Pokémon Scarlet & Violet got big news on June 1st of 2022, teasing a few new Pokémon as well as the return of some familiar faces. However, the more new Pokémon come out, the more it feels like some older ones are being left behind.
The addition of Fairy-types in X & Y added a new element to plenty of old Pokémon. Adding a new type to older Pokémon can give them much-needed buffs as well as make players actually want to use older faces in their playthroughs. The added types do have to make sense, of course, but there are plenty of monotype Pokémon that are ideal candidates for an extra typing.
Pinsir
The counterpart to Heracross in many ways, Pinsir is a mono-Bug type that doesn't feel especially useful outside of its very powerful Bug/Flying mega evolution.
Despite its mega evolution sprouting a pair of wings, Bug/Fighting would be the ideal typing for Pinsir. The Pokémon could get access to STAB Close Combat and Mach Punch, potentially giving players a reason to actually use it outside of its mega evolution. The change would also bring it in line as a true counterpart to Heracross.
Golduck
The evolution of the far more popular Psyduck, Golduck has always struggled to find its way onto in-game teams and is completely absent from competitive battles.
There are already many powerful monotype Pokémon for Water, and Golduck isn't one of them. Making Golduck a Water/Psychic Pokémon wouldn't fix all of its weaknesses. It will still be slower and weaker than Starmie and far less bulky than Slowbro, but the typing would at least give the Pokémon that evolves from a creature named PSYduck some interesting thematic element.
Chimecho
Chimecho is one of the weakest in a long line of sound-based Pokémon that includes Flygon and Chatot. Strangely, Chimecho is the only member of the group without the powerful Boomburst.
Making Chimecho a Psychic/Normal would fit its sound-based design. Ideally, Chimecho would also get access to Boomburst alongside the change. Not only would Chimecho get yet another immunity in Ghost (it gets a Ground immunity thanks to its levitate ability,) it would also get a strong STAB move to go alongside its surprisingly decent 95 special attack.
Bouffalant
The powerful attack and decent bulk of Bouffalant are let down by poor speed, a fairly average move pool, and a mediocre mono-Normal typing.
While Bouffalant has some useful niches, especially as a partner Pokémon in double battles thanks to its ability Sap Sipper, it struggles in many ways to separate itself thematically from a Gen 1 favorite in Tauros. Giving Bouffalant the Normal/Ground typing wouldn't just give it a great Electric immunity, but it would cover its own Ground weakness in Sap Sipper. The Pokémon already has a grounded and earthy design that would fit well.
Vanilluxe
One of the sillier-looking Pokémon in the game's history, Vanilluxe has a unique design and a solid ability in Snow Warning. Unfortunately, mono-Ice is arguably the worst typing in the game.
Vanilluxe could learn a thing or two from its fellow food-based Pokémon in Alcreme. Alcreme's Fairy typing has a percent in the same genre Vanilluxe belongs in, and aside from the lack of pink, the ice cream Pokémon looks the part of a Fairy type. Fairy/Ice isn't the best typing in the world, but it's certainly better than standalone Ice as long as the ice cream is kept away from Steel types.
Lycanroc - Midnight
Lycanroc was one of the iconic Pokémon partners of Gladion, Ash's main rival throughout the Alola arc. It is the counterpart to the traditional Day Lycanroc and Lycanroc - Dusk.
Lycanroc - Midnight is, unfortunately, the weakest of the three by a considerable margin. The werewolf trades an incredible drop in speed for a mediocre boost to bulk, and a set of far worse abilities. A Rock/Dark typing would at least give the form something unique over its other versions, and would give it a powerful STAB Sucker Punch to make up for the speed drop.
Gothitelle
Gothitelle was Gen 5's answer to the slow humanoid Psychic-type; it's a category that it has largely been outshined in by Gardevoir, Gallade, and Hatterene.
While the others in the same group have a secondary typing, Gothitelle for some reason is still a mono-Psychic type. Psychic/Dark seems like a natural typing for Gothitelle, and would perfectly fit the goth fashion theme it has in its design. Gothitelle would be given a painful four times weakness to Bug, but it would gain some nice immunities, resistances, and STAB Dark Pulse to go with it.
Lickilicky
A slow but bulky Normal-type with a diverse learn set that it struggles to take advantage of, Lickilicky is a tricky moon that's just one buff away from being a solid threat.
With plenty of bulky Normal types out there, no real niche would be lost in the game if Lickilicky became a Normal/Fairy type. The bizarre and aggressively pink design of the Pokémon lends itself to the typing, much like Wigglytuff, who also got the Normal/Fairy treatment. Access to STAB Play Rough or Moonblast would be a welcome addition to the Pokémon's already broad learn set as well.
Stoutland
The Signature partner of Gen 5 rival Cheren, Stoutland is an appropriately stout Pokémon with three fantastic abilities in Intimidate, Scrappy, and Sand Rush.
A Ground typing would fit Stoutland thematically, especially considering its access to Sand Rush. There's a precedent for fuzzier Ground-types like Piloswine and Camerupt, and Stoutland would fit the mold perfectly. While it doesn't currently have access to Earthquake, a Stomping Tantrum from the base 110 attack of a Normal/Ground Stoutland would still hit pretty hard.
Luxray
Luxray is one of the most beloved Electric types out there, but it's surprisingly terrible in competitive battles. A bump to Luxray's speed stat would be the biggest key, but a second type would help it really shine.
An Electric/Dark typing would fit with Luxray's very cool black and yellow design, while also giving it a STAB boost to Crunch, a move it often finds itself using anyway. The immunity to fast Psychic-types would help Luxray carefully switch in on certain targets, which would help with its relative frailty and low speed and let it make use of its gargantuan attack stat.
