The Normal-type in the Pokemon universe has traditionally been regarded as a weak type — a beginner's type, useful only until you catch something better. This is probably because some of the very first wild Pokemon a trainer will encounter in any game are the weak Normal-type rodents and birds that inhabit early routes. Plus, Normal-type moves aren't super effective against any Pokemon, and exploiting type match-ups is generally how trainers dominate their opponents.

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Normal-type Pokemon get a bit of a bad rap. Even though their moves aren't super effective against anything, there are also very few types resistant to Normal moves — only Rock and Steel, in fact. And, only Fighting moves are super effective against them. Essentially, Normal-type Pokemon can form a solid backbone to any team. Here are some of the most powerful options.

While the Pokemon listed here are within the upper echelons of base stat totals amongst Normal-types, there are a handful that rank just as high but have not been included because they are less viable.

Updated on May 20, 2021 by Michael Christopher: As the Gen VIII metagame starts to level out and the top contenders rise to the surface, some may be looking for a strong Normal-type to add to their time. We've refreshed this list again to make sure it's as up-to-date as ever. Unfortunately, not all of these Pokemon are available in Sword & Shield at the moment. 

15 Swellow

Pokemon Anime Swellow Flying In Battle

An early-game bird that's note quite as good as some others, Swellow is still quite respectable. Normal/Flying Pokemon are often uninspired, but Swellow breaks that mold. It has a solid set of stats, particularly with its great Speed stat making up for less-than-ideal offensive stats. However, both of its abilities give it options for how it wants to perform in battle.

Guts makes Swellow a physical attacker, hitting fast and hitting hard. It doesn't get long to stand in battle with its poor bulk and a Toxic Orb in hand, but it can do some serious damage before it goes down. Alternatively, a Scrappy set with Boomburst and Choice Specs makes Swellow a menace in a different way. While the Choice Specs set is more common, both are possible and both are powerful.

14 Exploud

Exploud screaming violently in a Pokemon Go battle

Exploud is a Pokemon with an extensive movepool and the stats to make use of it. This loud behemoth is slow, for sure, but its equal Attack and Special Attack stats allow it to make use of a whole collection of different moves. However, Exploud is clearly more iconic for bringing Scrappy and Boomburst to the fray with greater power than Swellow.

Exploud, unlike Swellow, also has access to some of the best high-damage special attacking moves. Fire Blast, Focus Blast, and Surf are the most common to see. It's a wonder how this Pokemon even manages to Surf, but some things are better left not thought about. Exploud has its niche, but it's a niche it holds down well.

13 Bewear

Pokemon Anime Bewear Battling Pheromosa

Bewear is a Pokemon that loves to give big (and, according to the Pokedex, deadly) hugs. It may be friend-shaped, but its stat total does back up the claims of hug-related fatalities. It has high HP and even higher attack, with typing that has some of the strongest physical attacking moves the game has to offer.

More importantly, Bewear also has Fluffy, allowing it to switch in on physical attackers without fear. Contact moves deal almost no damage to this monster, and that gives it time to set up Swords Dances and start delivering apparently spine-shattering hugs. There is a lot to fear in this adorable plush bear.

12 Mega Evolutions (Kangaskhan, Lopunny, Audino, and Pidgeot)

mega kangaskhan, mega lopunny, mega audino, and mega pidgeot

There are four Mega Evolutions that are Normal-type. While they are very strong and even, in some cases, excel past other Pokemon on this list, their unavailability in the current main series generation probably means they should be placed together as to not take up too many spots.

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A special mention goes to Mega Kangaskhan, which was so overpowered that it was nerfed between games. Mega Pidgeot's Special Attack stat is incredible, Mega Audino excels in HP and Defense, and Mega Lopunny's 136 in Attack and 135 in Speed make it hit hard and fast.

11 Staraptor

Pokemon Anime Staraptor Flying in the Air

Staraptor, the final evolution of Sinnoh's early-game bird Starly, was the first time such a bird found use in high tiers of play. It has great Speed and great Attack, making it a serious threat against a lot of teams. It also has two fantastic abilities in Intimidate and Reckless, although Reckless is more common.

It doesn't quite have the deep movepool of other Normal-type Pokemon, but it does boast a solid set of moves to utilize its strengths to their fullest. It even has some utility with Defog, which is something not a lot of offensive Pokemon typically get the option to bring into battle. Staraptor may still be waiting for its green card, but it'll likely find its way to higher tiers of play once it gets in.

10 Lickilicky

lickilicky in the pokemon anime using a fiery move

Lickilicky was one of many evolutions for Kanto Pokemon added during Generation IV. Someone took a look at Lickitung and thought, "Yeah, I definitely want more of that," and so Lickilicky was born. Its saliva can dissolve just about anything and being licked by one causes numbness — presumably because it's dissolving you, too.

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Its high stat total leans more toward bulk and Defense. That, coupled with its few weaknesses due to its pure Normal-typing, means Lickilicky can take a lot of punishment. It also has a signature move, Wring Out, which is more effective the more HP its opponent has.

9 Obstagoon

obstagoon in battle in sword and shield with the female avatar trainer behind it

Obstagoon, fresh from the Galar region, stands out from most other pink or brown Normal-types with its fresh black-and-white punk look. And don't worry, not all Normal Pokemon are this tongue-focused. Obstagoon is a pretty powerful third-stage regional evolution to Galarian Zigzagoon, first introduced in its Hoennian variant in Generation III.

Its stats are pretty balanced, leaning toward physical Defense and Speed; its Special Attack is nothing to write home about, though. Being dual Normal/Dark-type, it has a few more weaknesses than pure Normals, including a 4x weakness to Fighting, but it's also completely immune to Psychic attacks and resistant to Dark.

8 Porygon-Z (and Porygon2)

porygon-z looking fierce in battle with its trainer behind it

Porygon-Z is the final form of the manmade digital Pokemon, Porygon. Its stat total is boosted by its absolutely massive Special Attack. Its other stats are mostly just okay, but Porygon-Z has the potential to wipe the floor with its opponents before they can even get off a shot. It also has a large and diverse movepool available to it through TMs.

Never has uploading knowledge directly into your Pokemon's brain made more sense. Porygon-Z evolves from Porygon2 when given a Dubious Disc; some kind of virus in its programming made it even more powerful.

We should mention that its pre-evolution, Porygon2, should also be noted on this list. Even though it's outclassed by its evolution, Porygon2 is absolutely competitively viable, thanks to its strong movepool, access to Recover, and ability to tank a few hits well. Give it an Eviolite and it's absolutely overpowered for a middle stage Pokemon.

7 Snorlax

a happy snorlax with a ton of berries

Few Pokemon are as iconic as Snorlax. This big, sleepy Pokemon appears in several different games because it's just so massive and lazy that it becomes a roadblock. It eats upwards of 880 lbs of food every day and even rotten food won't make it sick. Then it goes into a food coma and requires a Poke Flute to awaken.

Often, there's only one or two Snorlax available in a game and if you miss your chance, they're gone forever. As you might expect, Snorlax is a defensive wall with extremely high HP and good defenses. Plus it gets recovery moves like Rest, making a well-trained Snorlax hard to put down.

6 Blissey

nurse joy, blissey, and comfey wearing hats and working at the pokemon center

Blissey, despite usually being seen as a companion to Nurse Joys everywhere, can be an extremely effective battler when used correctly. This is mostly down to its colossal base HP (the highest of any Pokemon) and high Special Defense.

It has a decent Special Attack in order to deal some damage back, but Blissey's primary strength is as a special wall. They can take a frankly terrifying amount of punishment, and are able to heal themselves and their teammates with moves like Soft-Boiled and Heal Bell. A powerful physical attacker could eventually bring it down, but not immediately.

5 Silvally (and Type: Null)

silvally in a power stance in the pokemon anime

Silvally evolved from Type: Null, Gladion's companion from Pokemon Sun & Moon. It seems to be formed of several different kinds of creatures like its pre-evolution, but has finally broken free of its control mask and unlocked its true power. All of its stats are the exact same, making it a useful all-rounder.

It's worth nothing that Type: Null could have been on this list, too, as its stats are almost entirely the same as Silvally's, with the exception of its Speed, which is lower. However, we've incorporated them both into this entry for the sake of brevity.

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Silvally's real advantage, however, comes with its ability to change from its base Normal-type by equipping certain items. Because it was created from the DNA of all kinds of Pokemon, it contains the potential for every other Pokemon type within it. You can use a memory disc of a certain type to give Silvally an edge over an opponent.

4 Meloetta

meloetta in its aria mode in the pokemon anime

Meloetta is a Mythical Normal/Psychic-type Pokemon, but by using its signature move Relic Song it can change from its Aria Forme into its Normal/Fighting Pirouette Forme. Both of its forms have a decent amount of HP, but its stats differ between the two types.

Its Normal/Psychic Aria Forme is focused on Special Attack and Special Defense, while its Fighting Pirouette Forme has high Attack, as well as Speed. The fact that Meloetta can shift between these forms in the middle of battle gives it the ability to counter many types and makes it very versatile.

3 Slaking

slaking in the pokemon anime

Slaking is a pure Normal-type whose base stats are so high that some people mistake the line for pseudo-Legendaries. However, pseudos' base stats always add up to exactly 600 — and Slaking's stat total is 670. So, it's obviously a very powerful Pokemon, with extremely high HP and Attack, and its Defense and Speed are nothing to laugh at.

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The only downside is the Slaking line's almost-signature ability (Durant also has it) called Truant, which only allows the Pokemon to use moves every other turn. It spends the off turns "loafing around." But, Slaking can be a massively heavy hitter if you use it right and know how to cover its weaknesses.

2 Regigigas

regigigas in the pokemon anime standing in front of pikachu in the snow

Regigigas is a Normal-type Legendary Pokemon and the trio master of Hoenn's Legendary Titans: Regirock, Registeel and Regice (now a quintet-master with the addition of Regieleki and Regidrago). It has incredible stats, topped by its whopping 160 Attack, as well as an excellent movepool.

It is truly a powerful titan, and will only awaken after the player has conquered and captured the other Regis. However, all the time slumbering has given yet another powerful Normal-type Pokemon a detrimental ability. Slow Start halves Regigigas' Attack and Speed stats for five turns, meaning that, to make use of this Pokemon's power, you're going to need a good defensive strategy.

1 Arceus

arceus in the pokemon anime

If you still needed convincing that Normal-type Pokemon can be powerful, look no further than Arceus. This Legendary is basically the god of the Pokemon world, having definitely created Sinnoh and several other Legendary Pokemon and likely brought the entire universe into existence.

But even aside from its godly abilities, it's also a useful competitive Pokemon thanks to its high all-around stats. Arceus is similar to Silvally in that it's able to change its type by holding certain items. Silvally has this power because it was created from many different Pokemon; Arceus has this power because every Pokemon type that exists originated from within Arceus itself.

Add in its massively powerful signature move, Judgment, and Arceus is a terrifying foe in battle.

Next: The 10 Best Pure Normal-Type Pokemon