Best Psychic Type Pokemon

Picking the best Psychic type Pokemon starts with an odd fact about the type. Psychic moves hit only Fighting and Poison for double damage, and Dark type Pokemon take no damage from them at all, while Psychic type Pokemon take half damage from Fighting and Psychic attacks.

That short hit list has never stopped the type from drawing a crowd. Psychic is where the series keeps a lot of its big names, and five of the 15 Pokemon below are legendary or mythical. The other ten include a cell floating in green jelly and a hypnotist who carries a pendulum. (We tried bending a spoon with our mind once. The spoon won.)

This list ranks 15 of the 102 Psychic type Pokemon by how many different players named each one as their favorite or best Psychic type. Let's get into the countdown:

Best Psychic Type Pokemon

#15

Medicham

Medicham appears to have been based on a practitioner of yoga, and it may also draw on Arabian belly dancers, since its pants resemble traditional badlah pants and its headgear resembles a shawl. Like Meditite before it, it looks like many Hindu deities, Shiva most of all. Meditite evolves into it at level 37. Its Pokedex entry says it developed its sixth sense through the power of meditation and is known to meditate for a whole month without eating. (We once went a whole month without stretching. Different discipline.)

Its base stat total of 410 is the second lowest on this list, and none of its six stats goes above 80, yet it hits hard. Every Pokemon has an ability, a passive effect that works on its own in battle, and Medicham's ability, Pure Power, doubles its Attack, the stat behind physical moves like punches and kicks. Its hidden ability (a rarer ability some Pokemon can have), Telepathy, protects it from damaging moves thrown by its own partner in a double battle.

Most of the players who pick it talk about battles, either winning with it or losing to it in a single hit.

#14

Latias

Latias and its partner Latios appear to be a cross between a jet plane, a dragon, a griffin and a bird, and their lack of feet and constant levitation might be inspired by the common swift, a bird that spends most of its life in the air. Their names and Latias's ability to refract light might also refer to Eos, the Greek goddess of dawn. Its Pokedex entry says it is highly intelligent and capable of understanding human speech, and that it is covered with a glass-like down that refracts light to alter its appearance. (We also alter our appearance with light. It is called a ring light, and it does not work.)

It is a legendary Pokemon, and its Special Defense of 130 is the second highest on this list (Special Defense blunts special attacks). Its Special Attack and Speed are both 110 (Special Attack powers special moves, and Speed decides who attacks first in a turn). Its only ability, Levitate, lets it dodge Ground moves, and it has no hidden ability.

#13

Starmie

Starmie seems to be based on a stylized starfish such as the purple sea star, and like many real starfish it can regenerate lost body parts. The gem in its middle might also be a reference to the Ultraman series, where Ultra Warriors have similar gems on their chests that start flashing when they are weak. Staryu evolves into it with a Water Stone, an evolution item. Its Pokedex entry says it swims by spinning its body at high speed and absorbs tiny plankton as it cruises through the ocean. (A spinning star that eats on the move. Our lunch break looks about the same.)

Its Speed of 115 is the third highest on this list, behind Mewtwo and Alakazam. Its abilities are Illuminate and Natural Cure, which cures any major status ailment, such as a burn or poison, when it switches out. Its hidden ability, Analytic, makes its moves 1.3× as strong when it moves last. Its gender is unknown, and that may come from the asexual reproduction seen in some real starfish species.

#12

Gallade

Gallade may be based on a warrior elf. The single fin on its head resembles the helmet worn by murmillo-class Roman gladiators, though it may also be based on medieval knights, and its battle stances resemble the en garde position and parries of modern fencing. Kirlia evolves into it with a Dawn Stone. Its Pokedex entry says the blades extending from its elbows are sharper than the finest swords, and its swordsmanship, albeit self-taught, is astonishingly impressive. (Self-taught and astonishingly impressive. We put that on a resume once.)

Gallade is the other branch of Gardevoir's family, and the two share a base stat total of 518. Their stats mirror each other: Gallade's Attack is 125 and its Special Attack is 65, the reverse of Gardevoir's, while the other four match. Its ability Steadfast raises its Speed one stage whenever it flinches (a stage is one step up or down for a stat during a battle, and a flinch costs a Pokemon its turn). Its other ability, Sharpness, powers up slicing moves, and its hidden ability, Justified, raises its Attack one stage when a Dark move hits it.

#11

Jirachi

Jirachi appears to be based on the concept of wishing upon a star, the practice of making a wish while watching meteors in the night sky, and its Steel type may be a reference to iron meteorites. The paper tags on its head resemble tanzaku, strips of paper on which wishes are written during Tanabata, the Japanese Star Festival. Its Pokedex entry says it is believed to grant any wishes written on those notes when it wakes from its 1,000-year slumber. That long sleep may also be a reference to comets, most of which are visible from Earth only once in a lifetime. (We wake from naps like that most Sundays. Nobody brings wishes.)

It is a mythical Pokemon, and all six of its stats are 100, the same spread Mew has. Its ability, Serene Grace, doubles the chance of a move's extra effects happening, such as a flinch or a freeze, and it has no hidden ability. That makes it a tough opponent in battle, since its luck starts to look unfair.

#10

Ralts

Ralts seems to be based on a young child and the concept of empathy. Shy, sensitive characters are often drawn with hair hiding their eyes, which may explain its bowl cut, and the red horns on its head resemble two halves of a heart, which may relate to its ability to sense emotions. Its category is Feeling Pokemon. Its Pokedex entry says it tends to prefer people with a chipper disposition to those who are gloomy, and it ends with a note that it needs more research. (Same. We also need more research.)

Its base stat total of 198 is the lowest on this list by a wide margin, and it evolves into Kirlia at level 20. Its abilities are Synchronize, which passes a burn, paralysis or poison back to the Pokemon that caused it, and Trace, which copies the opponent's ability when it enters battle. Its hidden ability is Telepathy. Its line also resembles the meadow elves of folklore, and since the word elf was later replaced by fairy, that may explain its Fairy type, added in Generation VI.

Ralts is where a few players got hooked on Psychic types, some of them back in Sapphire and Emerald.

Lugia

Lugia may be based on Ryūjin, a dragon who lived on the ocean floor and was the Shinto god of the sea, and it resembles a wyvern, a dragon whose forelimbs serve as wings. Its coloration and face markings suggest the grey heron, and the beluga whale may have shaped both its design and its name. Its Pokedex entry says a light fluttering of its wings can blow apart regular houses, and as a result it chooses to live out of sight deep under the sea. (Considerate. We cannot even keep our music down.)

Its category is Diving Pokemon, yet it is part Psychic and part Flying with no Water type at all. It is a legendary Pokemon, its base stat total of 680 ties Mewtwo for the highest on this list, and its Special Defense of 154 is the best of the 15. Its ability, Pressure, makes any move that targets it cost one extra PP (PP is how many times a move can be used). Its hidden ability, Multiscale, halves the damage it takes while its HP is full.

Hypno

Hypno may be based on a hypnotist and on the baku, the dream eater spirit of Japanese mythology. It also looks similar to a proboscis monkey, and parts of its behavior resemble the goblins and bogeymen of European folklore. Drowzee evolves into it at level 26, and its category is Hypnosis Pokemon. It stands 1.6 m tall and weighs 75.6 kg. Its Pokedex entry is a warning: avoid eye contact if you come across one, because it will try to put you to sleep by using its pendulum. (We avoid eye contact with everyone. Finally, a good reason.)

Its Special Defense of 115 ties Gardevoir and Gallade for third best on this list. Its abilities are Insomnia, which keeps it from falling asleep, and Forewarn, which reveals the opponent's strongest move when it enters battle. Its hidden ability, Inner Focus, stops it from flinching.

Much of its appeal comes down to how creepy it is.

Reuniclus

Reuniclus and the rest of its line seem to refer to cells, with the green substance around their bodies resembling cytoplasm and the objects inside representing organelles. The line down its head resembles a cleavage furrow, a hint at mitosis, and the way Reuniclus gets stronger by shaking hands with others of its kind may point to neurons and their synapses. Duosion evolves into it at level 41. Its Pokedex entry says drinking the liquid surrounding it is said to grant wisdom. Problem is, the liquid is highly toxic to anything besides Reuniclus itself. (We will stay unwise, thank you.)

Its HP of 110 is the highest on this list, and its Speed of 30 is the lowest. One of its abilities, Magic Guard, protects it from damage that a move does not cause directly, so a burn or poison cannot wear it down. Its other ability, Overcoat, protects it from weather damage, and its hidden ability, Regenerator, heals it for a third of its max HP when it switches out.

Mew

Mew's designer, Shigeki Morimoto, stated that its design was based on Mewtwo and made simpler to take up less space on the cartridge. Its overall look appears to be based on domestic cats, with a short muzzle and large hind feet, and its earliest design resembled a vertebrate embryo. Scientists in its world believe it is the last universal common ancestor of all other Pokemon. Its category is New Species Pokemon, and its Pokedex entry says its short, fine, delicate hair can be seen when viewed through a microscope. (Our hair also looks better under a microscope. Nobody has checked.)

It is a mythical Pokemon, and all six of its stats are 100. Its ability, Synchronize, passes a burn, paralysis or poison back to the Pokemon that caused it, and it has no hidden ability.

Players who pick it point to its looks and to how many moves it can learn.

Metagross

Metagross appears to be based on a robot and a supercomputer, given its mechanical structure and sheer intelligence, as well as a spider. It is reminiscent of a UFO and a lander too, and its face may draw inspiration from the largest gear of the Antikythera mechanism, an ancient analog computer. Metang evolves into it at level 45. Its Pokedex entry says it is the result of the fusion of two Metang and defeats its opponents through use of its supercomputer-level brain. (Two of us fused would still lose to a calculator.)

It weighs 550 kg, more than twice as much as Lugia, the next heaviest on this list, and its Attack of 135 is the highest of the 15. Its ability, Clear Body, stops other Pokemon from lowering its stats, and its hidden ability, Light Metal, halves its weight.

It gets named the best Psychic type outside the legendaries, and sometimes the best Psychic type of all.

Mewtwo

Like Mew, Mewtwo has some domestic cat and embryo characteristics, but gene splicing made its body much larger. It also has some characteristics of a grey alien and a salamander, and its tail resembles an umbilical cord. Its category is Genetic Pokemon, and its Pokedex entry says its DNA is almost the same as Mew's, though its size and disposition are vastly different. (Siblings. We get it.)

It is a legendary Pokemon. Its Special Attack of 154 and its Speed of 130 are both the highest on this list. Its ability is Pressure, and its hidden ability, Unnerve, stops opposing Pokemon from eating their held Berries. It also has two Mega Evolutions, Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y (a Mega Evolution is a stronger form a Pokemon takes for the rest of a battle).

The case for it is raw power, and some of the players who pick it do not bother making a case at all.

Alakazam

Alakazam appears to be based on a magician and also a spoon bender, and it shares similarities with foxes, animals tied to magic in myth. The pentagram shape of its head and its fox and human look may come from Abe no Seimei, a famous court magician associated with the pentagram and said to be a fox-human hybrid. Kadabra evolves into it when it is traded. Its Pokedex entry says its head becomes larger and heavier the longer it lives, and that the strength of its psychic powers correlates positively to the weight of its head. (Our head is also heavy. The correlation stops there.)

Its Special Attack of 135 and its Speed of 120 are both second only to Mewtwo on this list, but its Defense is 45. Its abilities are Synchronize and Inner Focus, and its hidden ability, Magic Guard, protects it from damage that a move does not cause directly.

Players who use it agree that it hits hard and goes down fast once a strong physical attack lands.

Espeon

Because of its feline appearance, Espeon appears to be based on the bakeneko and the nekomata, magical cat yōkai described as mysterious and intelligent. The jewel on its head may be a reference to the carbunclo, a mythological South American creature with a jewel or mirror on its forehead, and its position evokes the idea of a third eye. Eevee evolves into it when it levels up during the day with high friendship (how much a Pokemon trusts its trainer). Its Pokedex entry says it can predict the weather and even people's thoughts, and when bathed in sunshine, the scarlet orb on its brow glows and builds energy. (We can predict the weather too. We open the window.)

Its Special Attack of 130 is third on this list, behind Mewtwo and Alakazam, and its Speed is 110. Its ability is Synchronize, and its hidden ability, Magic Bounce, reflects most non-damaging moves back at their user.

A lot of players come to it as one of Eevee's evolutions and stay because it is cute.

Gardevoir

Gardevoir seems to be based on a principal ballet dancer and a knight, as well as the concepts of chivalry and empathy. Its long white frills resemble a floor-length dress, and its bob cut resembles a barbuta helmet. Its Fairy type and protective nature over its trainer seem to be inspired by guardian angels. Kirlia evolves into it at level 30. Its Pokedex entry says it will dedicate itself to defending a master it has come to adore, and that its pure white dress is the dress of one who is willing to risk their life. (We would risk a mild inconvenience for a few people. Do not push it.)

Its Special Attack is 125 and its Special Defense is 115. Its abilities are Synchronize and Trace, and its hidden ability is Telepathy. Mega Gardevoir appears to be based on a ballroom dancer wearing a large ball gown and evening gloves.

More players named it as their favorite Psychic type than any other, though Espeon finished only four behind. Several call it the best Psychic type outright.

Conclusion

Psychic type Pokemon take double damage from Bug, Ghost and Dark attacks, and seven of the 15 on this list carry a second type that resists Bug, Dark or both. Gardevoir and Ralts get there through Fairy, Gallade and Medicham through Fighting, Metagross and Jirachi through Steel, and Lugia through Flying. Ghost is the one weakness none of them shake off.

The pure Psychic types make up for it with numbers, and the three highest Special Attack stats on this list, Mewtwo's, Alakazam's and Espeon's, all belong to them. (We relate most to Ralts. Low numbers, still in the room.)

If your favorite didn't make it, the full list of Psychic type Pokemon has all 102, and the type chart shows what each pairing covers.

Psychic Type Pokemon FAQ

What is the best Psychic type Pokemon?

Gardevoir. More players name it as their favorite Psychic type than any other.

How many Psychic type Pokemon are there?

There are 102 Psychic type Pokemon in the National Pokedex.

Is Mew a legendary Pokemon?

No. Mew is a mythical Pokemon, a separate group from the legendaries, and all six of its stats are 100.

Best Psychic Type Pokemon

Best Psychic Type Pokemon

Medicham

Latias

Starmie

Gallade

Jirachi

Ralts

Lugia

Hypno

Reuniclus

Mew

Metagross

Mewtwo

Alakazam

Espeon

Gardevoir

Conclusion

Psychic Type Pokemon FAQ

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