Ash's friends

Ash Ketchum, while he started his journey alone, has had many people join his party as he traveled through the different regions. Most new region he travels in also features one of his companions leaving and another one joining him shortly afterward. Johto was the only region where Ash did not aquire a new friend that would travel with him.

Misty (EP002-EP273, AG044-AG045, AG132-AG134, MoMP)

Misty joined Ash in Pokémon Emergency!, traveling with him because she wanted him to replace her bike, which was destroyed by his Pikachu. She would continuously travel with him until Gotta Catch Ya Later!, when she returned to Cerulean City nearly full-time to lead her family's gym, though she briefly traveled to Hoenn and met up with Ash's Advanced Generation group, and again to "escort" her back home.

Pokémon captures, hatchings, evolutions, trades, releases

Brock (EP005-EP083, EP115-EP273, AG004-AG192, DP002-present)

Brock first joined Ash in Showdown in Pewter City after Ash battled him in the Pewter City Gym. After his father Flint offered to take over the duties of Gym Leader, Brock followed Ash through Kanto, leaving briefly from Poké Ball Peril to A Tent Situation to work for Professor Ivy. After this episode, Brock returned to be with Ash and Misty until Gotta Catch Ya Later!, though he, unlike Misty, would return shortly, in You Can Never Taillow, sticking with Ash until the end of the series. He would again return in Two Degrees of Separation!, and is currently traversing Sinnoh with Ash as of the latest Japanese episode.

Pokémon captures, hatchings, evolutions, trades, releases

Tracey (EP084-EP115)

After Brock left, Ash's traveling group was again down to two, as it had been for the first five episodes of Kanto. However, this would not last very long, as in The Lost Lapras, Tracey essentially invited himself along for the rest of the Orange Islands saga. Traveling with Ash, he wished to attain his ultimate goal of meeting Professor Oak, which he did when Ash returned to Kanto in A Tents Situation. After this, he remained in Pallet Town to be Professor Oak's assistant.

Pokémon captures, hatchings, evolutions, trades, releases

May (AG001-AG192, DP076-DP079)

Ash may have traveled to Hoenn alone, however, shortly after his arrival he met May, a young girl who desired to travel around the world and a fellow trainer who was just starting her journey. Though she initially did not care for Pokémon battles, she eventually found Pokémon contests, in which she competed in both Hoenn and Kanto. May traveled with Ash through the entire Advanced Generation saga, from Get the Show on the Road to Home is Where the Start Is. She, like Misty, reappeared briefly during the Diamond & Pearl series to compete in the Wallace Cup.

Pokémon captures, hatchings, evolutions, trades, releases

Max (AG003-AG192)

Max is May's younger brother. He did not have any Pokémon of his own because he was too young, but he often befriended certain Pokémon. He traveled with the group from There's no Place Like Hoenn until Home is Where the Start Is, when he went home to Petalburg City. However, he made a promise to Ash that as soon as he got some, he would battle Ash.

Dawn (DP001-present)

Dawn

Like his journey into Hoenn, Ash ventured to Sinnoh alone, where, in When Pokémon Worlds Collide!, he would meet Dawn. From that point, after saving Ash's Pikachu and having her bike fried in a similar way to May's and Misty's, Dawn would travel with Ash and Brock through Sinnoh, which she is currently doing as of the most recent Japanese episode.

Pokémon captures, hatchings, evolutions, trades, releases

See also

• Twerps