I don’t think Pokemon can ever have an equivalent to the Power 9, because the most-used trainers (eg Bill, Computer Search, Plus Power, Rocket’s Sneak Attack] in the original era don’t have the same iconic factor to collectors today.
There can really only be a “Power 1”
What’s the Power 1? It’s a card that is:
- Introduced in the Alpha set (Base)
- Used in a variety of decks
- Playable in every format until rotated out
- Instantly recognizable, treasured and valuable
- Had a unique factor separating it from all other Pokemon
If you look at a site like jklaczpokemon.wordpress.com/1999-base-set/
You’ll see that only one Pokemon is featured in deck lists from EVERY early format until Base Set rotated, which would include Base only, Base-Jungle, Base-Fossil, Base-Rocket, Base-Gym, and Base-Neo.
It was also used in a MAJORITY of Base and Base-Jungle decks, which would suggest the original Japanese 1997-1998 tournaments, which gave out the highly prized Pikachu trophy cards, were won using this Pokemon. It was also the only Basic Pokemon to ever have 120 HP for years.
The Power 1 in question?
Arguably the greatest Pokemon ever made, Chansey was included in these top decks:
Base Only:
Haymaker [Hitmonchan/Electabuzz] (Chansey)
Damage Swap [Machamp/Alakazam/Chansey] (Chansey)
Raindance [Blastoise/Gyarados] (Chansey)
Base-Jungle:
Damage Swap 2.0 Wall [Alakazam/Mr. Mime/Chansey] (Chansey)
Haymaker 2.0 [Hitmonchan/Electabuzz/Scyther] (Chansey)
Lickitung Stall [Lickitung] (Chansey)
Base-Fossil:
Lickitung/Moltres Stall (Chansey)
Base-Rocket
Lickitung/Moltres Stall (Chansey)
Base-Gym Heroes
Lickitung/Moltres Stall (Chansey)
Base-Neo
Metal Chansey [Chansey/Metal Energy] (Chansey}