You’ve spent decades catching ‘em all. You’ve seen literal gods of space and time, sentient ice cream cones, and a set of keys that fights back. But despite Game Freak churning out over 1,000 distinct species across nine generations, there is still a massive, gaping hole in the Pokedex. As of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet and its subsequent DLC, "The Indigo Disk," there are exactly nine Pokemon unused type combinations that haven’t seen the light of day. It’s honestly a bit weird.
We’ve seen the developers finally check off long-requested boxes like Poison/Steel with Varoom and Normal/Ghost with Hisuian Zoroark. Yet, somehow, we are still waiting on some of the most obvious elemental pairings imaginable. These aren’t just obscure math problems; they represent massive missed opportunities for competitive strategy and world-building.
The Fire and Fairy Problem
Think about a Will-o'-the-wisp. Or maybe a Victorian-style hearth spirit. It’s a layup, right? Fire/Fairy is arguably the most glaring omission in the current lineup. Fire is a powerhouse offensive type, and Fairy is the definitive "anti-meta" typing that keeps Dragons in check. Combining them would create a monster that resists almost everything relevant in the current VGC (Video Game Championships) circuit.
Why hasn't it happened? It might be a balance issue. A Fire/Fairy type would have a massive advantage against Steel types, which are usually the premier Fairy-counters. You’d have a creature that can incinerate the very things meant to stop it. We’ve had close calls—Mega Altaria almost fits the vibe, but it stayed Dragon/Fairy. Delphox felt like it could have been Fairy, but it leaned into the Psychic wizard trope instead.
Honestly, a Fire/Fairy type would probably break the game if it had even halfway decent stats. You're looking at a dual-type that resists Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Fighting, and Fairy, while being completely immune to Dragon. That’s a nightmare to switch into.
Bug and Dragon: The Dragonfly That Isn't
Flygon is a lie. It’s a great Pokemon, don’t get me wrong, but its name is literally "Dragonfly" and it’s a Ground/Dragon type. This has been a sticking point for fans since Generation III. Bug/Dragon is one of those Pokemon unused type combinations that feels like it should have been solved twenty years ago.
The biological world is full of inspiration for this. Think about the prehistoric Meganeura—massive, predatory dragonflies from the Carboniferous period. Or perhaps a silk-producing dragon? Yanmega was the perfect candidate in Generation IV, but Game Freak opted for Bug/Flying, likely to keep it "grounded" in its inspiration.
From a competitive standpoint, Bug/Dragon is a mixed bag. Bug is historically one of the worst offensive types, but Dragon is elite. A Bug/Dragon type would struggle with a 4x weakness to Rock (hello, Stealth Rock), but it would offer a unique resistance profile that could make U-turn—one of the best moves in the game—hit with STAYING power.
The Cold Reality of Ice and Poison
Ice and Poison are two types that rarely play well with others. Ice is the "glass cannon" type; it hits incredibly hard but has almost zero defensive utility. Poison is the opposite, usually serving as a defensive wall or a status-spreader. Combining them creates a bizarre paradox.
What would this even look like?
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- A contaminated glacier?
- A colorful, toxic nudibranch living in arctic waters?
- A chemical coolant leak?
The sheer lack of Ice/Poison Pokemon is likely because the themes are so diametrically opposed. Ice represents purity and stillness; Poison represents corruption and decay. Still, with the introduction of regional forms like Galarian Slowbro, it’s surprising we haven't seen an Alolan or Galarian Ice/Poison variant of something like Weezing or Muk.
Normal and the "Missing" Links
Normal is often treated as a "filler" type, but it provides a crucial immunity to Ghost moves. This makes any Normal dual-type instantly interesting for competitive play. Currently, there are three Normal-type pairings that remain in the vault:
- Normal/Ice: Think of a simple mountain goat or a generic arctic hare. It’s incredibly vulnerable to Fighting moves (4x weakness), which is probably why it hasn't been made. It’s a defensive nightmare.
- Normal/Rock: We have plenty of pure Rock types and Rock/Ground types, but no "boring" rocks. A Normal/Rock type would likely be the ultimate "early-game" fodder, like a Raticate made of granite.
- Normal/Steel: This is the big one. Steel is the best defensive type in the game. Adding Normal gives it a Ghost immunity but doubles that Fighting weakness.
The lack of Normal/Steel is particularly strange when you consider how many "man-made" Pokemon exist. A simple sentient robot or a literal tin can Pokemon would fit this perfectly.
Ground and Fairy: The Sand-Spirit
When Pokemon X and Y introduced the Fairy type, it felt like every combination would be exhausted within two generations. Yet, Ground/Fairy remains elusive. This is a pairing that screams "mythology."
In folklore, many fairies are tied to the earth—gnomes, dwarves, or spirits that guard hidden treasures. A Ground/Fairy type would be a fascinating addition to a team because it would be immune to both Electric and Dragon moves. That is a massive niche. You could switch it into a Regieleki or a Garchomp without breaking a sweat.
We’ve had Pokemon that look the part. Enamorus, the Love-Hate Pokemon, is Fairy/Flying, but its "Therian Forme" looks like it could easily crawl through the dirt. Tinkaton is Steel/Fairy, but its massive hammer suggests a connection to mining and the earth. Still, the slot remains empty.
The Remaining Outliers: Rock/Ghost and Steel/Enigma
Rounding out the list, we have Rock/Ghost. This is a pairing that usually gets passed over for Ground/Ghost (like Golurk or Runerigus). A haunted tombstone? A possessed statue? It feels so obvious that it’s almost frustrating it doesn't exist. Rock/Ghost would have some brutal weaknesses to Water, Grass, and Dark, but it would be a "spin-blocker" that could actually take a hit.
And then there’s the final frontier: Ice/Rock. Wait—no, we have Aurorus and Hisuian Avalugg. My bad. The actual final missing piece is Rock/Ghost and Bug/Dragon, as we discussed, but people often forget about the weirdly specific Fire/Fairy and Ground/Fairy gaps.
Let's look at the actual updated list of the 9 missing types as of the start of 2026:
- Normal/Ice
- Normal/Rock
- Normal/Steel
- Fire/Fairy
- Ice/Poison
- Ground/Fairy
- Bug/Dragon
- Rock/Ghost
Wait, that's eight. The ninth? Rock/Poison.
Rock/Poison is an interesting one. It’s a combination that suggests environmental disaster. Think of arsenic or lead—heavy metals and toxic minerals. Nihilego was almost this, but it ended up as Rock/Poison... oh wait, Nihilego is Rock/Poison.
Actually, let's correct the record: the current list of unused combinations is actually getting smaller, but the "fan favorites" remain stubbornly absent. As of the latest data, the true holdouts are:
- Normal/Ice
- Normal/Rock
- Normal/Steel
- Fire/Fairy
- Ice/Poison
- Ground/Fairy
- Bug/Dragon
- Rock/Ghost
- Bug/Dark (Wait, we got Lokix! Scratch that.)
Actually, the list is even shorter now. The remaining combinations are primarily the Normal hybrids and the Fire/Fairy or Ground/Fairy legend-tier possibilities. It’s a moving target because every new DLC seems to tick one off.
Why Does Game Freak Hold Back?
Designers usually work from a "concept first" perspective. They don't sit down with a spreadsheet and say, "We need an Ice/Poison type today." Instead, they think, "I want to design a cool penguin," and then they realize it has to be Ice/Water or Ice/Flying.
There's also the issue of "Power Creep." Some of these combinations, like Steel/Normal or Fire/Fairy, offer such specific defensive utility that they would fundamentally change how competitive matches are played. If you give a Fire/Fairy type a move like "Torch Song" or "Moonblast," it becomes a mandatory pick. Game Freak is often hesitant to release "perfect" types unless they are tied to a legendary Pokemon with a 4x weakness to something common.
Actionable Strategy: Preparing for Future Releases
When a new Pokemon game is announced, the community immediately begins speculating on these Pokemon unused type combinations. If you're a competitive player or a collector, here is how you should handle these gaps:
- Watch the Regional Forms: Game Freak loves using regional variants (like Alolan or Paldean forms) to fill these gaps. If a new game is announced in a desert region, keep an eye out for a Ground/Fairy variant of an older sprite.
- Predict the Meta: If a Fire/Fairy type is finally released, Steel types will lose their dominance as Fairy-checks. You will need to start carrying more Water or Poison-type coverage moves.
- Theorycrafting: Use tools like Pokemon Showdown's custom servers to see how these types would perform. A Bug/Dragon type with "Quiver Dance" would likely be an "Uber" tier threat overnight.
The Pokedex is a living document. While it feels like we’ve seen everything, these nine (or so) missing links prove that the world of Pokemon still has room to grow. We don't need another generic Bird/Flying type. We need a haunted boulder. We need a toxic icicle. We need that elusive Bug Dragon.
Until then, we’re stuck with Flygon. And honestly? That’s not a bad consolation prize, even if it’s technically a lie. Keep your eyes on the upcoming Gen 10 rumors; that’s where the next "world first" typing is likely to hide.