Water-type Pokemon come in a diverse range of creatures that are both aquatic and land creatures. However, there are some Water-type Pokemon that are much stronger and some that are much weaker than the average Pokemon that can be found swimming in the oceans of the Pokemon world.
Players need to know the strongest and weakest Water-type Pokemon so that they can either strive to catch or completely avoid these unique creatures. Since Water-types are so common in the Pokemon franchise, there are a bunch that are powerful but also a lot that are weaklings.
Updated December 26th, 2020 by Tanner Kinney: The strength of a Pokemon comes in many different forms. Often times, trainers will see strong attacking stats as the most definitive form of strength, but that’s far from the truth. A Pokemon is not just a unit in a vacuum, but a member of a strong team that covers its strength and weaknesses. A strong water-type, therefore, is one that works to enable its team in various different ways. A weak water-type is one that just doesn’t really cut it in any form.
15 Strongest - Kingdra
Kingdra is a Pokemon that has only gotten better as time goes on. With each generation, it gets new options to use, new partners to enable it, and new tools to play with. However, its identity has always been the same: a dangerous threat, boosted by rain.
Kingdra doesn’t see a lot of use. There are a lot of checks and counters that make it harder to get Kingdra going. A reliance on weather also limits the places in which a Kingdra can fit into a team composition. However, when everything comes up Kingdra, this majestic sea horse has a ton of different options to keep opponents guessing.
14 Weakest - Wishiwashi
Wishiwashi is a bit of a gimmick Pokemon. The eye-test makes it look like an absolute behemoth, capable of inflicting serious damage while also taking serious damage. Its Schooling ability allows it to become a monster, and it likely did some serious damage to trainers in its Totem Battle in Sun and Moon.
However, Wishiwashi is mostly just bark when it isn’t in a Trick Room. It has good defense stats that accompany an abysmal HP pool. Since it lacks recovery options, it’s quite easier to beat Wishiwashi down into its solo form. This solo form is one of the worst Pokemon in the game, and its sad face knows its about to get fried. There are more reliable options than Wishiwashi.
13 Strongest - Toxapex
Toxapex is the definition of a Pokemon that shows the best offense is a good defense. And for defense, there’s little competition for Toxapex. Its great typing, natural recovery, and incredible bulk makes it able to stall just about every team that doesn’t have an answer. It’s the water-type equivalent to Ferrothorn, with a bit less of an offensive presence.
Competitive players are likely already familiar with this demon of a Pokemon. It does one thing, but it does it so well that there’s very little counterplay unless you’ve drafted appropriately. It won’t win through sheer offense, instead just letting its opponent beat themselves into submission.
12 Weakest - Lumineon
When was the last time you’ve seen a Lumineon? It was probably a wild encounter, or obtained during Pokedex completion. This fish is certainly pretty, with its illuminating presence and big, goofy fins. Finneon is also pretty adorable. However, in battles, it’s outclassed by pretty much everything.
It used to have a niche, being able to use Defog to clear entry hazards as a water-type, but even that has been taken by other Pokemon. It has poor defensive bulk and poor offensive power. In a tragic twist of fate, its pre-evolution has more of a purpose in Little Cup than Lumineon has in the big leagues. Lumineon is just a terrible, forgettable Pokemon.
11 Strongest - Pelipper
For years, Pelipper suffered the fate that many early route, common Pokemon a destined to. It had its niches, but it couldn’t compete an was relegated to lower tiers of play. It was a sad Pokemon despite how inescapable it is during playthroughs of Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire.
Then Gen 7 gave it Drizzle, and it found a new purpose. This one change single-handedly made Pelipper one of the staples of the OU-tier, outshining Politoed by having other pieces of utility and recovery. It’s an incredible ally to have on any Rain team, and a sight for sore eyes for any Swift Swim partners. Pelipper shouldn’t be underestimated; its power comes from the power of its friendship.
10 Weakest - Wimpod
Wimpod is an interesting case because it has a secondary Bug-type, which, although it isn’t the strongest, can still help Wimpod be more powerful in terms of its attack capability. However, Wimpod has such low stats compared to its evolution that it is weird that this creature was ever created in the first place.
Wimpod is unfortunately very weak, and as such, a lot of players choose not to catch it, sometimes it’s appearance alone can turn players off to the idea of adding it to their party. However, players should consider catching a Wimpod so that they can eventually evolve it into a Golisopod.
9 Strongest - Lapras
Lapras is both a Water-type and an Ice-type, which provides unique combinations in terms of its moveset. Furthermore, Lapras doesn’t have any evolutions, and although this is sometimes seen as a negative, it is actually a positive attribute for Lapras since it is already so powerful that it doesn’t even need to evolve.
Lapras is arguably the best Water-type that was introduced in Generation 1, and fans still continue to use it in Generation 8 for this reason. Being able to swim as quickly as Lapras and form Ice-type attacks is its true strength.
8 Weakest - Poliwag
Poliwag is the first evolution in the Poliwrath evolutionary line, and although it’s evolutions are creatures to be feared, Poliwag falls short both because of how small it is and because it doesn’t have a secondary type.
The best thing that can be said about Poliwag is that it is cute; however, this doesn’t do much for the Pokemon during the heat of battle. The redeeming qualities of Poliwag is that it can eventually evolve into Poliwrath; however, it will take quite a while.
7 Strongest - Suicune
Suicune is one of the legendary Pokemon that was introduced in the Johto region, and although it isn’t the strongest legendary that has ever been introduced, it is, without a doubt, one of the strongest Water-type Pokemon in the franchise.
Suicune is a Pokemon that has a determination that can rival even the stronger legendaries that are found in the franchise. Suicune is so powerful that it got its own game dedicated to it, Pokemon Crystal.
6 Weakest - Corsola
Corsola is one of the weakest Water-types; however, it was somewhat redeemed in Generation 8 because it got a new form that was a Ghost-type. Regardless, the original Corsola that is a Water-type can’t compete with the stronger Pokemon of it’s typing, such as Lapras and Feraligator.
Corsola is adorable, and a lot of players are drawn to it for this reason; however, its original form is not able to evolve, and as such, it will remain weak forever; because of this, players should not catch a Corsola if they want a powerful team.
5 Strongest - Swampert
Swampert is considered to be one of the strongest starter Pokemon that was introduced into the franchise since it has a secondary Ground-type that can help combat Electric-type Pokemon, a typing that is very common in the franchise.
Although some players debate whether Swampert is the strongest Water-type starter in the entire series, it is evident that it is a very powerful Pokemon with a diverse moveset and a great dual-type.
4 Weakest - Luvdisc
Similar to Corsola, Luvdisc is a Water-type Pokemon that is found in the ocean, and it has no evolutions to speak of. Luvdisc also has no secondary type and doesn’t have a large moveset that can create useful combinations.
Unfortunately, Luvdisc simply isn’t a very useful Water-type for a trainer to have on their team, and most people in the Pokemon world have quickly realized this and not added one of these Pokemon to their party.
3 Strongest - Blastoise
Blastoise and its evolutionary line were the first Water-type Pokemon in the franchise, and most players have fond memories of it since it was one of the starters in Generation 1. Blastoise doesn’t have a secondary type; however, because of how high its stats are, Blastoise can survive without this useful attribute.
One of the best things about Blastoise is that it is one of the few Water-types that have gained both a Mega Evolution and a Gigantamax form, which means that regardless of whether the player is playing a Generation six, seven, or eight game, they will still be able to use a more powerful version of Blastoise than its base form.
2 Weakest - Wooper
Wooper is a weak creature, similar to Poliwag, in many ways. Wooper does have a powerful evolution, Quagsire; however, when players catch the Pokemon itself, they usually realize how weak it is and either release it or leave it in their PC.
Furthermore, Wooper isn’t nearly as powerful as a lot of other Water-type Pokemon even in its evolved form, which is why it deserves to be considered one of the weakest Pokemon in the franchise to date.
1 Strongest - Kyogre
Kyogre is the creator of the oceans in the Pokemon world, and if that isn’t enough to prove that it is powerful, it also has a strong Primal form that acts as a Mega Evolution. When Primal Kyogre enters a battle, it can decimate any opponent with its Water-type attacks.
Primal Kyogre is able to swim much faster than the average aquatic Pokemon, and it has the highest special defense stat of any Water-type.
