon (in the sense that they tank hits all day and refuse to keel over), we can understand why their pre-evolutions are so lacking in the offensive department.

4 Wynaut: Base 23 Special Attack

Here’s another curious entry. Wynaut is actually the only other Pokémon down here at the bottom of the barrel not to share its lowly stat with any other. Good job on the base 23 Special Attack, Wynaut, it’s totally unique.

Its evolved form, Wobbuffet, isn’t about dealing damage. It’s about sitting there and absorbing it before returning twice as much straight back. It has precisely zero offensive potential of its own (it literally can’t learn a single attacking move). Still, its base Special Attack grows to base 33, just barely too much for this list.

3 Caterpie (And 9 Others): Base 20 Special Attack

Base 20 Special Attack is also a popular number. Caterpie and Weedle are in this group (no surprise, as we saw with Metapod and Kakuna earlier), as are Sandshrew, Azurill, Marill, Smeargle, Wurmple, Wimpod, Makuhita and Stonjourner.

Of these Pokémon, only the last really stands out. This Pokémon Sword exclusive Rock-type is one of the rarest and most unique Gen VIII critters. It’s hugely physically tanky, but its special stats are abysmal: base 20 Special Attack and Special Defense.

2 Magikarp, Mega Beedrill, Happiny, Darumaka And Galarian Darumaka: Base 15 Special Attack

Base stats can be funny at times, can’t they? You didn’t think you’d ever see Magikarp and Mega Beedrill lumped together in the same group, but then BAM: they’re equally woeful when it comes to special attack.

It’s also quite funny to see that Darumaka and Galarian Darumaka both have the joint second-lowest Special Attack ever, considering the monstrous might of Darmanitan (its Galarian form in particular).

1 Alolan Sandshrew, Shuckle, Feebas And Bonsly: Base 10 Special Attack

Now we’re scraping right through the bottom of the barrel, into the muddy, muddy ground below. Base 10 is about as low as it’s possible for a stat to get, so this is sort of an achievement.

Having said that, you’ve got to respect the fact that Feebas has even less Special Attack than Magikarp. How does that even happen? Poor old Magikarp was quite happy there, with its dubious distinction as the worst fish Pokémon ever. What a personal affront.

NEXT: Pokémon: The 10 Starters With The Best Special Attack, Ranked