Pokemon as a franchise does a lot of things great, but as with anything it isn’t void of criticism or critique. There are plenty of parts of the franchise that fans and experts alike agree that should be fixed to better reflect the modern state the series is in.
Many times this has to do with Pokemon typing and how a good number of Pokemon seem to have the wrong type, whether that be a single-typed creature or one with a secondary-type that makes no sense. This continues to be an issue even with the recent release of Pokemon Sword & Shield.
10 Fletchling
Not everything is always a case of something needing to change, but sometimes it would just make sense. In the case of Fletchling, it doesn’t need to have its second type changed to Fire-type to reflect its two evolutionary forms, but that doesn’t mean it should stay the same. If anything they should either change it or simply make it just a Flying-type. There’s no reason for Fletchling, the Tiny Robin Pokemon, to be attached to the Normal-type in any way. It feels so out of place when compared to its entire evolutionary line.
9 Farfetch’d
With Farfetch’d having finally received some evolutionary love in Pokemon Sword & Shield it’s time to retroactively fix its secondary typing of Normal-type. It needs to now be a part of the Fighting-type, which reflects its stoic nature and pairs it better with its Galarian form. Farfetch’d from the Kanto region are Flying and Normal-type, whereas those found in the Galar region are simply Fighting-type. This is odd considering both of them hold a leek and use it as a weapon in battle. It’s a perfect case for the designers to go back and change a Kanto Pokemon for the better.
8 Pyroar
From an aesthetic standpoint, Pyroar is arguably the worst design among the 893 Pokemon currently in existence. It’s a shame that a pure lion-inspired creature was gifted with such an off-putting appearance. Its name lets people know it’s at least a Fire-type, but the designers paired that with the Normal-type for some reason.
A secondary typing of the Dark-type would have made it interesting from a strategy perspective, but instead, it was made to be the least desirable Pokemon to ever exist. At least Magikarp turns into Gyarados.
7 Noctowl
Though some fans may argue Noctowl’s beta design was incredible, its final design isn’t too shabby either. Its real problem is that it is a Normal and Flying-type, which gives it no personality or uniqueness. This makes it easy to overlook and avoid when building a team of Pokemon in the Johto region. Since it’s an owl-inspired Pokemon, it only makes sense that it should have the Dark-type as its secondary type instead of being attached to the Normal-type. This is an issue with many bird Pokemon and doesn’t make sense most of the time.
6 Heliolisk
The Dragon-type is arguably one of the most popular typings in the franchise, and when paired with another type this makes it even more sought after. When it comes to Dragon and Electric dual-types it’s been relegated to mega evolutions, legendary Pokemon, and fossil Pokemon. Heliolisk should have and deserves to be the first regular Pokemon with the combination. It’s a brilliant reptile that can easily be mistaken as a wingless dragon. It makes more sense for it to be part Dragon-type than it does for it to have the Normal-type attached to it.
5 Drapion
It’s be quite common to see a Pokemon get better typing as it evolves, but in the case of Drapion, it seems to lose its way. Its base form named Skorupi is a Poison and Bug-type, which reflects the fact that it’s a poisonous scorpion and is a threat on multiple levels. When it evolves at level 40 it trades out its Bug-type for the Dark-type. Drapion, the Ogre Scorp Pokemon, is still very much reminiscent of scorpions. There’s no reason it should have the Dark-type instead of the Bug-type it was originally attached to.
4 Indeedee
Throughout the entire roster of Pokemon, the designers have done a handful of interesting things when it comes to differing male and female designs. However, none of them deal with typing. The male and female versions of Indeedee have drastically different designs but both happen to be Psychic and Normal dual-types.
Either the male or female Indeedee could have their Normal-type changed to Fairy-type — it’d work well with their design and add a unique dynamic to typing.
3 Drampa
Pokemon as a franchise has its fair share of weird creatures, but Drampa looks like something out of a 1970s PBS cartoon show. It’s known to share a special bond with children and has a compassionate personality. Adding in how colorfully pastel its body is, a secondary Fairy-typing seems to fit. Attaching that to the Dragon-type is something the series hasn’t done yet, and lore-wise matches how friendly it is to kids, but how violent it can become to bullies who target those it cares about.
2 Gyarados
The two most notable and infamous cases as to why Pokemon should retroactively have their dual-typings changed both happen to revolve around Kanto region native Pokemon. Gyarados is the first of the two and is the Water and Flying-type final form of the weakling fish Pokemon known as Magikarp. Despite it learning and effectively using Dragon-type moves in addition to it looking like a Chinese dragon, the choice was made to make it a Flying-type. It’s quite egregious that this change was never made and to this day it’s still a head-scratcher to those who learn for the first time that Gyarados is part Flying-type.
1 Charizard
Charizard may have the most valuable trading cards and be the most popular starting Pokemon, but the Flame Pokemon isn’t without its faults. In addition to it measuring in at just above 5 feet in height, it also happens to not be a Dragon-type despite it essentially being and looking the part of your typical dragon. If a Pokemon is Dragon-type and has wings, its ability to fly is virtually a given at that point. It still sits as a Flying and Fire dual-type. And despite plenty of feedback from its community, it seems like the franchise is dead set on never giving Charizard the appropriate typing.
NEXT: The 10 Most Valuable Gen 2 Pokemon Cards
