Pokemon has always sought new ways to make its gameplay new and refreshing across its many generations. While some recent changes haven't been too well-received, fans typically keep an eye on the latest creatures being added to the series. The newest Pokemon monsters tend to be judged by fans on many factors, such as stats, abilities, and typing, as even one specific thing that's more to a player's taste can result in a fan changing up their team for their playthrough. In the 26 years the franchise has been around, however, some type combinations have yet to be used.
The Pokemon franchise typically features a rock-paper-scissors combat dynamic that starts simple but gets more complex, thanks to the 18 types with their own strengths and weaknesses that fans need to learn. The way that the types react with each other is easy to learn, but can confuse some players as the series mixes and matches types to create creatures that have surprising immunities and devastating weak spots. However, these type combinations help keep things exciting from game to game for both competitive and casual players.
Pokemon's Unused Type Combinations
Over the time between Pokemon Red and Blue and Pokemon Legends: Arceus, there are still many type combinations that have yet to be used within the games. When it comes to the Fairy-type, it makes sense that some combinations have yet to show up in the franchise, considering it's the newest type after being introduced in Generation 6. However, plenty of types that have been part of the series since it began have yet to be matched with certain other types in the last 26 years. In that regard, it's reasonable to question just why these type combinations haven't been explored yet.
While this may not seem too important to some casual players, the Pokemon series has been home to a strong competitive scene for years, with Game Freak making specific decisions about Pokemon in its more recent releases to benefit this side of the series. Introducing Pocket Monsters with new abilities, stats, and different types is one strong way the developers can change up the meta from generation to generation. As a result, it's rather shocking that some of these type combinations are still going unused. All of the combinations that Pokemon has yet to use can be found below.
- Bug/Dragon
- Normal/Bug
- Bug/Dark
- Fairy/Fire
- Fairy/Ground
- Fighting/Fairy
- Grass/Fire
- Ghost/Rock
- Ground/Fighting
- Normal/Steel
- Normal/Ice
- Poison/Normal
- Normal/Rock
- Steel/Poison
- Fighting/Electric
- Ice/Poison
The Future of Pokemon Type Combinations
It may surprise some fans that some of these type combos have yet to be used in the series, either due to the fact that one in specific hasn't been made, or just how many have never been explored before. The one type that's missing the most combinations is the Normal-type despite how it's the first type players will typically encounter outside the starters. While Normal-type Pokemon having secondary typing seems like a paradox due to what "normal" means, dual-type Normal Pokemon tend to be rather interesting with the way the series operates. Being part Normal-type leads some creatures to be sturdier against other attacks they'd normally be weak to, while others have their secondary type almost as a secret weapon behind what people would expect from a rather normal-looking creature.
Some type combinations that don't exist in the current Pokemon games so far could also be game-changers compared to other critters. A Fairy/Ground-type Pokemon for instance could be a useful asset on many teams for the fact that with those types behind it, it could be able to damage almost every type a fair amount. If Game Freak releases such a Pokemon and it can learn the move Gravity, then fans could use it to deal damage no matter who their opponent is. With the right defensive stats, this could shake up competitive Pokemon rather dramatically, meaning that not adding one is a missed opportunity.
Meanwhile, on the other side of things, some unused type combinations might lead to some interesting and creative Pokemon. One type that has yet to appear in the games is a Normal/Poison-type. Due to its first type being Normal, there's a high chance that the Pokemon may remain a rather simplistic type of creature with a secret venomous nature to it. This could lead to its capacity for deception playing a hand in how it battles. As a result, it could have a special ability like Illusion or Poison Point to trick opponents. When it comes to Pokemon, the creatures in the series are changing all the time, so there are many ways these type combinations could be used in ways that excite and entertain players as they discover them.
Where there's an argument to be had in that the series shouldn't focus on adding too many Pocket Monsters too quickly, especially in the face of how many Pokemon will be lost without Pokemon Bank, it's understandable why many fans want to eventually see creatures of every possible combination in the series. Game Freak seems to understand this desire and has since made it a point to slowly tackle these unused combinations to bring variety to each new generation and region. This can be seen with how types such as Normal/Ghost, Bug/Psychic, and Grass/Dragon have entered the franchise as of the Switch titles. With this in mind, it seems that it's merely a matter of when these critters will make it into a future generation of Pokemon games.
Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet are set to release on the Nintendo Switch in 2022.