The Pokémon franchise is home to many well-designed and strong Pokémon for players to choose from, but some have such bad type combos that they feel horrible to use. Type combos heavily impact both competitive and casual battles, so any Pokémon with too many weaknesses or one glaring weakness is doomed. Even stats like IVs and EVs, which are often equally important in fighting, cannot overcome the massive effect type advantages have. Some dual-type Pokémon can be relatively strong, but dual-types will always remain a double-edged sword.
Pokémon with very cool designs, powers, or general appeal that suffer from their typing are often the most prominent victims. Each generation usually has a couple of these, which are some of Pokémon‘s best final evolutions. This only furthers the problem as it could ruin a whole evolution line, as what would be the point of using a Pokémon that will evolve into something that becomes a hindrance? Five Pokémon that fall under this umbrella that suffers from their typing significantly are Shiftry, Abomasnow, Rhyperior, Aurorus, and Mr. Rime.
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Shiftry Could’ve Been Pokémon’s The Grass-Type Greninja
Though its design is more straightforward, Generation 3’s Shiftry had an excellent chance to be the Grass-type equivalent to Greninja, who is considered one of the stronger starters. However, Shiftry is significantly hurt by its Grass/Dark typing, as Grass already has the most weaknesses of any type, and gaining Dark only hurts that more. Usually, when two types come together, they can offset some other weaknesses, but that did not happen with Shiftry. Shiftry takes 2x damage from Fire, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Flying, and Pokémon’s overpowered Fairy-type, and 4x damage from Bug. As many of these types are fairly standard in Pokémon, Shiftry finds little use on many teams. Shiftry’s poor usage is also unfortunate as it is a well-balanced attacker with access to many strong moves, but it will rarely be able to stay on the field long enough to use them.
Abomasnow Combines Pokémon’s Weakest Defensive Types
Ice-types often have some of the most fabulous designs in the franchise but are also known for being notoriously weak defensively. Generation 4’s Abomasnow suffers from that, and its problem is only worsened by being Grass-type. Abomasnow is 2x weak to Fighting, Poison, Flying, Bug, and Rock while being 4x weak to Fire, which is one of the most common offensive types. Design-wise, Abomasnow is nothing spectacular, but the winter tree theme it follows is rather appealing and excels in its simplicity. The stats also benefit Abomasnow as it tends to be a well-balanced tank, or should be in theory. The reality is Abomasnow, who recently saw its Mega Evolution raid appear in Pokémon Go, will likely be taken out before it can deal any heavy damage.
Pokémon’s Rhyperior Lives Up To The Term Glass Cannon
Rhyperior is one of the pre-region evolutions that was added in Gen 4 and based on its stats, it should be a heavy hitter. However, since Rock and Ground are so similar, the combination doesn’t benefit the other and stacks the weaknesses. Rhyperior is immune to Electric and has a fair bit of resistance, but is also 2x weak to Ice, Fighting, Ground, and Steel, as well as 4x weak to Water and Grass. Many of those types are popular in the franchise, and coupled with Rhyperior’s low Special Defense, Rhyperior truly is a glass cannon. Rhyperior’s design is creative and takes the line down a more construction and destruction role, but the design alone cannot save it from its lackluster type combo.
Aurorus Is A Brilliant Pokémon Design With No Defense
The often underrated fossil Pokémon tend to be creatively designed, but many get poor type combos, and Aurorus is a prime example of that. The Ice/Rock combo does not give Aurorus any significant resistance while only doubling down on its weaknesses. In total, Aurorus is 2x weak to Water, Grass, Ground, and Rock, along with 4x weak to Fighting and Steel.
The significant part of Aurorus is its flexibility to a team, making it a great setup and support Pokémon. However, Aurorus also suffers from being rather slow and not very defensive, so it practically has no chance in battles. Trainers would have to set up protection so Aurorus could stay alive long enough to finish its setup. The idea of combining a dinosaur with the beauty of the Aurora Borealis is sadly wasted on a Pokémon that won’t see the field often enough.
Mr. Rime Is A Great Regional Form With No Survivability
Mr. Rime, Sword and Shield‘s Galarian evolution of Mr. Mime, has a standout design and is relatively strong in battles but is let down by becoming an Ice-type. Psychic itself is a strong offensive type and alone is somewhat balanced, but once again, Ice hurts the ability for a Pokémon to stay on the field. Mr. Rime even has high Special stats and well-balanced numbers in the other categories, but even that cannot overcome the glaring weaknesses. Though it has no 4x weaknesses, Mr. Rime is 2x weak to Fire, Bug, Rock, Ghost, Dark, and Steel. In specific strategies, Mr. Rime will be strong and certainly stands above the others on this list, but it also has other options that could fill its role and not come with as long a list of weaknesses.
Unfortunately, some Pokémon will always end up underused for a myriad of reasons, but typing will likely be the most significant one. A Pokémon with a poor design but strong typing, like the Pokémon that should have never been made, Klefki, will find usage no matter what. These five represent some of the most notable Pokémon that seemingly would be useful for battles but hold too many glaring weaknesses. A dual-type Pokémon receiving a type change has never happened in Pokémon, meaning that these five will have to make the best of their situation and find viability in what they can do, which Mr. Rime has done at the very least.