Pokémon currently features 18 official types, ranging from classics like Fire and Water to more recent additions like Fairy—so yes, the type roster has gotten a bit crowded since the original 15. Type matchups, combos, and quirky outliers (looking at you, Bug/Dragon) keep gameplay fresh and endlessly strategic, much to the joy—and occasional frustration—of trainers everywhere. Wondering which type dominates the Pokédex, or which oddball combos haven’t debuted yet? Stick around for the stats and surprises.
So, just how many Pokémon types are there, anyway? Right now, the franchise officially recognizes 18 main types, although, if you’ve heard rumors about a “Stellar” type, that’s just some creative speculation from the internet—no such type exists, at least not in the main games.
Back in the day, when Pokémon Red and Blue first hit shelves, there were only 15 types, but as the series grew, Game Freak decided things needed shaking up. Generation II brought Dark and Steel types, and fans had to wait until Generation VI for the arrival of Fairy. Water-type Pokémon are the most common typing in the franchise, with a total of 159 different species.
Types aren’t just labels—they’re the backbone of Pokémon battles. Every Pokémon has either one or two types, which sets up their battle strengths and, naturally, their weaknesses. There are over 900 Pokémon available across eight generations, so the sheer variety of type matchups keeps things interesting. With 18 types, the math adds up to 171 possible single and dual-type combinations. Strangely enough, nine of those combinations still haven’t been used. Maybe someday we’ll see a Bug/Dragon or a Normal/Ice Pokémon—fingers crossed, right?
With 18 types, there are 171 possible combinations—yet nine have never appeared. Could Bug/Dragon or Normal/Ice happen next?
Type effectiveness is where things get spicy. Some types are “super effective” against others, which means extra damage (and bragging rights). Others have total immunities—like Ghost-types being completely unfazed by Normal and Fighting moves.
If you’re building a team, you’ll want to keep a type chart handy, unless you’ve memorized all those matchups. Dual-types can be a blessing or a curse, introducing extra strengths but also more ways to lose.
Not every type is equally represented. Normal-types reign supreme with 132 species, while Dragons and Fairies tie at 69 each, and Ice-types are pretty rare with 58. Some type combos are so unique, only a single Pokémon gets them, while others are shared across families.
With every new game, fresh type combos and strategies pop up, keeping things unpredictable and, honestly, preventing things from getting stale. The evolving type system is a big part of why Pokémon stays fun for veterans and newcomers.