Poke-Types: Water

Welcome to Poke-Types!

In this short series, we will be taking a closer look at the 17 types gracing the Pokemon world since 1995 (including the two that were late to the party).

We will be taking a look into attacks, legendaries, history, strong trainers, evolution through the generations, strengths and weaknesses, and other important features, including some of our favorites over the years!

If you're a Pokemon fan, you are in for a treat!

We begin with Pokemon's most abundant type: Water


INTRODUCTION

The most abundant type in over 15 years of Pokemon games is the Water-type. With powerful entries from the beginning like Blastoise and Gyarados, the Water-type was very quickly established as a dominant type (in numbers at least).

Water-types are so abundant that they literally do come in all shapes, sizes, and creatures. From water dragons to starfish to sand crabs, Water is without a doubt the most developed (and perhaps overdeveloped) of all the types.

Generally speaking, Water-types tend to be bulky and defensive rather than speedy sweepers. One of the only exceptions to this that comes to mind is Starmie. For the most part, Water-types are similar to Blastoise and Lapras: huge defensive and HP stats with not a lot of Speed and mediocre attacking stats.


The Water type is also one of the three types used for starters in each region, along with Grass and Fire.

Water Starters

GENERAL STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

STRENGTHS

Generally speaking, Water-types tend to be extremely bulky. In other words, they have a tendency to boast much higher than normal defenses and HP. They are almost never easy to defeat, even when exploiting weaknesses.

Lack of weakness is another key characteristic beneficial to the type. Being weak only to Grass and Electric allows Water-types to be able to defend against more opponents.

Ice usage is a staple throughout the Water kingdom, as most of the Pokemon can learn Ice moves such as Ice Beam. This is a huge advantage against a type it is weak to in Grass, as well as Flying, Ground, and pesky Dragons who resist Water.

WEAKNESSES

Most of the time Water-types do not have a large movepool to choose from. Sure, they have the awesome Ice advantage and STAB Water moves, but really there is not much else. Many of the Pokemon are either fish or fish-like creatures, and therefore lack type diversity when it comes to moves.

Bulkiness also means slowness. Water-types usually do not move very quickly, and often have slow Speed stats, which usually means instant death when facing the much quicker Electrics.

Predictability becomes a problem, with both the lack of moves and the sheer number of Water-type Pokemon available.

ATTACKS

Surf, Waterfall, and Hydro Pump are typical for Water-types, as they are powerful and generally reliable. In a lot of competitive environments, Hydro Pump is replaced for its lack of accuracy.

Scald was introduced in Generation V and is the only Water-type move to have the possibility of inflicting its target with a Burn status. The only other Water move that has the ability to inflict a status condition is Water Pulse, which has a 20 percent chance of confusing its target.

Muddy Water is only available to a few Pokemon, but has the added effect of possibly lowering its opponents accuracy at the price of accuracy. Swampert and Gastrodon are the most common Pokemon to use the move.

Aqua Tail has become popular after its introduction in Gen IV, with popular Pokemon like Feraligatr, Gyarados, and Blastoise learning the move through level-up. With 90 base power and 90 accuracy, it is an above average move with only a small chance of missing its target.

Rain Dance was introduced in Gen II and allows the user to summon a rainstorm for 5 turns, during which all Water-type moves have their power increase, Fire-type moves have lower power, SolarBeam does half damage, rain-related abilities are activated, and Thunder and Hurricane have their accuracy ratings lifted to 100 percent.

Hydro Cannon is the most powerful Water-type move, with 150 base power and 90 percent accuracy. The move acts similar to Hyper Beam in that if it hits, it forces its user to regenerate its energy in the following turn and not attack. Only the 5 Water starters can learn the move through a special tutor in each game. The move is not available to any other Pokemon.

LEGENDARIES

Manaphy and Phione are generally not considered legendary Pokemon because of their stats, but because of their rarity. Special circumstances are almost always required in order to obtain them, and frankly it is rarely worth it.

What the hell ARE these things anyway?

Keldeo was introduced in Gen V as a legendary Water/Fighting Pokemon, a uniquely-typed Pokemon (if you pretend Poliwrath doesn't exist). In Black and White versions, an event was required in order to receive him. He's a horse. Deal with it.

I CAN'T DEAL WITH IT :(

Palkia is the mascot for Gen IV's Pearl version, and can also be obtained in Platinum after the storyline, and HeartGold/SoulSilver through an event. With the awesome typing of Water/Dragon, Palkia's only weakness is Dragon, which he can easily decimate with his own Dragon-type attacks. Palkia's signature and exclusive move is Spacial Rend, which is Dragon-type with 100 base power and a high critical hit ratio to boot. His bulkiness, versatility, and lack of weaknesses make Palkia one of the most difficult legendary Pokemon to bring down in a battle. Also, he's pink.

Scared?

Suicune is the mascot for Gen II's Crystal version, and can also be obtained in many subsequent entries. Outside of Crystal and HeartGold/SoulSilver versions in which Suicune becomes a stationary legendary, Suicune moves around the current region in erratic fashion to avoid capture. After encountering Suicune, he will run on the first turn! The bastard! Without decent attack power or moves, though, Suicune is best used for utility and defensive purposes.

I'm going to taunt you constantly until well after you beat the game. Then I'll fight you. As far as you know.

Kyogre is the mascot for Gen III's Sapphire version, and can also be obtained in Emerald, and then a few subsequent titles through events. With its unique Drizzle ability, Kyogre has the ability to summon rainy weather to the battlefield upon entry. Kyogre sports high-powered moves like Water Spout, Thunder, Hydro Pump, and Ice Beam, and has crazy high Special Attack to make perfect use of its moves. Feuds with Groudon because he wants more water to swim in and Groudon said no.

I arrive. It rains. Bitch.

 

GYM LEADERS/ELITE FOUR

The first trainer who comes to mind is Misty of the Kanto region. She appears as the gym leader of Cerulean City in Pokemon Yellow, Red, Blue, LeafGreen, FireRed, Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, and Soulsilver. Her signature Pokemon is Starmie, though she also tends to use Lapras, Golduck, and even Gyarados.

Her team changes so many times she needs a wallpaper to show them all.

Crasher Wake of the Sinnoh region also commands the Water-type and appears as the gym leader of Pastoria City in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. Quagsire, Gyarados, and Floatzel are his Pokemon of choice. He gets mad sometimes.

Exhibit A

Wallace of the Hoenn region uses all Water-types as well. He appears as the gym leader of Sootopolis City in Sapphire and Ruby, and is the champion of the Pokemon League in Emerald. Milotic is his signature Pokemon, but he also likes to use the ever-annoying Whiscash.

Doesn't belong in the same discussion as Steven. If it weren't for Milotic, he'd be more of a "Head Fisherman"

CULLINATION FAVORITES

KINGDRA: With a weakness only to one of his own types and his Dragon type neutralizing Electric-type damage, Kingdra is always difficult to take down. Ice Beam, Dragon Pulse, Dragon Dance, and Hydro Pump only scratch the surface of what this monster seahorse is capable of. If you're not careful, you're as good as gone.

He shares typing with Palkia, and he's really not that happy about it. I mean, he was here first. Seniority.

STARMIE: Perhaps the only proficient sweeper amongst his Water-type brethren, Starmie takes amazing advantage of its fantastic movepool and outrageous Speed and Special Attack stats to wipe out its competition often before a chance for retaliation. STAB Psychic and Hydro Pump are at its disposal, as are Ice Beam, Shadow Ball, and a surprising Thunder and ThunderBolt. Few types can hide and even less can survive when Starmie hits the field.

Starmie doesn't have a gender. But who needs a gender when you're a lightning bolt shooting psychic starfish?

EMPOLEON: Does he break the mold? Nope. Empoleon IS the mold. He's slow with above average defensive and HP stats. Typical. Where Empoleon rules lies in his typing and moveset. Being part Steel, Grass type moves are no longer super-effective, and while Ground moves become a weakness, his Water half handles it nicely. While still being weak to Electric and gaining a Fighting weakness, Empoleon can be taught Earthquake through TM and actually learns Drill Peck on his on. No 4x weakness, and a crapload of Special Attack paired with a decent Attack make Empoleon one badass penguin that is just too cool (and good) to pass up.

He's a penguin and he's got the moves. He's made of steel. And you're jealous.