In Pokemon Sword & Shield and its two-part DLC, several unique dual-type combinations were finally introduced to the series, most notably Ice/Bug, Dark/Fairy, and Poison/Psychic. However there are still currently 19 unused type combinations, including Fire/Ice and Dragon/Fairy (which can only occur in battle through rare Hidden Abilities or obsolete items). If these 19 dual-types are ever brought to the series, what defensive advantages, disadvantages, strengths, weaknesses, and overall versatility would they provide for players’ teams?

Instead of looking at alterable stats like Defense or HP, a stronger indicator of a Pokemon’s resiliency and versatility is its typing. Pokemon Database developed a “cumulative score” to calculate a type’s effectiveness against all other types by adding neutral damage (1 point), super-effective damage (2), double super-effective damage (4), single resistances (0.5), double resistances (0.25), and immunities (zero). A score of 18 is average (1 point per type); anything higher is weaker defensively while lower-scored types are more resilient against other types.

The strongest defensive score is 13.25 for Steel/Fairy, followed by Steel/Flying (13.5), Steel/Dragon (14.25), and Steel/Ghost (14.25). On the flipside, Bug/Grass and Grass/Ice, both 25, and Rock/Ice at a whopping 26 are the weakest types defensively. Based on cumulative damage scores, these are the best dual-type combinations, defensively, that are yet to be officially used.

10 Fighting/Fairy (19.5 Points)

As strong and powerful as Fighting Pokemon appear, numbers do not lie. Since Gen VI introduced Fairy-type, Fighting has an above-average cumulative score of 19.5, representing one of the least effective defensive types with weaknesses to Psychic, Flying, and Fairy.

Despite a new resistance to itself, double resistances to Bug and Dark, and a new immunity to Dragon, adding Fairy-type to a Fighting Pokemon doesn’t change its defensive score thanks to new unwelcome weaknesses to Poison and Steel. Though it would still look pretty neat, as ohcorny’s cute but tough Fakemon demonstrate.

9 Normal/Bug (19)

A below-average defensive dual-type like Fighting/Fairy, but no less intriguing — especially from a design standpoint. Consider the wicked Fakemon art above: jessjackdaw imagines Gen II’s Dunsparce as part of a three-stage evolution where it gains the Bug-type (it’s about time!).

Normal/Bug scores 12 points for neutral damage, then unfortunately gains Bug’s weaknesses to Fire, Rock, and Flying. However, the Bug-type does help shed Normal’s weakness to Fighting-type moves. And don’t forget Normal’s immunity to Ghost!

8 Electric/Fighting (18.5)

This won’t be the first (or the last) time many of us have questioned why Game Freak still hasn’t added an Electric/Fighting Pokemon…but seriously? Zeraora would have been perfect. Even Electivire would have been a great choice.

Adding Fighting-type to Electric could pose problems as it would gain weaknesses to powerful Psychic and Fairy moves. The mix does add resistances to Bug, Rock, Dark, and Steel, while Electric cancels out Fighting’s weakness to Flying moves. And, they’d look rightfully badass, case-in-point silverava’s fantastic Volpan. So, it’s not all bad.

7 Fairy/Ground (18)

Even if some see Fairy-types as overrated, players cannot deny that they’re incredibly effective and resilient in battle. Consider the Fairy/Ground typing: it would eliminate Fairy’s weaknesses to Poison while possessing two important immunities (Dragon and Electric). Furthermore, access to Ground moves also defends against Fairy’s weakness to Steel. And of course, as Gabriel H Pacheco’s adorable Nindillo shows us, there’s a strong potential for cuteness overload.

However, Ground-type would bring over its weaknesses to all-too-common Water and Grass moves, raising the defensive cumulative score back to neutral.

6 Normal/Poison (18)

One of the few type combinations with the neutral score of 18, a Normal/Poison Pokemon has several much-appreciated resistances in Grass, Bug, Fairy, and of course Poison itself.

As for possible designs, AdamFegarido’s Seweratt is as good a place as any to start, focusing on real-world creatures that don’t appear poisonous but can actively carry toxins, venoms, or plagues. Another design idea: the platypus! They’re actually quite venomous, believe it or not.

5 Dragon/Fairy (17.5)

Although technically used by Altaria in Gen VI, this dual-typing can only be gained via Mega Evolution and the required held item, Altarianite, is exclusive to Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire from two generations ago. For all intents and purposes, Dragon/Fairy is unused.

A Dragon/Fairy Pokemon, such as ChunPhan’s gorgeous and ethereal Fairon line, would have seven resistances and an immunity to Dragon, but also an unfortunately pitiful plethora of weaknesses to powerful Poison, Steel, Fairy, and Ice attacks.

With how much Fairy and Dragon are made out to be counterparts to one another, this combination has so much potential in terms of Pokemon design. Many Dragon-types are also designed to be tough, intimidating, and macho, but we saw with Goodra that a more “cutesy” and personable design can work very well for a Dragon-type. Why not pair a Fairy-type design with a Dragon-type one?

4 Fairy/Fire (17.25)

This unique dual-type’s four weaknesses to Water, Poison, Ground, and Rock are thankfully balanced out with six resistances (Fire, Grass, Ice, Fighting, Dark, and Fairy), quarter-damage from Bug moves, and Fairy’s Dragon immunity.

The Fire-typing not only burns away Fairy’s weakness to Steel but also any doubts of its potential awesomeness, judging by these Fakemon designs by @50shadesofHelio.

3 Normal/Steel (16)

As weird as Steel-types generally are, imagine what a Normal/Steel might look like. A cute critter with giant metal claws, a la Excadrill or Wolverine, or stunning metronome antlers like In-Progress Pokemon’s art above? Whatever the design would be, there’s absolutely no doubt that this Pokemon would be among the strongest defensively.

As with most Steel Pokemon, this dual-typing provides resistance to an astonishing 10 other types, plus immunity to Ghost. Just watch out for Fighting attacks, since they’d pummel ya at four-times the damage, and even more with STAB.

Interestingly, this combination has been used, but not on a Pokemon. In Black 2 & White 2, players can participate in PokeStar Studios films. For many of these films, you’ll face off against an opponent in a battle, as if it were a Pokemon. In the film series “Everlasting Memories,” you’ll face off against a small robot called F-00, which is a Steel/Normal-type.

2 Steel/Poison (15.75)

Steel/Poison would be an extremely tough opponent in battle, with three double-resistances (to Grass-, Bug-, and Fairy-type moves), six single-resistances (Normal, Steel, Ice, Flying, Rock, Dragon), plus Steel’s immunity to Poison.

Other than weaknesses to Fire (2x damage) and Ground (4x damage), a Steel/Poison Pokemon would have few peers in terms of defensive prowess and power. They might also be agents of pure menace and intimidation, as imagined in JessJackdaw’s extraordinary designs for a Qwilfish evolutionary line. Make it happen in Gen IX, Game Freak!

1 Normal/Ghost (15)

With three immunities (Fighting plus both of its own types), a resistance to Poison and Bug attacks, and neutral damage from all other types, Normal/Ghost is the best Pokemon type combination that players have yet to take advantage of. Its only weakness would be Dark, as the Normal-typing eliminates Ghost’s weakness to itself.

So far, there are a few Pokemon with three immunities (Aegislash, Golurk, and Drifblim come to mind), and they show just how powerful that can be.

And goodness gracious wouldn’t they be just the cutest things, if NachtBiermann’s wonderful Meowoo and Meowraith are any indication?

NEXT: 10 Pokémon Based On Scary Real-World Mythology