Pokemon have types across 18 different categories in the Pokemon franchise. With eight generations of games to play and over 900 Pokemon to catch, there are a lot of different characters to go through at any given time. Memorizing the population of each category can also be difficult as the franchise has used a roster of single and dual-type Pokemon since Gen 1's Pokemon Red & Blue, and their numbers have only grown since the release of Pokemon Legends: Arceus.
As new games introduce new Pokemon, new regional forms, and new type combinations, it's inevitable that these numbers will only continue to increase. However, keeping track of the most common Pokemon type and checking which type combinations need new additions can be an invaluable resource for dedicated Pokemon fans.
Updated January 4, 2023, by Suzail Ahmad: One of the best things about being a Pokemon fan is that the world of Pokemon keeps on growing with every passing year. 2022 saw the release of three Pokemon games— Legends Arceus, Pokemon Scarlet, and Pokemon Violet. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet came in November 2022 and brought with them tons of new Pokemon. While the games received mixed reviews due to the performance issues, the new Pokemon introduced in the game have proved to be a massive hit among the fans. The addition of the new Pokemon has caused an increase in the number of Pokemon of each type. So, the list has been updated with correct total of each type of Pokemon.
18 Normal-type Pokemon
- 132 Normal-type Pokemon
At one point, Normal Pokemon were currently tied with Water-types for the type that has the most Pokemon in the franchise. Even with such a large pool, the type’s prominent weakness against Fighting-type can make them hard to use as competitive options. New additions to the Normal-type pool like Ursaluna from Pokemon Legends: Arceus could help to change this in the future.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: Maushold is widely considered to be the best new Normal-type Pokemon, and it's mainly because of its move called Population Bomb. Maushold's Population Bomb can hit the opponent up to 10 times making it a very dangerous move.
17 Fire-type Pokemon
- 86 Fire-type Pokemon
Fire-type Pokemon have been iconic since the series went international. Rare Charizard Pokemon cards continue to be coveted by collectors and it is one of the most recognizable Pokemon of all time, second only to Pikachu in fame. Fire-type has an advantage over Grass, Steel, and Ice types, but the type’s weakness to Water, Ground, and Rock makes counters extremely prevalent in competitive battles. Great secondary typing for Fire-type Pokemon can help combat the most prominent weaknesses making them viable options for any team.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: As always the biggest talking point from any game is the starters and Scarlet and Violet are no exception. The Fire-type starter in the games is Fuecoco and it resembles Totodile in many ways.
16 Water-type Pokemon
- 157 Water-type Pokemon
Following the reveal of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's starter Pokemon, Water Pokemon were tied with Normal-types for the most common single-type Pokemon in the National Pokedex. With a starter in each generation of games, like Fire and Grass, Water-type Pokemon are easy to find. Water Pokemon also made appearances as game mascots from Gens 1 through 4 with Blastoise for Pokemon Blue, Suicune for Pokemon Crystal, Kyogre for Pokemon Sapphire, and Palkia for Pokemon Pearl, and the recently released remake of Gen 4 Pokemon Shining Pearl.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: The new games feature the brand new Water-type starter Quaxly, which evolves into Quaxwell and Quaquaval at levels 16 and 36, respectively. Its final form is Water/Fighting, making it a viable option for battling. Furthermore, with the release of Scarlet and Violet, Water-type is the most common Pokemon type.
15 Grass-type Pokemon
- 124 Grass-type Pokemon
Grass-type Pokemon are always one of the three starters available in the core series of Pokemon games. Bulbasaur is the first Grass-type Pokemon introduced in the Pokedex and, like Charmander and Squirtle, becomes one of Ash’s partners in the long-running Pokemon anime.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: Sprigatito has managed to catch everyone's eye with its feline features and unique design. It also has Protean as its Hidden Ability, which might be appealing to many trainers.
14 Rock-type Pokemon
- 76 Rock-type Pokemon
Rock-type Pokemon have sometimes left a bit to be desired design-wise, but they have also resulted in the top tier designs for Stonjourner and Tyrantrum. Every Pokemon is going to have fans and critics regardless of how their concept is executed, but the Rock-type’s ability to be either a rock with arms, a T. Rex dragon, or Stonehenge has split some of the love that Rock-type Pokemon receive. The type’s weaknesses to Water, Steel, Ground, Grass, and Fighting-type Pokemon make it an easy target in the competitive scene, which also contributes to this, but moves Stone Edge which has a same-type attack bonus help to make this type strong.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: Rock-type Pokemon are usually ignored because of the aforementioned weaknesses, but trainers who do not care about competitive battles still tend to use them because of their incredible designs. Iron Thorns is widely considered to be the best new Rock-type Pokemon because of its well-balanced stats.
13 Fighting-type Pokemon
- 82 Fighting-type Pokemon
The best Fighting-type Pokemon are often the aggressive-looking brutes of the Pokemon franchise. Many of them are designed as straightforward martial arts Pokemon pulling on real-world disciplines and experts for inspiration. This trend is noticeable with Gen 1’s Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan, which are reminiscent of boxing and kickboxing respectively, as well as Pokemon Sword and Shield's Urshifu which is known as the Wushu Pokemon.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: There is no shortage of good Fighting-type Pokemon in Generation IX, but Koraidon takes the cake. It is extremely powerful, making it a valuable addition to any team.
12 Psychic-type Pokemon
- 105 Psychic-type Pokemon
Psychic-types are abundant and feature in one of the Pokemon anime’s greatest episodes, Abra and the Psychic Showdown. A strong typing in the first generation, the Psychic-type roster includes powerhouses like Alakazam, Mewtwo, and Mew. The type is weak to Ghost, Dark, and Bug-type, but dominates battles with strong special attacks and works well as a counter for Fighting Pokemon.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: Psychic-type Pokemon are always fun to use because of their cool attacks. The strongest Psychic-type Pokemon from Generation IX is Scream Tails, which is a paradox Pokemon.
11 Ghost-type Pokemon
- 70 Ghost-type Pokemon
Ghost-type Pokemon are one of the rarest types in the franchise. While there are some notable fan favorites like Gengar and the pseudo-legendary Pokemon for Pokemon Sword & Shield, Dragapult, the restless Pokemon spirits do not always get the love they deserve. Ghost-type Pokemon which have an immunity to both Fighting and Normal-type attacks, are one of only two types weak to themselves helping to balance out teams that use them. However, the dual Normal and Ghost-type that Hisuian Zorua and its evolution have does mean that Hisuian Zoroark could be a nightmare in competitive battles since it's immune to Fighting, Ghost, and Normal-type attacks.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: Ghost-type received a significant boost with the release of Scarlet and Violet. Among all the new Ghost-type, Flutter Mane is considered to be the most powerful.
10 Bug-type Pokemon
- 92 Bug-type Pokemon
Bug-type Pokemon are some of the most plentiful that players can find in the series. Traveling through each Pokemon game facing bug-catcher trainer after bug-catcher trainer only reaffirms this with each new generation. Bug-type often shows up early in Pokemon titles with straightforward evolutionary lines reminiscent of many real-world insects that players might be familiar with. This inspiration and the overall aesthetic of Bug Pokemon has led to cool designs like Centiskorch, a centipede-styled Pokemon who is one of the best Bug-types in Legends: Arceus.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: Volcarona has always been a viable option for trainers in competitive battles because of its high stats. So, the release of a brand-new form of the Pokemon has only made it easier to pick it for battles. The new form is called Slither Wing, and its overall stats are 570.
9 Poison-type Pokemon
- 83 Poison-type Pokemon
Even some of the strongest Poison-type Pokemon have gotten criticism for some of their less than appealing designs with Muk and Garbodor, specifically, feeling repetitive to many fans. This criticism, however, ignores some of the coolest Pokemon that have been introduced in the franchise such as Dragalge and Toxtricity, whose evolutionary lines were the first to introduce their respective type combinations.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: It has been established that paradox Pokemon are a cut above the ordinary. In the case of Poison-type, Iron Moth holds the status of being the best. It is the futuristic version of Volcarona, and is exclusive to Pokemon Violet.
8 Flying-type Pokemon
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- 112 Flying-type Pokemon
Flying-type Pokemon are not the staple they once were but still have some of the most typing combos in the entire franchise. Since the introduction of easier ways to fast travel in Pokemon games, the Fly HM has been retired and the need for a dedicated Flying-types is no longer a concern. This change in the series has not stopped Pokemon from releasing merchandise for fan favorites like Corviknight and the infamous shiny Cramorant, but it has altered how playthroughs of Pokemon Legends: Arceus and other new games are approached by players.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: With over 100 Flying-type Pokemon, it is difficult to find one that stands out. Trainers who are looking for the best Pokemon from the new games should try to get their hands on Iron Jugulis, whose stats make him the strongest of any Flying-type Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet.
7 Electric-type Pokemon
- 72 Electric-type Pokemon
Electric-type Pokemon are often at the heart of the franchise's stories and games, from overpowered Pokemon that deliver lightning-fast sweeps like Tapu Koko to Pikachu as Ash’s number one partner and the franchise’s most prominent mascot. Many fans can relate to being a kid, and even though some parents might not have known a single other Pokemon from the series, Pikachu’s electric personality and character were still instantly recognizable and continue to be to many of the uninitiated. The best Electric-type Pokemon also tend to be coveted by fans thanks to their speed and special attack, only increasing how popular the likes of Pikachu and others are with fans.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: Trainers looking for the strongest Electric-type Pokemon need to look no further than Sandy Shocks, a paradox Pokemon, who is also the ancestor of the Magnemite line.
6 Ground-type Pokemon
- 77 Ground-type Pokemon
Ground Pokemon are the natural counter to Electric-types since they have immunity to Electric moves. Furthermore, Ground attacks are also super effective against Electric-type opponents as well as, Rock, Fire, Poison, and Steel-type Pokemon. The typing benefits a number of dual-type Pokemon such as Swampert, a Water-type who becomes immune to Electric attacks; however, a quadruple weakness to Grass-type attacks is gained in exchange. The sought-after Mythical Forces of Nature Pokemon all have a Flying-type, but Landorus is immune to Flying's weakness against Electric moves since it is a dual-type with Ground, however, it gains a quadruple weakness to Ice-type attacks as a trade-off.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: Great Tusk is by far the most powerful Ground-type from Generation IX. It has a high Attack stat, making it a great choice for trainers who mainly focus on physical attacks.
5 Ice-type Pokemon
- 58 Ice-type Pokemon
Ice-type Pokemon are often elegant in design, and the first counter in the series for Dragon Pokemon that wasn’t another Dragon. The secondary typings for Ice-type Pokemon have created some unique combinations and is responsible for another of Ash’s memorable companions in the Pokemon anime, Lapras. The most recent unique dual-type Ice Pokemon is Frosmoth, whose evolutionary line contains the only dual Ice and Bug-type in the franchise.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: Ice-type Pokemon have always been known for having the best designs. They are one of the rarest types of Pokemon, so there are relatively few choices to pick from. The best Ice-type Pokemon from Scarlet and Violet is Chien-Pao, one of the legendary Pokemon.
4 Dragon-type Pokemon
- 69 Dragon-type Pokemon
Dragon-types are the Pokemon of legends. Many of the final evolutions of Dragon-type lines are the strongest Pokemon that can be caught with the best Dragon-type from each generation being favorites for competitive teams. Of the nine pseudo-legendary Pokemon across eight generations, seven are Dragon-type Pokemon. This list includes the first generation’s lovable Dragonite and the ghastly Dragapult that was introduced in Gen 8's Pokemon Sword and Shield.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: Dragon-type Pokemon are among the most loved type in the games. Generation IX has several new Dragon-type Pokemon, with Baxcalibur being the strongest.
3 Dark-type Pokemon
- 83 Dark-type Pokemon
Dark-type Pokemon are one of three types that were added after the series' first generation of games. Sneasel, a Dark-type from Gen 2, wouldn’t get an evolution until Pokemon Diamond & Pearl were released and Weavile was introduced. Weavile has the highest tied speed stat for any Dark-type Pokemon, along with the legendary Darkrai that was introduced in the same generation, which has made it a viable albeit niche addition to some Pokemon teams.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: Chi-Yu's release has helped the Dark-type quite a bit. It is a legendary Pokemon, with high Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed stats.
2 Steel-type Pokemon
- 75 Steel-type Pokemon
Steel-type Pokemon is another typing that was introduced after the first generation of games, making its debut in Pokemon Gold & Silver with Dark-type. The introduction of Steel Pokemon came with the Metal Coat item which allowed a couple of first-generation Pokemon to evolve. Both Onix and Scyther are Pokemon that players can evolve when they are traded holding the Metal Coat item, and they had two of the coolest designs in the series at the time. Onix and Scyther will evolve into Steelix and Scizor, respectively, but it's also just as important to trade them back to the game players want them in. Without them being traded back players can miss out on completing the National Pokedex.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: Steel-type Pokemon are known for having high Defense stats. One of the most used Pokemon from the new games is Gholdengo which evolves from the shy, Gimmighoul.
1 Fairy-type Pokemon
- 69 Fairy-type Pokemon
Being the most recent addition to the franchise as they debuted in Pokemon X & Y, there's no doubt that the Fairy typing improved Pokemon. With only two weaknesses and an immunity to Dragon-type moves, while also being super effective against Dragon Pokemon, Fairy-types quickly found spots on many competitive teams. Following its introduction, several existing Pokemon had their typing changed to either be or include the newly introduced Fairy. Fairy is the only one of the three Pokemon types that have been introduced since generation one’s release to completely change a Pokemon’s typing as well, with several Normal-types becoming pure Fairy-types following its introduction in Gen 6.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: Since their introduction, Fairy-type Pokemon have slowly become one of the most used types. So, it was obvious that there were going to be some great additions to this type. Out of all the new Generation IX Fairy-type Pokemon, Iron Valiant is deemed the finest.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now on the Nintendo Switch.