Water Type

The Water type (Japanese: みずタイプ Water Type) is one of the eighteen Pokemon types. Water-type Pokemon are characterized by their aquatic nature and ability to manipulate water. Water is the most common type in the Pokemon universe, with more Pokemon having Water as either a primary or secondary type than any other type.[1]

Overview

AttributeDetails
IntroducedGeneration I
Number of Pokemon150+
Notable TrainersMisty, Wallace, Crasher Wake, Marlon, Nessa
Common HabitatsOceans, rivers, lakes, wetlands

Type Effectiveness

Offensive

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

Defensive

EffectivenessFrom Types
Weak To (2x)Grass, Electric
Resistant To (0.5x)Fire, Water, Ice, Steel
Immune To (0x)—

Key Note: Balanced Defensive Profile

Water is one of the most balanced types defensively, with only two weaknesses (Grass and Electric) and four resistances (Fire, Water, Ice, and Steel).[2] This makes Water-types excellent defensive pivots and walls in competitive play.

Characteristics

Common Traits

TraitDescription
AppearanceBlue, aquatic features, fins, shells
AbilitiesTorrent, Swift Swim, Drizzle
HabitatAquatic environments
BehaviorAdaptable, often calm

Special Properties

PropertyEffect
Rain SynergyThunder 100% accuracy, boosted Water moves
Freeze ResistanceWater-types resist Ice moves
Surf UtilityCan travel on water in overworld
Dive AccessMany can use Dive HM/TM

Notable Water-Type Pokemon

Starter Pokemon

PokemonGenerationSecondary Type
Squirtle line (Blastoise)IPure Water
Totodile line (Feraligatr)IIPure Water
Mudkip line (Swampert)IIIGround
Piplup line (Empoleon)IVSteel
Oshawott line (Samurott)VPure Water
Froakie line (Greninja)VIDark
Popplio line (Primarina)VIIFairy
Sobble line (Inteleon)VIIIPure Water
Quaxly line (Quaquaval)IXFighting

Legendary/Mythical

PokemonTypeGeneration
SuicuneWaterII
KyogreWaterIII
PalkiaWater/DragonIV
ManaphyWaterIV
PhioneWaterIV
KeldeoWater/FightingV
Tapu FiniWater/FairyVII
Urshifu (Rapid Strike)Fighting/WaterVIII
Primordial Sea KyogreWaterIII (Primal)

Iconic Water Types

PokemonTypeNotable For
LaprasWater/IceTransport, bulk
VaporeonWaterEeveelution, HP stat
GyaradosWater/FlyingHigh Attack, Intimidate
MiloticWaterBeauty, competitive bulk
StarmieWater/PsychicSpeed, versatility
KingdraWater/DragonUnique typing
SlowbroWater/PsychicRegenerator, defense
PolitoedWaterDrizzle weather setter

Competitively Notable

PokemonNotable For
ToxapexRegenerator, defensive wall
Rotom-WashElectric immunity negation
Tapu FiniMisty Terrain, utility
BarraskewdaSwift Swim sweeper
PelipperDrizzle setter
AzumarillHuge Power, Belly Drum
GastrodonStorm Drain, Ground typing
QuagsireUnaware wall
GreninjaProtean/Battle Bond
Urshifu-RapidUnseen Fist, Dark/Water

Common Water-Type Moves

Physical Moves

MovePowerAccuracyEffect
Waterfall80100%May flinch (20%)
Aqua Jet40100%Priority +1
Liquidation85100%May lower Defense
Crabhammer10090%High critical hit ratio
Aqua Tail9090%No additional effect
Wave Crash120100%Recoil damage
Fishious Rend85100%Doubles if user moves first

Special Moves

MovePowerAccuracyEffect
Surf90100%Hits adjacent Pokemon
Hydro Pump11080%High power, lower accuracy
Scald80100%30% chance to burn
Water Spout150100%Power scales with HP
Muddy Water9085%May lower accuracy
Origin Pulse11085%Hits both foes
Steam Eruption11095%30% chance to burn
Sparkling Aria90100%Heals burns

Status Moves

MoveEffect
Rain DanceSets rain for 5 turns
Aqua RingHeals 1/16 HP per turn
SoakChanges target to pure Water
Life DewHeals user and allies
Flip TurnUser switches out after attack

Water-Type Specialists

Gym Leaders

TrainerRegionSignature Pokemon
MistyKantoStarmie
WallaceHoennMilotic
Crasher WakeSinnohFloatzel
MarlonUnovaJellicent
NessaGalarDrednaw
KofuPaldeaCrabominable

Elite Four/Champions

TrainerRegionNotable Pokemon
LoreleiKantoLapras (Ice primary)
WallaceHoennMilotic (Champion)
SieboldKalosClawitzer

Other Notable Trainers

TrainerTitleNotable Pokemon
ArchieTeam Aqua LeaderKyogre
NPlasma KingCarracosta

Type Combinations

All Water-Type Combinations

Secondary TypeExample Pokemon
Pure WaterVaporeon, Kyogre, Suicune
Water/NormalBibarel
Water/FightingPoliwrath, Keldeo, Urshifu-Rapid
Water/FlyingGyarados, Pelipper, Mantine
Water/PoisonTentacruel, Qwilfish
Water/GroundSwampert, Gastrodon, Quagsire
Water/RockOmastar, Relicanth, Drednaw
Water/BugSurskit, Araquanid
Water/GhostFrillish, Jellicent
Water/SteelEmpoleon
Water/FireVolcanion
Water/GrassLotad line
Water/ElectricLanturn, Wash Rotom
Water/PsychicSlowpoke line, Starmie
Water/IceLapras, Walrein, Eiscue
Water/DragonKingdra, Palkia
Water/DarkSharpedo, Greninja
Water/FairyPrimarina, Tapu Fini

Unique Combinations

CombinationPokemonNote
Water/FireVolcanionOnly one
Water/SteelEmpoleonOnly non-Mega
Water/GroundSwampert, GastrodonOnly one weakness (Grass)
Water/FairyPrimarina, Tapu FiniStrong defensive typing

Abilities

Water-Type Related Abilities

AbilityEffectPokemon
Torrent+50% Water when low HPAll Water starters
Swift SwimDoubles Speed in rainKingdra, Barraskewda
DrizzleSummons rain automaticallyKyogre, Politoed, Pelipper
Water AbsorbHeals 25% HP when hit by WaterVaporeon, Lapras
Storm DrainRedirects Water moves, +1 Sp. AtkGastrodon, Cradily
HydrationHeals status in rainVaporeon, Phione
Rain DishHeals HP in rainLotad line
DampPrevents self-destruct movesPolitoed, Golduck

Competitive Analysis

Strengths

StrengthDetails
Defensive TypingOnly 2 weaknesses, 4 resistances
Move PoolVast coverage options
Rain TeamsWeather synergy with Swift Swim
Scald UtilityBurn chance on STAB move
Type DiversityMost dual-type combinations
Reliable STABSurf, Waterfall always available

Weaknesses

WeaknessDetails
Grass CoverageCommon type weakness
Electric WeaknessThunderbolt widely distributed
Water NeutralityResists itself offensively
Weather WarsCompeting weather setters

Role in Metagame

RoleExamples
Defensive WallToxapex, Slowbro
Rain SweeperBarraskewda, Kingdra
Weather SetterPolitoed, Pelipper
PivotRotom-Wash, Slowking
WallbreakerChoice Specs Kyogre
Physical SweeperAzumarill, Urshifu-Rapid
Special WallGastrodon, Tapu Fini

Rain Teams and Weather

Water-type Pokemon form the core of rain teams, one of the most dominant weather-based strategies in competitive Pokemon.[3]

Rain Components

ComponentPokemonRole
Weather SetterPolitoed, PelipperDrizzle ability
Swift Swim SweeperBarraskewda, KingdraSpeed doubling
Thunder UserThundurus, Zapdos100% accuracy Thunder
Hurricane UserTornadus100% accuracy Hurricane

Rain Benefits

BenefitEffect
Water Boost+50% Water move damage
Fire Nerf-50% Fire move damage
Thunder Accuracy100% (normally 70%)
Hurricane Accuracy100% (normally 70%)
Swift SwimDoubles Speed of Pokemon with ability

Water-Type Variations

Regional Forms

PokemonOriginalRegional Form
SlowpokeWater/PsychicGalarian: Psychic only

Mega Evolutions

PokemonOriginal TypeMega Type
BlastoiseWaterWater
SwampertWater/GroundWater/Ground
GyaradosWater/FlyingWater/Dark
SlowbroWater/PsychicWater/Psychic

Gigantamax Forms

PokemonG-Max Move
BlastoiseG-Max Cannonade
KinglerG-Max Foam Burst
DrednawG-Max Stonesurge

Water in Game Mechanics

Overworld Abilities

AbilityEffect
SurfTravel across water bodies
DiveDive underwater (Gen III+)
WaterfallClimb waterfalls
WhirlpoolNavigate whirlpools

Fishing

Water-type Pokemon are primarily obtained through fishing in most games, using fishing rods of varying quality:

RodAvailabilityCommon Catches
Old RodEarly gameMagikarp, Tentacool
Good RodMid gameGoldeen, Shellder
Super RodLate gameGyarados, Seaking

Water-Type Statistics

Distribution

Water is the most common type in Pokemon:

CategoryCount
Pure Water Pokemon50+
Primary Water type100+
Secondary Water type50+
Total with Water typing150+

Competitive Usage

Water-types consistently rank among the most used types in competitive formats due to:

  • Defensive reliability
  • Offensive coverage against common types (Fire, Ground, Rock)
  • Access to utility moves (Scald, Flip Turn)
  • Rain team dominance[4]

See Also

References

  1. ^Water (type) — Bulbapedia (2024)
  2. ^Water Type Pokemon — Smogon University (2024)
  3. ^Rain Teams in OU — Smogon University (2024)
  4. ^Pokemon Usage Statistics — Pikalytics (2024)
  5. ^Water Type Pokemon — Serebii.net (2024)
  6. ^Water Type Pokemon — The Pokemon Company (2024)