Psychic Type

The Psychic type (Japanese: エスパータイプ Esper Type) is one of the eighteen Pokemon types. Psychic-type Pokemon are characterized by their mental powers, including telepathy, telekinesis, precognition, and psychokinetic abilities. The type has been central to Pokemon lore since Generation I, featuring prominently in legendary Pokemon and competitive play.

Overview

AttributeDetails
IntroducedGeneration I
Number of Pokemon100+
Notable TrainersSabrina, Tate & Liza, Lucian, Caitlin, Olympia, Tulip
Common HabitatsUrban areas, laboratories, mystical locations

Type Effectiveness

Offensive

EffectivenessAgainst Types
Super Effective (2x)Fighting, Poison
Not Very Effective (0.5x)Psychic, Steel
No Effect (0x)Dark

Defensive

EffectivenessFrom Types
Weak To (2x)Bug, Ghost, Dark
Resistant To (0.5x)Fighting, Psychic
Immune To (0x)—

Key Note: Dark Immunity

Psychic moves have no effect on Dark-type Pokemon. This was introduced in Generation II to balance the dominant Psychic types of Generation I, where Psychic had few effective counters.[1]

Characteristics

Common Traits

TraitDescription
AppearancePurple, pink, blue motifs; mystical designs
AbilitiesSynchronize, Magic Guard, Magic Bounce, Telepathy
HabitatUrban areas, mystical locations
BehaviorIntelligent, contemplative

Special Properties

PropertyEffect
Psychic TerrainBoosts Psychic moves 30%, blocks priority
Future Sight DelayDamage dealt after 2 turns
Trick RoomReverses Speed order
Mental PowersOften high Special Attack

Notable Psychic-Type Pokemon

Iconic Psychic Types

PokemonTypeNotable For
AlakazamPsychicMassive Special Attack, iconic Gen I
EspeonPsychicEeveelution, Magic Bounce
GardevoirPsychic/FairyTrace ability, special attacker
MeowsticPsychicGender differences, Prankster
ReuniclusPsychicMagic Guard, Trick Room setter
IndeedeePsychic/NormalPsychic Surge, Follow Me

Legendary/Mythical

PokemonTypeGeneration
MewtwoPsychicI
MewPsychicI (Mythical)
LugiaPsychic/FlyingII
CelebiPsychic/GrassII (Mythical)
Latias/LatiosDragon/PsychicIII
JirachiSteel/PsychicIII (Mythical)
DeoxysPsychicIII (Mythical)
Uxie/Mesprit/AzelfPsychicIV
CresseliaPsychicIV
VictiniPsychic/FireV (Mythical)
MeloettaNormal/PsychicV (Mythical)
HoopaPsychic/GhostVI (Mythical)
Tapu LelePsychic/FairyVII
Cosmog linePsychicVII
CalyrexPsychic/GrassVIII

Pseudo-Legendary

PokemonTypeNotable For
MetagrossSteel/PsychicClear Body, 600 BST

Competitively Notable

PokemonNotable For
Calyrex-ShadowHighest Special Attack, As One ability
CresseliaExceptional bulk, Trick Room setter
EspathraSpeed Boost + Stored Power sweeper
Chi-YuBeads of Ruin, powerful special attacker
Indeedee-FPsychic Surge, Follow Me support
Iron CrownTachyon Cutter, Quark Drive
HatremEviolite bulk, Magic Bounce

Common Psychic-Type Moves

Physical Moves

MovePowerAccuracyEffect
Psycho Cut70100%High critical hit ratio
Zen Headbutt8090%May flinch
Psychic Fangs85100%Removes screens
Psyshield Bash7090%Raises Defense
Luster Purge95100%May lower Sp. Def

Special Moves

MovePowerAccuracyEffect
Psychic90100%May lower Sp. Def
Psyshock80100%Damages using Defense stat
Psystrike100100%Damages using Defense (Mewtwo signature)
Future Sight120100%Hits after 2 turns
Expanding Force80/120100%Doubles power in Psychic Terrain
Stored Power20+100%+20 power per stat boost
Psycho Boost14090%Lowers user's Sp. Atk
Lumina Crash80100%Lowers Sp. Def by 2
Photon Geyser100100%Uses higher offensive stat

Status Moves

MoveEffect
Trick RoomReverses Speed for 5 turns
TrickSwaps held items
Calm Mind+1 Sp. Atk/Sp. Def
Light ScreenHalves special damage
ReflectHalves physical damage
Psychic TerrainSets terrain for 5 turns
Cosmic Power+1 Def/Sp. Def
Agility+2 Speed
TeleportSwitches out with priority

Psychic-Type Specialists

Gym Leaders

TrainerRegionSignature Pokemon
SabrinaKantoAlakazam
Tate & LizaHoennSolrock & Lunatone
OlympiaKalosMeowstic
AveryIsle of ArmorGalarian Slowbro
TulipPaldeaFlorges

Elite Four/Champions

TrainerRegionNotable Pokemon
WillJohtoXatu
LucianSinnohGallade, Bronzong
CaitlinUnovaReuniclus, Musharna

Other Notable Trainers

TrainerRoleNotable Pokemon
AnabelFrontier BrainLatios, Alakazam
FabaAether FoundationAlakazam, Hypno

Type Combinations

All Psychic-Type Combinations

Secondary TypeExample Pokemon
Pure PsychicAlakazam, Mewtwo, Espeon
Psychic/FlyingLugia, Swoobat
Psychic/FightingGallade, Medicham
Psychic/FairyGardevoir, Tapu Lele
Psychic/SteelMetagross, Jirachi
Psychic/GhostLunala, Hoopa
Psychic/GrassCelebi, Exeggutor
Psychic/FireVictini, Delphox
Psychic/WaterSlowbro, Starmie
Psychic/NormalMeloetta, Indeedee
Psychic/DarkMalamar (only one)
Psychic/DragonLatias, Latios
Psychic/ElectricAlolan Raichu
Psychic/GroundClaydol, Baltoy
Psychic/IceGalarian Mr. Mime, Jynx
Psychic/PoisonSlowking-Galar
Psychic/RockSolrock, Lunatone

Unique Combinations

CombinationPokemonNote
Psychic/DarkMalamarOnly one; reverses usual weakness
Psychic/FairyGardevoir, Tapu LeleExcellent defensive typing
Psychic/SteelMetagrossPseudo-legendary typing

Abilities

Psychic-Type Related Abilities

AbilityEffectPokemon
SynchronizePasses burn/paralysis/poison to foeAlakazam, Espeon
Magic GuardImmune to indirect damageAlakazam, Reuniclus
Magic BounceReflects status movesEspeon, Hatrem
TelepathyImmune to ally attacksMeowstic, Musharna
Psychic SurgeSets Psychic TerrainIndeedee, Tapu Lele
TraceCopies foe's abilityGardevoir, Alakazam
Inner FocusImmune to flinchingGallade, Meditite
Neuroforce+25% super effective damageNecrozma-Ultra
As OneCombines Unnerve + Chilling Neigh/Grim NeighCalyrex-Shadow/Ice

Competitive Analysis

Strengths

StrengthDetails
Trick RoomSpeed control strategy
Future SightDelayed damage, prediction
High Sp. AtkMany powerful special attackers
Utility MovesTrick, screens, Teleport
Psychic TerrainPriority blocking, damage boost

Weaknesses

WeaknessDetails
Dark ImmunityCommon Dark types wall Psychic
Three WeaknessesBug, Ghost, Dark all common
Steel ResistanceSteel resists Psychic
Limited CoverageOften need Shadow Ball/Focus Blast

Role in Metagame

RoleExamples
Trick Room SetterCresselia, Indeedee, Porygon2
Future Sight PivotSlowking, Uxie
Terrain SetterIndeedee, Tapu Lele
Special SweeperCalyrex-Shadow, Alakazam
UtilityGardevoir, Meowstic
Bulk SupportCresselia, Uxie

Special Mechanics

Psychic Terrain

Psychic Terrain provides several effects:[2]

EffectDetails
Power Boost+30% damage to Psychic moves
Priority BlockBlocks priority moves on grounded Pokemon
Expanding ForceDoubles power to 120, hits both foes
Duration5 turns (8 with Terrain Extender)

Future Sight Mechanics

Future Sight is a unique delayed-damage move:[3]

PropertyEffect
DelayDamage occurs after 2 turns
SwitchingWorks even if user switches out
PredictionHits whatever is in at turn 3
SynergyPairs with pivoting (U-turn, Teleport)
Damage CalcUses user's stats, target's current stats

Trick Room Strategy

Trick Room reverses Speed order for 5 turns:[4]

AspectDetails
Duration5 turns including turn used
Setter Priority-7 priority (goes last)
Slow SweepersEnables slow Pokemon to move first
Common SettersCresselia, Indeedee, Porygon2
Team BuildingRequires Pokemon with low Speed stats

Stored Power Scaling

Stored Power gains +20 power for each stat boost:[5]

BoostsPowerStrategy
020Unusable
+140Weak
+260Usable
+380Good
+6140Excellent
Common SetupCalm Mind, Speed Boost, Baton Pass

Generation I Dominance

In Generation I, Psychic was notoriously overpowered:[6]

FactorImpact
Few CountersOnly weak to Bug (weak moves) and Ghost (Lick only)
Ghost GlitchGhost was supposed to counter but was ineffective due to glitch
Alakazam135 Special stat, Recover, dominant
MewtwoStrongest Pokemon in game
Bug WeaknessNo strong Bug moves existed

Generation II balanced this by introducing:

  • Dark type (immune to Psychic)
  • Steel type (resists Psychic)
  • Stronger Bug and Ghost moves

See Also

References

  1. ^Dark (type) - Introduction — Bulbapedia (2024)
  2. ^Psychic Terrain (move) — Bulbapedia (2024)
  3. ^Future Sight (move) — Bulbapedia (2024)
  4. ^Trick Room (move) — Bulbapedia (2024)
  5. ^Stored Power (move) — Bulbapedia (2024)
  6. ^Why Psychic-type was Broken in Generation I — Pokemon Coders (2023)
  7. ^Psychic (type) — Bulbapedia (2024)
  8. ^Psychic Type Pokemon — Serebii.net (2024)