Highlights
- New types of Pokemon could be introduced in future games to add complexity and balance to battles. Some potential typings include Paradox, Extinct, Magic, Wind, Irradiated, Time, Sound, Light, Beast, Cosmic, Artificial, Crystal, Mythical, Ancient, and Shadow.
- Paradox Pokemon, with mixed typings related to their ancestral roots, could benefit from a distinct Paradox typing that creates exciting battles by replicating weaknesses to their own type.
- New typings such as Extinct, Magic, Wind, and Irradiated could add diversity to the game, differentiate certain Pokemon, and create new strategic dynamics in battles. Additionally, types like Light, Beast, Cosmic, Artificial, Crystal, Mythical, Ancient, and Shadow could enhance the lore and thematic elements of the franchise.
Over the generations of Pokemon games, there have been 18 different types introduced that are meant to balance and counter each other in these complex and intricate battles. Some types like Dark and Steel have done a great job balancing out previously overpowered types while others like Fairy have been largely controversial.
There’s no way of knowing whether Game Freak will continue adding new types or not, but it wouldn’t be entirely absurd if more were introduced over time - especially as additional regions are discovered. Here are some possible typings in Pokemon that would make the most sense to be introduced next.
Updated August 13, 2023 by Sophie McEvoy: Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's DLC is fast approaching, with fans getting prepared to discover The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero. While a handful of new Pokemon have been announced for the game, including a bizarre reimaging of Raikou, no new typings have been announced.
That doesn't stop the imagination from running wild for the future of the franchise, with a couple more typings potentially on the horizon. There's still plenty of time for new types to be added, and below are just some of the possibilities that could come to fruition one day.
15 Paradox Type
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet introduced the concept of Paradox Pokemon - creatures from a distant past and future that have made their way into the Paldea region via time travel. Two new Paradox Pokemon - Raging Bolt and Iron Crown - will be introduced in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's DLC, The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, making more of a case for a typing solely for these creatures.
As it stands, Paradox Pokemon have mixed typings related to their ancestral roots. A third typing of Paradox would distinguish the Pokemon from the rest of the Pokedex (if more are inevitably added). It could create exciting battles between the Pokemon by replicating how Dragon-type Pokemon are weak to their own typing.
14 Extinct Type
In Pokemon Legends: Arceus, 22 new Pokemon could be found in the ancient Hisui region ranging between new evolutions and regional variants. Pokemon like Hisuian Growlithe, Voltorb, Sneasel, Sliggoo, Zorua, and Basculin can all be traded to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet for them to roam the future lands of Paldea.
Extinct would act as a third typing to differentiate them from Ancient-type Pokemon but add a little context that they're unavailable in present-day regions. Instead, trainers have to use a little experimentation to have them on their teams. This typing could also add a primal advantage in movesets or hidden abilities.
13 Magic Type
Fairy and Psychic-type Pokemon are known to have magical powers, some more so than others. From the witch-like quality of Hatterene and Delphox, the majestic unicorn nature of Galarian Rapidash, to Mr. Mime's ability to generate invisible walls.
While these Pokemon hold the qualities of both Fairy and Psychic-types, they would benefit from having their own category to exemplify the powers they possess and let the magical inspirations and designs of potential Magic-type Pokemon in the future. A weakness to Psychic-type Pokemon would add a layer of intrigue, with the two mystical powers pitted against each other.
12 Wind Type
Many Pokemon with a Flying-type would be better suited for something like Wind. A Wind typing effective against Water Pokemon would be a good way to shake up the current meta.
There are plenty of Flying Pokemon that could make the switch to Wind. Tornadus’s Incarnate form, Altaria, Rayquaza, and Drifblim are just some examples. Having Wind would also round out the Fire, Water, and Grass elemental rivalry.
11 Irradiated Type
In the incredibly popular fan-made game Pokemon Uranium, the creators introduced a new typing called Nuclear. In some ways, Nuclear was similar to the Shadow type that was featured in Pokemon Colosseum.
In Pokemon Uranium, these creatures are extremely powerful with bonus damage against all other typings, with only Steel and other Nuclear Pokemon able to hold their ground against them. If introduced in a mainline game, these Pokemon exposed to radiation could be known as Irradiated-type Pokemon not only to differentiate from Pokemon Uranium but to reflect the area this Pokemon would be residing in.
10 Time Type
One unique typing that could be introduced is Time. These Pokemon could be an interesting counter to Fairy and Psychic types that also fit a more sci-fi aesthetic. Time Pokemon could come with unique powers that grant them the ability to roll back the clock in battles to undo moves, add time to charging moves to delay attacks, or even skip the enemy’s turn entirely.
There could even be uses outside of battle. Time Pokemon could give players a means to turn night into day, speed up breeding, and introduce interesting puzzle mechanics. Obvious inclusions to this type would be the master of time Dialga, the time traveler Celebi, and more mechanical types like Magearna.
9 Sound Type
Sound is by far the most likely as it has been the most demanded by the fan base. It would likely act as a sub-typing with many Flying types having dual Sound typing. Some Electric and Psychic types would also combine well.
A large part of the reason it’s so popular with fans is that many of the moves already in the game would be fitting with a Sound type such as Screech, Roar, and Hyper Voice. It could also serve as a nice counter against the strong Water types dominating the competitive circles.
8 Light Type
Light has been an expected typing since Dark was introduced. For many fans, it seems the perfect counter to the Pokemon of darkness and thematically would fit in with many storylines. Some fans believe Light will never be introduced as it’s too close to the Fairy type, but a Light and Fairy dynamic could be similar to how Ground and Rock function now or even Ice and Water.
Perhaps another reason fans expect this typing to appear soon is that it would pave the way for more mythos/divinity-based Pokemon to make an appearance. Arceus would also be a logical shoo-in for a Light type.
7 Beast Type
Not to be confused with Uber Beasts, a Beast typing would be a great addition as it would bring a lot of balancing and quality of life changes to the abundant number of Normal types in the game. Primeape would be a Beast while a Chansey wouldn’t be.
It would be an easy solution to the broad category that is Normal. It would function similarly to a Fighting-type and give a lot of Pokemon a handy secondary typing to gain needed strengths and weaknesses.
6 Cosmic Type
It’s actually surprising that Cosmic hasn’t been considered as a typing yet given how many space-based Pokemon there are in the games. Even in the early days of Pokemon Red & Blue, Clefable was a Pokemon said to come from space, and a Moon Rock or meteorite was needed to evolve it.
Having a Cosmic typing would also give the developers creative liberties to create some wacky and strange Pokemon that might not be feasible coming from an Earth-type planet. It could also lead to some interesting interstellar adventures in future games. Deoxys is an example of a Pokemon that’s pretty much already a Cosmic type.
5 Artificial Type
One of the recurring themes in the games is that human scientists are using a variety of methods to create new Pokemon. Mewtwo, Porygon, Ditto, Castform, and even Genesect to some extent are artificially created Pokemon.
Giving them their own typing would be a way to thematically introduce the pros and cons of humans creating their own Pokemon. They could be strong and counter some Pokemon types harmful to humans such as Poison and Dark while remaining susceptible to more powerful natural types like Dragon or Fairy.
4 Crystal Type
Many fans think Crystal would make an interesting type to include. It would rest somewhere between Ice and Rock, offering an interesting balance. Crystal types would largely involve strong durable Pokemon who might be a bit faster than their Rock brethren.
It could also be an interesting way to give certain Ice and Rock types interesting evolutions when exposed to Crystals, such as a Crystal Onix or Crystal Regice, and a Crystal evolution for Eevee would be interesting.
3 Mythical Type
Mythical types would be a way to balance out the overpowered Legendaries that are frequently seen in competitive matches. It also wouldn’t be too far-fetched considering the games already have Mythical Pokemon, it’s just not considered a type relevant to battle.
For instance, Mew and Magearna are considered Mythical Pokemon, but it has no influence on their stats, strengths, weaknesses, or resistances. Making Mythical an actual type, while keeping it rare, could be a way to give these lesser-used Pokemon more power and act as a counter to Legendaries.
2 Ancient Type
An ancient type would be an easy way to make fossil Pokemon more interesting and possibly more powerful. It could also include far older and more primitive Pokemon, like a Genesect before the human modifications.
An ancient typing would also apply to a lot of the Legendaries who are often older Pokemon that have been around since the dawn of time. If Game Freak ever made a Mythical typing it would only make sense to create an Ancient typing to balance it out.
1 Shadow Type
The last Pokemon type that could be included in future games is Shadow, especially if a Light type was ever created. In the original Japanese versions of the game, Dark is more closely associated with evil so having a Shadow type would be a way to include darker Pokemon who aren’t necessarily evil.
It could also be a fun secondary typing to have on certain Psychic Pokemon. Or it could even take a page from Pokemon Stadium and make Shadow typing essentially a doppelganger copy of the Pokemon, potentially working as a mechanic like Mega Evolution. Something along the lines of making your Pokemon a Shadow version to raise offensive stats at the cost of durability stats. but only for a limited time in battle.