Who Would Win, 1 Billion Lions Or 1 Of Every Pokémon? The Internet Argument Explained

A rousing debate among Pokémon fans rears its head every few years, presenting the same perplexing question to the fandom; who would win in a fight between 1 billion lions and 1 of every Pokémon?

The hypothetical fight might sound bizarre and completely inane, but the specifics of the battle have confounded fans who always seek further clarifications on what such a fight may look like. Does one of every Pokémon mean all Pokémon, from all generations, including legendaries? Can the lions make a sort of Lion Ladder to reach Pokémon just out of reach, and can one billion of them overpower a bewildered and mismanaged Poké-team?

To an outsider looking in, such a debate may sound ridiculous, but for the Pokémon fandom, the 1 Billion Lions vs. 1 of Ever Pokémon battle is a real test of one's imagination. Here's how the arguments on either side shook down.

Who Came Up With The 1 Billion Lions vs. Every Pokémon Question In The First Place?

As far as Know Your Meme's records go, the question about who would win in a fight between a billion lions and one of every Pokémon was first asked by YouTuber fivemediocrekids back in October 2011. The grainy video has logged less than 500 views over 12 years after it was first posted, but the question it poses remains as puzzling as ever.

How Did The 1 Billion Lions vs. Every Pokémon Become A Viral Debate?

The question was echoed in a 4chan post from 2013, where other channers ask some important follow-ups; like what chance does a lion have against a rock type Pokémon anyways, and will Aslan from Narnia be part of the billion-strong pack?

The first notable post featuring the question was a poll hosted by Twitter user @MaxKetchum_ in November 2015. After gathering nearly 3000 votes, the official consensus from @MaxKetchum_'s followers seemed to be that Pokémon would win the battle over a billion lions.

What Are Some Arguments In Favour Of 1 Billion Lions Winning The Fight?

After the lions vs. Pokémons debate began to gain traction, some internet users began posting humorous rationalization for why 1 billion lions could, hypothetically, win a battle against all those Pokémon. November 2015 video by YouTuber Arson Bjork titled, "7 Reasons Why All 721 Pokemon Will Lose to 1 Billion Lions" gathered over 1 million views and various supporters in the early days of the debate.

A common theme often seen in the lions vs. Pokémon square-off was that lion supporters had to rely on increasingly absurd and humorous rationalizations for supporting their side in the hypothetical fight. When pressed by Pokémon supporters about how 1 billion lions could possibly attack a Pokémon that chooses to fly out of reach, many internet users proposed that the lions would simply form some kind of lion-ladder that reached toward the skies.

What Is The Final Consensus On The 1 Billion Lions or Every Pokémon Ever Debate?

A late 2020s resurgence of the meme saw more internet users weighing in on the issue, and posing the debate in dramatised meme terms to do so. A September 2020 post by YouTuber MBM Productions took the form of an objection.lol video to make its point.

As more and more people began to support the lion team, Pokémon supporters continued to make increasingly frustrated-sounding graphics to justify their position. The question of how genuine lion supporters are in their beliefs is one left for interpretation.

Taps the sign https://t.co/HLKmKLmIS2 pic.twitter.com/25f5m86d1K

— Kailof (@Kailof_) August 8, 2024

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For the full history of 1 Billion Lions vs. Every Pokémon, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.