Summary
The now global phenomenon that isPokemonstarted with humble beginnings in Kanto. However, it’s clear that some parts of the first generation weren’t completely thought through. From somewhat lazy monster designs to unbalanced Pokemon typing, it’s clear the series hadn’t quite found its footing.
This is most clear in a few Kanto Pokemon’s typings; there are quite a few with confusing (almost nonsensical) types. These are Pokemon that have completely different types than what you would expect from their design or Pokedex entries that, if released in a modern Pokemon generation, would almost certainly have different types to suit their design and lore better.
10Electrode
The Ball Pokemon
The purpose behind Voltorb andElectrode’sdesign is obvious: they’re mimics. A mimic is a type of monster that looks like treasure but attacks the player when they attempt to collect it, often in a weakened state. While less straightforward than other types, the dark type is all about this “underhanded” way of fighting and is sometimes considered the “evil” type. What’s more evil than attacking a weakened trainer just when they think they’ve found a potion?
However, Electrode has no way to learn dark-type moves through leveling or TMs. For that reason, this suggestion is probably the weakest on the list.
9Dodrio
The Triple Bird Pokemon
Dodriois evidence that flying should more accurately be called the “bird” type. After all, what about slapping someone with a wing involves flying? If we were to go just off of Dodrio’s dex entries, it’s easy to assume that it can’t even fly. Instead, they focus on how fast it can run (up to 40 MPH).
Not to mention that Dodrio isclearly based on ostriches and emus,which are flightless birds. While Dodrio can learn Fly, it makes much more sense to have this Pokemon be a ground type to emphasize its inability to fly. Game Freak should either show us Dodrio’s flying animation, or admit their mistake and change its typing.
8Cloyster
The Bivalve Pokemon
When imagining an ice-type Pokemon, what animals make the most sense for them to be? Mammoths? Penguins? How about a clam? That last one is clearly the odd one out. It seems that Game Freak finished the game, realized they only had three ice types, and decided to retroactively makeCloysterinto one.
Nothing in its design suggests mastery over the cold; its Pokedex entries only mention its ability to shoot spikes as self-defense. While implied to be ice from its move pool, it could easily be anything else. So, why not make it part rock type? After all, its shell is as “hard as diamonds,” and the rock type would make sense for a Pokemon so focused on defense.
7Golem
The Megaton Pokemon
Kanto had an interesting perception of the rock type; it was different from the ground type, but there was a significant amount of overlap. However, while there were several pure ground types, there were no pure rock types; they were given the ground type as well.
While this makes sense for Onix and Rhydon as they emphasize digging,Golem’stype is a real head-scratcher. Golem’s dex entries all emphasize its “boulder-like body,” and thus, its rock typing. Considering Golem is probably one of the first Pokemon players think of when they talk about rock types, it just makes sense to keep its typing simple.
6Arbok
The Cobra Pokemon
Arbokhas repeatedly gotten the short end of the stickin comparison to its partner, Weezing. It’s never gotten a regional form and is easily forgotten when it really shouldn’t be. A major point of its design isn’t its poisonous abilities but rather the intimidating pattern on its hood.
This pattern is so frightening that it can paralyze its foes before crushing them (backed up by its ability to learn Glare). This almost seems like cheating, doesn’t it? Like, in the way a dark type would? While the newest generations may choose to ignore thisamazing Pokemon design, giving it the dark type would make it a little more interesting and do its intimidating design justice.
5Weezing
The Poison Gas Pokemon
Weezingis meant to represent air pollution and isessentially three balloons filled with poisonous gas.Upon first encountering this Pokemon, one might assume it is immune to ground-type moves such as Earthquake, instead of the move being super effective, because it’s off the ground. This assumption would be correct, but for the wrong reason. Weezing has the ability Levitate, which gives them immunity to ground-type moves.
One could argue that it doesn’t fly so much as float, but that could just as easily apply to Drifblim, a flying/ghost type. Adding the flying type seems only fair to the Pokemon meant to represent the polluted sky.
4Porygon
The Virtual Pokemon
Normal is often meant for Pokemon that don’t fall into the other types. This usually means that basic animals, like rats, bears, and cows, are normal types; however, even normal Pokemon can be a bit weird paradoxically (like Ditto, for example). Even then,Porygonis almost in a category of its own.
Said to be the first artificially created Pokemon,this little guycan travel into cyberspace. Does that seem like a normal thing to do? If anything, that seems similar to the ability of Rotom, an electric type. Clearly, Porygon does not belong in the “other” category when its association with computers and technology would make perfect sense as an electric-type.
3Ninetales
The Fox Pokemon
A powerful fire-type welcome onany team,Ninetalesreceived a regional form in Gen 7, an ice/fairy type. While this variant is absolutely beautiful, it makes the original look a little lackluster in comparison. However, looking at its dex entries, this shouldn’t be the case. Each tail is described as having a unique “mystical power,” and if someone grabs one of its tails, they’ll be cursed for a thousand years.
That doesn’t really sound like a fire type. Instead, a ghost type would be much more fitting (additionally, Curse is a ghost-type move). Not only would this make Ninetales a more interesting Pokemon, but it also brings it up to par with its regional variant.
2Gengar
The Shadow Pokemon
While previously, the dark type was interpreted to mean “evil,” a few Pokemon wield this type literally and control darkness itself (such as Darkrai).Gengaris one of these Pokemon. Not only is it called the shadow Pokemon - and lookslike a silhouette- but all of its dex entries mention it hiding in or pretending to be people’s shadows.
idden from view, it either steals their life force or scares/curses them. Such a sinister and mischievous nature would much better be represented by the dark type. While Ghastly is clearly a poison type, Gengar has evolved past that.
1Golduck
The Duck Pokemon
Psyduck probably has one of the most disappointing evolutions in all of Pokemon. It starts off as a little guy with psychic powers it can’t control and accidentally gives itself headaches. One would assume that, upon evolving, it would master its psychokinetic abilities and become a powerful Pokemon. Instead, it becomes a duck that can swim quickly (literally, that’s it).
A few entries do occasionally acknowledge its supernatural powers.Pokemon Sunstates that the red part of its head grants its bearer psychic powers, so why shouldn’t that apply to the duck Pokemon themselves?Golduck, one of the most recognizable Pokemon of Gen 1, deserves more than a forgettable evolution and a bland typing.
