In-Depth Pokémon Type Analysis: Offense, Defense, Utility

Mastering Pokémon requires intimate knowledge of the strengths and utility of different types. The 18 types each bring unique offensive, defensive, and utility attributes that shape battle strategy and team building.

In this complete guide, we’ll analyze each Pokémon type in-depth across these key factors. Read on to learn how to leverage the distinctive qualities of each type when training, team building, and competing in battle!

Fire Type Analysis

Offense

• Devastating power against Grass, Bug, Ice, and Steel types
• Wallbreakers like Chandelure and Volcarona

Defense

• Weaknesses to common Water, Ground, Rock attacks
• Mediocre bulk outside of Heatran

Utility

• Sunny Day teams boost Fire damage and remove Water weakness
• Fire Spin trapping, Will-O-Wisp burns

Also, Check this as well Pokémon Type Combinations

Water Type Analysis

Offense

• Essential for countering Fire and Ground types
• Rain teams amplify damage with STAB Surf and other moves

Defense

• Wide defensive utility resisting Fire, Water, Ice, and Steel
• Gastrodon especially durable thanks to extra Ground typing

Utility

• Rain setter to power up rest of team’s Water attacks
• Scald burn chance, liquidation defense drop

Grass Type Analysis

Offense

• Powder move chance to paralyze, poison, sleep opponents
• Coverage against Water, Ground, and Rock

Defense

• Notable weaknesses to common Fire, Flying, Poison, Bug attacks
• Aromatherapy and other recovery moves

Utility

• Sleep Powder inducer
• Grassy Terrain recovery boost
• Synthesis healing

Electric Type Analysis

Offense

• Fast special sweepers like Jolteon and Manectric
• Volt Switch pivot moves
• Paralysis via Thunder Wave or Body Slam

Defense

• Grounds like Swampert and Gastrodon cancel all Electric attacks
• Otherwise solid special bulk

Utility

• Essential chip damage against Water and Flying
• Speed control with Electroweb
• Screens like Light Screen

Psychic Type Analysis

Offense

• Mewtwo and Mythical dominators
• Expand special coverage with Shadow Ball, Focus Blast

Defense

• Weakness to common Dark, Ghost, and Bug moves
• Mediocre physical bulk

Utility

• Slow down foes with Psyshock
• Future Sight mind games
• Reflect screens

Ghost Type Analysis

Offense

• Shadow Ball to pressure Psychics and Ghosts
• Swords Dance physical sweepers like Dragapult

Defense

• Shut down Fighting and Normal
• Watch out for Ghost weaknesses to Ghost, Dark
• Aegislash stance change durability

Utility

• Will-o-Wisp crippling physical threats
• Curses to power self up

Dragon Type Analysis

Offense

• Outrage and Draco Meteor extreme damage dealers
• Excellent neutral coverage hitting most types

Defense

• Weak only to Ice, Dragon, and Fairy
• Great bulk on Lati@s and Giratina

Utility

• Dragon Dance setup sweepers
• Roost recovery on Flyers like Dragonite

Dark Type Analysis

Offense

• Pursuit and Knock Off utility
• Sucker Punch priority revenge killing
• Snarl fast move damage and debuff

Defense

• Only Fighting and Bug super effective moves
• Most Dark types quite bulky like Umbreon

Utility

• Foul Play flips opponent power against them
• Knock Off removes items
• Snarl baiting and safe damage

Fairy Type Analysis

Offense

• Play Rough wrecks Dragons, Fighters, and Darks
• Dazzling Gleam wide Fairy STAB
• Togekiss and Gardevoir nuke with Charm

Defense

• Steel and Poison super effective coverage
• SpDef boosted by Misty Terrain

Utility

• Check Dragon sweepers
• Wish passing with Clefable
• Reflect screens

Fighting Type Analysis

Offense

• Close Combat demolishes Dark, Rock, Normal, Steel, Ice
• Counter users punish physical attacks

Defense

• Major weaknesses to Flying, Psychic, Fairy abound
• Focus Blast counters Steel and Dark

Utility

• Mach Punch priority
• Bulk Up boosting
• Rapid spin clearing

Steel Type Analysis

Offense

• Bullet Punch priority
• Coverage moves like Earthquake

Defense

• Massive physical durability
• Fire, Ground weaknesses require mitigation

Utility

• Toxic stalling
• Stealth Rock entry hazards
• Pursuit trapping

Ground Type Analysis

Offense

• Earthquake destroys Fire, Electric, Rock, Poison
• Fissure OHKO
• Mud Shot + Earth Power/Drill Run

Defense

• Water, Grass and Ice weaknesses
• Rock neutralizes Electric

Utility

• Sandstorm teams boost SpDef
• Soft check Electrics
• Stealth Rock entry hazard

Flying Type Analysis

Offense

• Brave Bird spam
• Acrobatics without held item

Defense

• Check Grass, Fighting, Bug
• Major Electric and Ice vulnerabilities

Utility

• U-turn pivot
• Defog hazard clearing
• Tailwind team speed control

Poison Type Analysis

Offense

• Take down Grass and Fairy
• Toxic stall win condition
• Acid Spray defense drops

Defense

• Key Ground weakness
• Poison neutralizes Toxic

Utility

• Toxic poison inducer
• Absorb Toxic Spikes
• Clear Smog purge enemy stat changes

Bug Type Analysis

Offense

• U-Turn pivot
• Quiver Dance boosters like Volcarona

Defense

• Rock, Fire, Flying weaknesses abound
• Scizor and Forretress have solid Defense

Utility

• Sticky Web entry hazard
• Poison inducers like Toxic Spikes
• Tail Glow boosting sweepers

Rock Type Analysis

Offense

• Stone Edge crushes Ice, Fire, Flying
• Stealth Rock wear down switch-ins

Defense

• Prominent Grass, Water, Ground, Fighting weaknesses
• Sturdy ability helps survival

Utility

• Rock Polish fast sweepers
• Sandstorm teams boost SpDef
• Checks Flying offense

Ice Type Analysis

Offense

• Dragon killers like Mamoswine and Cloyster
• BoltBeam perfect coverage

Defense

• Awful defensive typing with 4 weaknesses
• Focus on offense rather than durance

Utility

• Dragon check
• Icy Wind speed control
• Hail teams boost Blizzard power

Let me know if you have any other Pokémon type strategy or analysis questions!

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Pokémon types currently exist?

There are 18 different Pokémon types as of Generation 8.

What are the key factors to analyze for each type?

Look at offensive power, defensive utility, and other niche battlefield roles for each type.

Where can I learn type matchups and strengths/weaknesses?

Check out guides on type charts that summarize all the type interactions and damage multipliers.

What are some good offensive type standouts?

Dragon, Ghost, Fighting, Fire, and Dark have excellent offensive potential with proper support.

What are the best defensive Pokémon types?

Steel, Poison, Water, Ground, and Fairy stand out for defensive utility though dual-types are ideal.

Let me know if you have any other Pokémon type strategy questions!