Best Water Type Pokemon

Picking the best Water type Pokemon means choosing from the biggest crowd in the series. Water type Pokemon hit Fire, Ground and Rock for double damage, and only Grass and Electric attacks hit them for double in return.

That short list of weak spots is why so many teams carry at least one, and why the type gets picked for a starter generation after generation. (Water has never once asked for attention. It shows up, it is useful, it goes home.)

This list ranks 15 of the 154 Water type Pokemon by how many different players named each one as their favorite or best Water type. Let's get into the countdown:

Best Water Type Pokemon

#15

Suicune

Suicune is partially based on a leopard, and its slender build, horn-like crest and ability to walk on water suggest the Qilin as well. In its legend it stands for the rain that put out the fire at the Brass Tower, while Raikou and Entei stand for the lightning and the fire. Its Pokedex entry says it embodies the compassion of a pure spring of water and has the power to purify dirty water. (We have a filter jug. It is not the same.)

It is a legendary Pokemon, and its base stat total of 580 is second only to Kyogre on this list. Its Defense and Special Defense are both 115. Every Pokemon also has an ability, a passive effect that works on its own in battle, and Suicune's Pressure makes any move that targets it cost one extra PP (PP is how many times a move can be used). Its hidden ability (a rarer ability some Pokemon can have), Inner Focus, keeps it from flinching (losing its turn to a faster hit).

#14

Empoleon

Empoleon appears to be based on an emperor penguin and an emperor, and its names in other languages point to Napoleon Bonaparte in particular. Its beak looks like both a crown and a trident, the weapon of the Greek sea god Poseidon. Its newest Pokedex entry says the people of Hisui have revered it since ancient times as the Master of the Waves, and that its wings are a match for even master-crafted blades. (A penguin with a title and knives for arms. We would also revere it, from a distance.)

Prinplup evolves into it at level 36. Its Special Attack of 111 is the best on this list after Kyogre (Special Attack powers special moves like Surf). Its ability, Torrent, makes its Water moves hit 1.5× as hard once its HP drops to a third or less. Its hidden ability, Competitive, raises its Special Attack two stages whenever an opponent lowers one of its stats (a stage is one step up or down for a stat during a battle).

It mostly gets picked for its design.

#13

Mudkip

Mudkip appears to be based on the mudpuppy or the mudskipper, or possibly an axolotl. As the Mud Fish Pokemon, it might also draw on the East African lungfish or the flathead catfish, which goes by mudcat. Its Pokedex entry says it breathes through the gills on its cheeks in water, and when cornered in battle it can crush rocks bigger than itself. (Mudkip is 0.4 m tall. We cannot open some jars.)

Its base stat total of 310 is the lowest on this list, and its Speed of 40 is the slowest. It evolves into Marshtomp at level 16. Its ability is Torrent, and its hidden ability, Damp, stops moves like Self-Destruct and Explosion from working while it is in battle.

It makes the list on its own, separate from Swampert at number one, and for plenty of players it was the first starter they ever picked.

#12

Feraligatr

Feraligatr appears to be based on a crocodilian and looks like an alligator, and the yellow marking on its belly might point to the yellow stripes on young American alligators. The crest on its head is similar to a mohawk, which may allude to its boisterous personality. In Pokemon Sleep, it and its pre-evolutions sleep with one eye open, the way real crocodiles do. (We also sleep with one eye open. Ours is on the phone.)

Croconaw evolves into it at level 30, earlier than any other Water starter on this list. Its Pokedex entry says it intimidates foes by opening its huge mouth and charges at an incredible speed. Its Attack is 105 and its Defense is 100. Its hidden ability, Sheer Force, makes moves with extra effects 1.3× as strong but drops those extra effects, which trades a chance to burn or flinch for raw damage.

#11

Kingdra

Kingdra is inspired by a seahorse, possibly the crowned seahorse, with some seadragon in it. Its Dragon type may come from the Japanese word for seahorse, which literally means "illegitimate child of a dragon", from the myth that a seahorse that lives for a century turns into a dragon. Its Pokedex entry says its shed scales gleam so much that they have been given to royalty as gifts. (Our shed skin has never been given to anyone. We checked.)

Seadra evolves into it when traded while holding a Dragon Scale. Its Attack, Defense, Special Attack and Special Defense are all 95. Swift Swim, one of its abilities, doubles its Speed in rain, and its other ability, Sniper, makes its critical hits (rare hits that deal extra damage) do 3× damage instead of 2×.

Its Dragon half resists Grass and Electric. Neither of the Water type's two weaknesses hits it for double as a result. It is weak to Dragon and Fairy only.

#10

Squirtle

Squirtle is based on both its final form and baby turtles, though its body and semi-aquatic life are closer to terrapins, with the proportions of the big-headed turtle. Its Pokedex category is Tiny Turtle Pokemon. Its entry says that when it feels threatened, it draws its limbs inside its shell and sprays water from its mouth. (That is our exact plan for conflict, minus the water.)

It evolves into Wartortle at level 16. Its base stat total of 314 is the second lowest on this list, ahead of Mudkip, and it is 0.5 m tall. Its ability is Torrent, and its hidden ability, Rain Dish, heals it for a sixteenth of its max HP after each turn in rain.

Squirtle makes the list on its own, separate from Blastoise at number six, and several players call it their favorite Pokemon of any type.

Milotic

Milotic seems to be based on a sea serpent and a mermaid, with the long body and red fins of an oarfish. Its colorful scales resemble stained glass, and its history of being depicted in art suggests Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. Its jump from Feebas may come from The Ugly Duckling, where a feeble cygnet grows into a swan. Its Pokedex entry says a glimpse of it will calm any hostile emotions you are feeling. (We looked at the artwork for a while. Still mad about the jar.)

Feebas evolves into it by leveling up, or by being traded while holding a Prism Scale. Its Special Defense of 125 is second only to Kyogre on this list, and at 6.2 m it is the second tallest after Gyarados. Its ability Marvel Scale raises its Defense to 1.5× when it has a major status ailment such as a burn or poison.

It gets called the most beautiful Water type of all.

Kyogre

Kyogre may be a personification of the Earth's oceans. Its feud with Groudon is similar to that of Leviathan and Behemoth, and its look draws on toothed whales like the orca. The patterns on its fins look like alpha, the first Greek letter, which might stand for the origin of life in the oceans and set it against Groudon's omega. Its Pokedex entry says it is said to be the personification of the sea itself.

Its base stat total of 670 is the highest of the 15, and so are its Special Attack of 150 and its Special Defense of 140. It weighs 352 kg. Its ability, Drizzle, summons rain the moment it enters battle, and rain makes Water moves stronger, which is a lot of help for something that already hits this hard. (A weather system with fins. We bring an umbrella and it does nothing.) It has no hidden ability.

It gets called the best Water type without a doubt, so often that some lists of the best leave it out on purpose.

Gyarados

Gyarados appears to be based on a Chinese dragon and is heavily hinted to come from the Chinese tale of a carp that swims up a waterfall, leaps over the Dragon Gate and becomes a dragon. That legend is an allegory for the drive needed to overcome obstacles, which fits how much effort raising a Magikarp takes. Its newest Pokedex entry suspects it is the dragon from ancient texts that razed an entire village with white-hot beams from its maw. (It started life as a Magikarp. Character growth.)

Magikarp evolves into it at level 20. Its Attack of 125 is the highest on this list, and at 6.5 m it is the tallest. Its ability, Intimidate, lowers the opponent's Attack one stage when it enters battle. Its hidden ability, Moxie, raises its Attack one stage every time it knocks out a Pokemon.

Blastoise

Blastoise appears to be a turtle mixed with parts of a tank. It may also be based on Leonardo da Vinci's design for an armored fighting vehicle, which itself took its shape from a turtle's shell. Its Pokedex category is Shellfish Pokemon, and its entry says the rocket cannons on its shell fire jets of water that can punch holes through thick steel. (A turtle with artillery. We have questions for the shellfish people.)

Wartortle evolves into it at level 36. Its Defense is 100, which ties Feraligatr for second on this list behind Suicune, and its Special Defense is 105. Its ability is Torrent, and its hidden ability, Rain Dish, heals it a little after each turn in rain.

That bulk is the main reason players pick it, and it gets described as a tank more than it gets described as a turtle.

Vaporeon

According to its designer, Atsuko Nishida, Vaporeon and especially its tail were designed with mermaids in mind. Nishida first gave it mostly canine traits, and Ken Sugimori redesigned it to look more feline. Its newest Pokedex entry goes the same way: tests show its cells closely resemble water molecules, and the writer believes the origins of mermaid folklore lie with this Pokemon. (We have been in the bath for an hour. Nothing has happened to our cells.)

Eevee evolves into it with a Water Stone. Its HP of 130 ties Lapras for the highest on this list, and its Special Attack is 110. Its ability, Water Absorb, makes Water moves heal it for a quarter of its max HP instead of hurting it. Its hidden ability, Hydration, cures any major status ailment after each turn in rain.

Starmie

Starmie seems to be based on a stylized starfish such as the purple sea star. Since it can emit light and has ties to outer space, it may also be based on stars and meteors. Its core looks like a faceted gem in a golden prong setting, red like a ruby, and its fast spinning recalls shuriken and propellers. Its Pokedex entry says it swims by spinning its body at high speed and absorbs tiny plankton as it cruises. (A spinning gem that eats plankton. We have seen worse business plans.)

Staryu evolves into it with a Water Stone. Its Speed of 115 is second only to Greninja on this list (Speed decides who attacks first in a turn), and its Special Attack is 100. One of its abilities, Natural Cure, heals any major status ailment when it switches out. Its hidden ability, Analytic, makes its moves 1.3× as strong when it moves last.

Its speed and its long list of moves are what win players over, and a good number call it the best Water type there is.

Lapras

Lapras appears to be based on plesiosaurs, extinct marine reptiles, and through them the Loch Ness Monster. Its long neck and sturdy body may also come from the mastheads and hulls of Viking ships. Its shell, its life at sea and its history of being hunted almost to extinction point to sea turtles as well. Its category is Transport Pokemon, and its Pokedex entry says crossing icy seas is no issue for it and its smooth skin is a little cool to the touch. (We are a little cool to the touch in winter. Nobody rides us anywhere.)

It does not evolve. Its HP of 130 ties Vaporeon for the highest on this list, and it weighs 220 kg. Water Absorb, one of its abilities, heals it when Water moves hit it, and its other ability, Shell Armor, protects it from critical hits. Its hidden ability is Hydration.

Greninja

Greninja may come from horned frogs, given the spiked bumps above its eyes, and its colors and body shape are like those of the splendid leaf frog. It is also based on a ninja, since Japanese culture links frogs and toads with ninjas through the folk story of Jiraiya, a ninja who can turn into a giant toad. Its Pokedex entry says it appears and vanishes with a ninja's grace and slices its enemies with throwing stars of sharpest water. (Throwing stars made of water. We cannot fold a fitted sheet.)

Frogadier evolves into it at level 36. Its Speed of 122 is the highest on this list, and its Special Attack is 103. Its ability is Torrent. Its hidden ability, Protean, changes its type to match each move it uses, so each move it uses gets the bonus a Pokemon earns for attacking with its own type.

Much of the love comes from Kalos, the Gen VI region, and the X and Y games set there.

Swampert

Swampert appears to be based on the mudpuppy, the axolotl, the mudskipper or the gilled African lungfish. The fins on its head and tail look like Japanese war fans, and its stance recalls a sumo wrestler. Its Pokedex entry says it predicts storms by sensing changes in the sounds of waves and tidal winds with its fins, and that it piles up boulders to protect itself when one is coming. (We check the weather app and stay inside. Same idea, fewer boulders.)

Marshtomp evolves into it at level 36. Its HP is 100 and its Attack is 110, the best on this list after Gyarados. Its ability is Torrent, and its hidden ability is Damp.

The Ground half is the big draw. It makes Swampert immune to Electric moves, and Grass is the one type that hits it hard. More players named it as their favorite Water type than any other, and one says they "beat the Pokemon League using Swampert alone 4 times in 1 day".

Conclusion

Water type Pokemon take double damage from Grass and Electric attacks, and the top of this list goes around that. Swampert's Ground half makes it immune to Electric, which leaves Grass as its one weak spot, though Grass hits it for 4× damage. Kingdra's Dragon half resists both, and neither weakness lands on it. Gyarados goes the other way, since its Flying half makes Electric moves hit it for 4×, and it still finished seventh.

Starter lines make up almost half the list. Seven of the 15 entries come from Water starter lines, covering five of the nine, and only Oshawott's, Popplio's, Sobble's and Quaxly's lines miss out. (We relate most to Squirtle. Threatened, inside the shell, spraying.)

If your favorite didn't make it, the full list of Water type Pokemon has all 154, and the type chart shows what each pairing covers.

Water Type Pokemon FAQ

What is the best Water type Pokemon?

Swampert. More players name it as their favorite Water type than any other.

How many Water type Pokemon are there?

There are 154 Water type Pokemon in the National Pokedex.

Is Kingdra weak to Electric?

No. Kingdra's Dragon half resists Electric, so Electric moves do normal damage to it. It is weak to Dragon and Fairy only.

Best Water Type Pokemon

Best Water Type Pokemon

Suicune

Empoleon

Mudkip

Feraligatr

Kingdra

Squirtle

Milotic

Kyogre

Gyarados

Blastoise

Vaporeon

Starmie

Lapras

Greninja

Swampert

Conclusion

Water Type Pokemon FAQ

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