Ice Type

The Ice type (Japanese: こおりタイプ Ice Type) is one of the eighteen Pokemon types. Ice-type Pokemon are characterized by their ability to generate and control ice, snow, and freezing temperatures. Despite its offensive prowess, Ice is widely considered the worst defensive type due to having four weaknesses and only one resistance.[1]

Overview

AttributeDetails
IntroducedGeneration I
Number of Pokemon60+
Notable TrainersLorelei, Pryce, Candice, Brycen, Wulfric, Melony, Grusha
Common HabitatsSnowy mountains, glaciers, tundra, frozen caves

Type Effectiveness

Offensive

EffectivenessAgainst Types
Super Effective (2x)Grass, Ground, Flying, Dragon
Not Very Effective (0.5x)Fire, Water, Ice, Steel
No Effect (0x)—

Defensive

EffectivenessFrom Types
Weak To (2x)Fire, Fighting, Rock, Steel
Resistant To (0.5x)Ice
Immune To (0x)—

Key Note: Worst Defensive Type

Ice is often cited as the worst defensive typing in Pokemon, having four common weaknesses (Fire, Fighting, Rock, Steel) and only a single resistance to itself.[2] This makes pure Ice-types particularly vulnerable, though offensive Ice-type coverage remains highly valuable.

Characteristics

Common Traits

TraitDescription
AppearanceBlue, white, crystalline features
AbilitiesSnow Cloak, Ice Body, Slush Rush
HabitatCold climates, mountains
BehaviorOften calm, isolated

Special Properties

PropertyEffect
Freeze ImmunityIce-types cannot be frozen
Hail/Snow WeatherIce Body heals, Snow Cloak boosts evasion
Aurora VeilRequires hail/snow to set dual screens
Sheer ColdOHKO move (most Ice-types learn it)

Notable Ice-Type Pokemon

Pseudo-Legendary Status

Ice is the only type without a pseudo-legendary Pokemon (Pokemon with 600 BST evolution at level 50+).[3] Baxcalibur (Ice/Dragon, Gen IX) comes close with 600 BST but evolves at level 54, missing the technical definition.

Legendary/Mythical

PokemonTypeGeneration
ArticunoIce/FlyingI
RegiceIceIII
KyuremDragon/IceV
Kyurem-BlackDragon/IceV
Kyurem-WhiteDragon/IceV
GlastrierIceVIII
Calyrex-Ice RiderPsychic/IceVIII
Chien-PaoDark/IceIX
Enamorus (Therian)Fairy/FlyingVIII

Mythical Ice Types

PokemonTypeGeneration
——No pure Ice mythicals

Iconic Ice Types

PokemonTypeNotable For
LaprasWater/IceKanto icon, transportation
JynxIce/PsychicGen I humanoid
CloysterWater/IceExtreme Defense stat
DewgongWater/IceEarly-game Ice type
SneaselDark/IceFast, evolved in Gen IV
GlaceonIceEeveelution (Gen IV)
GlalieIcePure Ice type
FroslassIce/GhostUnique typing
VanilluxeIceControversial design
CryogonalIcePure special Ice type
AurorusRock/IceFossil Pokemon

Competitively Notable

PokemonNotable For
WeavileHighest non-legendary Attack/Speed
MamoswineThick Fat, Earthquake access
Kyurem-BlackMixed attacking prowess
Kyurem-WhiteSpecial attacking power
BaxcaliburRecent Dragon/Ice threat
Chien-PaoSword of Ruin ability
ArctozoltBolt Beak + Slush Rush
Alolan NinetalesSnow Warning + Aurora Veil
Iron BundleDelibird paradox form

Regional Variants

PokemonOriginal TypeIce Variant Type
Alolan SandshrewGroundIce/Steel
Alolan SandslashGroundIce/Steel
Alolan VulpixFireIce
Alolan NinetalesFireIce/Fairy
Galarian DarumakaFireIce
Galarian DarmanitanFireIce
Hisuian AvaluggIceIce/Rock

Common Ice-Type Moves

Physical Moves

MovePowerAccuracyEffect
Icicle Crash8590%May flinch
Ice Punch75100%May freeze
Ice Shard40100%Priority move
Avalanche60100%Doubles if hit first
Icicle Spear25100%Hits 2-5 times
Ice Hammer10090%Lowers user's Speed
Triple Axel2090%Hits 3 times, increasing power
Ice Spinner80100%Ends terrain

Special Moves

MovePowerAccuracyEffect
Ice Beam90100%May freeze
Blizzard11070%May freeze (100% in snow)
Freeze-Dry70100%Super effective vs Water
Frost Breath6090%Always crits
Glaciate6595%Lowers Speed
Sheer Cold—30%OHKO move
Aurora Beam65100%May lower Attack

Status Moves

MoveEffect
HailSets hail weather (5 turns)
SnowscapeSets snow weather (5 turns, Gen IX)
Aurora VeilDual screens (requires snow/hail)
MistPrevents stat reduction

Signature Moves

MovePokemonDetails
Freeze-DryAurorusSuper effective vs Water
Glacial LanceCalyrex-Ice Rider130 power, hits both foes
Icicle CrashAbomasnow (earlier)Now widely distributed

Ice-Type Specialists

Gym Leaders

TrainerRegionSignature Pokemon
LoreleiKanto (Elite Four)Lapras
PryceJohtoPiloswine
CandiceSinnohAbomasnow
BrycenUnovaBeartic
WulfricKalosAvalugg
MelonyGalarLapras (Gigantamax)
GrushaPaldeaCetitan

Elite Four/Champions

TrainerRegionNotable Pokemon
LoreleiKantoLapras, Dewgong
GlaciaHoennGlalie, Walrein

Type Combinations

All Ice-Type Combinations

Secondary TypeExample Pokemon
Pure IceRegice, Glaceon, Cryogonal
Ice/WaterLapras, Cloyster, Walrein
Ice/FlyingArticuno, Delibird
Ice/PsychicJynx, Calyrex-Ice Rider
Ice/GroundMamoswine, Piloswine
Ice/SteelAlolan Sandslash
Ice/RockAurorus, Hisuian Avalugg
Ice/GhostFroslass
Ice/DarkWeavile, Chien-Pao
Ice/DragonKyurem forms, Baxcalibur
Ice/Bug— (unused)
Ice/FightingCrabominable
Ice/FairyAlolan Ninetales
Ice/Poison— (unused)
Ice/Grass— (unused)
Ice/ElectricFrost Rotom
Ice/Fire— (unused)
Ice/Normal— (unused)

Defensive Type Combinations

Despite Ice's poor defensive typing, certain combinations create defensive viability:

CombinationPokemonDefensive Benefit
Ice/SteelAlolan SandslashSteel resistances cover Ice weaknesses
Water/IceLapras, CloysterWater's neutrality helps
Ice/FairyAlolan NinetalesFairy resistances add bulk

Offensive Type Combinations

CombinationPokemonOffensive Synergy
Ice/DragonKyuremDragon + Ice coverage
Ice/DarkWeavileDark STAB + Ice coverage
Ice/GroundMamoswineGround + Ice for coverage

Abilities

Ice-Type Related Abilities

AbilityEffectPokemon
Snow Cloak+20% evasion in snow/hailGlaceon, Froslass
Ice BodyHeals 1/16 HP in snow/hailGlaceon, Walrein
Slush RushDoubles Speed in snow/hailArctozolt, Beartic
Snow WarningSummons snow weatherAlolan Ninetales, Abomasnow
Ice ScalesHalves special damageSnom, Frosmoth
RefrigerateNormal moves → IceAurorus (HA)
Ice FaceBlocks first physical hitEiscue
Thermal ExchangeRaises Attack when hit by FireBaxcalibur

Hidden Abilities

PokemonHidden AbilityCompetitive Use
MamoswineThick FatFire/Ice resistance
BearticSwift SwimRain sweeper
FroslassCursed BodyDisable moves

Competitive Analysis

Strengths

StrengthDetails
Offensive TypingSuper effective vs Dragon, Ground, Flying, Grass
Dragon CounterPrimary check to Dragon-types
Strong MovesIce Beam, Icicle Crash widely available
Weather SupportSnow teams with Aurora Veil
PriorityIce Shard for revenge killing

Weaknesses

WeaknessDetails
Four WeaknessesFire, Fighting, Rock, Steel all common
One ResistanceOnly resists itself
Stealth RockMost Ice-types weak to Rock
Low BulkMany Ice-types have poor bulk
Speed CreepOften outpaced without Slush Rush

Role in Metagame

RoleExamples
Dragon CheckWeavile, Mamoswine
Weather SetterAlolan Ninetales
Screen SetterAurora Veil teams
Revenge KillerIce Shard users
WallbreakerKyurem-Black

Hail/Snow Teams

Snow teams (formerly Hail in Gen I-VIII) utilize Snow Warning to activate:

ComponentPokemonRole
SetterAlolan NinetalesSnow Warning + Aurora Veil
SweeperArctozoltSlush Rush doubles Speed
SweeperBearticSlush Rush physical attacker
SupportGlaceonIce Body recovery
CoverageMamoswineGround-type coverage

Special Mechanics

Freeze Status

Freeze is the rarest status condition in Pokemon:

AspectDetails
Chance10% from Ice Beam, 30% from Blizzard
EffectPokemon cannot move (20% thaw chance per turn)
ImmunityIce-types cannot be frozen
CureFire-type moves thaw frozen Pokemon

Weather: Hail vs Snow

GenerationWeatherEffect
I-VIIIHailDamages non-Ice types 1/16 HP per turn
IX+SnowBoosts Defense of Ice-types by 50%

Snow (Gen IX) is considered superior as it no longer chips at non-Ice-types, making mixed teams more viable.[4]

Aurora Veil

Aurora Veil is an Ice-type exclusive move that sets both Light Screen and Reflect:

AspectDetails
RequirementActive snow/hail weather
EffectHalves damage from physical and special moves
Duration5 turns (8 with Light Clay)
Common UsersAlolan Ninetales, Froslass

Historical Significance

Generation I

Ice-types were highly valued in early generations due to:

  • Dragon's rarity (only Dragonite line)
  • Lack of Steel-type (introduced Gen II)
  • Blizzard having 90% accuracy in Gen I

Generation II-III

Ice-types remained popular but began declining due to:

  • Steel-type introduction (resists Ice)
  • Stealth Rock (Gen IV) damage
  • Better Dragon-type distribution

Generation IV-Present

Ice-types became increasingly specialized:

  • Aurora Veil introduction (Gen VII)
  • Snow replacing Hail (Gen IX)
  • Focus on offensive Ice coverage rather than Ice-type Pokemon

Notable Ice-Type Moments

Competitive History

EventPokemonSignificance
Gen V OUKyurem-BlackDominated with mixed attacking
Gen VI VGCMamoswineCommon Landorus-T counter
Gen VIIIArctozoltSlush Rush + Bolt Beak terror
Gen IXBaxcaliburLoaded Dice + Icicle Spear

Ice-Type Paradoxes

Generation IX introduced Ice-type paradox Pokemon:

PokemonBased OnTypeEra
Iron BundleDelibirdIce/WaterFuture
Slither Wing—Bug/FightingAncient (none)

Iron Bundle became competitively notable for its high Speed and access to Flip Turn.

See Also

References

  1. ^Ice (type) — Bulbapedia (2024)
  2. ^Ice Type - Smogon University — Smogon University (2024)
  3. ^Pseudo-legendary Pokemon — Bulbapedia (2024)
  4. ^Ice Type Pokemon — Serebii.net (2024)
  5. ^Pokemon Game Series — Game Freak / Nintendo (1996-2024)