Summary
Ever since its game-changing debut inPokemonback in 2013, the Fairy type is still yet to live up to and overtake the series' venerated Dragon type, even after a decade and three generations ofPokemongames. WhilePokemonScarletandViolet’s nineteenth “Tera Type” as part of its ongoing DLC expansion could be limited to Gen 9 alongside its Terastallization gimmick, the Fairy type is stillPokemon’s most recent permanent change to its available types for the time being. WithPokemon X’s mascot Legendary Pokemon being made a Fairy-type, it was clear that Game Freak intended for Fairy Pokemon to rival other Dragon types.
But after multiple existing Pokemon retroactively adopted the new Fairy type with many more new ones introduced in the following three generations, it seems that the Fairy type has not yet surpassed the status of the Dragon type. Between the number of Pokemon there are with each type or whether these Pokemon are Legendary, Mythical, or otherwise, there are several crucial areas where the Fairy type is still coming up short behind Dragon types. UnlessPokemon’s prospective Gen 10 breaks with traditionregarding these types will remain to be seen, but until then the Fairy type could be relegated to a spot just below the Dragon type.
The Breakdown Between Fairy and Dragon Types
Comparing The Number and Effectiveness of Fairy and Dragon Pokemon
As of Gen 9, the current number of Fairy- and Dragon-type Pokemon and their moves are almost even, including when accounting for alternate forms such as regional variants or Mega Evolutions. While the difference between 73 Dragon-type Pokemon and 69 Fairy-type Pokemon might seem insignificant at first, it’s important to recognize that the Dragon type has had a six-generation-long head start on Fairy types. Therefore, in the span of just three generations, theintroduction of each Pokemon typein the games outlines that Fairy quickly closed the gap with Dragon, which could mean that Fairy Pokemon may actually outnumber Dragon types after the arrival of Gen 10.
However, when considering both Fairy’s and Dragon’s effectiveness against other Pokemon types, it becomes difficult to determine which type comes out on top. Though it was introduced as an immune counter to the Dragon type, the Fairy type has a broader range of strengths and weaknesses when battling other Pokemon. On the other hand, the limited effectiveness both for and against the Dragon type alongside its type resistance still gives a high-risk, high-reward advantage. While the table belowranks thePokemontypesside-by-side, it seems that both Fairy and Dragon are evenly matched when it comes to how many Pokemon each has and how effective they are in battle.
Dragon
Early Versus Late Game Fairy and Dragon Pokemon
Though the recent shift to an open-world design seen inScarletandVioletchanges route progressionmoving forward, the linear path players took through previous generations meant that Pokemon were encountered in a certain order. Starting early with Route 1, Pokemon were traditionally Normal, Bug, and Flying types, while later in the game this range would expand to include stronger and rarer types, such as Ghost, Ice, and most particularly Dragon. However, following its introduction, between existing Pokemon adopting the new type and those that were brand-new, Fairy-type Pokemon seemed to typically be found early to midway through variousPokemongames.
This breakdown of where and when players encounter Pokemon of either type does make more sense when factoring in their respective effectiveness and resistance to other types, as the Fairy type’s more general use would mean it’s more commonly seen among early- to mid-game Pokemon. Moreover, this could also have been caused by how Fairy-type Pokemon have since been used duringthe marketing of newPokemongames. As long as the “new” Fairy-type grabs attention from fans, Fairy-type Pokemon will be among the first showcased to players for them to obtain in new games, ranging fromXandY’s Eeveelution Sylveon toScarletandViolet’s own Fidough reveal.
RELATED:Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Don’t Break Stale Dragon-Type Tradition
The Contrasts Between The Kinds of Fairy and Dragon Pokemon
The difference between early- and late-game Pokemon being Fairy and Dragon types isn’t the only discrepancy between howPokemonseems to view either type. For instance, when considering the type combinations of fully evolved starter Pokemon, Primarina is so far the only dual Fairy type. But when it comes to secondary Dragon types among starter Pokemon, these can only be found in the Mega Evolutions for Mega Charizard X and Mega Sceptile, which would suggest that the Dragon type holds a special status of power beyond that of Fairy, though the discontinuation ofMega Evolutions in futurePokemongamesmight complicate this.
This distinction, which appears to rank Fairy below Dragon despite any initial aims of balancing the two, continues with the breakdown of types between Legendary and Mythical Pokemon. While there have been several Fairy-type Legendary Pokemon such as the four Guardian Deities from Gen 7, their number is still limited compared to the overwhelming number of Dragon-types. Except for the likes of Xerneas and Zacian, Dragon-type Legendary Pokemon continue to be the most commonly used both for in-game stories and as game mascots, as seen withScarletandViolet,and likely once again for anypotentialBlackandWhiteremakes.
The Fairy type seems to be reserved instead for sub-Legendary and Mythical Pokemon, but this trend can be seen among pseudo-legendary Pokemon too. Fans have criticized theoveruse of Dragon-type pseudo-legendary and Legendary Pokemon, something which was not helped byScarletandViolet’s introduction of the Frigibax line. Yet despite the potential Fairy has for pseudo-legendary status and its associated fan demand,Pokemonhas insisted on adding yet more Dragon Pokemon to this category, which ultimately just perpetuates the idea that the Dragon type is still considered more prestigious and coveted than the Fairy type even after three generations of games.
