History Characters / PokemonSpecialTypes

* DinosaursAreDragons: Many Dragon-types have characteristics of dinosaurs, most notably Tyrunt and Tyrantrum, the definitive ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' Pokémon. Haxorus is stated to be based on herbivorous dinosaurs, though it also seems to be a bit of a {{Mix And Match Critter|s}}; Duraludon, likewise, seems to be an ambiguous theropod, likely inspired by [[Franchise/{{Godzilla}} Mechagodzilla]]. Koraidon and its fellow Ancient Paradox Pokémon Walking Wake are a bit ambiguous, but definitely have traits of various dinosaurs to convey their prehistoric nature. Jangmo-o and its evolutions, Hakamo-o and Kommo-o, are said to be a cross between theropods and ankylosaurs. Gabite and Garchomp generally resemble [[RaptorAttack dromaeosaurids]], and the Dreepy line is a variation in that it's based on a prehistoric amphibian (''Diplocaulus'') often mistaken for a dinosaur and even lived in prehistoric times. If you choose to get technical, then the birdlike Dragon-types such as Latios, Latias, Altaria and Reshiram also qualify for this. Also inverted with Pokémon who resemble dinosaurs or other prehistoric reptiles learning Dragon-type moves but not being Dragon-types themselves. Archeops, Aerodactyl and Tyranitar are good examples.

* SwordBeam: Psycho Cut, one of the few Physical-category Psychic moves, which manifests as a crescent-shaped energy wave launched at the opponent. While having a physical blade is not '''strictly''' necessary to learn it, a lot of the Pokémon that do have access to it have some form of NaturalWeapon to focus it through, such as Gallade's sword-like limbs, Absol's horn, Malamar's tentacles, Kartana's blades, Cresselia's crescents, etc. This also apllies to Psybalde, Iron Leaves' SecretArt, which increases in power under the effects of Electric Terrain.

** [[ObviousRulePatch Deliberately invoked]] with Fairy-type Pokémon in Gen VI. Fairies are immune to Dragon-Type moves and can deal super-effective damage in return. While Ice is only effective offensively, and Steel just resists Dragon-type moves (both of which Dragon-Types can beat by packing Fire), Fairy is the only type Dragons have a disadvantage against both offensively and defensively.

* OlympusMons: From Generation III onwards, Dragon has been a pretty common type among newly introduced Legendary Pokémon; most notably, Sinnoh's and Unova's legendary trios are all part Dragon-type. In addition, in all Hoenn, Kalos, Alola, and Galar, the strongest Legendary is a Dragon-type.

* NinjaPirateZombieRobot: Being dragons, a lot of them end up in this category if their design basis is whimsical enough, such as Garchomp,[[note]]a landshark dragon,[[/note]] Noivern,[[note]]a bat wyvern with speakers for ears,[[/note]] and Miraidon.[[note]]a robotic dragon that can be ridden like a bike[[/note]]

* DelightfulDragon: There are plenty of friendly and adorable dragons. Dratini and its evolutions are cute as a button, and its final evolution, Dragonite, is known for saving people from drowning or getting lost at sea. Goomy gets cuter the more it evolves, and its final evolution, Goodra, loves hugging its trainers. Altaria looks like a fluffy bird with cloud wings rather than an actual dragon, but it sings in a beautiful soprano that makes you feel like you're in a dream, and it also hugs its trainers with its fluffy wings. While Haxorus isn't exactly cute, Axew absolutely is. Lastly, the Normal/Dragon type Drampa is a grandfatherly pokemon that's kind towards children and protects them from harm.
* DinosaursAreDragons: Many Dragon-types have characteristics of dinosaurs, most notably Tyrunt and Tyrantrum, the definitive ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' Pokémon. Haxorus is stated to be based on herbivorous dinosaurs, though it also seems to be a bit of a {{Mix And Match Critter|s}}; Duraludon, likewise, seems to be an ambiguous theropod, likely inspired by [[Franchise/{{Godzilla}} Mechagodzilla]]. Jangmo-o and its evolutions, Hakamo-o and Kommo-o, are said to be a cross between theropods and ankylosaurs. Gabite and Garchomp generally resemble [[RaptorAttack dromaeosaurids]], and the Dreepy line is a variation in that it's based on a prehistoric amphibian (''Diplocaulus'') often mistaken for a dinosaur and even lived in prehistoric times. If you choose to get technical, then the birdlike Dragon-types such as Latios, Latias, Altaria and Reshiram also qualify for this. Also inverted with Pokémon who resemble dinosaurs or other prehistoric reptiles learning Dragon-type moves but not being Dragon-types themselves. Archeops, Aerodactyl and Tyranitar are good examples.

* DraconicAbomination: This is what the legendary dragons fall into. Between a mediator for a pair of world-destroying monstrosities[[note]]Rayquaza[[/note]], universal concepts made flesh[[note]]Dialga and Palkia[[/note]], an extradimensional guardian of reality which also embodies {{antimatter}}[[note]]Giratina[[/note]], three fragments of a god that may or may not have been an alien[[note]]Reshiram, Zekrom, and Kyurem[[/note]], a guardian of the land that balances the powers of avatars of life and death[[note]]Zygarde[[/note]], an extradimensional being fixated on consuming light to repair itself[[note]]Ultra Necrozma[[/note]], and an alien monstrosity responsible for the phenomenon of gigantic Pokémon[[note]]Eternatus[[/note]], the type's legendaries get awfully eldritch.

** Dragon-types have all sorts of inspiration and basis, from classical Eastern or Western dragons[[note]]such as Mega Charizard X, Dragonite, Salamence, Rayquaza, and the Tao trio[[/note]] to weirder but still recognizable dragons[[note]]such as the creation trio, Kommo-o, Ultra Necrozma, Duraludon, and base Eternatus[[/note]] to real-world reptiles[[note]]such as Mega Sceptile, Tyrantrum, and Turtonator[[/note]] to MixAndMatchCritters with aspects of dragons[[note]]such as Flygon, Garchomp, Naganadel, and Dragapult[[/note]] to "out there" concepts that only vaguely resemble dragons[[note]]such as Mega Ampharos, Altaria, Alolan Exeggutor, Guzzlord, all of Zygarde's forms and Eternamax Eternatus[[/note]]. Regidrago is unique in that its Dragon typing doesn't come from the kind of creature it is (a golem), but rather its ''theming'' (it's made of crystallized dragon energy and has dragon jaws for arms).

* PlayingWithFire: Since dragons are traditionally associated with fire[[note]]at least in Western folklore[[/note]], the majority of Dragon-types get Fire attacks, letting them bypass Steel-Types, the only thing that could wall them before the introduction of Fairies, and Ice-Types, the only other Type that hit them hard. Kingdra, Mega Sceptile, Latias, Latios, Zekrom, Kyurem[[note]]except for White Kyurem[[/note]], Haxorus[[note]]beginning in ''Sun & Moon''[[/note]], and Dragalge are the only Dragons that can't learn Fire attacks besides Hidden Power. Despite this, there are only three Fire/Dragon dual-types: Reshiram, Turtonator, and Mega Charizard X, the latter of which is the only one based on archetypical Western dragons (although Reshiram has features of a wyvern and an Eastern dragon).

* SuperMode: Altaria, Salamence, Latias, Latios, Rayquaza, and Garchomp are capable of Mega Evolution. Additionally, three non-Dragon-type Pokémon — Charizard, Ampharos, and Sceptile — become Dragon-type through Mega Evolution, while Necrozma also gains the type upon Ultra Bursting. Flapple, Appletun, and Duraludon are also capable of Gigantamax (but only Duraludon has a Dragon-type G-Max Move), though [[spoiler:Eternatus]] is fought in its similar powered-up [[spoiler:Eternamax]] form that boasts a base stat total around ''four hundred'' points higher than Arceus, which is [[PurposefullyOverpowered (perhaps thankfully)]] not accessible to trainers.

* SwordBeam: Psycho Cut, one of the few Physical-category Psychic moves, which manifests as a crescent-shaped energy wave launched at the opponent. While having a physical blade is not '''strictly''' necessary to learn it, a lot of the Pokémon that do have access to it have some form of NaturalWeapon to focus it through, such as Gallade's sword-like limbs, Absol's horn, Malamar's tentacles, Kartana's blades, Cresselia's crescents, etc.

With 70 percent of the Earth covered by it, it isn't difficult to imagine that Water Pokémon are the most common type. It is one of the seven types to be paired with every existing type at least once.[[note]]The others being Flying, Psychic, Grass, Fighting, Electric, and Dark.[[/note]] Most Water-types are based on aquatic animals, both marine and freshwater, and is one of the three starter types. They can be found on every aquatic route, and some of the more amphibious types can be found in [[BubblegloopSwamp wetlands]]. They can also be fished out using various fishing rods.

* ComMons: They serve as the main encounters on aquatic routes, though they aren't exceptionally powerful. Tentacool in particular are very common in the seas of Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and Alola.

* GiantWallOfWateryDoom: Surf, ubiquitous both as a mandatory field move and as a potent and reliable attack, involves the user surfing toward the opponent. On a huge crest of ocean water. Muddy Water is also depicted as this.

* RequiredSecondaryPowers: As explained above, nearly all water Pokémon will have some variation of an ice attack.

* StoneWall: Water types are often lauded with being one of the best defensive typings in the game. They only have two weakness and have four resistances. On top of that, quite a few Water-types also favors high HP and Defensive stats, but their speed tend to be fairly low.

* GoombaStomp: Heat Crash, the Tepig line's signature move (until ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield'' made it a TR). It deals Fire-type damage, [[SituationalDamageAttack with the power depending]] on how heavy the target is compared to the user. Like many other GoombaStomp-like attacks, [[DevelopersForesight/Pokemon it gains perfect damage and deals double damage on a target that has used Minimize]].

* KillItWithWater: Almost all of them are weak to Water-type attacks. They can learn Sunny Day to reduce the damage taken from Water-type attacks.

** Gigantamax Charizard's exclusive G-Max Move, G-Max Widfire, sees it launch a dragon-shaped flame at the opponent, which explodes on impact and deals additional damage on non-Fire-types for several turns after.

*** The Flash Fire Ability gives immunity to Fire and gives a boost to the user's Fire attacks by 50% if they are hit by one. It doesn't stack with itself.

** [[AwesomeButImpractical While almost impossible to set up]], prior to Forest's Curse removal in Gen 9 a Fire-type attack could reach a damage multiplier of ''x54''.[[note]]With STAB (x1.5), during harsh sunlight (x1.5) and while having Flash Fire or Blaze activated (x1.5), attack a non-Grass-type dual-type Pokémon whose types are both weak against Fire (x4) that has been given the ability Fluffy (x2) after it has been afflicted with Forest's Curse to give it an additional Grass-typing (x2).[[/note]] Without Forest's Curse they can still manage a ''x36''.[[note]]With a Fire-type using Fire Terastal to increase their STAB to x2[[/note]]
** [[InvertedTrope On the opposite end]], before Water Sport's removal in Gen 9 a Fire-type attack also had the lowest attainable non-zero multiplier, a pitiful ''x0.020625''.[[note]]This is done by attacking, without STAB, a dual-type Pokémon whose types both resist Fire-type attacks (x0.25) under rain (x0.5), with Thick Fat or Heatproof as its ability (x0.5) while Water Sport is in effect (x0.33).[[/note]] This becomes "only" x0.0625 without Water Sport.
* TooAwesomeToUse: Fire Blast has high power and reasonable accuracy compared to similarly powered special moves, making it an excellent move for one-off battles. However, it has a very low PP count at 5 and thus is not very practical for extended sojourns without Ether assistance.

* UselessUsefulSpell: The ability Magma Armor is exclusive to Fire-types and makes the owner immune to being Frozen, but getting Frozen is incredibly rare due to each move that inflicts it only having a 10% chance to do so. One of its users, Camerupt, can also use Flame Wheel to thaw itself out.

* FakeBalance:
** Within the Starter elemental trio; not only does Water have the least number of weaknesses[[note]]2 types, Grass and Electric, compared to Fire's 3 and [[KryptoniteIsEverywhere Grass's 5]][[/note]] and types that resist it[[note]]Only 3 types, [[LikeCannotCutLike Water]], Grass, and Dragon, resist Water, compared to Fire's 4 and Grass's ''[[KryptoniteIsEverywhere 7]]''[[/note]], meaning that they can easily beat Grass-types despite the type disadvantage thanks to their access to [[AnIcePerson Ice-type attacks]], and Electric-types (their only other weakness) due to them not resisting Water attacks and their GlassCannon tendencies.
** The weather condition related to the Water type, rain, is ''far'' superior to the other weather conditions. Intense sunlight powers up Fire-type moves, but the Abilities powered up by intense sunlight are usually given to Grass-types, which are roasted even harder by the powered-up Fire moves. Rock- and Ground-types might enjoy having their weaknesses to Water being reduced, but in turn, they risk taking a no-charge Solar Beam. Sandstorm's powering-up Abilities, Sand Force and Sand Rush, are mutually exclusive and not innate boosts. Rain gives a boost to Water-type attacks ''and'' its Abilities are granted to mostly Water-types, who make extremely good use of them. They do have to watch out for perfect-accuracy Thunder, but that can more often than not be avoided by just OHKO'ing any Electric-type that switches in.

* IceMagicIsWater: ''Every'' Water-Type (except Magikarp, Rotom Wash, and Pyukumuku) has access to an Ice-Type attack (usually from Technical Machines or Move Tutors), giving them a solid chance at beating Grass-types and Dragon-types. ([[FakeBalance Maybe too solid.]])

On paper, Psychic-types were supposed to be weak to Ghost and Bug, but [[FakeBalance both of those types were rare with only weak attacks]] (not helped by a glitch that made it outright ''immune'' to Ghost), and a quarter of all Pokémon in Gen I were part Poison (including the only Ghost-types at the time, as well as the only Bug-types with Bug-type attacks worth a quasi-significant fraction of a fuck). Add on the facts that Psychic-types favored the Special stat, which governed Special Attack ''and'' Special Defense, that there were a ''lot'' of strong Psychic-types (including [[OlympusMons Mewtwo]], one of the most powerful Pokémon in the series), and that Psychic was only resisted by itself, and [[InfinityPlusOneElement Psychic was one of the best types in the game]]. This reign of terror ended with the introduction of two types, Dark and Steel, both of which were defensively strong against Psychic attacks (Dark-types being flat-out immune, as well as offensively strong against Psychic-types), the introduction of better Bug and Ghost moves, and splitting apart the Special stat into Special Attack and Special Defense. Furthermore, Psychic is only resistant to itself and Fighting, making it the second-worst defensive typing after Ice. Needless to say, the Psychic-type is no longer a GameBreaker. Nonetheless, Psychic is the type with the most [[OlympusMons Legendary and Mythical Pokémon]] associated with it, with all generations having at least two of them being at least part Psychic, with the exception of Gen VI (which only had one). Its also the third type to be paired with every other type after Flying and Water with the introduction of Poison/Psychic Galarian Slowbro in Sword & Shield's Isle of Armor DLC.

* FakeBalance: Despite Gen II ostensibly reining in the Psychic-type dominance of Gen I with the addition of two new types, an expansion of Ghost-type moves, and the Special Attack/Defense split, the Psychic-type still has a tremendous advantage in the subsequent Kanto and Johto-based games. To note:
** In Gen II, a quality Psychic-type can still run roughshod over most of the game owing in large part to the sheer lack of Dark- and Steel-type mons. Most of the new Dark-types (Houndour, Murkrow, Sneasel) are reserved for the post-game in Kanto in ''Gold/Silver'', while Jasmine's gym is really the only place you'll encounter Steel-types outside of the odd Magnemite. Further, Morty's Ghost-type gym uses the part-Poison Gastly line only, excluding Misdreavus altogether, and, despite having some better moves like Shadow Ball, this was before the physical/special split, so they can't really take advantage of their physical-classed [=STABs=] due to being special attackers. Finally, the only new Ghost-type, Misdreavus (the first which isn't part Poison), is only encountered very late in the post-game. ''Crystal'' makes some of the Dark-types appear sooner, but they're still rare and not major threats.
** The Gen III Kanto remakes also face this issue for very similar reasons. Dark and Steel-types are very rare, while the only Ghost-type line is once again the part Poison-type Gastly line, who can't even take advantage of their improved Ghost-type moveset due to the physical/special split not taking place yet. Thus, a good Psychic-type will still dominate most of the game.
** Even as late as the Gen VII ''Let's Go'' games following the plot of Gen I's ''Yellow'', this issue remains for the exact same reasons. Even the inclusion of Dark-, Ghost-, and Steel-type Alolan forms (and the Meltan line) doesn't entirely fix the issue due to their laughably low availability.

* FakeBalance: Between their [[ConfusionFu massive movepools]] and [[LightningBruiser above-average stats]], they can easily muscle through Steel- and Ice-types that were ''supposed'' to deal with them (they're both weak to Fire, which pretty much every Dragon can abuse since, you know, they're Dragons). The Fairy-type was introduced to alleviate this, especially since they aren't weak to Fire.

** [[InvertedTrope On the opposite end]], before Water Sport's removal in Gen 9 a Fire-type attack also had the lowest attainable non-zero multiplier, a pitiful ''x0.020625''.[[note]]This is done by attacking, without STAB, a dual-type Pokémon whose types both resist Fire-type attacks (x0.25) under rain (x0.5), with Thick Fat or Heatproof as its ability (x0.5) while Water Sport is in effect (x0.33).[[/note]] This is becomes "only" x0.0625 without Water Sport.

* UndergroundMonkey: Alolan Marowak is part Fire-Type.

* PoorPredictableRock: Electric types usually have fairly limited movepools on the special side, with many historically having to rely on Hidden Power for type coverage in the games that gave them access to it, or generational gimmicks in later games to expand their type coverage. Electric types on the physical side have it just as bad or even worse in a sense. That is, while they often do have a wider range of type coverage with their physical moves, their STAB moves are very limited when it comes to good choices. The only widespread physical Electric type move of above average power is Wild Charge, which does recoil damage, something the often frail Electric types don't necessarily appreciate (whereas on the special side they have the equally powerful Thunderbolt which has no downsides). All of the other options are notably weaker (Thunder Fang, Thunder Punch) or are moves restricted to one or two Pokémon (Aura Wheel, Bolt Beak, Plasma Fists, Zing Zap).

* UndergroundMonkey: Alolan Geodude and its evolved forms are part Electric-Type.

* AntiAir: Ice is one of the few types to be super effective against Flying. Slightly downplayed in that, unlike Rock and Electric, Ice does not resist flying.

* BalanceBuff: Starting in Generation IX, the Ice Type move Hail and its associated weather condition was entirely replaced with Snowscape. This weather provides all the normal effects and interactions with Ice type-associated moves and abilities that Hail did aside from the once per turn chip damage effect, while boosting the Defense of any Ice type on the field by 50%. This change allows the weather effect to help Ice types handle their weaknesses more while also not harming any non-Ice type team members.

** In Generation I, Ice-Type attacks were only resisted by two types, itself and Water. Fire did ''not'' resist Ice, which meant Pokémon like Charizard and Moltres (who were half-Flying) were weak to Ice. Generation 2 changed the type chart so that Fire-Types resisted Ice moves and added another ice resistance in the Steel-Type.

* UndergroundMonkey: Alolan Vulpix, Alolan Sandshrew, Galarian Darumaka, Galarian Mr. Mime, and their evolved forms are Ice-Types.

** The Gen III Kanto remakes also face this issue for very similar reasons. Dark and Steel-types are very rare, while the only Ghost-type line is once again the part Poison-type Ghastly line who can't even take advantage of their improved Ghost-type moveset due to the physical/special split not taking place yet. Thus, a good Psychic-type will still dominate most of the game.
** Even as late as the Gen VII ''Let's Go'' games following the plot of Gen I's ''Yellow'', this issue remains for the exact same reasons.

* SwordBeam: Psycho Cut, one of the few Physical-category Psychic moves, which manifests as a crescent-shaped energy wave launched at the opponent. While having a physical blade is not '''strictly''' necessary to learn it, a lot of the Pokémon that do have some form of NaturalWeapon to focus it through, such as Gallade's sword-like limbs, Absol's horn, Malamar's tentacles, Kartana's blades, Cresselia's crescents, etc.

* UndergroundMonkey: Alolan Raichu, Galarian Ponyta and Galarian Rapidash are part Psychic-type.

** [[ObviousRulePatch Deliberately invoked]] with Fairy-Type Pokémon in Gen VI. Fairies are immune to Dragon-Type moves and can deal super-effective damage in return. While Ice is only effective offensively, and Steel just resists Dragon-type moves (Both of which Dragon-Types can beat by packing Fire), Fairy is the only type Dragons have a disadvantage against both offensively and defensively.

* AttackAttackAttack: Almost all Dragon-type moves are attacks. Only ''two'' Dragon-type move are status moves (Dragon Dance and Clangorous Soul), and the first is a StatusBuff that's offensively-minded while the second is an all-around stat boost.

* SuperMode: Altaria, Salamence, Latias, Latios, Rayquaza, and Garchomp are capable of Mega Evolution. Additionally, three non-Dragon-type Pokémon — Charizard, Ampharos, and Sceptile — become Dragon-type through Mega Evolution, while Necrozma also gains the type upon Ultra Bursting. Flapple, Appletun, and Duraludon are also capable of Gigantamax (but only Duraludon has a Dragon-type G-Max Move), though [[spoiler:Eternatus]] is fought in its similar powered-up [[spoiler:Eternamax]] form that boasts a base stat total around ''four hundred'' points higher than Arceus, which is [[GameBreaker (perhaps thankfully)]] not accessible to trainers.

* UndergroundMonkey: The Alolan Exeggutor is part Dragon-Type.

*** In ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'' it was Dragon Rage, [[FixedDamageAttack a move that completely ignores the target's type and defenses]] and is all but guaranteed to wipe out weak Pokémon in a single shot.

** In-character, many Dragon-types are prone to this — even the ''friendly'' ones, like Dragonite, Goodra, and Drampa, are prone to wrecking everything in their way if they get pissed off. Drampa's Pokédex entry even states that it goes into a rage when children are harmed.

** In the TCG. Possibly to give the type an "ultimate element" feel, Dragon-types almost always require two different Energy types to attack.

** Dragon Rush is as powerful as Stone Edge and Earthquake, but has less than perfect accuracy at 75% accuracy.

* TakesOneToKillOne: The other type that is weak to itself. Before the introduction of Fairies, the best counter to a Dragon was (and still is, in some cases) usually a stronger and faster one, due to how incredibly powerful they tend to be.

* SeaMonster: Many of the more powerful Water-types have a place in in-game lore as these, especially Gyarados, a vicious sea serpent whose rages can lay whole coastal cities to waste; [[TheWormThatWalks Wishiwashi]], an individually small and weak fish that can school in large groups to take the form of a giant, powerful, and [[TheDreaded widely feared]] monster [[AlwaysABiggerFish that even the aforementioned Gyarados is terrified of]]; and [[OlympusMons Kyogre]], a massive leviathan and the primordial god of the sea.

** Primal Kyogre has an enhanced version of Drizzle called Primordial Sea. It has the same Water-boosting effects, cannot be overridden by normal weather abilities or weather moves (only Desolate Land and Delta Stream), and makes it so all Fire-type moves except for Will-O-Wisp will always fail. Unlike Drizzle, it will not persist when the owner switches out or if it is supressed by Gastro Acid or replaced with another Ability.

** Forest's Curse is a move that gives a Pokémon the Grass type on top of their existing typings, which, given Grass's [[KryptoniteIsEverywhere many weaknesses]], usually is advantageous. Kyurem in particular has ''10 weaknesses'' when afflicted with Forest's Curse, while the combinations Ground/Flying, Ground/Dragon, Dragon/Flying, Ice/Steel, Bug/Steel, Bug/Fighting, Dark/Psychic and Ice/Bug each gain an 8x weakness. %%Also Water/Ground, Water/Dragon, and Water/Flying to the move Freeze-Dry and Normal/Dark, Normal/Fighting, Fighting/Dark, Ice/Fighting, and Ice/Dark to the move Flying Press.

* TheParalyzer: Thunder Wave is the series’ bread-and-butter example, and Electric-types in general are strongly associated with paralysis.
* PoorPredictableRock: Electric types usually have fairly limited movepools on the special side, with many having to rely on Hidden Power for type coverage. Electric types on the physical side have it just as bad or even worse in a sense. That is, while they often do have a wider range of type coverage with their physical moves, their STAB moves are very limited when it comes to good choices. The only widespread physical Electric type move of above average power is Wild Charge, which does recoil damage, something the often frail Electric types don't appreciate. All of the other options are substantially weaker or are signature moves restricted to one or two Pokémon.

* InfinityPlusOneElement: In the earlier games, they were intended as this. Dragon-types tended to be very rare and either evolved from weak Pokémon that needed a lot of time and level grinding to raise, or were found in out-of-the-way locations, sometimes both. However, they were only weak to Ice and other Dragons, their moves only resisted by Steel-types, and many Dragons can learn Fire-type attacks for Steel-types anyway (which would also cover any Ice-types the opponent tried). They continued to be one of the best types of the game until Gen VI, in which Fairy-types were introduced to deal with them after the creators admitted they were too strong and too common. Even then, the movepools and potential from most of the Dragon-types still allow them to face its tailor-made weakness using other means outside of their own element.

* UniquenessDecay: It was once only represented by the Dratini family in Generation I. Now there's a good selection to choose from, though they're still somewhat uncommon. In fact, looking at Dragon-types throughout the generations, one can see that it was once reserved for Pokémon that fit the Japanese stereotype of "mystical" or "ethereal" dragons (Dragonite and Kingdra),[[note]]possibly explaining why it wasn't given to obvious but more beastly dragons like Charizard and Gyarados[[/note]] and even in the two generations that followed, most Dragons continued to fit the stereotypes. Pseudo-legendaries Salamence and Garchomp were the only exceptions, and more Dragon Pokémon followed their lead in later generations — bringing everything full circle when Charizard could become a Dragon-type via Mega Evolution.

** [[AwesomeButImpractical While almost impossible to set up]], prior to Forest's Curse removal in Gen 9 a Fire-type attack could reach a damage multiplier of ''x54''.[[note]]With STAB (x1.5), during harsh sunlight (x1.5) and while having Flash Fire or Blaze activated (x1.5), attack a non-Grass-type dual-type Pokémon whose types are both weak against Fire (x4) that has been given the ability Fluffy (x2) after it has been afflicted with Forest's Curse to give it an additional Grass-typing (x2).[[/note]] Without Forest's Curse they can still manage a ''x36''[[note]]With a Fire-type using Fire Terastal to increase their STAB to x2[[/note]]

** [[AwesomeButImpractical While almost impossible to set up]], a Fire-type attack can reach a damage multiplier of ''x54''.[[note]]With STAB (x1.5), during harsh sunlight (x1.5) and while having Flash Fire or Blaze activated (x1.5), attack a non-Grass-type dual-type Pokémon whose types are both weak against Fire (x4) that has been given the ability Fluffy (x2) after it has been afflicted with Forest's Curse to give it an additional Grass-typing (x2).[[/note]]
** [[InvertedTrope On the opposite end]], a Fire-type attack also has the lowest attainable non-zero multiplier, a pitiful ''0.020625x''.[[note]]This is done by attacking, without STAB, a dual-type Pokémon whose types both resist Fire-type attacks (x0.25) under rain (x0.5), with Thick Fat or Heatproof as its ability (x0.5) while Water Sport is in effect (x0.33).[[/note]]

** [[AwesomeButImpractical While almost impossible to set up]], a Fire-type attack can reach a damage multiplier of ''x36''.[[note]]During harsh sunlight and while having Flash Fire or Blaze activated, attack a Bug/Steel or Ice/Steel type given the Ability Fluffy after it has been afflicted with Forest's Curse.[[/note]]
** [[InvertedTrope On the opposite end]], a Fire-type attack also has the lowest attainable non-zero multiplier, a pitiful ''0.02065x''.[[note]]This is done by attacking a dual-type Pokémon under rain whose types both resist Fire-type attacks (such as the Water/Dragon type Kingdra), with Thick Fat or Heatproof as its ability while Water Sport is in effect.[[/note]]

As of Gen IX, ELectric has been paired with every other type at least once.

On paper, Psychic-types were supposed to be weak to Ghost and Bug, but [[FakeBalance both of those types were rare with only weak attacks]] (not helped by a glitch that made it outright ''immune'' to Ghost), and a quarter of all Pokémon in Gen I were part Poison (including the only Ghost-types at the time, as well as the only Bug-types with Bug-type attacks worth a quasi-significant fraction of a fuck). Add on the facts that Psychic-types favored the Special stat, which governed Special Attack ''and'' Special Defense, that there were a ''lot'' of strong Psychic-types (including [[OlympusMons Mewtwo]], one of the most powerful Pokémon in the series), and that Psychic was only resisted by itself, and [[InfinityPlusOneElement Psychic was one of the best types in the game]]. This reign of terror ended with the introduction of two types, Dark and Steel, both of which were defensively strong against Psychic attacks (Dark-types being flat-out immune, as well as offensively strong against Psychic-types), the introduction of better Bug and Ghost moves, and splitting apart the Special stat into Special Attack and Special Defense. Furthermore, Psychic is only resistant to itself and Fighting, making it the second-worst defensive typing after Ice. Needless to say, the Psychic-type is no longer a GameBreaker. Nonetheless, Psychic is the type with the most [[OlympusMons Legendary and Mythical Pokémon]] associated with it, with all generations having at least two of them being at least part Psychic, with the exception of Gen VI (which only had one). Its also the third type to be paired with every other type after Flying and Water with the introduction of Poison/Psychic Galarian Slowpoke in Sword & Shield's Isle of Armor DLC.

With 70 percent of the Earth covered by it, it isn't difficult to imagine that Water Pokémon are the most common type. It's one of the three types that has been paired with every existing type at least once (the others being Flying and Psychic). Most Water-types are based on aquatic animals, both marine and freshwater, and is one of the three starter types. They can be found on every aquatic route, and some of the more amphibious types can be found in [[BubblegloopSwamp wetlands]]. They can also be fished out using various fishing rods.

As of Gen VI, Water has been paired with every other type at least once.

On paper, Psychic-types were supposed to be weak to Ghost and Bug, but [[FakeBalance both of those types were rare with only weak attacks]] (not helped by a glitch that made it outright ''immune'' to Ghost), and a quarter of all Pokémon in Gen I were part Poison (including the only Ghost-types at the time, as well as the only Bug-types with Bug-type attacks worth a quasi-significant fraction of a fuck). Add on the facts that Psychic-types favored the Special stat, which governed Special Attack ''and'' Special Defense, that there were a ''lot'' of strong Psychic-types (including [[OlympusMons Mewtwo]], one of the most powerful Pokémon in the series), and that Psychic was only resisted by itself, and [[InfinityPlusOneElement Psychic was one of the best types in the game]]. This reign of terror ended with the introduction of two types, Dark and Steel, both of which were defensively strong against Psychic attacks (Dark-types being flat-out immune, as well as offensively strong against Psychic-types), the introduction of better Bug and Ghost moves, and splitting apart the Special stat into Special Attack and Special Defense. Furthermore, Psychic is only resistant to itself and Fighting, making it the second-worst defensive typing after Ice. Needless to say, the Psychic-type is no longer a GameBreaker. Nonetheless, Psychic is the type with the most [[OlympusMons Legendary and Mythical Pokémon]] associated with it, with all generations having at least two of them being at least part Psychic, with the exception of Gen VI (which only had one). Its also the third type to be paired with every other type after Flying and Water.

* DinosaursAreDragons: Many Dragon-types have characteristics of dinosaurs, most notably Tyrunt and Tyrantrum, the definitive ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' Pokémon. Haxorus is [[WordOfGod stated]] to be based on herbivorous dinosaurs, though it also seems to be a bit of a {{Mix And Match Critter|s}}; Duraludon, likewise, seems to be an ambiguous theropod, likely inspired by [[Franchise/{{Godzilla}} Mechagodzilla]]. Jangmo-o and its evolutions, Hakamo-o and Kommo-o, are said to be a cross between theropods and ankylosaurs. Gabite and Garchomp generally resemble [[RaptorAttack dromaeosaurids]], and the Dreepy line is a variation in that it's based on a prehistoric amphibian (''Diplocaulus'') often mistaken for a dinosaur and even lived in prehistoric times. If you choose to get technical, then the birdlike Dragon-types such as Latios, Latias, Altaria and Reshiram also qualify for this. Also inverted with Pokémon who resemble dinosaurs or other prehistoric reptiles learning Dragon-type moves but not being Dragon-types themselves. Archeops, Aerodactyl and Tyranitar are good examples.

* InfinityPlusOneElement: In the earlier games, they were intended as this. Dragon-types tended to be very rare and either evolved from weak Pokémon that needed a lot of time and level grinding to raise, or were found in out-of-the-way locations, sometimes both. However, they were only weak to Ice and other Dragons, their moves only resisted by Steel-types, and many Dragons can learn Fire-type attacks for Steel-types anyway (which would also cover any Ice-types the opponent tried). They continued to be one of the best types of the game until Gen VI, in which Fairy-types were introduced to deal with them after WordOfGod admitted they were too strong and too common. Even then, the movepools and potential from most of the Dragon-types still allow them to face its tailor-made weakness using other means outside of their own element.

%% Please do not add WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer to any entry, as Pokémon themselves can have other options available to them, making it misuse.

* ElementalPunch: The moves Fire Punch and Blaze Kick. Fire Punch has slightly above-average power and wide distribution while Blaze Kick is a bit stronger and has a higher crit chance at the cost of some accuracy.
* ElementalRivalry: The obvious one would be [[FireWaterJuxtaposition Fire and Water]], but there appears to be a lot of pairs of Fire types with [[LightningFireJuxtaposition Electric]] types. The Magmar and Electabuzz families and the Houndoom and Manectric families are version counterparts, there's a rivalry between Volkner and Flint in ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'', and then there's [[Videogame/PokemonBlackAndWhite Reshiram and Zekrom]].

* FireIceLightning: A very popular motif seen frequently in the series — Ember, Powder Snow, Thunder Shock; Fire Punch, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch; Flamethrower, Ice Beam, Thunderbolt; Fire Blast, Blizzard, Thunder; Magmar, Jynx, Electabuzz; Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres; Reshiram, Zekrom, Kyurem; and so many more. There isn't much of an ElementalRockPaperScissors usually seen with this kind of arrangement compared to other games — the only type in this triad that has an advantage over another is Fire over Ice.

* GlassCannon: Fire has many common weaknesses and tends to be frail defensively, but hits a lot super effectively. Ironically, they have the highest number of resistances after Steel, at 6.
* GoombaStomp: Heat Crash, the Tepig line's signature move. It deals Fire-type damage depending on how heavy the target is compared to the user.
* HerdHittingAttack: During Double and Triple Battles, Lava Plume hits everything but the user while Eruption, Heat Wave, and Incinerate only hit enemy Pokémon.

* CriticalHitClass: Generation 4 added several new moves with a higher-than-normal chance of landing a CriticalHit. The Psychic type got Psycho Cut, an extremely spammable physical attack with decent power and 100% accuracy that is restricted to a very small number of Pokémon, even less of whom possess the stats to effectively use it.[[note]]By level-up: Kadabra, Alakazam, Mewtwo, Absol, Gallade, Cresselia, Inkay, Malamar, Kartana, and Necrozma. By breeding: Drowzee, Meditite, Spinda, and Pawniard. Out of all of these, Kadabra and Alakazam are flat-out ''[[SquishyWizard incompetent]]'' as physical attackers, and while Mewtwo and Necrozma ''can'' hit rather hard with physical attacks, their Special Attack is still far superior (outside of [[SuperMode Mega Mewtwo X, Dusk Mane Necrozma, and Ultra Necrozma]]). However, Absol, Gallade, the Inkay line, Kartana, the Meditite line, and the Pawniard line do [[MagicallyIneptFighter favor Attack over Special Attack]]. Cresselia is a StoneWall who is equally lackluster with physical and special attacks, and Spinda is a MasterOfNone.[[/note]] Even after ''Sword and Shield'' made Psycho Cut a TM, which expanded the number of Pokémon that can learn it, some of which have the Attack to use it well, the number of Pokémon that can learn it is still relatively small.

** Mew has the exclusive Z-Move Genesis Supernova, derived from Psychic, which generates an array of psychic orbs, combines them into one large psychic bomb, and slams it into the opponent. It hits slightly harder than Shattered Psyche off of Psychic and sets up Psychic Terrain.

** Psychic Terrain protects all Pokémon on the ground from [[ActionInitiative moves with increased priority]]. It also gives a hefty 50% boost to other Psychic-type attacks.

* SquishyWizard: Most of them hit very hard with Special Attack, but are not good at defense. Alakazam is a notable example: it's ludicrously fast and has Special Attack to match, but neutral physical attacks are incredibly painful, and super-effective physical attacks are likely going to take it down in one hit. They do tend to have good Special Defense, though.

** Multiple Dragon-Type Pokémon have a secondary typing that makes them quadrupally weak to Ice, such as Mega Sceptile's Dragon-Grass, Garchomp's Dragon-Ground, and the especially common Dragon-Flying shared by Dragonite, Altaria, Salamance, Rayquaza, and Noivern.

* CastFromHitPoints: The exclusive to Kommo-o move Clangorous Soul damages the user by 33% of their max health, but raises all stats. It replaces the Z-Move Clangorous Soulblaze but adds the health drawback as it isn't a one-use Z-Move.

* OlympusMons: From Generation III onwards, Dragon has been a pretty common type among newly introduced Legendary Pokémon; most notably, Sinnoh's and Unova's legendary trios are all part Dragon-type. In addition, in all Hoenn, Kalos, Alola and Galar, the strongest Legendary is a Dragon-type.

** Dragon-types have all sorts of inspiration and basis, from classical Eastern or Western dragons[[note]]such as Mega Charizard X, Dragonite, Salamence, Rayquaza, and the Tao trio[[/note]] to weirder but still recognizable dragons[[note]]such as the creation trio, Kommo-o, Ultra Necrozma, Duraludon and base Eternatus[[/note]] to real-world reptiles[[note]]such as Mega Sceptile, Tyrantrum, and Turtonator[[/note]] to MixAndMatchCritters with aspects of dragons[[note]]such as Flygon, Garchomp, Naganadel and Dragapult[[/note]] to "out there" concepts that only vaguely resemble dragons[[note]]such as Mega Ampharos, Altaria, Alolan Exeggutor, Guzzlord, all of Zygarde's forms and Eternamax Eternatus[[/note]]. Regidrago is unique in that its Dragon typing doesn't come from the kind of creature it is (a golem), but rather its ''theming'' (it's made of crystallized dragon energy and has dragon jaws for arms).
** In the first two generations (and to a lesser extent, the following two), the Dragon type was mostly used for dragons that gave off a "mystical" feel - Dragonite, Kingdra, Flygon, Altaria, and various Legendary Pokémon. This seems to be due to a distinction between different types of dragons in Japanese media and culture, where such "mystical" dragons are distinguished from more "bestial", non-magical typically Western dragons such as Charizard and Gyarados[[note]]while Eastern in appearance, it is very ferocious and animalistic and behaves more like a Western dragon[[/note]] (who lack the Dragon type). Salamence and Garchomp began to break the mold before the Dragon type came to encompass a more universal concept of what dragons are.

* PlayingWithFire: Since dragons are traditionally associated with fire[[note]]at least in Western folklore[[/note]], the majority of Dragon-types get Fire attacks, letting them bypass Steel-Types, the only thing that could wall them before the introduction of Fairies, and Ice-Types, the only other Type that hit them hard. Kingdra, Mega Sceptile, Latias, Latios, Zekrom, Kyurem[[note]]except for White Kyurem[[/note]], Haxorus[[note]]beginning in Sun & Moon[[/note]], and Dragalge are the only Dragons that can't learn Fire attacks besides Hidden Power. Despite this, there are only three Fire/Dragon dual-types: Reshiram, Turtonator, and Mega Charizard X, the latter of which is the only one based on archetypical Western dragons (although Reshiram has features of a wyvern and an Eastern dragon).

* ShoulderSizedDragon: Plenty of the first-stage Dragon-types are small enough to qualify, such as Dratini, Bagon, Gible, Axew, Deino, Goomy, Jangmo-o and Dreepy.
* SixthRanger: Charizard and Gyarados, despite not being Dragon-type in most of their forms,[[note]]except for one of Charizard's Mega Evolutions,[[/note]] are treated as dragons and sometimes grouped together with Dragon-types, with both of them being in the Dragon egg group and learning most non-exclusive moves of the type. Most notably, Lance uses Gyarados on most of his teams and Charizard on his Johto and ''Let's Go'' teams, as does his cousin Clair with Gyarados,[[note]]except in the [[VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2 Pokémon World Tournament]] where type specialist restrictions are much stricter[[/note]] and the Dragon-type GO Rocket Grunt in ''VideoGame/PokemonGo'' sometimes uses a Gyarados on their team (the only "off-type" Pokémon that can be found on a Grunt's team). In the TCG, the Dragon Majesty expansion depicts Charizard as this even more blatantly, with one of its promotional booklets labeling it as an "honorary Dragon type". There are other Pokémon treated as this such as Aerodactyl, Tyranitar, Lugia and Salazzle, but to a much lesser extent.

* UniquenessDecay: It was once only represented by the Dratini family in Generation I. Now there's a good selection to choose from, though they're still somewhat uncommon. In fact, looking at Dragon-types throughout the generations, one can see that it was once reserved for Pokémon that fit the Japanese stereotype of "mystical" or "ethereal" dragons (Dragonite and Kingdra),[[note]]possibly explaining why it wasn't given to obvious but more beastly dragons like Charizard and Gyarados[[/note]] and even in the two generations that followed, most Dragons continued to fit the stereotypes. Pseudo-legendaries Salamence and Garchomp were the only exceptions, and more Dragon Pokémon followed their lead in later generations - bringing everything full circle when Charizard could become a Dragon-type via Mega Evolution.

** The Dragon-type has not one but ''two'' techniques emblematic of this--each the most powerful move of the type in its debut generation.
*** In ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'' it was Dragon Rage, [[FixedDamageAttack a move that completely ignores the target's type and defenses]] and is all but guaranteed to wipe out weak pokémon in a single shot.