Wanted to give my opinion on the state of all the types in the coming gen. Taking too long so I'll split it in two parts, maybe three if part 2 is too long. It should be noted that someone of the Pokemon listed as available might not be in the game from the start (event pokemon) or will be banned automatically (Zekrom, Reshiram, Zamazenta, etc..)
BUG
This awful type doesn't deserve a positive/negative list because its all bad.
Fully evolved available Pokemon:
Butterfree (Gigantamax), Shuckle, Ninjask, Shedinja, Vespiquen, Escavalier, Galvantula, Accelgor, Durant, Vikavolt, Ribombee, Araquanid, Golisopod, Silvally-Bug, Orbeetle (Gigantamax), Centiskorch (Gigantamax), Frosmoth
Already being in the worst types of USUM, Bug looks like it will be completely helpless in SWSH. The biggest hit is without a doubt the fact that it has
no hazard removal (edit: Frosmoth has Defog). This will probably force the type to run multiple Heavy Duty Boots for a team to last more than a couple turns. Moreover, it doesn't even have that great of an offensive presence to abuse of Sticky Web. The type lost 4 it's best offensive pokemon: Scizor, Mega-Pinsir, Heracross, and Volcarona. The new additions are far from impressive, with Frosmoth being bad Volcarona. Centiskorch is kinda cool but it can't do anything to make up for all the losses.
DARK
Dark is looking like it is gonna be one of the best types in SWSH despite some big losses.
Fully evolved available Pokemon:
Persian-Alola, Umbreon, Tyranitar, Shiftry, Sableye, Crawdaunt, Skunktank, Drapion, Weavile, Liepard, Bisharp, Mandibuzz, Hydreigon, Pangoro, Malamar, Incineroar, Silvally-Dark, Thievul, Grimmsnarl (Gigantamax), Obstagoon, Morpeko
Negatives:
- Losing Muk-Alola, thus having to use Skunktank/Drapion/Bisharp to beat fairies
- Losing Pursuit (not that big of a loss for Dark Monotype)
- Losing Mega-Sableye
- Kind of disappointing new Pokemon
- Relies on Hydreigon as Electric resist, and it does not have Roost
- Losing Greninja
Positives:
- Hydreigon gains access to Nasty Plot
- Mandibuzz provides the type with Hazard Control and a defensive presence
- Not strictly restricted to 6 Pokemon
- Fairy falling off from its USUM glory makes the Muk-Alola loss less painful
DRAGON
Originally, I thought Dragon was gonna be one of the greatest types of SWSH. Looking at the below list, I'm not as convinced that it will be so dominant.
Fully evolved available Pokemon: Flygon, Haxorus, Hydreigon, Reshiram, Zekrom, Kyurem, Kyurem-Black, Kyurem-White, Goodra, Noivern, Silvally-Dragon, Turtunator, Drampa, Kommo-o, Flapple (Gigantamax), Appletun (Gigantamax), Dracozolt, Dracovish, Duraludon, Dragapult, Eternatus (Gigantamax)
Negatives:
- No Latis and Dragonite
- Dragapult got cools stats but an awful move pool, with no good ghost stab and inexistent coverage, the other new dragons aren't that inspiring either
- Losing Salamence who could've been a ridiculous Dynamax abuser
- Its biggest gain, Kyurem-Black, will probably be banned shortly after its release
Positives:
- Dragon Dance Kyurem-Black with access to Icicle Spear is absolutely ridiculous, the loss of Roost doesn't even damage it much if the rumor about Dynamax fully recovering is true
- Nasty Plot Hydreigon
- Kommo-o still has omniboosting thanks to the new move Clangorous Soul.
- Goodra gets a recovery move
The type could end up being great, but I'm not really sold on the contributions of the apples, fossils and Duraludon
ELECTRIC
While Electric seems like it has fallen off greatly from USUM, I think it can be a decent type in the tier when it gets Zeraora and Raichu-Alola.
Fully evolved available Pokemon:
Pikachu (Gigantamax), Raichu, Raichu-Alola, Jolteon, Lanturn, Manectric, Rotoms, Galvantula, Stunfisk, Zekrom, Vikavolt, Silvally-Electric, Zeraora, Togedemaru, Boltund, Toxtricity (Gigantamax), Pincurchin, Morpeko, Dracozolt, Arctozolt
Negatives:
- Stunfisk rock setter
- No Defog, unless they can transfer Rotoms from USUM
- No Tapu Koko, Pincurchin has to be the Electric Terrain setter unless you rely on Dynamax Electric moves
- Loss of Zapdos
- No Hidden Power makes it really hard for the type to kill Ground type Pokemon or Grass type Pokemon
Positives:
- Zeraora sounds insane with Dynamax, it can set electric terrain, boosts its attack and boosts its speed all while doing damage. Also, it gets Play Rough which helps greatly against the hyped up Dragon, Dark and Fighting.
- Electric Terrain can still be set paired with Raichu-Alola still being in the game, it will be hard for many types to switch in as they lack Electric immunities or don't have too impressive resists.
- It got a better sticky web setter in Vikavolt, who is an additional ground immunity. The very offensive type can greatly take advantage of this.
- Toxtricity can be a solid special attacker, but can possibly be threatening as a Physical attacker thanks to Shift Gear. It also profits greatly from Gigantamax, being able to spread status or boosting its stats.
- Access to Toxic Spikes
FAIRY
Fairy will definitely not be the top tier type it is. It might be able to function as an anti-meta type "similar" to Grass in USUM thanks to its favourable matchups against Dark, Dragon, and Fighting. It Should also be able to be pretty threatening to Water, another one of the strong types.
Fully evolved available Pokemon: Ninetales-Alola, Rapidash-Galar, Weezing-Galar, Mr.Mime, Clefable, Gardevoir, Mawile, Whimsicott, Aromatisse, Slurpluff, Sylveon, Primarina, Rimbombee, Shiinotic, Silvally-Fairy, Mimikyu, Hatterene (Gigantamax), Grimmsnarl (Gigantamax), Alcremie (Gigantamax), Zacian
Negatives:
- No Tapus
- No Klefki or Mega-Diancie
- Has probably the worst Dynamax move effect
- No Ground/Electric immunity or great resist
Positives:
- Hatterene can be an immense threat under TR
- Aurora Veil might be better
- Mimikyu can drop Defense with Dynamax Ghost and profits from Dynamax recovering HP if that is true
- A few Pokemon gained Mystical Fire to hit Steel-types
- Primarina getting a recovery move
FIGHTING
Fighting will be a strong type once it gets Keldeo and the Swords.
Fully evolved available Pokemon: Machamp (Gigantamax), Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, Hitmontop, Lucario, Toxicroak, Gallade, Conkeldurr, Throh, Sawk, Scrafty, Cobalion, Virizion, Terrakion, Keldeo, Pangoro, Hawlucha, Bewear, Passimian, Silvally-Fighting, Kommo-o, Marshadow, Grapploct, Sirfetch'd, Falinks, Zamazenta
Negatives:
- Needs to wait for its best Pokemon, will be probably be completely awful at the beginning of the gen (super bad options)
- Still poor Hazard removal options
- No Mega Gallade
Positives:
- Fairy not being as good
- Hawlucha sounds insane with Dynamax as it can still abuse Unburden and gets attack & speed boosts from its stabs + the whole HP recovering thing again
- Grapploct being able to trap things
- Falinks' No Retreat, although it apparently cant stack
FIRE
Fire, as usual, is simply unimpressive.
Fully evolved available Pokemon: Charizard (Gigantamax), Ninetales, Arcanine, Rapidash, Flareon, Torkoal, Rotom-Heat, Darmanitan, Darmanitan-Galar (Zen Mode), Chandelure, Heatmor, Reshiram, Incineroar, Salazzle, Silvally-Fire, Turtunator, Cinderace, Coalossal (Gigantamax), Centiskorch (Gigantamax)
Negatives:
- Mediocre Pokemon roster
- Losing Mega Charizards
- Turtunator is the only Electric resist
Positives:
- Heavy Duty Boots
- Setting Sun with Dynamax moves can be abused
- Cinderace having Libero (aka Protean)
FLYING
Flying is the greatest victim of SWSH. After being a dominant force for multiple generations, it is absolutely awful. It could even be called unplayable, bar the possibility of offensive flying being usable.
Fully evolved available Pokemon: Charizard (Gigantamax), Butterfree (Gigantamax), Gyarados, Xatu, Delibird, Mantine, Pelipper, Ninjask, Vespiquen, Drifblim, Togekiss, Rotom-Fan, Unfezant, Swoobat, Sigilyph, Braviary, Mandibuzz, Hawlucha, Noivern, Silvally-Flying, Corviknight, Cramorant
Negatives:
- No electric immunity
- No stealth rock (rock setter Xatu lmao)
- Less Defog options
- Balance Flying is unplayable
- HO Flying has no hazard setter bar "Spikes Delibird"
- Losing basically all its best Pokemon , offensively and defensively
- Its best offensive Pokemon will be competing for the Gigatamax/Dynamax slot
- No Mega
Positives:
- Gyarados is one of the Pokemon that will benefit immensely from Dynamax. Running a Moxie set, it can basically get Dragon Dance's while attacking by spamming Max Airstream (boosting speed) and getting kills (boosting attack). It can also do more damage by setting its own rain. Not to forget that it can run Dragon Dance to get some boosts before Dynamaxing, and then recovering its health (if true). All this while being able to carry an item.
- Hawlucha should be really good as mentioned before. It should still be a strong threat without Dynamax.
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I probably missed a bunch of things for most types because I rushed this, but overall I'm really excited for this generation. I have so many ideas to try out once the games drop. The tier might end up becoming a disaster, or could be super fun. Looking forward to see how the meta evolves and all the ideas everyone comes up with!