There are more than a hundred Water-Type Pokémon across the franchise, including dual-type Pokémon. Some of the cutest and coolest Pokémon are found among Water-Types, making the category wonderfully diverse.
Of course, all Pokémon have the potential to be the strongest depending on how you raise and train them, but some are naturally built for competition while others make the best pets. No matter what you’re looking for in your next Water-Type buddy, this list has you covered.
11/11 Seel/Dewgong
Yes, Seel and Dewgong are singularly unimaginative Pokémon but who hasn’t wanted a Seal or Sea Lion as a pet. These Pokémon are also some very few Ice-Types of Generation I, which makes them special.
Dewgong’s best stat is Special Defense, which can be a very useful stat if you know how to use it.
It’s best not to bring out this line in Physical Attack heavy battles, but it is handy to have in Psychic-Type and Ghost-Type gyms, or against gimick trainers.
10/11 Wooper/Quagsire
These guys are just the friendliest Pokémon, and since the Paldea Regional Form for Wooper has been revealed we’re all just dying to know what the Paldean Quagsire will look like. If it’s only half as cute as these Johto natives, it’ll be too cute to handle.
In battle, Quagsire can soak up hard hits while doing lots of damage over time. HP is its highest stat, followed by Attack and Defense, and it’s only weak to Grass-Type attacks. And while its natural move pool is rather shallow, it has a great variety of TMs it can learn.
9/11 Wimpod/Golisopod
One of the more powerful Bug-Types, and also a Water-Type, is Golisopod. With its Emergency Exit ability, it is as frustrating to fight as it is fun to use. On top of that, Defense is its best stat, followed by Attack, so it isn’t a one-trick Ponyta.
The only downside is that Golisopod doesn’t learn many Water-Type moves naturally, so while it is an undeniably strong Pokémon it doesn’t do quite enough with its Water Typing to make it very high on the list. It does have a great variety of moves it can learn through TM, even if the Water-Type moves there are also few and far between.
8/11 Squirtle/Wartortle/Blastoise
Special Attack, as well as Defense, are the Blastoise line’s wheelhouse, with Attack and Special Defense not far behind. Even as they grow tougher with every evolution, though, the friendliness present in their Squirtle stage remains.
Not only does Blastoise have powerful Water-Type attacks, it has many Steel-Type attacks even though it doesn’t have Steel as a secondary type. The best way to utilize this line is to hit hard, and you’ve got plenty of options to play into those strengths.
7/11 Mudkip/Marshtomp/Swampert
Mudkip is quite possibly the cutest starter Pokémon in the franchise. It is a common belief that its evolutions are downgrades, and while Marshtomp has that awkward teenage energy common to the middle evolutions of starters, Swampert is a powerful ally.
Swampert is only weak to Grass-Type attacks, but its defensive stats are tied for second after its Attack stat. Its Ground-Type secondary typing helps bolster its power, giving it immunity to electricity. Combine that with its wide array of moves it can learn, you can find a powerful partner in the Swampert line.
6/11 Mantyke/Mantine
The sea pancake of the Pokémon franchise, Mantine from Generation II and its pre-evolution introduced in Generation IV is a more than a capable partner. They’re a dual Water and Flying-Type, and have an incredibly high Special Defense stat.
If you’re looking for a Mantine ready for battle, it’s best to find one with the Water-Absorb ability. With its Flying secondary typing, it is incredibly weak to Electric-Type attacks, but it is handy in a battle against Ground-Types.
5/11 Magikarp/Gyarados
Magikarp is a singularly useless Pokémon, but that is a well-known fact among Pokémon fans. However, any list going over the best Water-Types would be remiss not to mention Gyarados. It’s Water and Flying-Type, and a proud member of the “Should Be a Dragon-Type” club.
Its Attack Stat is alarmingly high, and it can learn almost every high-powered Water-Type move. It also has a good amount of Dragon-Type moves it learns naturally, and it can learn some Dark-Type moves via TM. It doesn’t have the most versatility, but if you’re looking for power this is your friend.
4/11 Feebas/Milotic
Feebas is another Pokémon that needs a little love before it makes for a good partner. You’ll need to trade your Feebas to a friend while it’s holding a Prism Scale in order for it to evolve into Milotic. In Generation III when it was introduced, it was a perfect buddy to enter into Pokémon Contests.
Its Special Defense is its highest stat, followed by Special Attack. In many ways, it is an inversion of Gyarados, with both Dragon-Type moves and Fairy-Type moves making an appearance in its move set. If you’re looking for a creative ally in battle, consider Milotic.
3/11 Lapras
The great success of Pokémon conservation efforts, Lapras has been seen across all generations of the franchise. It’s a dual Water and Ice-Type and has a high HP stat. It is a beautifully designed Pokémon, and its kind eyes will see you through many a hard gym battle.
Other than its high HP, its other stats are well-balanced. Its Ice-Type attacks are surprisingly powerful, and it has a good variety of Water-Type moves as well. The moves it can learn from TM are many and varied, so you always have the opportunity to pull out a surprise.
2/11 Froakie/Frogadier/Greninja
While Greninja line hasn’t been in any mainline Pokémon games since its introduction, you could trade the line into the Sun and Moon games. There is also a special kind of Greninja called an Ash-Greninja that has a special ability called Battle-Bond.
However, even the normal Greninjas are very powerful, so it is no wonder that the line are fan favorites. It’s a dual Water and Dark-Type, and its Speed Stat is its highest stat, though its Attack and Special Attack stats aren’t too shabby either. It has a lot of resistance too, which helps compensate for its lower defensive stats.
