5 Pokemon Typings That Make No Sense

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The world of Pokemon features a huge number of creatures to discover and catch throughout its many games. These Pokemon are categorized into 18 different types, creating a lot of variety. Each Pokemon has one or two types that affect how it performs in battle – determining what it’s strong against and weak to. While most type assignments make logical sense, some Pokemon seem to have been given types that don’t quite fit, or could be better suited to different categories.

Okay, so as a long-time Pokemon player, let’s be real – with over a thousand Pokemon now, there are definitely some designs that just feel…off. Sometimes the types they give these Pokemon don’t fit at all, and honestly, it can make them pretty weak, whether you’re just playing the game normally or trying to be competitive. There are usually reasons behind these choices, but a lot of the time, the final result just doesn’t make a lot of sense. I’ve been thinking about it, and there are five Pokemon in particular whose type combinations just really confuse me.

5) Grapploct

Grapploct is a bit of a letdown in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, not because it’s weak, but because its type doesn’t match its appearance. Players immediately recognize it as an octopus and expect a Water-type, but it’s surprisingly a pure Fighting-type. While its wrestling theme and design fit the Fighting type well, many players are surprised and disappointed it doesn’t have any Water-type moves or characteristics.

It’s strange that Grapploct is just a Fighting-type, considering it could easily have been Water and Fighting, similar to Pokémon like Poliwrath. Later, Quaquaval ended up with that same type combination, even though Grapploct seems like a more natural fit. This proves Game Freak isn’t avoiding that particular type pairing. While Grapploct functions well as a Fighting-type in gameplay, its design strongly suggests a Water-type, and giving it both types would likely make it more popular with players.

4) Lugia

Lugia first appeared in the Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Silver games and quickly became a fan favorite. However, its typing has always seemed a little strange. Despite being known as the guardian of the seas, Lugia isn’t a Water-type Pokemon. Its combination of Flying and Psychic types doesn’t really fit its role, and it’s puzzling why Water wasn’t chosen instead of Psychic.

One common idea is that Game Freak didn’t want Lugia to be easily defeated by Ho-Oh, its counterpart on the game cover, since Ho-Oh is weak to Water-type attacks. However, many legendary Pokémon are weak to their rival, so this explanation doesn’t quite hold up. Another suggestion is that Game Freak didn’t anticipate the Pokémon series becoming so popular and wanted a powerful Psychic-type Pokémon to build on the success of the first generation. Choosing a Psychic-type for the box art legendary seemed like an obvious decision, which is why Lugia ended up not being Water and Flying-type as it perhaps should have been.

3) Flygon

Flygon first appeared in the Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire games, and players were puzzled by it from the start. Despite clearly looking like a Bug-type Pokemon – from its earliest form, Trapinch, onward – it’s actually Ground-type. Many fans believe it should have been Bug and Dragon-type instead. Its design is heavily inspired by insects, but its Ground typing seems to be based on its desert home and the sandstorms it generates. This connection could have been implied through its design rather than being a core part of its type.

Dragon-type Pokémon used to be uncommon, often reserved for powerful, legendary creatures. By sharing the Dragon typing with another Pokémon family, Game Freak made it more widespread and easier to obtain. However, this doesn’t explain why Flygon isn’t both Bug and Dragon-type. Flygon is the most fitting Pokémon to have that unique combination, even more so than Yanmega. Fans hoped Pokémon Legends: Z-A would give Flygon a Mega Evolution and finally add the Bug-type to its design, but that didn’t happen. Hopefully, future games in Generation 10 will introduce a Bug and Dragon-type Pokémon, correcting what many see as a missed opportunity with Flygon from Generation 3.

2) Gyrados

Gyarados is probably the most well-known Pokémon with an odd typing. It’s a surprisingly powerful evolution from the weak Magikarp, but Game Freak made a questionable design choice by giving it Water and Flying types. This leaves it extremely vulnerable to Electric attacks. Many fans believe Gyarados should have been Water and Dragon, a combination that would have suited it much better. The introduction of Kingdra in the next generation, which did have the Water/Dragon typing, only made this feel like a bigger missed opportunity.

The main reason Gyarados wasn’t originally Dragon-type is simply its incredible strength. Even with a significant weakness to Electric-type Pokémon, it was incredibly powerful. Adding Dragon to its Water typing back in the early games would have made it almost impossible to defeat. While there are now more ways to counter it, that original power imbalance still affects how people view it. Game Freak couldn’t have predicted Pokémon’s success and planned for everything, but it’s still disappointing that Gyarados never got to fully become the Dragon-type it seemed destined to be.

1) Psyduck

Psyduck is a fan favorite Pokémon, especially after appearing in the anime and the Pokémon Concierge series. However, since the very first games, its typing has always been confusing. Its name and descriptions suggest it should be both Water and Psychic-type, but it isn’t. Surprisingly, it shares this type combination with two other Pokémon: Starmie, which many think would fit better as Water and Steel, and Slowbro. This means the original Pokémon Red and Blue games could have included a Water and Psychic-type Pokémon if they’d wanted to.

It’s even more puzzling that Psyduck and Golduck can learn Psychic-type moves, while Starmie needs special items to do so. This suggests the creators originally planned for Psyduck to be both Water and Psychic-type, but maybe they decided there were already too many Pokémon with that combination. If that’s true, it’s odd they didn’t adjust Psyduck’s typing to better fit this combination. Despite continued player confusion, Psyduck has remained a pure Water-type throughout the entire Pokémon series, from the very first games like Red and Blue all the way to the latest, Scarlet and Violet. This highlights how initial design choices can stick with a franchise for decades, even when they don’t quite make sense to fans.

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2026-03-19 00:13