Highlights
Future games may bring forth a plethora of new Pokemon, aiming to imbue battles with intricate dynamics and equilibrium. Among the prospective typings lie Paradox, Extinct, Magic, Wind, Irradiated, Time, Sound, Light, Beast, Cosmic, Artificial, Crystal, Mythical, Ancient, and Shadow.
Paradox Pokemon, which possess mixed ancestral typings, could greatly profit from a unique Paradox typing that introduces thrilling battles by mirroring vulnerabilities to their own type.
Incorporating fresh typings such as Extinct, Magic, Wind, and Irradiated can bring diversity to the game, distinguish specific Pokemon, and introduce unique strategic dynamics in battles. Furthermore, types such as Light, Beast, Cosmic, Artificial, Crystal, Mythical, Ancient, and Shadow have the potential to enhance the lore and thematic elements of the franchise.
Throughout the evolution of Pokemon games, 18 distinct types have been introduced with the purpose of maintaining balance and countering each other in the intricate battles. Certain types, such as Dark and Steel, have successfully rectified the dominance of certain types, while others, like Fairy, have generated significant controversy.
It is uncertain whether Game Freak will continue to introduce new types; however, it would not be unrealistic to anticipate the addition of more types in the future, particularly as new regions are explored. Here are several prospective Pokemon typings that would be logical to introduce next.
Released on August 13, 2023, by Sophie McEvoy, the highly anticipated DLC for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is nearing its release date. Excitement is building among fans as they eagerly anticipate the unveiling of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero. While a few new Pokemon, including a unique interpretation of Raikou, have already been announced for the game, no new typings have been revealed.
However, this lack of information doesn't dampen the enthusiasm and speculation about what the future holds for the franchise. The possibilities for introducing new types into the game remain open, leaving room for exciting developments in the future. Here are a few potential typings that could become a reality down the line.
15 Paradox Type
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet introduced Paradox Pokemon - creatures from the distant past and future that have traveled through time to arrive in the Paldea region. The upcoming DLC, The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, will introduce two new Paradox Pokemon, Raging Bolt and Iron Crown. These new additions further support the need for a dedicated typing for Paradox Pokemon.
Currently, Paradox Pokemon have mixed typings that reflect their ancestral origins. However, adding a third typing exclusively for Paradox Pokemon would set them apart from the rest of the Pokedex. This would create thrilling battles, similar to how Dragon-type Pokemon are weak against their own type.
14 Extinct Type
In Pokemon Legends: Arceus, there are 22 new Pokemon waiting to be discovered in the ancient Hisui region. These include new evolutions and regional variants, such as Hisuian Growlithe, Voltorb, Sneasel, Sliggoo, Zorua, and Basculin. To explore the future lands of Paldea, players can trade these Pokemon to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.
The Extinct typing sets these Pokemon apart from Ancient-type Pokemon, indicating that they are not available in present-day regions. Trainers will need to experiment and think creatively to include them on their teams. This unique typing may also provide certain movesets or hidden abilities that give players a strategic advantage.
13 Magic Type
Fairy and Psychic-type Pokemon possess various degrees of magical abilities, with some exhibiting more power than others. Hatterene and Delphox portray a witch-like demeanor, Galarian Rapidash showcases a majestic unicorn essence, while Mr. Mime can generate invisible barriers.
Though these Pokemon embody attributes of both Fairy and Psychic-types, it would be advantageous to assign them a distinct category to highlight their unique powers. This classification would allow for the creation of future Magic-type Pokemon, inspired by magical concepts and designs. Furthermore, introducing a weakness to Psychic-type Pokemon would introduce an element of intrigue, as these two mystical forces would face off against each other.
12 Wind Type
Numerous Pokemon possessing the Flying type could be more appropriately classified as Wind type. Introducing a Wind typing that is effective against Water Pokemon would greatly disrupt the current meta.
An abundance of Flying Pokemon have the potential to transition to the Wind type. Tornadus in its Incarnate form, Altaria, Rayquaza, and Drifblim are merely a few illustrative examples. Furthermore, adopting the Wind type would enhance the elemental rivalry between Fire, Water, and Grass.
11 Irradiated Type
In the highly acclaimed fan-made game Pokemon Uranium, an innovative typing named Nuclear was introduced by the creators. This new typing shares some similarities with the Shadow type showcased in Pokemon Colosseum.
Within Pokemon Uranium, these extraordinary creatures possess immense strength and inflict additional damage on all other typings, making them formidable opponents. Only Steel and other Nuclear Pokemon possess the resilience required to hold their own against them. If this concept were to be incorporated into an official installment of the Pokemon franchise, these radiation-exposed Pokemon could potentially be referred to as Irradiated-type Pokemon. This designation not only distinguishes them from Pokemon Uranium, but also conveys the specific environment these Pokemon would be found in.
10 Time Type
One potential addition that could enhance the gameplay experience is the introduction of Time as a new typing. These Pokemon would not only serve as captivating adversaries for Fairy and Psychic types but would also embody a futuristic theme. Time Pokemon would possess extraordinary abilities that allow them to reverse the course of a battle, prolong the charging time of moves to delay attacks, or even bypass the opponent's turn altogether.
The potential applications of Time Pokemon extend beyond battles. Players could utilize them to manipulate the in-game time, transforming night into day, expediting breeding processes, and presenting intriguing puzzle mechanics. Naturally, prominent members of this typing would include Dialga, the master of time, Celebi, the time-traveling entity, as well as mechanical beings such as Magearna.
9 Sound Type
The fan base has shown a strong demand for Sound typing, making it the most likely addition to the game. This typing could complement Flying types, with many of them having a dual Sound typing. Additionally, it would be beneficial for some Electric and Psychic types.
The popularity of the Sound typing among fans can be attributed to the compatibility of existing moves in the game, including Screech, Roar, and Hyper Voice. Furthermore, introducing the Sound type would provide a strategic advantage against the prevalent Water types in competitive play.
8 Light Type
The introduction of Dark type brought about the anticipation for a Light type among fans. It is seen as the ideal counterpart to Pokemon of darkness and would align well with various storylines. While some believe Light might not be introduced due to its similarities to the Fairy type, a Light and Fairy combination could function similarly to the current dynamics of Ground and Rock, or even Ice and Water. Additionally, the potential inclusion of a Light type could open the doors for more mythos or divinity-themed Pokemon to emerge, with Arceus being a likely candidate for this type.
7 Beast Type
Distinct from Uber Beasts, the inclusion of a Beast typing could significantly enhance gameplay by introducing balancing adjustments and quality of life enhancements to the extensive roster of Normal-type Pokémon. For instance, Primeape would acquire the Beast typing, while Chansey would not.
Introducing a Beast typing would effectively address the issue posed by the broad Normal category. Its mechanics would resemble those of the Fighting-type, thereby granting numerous Pokémon a beneficial secondary typing, enabling them to leverage essential strengths and weaknesses.
6 Cosmic Type
It is surprising that Cosmic has not been considered as a typing for Pokemon yet, given the multitude of space-based Pokemon in the games. Even back in the early days of Pokemon Red & Blue, Clefable was said to come from space and required a Moon Rock or meteorite to evolve.
Introducing a Cosmic typing would provide developers with the freedom to create unique and peculiar Pokemon that may not be viable as Earth-type creatures. Additionally, it could lead to exciting interstellar adventures in future games. Deoxys already exemplifies a Pokemon that closely aligns with a Cosmic type.
5 Artificial Type
Throughout the games, a recurring theme emerges - the role of human scientists in the creation of new Pokemon. Notably, Pokemon like Mewtwo, Porygon, Ditto, Castform, and Genesect have all been artificially conceived.
To delve deeper into this concept and emphasize its merits and imperfections, providing these Pokemon with their own unique typings seems fitting. This would allow for a thematic exploration of the advantages and disadvantages of humans engineering their own Pokemon. These artificially created Pokemon could exhibit strengths against certain types that pose a threat to humans, such as Poison and Dark, while remaining vulnerable to more formidable natural types like Dragon or Fairy.
4 Crystal Type
Some fans believe that the inclusion of Crystal as a new type would be intriguing. Sitting between Ice and Rock, Crystal would bring a unique balance to the game. Crystal-type Pokémon would generally consist of sturdy creatures, potentially exhibiting slightly higher speed compared to their Rock counterparts.
Exploring the concept further, it could also be fascinating to introduce new evolutions for specific Ice and Rock Pokémon when exposed to Crystals. For instance, imagine a Crystal Onix or Crystal Regice, both offering exciting possibilities. Additionally, incorporating a Crystal evolution for Eevee would undoubtedly add an intriguing twist to its evolutionary line.
3 Mythical Type
Introducing mythical types could be a solution to address the issue of overpowered Legendaries in competitive matches. Given that Mythical Pokemon already exist in the games, it wouldn't be too far-fetched to have a type dedicated to them in battle. Currently, Pokemon like Mew and Magearna are considered Mythical, but their status has no impact on their stats, abilities, strengths, weaknesses, or resistances. By establishing Mythical as an official type, while still maintaining its rarity, it could provide a means to empower these less-utilized Pokemon and serve as a viable counter to Legendaries.
2 Ancient Type
Introducing an ancient typing could add intrigue and potentially enhance the power of fossil Pokemon. Additionally, it would encompass older and more primitive Pokemon, such as an unmodified Genesect from ancient times.
The concept of an ancient typing would also be applicable to numerous Legendaries, which are often long-standing Pokemon that have existed since the beginning of existence. Should Game Freak ever introduce a Mythical typing, it would be logical to create an Ancient typing to maintain balance.
1 Shadow Type
The addition of a Shadow type in future Pokemon games could be considered, especially if a Light type were to be introduced. In the original Japanese versions, the Dark type is often associated with evil, so incorporating a Shadow type could allow for the inclusion of darker Pokemon that are not necessarily evil.
Additionally, it could be interesting to have certain Psychic Pokemon with a secondary typing of Shadow. Another possibility could be drawing inspiration from Pokemon Stadium and implementing the Shadow typing as a kind of doppelganger version of the Pokemon. This could function as a mechanic similar to Mega Evolution, where the Pokemon transforms into a Shadow version, granting increased offensive capabilities at the expense of durability. However, this transformation would only be temporary during battles.