The Best Pokémon Types for Offense, Defense, and Overall Viability

With 18 different Pokémon types featuring unique strengths and weaknesses, what are objectively the best typings to use in battle? This definitive guide evaluates each type across key criteria to identify the premier Pokémon types for offense, defense, versatility, and more.

Also, Check this as well Pokémon Type Calculator App

Offensive Types

Offensively, these types consistently deal big damage:

Dragon

Devastating power with moves like Outrage and Draco Meteor
Only weak to itself, Ice, Fairy
Dragon-type attackers dominate without proper counters

Ghost

SE damage against ubiquitous Psychic and Ghost types
Powerful STAB Shadow Ball and Shadow Claw
Immune to Normal and Fighting coverage

Dark

Knocks out Ghost and Psychic types with ease
Sucker Punch provides priority revenge killing
Nearly flawless neutral coverage with Dark moves

Fighting

Steamrolls Normal, Rock, Ice, Dark, and Steel
Power-Up Punch, Close Combat and other Fighting moves crush
U-turn lets Fighting types pivot and keep momentum

These types can easily sweep unprepared teams with their mighty offense.

Defensive Types

For defense, these sturdy types repeatedly frustrate opponents:

Steel

Massive resistances including 11 types
Only weak to Fire, Fighting, Ground
Impenetrable physical wall with immense Defense

Fairy

Key resistance to common Dragon attacks
Only Poison and Steel do meaningful damage
Natural bulk enhanced by SpDef-boosting Misty Terrain

Poison

Tanks Fighting, Grass, Bug, Fairy moves with ease
Toxic and Poison neutralize direct damage attempts
Black Sludge recovery and other stall tactics

Water

Quad resists the ubiquitous Fire type
Tanks Ice, Water, and Steel moves well
Recovery moves like Aqua Ring and Rain Dish

Lean on these defensively formidable types to repeatedly deny opponents.

Most Versatile Types

For balance, these types bring vital offense and defense:

Fire

SUN teams amplify the power even further
Coverage moves like Solar Beam handle Water types
Heatran and other Fires have workable bulk

Electric

Lightning offense pressures Water, Flying types
Motor Drive and Volt Absorb abilities pivot damage
Screens, priority, and speed control support options

Psychic

Mewtwo, Deoxys and other Psychics hit tremendously hard
Essential coverage with Ghost, Fighting moves
Screens and other support moves

Grass

Razor Leaf, Power Whip and other moves hit hard
Leech Seed, Synthesis reliable healing
Checks key Water, Ground, and Rock types

These types pull their weight on both ends of the battlefield to enable balanced team building.

Most Versatile Dual Types

The best type combinations bring ideal complementary strengths:

Water/Ground – Offensive coverage plus bulk
Dragon/Flying – Devastation and speed together
Fire/Fighting – Raw power and great coverage
Steel/Fairy – Impenetrable physical wall
Ghost/Dark – Flawless neutral coverage

Dual types merge the powers of both component types for peak performance potential.

Conclusion

While no Pokémon type is objectively the single best, Dragon, Ghost, and Steel stand out offensively and defensively respectively. For balance, Psychic and Fire types shine. And dual types like Water/Ground fuse multiple powers seamlessly.

Build your teams leveraging these premier typings. But also cover their weaknesses with proper supports to maximize success!