They may not be the strongest Pokémon as a group. And their designs are often among the most unimaginative considering they tend to look just like real-world animals and the like – but even then, there are some amazing gems hiding beneath all of the clutter. To help bring some of these amazing creatures to the forefront and match them to trainers that can bring out their potential, I’ve organized this post to rank the best Normal-type Pokémon in the entire franchise. Will you be the one to make them shine?
30. Gumshoos
Pokémon’s seventh-generation brought with it a lot of weird-looking Pokémon such as the Alolan versions of Meowth and Raticate. But there’s one that goes a little further. There’s one that looks a bit… familiar. Sporting the posture and impeccable hairstyle of a certain businessman-turned-politician, this Normal-type monster terrorizes Raticate and other small creatures of the region with its Strong Jaw ability, which powers up its biting moves, and overall solid Attack stat. Despite being somewhat slow, this Pokémon is totally viable for a single-player campaign.
29. Exploud
With a bad-ass design similar to that of a Dragon-type, or perhaps a Marlboro monster from the Final Fantasy series, this Normal-type is a perfect example of why Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire are considered to be among the best iterations of the franchise. This odd Pokémon is capable of triggering earthquakes by bellowing hard enough, although it only raises its voice when locked in battle. Otherwise this big guy prefers to communicate through soft, harmonious whistling. In combat it shines thanks to some decent offensive stats and Scrappy ability, which lets it hit even Ghost-types with all of its moves. Nice!
28. Swellow
And yet, proving that size doesn’t matter when it comes to Pokémon battles, the great beast Exploud can easily be outclassed by the graceful Swellow. Unsurprisingly dubbed the Swallow Pokémon, this Normal/Flying-type bird from the Hoenn region boasts incredible Speed. Which gives it an advantage in most hostile encounters. This speed is maintained in part through a thorough grooming process that groups of Swellow perform on each other, keeping their colorful feathers glossy and their bodies free of unneeded weight.
27. Diggersby
One of the biggest challenges that come with ranking Pokémon is that some of the strongest Pokémon are also terribly ugly. And such is the case with Diggersby. Despite looking like Lopunny’s alcoholic uncle, this Normal/Ground dual-type is capable of exhibiting incredible strength thanks to the Huge Power ability, which doubles its Attack stat. This, along with a nice same-type move like Earthquake, establishes Diggersby as a consummate heavy hitter, only kept from true greatness by mediocre survivability and low Speed.
26. Miltank
Miltank may not be the strongest, or the fastest, or the prettiest of Pokémon. Even though it does rank high to me in terms of cuteness. But it earns its place on this list due to its invaluable service to the denizens of the Pokémon world. Known as the best cow Pokémon around, this adorable creature can produce gallons upon gallons of nutritious milk every day. Helping keep both humans and other Pokémon well fed. Regrettably, the Pokémon universe isn’t populated by vegetarians. And I’ve seen them eating beef in the anime on several occasions. Considering they never show any other bovines, and that Miltank has the Thick Fat ability, I fear it may be this world’s version of a Wagyu cow.
25. Braviary
Introduced in Gen V to reign over the skies of the Unova region, Braviary is a hotheaded fighter who isn’t afraid of risking life and limb to prove its superiority to other members of its species. For this reason it’s known as the Valiant Pokémon, and only those with many scars on their bodies can earn the respect of other Braviary. To achieve this, this Normal/Flying-type takes advantage of its great Attack stat and the Defiant ability, which increases it further every time any of its other stats are lowered.
24. Pyroar
While members of the same Pokémon species tend to look almost the same, some creatures like Pyroar do break the mold to show some variety. In Pyroar’s case, it’s between male and female members of its species, much like the lions this Pokémon is based on. The males have a fiery mane that intimidates foes, while the females have a sleek, aerodynamic body type that’s all about agility. In combat, both males and females take advantage of their amazing Sp. Attack and Speed to fiercely protect their cubs and the rest of their pack. And there’s a lot to like about their combat style with the Moxie skill filling them with determination and improving their offense each time they bring down an enemy.
23. Dubwool
As one of the first gen VIII Pokémon to be revealed to the public, Wooloo had to carry the weight of the hype atop its cute shoulders for a considerable time. The strain of responsibility and hardships of fame strengthened the woolly warrior, and its majestic evolution shows its progress with impressive horns and a determined look in its eyes. A sheep had never looked so bad-ass… which makes it a shame it’s fairly mediocre in battle. It can take a hard beating, but with no way to return the favor or recover from damage, it’s left with no place in any competent party. Great choice for the newer games though if you love this little guy, or just love the memes.
22. Zangoose
Back when I first adventured through Hoenn, Zangoose was always at the top of my party. Just waiting anxiously for my Blaziken to fail so it could take over the battle. Known as the Cat Ferret Pokémon despite clearly being a mongoose, this normal-type has one of the coolest designs in gen III, and it’s a wonderful option against the region’s many poison-types thanks to its Immunity and Toxic Boost abilities: a product of its species’ age-long fight against Seviper. But remember, just because it looks like a cat doesn’t mean you can treat it as such. I can handle some tiny cat-scratch marks on my arm. But Zangoose might just cut it clean off if you pet it one time too many.
21. Bouffalant
Where the Kanto region has Tauros, Unova has Bouffalant. This afro-sporting buffalo is among the most aggressive and hardheaded Pokémon around. This is shown in battle by its high Attack stat and the Reckless ability, which boosts damage output for moves that deal recoil damage to the user. According to the Pokédex, these Normal-type Pokémon even have the power to derail trains by charging at them. How Unovan researchers found this out is something I’d rather not know.
20. Stoutland
I’ve always been fond of dog-like Pokémon. After all, they’re man’s best friend, and in the case of Stoutland, they might even have been key to human survival in some regions before the advent of artificial heating. According to the Pokédex, every household in the colder areas of the Unova region used to keep a Stoutland, as its fur and body heat were enough to keep entire families from freezing to death during the winter. Who’s a good boy?
19. Lopunny
I’ll be straight with you: there’s someone working in Game Freak’s design department that frequents some dark places on the Internet, and it shows. If you don’t believe me, just search for Lopunny in Google Images! Just… make sure there’s nobody around when you do it, or you may find yourself in an embarrassing situation. That aside, Lopunny is a solid Normal/Fighting-type with some great stats. Not to mention a very useful Scrappy ability, which puts it on equal standing against otherwise immune Ghost-types. Furthermore its sporty influencer-looking mega evolution can hold its own at a pretty high competitive level.
18. Ursaring
The Hibernator Pokémon may not be among the most creative critter designs included in Pokémon Gold & Silver. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it a chance to prove its worth on your team. This Normal-type beast has an exceptional Attack-stat. And even though it’s slow, its Quick Feet ability can make up for it by heightening its Speed whenever its opponent inflicts a status ailment. On the other hand you can just get one with the Guts ability, which does the same but for its Attack stat. Couple this with Swords Dance and you’ll have a monstrously powerful addition to your team.
17. Kangaskhan
People always talk about the strength that comes with being a parent. Mothers, specifically, are known to fiercely protect their young all-throughout the animal kingdom – and Pokémon are no different. Known as the Parent Pokémon, this Normal-type from the original 151 uses its nice Attack stat and excellent Speed to rip apart anyone trying to mess with its offspring, which it carries around in a sack on its belly. Ever since gen VI Kangaskhan got a Mega Evolution that lets mother and daughter join forces to fight whoever opposes them. It’s said that watching their young stand up and fight fills them with determination and strengthens their resolve.
16. Tauros
Famous for their violent nature, Tauros are only truly at ease when they’re rampaging through the land and destroying everything they see with their pack of horned bros. Their stats reflect this, as their Speed and Attack are through the roof. Their fierce personality is also represented by the Intimidate ability, which lowers their opponent’s Attack, and Anger Point, which makes their own Attack flare whenever they receive a critical hit. Something funny about this Pokémon in the anime is that Ash actually has about 30 of them. Many Western fans never quite got how this happened. Because the episode where he catches them was banned from airing outside Japan.
15. Obstagoon
If this was a “coolest-looking Pokémon” ranking, Obstagoon would be somewhere around the top, with their defiant attitude and bad-ass look inspired by American rock band KISS. It’s the final evolution of the Galarian variant of gen II veteran Zigzagoon, leaving the comfort of a horizontal position to stand upright and finally be taken seriously by those around it. Known as the Blocking Pokémon, this Dark/Normal-type makes use of its signature Obstruct move to avoid damage for a turn and lower the attacker’s Defense before lashing out with powerful moves like Mega Kick.
14. Blissey
Blissey is simply one of the cutest, most comforting pocket monsters available in the entire series. And that’s the whole concept! It’s pink, it’s round, and it cares for other Pokémon along with Nurse Joy in the Pokémon anime. What’s not to like about this adorable creature? That said, what puts Blissey so high-up on our ranking is its absolutely ridiculous HP. Which coupled with its solid Sp. Defense can make it into an almost impregnable wall that can keep healing itself with the Soft-Boiled move.
13. Cinccino
Leave it to Game Freak’s Ken Sugimori to take something as unbelievably cute as a chinchilla and make it even cuter in its Pokémon form. This Normal-type critter from the Unova region has the softest fur in the entirety of the Pokémon universe thanks to a special protective oil. With nice Attack and great Speed, Cinccino can be an asset in combat as long as it has the Skill Link ability. This lets it hit as many times as possible with moves like Tail Slap and Bullet Seed.
12. Pidgeot
The original 151 had a great amount of normal-types that have stood the test of time to become some of the most beloved monsters in the franchise. Pidgeot has carved its way into the fandom’s heart. Thanks to this timeless appeal, Game Freak decided to honor the bird with a Mega Evolution that makes it look like a Super Saiyan. This just added to its already solid offensive Normal/Flying-typing and great Speed to make it a force to be reckoned with in Pokémon battles.
11. Staraptor
And yet despite having a Mega Evolution, Pidgeot can’t hold a candle to Sinnoh’s signature bird in terms of combat prowess. This is mainly due to the Predator Pokémon’s more focused stats, which put all of its potential into Attack and Speed rather than spreading it out. Couple that with the Reckless ability and a powerful recoil-inflicting move like Brave Bird, and you’ll have a devastating Normal/Flying-type attacker. Plus, Starly is super-easy to get at the beginning of Pokémon Diamond & Pearl, which makes this evolutionary line a must-have asset for single-player campaigns.
10. Jigglypuff
Few Pokémon are as absolutely iconic and generally popular as the Balloon Pokémon, Jigglypuff. Sure, it was nothing more than another cannon fodder Pokémon to beat on your way to catching ‘em all on the original games. But thanks to a well-known running gag featuring a very frustrated Jigglypuff in the anime, the pink wannabe-singer made its way into everyone’s hearts. After its appearance on the Detective Pikachu movie doing what it knows best. I think Jiggly has established itself as one of the brightest stars of the franchise.
9. Meowth
Another critter that made most of its fame in the anime is Meowth, possibly the original cat Pokémon we all remember. That said, all Team Rocket’s talking Meowth did was get the ball rolling. Because Game Freak has been giving this sly feline a lot of love in the franchise’s latest releases by designing both an Alolan and a Galarian version, along with a memetastic Gigantamax form. Hopefully they’ll continue this trend in future releases, turning the well-loved cat into something akin to Eevee.
8. Porygon-Z
One of the most unique Pokémon back in the original games was Porygon, the man-made Virtual Pokémon. This polygonal normal-type critter was always very mysterious. But also very appreciated by fans. You could even get it from throwing a Pokéball in Super Smash Bros., and that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Nowadays with a weird incident involving a Dubious Disc and a faulty firmware update, the low-poly look is a thing of the past. Porygon-Z is now a curvy and smooth beast with a crazed look in its eye that should make you think twice before engaging this dangerous sweeper in battle.
7. Ditto
Speaking of changing shapes, how could we possibly leave out the gen I veteran purple blob that is Ditto? This amorphous goo-like creature is an expert at copying other pocket monsters down to their genetic code, giving it their same stats and allowing it to use their moves as well. This skill may not be all that useful in battle. But plushies of Ditto transformed into other popular Pokémon like Squirtle and Umbreon have become incredibly popular thanks to the charm of its vacant facial expression (and just how much easier it is to make than sewing a real face on). Plus come on, this is breeding 101.
6. Silvally
The next entry in our list also happens to be a copy of another Pokémon, even if it wasn’t exactly by choice. Known as the Synthetic Pokémon, Silvally is another man-made creature introduced in gen VII. Which was designed to mimic the mythical Arceus. Like the latter, this chimera-like creature has the power to change types depending on what item it’s holding, and despite not having the same absurdly high stats, Silvally’s are nothing to scoff at either.
5. Regigigas
Unlike Silvally, little is known about the creation of Regigigas. This is the Colossal Pokémon said to be responsible for towing the continents of the Pokémon world to their current position in ancient times. Introduced in Gen IV, Regigigas is supposed to have created the rest of the mythical Regis first seen in the Hoenn region. In a battle you may have a chance against it first thanks to its Slow Start ability, which halves its stats at the beginning of the fight. However once it reaches its full power, only the strongest will be able to withstand its onslaught.
4. Snorlax
Is it a cat? Is it a bear? Is it both? Regardless one thing is for sure. This iconic first-generation Pokémon likes to sleep. A lot. Requiring you to go through the immense trouble of getting a special flute and playing a tune to wake it up – only for it to fall asleep again after raiding a town and eating their winter supplies, probably. Thankfully this bottomless pit of a Pokémon justifies the 900 pounds of food it consumes each day with solid combat prowess thanks to amazing HP and the necessary Attack to make it count. But it’s still super cute and a crazy strong normal type for your team. It’s also got a lot of cool collectibles if you’re a Snorlax fanatic.
3. Slaking
Before researching for this ranking I used to think Slaking was just another ugly, monkey-based Pokémon for me to hate. Well, it definitely is ugly. But that’s far from being its only notorious feature. True to its nature, this guy will only attack once every two turns because of its Truant ability. But when it does, it unleashes incredible power thanks to its completely ridiculous Attack stat. This gives way to several devastating strategies that have made Slaking popular in competitive play. This just goes to show that at the end of the day, it’s fine to be a lazy bum as long as you get results… right?
2. Eevee
There isn’t a single evolutionary line in the entirety of the Pokémon universe that gets as much love as Eevee and the Eeveelutions – which also sounds like an awesome name for a band. Dubbed the Evolution Pokémon, Eevee began its career with only three different paths depending on what special Stone it was exposed to. Now that number has come up to eight, and as long as there remain Eevee-less types, fans will never lose hope that they’ll get a new one next generation. This notoriety has been acknowledged by Game Freak, who even went as far as to make Eevee the main Pokémon of its own game – Pokémon: Let’s Go Eevee, which features a super-cute flower-wearing version.
1. Arceus
If there’s a Pokémon that can surpass Eevee in any way among the Normal-types, it has to be Arceus: the god of all Pokémon. Worshipped all-across the Sinnoh region, this incredibly powerful creature is said to have created the entire world where the games take place. Considering it’s supposed to be quasi-omnipotent, the fact that it can change types by holding different elemental plates shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Alpha Pokémon is so powerful in battle it makes no sense to use it, as it would crush any other creature in a heartbeat with its all-around perfect stats. Well, maybe it makes sense for you to use it…
