Pokémon types

Pokémon types are special attributes based partly on, and expanded from, the classical elements which determine the strengths and weaknesses of different Pokémon species. They lay the foundation of a complex yet mostly logical rock, paper, scissors system that applies to every Pokémon and their respective moves. Some advantages and disadvantages are based on common sense (e.g. Fire-type Pokémon being weak to Water-type attacks), while others are not as obvious (e.g. Bug-type attacks being strong against Psychic-type Pokémon). The mechanics of this system underwent an overhaul after the first generation of games. Consequently, some points of discussion are only true for Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow, and Stadium,^[1] while others are only true for all later generations.^[2] These points are annotated as such.

Types and Pokémon moves

Most Pokémon learn moves of the specific type(s) they have traits of, as well as basic physical attacks. For example, the Electric-type Pikachu can learn basic Normal-type moves such as Growl and Quick Attack, but also Electric-type moves like Thunderbolt and Thunder Wave. When a Pokémon uses a damaging move whose type matches one of its own types, the move does 1.5 x damage. This is known as STAB, which is short for Same Type Attack Bonus.^[3] For instance, Pikachu will do more damage with Thunderbolt than a Normal-type like Raticate with the same stats will. Contrary to common belief, dual types do in fact receive the 1.5x Same Type Attack Bonus when the attack matches one of their types. Also taken into consideration is the target Pokémon's type or types. Within the game, a move may be declared "Super effective," "Not very effective," and "No effect." "Super effective" moves will do twice the normal amount of damage to their target while "Not very effective" moves will only do half. Moves that have "No effect" are of a type that the target Pokémon is immune to. Some Pokémon are two types, and damage results are affected by each; as a result, "Super effective" and "Not very effective" can refer to a move doing quadruple or one quarter of the normal amount. For example, Electric-type attacks will do quadruple damage to Gyarados because they are "super effective" against both of its types, Water and Flying. For the opposite reason, Beedrill, a Bug/Poison type, only takes one quarter damage from Fighting-type attacks.^[2] These type effects are cumulative with other effects, like STAB, allowing moves to become much stronger or weaker depending on the circumstance. ^[4] A Pokémon or Pokémon type is often said to have "weakness" against types whose attacks do "super effective" damage, and "resistance" against those types which do "not very effective" damage; these terms were popularized by the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Physical and Special attack

Each Pokémon move can be described as either a Physical or Special attack. When attacking an opponent with a Physical attack, the attacker's Attack stat pushes the direct damage higher, while the target's Defense stat drives the damage lower. When attacking an opponent with a Special attack, the attacker's Sp. Attack stat and the target's Sp. Defense stat influence the direct-damage amount. The move's type determines whether the move is classified as a Physical attack or a Special attack in the first three generations of games.^[5]

However, in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl each move is individually classified as Physical, Special, or Status (for moves that cause no damage).^[6] For example: Thunderbolt, a move where the Pokémon attacks a target with a directed bolt of electricity, is a Special attack; Thunder Punch, which is an attack with an electrically-charged fist (or similar appendage), is considered a Physical attack; Thunder Wave, which does no damage but paralyzes the opponent, is classified as Status. All three attacks are of the Electric type, however, and are subject to the same type bonuses or penalties.

Pokémon types in the anime

The above information for Pokémon types comes from the video games. The Pokémon anime treats them in much the same way, but also has a number of differences, and occasionally goes deeper into the effects of a Pokémon's type weaknesses. For example, Pokémon were often shown to be physically weakened by exposure to a classical element associated with their type weaknesses, often to the point where a Pokémon would lose any type advantages it normally held. This often extended psychologically as well. Ground- and Rock-type Pokémon, for example, were often depicted as being afraid of water, but a determined Pokémon or trainer could overcome this fear. For example, in episode 206, "Right On, Rhydon," a Rhydon teaches itself to swim across a lake in order to reach food.^[7] This is also in the video games as Rhydon can be taught Surf. Numerous times in the anime, Pokémon have been able to overcome even total type immunities through sheer power or toughness, to the great shock of the opponent and any onlookers. Ash's Pikachu, for example, has defeated many Ground-type Pokémon this way. Other Pokémon and trainers have resorted to unconventional moves and tactics to avoid or resist attacks they were weak against.

Electric vs. Grass

In some episodes, such as episode 74, "The Fourth Round Rumble," when Ash's Pikachu battles a Bellsprout, it is said that when a Grass-type is connected to the ground, it cannot be harmed by Electric-type attacks. In the games, Grass-types merely have resistance to Electric-type attacks, reducing damage by half.

Electric vs. Ground

Ground-type Pokémon are completely immune to Electric-type attacks in the Pokémon games; however, in the anime, it is possible for Ground-type Pokémon to take damage from Electric-type attacks. This is often performed by Ash, or another protagonist, taking advantage of "an exception to the rule." For example, there are several instances where Ash's Pikachu has succeeded in attacking, damaging, and/or KOing Ground-type Pokémon using Electric-type attacks. In episode 58, "Riddle Me This," Pikachu is able to injure a Rhydon by aiming a Thunderbolt directly at its horn. In episode 73, "Bad to the Bone," Pikachu managed to defeat Otoshi's Marowak with Thunderbolt. In episode 89, "In the Pink", when Pikachu struck Team Rocket with its Thunderbolt attack, the shock accidentally hit the Pink Nidoking. Once, Pikachu damaged a Piloswine with Thunder.

Electric vs. Rock

Episodes of the anime, such as "To Master the Onixpected!" erroneously stated that Rock-types were immune to Electric-type attacks. This is due to the fact that in the first generation games, almost all Rock-types were Rock/Ground dual-type, and therefore immune to Electric-type attacks because they were Ground-types. The only other Rock-types were the fossil Pokémon Omanyte, Omastar, Kabuto, Kabutops and Aerodactyl. These Pokémon were not very commonly used among Pokémon players, and had Water or Flying as a secondary type, which are weak against Electric-type attacks. These factors therefore added to the misconception that Rock-types are immune to Electric-type attacks. This misconception was cleared up when Ash faced Roxanne and Brock and Max pointed out that Nosepass was a pure Rock-type and thus could be damaged by Electric-type attacks.

Ghost vs. Normal, Normal vs. Ghost

In the Pokémon games, Ghost-type moves usually have no effect on Normal-type Pokémon and vice versa. However, in one episode during the Pokémon: Advanced Generation season, the Ghost-type Shadow Ball attack is able to damage Meowth, a Normal-type Pokémon. Additionally, in several episodes featuring Pokémon contests, May's Skitty is hit by a Shadow Ball attack. In Pokémon Chronicles, Misty's Corsola successfully uses Spike Cannon, a Normal-type move, on the Dark- and Ghost-type Sableye.

Ground vs. Flying

Flying-type Pokémon are immune to Ground-type attacks in the games, but not in the anime. This is demonstrated in the episode "Playing with Fire," in which a trainer's Steelix is able to use a Dig attack on Ash's Noctowl, and again during the Advanced Generation episode "From Brags to Riches" in which a Marowak is able to use Bone Club on a Gligar. ^[8] This is because in the anime, Ground-type attacks are not directly affiliated with the earth, with the exception of Earthquake: all Pokémon merely jump to avoid the shock waves of Earthquake, regardless of type.

Poison vs. Steel

In the games, Steel-types are unaffected by Poison-type moves. However, in the Diamond and Pearl episode "Gymbaliar!", a Croagunk was able to damage the Bug/Steel-type Scizor with various Poison-type moves, such as Poison Jab.

Psychic vs. Dark

In one episode of Pokémon Chronicles, Misty's Psyduck used the Psychic-type move Confusion on the Dark-type Poochyena, which should have been immune to it.

Table of Pokémon types

Note that a Pokémon type's immunities may be removed under certain battling conditions. For example, the moves Foresight and Odor Sleuth negate the Ghost-type's immunity to Normal-type and Fighting-type attacks.

Normal damage	"Super effective"	"Not very effective"	"No effect"

Defending Pokémon type[9]
Attack type
	Normal Fire Water Grass Electric Ice Fighting Poison Ground Flying Psychic Bug Rock Ghost Dragon Dark Steel Normal Fire Water Grass Electric Ice [2] Fighting Poison [1] Ground Flying Psychic Bug Rock Ghost Dragon Dark Steel

List of Pokémon types

Bug-type

See also: Category:Bug Pokémon

Bug-type (むしタイプ, Mushi-taipu^?) Pokémon are generally arthropod-like Pokémon, mostly insectoids with a few arachnids. These Pokémon commonly evolve at low levels, and often have high speed and fast attack moves such as Quick Attack and Fury Cutter. Some examples of Bug-types include Scyther, Heracross, Wurmple, and Vespiquen.

Dark-type

See also: Category:Dark Pokémon

Dark-type (あくタイプ, Aku-taipu^?, lit. "evil-type") Pokémon are often associated with darkness and night. They are one of the two types introduced in the second generation. Moves of this type tend to be sinister in nature, such as Bite, Steal, and Taunt. Examples of Dark-type Pokémon include Umbreon, Cacturne, and Weavile.

Dragon-type

See also: Category:Dragon Pokémon

Dragon-type (ドラゴンタイプ, Doragon-taipu^?) Pokémon are dragon-like in appearance. However, not all dragon-like Pokémon are Dragon-type Pokémon. For example, Charizard is a Fire/Flying-type, Gyarados is a Water/Flying-type, and Milotic is a pure Water-type; these Pokémon are instead included in the Dragon egg group. Dragon-types have few weaknesses, one of which being their own type. However, their weakness to Ice is often magnified by a secondary Flying or Ground type. Their above-average stats allow them to easily overpower most other Pokémon. Dragon-type moves involve the use of claws and breath. Most Dragon-types that do evolve have three evolutionary stages, and reach their final stage at an uncommonly high level. Examples of Dragon-type Pokémon include Dragonite, Kingdra, Salamence and Giratina.

Electric-type

See also: Category:Electric Pokémon

Electric-type (でんきタイプ, Denki-taipu^?) Pokémon have the natural ability to generate large amounts of electricity. Electric-types often have a high Speed stat, a respectable Special Attack, and a decent Special Defense. In addition, Electric-type attacks may cause paralysis. Electric-types are noted for having very few weaknesses, although usually they also have low Defense. Some examples include Pikachu, Pichu, Manectric, and Magnezone.

Fighting-type

See also: Category:Fighting Pokémon

Fighting-type (かくとうタイプ, Kakutō-taipu^?) Pokémon learn specifically labeled unarmed martial arts attacks, such as punches, throws, submissions, and kicks. They generally have high Attack. Examples of Fighting-type Pokémon include Machamp, Tyrogue, Blaziken, and Lucario.

Fire-type

See also: Category:Fire Pokémon

Fire-type (ほのおタイプ, Honō-taipu^?) Pokémon are aligned with heat, often in the form of flames or lava, and are usually capable of breathing fire. Fire-type Pokémon are immune to the Burn status effect and will also instantly defrost if affected by the Frozen status effect. Fire-type Pokémon tend to have high attacking stats balanced by lower HP and defensive stats. Because of this, Fire-type Pokémon tend to make poor defensive fighters in spite of the fact that Fire resists several common attacking types. Examples include Charizard, Entei, Numel, and Infernape.

Flying-type

See also: Category:Flying Pokémon

Flying-type (ひこうタイプ, Hikō-taipu^?) Pokémon are Pokémon that fly or resemble birds and use aerial techniques like Wing Attack and Drill Peck. They are normally bird-like, bug-like, or dragon-like Pokémon, but there are exceptions, such as the sea serpent-like Water-and-Flying-type Gyarados. The Flying-type has never been any species' sole type; a partial exception to this is the fourth generation Pokémon Arceus. Arceus has the ability to become any type by holding a special item, and so can potentially become a pure Flying-type Pokémon. In addition, some moves and abilities exist which can temporarily cause a Pokémon to be considered a Flying-type while in battle, such as Kecleon's Color Change ability. Flying-type has been combined with every type except Fighting at least once. The most common combination is the Normal/Flying dual-type. Flying-type Pokémon should not be confused with the glitch related Bird-type Pokémon, Missingno and ’M. Examples include Pidgeot, Ho-oh, Beautifly, and Chatot.

Ghost-type

See also: Category:Ghost Pokémon

Ghost-type (ゴーストタイプ, Gōsuto-taipu^?) Pokémon relate to the supernatural, specifically the realm of the dead and use odd, ghostly moves like Lick and Confuse Ray. In the Red, Blue, Yellow, FireRed, and LeafGreen games, all wild Ghost-type Pokémon require a special item to see them clearly in order to battle or capture them. In Red and Blue, Ghost-types were said to be effective against Psychic-types, but in fact Ghost-type moves were completely unable to damage them. This problem was fixed in later generations, which also added more variation in Ghost-types and Ghost-type moves. The move Curse works differently for Ghost-types than it does for other types. Ghost Pokémon generally have decent Attack and Special Attack and low HP, most notably seen on Shedinja, which can only have 1 HP. Examples of the Ghost-type include Haunter, Misdreavus, Shedinja, and Spiritomb.

Grass-type

See also: Category:Grass Pokémon

Grass-type (くさタイプ, Kusa-taipu^?, sometimes さいタイプ Sai-taipu in spoken dialogue) Pokémon have abilities and appearances associated with plant life and nature. They use many HP-recovery and HP-draining techniques, as well as moves which cause various status effects to their advantage. Grass-type Pokémon are immune to the move Leech Seed. Until the Gold and Silver versions, over half of the Grass-type Pokémon were Grass/Poison dual-types, negating the Grass-type's resistance to Ground-type attacks. In fact, in the first generation of Pokémon, just one Pokémon was purely Grass-type - Tangela. Even in later games, many Grass-type Pokémon have a second type. Examples of Grass-types include Bulbasaur, Celebi, Ludicolo, and Shaymin.

Ground-type

See also: Category:Ground Pokémon

Ground-type (じめんタイプ, Jimen-taipu^?) Pokémon are affiliated with the soil. They have moves which generally cause damage by ground movement and with rare exceptions, sacrifice Special Attack and Special Defense for higher Attack and Defense. They are also immune to Electric type attacks. Examples include Diglett, Phanpy, Groudon, and Torterra.

Ice-type

See also: Category:Ice Pokémon

Ice-type (こおりタイプ, Kōri-taipu^?) Pokémon are affiliated with low temperatures. Ice-type Pokémon usually have a high Special Defense statistic and a low Defense statistic, and have few resistances relative to their weaknesses. Ice is an uncommon type, and rarely seen in single-type Pokémon. Ice-types are all immune to the Freeze condition. Ice was an efficient type in Red and Blue, being almost unstoppable until the Steel-type and more Fighting-type and Fire-type Pokémon were introduced in Gold and Silver. Examples of Ice-type Pokémon include Jynx, Delibird, Snorunt, and Glaceon.

Normal-type

See also: Category:Normal Pokémon

Normal-type (ノーマルタイプ, Nōmaru-taipu^?) Pokémon do not generally have any of the characteristics assigned to the other types, except in the case of dual-typed Normal-type Pokémon. As such, Normal could be considered the "default" type, encompassing the Pokémon which do not fit into the other types. Normal-types are usually mammals or fairy-like creatures. Unusual Pokémon, such as Eevee, Porygon, and Arceus also are usually Normal-type. Normal-type moves are based on standard attacks, such as tackles and scratches, but most Normal-types can also learn moves of other types, such as Fire Blast and Thunder. Normal-type attacks are not particularly effective against any type, but as a counter, only a few types have resistance to the Normal-type, and even fewer are effective against it. Examples include Chansey, Noctowl, Skitty, and Munchlax.

Poison-type

See also: Category:Poison Pokémon

Poison-type (どくタイプ, Doku-taipu^?) Pokémon have some poison quality about them, and use poison-based moves to make the foe sick. Some take after reptiles or insects that produce venom, others are poisonous plants, and some are composed of or emit toxic chemicals. Many Poison-type moves can inflict the poison status effect, which Poison-types are immune to, except if hit by the Bug-Type move Twineedle. There are nearly twice the amount of Poison-types in the first generation than in all the other generations put together. The high number of Poison-types meant a high number of Pokémon with a Psychic weakness, which further exacerbated the problem of super-strong Psychic types. It also is the worst offensive type, having only one type it hits for super effective damage. Examples include Weezing, Ariados, Seviper, and Drapion.

Psychic-type

See also: Category:Psychic Pokémon

Psychic-type (エスパータイプ, Esupā-taipu^?, lit. "Esper-type" in original Japanese language versions) Pokémon generally have mental abilities associated with psychics, such as telekinesis, telepathy, and prescience. Psychic Pokémon generally have high Special^[1] or Special Attack^[2] statistics. Psychic-types are also among the smartest Pokémon, often capable of speaking in human languages either directly or through telepathy (some other Pokémon, like Team Rocket's Meowth, can also speak in human language). They are favored by the fandom as Psychic-types generally can learn an incredibly wide variety of moves. In the first generation, Psychic-types were considered to be unfairly powerful and it is assumed that Dark-types (immune to Psychic-types) were introduced to balance the gameplay. Some examples include Mewtwo, Lugia, Kirlia, and Bronzong. It is also noteworthy that the most difficult to acquire of the legendary Pokémon from the first three generations - Mew, Celebi, Jirachi, and Deoxys - are all Psychic or partially Psychic-types.

Rock-type

See also: Category:Rock Pokémon

Rock-type (いわタイプ, Iwa-taipu^?) Pokémon are affiliated with rocks and mountains, and often have bodies made of stone. They should not be confused with Ground-type Pokémon: Rock-types attack by throwing rocks, while Ground-type attacks deal specifically with the ground itself, particularly soil. However, many Rock-type Pokémon are dual Rock- and Ground-types, giving some the false impression that Rock-types are effective against Electric-types. Rock-types generally have high Defense at the cost of Speed. Examples include Onix, Tyranitar, Nosepass, and Bonsly.

Steel-type

See also: Category:Steel Pokémon

Steel-type (はがねタイプ, Hagane-taipu^?) Pokémon are made of, or coated with, a type of metal like steel or iron. They usually possess high Defense and sport a very large amount of resistances, but have low Speed and average Special Defense. They were one of the two new types introduced in Pokémon Gold and Silver. Examples of Steel-type Pokémon include Magneton^[2] (one of only two first generation pokemon with a second generation type), Skarmory, Mawile, and Dialga.

Water-type

See also: Category:Water Pokémon

Water-type (みずタイプ, Mizu-taipu^?) Pokémon are based on aquatic or amphibious creatures, and their powers are directly related to water, such as the ability to spit water at high pressure. Of all the types, this one has the most species attributed to it. Examples are Wartortle, Corsola, Mudkip, and Floatzel.

Other types

The types below are unofficial types for Pokémon. Some are glitches, others have Pokémon moves of their type but no Pokémon.

Glitch types

The glitchy ’M Pokémon has several unusual characteristics, one of which is that it can belong to the nonexistent Bird-type.

The Bird-type was supposedly the original name for Flying-type Pokémon. Early screenshots of Pokémon Red and Blue show various Flying-type Pokémon listed as Bird-type. Bird-type remained in the games as a result of the ’M, Missingno and 3trainerpoké glitch Pokémon. They are the only Pokémon who are of the Bird-type. Other unusual groups, such as the Pokémaniac-type, the 9-type, and the B-type, can be found among the varieties of glitch Pokémon.^[10] It should also be noted that in Pokémon Red and Blue, if you hack to go into a battle before choosing your starter, you will send out some sort of glitch Pokémon. If you choose the option to attack, all spaces are listed as - (meaning a blank space), and the type of the attack is shown as Cooltrainer♀

???-type

The ???-type (or Unknown-type) is the type of the move Curse (a Normal-type move in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon), whose effect depends on the type of the Pokémon using it: usually the move raises Attack and Defense while lowering Speed, but if a Ghost-type Pokémon uses it, half of the user's HP is sacrificed and it haunts the opponent instead. The move Hidden Power is given as Normal-type in most games, and is unusual in that when used it actually damages the opponent as if it were of any type, depending on the Pokémon using the move. However in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon it has no type, much like the moves Wide Slash, Vacuum-Cut, Spin Slash, and Excavate. The attack type and strength of Hidden Power is determined by a number of different factors. ???-type is also the type given for Shadow Attacks, used by Shadow Pokémon in Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness until they are fully purified. Due to the move Struggle's lack of a type, many people categorize it as a ???-type move, though this is unofficial. Struggle is listed in the Official Nintendo Power Players' Guides as a Normal-type move. If Struggle is sketched by a Smeargle or learned as a regular move by a cheating device such as Action Replay, it says that Struggle is of the Normal type. However, a Pokémon immune to Normal-type attacks is still damaged by Struggle. Pokémon eggs are listed as ???-type, until they hatch and are given the type of the Pokémon born. Interestingly, one of the sprites of the Nintendo Event only Arceus shows it as a ???-type (since it can alter its type wearing different plates). However, Arceus is a Normal-type. There are no plates that change Arceus into a Normal-type or ???-type.

References

Footnotes

See also

• Pokémon
• List of Pokémon
• Pokémon game mechanics