Highlights

  • Mastering type matchups is crucial in Pokemon battles. Choose Pokemon with minimal weaknesses for victory.
  • Exceptional Pokemon with limited vulnerabilities have a strategic advantage in battles, making them formidable.
  • Understanding weaknesses and strengths of Pokemon can unlock new strategies and increase the chances of victory.

In the captivating realm of Pokemon battles, mastery of type matchups is crucial for achieving success. It is important to have a Pokemon with few weaknesses to ensure victory on the battlefield. Within the vast Pokemon universe of creatures, it is a common trait for Pokemon to have multiple type weaknesses. However, there exists an exceptional group of individual Pokemon who possess a remarkably limited number of vulnerabilities.

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The advantageous typing and unique characteristics of such Pokemon grant them a strategic advantage, making them formidable contenders in any battle they partake in. By delving into the secrets behind their exceptional battle prowess, trainers can unlock new strategies and increase their chances of triumph.

Updated April 10, 2024 by Ben Painter: When it comes to selecting Pokemon to use throughout a trainer's journey, one thing to look at is the weaknesses of each Pokemon. There are a select few creatures who have only one type that deals super effective damage to them, and this is key for selecting a roster of just six Pokemon, as their versatility will be major for harder battles in the Elite Four and beyond.

Some types of Pokemon are a lot better than others so this list has been updated to include five more Pokemon that have the fewest weaknesses.

15 Quagsire

Weakness: Grass (4x)

Quagsire In The Pokemon Anime

HP:

95

Attack:

85

Defense:

85

Sp. Atk:

65

Sp. Def:

65

Speed:

35

Total:

430

Looks may be deceiving when it comes to this Pokemon. This odd-looking Quagsire is amazing in battle with just a weakness to the Grass-type being present. It is, of course, a 4x weakness, meaning a powerful Grass move will most likely knock this Water/Ground-type out.

However, Quagsire can learn a few Ice moves such as Ice Beam, Blizzard, and Ice Punch which can help to counter its one weakness. Other Water/Ground-types that share this one weakness are Swampert, Seismitoad, and Whiscash but Quagsire takes the cake because of how it is favored across the Pokemon fandom.

14 Scizor

Weakness: Fire (4x)

Szicor In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet
  • Normal/Mega

HP:

70/70

Attack:

130/150

Defense:

100/140

Sp. Atk:

55/65

Sp. Def:

80/100

Speed:

65/75

Total:

500/600

When Scyther was first introduced in Generation 1 it was a fan-favorite, but it had a lot of weaknesses, including a 4x weakness to the Rock type. This was redeemed starting in Pokemon Gold & Silver with a new evolution in Scizor. This Bug/Steel-type takes away a lot of its predecessors' weaknesses and leaves it with just one, a 4x Achilles heel to Fire.

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It can't learn much to counter this typing but it can use Rain Dance, which will weaken the effect of Fire-type moves for five turns of battle. Another strategy is to just use U-Turn and get out of the battle while dealing a little bit of damage, switching to a Pokemon who can handle Fire-types much better.

13 Genesect

Weakness: Fire (4x)

Genesect Pokemon Go Promotion Image

HP:

71

Attack:

120

Defense:

95

Sp. Atk:

120

Sp. Def:

95

Speed:

99

Total:

600

Another Bug/Steel-type Pokemon, meaning Genesect has just one weakness to the Fire-type. But what this Mythical Pokemon has as an advantage is the use of its forms, which change depending on what drive it is holding. In this case, a Douse Drive can be inserted, which changes the type of its signature move, Techno Blast, to a Water-type move. Perfect for dealing with Fire-types.

Other than that move, it has no other real options to counter its weakness. It does have immunity to Poison moves, which can form a decent strategy when dealing with Pokemon of that type, especially in online battling. ​​​​​​​

12 Skuntank

Weakness: Ground (2x)

Skuntak Pokemon Card Art

HP:

103

Attack:

93

Defense:

67

Sp. Atk:

71

Sp. Def:

61

Speed:

84

Total:

479

With its high HP, Skuntank can become a reliable tank Pokemon, but surprisingly for high HP Pokemon, this Poison/Dark-type 'mon is not slow with an 84 base speed. Thanks to its type combo, the Fighting and Bug weakness to Dark are nullified by the Poison typing and the Psychic-type weakness likewise is rendered invalid by its Dark-type.

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This leaves the Skunk Pokemon with just a 4x weakness to Ground, and this can be counteracted by its ability to learn the Grass-type move Trailblaze by TM in the later generations. Skuntank can be a really good 'mon for use in Pokemon team, especially in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl.

11 Overqwil

Weakness: Ground (2x)

Overqwil In Pokemon Legends Arceus

HP:

85

Attack:

115

Defense:

95

Sp. Atk:

65

Sp. Def:

65

Speed:

85

Total:

510

Overqwil is an evolution of Hisuian Qwilfish, which is Dark/Poison as opposed to Water/Poison. First introduced in Pokemon Legends: Arceus the Pin Cluster Pokemon has just one weakness and, thanks to its history of being a Water-type, it counters this beautifully with a whole barrage of Water-type moves such as Brine, Waterfall, and Water Pulse.

This essentially means that Overqwil has no real weaknesses as it can deal with its only adversary with super effective moves. Combining this with its immunity to the Psychic-type and its resistance to Poison, Ghost, Grass, and Dark moves, this 'mon is spectacular in battle.

10 All Pure Electric-Type Pokemon

Weakness: Ground (2x)

Electric-Type Pokemon

There are just two types of Pokemon that have one weakness, and one of these is the Electric-type. The type of Ash's Pikachu (who overcomes this weakness several times in the early anime) is only hit with 2x damage from the Ground-type.

Due to different types having different weaknesses, if an Electric-type has a secondary typing, then it more than likely has more weaknesses. So, it is only the pure shocking Pokemon that have just one weakness. Powerful Pokemon like Jolteon, Raichu, Ampharos, and Electrivire are great to have on any team thanks to their defensive capabilities.

9 All Pure Normal-Type Pokemon

Weakness: Fighting (2x)

Normal-Type Pokemon

Just like with the Electric-type, Normal Pokemon have one weakness also, and that is due to the Fighting-type. Normal Pokemon represent the basic type in Pokemon, so they have little differences when it comes to type combinations both offensively and defensively.

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So, it is always handy to have a Normal-type in a team when playing the games, as they will always have somewhat of an answer to everything the opponent may throw at them. Players will just need to make sure to avoid those Fighting Pokemon, as they can cause some serious damage to Normal types.

8 Alolan Muk

Weakness: Ground (2x)

Alolan Muk In Pokemon

HP:

105

Attack:

105

Defense:

75

Sp. Atk:

65

Sp. Def:

100

Speed:

50

Total:

500

The Alolan form of the original 151 Pokemon Muk was given an upgrade in Generation 8, giving it the Dark-type as well as its Poison typing. This means that the Poison type’s weakness to Psychic is rendered useless thanks to the Dark type's immunity.

Only the Ground-type remains as a weakness, but this can be countered via TMs. Muk can learn Giga Drain and Ice Punch, which will deal super effective damage to the deadly Ground Pokemon. The Muk of Pokemon Sun & Moon has great HP and Attack stats. It can take a hit and also deal powerful physical damage with STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) moves such as Gunk Shot and Crunch.

7 Rotom Wash

Weakness: Grass (2x)

Wash Rotom In The Pokemon Anime

HP:

50

Attack:

65

Defense:

107

Sp. Atk:

105

Sp. Def:

107

Speed:

86

Total:

520

Rotom has the unique ability to change its form depending on what item it possesses. In this case, Rotom turns from an Electric/Ghost-type into an Electric/Water-type.

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Being part Water-type means that it is weak to Grass and Electric, but being Electric itself subjects this weakness to neutral damage. All forms of Rotom have the Levitate ability, which means that Ground-type attacks, the Electric’s biggest weakness, are useless. Wash Rotom is left with just the Grass-type, which can deal 2x damage to it.

6 Sableye

Weakness: Fairy (2x)

Sableye Promotional Art

HP:

50/50

Attack:

75/85

Defense:

75/125

Sp. Atk:

65/85

Sp. Def:

65/115

Speed:

50/20

Total:

380/480

Before Generation 6, the Generation 3 Dark/Ghost-type had no weaknesses, but thanks to the introduction of the Fairy-type, it takes 2x damage from those moves.

Fairy was introduced to help balance the typings, giving another weakness to Dragon-types and an offensive use for the Steel-type. To Sableye's detriment, another weakness stemmed from Dark-types. Thanks to Ghost's resistance to Bug types, Sableye only receives Neutral damage, leaving just the Fairy-type to deal some major damage to the sinister-looking Pokemon.

5 Spiritomb

Weakness: Fairy (2x)

An image depicting Spiritomb from Pokemon.

HP:

50

Attack:

92

Defense:

108

Sp. Atk:

92

Sp. Def:

108

Speed:

35

Total:

485

Spiritomb, a Dark/Ghost-type Pokemon, is a mysterious and haunting entity shrouded in an eerie aura. Renowned for its unique ability, Infiltrator, it can bypass defensive barriers and strike at the heart of opponents' strategies. Spiritomb possesses an intriguing resistance to Normal and Psychic moves, granting it a unique advantage on the battlefield. While it does have a vulnerability to Fairy types, Spiritomb compensates with its wide movepool and exceptional defensive stats.

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With access to moves like Shadow Ball and Dark Pulse, it can inflict significant damage upon foes. Its enigmatic nature and ghostly presence make it a formidable opponent, capable of confounding adversaries with its strategic moveset and otherworldly abilities. Enemies should prepare to be haunted by the spectral prowess of Spiritomb as it unravels its cryptic powers on the battlefield.

4 Hisuian Zoroark

Weakness: Dark (2x)

Hisuian Zoroark In Pokemon Legends Arceus

HP:

55

Attack:

100

Defense:

60

Sp. Atk:

125

Sp. Def:

60

Speed:

110

Total:

510

Hisuian Zoroark and its pre-evolved form of Zorua share the unique trait of being the only Normal/Ghost-types in the game. Ghost-types have two weaknesses; Dark and Ghost. Zoroark's Normal typing means that it is completely immune to Ghost-type attacks, leaving just a 2x weakness to Dark, which, ironically, is the typing of regular Zoroark.

Its ability of Illusion can be used to trick opponents into using a move that will be ineffective against Zoroark, as it takes the form of the last conscious non-Egg Pokemon in the party when it is switched into battle. Complete with a varied movest and great stats, Hisuian Zoroark is a great Pokemon to use in competitive play.

3 Eelektross

Weakness: None

An image depicting Elektross from Pokemon.

HP:

85

Attack:

115

Defense:

80

Sp. Atk:

105

Sp. Def:

80

Speed:

50

Total:

515

Eelektross, a formidable Electric-type Pokemon, stands out among its peers due to its exceptional trait: Levitate. This ability grants Eelektross immunity to Ground-type attacks, effectively nullifying one of its major weaknesses. With no inherent weaknesses, Eelektross becomes a formidable force on the battlefield.

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Its powerful moveset and high HP make it a sturdy contender, capable of delivering devastating Electric-type attacks without fear of being countered by Ground-types. Eelektross's unique advantage and versatility make it a valuable addition to any team, offering a strategic edge in battles against opponents relying on Ground-type moves.

2 Terastallized Orthworm

Weakness: None

Orthworm Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Pokedex Entry

HP:

70

Attack:

85

Defense:

145

Sp. Atk:

60

Sp. Def:

55

Speed:

65

Total:

480

Thanks to the new gimmick in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, Terastallized Pokemon can change their typings in battle, taking a Tera-type, and this can be used to give trainers an edge in combat.

Orthworm has the Earth Eater ability, which makes Ground-type attacks useless, and it actually gets some of its HP restored when it is hit with a Ground move. So, if gamers have an Electric/Tera-Type Orthworm, Electric's only weakness to Ground is easily absorbed by the earthworm Pokemon. Its staggering defense stat of 145 will only benefit its ability in battle, and with no weaknesses, it will take a lot to rock this Pokemon in battle.

1 Terastallized Mismagius

Weakness: None

Iono's Mismagius Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

HP:

60

Attack:

60

Defense:

60

Sp. Atk:

105

Sp. Def:

105

Speed:

105

Total:

495

In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, Levincia's gym leader, Iono, uses Electric-type Pokemon, so only Ground types are effective. A trend in Paldea is that gym leaders do not use a Pokemon of their signature typing as their ace. Instead, they use a Pokemon of another typing that terastallizes into their type.

In Iono's case, she uses a Mismagius, which has the ability of Levitate, meaning Ground-types cannot hit it. As a result, its only weakness is null and void. Gamers can repeat this with their own Mismagius in the game and with any Pokemon that has the ability of Levitate; it just needs to have an Electric/Tera-type.

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