Summary

• There are currently 18 different types present in the Pokémon franchise, and some are significantly stronger than others.
• Bug-types, for instance, are on the low end of average with the lowest stat average, though they still feature powerful Pokémon.
• Some types are specialized in dealing damage, while others are designed to provide ing or tanking functionalities.

When the first eighteen types of Pokémon dominate the universe of the franchise – types that are often adapted when inserted into other game formats.

Some types definitely rank higher than others, especially those with the strongest Pokémon in their ranks or those with the most resistances and immunities to other types. Others are stuck at the bottom, whether because of their frailty or lack of memorable creatures. This is further intensified by the possible type combinations present in the game – and the unused Pokémon type combinations that may one day be explored. All of them create the perfect balance, though, providing color and variety to the over 1,000 Pokémon species that exist, but one of these is the strongest type in the franchise.

18 Bug-Type

Number Of Pokémon: 92

The Bug-type Pokémon get a bad reputation and they somewhat deserve it. Except for some really noteworthy that considerably elevate the type's stat average, most of its Pokémon are quite weak. Indeed, Bug has the lowest average stat total of fully evolved Pokémon, with a meager 467, according to data compilation posted on Bulbapedia. It's also the only type that hasn't been assigned to a Legendary Pokémon so far.

There have been Bug-type Mythicals, like Genesect, Bug-type Ultra Beasts, like Buzzwole and Pheromosa, and Bug-type Paradox, like Slither Wing.

Weak to three types in the series and resisted by a whopping seven, Bug-types certainly are not the strongest Pokémon type in the game. There are very powerful Bug-type creatures in the franchise, such as the beloved Scizor or the recently introduced Slither Wing, as well as the fan-favorite Volcarona, but a lot of their potential actually stems from outstanding stats or power that they inherit from their secondary type.

17 Normal-Type

Number Of Pokémon: 133

Normal-type Pokémon, as their name suggests, aren't the most interesting, despite how cute their designs can be. They aren't super effective against any other type in the series, are resisted by Rock- and Steel-types, are weak to Fighting-type moves, and share a mutual immunity to Ghost-types. In short, they are the personification of averageness within the Pokémon franchise. There are some truly great Normal-type Pokémon, like Tauros, Miltank, Staraptor, Bewear, or the bestial Slaking. However, most playthrough teams don't include them.

It is worth mentioning, however, that there are some Normal-types that are quite useful in the competitive scene, mostly as tanks. Creatures like Slaking, Blissey, and Snorlax are all great damage mitigators, especially for double battles. Several Normal-type Pokémon lost their typing over the years, like Clefairy and Togepi, while others simply gained an extra typing. According to Bulbapedia, the average stat combination considering all fully evolved Normal-types is 483.

16 Flying-Type

Number Of Pokémon: 112

Flying-types are the definition of balance when it comes to strategic battle planning in the Pokémon universe. They have three weaknesses, three resistances, are super effective against three types, and are resisted by another three. They're also immune to Ground-type moves, which is a nice plus. Flying-types generally have above-average Attack and Speed but are also quite frail and are usually taken down with just a few moves – so much so that players need to be careful not to knock them out when trying to catch them.

When it comes to stats, Flying-types are among some of the weakest, with a total stat average of 495, according to Bulbapedia. Despite being the fourth most common type in the games, most of them are dual-types and there are currently only four pure Flying-types. Most playthrough teams before Gen 7 had at least one Flying-type because of how necessary the HM Fly is in-game, contributing to their role in the argument surrounding the best Pokémon types.

15 Electric-Type

Number Of Pokémon: 73

Electric-types are the very definition of "cool." Vibrant and dynamic, these creatures are as energetic as possible – and this is often translated into immense speed or unstoppable firepower. The strongest Electric-type Pokémon, however, usually have high Speed but low HP. They are only weak to Ground-types, which are also immune to them, and are super effective against the two most common types in the games: Water- and Flying-types.

Pure Electric-type Pokémon can also get rid of their Ground weakness by becoming airborne via moves like Magnet Rise, thus making them the only Pokémon with no weaknesses. While it may be risky to run Electric-type Pokémon due to how vulnerable they may be, even to non-Ground-type moves, the payoff is usually worth it, since these creatures can pack a punch with the simplest of attacks. In addition to that, they can also paralyze opponents, making them versatile s for quick strikes. According to Bulbapedia, their stat average is on the lower end, with 502 points.

14 Psychic-Type

Number Of Pokémon: 109

One of two overpowered types in Generation 1, Psychic-type suffered quite a depowering in Generation 2. However, they remain some of the strongest Pokémon types in the games with the subsequent releases of more games. They are not without their flaws, though. They are weak to three types, resisted by two, and completely ineffective against one. They are super effective against two and able to resist the same amount. The type is considerably elevated by the many Psychic Mythical and Legendary Pokémon, and many League Champions have at least one of these in their teams.

Psychic-types are very popular for battles, too. Their ability to counter Fighting-types makes them very useful in subduing some of the games' heaviest hitters. They can also quell efforts by Poison-types, often used to counter Fairy-types. These creatures usually rely heavily on Special Attack, a stat that is often high for Psychic-types. Their average stat total for fully evolved creatures stands at 506, according to Bulbapedia.

13 Rock-Type

Number Of Pokémon: 78

Rock-types are among the most intimidating in the games. They are tough, aggressive, and imposing. When it comes to tactical battles, however, Rock-type is not the best. Although it's super effective against four types and able to resist four more, it's also weak against a whopping five and resisted by another three. Additionally, four-times weaknesses are common among Rock-types because they're usually paired with the Ground-type. Contrary to what one might think about the sturdiness of a Rock-type, these creatures are actually very frail.

In total, their stat average for fully evolved creatures reaches 513 points, according to data by Bulbapedia. Despite its frailness, there are some heavy hitters in the Rock-type group, such as the fan-favorite Tyranitar, several fossil Pokémon, and two new strong Paradox creatures, Iron Thorns and Iron Boulder. They're also very accessible in nearly every region, which makes them rather popular.

12 Water-type

Number Of Pokémon: 159

The most common type in the games, Water-type creatures in Pokémon are some of the most useful to have. Super effective against three types and capable of resisting four, including itself, Water only has two weaknesses and is resisted by three types. However, most Water-types can learn a strong Ice move to deal with Grass- and Dragon-, giving it a significant edge. All other types have been paired with Water-type at least once, giving it ample variety and dynamism.

With some of the most popular Pokémon in its ranks, Water certainly ranks as one of the best Pokémon types. Aside from being one of the starter types available when choosing a companion at the start of an adventure, the Water-type group also features several beloved creatures from the series. It also holds several great choices for competitive battles, either for their offensive value or their sturdiness as tanks and s. According to Bulbapedia, their stat average rests at 513.

11 Grass-Type

Number Of Pokémon: 130

Grass-type is in a similar situation to Bug-type when discussing the strongest Pokémon types. In total, it is also resisted by seven types and it is actually weak to five types instead of three. Unlike Bug-types, however, Grass-types are given more versatility, being paired with nearly every type in existence. Its place as one of the three Starter types also gives it a considerable boost when it comes to reputation. With it, players can start their adventures with a Grass-type Pokémon that usually evolves into a very useful creature in battles.

Almost all teams have at least one Grass-type, cementing its importance within the franchise, despite its numerous disadvantages. This is because of their ability to counter certain types and type combinations that other types are simply incapable of doing. Additionally, Grass-types often have the ability to restore their own life, dispensing the need for potions and other items. The total stat average among fully evolved Grass-type Pokémon is 515, according to Bulbapedia.

10 Poison-Type

Number Of Pokémon: 87

The most common type in the Generation 1 games, Poison-types have surprisingly balanced stats. They have the privilege of being super effective against the still overpowered Fairy type, making them particularly useful in later games. While Fairy-types became useful for countering Dragon-types, they also brought Poison-types to the spotlight as one of the few types to actively counter them. Poison moves, however, are resisted by five different types and are ineffective against Steel.

They can usually be found early on in the games, although the most powerful ones are usually reserved until after the player has at least a couple of badges. They are often associated with the game's villainous groups, as creatures like Grimer and Zubat are often used by Team Rocket, for instance. This gives them a bad reputation as frail creatures, since the player is always besting these corrupt Trainers. Nevertheless, they boast an average stat total of 519, according to Bulbapedia.

9 Ghost-Type

Number Of Pokémon: 73

Ghost-type Pokémon rank as some of the most visually interesting in the games. They also have a lot of lore behind them, making them extra appealing. Ghost-types are mostly Special Attackers that have somewhat low HP and Speed – though they do evade a lot of damage depending on the type of move they use in combat. They are the only type with more than one immunity, being invulnerable to Normal and Fighting-type moves and super effective against Psychic-type and themselves.

All regions except for Kalos have at least one Ghost-type specialist as a Gym Leader or Elite Four Member. Ghost-types live up to their reputation as some of the creepiest and generally scary creatures in the Pokémon series and are often paired up with Dark-type. Stat-wise, their total average for fully evolved creatures reaches 524, according to Bulbapedia.