In Pokemon, the elemental pokemon type system became much more intricate than the beginner-friendly Fire-Water-Grass triangle.
With the addition of the Fairy type in Pokemon X & Y back in 2013, the number of different types increased to 18, and there are now numerous dual-type Pokemon to discover.
It can be quite wild and unpredictable.
Is there really one type that stands out from the rest? Absolutely not. Can fans freely share their thoughts on the performances of all 18 types, drawing from personal experience and general discussions?
Definitely. So, that’s exactly what we’ll do, approaching it with fairness and using the latest available data.
Here Are The Elemental Pokemon Types From Worst To Best
18. Rock
Rock Slide is a popular move that is commonly used on competitive teams and is well-liked in single-player campaigns. And that’s the beauty of Rock-types — Rock Slide and a few other moves are absolutely fantastic.
From the very beginning, it’s clear that the type we rank last actually has some practical value.
Now, let’s delve into the more complex aspects. Rock prioritizes a sky-high physical defense as its main focus.
However, it is worth noting that this creature has a wide range of elemental weaknesses, including some of the most popular types in the series.
Will this completely remove them from the online world? Not really, but it can be quite bothersome at times.
Diancie, Glimmora, and Kleavor are fantastic choices for Rock-type Pokémon.
17. Bug
We praised Rock’s attack-oriented qualities, but Bug does not bring us the same joy. Explore the world of Paldea’s Iron Moth and Iron Treads, and you’ll discover some of the most impressive Pokemon in the series.
However, there is a noticeable scarcity of Bug-types that can even come close to their level of power.
Every Bug-type Pokemon that can deal significant damage with moves like X-Scissor has the potential to remain competitive. After all, every type has its own value and usefulness. Kleavor is excellent for this.
Bug’s ability to resist Fighting, Grass, and Ground types can sometimes lead to surprisingly advantageous situations. Surviving an earthquake, for instance, becomes much more manageable with the reliable Forretress.
16. Ice
Now, this disappoints many individuals. Ice Beam is incredibly powerful, but unfortunately, Ice-type Pokemon tend to be quite vulnerable in battle. With a few adjustments, they would have been better, but unfortunately.
The problem here is identical to the one with Rock. Ice-types can be quite vulnerable due to their weaknesses, which are meant to balance out their power. However, their versatility and popularity make them susceptible to defeat in no time.
Teaching Ice Beam to a non-Ice-type Pokémon can often be a more advantageous choice in various situations. You’ll sacrifice STAB, but you’ll manage to survive in return.
When it comes to the upcoming match, Glastrier and Baxcalibur are currently considered to be top contenders, indicating that there may not be many threats to worry about.
15. Psychic
Psychic has had a fascinating journey through the generations, full of ups and downs. During the Red & Blue era, it was vulnerable only to Bug types, which didn’t exactly pack a punch in terms of offensive power.
During that time, Ghost moves were ineffective against Psychic-type Pokémon, which created an unbalanced situation and allowed Psychic-types to completely dominate the battle.
Psychic was incredibly dominant, leading to the creation of the Dark-type specifically to counter its overwhelming power. Ever since this change was implemented in Gen 2, Psychic-type Pokemon have experienced a significant decline in their overall performance.
From a strategic standpoint, it may not be the most impressive, as it only has a strong advantage against two types and is easily countered by two other types.
Despite everything we’ve discussed, there are still plenty of Psychic-type Pokémon that can be relied upon when you believe the situation is favorable for them. It’s worth considering Hisuian Braviary, Galarian Articuno, Espeon, and Gallade.
14. Poison
In another example of the Rock/Ice situation, Poison-type team members are often favored by trainers, despite their typing. On its own, Poison doesn’t offer a lot. When it comes to offense, it has a great advantage against Grass and Fairy types, but it’s not as effective against four other types.
When Poison is used, it typically plays a defensive role due to its vulnerabilities to Psychic and Ground types. However, it compensates for these weaknesses by having five resistances.
In the past, Poison-types have not had a strong presence in competitive battles, although you might come across a friendly physical tank Weezing and similar Pokémon.
Poison-type Pokemon really come alive when they have a compatible secondary type. Amoonguss, Glimmora, and Toxapex are all truly remarkable in this regard.
13. Grass
Grass is quite peculiar. If your team could benefit from a mischievous addition that specializes in status inflictions rather than raw damage, it might be worth considering saving a slot for a Grass-type Pokémon.
In online battles, Rock-type Pokemon may not be very common, but Water and Ground types are definitely prevalent. It’s worth noting that this move deals double damage against all three types, making it quite effective.
Keep in mind that Grass is vulnerable to seven different types. Wow, that’s quite a lofty position. In this scenario, it’s worth considering the strength of Pokemon with secondary types that work well together.
Hisuian Decidueye, Amoonguss, and Meowscarada have the potential to completely change the outcome if they are strategically utilized.
12. Ghost
Ghost is an intriguing typing indeed. It’s a factor that is frequently disregarded when forming teams, whether as a potential addition or as a potential risk.
A significant factor contributing to this is its common and balanced nature, which doesn’t have many resistances or super effective matchups.
Ghost-types are typically limited to exceptional Pokemon that also happen to be Ghost, like Aegislash and the ever-present Gengar. Dealing with a powerful Ghost can pose a challenge because it lacks resistance to its STAB.
There are certainly some fantastic and widely-used Ghost types, and their attacks can be incredibly powerful in certain situations, but relying solely on their typing won’t get you very far.
11. Normal
What better place to rank Normal than right in the middle? These Pokemon are incredibly versatile and well-rounded.
Ever since Red & Blue, these Pokémon have been known for their versatile movepool and balanced stats that enable them to excel in a wide range of tasks.
Normal offers a wide range of options for special attackers, such as Porygon-Z, as well as the highly regarded Blissey, known for its exceptional special wall capabilities. Additionally, there are plenty of physically strong Pokémon to choose from, fulfilling all your needs.
The problem with Normal is that it lacks a strong advantage against any specific type, often depending on decent neutral attacks to achieve success.
In addition, Steel and Rock types have a strong resistance against Normal moves, while Ghost types are completely immune to them. This can make it challenging for these Pokémon to make progress in battles.
10. Flying
Once again, we have a diverse range of things to consider here. Flying is, I must say, a pretty awesome type. Do you recall the Bird Keeper trainer class?
Do you mean the character with the spiky hair and the bird cage?
This type is known for its well-rounded nature. There are three weaknesses and three resistances when it comes to flying. It works really well against three types and is not as effective against three other types.
Flying is a formidable offensive type, capable of effectively countering resistant types. However, it does have vulnerabilities to some of the most prevalent types in the game, such as Ice, Rock, and Electric.
However, Flying is similar to Ghost in that not many Pokemon are primarily associated with it, as having STAB on Bug, Fighting, and Grass moves is not particularly impressive.
9. Dark
This particular elemental type has experienced fluctuations in popularity throughout the years.
Dark type was introduced in Pokemon Gold & Silver as a response to Game Freak’s realization that they had created a powerful Psychic-type monster.
With Psychic losing its edge, Dark moves also lost their impact due to their low base power. After that, Fairy-types made their appearance, providing Dark-types with the necessary counter they were designed to face.
Meowscarada, Kingambit, and Zarude continue to proudly represent this flag, showcasing their competitive expertise.
8. Ground
If you’ve ever witnessed the devastating power of an Excadrill in a sandstorm, you’ll understand just how formidable this Pokémon can be. However, that is quite rare compared to the usual cases.
In general, Ground-types are known for their size and strength, often being slow and having a strong defensive presence. A prime example of this is Hippowdon.
They’re incredibly resilient and possess the power of one of the most formidable and widely-used moves in the series: Earthquake.
In terms of offensive capabilities, this move is truly exceptional. It proves to be highly effective against five different types, with only two types able to resist it (it’s worth noting that Flying-types are completely immune to it as well).
One thing to consider is that Ground-types have a vulnerability to common Water, Ice, and Grass attacks. These types of attacks are usually Special-based, and despite Ground’s typically high Defense, it won’t be able to withstand them when things get tough.
7. Fighting
Coming up next, we have the one weakness that Normal types have: Fighting.
Combat is often marked by intense physical confrontations, involving powerful creatures like Heracrosses, Terrakions, and Machamps. Many of them have a focus on speed rather than survivability, although some are quite tanky.
Fighting has experienced its fair share of ups and downs, but it is currently in a positive and exciting phase with the introduction of new Pokémon like Sneasler, Hisuian Decidueye, and the long-standing Urshifu.
6. Fire
Things are a bit more balanced for our passionate companions. Ground- and Rock-type moves can be quite challenging for them.
Given the prevalence of Water-type Pokemon, it’s highly likely that there will always be a team member ready to challenge your dominance.
However, Fire does have several notable advantages. This Pokémon has the ability to intimidate Steel-types, making them think twice before challenging it.
Additionally, it possesses a valuable and uncommon resistance to Fairy-types. There’s a potential risk for having a Fire-type on a team, but there’s typically a spot for one too.
Hisuian Arcanine and Scarlet & Violet’s new Skeledirge are excellent choices for the online scene. Cinderace remains a popular water, and it’s worth noting the significant presence of Ubers in this area.
5. Electric
It’s clear that Water-types have gained immense popularity in the meta. Given the relative scarcity and slightly lower strength of Grass-types, it’s no surprise that Electric-types are often relied upon to counter these popular choices.
Similar to Fighting-types, Electric Pokemon typically prefer to deliver powerful and swift attacks, which can pose a challenge against opponents that resist their signature moves. Additionally, Zapdos, Thundurus, or Rotom-Wash are all excellent choices.
4. Water
Water-types outnumber all other types, which reflects their significance in competitive battling.
From Barraskewda to Volcanion, and a plethora of species in-between, Water often proves to be a game-changer in competitive matches.
Water is vulnerable to Electric and Grass types, although the latter is not often a significant threat. Additionally, it has four resistances that are frequently encountered.
Water is widely regarded as one of the top defensive types in the game. It excels in a defensive role, but can also be incredibly intimidating when used on the attack.
3. Dragon
Throughout this list, we’ve explored numerous types that have gained and lost popularity.
That’s how the metagame operates: prominent threats emerge, get countered, and subsequently decline in usage, along with their counters.
Dragon, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to have much to worry about throughout all of this. Ever since its introduction, this type has proven to be incredibly powerful.
It has a limited number of weaknesses, primarily to itself and Ice, but it also possesses several notable resistances.
When it comes to the current meta, consider adding Dragon-types such as Baxcalibur, Roaring Moon, and Hydreigon to your team.
2. Fairy
The Fairy-type was introduced in the sixth generation of Pokemon, partly in response to player feedback regarding Dragon-type Pokemon.
Not only do Fairy-types give those scaly Dragon-types another weakness to worry about, but they are also completely immune to Dragon-type attacks.
Admittedly, Garchomp and their top-tier companions are still present, but their level of security has diminished.
With their vulnerability limited to Poison and Steel types, and their impressive range of moves, they have become a formidable force to reckon with. Carbink and Hatterene are excellent choices at the moment.
1. Steel
And here we are, at Steel. Ever since their debut, Steel-types have gained a reputation for being an incredibly resilient defensive force. Known for its tendency to resist almost everything, sometimes without any apparent reason, Steel was one of the types that received a nerf in Gen 6.
In the past, Steel was able to withstand an incredible 11 different types. They removed Dark and Ghost from the tally and added Fairy, which brought their total number of resistances to ten.
However, forgive me for stating the obvious, but 11 minus one is not exactly a drastically smaller number.
Unless future Pokemon games change the rules, Steel types will always have the upper hand against opponents who rely on predictable elemental attacks. Kingambit, Iron Treads, and the amusing Gholdengo are worth considering.
