pokemon_type_chart_by_benjamoid-d30zwry

My Favorite Pokemon From Each Type: Part I

Over the past 20 years, we’ve silently gone from 15 types in Gen 1 to the 18 that we currently have.

As expected, most people prefer certain types over others.

For example: I like Fighting and Electric types, but I absolutely despise the Fairy and Grass types.

It’s no secret that we all have our favorite types, but what about our favorite Pokemon from each type?

This is the task that I’ve taken on this week: listing each type, along with my favorite Pokemon from them.

As always, I have to lay down a few ground rules:

  • No legendaries. It would just be too easy.
  • Primary types ONLY. So, while Cloyster is a Water/Ice type, it’s primary type is Water, so it’s disqualified from the Ice type.
  • This is obviously going to be an extremely biased list

Let the debate begin! Let’s do it:

 

Ditto

The bastard son of Mew has always bewildered us by its uncanny (and only) ability to transform into any Pokemon it sees.

Like father, like son….or whatever gender your Ditto happens to be.

Definitely more of a novelty than a battle option, don’t let Ditto’s typing fool you—it’s anything but Normal.

…Also, it took me years to understand its name reference.
Ditto…like “same”, get it? Eh? Eh?

Others considered: Porygon

 

 

Arcanine

A testament to Arcanine’s greatness is how the fiery dog was originally supposed to be a Legendary Pokemon, but was swapped with Moltres at the last minute.

Fear not—Arcanine was still given a nod by the developers, as its official species is “Legendary Pokemon”.

Arcanine is a fan favorite today not only because of its awe-inspiring design, but also because its general usability in the games. Some of the more hidden moves Arcanine can learn include Outrage, Thunder Fang, and Close Combat.

A lot of knockoffs have come and gone since Arcanine’s inception (like Pyroar—bleh), but through VI Generations, we can assume that the king of Fire quadrupedals isn’t going anywhere.

Others Considered: Typhlosion, Infernape

 

 

Hitmonlee

Few things divided us more during Gen 1 than whether we preferred the Jackie Chan-based Hitmonchan, or the Bruce Lee homage named Hitmonlee.

After all, defeating the Karate Master at the Saffron Fighting Dojo forces you to choose which of these two will join you on your quest.

Clearly, this means that I chose Hitmonlee the first time, right?

Wrong. I was 8 or so and didn’t know the difference between the two, so I accidentally chose Hitmonchan and hadn’t saved the game for like 4 hours. Good thing, too. Hitmonchan’s Ice Punch came in clutch against lance.

But every play-through since, I have always taken Hitmonlee. Its Limber ability prevents paralysis, and it has one of the most hilariously devoted movepools that you’ll find, including:

Mega Kick

Jump Kick

High Jump Kick

Rolling Kick

All 4 of which were signature moves in Gen 1.

…It could also learn Power-up Punch. Trolololol.

Others considered: Hitmonchan, Machamp

 

 

Milotic (Shiny)

What??? Not Gyrados???

Yeah, sorry.

I feel a bit like a traitor for not having Gyrados as my favorite Water type, since I’ve always had one on my team during my first time through each Gen.

However, I was able to get my hands on a shiny Milotic a few months ago (at the cost of my shiny Entei), and I fell completely in love.

….and not like romantic love, you weirdos.

What’s interesting about my recent transition, though, is the fact that Milotic serves as a direct counterpart to Gyrados.

While Gyrados are aggressive, offense-based, and relatively common, Milotic are known for being calm, defensive, and extremely rare.

I actually think that, in a sense, my shift towards Milotic might serve as a metaphor for my own maturation process.

…I mean, as mature as you can get when talking about Pokemon, anyway.

Others considered: Gyrados, Feraligatr

 

 

Noivern

Well, there was bound to be a Gen VI Pokemon that I didn’t completely hate. Eventually.

Noivern’s badass design and abilities in X and Y helped ease my anxiety that the Pokemon creators had completely run out of ideas.

Granted, Noivern’s influence isn’t all that unique: it’s a big freaking bat.

But the influences of its secondary type, Dragon, are also apparent, giving the beast an extra unique dimension of Dracula influence to it.

The best part about Noivern, though: it’s fast a shit.

Having the highest base speed stat of any Dragon type, Noivern finds a niche in an overcrowded type through its ability to always draw first blood.

And with moves like Focus Blast, Hurricane, Roost, Dragon Pulse, and Boomburst, and inability to OHKO a Noivern will result in a long day.

 

 

Breloom

Playing through Omega Ruby was actually the first time that I’ve ever owned a Breloom.

Boy, have I been missing out.

Its completely broken access to the move Spore, alone with its Fighting secondary type led to Breloom becoming the most used Pokemon on my team.

Just think about it: Using Spore to put the opponent to sleep, and then taking your sweet time to OHKO them with Focus Punch.

Not bad for a fighting hallucinogen.

Others considered: Grovyle, Nuzleaf , Skiddo

 

 

Nidoking

In the eyes of a 6 year-old boy (like mine), Nidoking is the cat’s pajamas.

Its imposing appearance, moderate scarcity, and access to aggressive attacks like Earthquake and Thrash made Nidoking an instant hit back in Gen 1.

Serving as one of the two first Pokemon to ever hint at gender, Nidoking is just as influential to Pokemon as it is iconic.

….It was also the first holographic card that I’ve ever had, so it gets a nostalgia boost there.

Others considered: Toxicroak

 

 

Jolteon

Not counting the (awesome) Umbreon/Espeon combo that you’re forced to start with in Pokemon Coliseum, Jolteon is the only Eeveelution that I constantly have on my teams.

While I own every possible evolved form of the classic Eevee, Jolteon has always edged its siblings due to sheer usability.

Its ridiculous speed allows you to pretty much arrange Jolteon’s movepool however your heart desires and have it still be effective.

I, for one, prefer the Thunderbolt/Signal Beam/Volt Switch that’s always successful at pissing people off.

Or, you could be a real jerk and give it Substitute and Baton Pass to give your next Pokemon a shield.

A lot of very appealing Electric beasts have come since Gen 1—like Luxray and Manectric—but there’ll always be a place in our hearts for the one that came first.

Others considered: Electrode, Rotom 

Tune back later this week for Part II!

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