Every Pokemon Type, Ranked From Worst To Best
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Highlights
- The philosophy of Pokemon encourages trainers to use whichever Pokemon they feel a personal attachment to, but in the competitive game, some Pokemon are objectively better than others.
- Different Pokemon types have varying levels of usefulness and versatility in battle, with some types being more strategic and effective in team compositions than others.
- The introduction of Tera types in the latest Pokemon game allows for strategic battle tactics by changing a Pokemon’s typing to have fewer weaknesses against the opponent, providing an advantage in battles.
The philosophy of the Pokemon series states that everyone should be able to use whatever Pokemon they want. A good trainer doesn’t care about what’s weak or strong but rather what feels good to them. It’s about becoming personally attached to the digital animal enough to care for it. That’s a beautiful notion, but unfortunately flawed.
The reality of Pokemon as a semi-competitive game is that, of course, some Pokemon are better than others. This includes Pokemon types, which are vitally important to the metagame. The rock-paper-scissors element of battles is part of what makes them so engaging. Some types are useful in any team composition. Other types are lacking and fulfill niche roles. They’re all useful, but some are much more versatile.
Updated on 16 October 2023 by Janine Engelbrecht: Although no new Pokemon types have been added to the franchise in some time, new mechanics are introduced with every new Pokemon game that influences the ways in which the Pokemon behave in battle. In the latest Pokemon game, Scarlet and Violet, Tera types have been introduced, which allows Pokemon to Terastallize, giving them a shiny appearance while also increasing their powers by changing their typing. Players can use Tera type Pokemon found in the wild strategically in battle by changing their typing to one that has fewer weaknesses against the type they are battling. One also has the option to Terastallize any Pokemon, even though it is not a Tera type, by using a Tera Orb during battle.
18 Bug
Bug Tera types found in the wild are:
- Wild Tera Flamigo
- Wild Tera Grafaiai
- Wild Tera Applin
- Wild Tera Hawlucha
Despite having some powerful Pokemon in their midst, the Bug type is by far the worst of the eighteen. While moves like Megahorn and Bug Buzz hit fairly hard, they hit resistances far more often than they do weaknesses. Bug is also very weak to several popular competitive types, such as Fire, Flying, and Rock. It also doesn’t help that many fully-evolved Bug Pokemon have fairly weak stats overall, especially those met early in each game. Only those with strong secondary types like Steel and Fire receive serious consideration.
Bug types are a fairly common find, particularly in grassy areas, and can be quite useful in the early game grind; however, most players don’t carry these guys through to the end. Although considered the weakest Pokemon type, some Bug types give their class a good name, such as Heracross, the Legendary Volcarona, Alola’s Golispod,and the Mythical Genesect, who are some of the strongest insectile Pokemon around.
17 Ice
Ice Tera types found in the wild are:
- Wild Tera Shinx
- Wild Tera Buizel
- Wild Tera Drednaw
- Wild Tera Lucario
- Wild Tera Glaceon
- Wild Tera Dusclops
- Wild Tera Swanna
Ice is by no means a bad type offensively. Not only does it hit four common types super-effectively, but many of this type’s moves also have a small chance to freeze opponents, completely disrupting them. Unfortunately, this type has many weaknesses, and its only resistance is against its own type. Some examples of powerful Ice types exist, but they typically have a good secondary typing to cover their plethora of weaknesses. All in all, slapping an Ice move onto a Pokemon with a better type combination usually does the job.
Ice-types are some of the few Pokemon capable of taking down a Dragon, so it is always beneficial to have at least one of these glacial contenders around; if one can be found, that is. These extremely rare Pokemon generally hang out near water sources, and some of the most sought-after critters include the Legendary Kyurem (available in black or white tones), the iconic Articuno, and Regice, a Legendary Titan who uses a pure Ice-based move set. Calyrex is also a popular choice but requires a fusion with Glastrier to reach its full potential as a Psychic/Ice duo called Ice Rider Calyrex.
16 Rock
Rock Tera types found in the wild are:
- Wild Tera Diglett
- Wild Tera Breloom
- Wild Tera Avalugg
- Wild Tera Sandslash
- Wild Tera Slugma
Many Rock-type Pokemon have bulky defenses to reflect their stony origins. However, they often lack potency against Water and Grass, both of which find ample representation in Pokemon teams. They also tend to have poorer Special Defense stats, though this gets boosted by fifty percent during a Sandstorm. On the offensive side, Rock is fairly useful for snuffing out Fire- and Flying-type Pokemon. Moves like Rock Slide and Stone Edge even prove devastating against normally-affected types, and Stealth Rock is one of the more prominent entry hazards in the game.
Despite the common misconceptions, the relatively rare Rock-types are only immune to Electric attacks due to their common Duel-Ground-type abilities. Surprisingly, the stick-like Sudowoodo is the first pure Rock Pokemon introduced to fans; while all Fossil Pokemon used to also fall into this category, up until the Galar Region creations mixed things up. The most potent Rock-Types are often a colossal size, such as with the pseudo-legendary Tyranitar, the heavily-armored Aggron, and the T-Rex-inspired Tyrantrum, obviously without forgetting the fan-favorite Onix or the gem-incrusted Gigalith, the most beautiful of them all!
15 Grass
Grass Tera types found in the wild are:
- Wild Tera Leafeon
- Wild Tera Floette
- Wild Tera Sandygast
- Wild Tera Slowbro
- Wild Tera Lampent
- Wild Tera Glimmora
- Wild Tera Vikavolt
While Grass is a fairly common type, it still has its share of weak points. For starters, pure Grass Pokemon have five weaknesses, many of which are abundant in the competitive meta. Its attacks demolish Ground, Water, and Rock types but fare poorly against many others, including the omnipresent Fire and Steel. Some dual-type Pokemon like Amoonguss and Ferrothorn serve well as walls, but the Grass type struggles to find much offensive representation.
These nature-loving Pokemon are quite easy to find (and in the most obvious of places), and each Generation so far has included a Grass-type among their starter Pokemon options. Their HP draining capabilities can be quite advantageous, with several options available, namely Leech Seed, Absorb, Mega Drain, Horn Leech, and Giga Drain. The time-traveling Guardian of the Illex Forest, Celebi, deserves the most praise, while the old-time favorites still hold their own today, with Venusaur, Meganium, and Exeggutor continuing to lead the pack.
14 Normal
Normal Tera types found in the wild are:
- Wild Tera Scyther
- Wild Tera Toxapex
- Wild Tera Torkoal
- Wild Tera Veluza
- Wild Tera Trevenant
Normal Pokemon are difficult to pin down. On one hand, they have access to many moves of widely varying types that make them unpredictable offensively. However, their lack of a same-type attack bonus for these moves also makes them weaker than the types they try to emulate. Normal-type attacks also don’t deal any super-effective damage against any Pokemon. Normal types typically don’t serve well defensively aside from their Ghost immunity, as common Fighting types deal with them handily. That being said, some Normal Pokemon still find their way onto competitive teams to fill niche roles, such as Blissey with her tanking power.
In Pokemon terms, the word “Normal” is not synonymous with average, as there are some formidable forces within this category capable of utilizing an extensive variety of skills that have stolen the spotlight on more than one occasion. The most recognizable Normal-type is the snuggly Snorlax, while Ursaring is a stark contrast to much-less-terrifying Teddiursa, and even though Braviary may look Legendary, he too is an epic, yet Normal Pokemon. Interestingly enough, these guys receive a classification change-up in the Pokemon Trading Card Game, whereby they get grouped with the Colourless class.
13 Poison
Poison Tera types found in the wild are:
- Wild Tera Dunsparce
- Wild Tera Sliggoo
- Wild Tera Primeape
- Wild Tera Vullaby
- Wild Tera Quagsire
Ever since the sixth generation of Pokemon, Poison has received a boost in popularity. Its use as a counter against Fairy types makes it a valuable addition to any team. Even so, it remains fairly weak offensively, as four types resist it, and one (Steel) is immune to it. Defensively, however, it serves as a viable option thanks to its minimal weaknesses. Poison-type status moves such as Toxic and Toxic Spikes also whittle away at the opponent’s health over time, which is very useful for stall tactics.
These toxic Pokemon can be found in an assortment of places but generally prefer to gather around marshy or industrial areas and are about as common as Fire-types. Thankfully, the broken mechanics promptly got fixed after Generation One, whereby Bug- and Poison-types were super-effective against each other, making battles rather redundant. The most potent Poison Pokemon include the Ultra Beast Naganadel, the sea-dragon look-alike, Dragalge, the sleek and sophisticated Sneasler, and the long-time favored Vileplume (which narrowly avoids becoming a blissful Bellossom, the alternate to Gloom’s evolution.)
12 Dark
Dark Tera types found in the wild are:
- Wild Tera Umbreon
- Wild Tera Pyroar
- Wild Tera Tinkatuff
- Wild Tera Frigibax
- Wild Tera Gurdurr
Dark is average both offensively and defensively, but its type has a wide array of useful moves at its disposal. Status moves like Taunt and Torment restrict which moves opponents can use; attacks such as Knock Off and Throat Chop can also disrupt many opposing strategies. While these tactics cause great hindrance to opponents, Dark types still lose out to more commonplace types like Fighting and Fairy. They still make for good support Pokemon, though, especially if they have abilities like Prankster to give priority to status moves.
The relatively rare Dark types do not follow the evolution process with ease, so trainers have their work cut out for them if they wish to see these Pokemon reach their full potential. Their main purpose in life is to balance out the overpowered Psychic forces, for which they have built up an immunity. Umbreon wins in the Poison popularity poles with the Legendary Yveltal (arguably)coming in a close second, but sadly, Absol, “the disaster Pokemon,” has had less success, while the atypically adorable Nickit breaks the Dark-type mold.
11 Psychic
Psychic Tera types found in the wild are:
- Wild Tera Golduck
- Wild Ter Espeon
- Wild Tera Rockruff
- Wild Tera Tsareena
- Wild Tera Yanma
Psychic tends to be frail physically, but many Pokemon belonging to this type are special-attacking powerhouses. They can demolish opponents with Psychic and Expanding Force, especially when used in Psychic Terrain. Tapu Lele and Indeedee are great examples, as both have abilities that set up Psychic Terrain when they enter the field. Their mysterious powers deal heavy damage despite their overall lack of longevity. Psychic types make short work of opposing physical walls; just be wary of opposing Dark, Bug, and Ghost Pokemon.
Pychic-type Pokemon were originally so overpowered that they were practically invincible, and so the creative team had to come up with some new categories (Steel and Dark) just to counteract these guys. Of course, the Mythical Mew and Legendary Mewtwo take the cake as the strongest Psychics ever and are joined up on their pedestal by the versatile Necrozma, who can simultaneously use a Z-Move while in a Mega-Evolution-type state after fusing with either Solgaleo or Lunala.
10 Flying
Flying Tera types found in the wild are:
- Wild Tera Meowth
- Wild Tera Cyclizar
- Wild Tera Ursaring
On its own, Flying is an average type. While it can take out Grass and Fighting types handily, it struggles against other common types like Rock and Electric. However, most Flying Pokemon have a secondary typing to circumnavigate this. Roost is a great recovery move and can nullify Flying weaknesses until the end of the turn, but it also leaves the user susceptible to Ground attacks (to which Flying types are usually immune). Air Slash and Hurricane have the potential to cause flinching and confusion, respectively, but few great Flying moves exist outside of them. Overall, this type straddles the line between good and bad.
Some of these common “airborne” Pokemon prefer to stay grounded, with the likes of Archen and Natu living a flightless life. Generally speaking, a Pokemon’s Flying-type duality is often secondary to another class, seemingly as a last-minute inclusion in the character design. Nevertheless, some worthwhile competitors have emerged from the Flying class, including the newbie Iron Jugulis, the incredible Corviknight, and the Drizzle-happy Pelipper, among many more.
9 Fighting
Fighting Tera types found in the wild are:
- Wild Tera Lokix
- Wild Tera Corviknight
- Wild Tera Sneasel
- Wild Tera Raichu
- Wild Tera Poliwhirl
- Wild Tera Geodude
Despite being weak to the previous type, Fighting edges out in both raw power and utility. It’s the only type capable of causing super-effective damage to Normal types and also hits hard against defensive types like Rock and Steel. Many Pokemon with this type have moves and stats that accentuate physical strength. Some drawbacks include their weakness to Fairy, their inability to affect Ghost Pokemon and their general predictability. Still, a heavy-hitting Fighting type can make for a great physical sweeper on any team.
Circling the same rarity rating as Dark and Poison Pokemon, Fighting Types are the prevalent secondary choice for new trainers, assumedly due to their durability. They should, however, be left out of Double Battles, as Fighting attacks can only target one Pokemon at a time, as opposed to more broad-ranged moves such as Electroweb. The title of most powerful pure fighting type belongs to the Legendary Zamazenta,with the muscular Conkeldurr amping up the competition, while Mienshao and Sirfetch’d have also caused quite a stir.
8 Ghost
Ghost Tera types found in the wild are:
- Wild Tera Houndoom
- Wild Tera Naclstack
- Wild Tera Slaking
- Wild Tera Froslass
- Wild Tera Munchlax
The mischievous Ghost type has plenty going for it. Not only is it immune to Normal and Fighting attacks, but it also does decent damage to anything aside from Dark- and Normal-type Pokemon. Shadow Sneak, Phantom Force, and Shadow Ball are all great Ghost moves. Many Ghost Pokemon also learn useful status moves like Will-O-Wisp and Destiny Bond. Popular Ghost Pokemon include Gengar, Dusclops and Dusknoir, Aegislash, Dragapult, and Mimikyu. They fill a wide array of combat roles but often get shut out by Dark types.
These “spirits” prefer to stay hidden; trainers brave enough to go searching will need to keep their eyes peeled! Since Generation Six has come around, Ghost-types have received substantial updates, most notably, their ability to Flee a battle, and those empowered with accuracy are guaranteed to hit their target every time. While Giratina boasts some of the highest HP stats, the Legendary Lunala acts as Sun & Moon’s mascot, and Marshadow is just the cutest little Ghost around!
7 Electric
Electric Tera types found in the wild are:
- Wild Tera Dragonair
- Wild Tera Tauros
- Wild Tera Jolteon
- Wild Tera Pincurchin
- Wild Tera Arbok
- Wild Tera Nosepass
For the most part, Electric Pokemon are all about hitting fast and hard. Their high average Speed stat often makes them one of the first to act in battle, allowing them to dish out Discharges and Thunders or spread paralysis with Thunder Wave. As a defensive type, Electric is fantastic; only Ground attacks are super-effective against it. Unfortunately, most Electric Pokemon are frail, making even one powerful hit enough to threaten them. Still, they provide solid coverage against common Flying and Water Pokemon.
Most Electric Pokemon either resemble some kind of rodent or are mechanical in nature, while the majority of this class are purists by nature (consisting of less Dual-type forms.) Although quite scarce, Generation Five introduced the largest quantity of Electric Types to the franchise, including the likes of Galvantula, Emolga,Eelektross, and more. The all-time favorite Pikachu shares his lightning-loving spotlight with Ash’s Electivire and the formidable Ultra Beast Xurkitree.
6 Dragon
Dragon Tera types found in the wild are:
- Wild Tera Salandit
- Wild Tera Elektross
- Wild Tera Gyarados
For a long time, the Dragon type reigned supreme in the competitive meta. Even with the addition of the Fairy type, Dragon representatives remain prevalent choices for trainers. While it only hits its own type for super-effective damage, only Steel and Fairy types resist its attacks, making it a good offensive presence. Defensively, it resists several elemental types, including Water, Fire, and Electric. Combine this with an exceptional base stat average, and the reason for its continued popularity becomes clear.
The World Coronation Series in Pokemon Journeys features a multitude of Dragons (and two Dragon Masters, Iris and Lance), which suggests that ambitious trainers should make a spot for these winged beasts on their team; although, as one of the rarest types around, that is easier said than done. While beggars shouldn’t be choosers, the best Dragon types to look out for are Salamence, Dragonite, Garchomp, and the Legendary Rayquaza.
5 Water
Water Tera types found in the wild are:
- Wild Tera Jigglypuff
- Wild Tera Garchomp
- Wild Tera Vaporeon
- Wild Tera Bellibolt
- Wild Tera Poltchageist
The Water type is as versatile as its namesake. Whether it be a bulky support Pokemon or a fast sweeper, at least one Water Pokemon exists to fill that role. It also helps that they only have two weaknesses, those being Grass and Electric. Water types also have an extensive movepool that offers great physical, special, and status moves. This can make Water Pokemon unpredictable in the hands of an experienced player. They easily earn their place in the top five.
The most common Pokemon available are also some of the strongest types around, as Water move sets often dominate on the battlefield. Pokemon TCG adds even more individuals to this class, as Ice types are grouped with the Water types (and simultaneously mess with the overall system.) With so many to choose from, standing out of the crowd is a challenge; however, the Legendary Kyogre does a pretty stellar job! Other top contenders comprise of the Fire-breathing Palkia, the Legendary Suicune,and, of course, the ever-popular Gyarados.
4 Ground
Ground Tera types found in the wild are:
- Wild Tera Houndstone
- Wild Tera Growlithe
- Wild Tera Axew
- Wild Tera Wugtrio
Ground overlaps with Rock in many ways but is by far a better standalone type. While it is also weak to Grass and Water, Ground has far fewer weaknesses compared to Rock. A good number of Ground types are bulky tanks despite not receiving the same stat boost as Rock types in a Sandstorm. Ground types also have access to good attacking moves like Earthquake and Earth Power. They hit the hefty Steel type for super-effective damage, making them a valuable addition to any trainer’s team.
For some unknown reason, another Pokemon TCG mash-up inserts Ground-types (and Rock) into the Fighting category, breaking the mechanics once again. If sticking to the video games, trainers should consider collecting gargantuan Groudon, the Force of Nature, Landorus, or the tanky Hippowdon. Ground-type Pokemon are not often selected by Pokemon specialists, with only four major experts to speak of (Bertha, Clay, Hapu, and Giovanni.)
3 Fairy
Fairy Tera types found in the wild are:
- Wild Tera Altaria
- Wild Tera Mimikyu
- Wild Tera Sylveon
- Wild Tera Azumarill
- Wild Tera Vulpix
Despite being one of the newest types, Fairy-types have cemented themselves as a must-have in many teams. Its ability to decimate Dragon types is key, but so too is its super-effective damage against Fighting and Dark types. In some ways, they act as an improved Psychic type. In fact, many Fairy Pokemon also have access to Psychic moves to check their Poison weakness. Few have moves to threaten Fire and Steel types, unfortunately, but with the right team setup, they still hold their own.
Pokemon “pixies” are more potent than they appear, and their perky, pink-loving personalities should not be taken lightly. Much like in real life, finding a Fairy is a real treat, as they are some of the rarest types around but are certain to bring blessings of good fortune on the battlefield. While most Fairy types are considered top-notch, the best-of-the-best include the Legendary Xerneas, fan-favorite Sylveon, Mimikyu, the walking contradiction, and Galarian Rapidash, the stunning unicorn Pokemon.
2 Fire
Fire Tera types found in the wild are:
- Wild Tera Fletchling
- Wild Tera Revavroom
- Wild Tera Flareon
- Wild Tera Kirlia
Fire is the final starter type to appear on the list and arguably the best. It tears through Grass, Bug, and Steel types with ease. Many Fire Pokemon have Grass coverage to challenge opposing Water, Rock, and Ground types. They also have a bevy of resistances to help their otherwise average defenses, making Fire a solid secondary typing. While they are more susceptible to Stealth Rock, they are by no means pushovers. Players should be wary of incoming Fire Blasts and Heat Waves from this dangerous type.
Video game beginners should pick a Fire-type as their starter if they wish to have a painless first attempt at becoming a Pokemon master, as these no-nonsense elementals have a high level of damage-based attacks. Strangely enough, Fire-types have been paired off with Water (Volcanion) but avoid Grass at all costs; apparently, that is where the line of logic is drawn. Moltres, Ho-Oh, Entei, plus the new addition of Koraidon are some of the most popular Legendary Fire Pokemon in the franchise.
1 Steel
Steel Tera types found in the wild are:
- Wild Tera Falinks
- Wild Tera Dragonite
- Wild Tera Pawmo
- Wild Tera Espathra
- Wild Tera Hakamo-o
Nothing comes close to challenging the durability of the Steel type. With ten resistances and an immunity to Poison, Steel is the go-to option for a defensive Pokemon. Even with weaknesses to Fire, Ground, and Fighting, they will soak up damage more often than not. Their impressive defensive stats are a testament to their longevity in battle. Steel types also serve as one of the few counters to the Fairy type, making them essential in one’s lineup. Expect Pokemon like Ferrothorn, Heatran, and Corviknight to swap in when they need to take a hit.
The somewhat rare Steel Pokemon has grown in popularity since Generation Seven, as their Poison immunity is very advantageous against the phenomenal Ultra Beasts. The Sinnoh Region’s Legendary Dialga has amassed a considerable fanbase since Pokemon Diamond, while the Crowned Sword Zacian’s stats rival even the almighty Arceus. Metagross got some time to shine in Pokemon Journeys during Steven Stone’s Masters Eight match-up, while Aegislash boasts one of the most unique designs out there, along with some incredible abilities to boot.
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