Most Pokemon types are pretty logical: Fish-like creatures are Water-type, floral Pokemon are Grass-type, those with strange mental powers are Psychic. Dual-typed Pokemon have elements from more than one category, like the Water/Bug type Surskit. Occasionally, though, a Pokemon appears with a typing that doesn't seem quite right.

Pokedex entries sometimes clear up typings that seem odd, such as Dhelmise's Ghost/Grass type. Others, however, don't have any explanation. Some of these inconsistencies have confused fans for over twenty years; others are more recent. Here are just a few beloved Pokemon whose types don't align with their lore, designs, or abilities.

Updated April 21, 2022, by Demaris Oxman: Since Generation 1, there have been plenty of Pokemon whose typings seem like strange choices. While the original version of this list covered some of the most baffling Pokemon types, there are still others that are worth mentioning. With over 900 Pokemon now in existence and Generation 9 on the horizon, creatures with nonsensical type combinations certainly aren't going anywhere anytime soon. Of course, that doesn't mean fans love them any less — many of these still make great additions to a trainer's team.

12 Foongus & Amoonguss Have No Business Being Grass-Type

Pokemon Amoonguss

This applies to all fungal Pokemon, but Foongus and Amoonguss were the first whose designs were simply mushrooms, and thus they appear here. Grass-type Pokemon are based on plant life; mushrooms and other fungi have no relation to any type of plant.

Granted, there is no "fungus" Pokemon type (at least, not yet). Still, this Gen 5 pairing makes more sense as a pure Poison-type, as their Grass-typing misleadingly implies that mushrooms are plants. Likewise, Paras and Parasect make more sense as pure Bug or Bug/Poison, while Morelull and Shiinotic should be pure Fairy or perhaps Fairy/Poison (if they are toxic mushrooms).

11 Runerigus Looks More Like A Rock-Type

Runerigus with galar in the background

The evolution of Galarian Yamask, Gen 8's Runerigus looks something like a cave painting come to life. In fact, it looks like a slab of a cave wall has broken away, held together by its ghostly energy. Many fans speculate that Runerigus and its pre-evolution are based on the concept of Viking runestones, carved stones that represented the lives of fallen Vikings. A group of runestones can be found in the United Kingdom, which Galar is based on.

All of this suggests that Galarian Yamask and Runerigus should be Rock/Ghost, rather than Ground/Ghost. It is even capable of learning more Rock-type moves than Ground-type (6 and 5, respectively). The Rock/Ghost typing makes more sense with this Pokemon's inspiration, and would fill a gap in the current type chart.

10 Absol Shouldn't Be a Pure Dark-Type

Absol in the Pokemon anime

This typing usually covers Pokemon who have a wicked streak, which makes sense considering that its counterpart in the original Japanese translates to "evil type." Gen 3's Absol, however, is misunderstood rather than evil. With its ability to sense future disasters, Psychic-type fits it a little better. Additionally, its frigid habitat and knack for Ice-type attacks call Ice-type Pokemon to mind.

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Some Dark-types do share Absol's reclusive personality. However, a secondary Psychic or Ice typing makes sense with the species' lore. It would also provide a beneficial STAB (same-type attack bonus) to some of its powerful moves.

9 Chansey & Blissey Should Be Fairy, Not Normal

The Chansey Pokemon species

Though the Fairy type wasn't introduced until Gen VI, plenty of pre-existing Pokemon were retroactively granted this typing. Considering its design and abilities align with the Fairy typing, it's odd that this Gen 1 Pokemon and its evolved form weren't among them.

Most Fairy-types are cute, charming, and kind-natured. They bring happiness and peace to others, people and Pokemon alike. Chansey and Blissey, which act as aides to Nurse Joys everywhere, fits this description perfectly. Additionally, both Chansey and the others in its evolutionary line can learn several Fairy-type moves.

8 Lucario's a Great Fighting-Type, But Why Is It Steel?

Lucario Pokemon anime game pose

Lucario can sense the auras of people and Pokemon, and manipulate this spiritual energy. It can also communicate telepathically with its trainer. These kinds of supernatural powers are most often associated with Psychic-type Pokemon, yet Lucario doesn't possess this typing.

As of Gen 8 (and in most other generations), Lucario can learn more Psychic-type moves than Steel-type. There's also not much in its design that suggests the metallic composition of most Steel-types, save for the spikes on its hands. Lucario is one of the best Pokemon to come out of Gen 4, but it would be even better with a more fitting type combination.

7 Toucannon Should Be Part Fire-Type

Toucannon in the Pokemon anime

Normal/Flying is a common type combination, and many Pokemon that bear it resemble real-world bird species. This seems to fit Gen 7's Toucannon, considering its toucan-like appearance. However, several aspects of its lore suggest it should be part Fire-type instead of boring Normal.

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Toucannon can heat its beak to over 212˚ Fahrenheit, igniting seeds to hurl at enemies. Its signature move, Beak Blast, is based on this behavior and can leave the target with a burn. Considering these abilities, Toucannon would easily fit a Flying/Fire typing.

6 Stantler's Abilities Go Beyond Normal-Type

deer pokemon

According to its lore, Stantler creates all sorts of visual illusions to trick and confuse its hunters. It plays tricks on peoples' minds as a form of defense, creating a sense of dizziness and a feeling that the ground is disappearing from under one's feet. Such abilities typically indicate Psychic typing, but Stantler is stuck with Normal — and for no real reason.

With its extrasensory powers, this Gen 2 Pokemon should be a Normal/Psychic or even pure Psychic type. Additionally, Stantler learns a staggering number of Psychic-type moves for a non-Psychic-type species. A Psychic-type STAB would make this Pokemon formidable in battles. Even though Stantler did get a Normal/Psychic type evolution in Legends: Arceus with Wyrdeer, the first stage in the evolutionary line deserves this secondary typing as well.

5 Dunsparce's Habits Fit Ground-Type More Than Normal

Dunsparce in the Pokemon anime

Normal-type is often a sort of default in the Pokemon universe, nothing to connect them to any of the elemental types. Dunsparce, however, lives in underground caves, making its home from sand and soil. It also learns several Ground-type attacks, like Bulldoze and Drill Run.

Considering all this, it's bizarre that Dunsparce isn't a Ground type, or at the very least Normal/Ground. Many species are partly defined by their habitat; for example, ocean-dwelling Pokemon are almost always Water-type. This little burrower fits Ground or even Rock-type far more logically than Normal.

4 Charizard's Secondary Typing Should Match Its Design

Charizard In The Pokemon Anime

Considering this Pokemon is a fire-breathing dragon, it's strange that its secondary typing is actually Flying. The choice not make Charizard a Dragon-type has always confused Pokemon fans, since its design suggests it should belong to this category.

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Additionally, Charizard learns just as many Dragon-type moves as Flying-type through level up, and even more via TM. Replacing its secondary type would result in an equally useful STAB. Additionally, the Dragon typing would negate Charizard's most common weakness: Water-type attacks.

3 Why Is Gyarados Part Flying-Type?

Gyarados in the Pokemon anime.

This type combination has bothered fans since Generation I. The Flying type usually covers birdlike species, not fearsome water monsters like this Pokemon. Additionally, its move pool as of Generation 8 contains nearly twice as many Dragon-type moves as Flying. A Dragon-type STAB would be far more useful for Gyarados than the Flying-type.

Furthermore, Gyarados' design is similar to dragons in Chinese mythology. Known as teng, these creatures are indeed capable of flight, lending some credibility to the Flying-type. However, considering its inspiration and appearance, Dragon makes more sense as a secondary typing for this Pokemon.

2 Celebi's Typing Should Reflect Its Inspiration

Legendary Gen II Grass-type Celebi laying

When picturing a fairy, most people imagine a humanoid figure with delicate wings flitting through a woodland landscape. In other words, they picture something very much like Celebi, a mythical Pokemon introduced in Gen 2. Considering this, a Fairy/Grass typing seems a better fit for it than Psychic/Grass.

As the Ilex Forest's protector, Celebi invokes stories of pixies and dryads. This mythical Pokemon draws on ancient fairy myths, as well as elements from Japanese Shintoism. In both lore and design, Celebi epitomizes the idea of a fairy—yet it doesn't possess this type.

1 Vibrava Has No Reason To Be Ground-Type

Vibrava in the Pokemon anime

There's nothing in Vibrava's design or lore that justifies its Ground/Dragon typing. Bug makes a much more logical primary type for this Gen 3 Pokemon, considering that it appears to be based on dragonflies.

It seems that Vibrava is only Ground-type because its previous form, Trapinch, is also Ground-type. However, that evolutionary leap is also bizarre. Vibrava and its final form, Flygon, look nothing like the first stage in their line. Logically, Vibrava and Flygon should be Bug/Dragon types, perhaps unrelated to Trapinch in the first place.

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