One of the most important strategies in Pokémon is knowing your type match-ups, and to utilise this knowledge, you need a team of varying types.
Same-type attack bonus, or STAB, is one of the most overpowered mechanics in the game, giving all moves a 50% buff to Pokémon of the same type.
There’s is only one choice of starter.
If a Pokémon terastallizes to one of these types, it doubles your attack, which means picking a team with a variety of types is vital to strong teams.
There are a number of great options for each type in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Here are our recommendations.
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Best Normal-type – Dudunsparce
We have waited over 20 years for justice to come to Dunsparce, and Dudunsparce has delivered.
It’s a physical tank, with one of the best HP values in the game, and a not terrible attack stat to go with it.
The ability Serene Grace gives moves like Body Slam a 60% chance to paralyse, and its signature move Hyper Drill can break Protect.
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Best Grass-type – Meowscarada
We are Sprigatito truthers here, and Meowscarada is the main reason for this.
It boasts both Speed and Physical Attack stats that are out of this world, meaning it can one-shot most Pokémon before they even have a chance to move.
Combine this with its signature move Flower Trick that always lands a critical hit, and you’ve got a winner.
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Best Fire-type – Talonflame
For some reason Game Freak thought it was nice and balanced to give you a Fletchling on Route 1, and after that the rest of the early game was a breeze.
The middle evolution, Fletchinder, gives you Flame Body which burns opponents and halves their attack.
Combine this with Acrobatics, a move I like to call ‘the delete button’, and you can take on the level 45 Ground Titan at level 30, no problem.
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Best Water-type – Palafin
One of the stranger Pokémon to come out of the new generation, Palafin doesn’t really evolve until you swap it in and out of battle.
Its ability Zero to Hero, means it changes to Hero Form when swapped out and in, giving it stats that rival Arceus.
Doing this successfully can be a little tricky, but once you get the hang of it, it’s a great choice.
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Best Electric-type – Iron Hands
All of the Paradox Pokémon have amazing stats, putting them on par with Legendaries, but that’s not the reason we love Iron Hands.
Iron Hands has Belly Drum, and with its Electric/Fighting-typing, it resists most moves used against it.
This means after one turn of setting up, Iron Hands is ready to sweep. And that includes those tricky five-star raids.
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Best Flying-type – Hawlucha
In Pokémon speedrunning there is a hatred for Hawlucha, because ever since it was introduced in Generation 6 it has been used in almost every run.
That’s because it’s good. It’s fast, hits hard, has strong abilities and typing, and a number of good coverage moves.
It also learns Acrobatics, which as we know deletes all other Pokémon from the field.
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Best Fighting-type – Lucario
It’s an old favourite but Lucario remains one of the strongest options to use in Paldea.
Steel/Fighting-type is a great defensive type, and you can choose to run it either Physically or Specially.
It also has great coverage, and there’s a static level 75 encounter which makes for a strong Raid partner.
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Best Poison-type – Glimmora
One of the best new Pokémon to be introduced, Glimmora is interesting not only in design, but in strength.
It has a good defensive combination of types in Rock/Poison, and amazing Special Attack to take out the competition.
Glimmora’s ability, Toxic Debris, sets up Poison Spikes if hit once, and Toxic Spikes if hits twice, which can really turn the tide in battle.
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Best Ground-type – Gastrodon
World Champion Gastrodon is back this generation, and it’s only fitting that it remains the best Ground-type.
While it doesn’t hit too hard, it has one of the game’s best abilities, Storm Drain, which can redirect Water-type moves to boost attack.
Gastrodon feels impossible to kill even with its abysmal speed, and that’s why it’s a World Champion.
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Best Rock-type – Coalossal
We already mentioned Glimmora, and Paldea isn’t rich with good Rock-types, but Coalossal definitely has its uses.
It has abysmal speed, which is countered by its ability Steam Engine which quadruples its speed when hit by Fire-or Water-type attacks.
Defensively strong in both areas, watch out before it steamrolls you.
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Best Psychic-type – Espeon
With how much showtime the Eeveelutions were given, it would be remiss of us not to include one on the list.
While all of the Eeveelutions are impressive in their own ways, Espeon has arguably the best stat distribution of the group.
It’s fast, it hits hard, and Psychic is a great solo typing. If you have to use an Eevee, this is the one we recommend.
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Best Ice-type – Baxcalibur
There are plenty of Ice-types in Paldea, but few are as powerful as the Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon Baxcalibur.
Ice is one of the worst defensive types, and the dual Dragon/Ice-typing makes up for it.
Glaive Rush is its signature move, which is incredibly tough, and also risky.
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Best Bug-type – Volcarona
Bugs aren’t known for being the best Pokémon, but Paldea has a few good options in Scizor, Scyther, and Heracross.
Volcarona stands out for the Fire-typing that removes many weaknesses and its strong speed and attack power.
While it may not look a lot on the surface, Volcarona can bring the pain.
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Best Ghost-type – Annihilape
The latest evolution of Primeape has become one of the best in the game, as a rare physically attacking Ghost-type.
Its signature move, Rage Fist, adds 50 damage every time it gets hit, and it can take a fair amount of hits.
This means you have to one-shot it, be Normal-type or never live to tell the tale.
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Best Steel-type – Gholdengo
Yes we know, it looks like a cheese string on a surfboard and is incredibly annoying to even obtain, but it’s worth it.
It has great Special Attack, stats overall, and its ability Good as Gold prevents all stat changes and status conditions.
Ghost-/Steel-type has a shocking three immunities making it an excellent typing.
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Best Dark-type – Kingambit
Kingambit comes with two abilities that are extremely enviable.
Defiant doubles attack every time another stat drops, while Supreme Overlord boosts attack by one stage for every Pokémon that was defeated before it.
This means if you send out your Kingambit last, it will have five attack boosts to its already impressive stats, making it game over for your enemies.
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Best Dragon-type – Roaring Moon
Roaring Moon is one of our favourite of the new Paradox Pokémon and somehow improves on the already impressive Salamence.
It boasts impressive Attack and Speed, which can be improved by Dragon Dance, and now Booster Energy or Sunny Day.
Overall, it’s just a very slick design, and one we’re glad is in our Pokédex.
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Best Fairy-type – Tinkaton
Tinkaton can’t read. This is one of its strengths because it means that its signature move Gigaton Hammer defeats all other Pokémon even when it’s not very effective.
In one of the most ambitious crossovers of all time, Tinkaton answers the question of ‘What if Amy Rose just really hated birds?’
If you’re wondering, Gigaton Hammer is 100% Accuracy and 160 Power boosted by STAB and Tera-type to 320 with no downside. Please Tinkaton, spare us. We hate Corviknight, too.
Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.
