Worst Pokémon type?

[Squirrel]

We've had the best, now it's time for the worst - which do you think is the worst Pokémon type for competitive battling? How do duel-typings effect this? Is there a type that you see as unsalvageable in the current meta? Discuss!

 

[Sirfetch’d]

Currently I will have to say that Poison is probably the worst type in competitive play. With all of the Steel types out there immune to their attacks and just simply the lack of coverage proves this. Poison is only super effective against one type and that is Grass type which itself isn't used too often. This is a shame too because Poison is one of my favorite types but it simply can't cut it in competitive play. Now I will not say that all Poison moves are bad because Toxic is one of the most common and one of the best moves to use as well as Toxic Spikes, but running a Poison type Pokemon just isn't as viable. I have high hopes that the introduction of the Fairy type might make Poison types more common if Poison does actually turn out to be SE against it.

There are also some bad dual typings such as Fire/Bug, Fire/Flying, and Bug/Flying that have a 4x weakness to Stealth Rock. It is really hard to use these Pokemon without a spinner to clear away hazards for them to set up or have a chance to get off attacks. For example, Yanmega is one of the strongest Pokemon in UU, but due to SR it can have a hard time functioning. It usually runs a LO set, and after taking 50% of its HP after SR it can only get off a few attacks due to recoil damage. That is why these typings are pretty bad.

 

[Nolafus]

I have to say the poison or rock types are the worst competitively. The former doesn't have good coverage while the latter really lacks a lot of mons that provide a lot of power bar Tyraniter and Terrokoin. Rock type monotype teams really struggle against physical walls thanks to the majority of the type being psychical attackers.

For me, ice/bug would be the hardest type to make viable as it's not only has a 4X weakness to stealth rock, but also to common fire type moves as well.

 

[KorpiklaaniVodka]

Currently I will have to say that Poison is probably the worst type in competitive play. With all of the Steel types out there immune to their attacks and just simply the lack of coverage proves this. Poison is only super effective against one type and that is Grass type which itself isn't used too often. This is a shame too because Poison is one of my favorite types but it simply can't cut it in competitive play. Now I will not say that all Poison moves are bad because Toxic is one of the most common and one of the best moves to use as well as Toxic Spikes, but running a Poison type Pokemon just isn't as viable. I have high hopes that the introduction of the Fairy type might make Poison types more common if Poison does actually turn out to be SE against it.

No. NO. NO. NO FREAKING WAY.

The Poison-type is actually one of the best types in the game. The reason for this is because while they are not good offensively, they are actually surprisingly good defensively, absorbing Toxic Spikes and having access to dangerous moves such as Toxic, as well as the mentioned Toxic Spikes. Poison-type moves aren't that bad - there are Sludge Wave, Gunk Shot, Sludge Bomb and Poison Jab. Four powerful moves that allow Poison-types to hit hard. And did I mention how annoying Tentacruel is?
Resisting Fighting and Grass is a great thing, as they are common types offensively.


The worst type in OU is in my opinion Fire. The reason for this is because Politoed and Tyranitar are everywhere in this tier and it'll limit the usefulness of the Fire-type. Pair that with a crippling Stealth Rock weakness and the fact that Dragon-types and Water-types are everywhere in OU, and Fire-types suddenly have a lot of trouble. They are super-effective against stuff like Scizor and Ferrothorn, yes, but they do next to nothing against Politoed and Tyranitar. Also, all Ninetales really does is to set up Drought, while Poli and T-tar can also do something else besides setting up rain or sand, respectively.

 

[Sirfetch’d]

No. NO. NO. NO FREAKING WAY.

The Poison-type is actually one of the best types in the game. The reason for this is because while they are not good offensively, they are actually surprisingly good defensively, absorbing Toxic Spikes and having access to dangerous moves such as Toxic, as well as the mentioned Toxic Spikes. Poison-type moves aren't that bad - there are Sludge Wave, Gunk Shot, Sludge Bomb and Poison Jab. Four powerful moves that allow Poison-types to hit hard. And did I mention how annoying Tentacruel is?
Resisting Fighting and Grass is a great thing, as they are common types offensively.


The worst type in OU is in my opinion Fire. The reason for this is because Politoed and Tyranitar are everywhere in this tier and it'll limit the usefulness of the Fire-type. Pair that with a crippling Stealth Rock weakness and the fact that Dragon-types and Water-types are everywhere in OU, and Fire-types suddenly have a lot of trouble. They are super-effective against stuff like Scizor and Ferrothorn, yes, but they do next to nothing against Politoed and Tyranitar. Also, all Ninetales does is really to set up Drought, while Poli and T-tar can also do something else besides setting up rain or sand, respectively.

Not going to disagree with what you said because it is true. Fire types aren't that great at all, but this isn't restricted to OU. You see many fire types being viable in lower tiers such as Victini, Chandelure, Darmanitan, Magmortar, etc and are all used pretty well.

I also see your point about Poison types being able to absorb fighting attacks and T-Spikes, but in all honesty do that many people run Poison types for that? Some do, but I usually see a spinner more useful for clearing hazards because it can clear them all not just T-Spikes. Also there are other Pokemon that are great for switching into fighting attacks such as Jellicent.

You also mention that Poison types are great because they have access to Toxic. You do realize that 99% of Pokemon have access to that move right?

 

[Boilurn]

The Bug-type is in my opinion the worst out of all 17 types. They have the lowest average Base Stat total, no unique niches, no immunities and its STAB is resisted by six types (Including the common Ghost and Steel types). They are also weak to Stealth Rock as well as all forms of status. That's as bad as it gets.

 

[Sirfetch’d]

The Bug-type is in my opinion the worst out of all 17 types. They have the lowest average Base Stat total, no unique niches, no immunities and its STAB is resisted by six types (Including the common Ghost and Steel types). They are also weak to Stealth Rock as well as all forms of status. That's as bad as it gets.

I'd agree Bug type can be horrid without assistance from spinners because of SR. However, I still think that Scizor, Forretress, and Volcarona really do the Bug type well. Scizor is still one of the most common Pokemon used because of its sheer strength and ability to U-turn out of a situation, Forretress can set up and spin away hazards, and if Volcarona can switch in on no Stealth Rocks, can set up and be a devastating sweeper. Though sadly outside of these and maybe a few more, Bug can certainly be argued as the worst type.

 

[Lucky1Yena]

While I've never REALLY done competitive battling, I can still say this: A duel-type bug/grass Pokémon has so many weaknesses it's not even funny.

SIX weaknesses (fire, ice, poison, flying, bug and rock), two of which do 4x the damage normally.

 

[Boilurn]

I'd agree Bug type can be horrid without assistance from spinners because of SR. However, I still think that Scizor, Forretress, and Volcarona really do the Bug type well. Scizor is still one of the most common Pokemon used because of its sheer strength and ability to U-turn out of a situation,

U-turn! I forgot that some of the Bug-type moves have a niche, and U-turn is certainly one of them, as it hits every Pokemon and works while taunted, unlike Volt Switch and Baton Pass respectively. Struggle Bug, Tail Glow and Quiver Dance are some of the other unique moves, but still, I'm sure that with U-turn's great secondary effect it is one of the best Bug-type moves out there, despite having average power. I can tell that GameFreak have made improvements on that type unlike the first three generations.

 

[Keiran]

Poison and bug are actually quite good. Both have numerous, useful resistances to support dual-types well. The ice-type is definitely the worst type to have- no useful resistances whatsoever and weaknesses to many common attacks. Since many things weak to Ice are doubly weak to it, Ice-STAB is rarely needed. Also, since it has nearly no representation in the metagame Gamefreak balances around, its safe to say that Ice is the worst type designed in regards to competitive play.

 

[Sirfetch’d]

Poison and bug are actually quite good. Both have numerous, useful resistances to support dual-types well. The ice-type is definitely the worst type to have- no useful resistances whatsoever and weaknesses to many common attacks. Since many things weak to Ice are doubly weak to it, Ice-STAB is rarely needed. Also, since it has nearly no representation in the metagame Gamefreak balances around, its safe to say that Ice is the worst type designed in regards to competitive play.

Ice types themselves can be generally useless at times because of SR weaknesses and I really hope that this gen brings some improvements to the defensively. Ice types do have a good niche though in taking down the all too common Dragon. While you will more times than not see non-Ice types doing this role, there are still good Ice types out there such as Cloyster, Mamoswine, Frosslass, Abomasnow, Jynx, Weaville, and Kyurem that all have great roles in their respective tiers. However, I do agree that Ice types can be pretty bad and aren't as useful as most types.

 

[KorpiklaaniVodka]

I also see your point about Poison types being able to absorb fighting attacks and T-Spikes, but in all honesty do that many people run Poison types for that? Some do, but I usually see a spinner more useful for clearing hazards because it can clear them all not just T-Spikes. Also there are other Pokemon that are great for switching into fighting attacks such as Jellicent.

...until you realise most Fighting-type Pokemon have stuff like Payback for Ghost-types (especially Conkeldurr), but they can't really do much to poison-types because if they were to run Earthquake, Fighting-type STAB and Ground-type coverage are pretty much redunant because Poison-types are rare in this metagame (not to mention they'd rather run Stone Edge for Fire- and Flying-types). A spinner can be spinblocked, unless it has foresight (but what user of rapid spin with access to Foresight will you actually see in OU? Hitmontop?), whereas Poison-types can switch in and absorb them. And tbh I'd rather use a Magic Bounce user (preferably Xatu).

The fact that Poison-types are so rare in this metagame ironically makes them good.

Poison and bug are actually quite good. Both have numerous, useful resistances to support dual-types well. The ice-type is definitely the worst type to have- no useful resistances whatsoever and weaknesses to many common attacks. Since many things weak to Ice are doubly weak to it, Ice-STAB is rarely needed. Also, since it has nearly no representation in the metagame Gamefreak balances around, its safe to say that Ice is the worst type designed in regards to competitive play.

Actually, no. The Ice-type is a good type offensively. Kyurem(-B) and Weavile, for example, are very good Ice-type physical attackers, with the former also being able to go on a mixed or special route, while the latter has Pursuit, Ice Shard, Low Kick and a great base 125 Speed. However, you won't see Kyurem-C often in OU because it works best in hail, which is by far the worst weather (although it's also my 2nd favourite to use, after sand). Speaking of hail, Abomasnow is also a good attacker, with 172 SpA EVs being able to OHKO Scizor with HP Fire while 84 Spe EVs allow it to outpace it as well as Politoed and Tyranitar, and KOing them with Wood Hammer.
There's also Mamoswine, which like Weavile has Ice Shard, as well as powerful STABs in Icicle Crash and Earthquake. And let's not forget about Cloyster: its Shell Smash set can spell doom to many teams, but it has trouble setting up due to its downright horrible special bulk.
However, the Ice-type is indeed the worst type defensively, and I hope it will resist to Fairy-type attacks in gen VI.

 

[PlatinumDude]

I'd say that Poison and Ice are bad. While Poison has decent neutral coverage, it only hits 1 type (Grass) supereffectively. Ice suffers from having common weaknesses to Fire, Fighting and Rock.

 

[Keiran]

Actually, no. The Ice-type is a good type offensively. Kyurem(-B) and Weavile, for example, are very good Ice-type physical attackers, with the former also being able to go on a mixed or special route, while the latter has Pursuit, Ice Shard, Low Kick and a great base 125 Speed. However, you won't see Kyurem-C often in OU because it works best in hail, which is by far the worst weather (although it's also my 2nd favourite to use, after sand). Speaking of hail, Abomasnow is also a good attacker, with 172 SpA EVs being able to OHKO Scizor with HP Fire while 84 Spe EVs allow it to outpace it as well as Politoed and Tyranitar, and KOing them with Wood Hammer.
There's also Mamoswine, which like Weavile has Ice Shard, as well as powerful STABs in Icicle Crash and Earthquake. And let's not forget about Cloyster: its Shell Smash set can spell doom to many teams, but it has trouble setting up due to its downright horrible special bulk.
However, the Ice-type is indeed the worst type defensively, and I hope it will resist to Fairy-type attacks in gen VI.

Yeah, but I think this is about the actual types and not Pokemon with said type having a small niche. The point is, an Ice-type needs to have tons of other positive characteristics to make it usuable like all of the Pokemon you listed, whereas any Pokemon is usually blessed just by being part Water (for example).

 

[Fire Flyy]

its normal type without question; poison has good resistances and absorbs/sets Tspikes; normal has no resistances at all and hits nothing supereffectively, which matters a lot since the game is based around super-effective hits and resisting hits for the most part

 

[Shrew]

"What is the worst offensive type? What is the worst defensive type?"

Asking what the worst type overall is... well, that's a lot tougher than the above question. For instance, those who have commented above have made arguments for why the Poison type is bad offensively. And then people countered these arguments, saying how Poison is useful for its resistances and getting rid of T-spikes.

A friend and I once added up weaknesses and resistances, finding that Grass was tied for having the highest (weaknesses - resistances) defensively, and being second for having the least (supereffective - n.v.effective) offensively. Yet Grass types make up for this with status and strategies like subseed.

The person above said Normal was one of the worst; however, Normal type moves tend to have good coverage alongside other moves. Defensively, Normal types only have one weakness.

Overall, I think Poison types are currently the worst off typing. Offensively, they're purely bad. Defensively, they're average. Their are better defensive types to take advantage of toxic stalling. Finally, Toxic Spikes isn't common enough to make this specialty a big deal.

 

[KorpiklaaniVodka]

its normal type without question; poison has good resistances and absorbs/sets Tspikes; normal has no resistances at all and hits nothing supereffectively, which matters a lot since the game is based around super-effective hits and resisting hits for the most part

The Normal-type, however, is only resisted by three types: Ghost, Rock and Ground. Earthquake / Fire Punch and a Ghost- or a Dark- type move take care of this and thus the Normal-type can cover its resistances. Not to mention Normal-types have access to a very expansive movepool and are quite bulky too. There's a reason Arceus-Normal is #2 in Ubers.

 

[DestinedJedi]

If its a single type its definitely rock. If its a duo its grass/psychic because it has the most weaknesses

 

[Precious Tears]

By offensive, it's gotta be Poison-type, their moves are only super effective against Grass-type

Spoiler:

and Fairy-type

.

Defensively speaking it should be none other than Grass-type, they have a lot of weaknesses like Bug-moves, Ice-moves, Fire-moves, Flying-moves, Poison-moves. Most have frail defensive stats, with Ferrothorn, Ludicolo being one of the few good defensive Grass Pokemon.

 

[Nolafus]

Defensively speaking it should be none other than Grass-type, they have a lot of weaknesses like Bug-moves, Ice-moves, Fire-moves, Flying-moves, Poison-moves. Most have frail defensive stats, with Ferrothorn, Ludicolo being one of the few good defensive Grass Pokemon.

I'll have to disagree with you on this one (and not only because grass is my favorite type). I'd have to go with ice because the only thing it resists is itself, while having extremely common weaknesses like fire, fighting, and rock. I'm only speaking in terms of defense here.

Offensively, I've got to go with the majority and say poison.