Pokémon: 10 Unused Type Combos That Could Be Fulfilled By Existing Creatures
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Despite having nearly 1000 creatures, there are still unused Pokémon type combinations. But some of these could actually fit existing monsters
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Pokémon has 18 elemental types to classify its many characters by. Each Pokémon can have one or two types, resulting in a total of 171 totally unique type combinations. But even after over 30 years and almost 1000 Pokémon, there are still several type combinations that have never been used. These gaps are being slowly filled as new Pokémon, as well as new variants, are added to the games.
For instance, Pokémon Legends: Arceus introduces the first-ever Normal/Ghost type with the Hisuian Zorua and Zoroark. But there are some gaps in the type combinations that could easily be filled by existing Pokémon. Some of these new typings would make even more sense than their current ones.
10 Flygon Is An Obvious Bug/Dragon Type
Flygon’s lack of a Bug typing has long perplexed Pokémon fans. It displays clearly insectoid features, especially in the early stages of evolution. Its first form, Trapinch, is based on the antlion larva while the second stage, Vibrava, is modeled after a dragonfly. Trapinch having the Ground type makes perfect sense, as it burrows into the sand to set traps for its prey. But by the time it has evolved, Flygon has long left its terrestrial roots and could easily be the first Bug/Dragon Pokémon.
9 A Fighting/Fairy Gallade Would Be The Perfect Prince Charming
The Fairy type, introduced in Generation VI’s Pokémon X and Y, covers a wide variety of magical, mystical, and folklore-inspired Pokémon. Gallade’s evolutionary counterpart Gardevoir had the Fairy type added in Gen VI, but Gallade remains a Psychic/Fighting type. Gallade is thematically inspired by the heroic knights and princes found in many Western fairy tales, so a Fairy typing would make perfect sense.
8 Electivire Could Pack A Punch As An Electric/Fighting Type
Lots of Fighting type Pokémon feature explicit martial arts references in their design, like Hitmonchan’s boxing gloves or Throh’s gi and belt. But others, like Conkeldurr, Falinks, and Emboar, use the Fighting type to reflect a general martial prowess.
Elekid, Electabuzz, and Electivire are archetypical Electric type Pokémon, but they are also expert fighters. Pokémon: Ultra Sun’s Pokédex says of Electivire, “It grips its tail, which spews electricity, and then beats down opponents with the power of its electrified fist.”
7 Rhyperior’s Armor Could Make It Ground/Fighting
Like Electivire, Rhyperior is a great candidate for the Fighting type. Passimian sets a great precedent by using the Fighting type to reflect an athletic strength outside of martial arts. Passimian takes design cues from football and rugby players, and Rhyperior does much the same. While some say its armor resembles a bullet-proof vest or mining safety gear, it also bears a striking resemblance to the protective gear used in American football in the 1950s.
6 Runerigus Really Should Be Rock/Ghost
Since Pokémon: Sun and Moon, each new game region has featured alternate forms of existing Pokémon. These regional variants are a great way to reinvigorate existing designs and come at them from a new angle. Pokémon: Sword and Shield introduced Runerigus, the evolved form of Galarian Yamask. Rather than being modeled after a coffin like its predecessor, Runerigus is a ghostly spirit possessing fragments of rune stones left behind by an ancient society. The Rock typing is a perfect match, and would probably fit better than Ground.
5 Ground/Fairy Baltoy Fits In With Other Fairies
The Fairy and Psychic types have had an interesting area of overlap since Fairy types were introduced, and lots of Psychic types could easily be changed to Fairy types. Baltoy has remained Psychic, but it is an excellent candidate for the Fairy typing as well.
Baltoy and its evolution Claydol are said to have originated from “clay dolls made by an ancient civilization,” according to the Pokémon: HeartGold and SoulSilver Pokédex. This fits well with Fairy types like Klefki, Comfey, and Slurpuff, which are also the animated forms of toys and objects.
4 Delphox Could Trade In Its Psychic Typing In To Become A Fire/Fairy
In another prime example of the overlap between Fairy and Psychic types, the witch-themed Fire type starter Pokémon line from Pokémon: X and Y are all Psychic types, despite being perfect candidates for the then-new Fairy type. Changing it from Psychic to Fairy would move its fire-based powers from the realm of pyrokinesis to pure magic, which better matches its folkloric origins.
3 The Sneasel Line Could Be The First Ice/Poison Type
It’s not surprising these two types have yet to cross over. Ice type Pokémon generally fall into one of two camps: those inspired by polar animals and those literally made of ice. Venom is not common in polar regions, and an ice-bodied Pokémon that also has poisonous capabilities starts to become crowded design-wise. But Weavile and Sneasel could make for an interesting Ice/Poison debut.
They are based on small mammals, and their Pokédex entries place special emphasis on their devious nature and sharp claws. Several real-world mammals have developed venomous capabilities in a devious turn of evolution, including the slow loris and the Mediterranean water shrew. It’s not hard to imagine Weavile slowly evolving the ability to secrete deadly toxins from their famous claws.
2 A Poison/Steel Typing Could Help Garbodor Stand Out More
Garbodor is a prime candidate for the addition of a second type. It is often decried as an example of lazy design, as it is “just a pile of garbage.” The addition of a Steel typing could help to give this Pokémon a little more of an identity and set it apart from its clearest competitor for best garbage Pokémon, Muk. Garbodor’s design features what looks like rebar or pipes forming its arms and fingers, so a Steel-typing would fit perfectly with its look.
1 A Bug/Dark Drapion Is A Huge Missed Opportunity
In one of the most confusing decisions around Pokémon typing, Drapion is in fact not a Bug/Dark Pokémon. Drapion begins life as the Poison/Bug type Skorupi. This type combination is very common, so it’s understandable that Pokémon’s designers would want to let Drapion stand out a little. But rather than swap the Poison typing for a Dark typing, they instead dropped the Bug type. Drapion is clearly still modeled after an arachnid, so giving up the unique Bug/Dark typing in favor of the already-in-use Poison/Dark typing feels like a huge waste.
Declan is a writer for Comic Book Resources and an independent game designer. They’ve been playing video and tabletop games since childhood and continue that love today. With a background in the performing arts, Declan is interested in how games approach their audiences as both passive consumers and active participants. Digital preservation and gaming history also occupy probably too much of their thoughts. Check them out on Twitter here
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