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Underutilised type combinations

Reviving this thread (soz) to share some thoughts on some Pokemon not discussed as well as the more recent additions to the series.

So, first off: Rock/Dark. Yes, surprisingly Tyranitar has held onto this one for eight consecutive generations since its introduction. I was interested to see that not even Pokestar Studios had featured an opponent of this typing. It doesn't feel that outlandish of a mix on paper so you'd think there could be other species with the typing, but maybe it's been deliberately kept unique for a bit of extra flair. Tyranitar is cool so it's nice that it gets something exclusive (even if it's not the best typing ever)

We've had a new mainline game since this thread was last posted in so how did that affect things? Well... not all that much. Interestingly L:ZA is, as it turns out, the first mainline series game to not contain any new type combinations (which is perhaps not so surprising considering that it contains no truly new species, just forms) but looking at the list of Mega Evolutions introduced in that title, it's interesting how few of them change type(s) when they evolve. But this means that a lot of the Pokemon with new megas end up "doubling down" on their original typings, some of which are unique or underserved. Ones that jump out at me:

We got a second Fairy/Flying! Which... eh. Honestly if you're going to have a second go at this one Clefable is not the most interesting choice for it, Togekiss and Clefable overlap more than a little. And statwise they're incredibly similar too. Yeah this one's a bit of a miss.

We got another Water/Dragon. Which is not actually a particularly underdone combination at this point, but it does strike me that Mega Feraligatr being Water/Dragon feels a bit uninspired given that it's literally from the same generation as the original Water/Dragon Pokemon. Not to mention that Tatsugiri also got a mega evolution in the DLC!

We got a new Rock/Fighting with Mega Barbaracle! That's actually quite cool. And very much not a design that treads on Terrakion's toes so that's neat. I like this one.

New Dark/Ghost with Absol! Very cool indeed, and a far superior design to its other mega.

New Fighting/Flying with Staraptor. Which... sure. Not really a change I think needed to be made because nothing about its design screams "Fighting" to me, just "bigger angrier bird".

Fire/Steel is one that's also not been discussed in this thread yet. Heatran got a mega in L:ZA so there's technically two. But a thoroughly underexplored typing it remains IMO, I'd love to see this one get more love.
 
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Don't forget about Enamorus and turtle Enamorus for Fairy/Flying. The base form breaks away by being a frail attacker, and the therian form, while also kind of similar to Togekiss/Mega Clefable, distinguishes itself by being even slower and boasting a usable physical attack stat.
 
CPU said:
Don't forget about Enamorus and turtle Enamorus for Fairy/Flying. The base form breaks away by being a frail attacker, and the therian form, while also kind of similar to Togekiss/Mega Clefable, distinguishes itself by being even slower and boasting a usable physical attack stat.
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Ah no I hadn't but I was just thinking of how Togekiss and Clefable are so similar in concept/appearance - Enamorus has never felt like either of them to me, it's ugly and very much the wicked/devious type of fairy, while the former two are so gentlehearted and timid.

Different conversation really but Flying is such an odd choice for a Pokemon explicitly said not to use those wings for flying; controlling/manipulating gravity has always been a Psychic technique. If it levitates without flying it should... well, have Levitate.
 
GokuTournament777 said:
I would like more Psychic/Electric Pokemon. No single type resists both and you get 5 decent resistances. Raichu Alola just doesn't have the stats. I could see it being cool enough typing for a legendary to have it.
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Yeah, Electric really has a lot of good options and just no real attempts to explore that space besides random gimmicks(give me Electric/Fire PLEASE).
 
:XY/rotom-mow:

Here’s a fun one I rediscovered recently. Specifically on Mow Rotom, but even naturally, I feel like there just are not that many Pokémon with this typing. In fact, if there are any others, I can’t think of them off the top of my head. You’re a Grass-Type that beats Flying, an Electric-Type that beats Ground, quad-resistant to Electric, resist Water and beat it with both STABs, and you’re immune to Spore? Pop off, Queen, I wasn’t familiar with your game!
 
bdt2002 said:
:XY/rotom-mow:

Here’s a fun one I rediscovered recently. Specifically on Mow Rotom, but even naturally, I feel like there just are not that many Pokémon with this typing. In fact, if there are any others, I can’t think of them off the top of my head. You’re a Grass-Type that beats Flying, an Electric-Type that beats Ground, quad-resistant to Electric, resist Water and beat it with both STABs, and you’re immune to Spore? Pop off, Queen, I wasn’t familiar with your game!
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Hisuian Voltorb/Electrode are also that type, but they basically don't exist. You're right, it's a shockingly good typing.
 
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