One of the best things about playing a Pokemon game is running a team built around your favorite type. Does this work competitively? Well, no. But from that first tango with Blue in Red and Blue to the challenge against Cynthia in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and beyond, put your mind to it and victory is possible.
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Posts By Gabrielle HustonWithin that context, one of the less-appreciated types is Poison, which, frankly, is a real injustice. They've become much more useful since the Fairy-type was introduced back in 2013, and even in online battling, they have finally carved an appreciable niche that's well worth exploring.
Updated on December 13, 2024, by Andrew Scariati: The best Poison Pokemon club has received several new friends in recent years, but there are plenty of powerful choices from the early days as well. We've included two new contenders for the crown of the best Poison Pokemon, including an unusual Pokemon from Paldea.
18 Seviper
HP
Attack
Defense
Special Attack
Special Defense
Speed
73
100
60
100
60
65
In the real world, snakes are better known for striking their prey with their teeth or wrapping them up in a coil, but Seviper thrashes its poison tail at its enemies instead, allowing the sharpened tip to enter the body and administer the deadly liquid. It's not the absolute strongest Poison-type Pokemon, but it's criminally under-appreciated.
Though many fans aren't fond of Seviper's design, you can't deny the fact that it's a recognizable, prototypical Poison-type Pokemon. Hook yours up with Poison Jab or Sludge Bomb and add in X-Scissor for Bug-type coverage.
17 Ariados
HP
Attack
Defense
Special Attack
Special Defense
Speed
70
90
70
60
70
40
The Bug and Poison-type Ariados has been around since Gold and Silver, though it wasn't until their remakes, HeartGold and SoulSilver, that fans could appreciate the full artistic terror therein. "It's just a spider," some might say.
But consider the fact that many ultra-venomous animals in the real world are lavishly colorful as a warning to potential predators to chill out or pay the lethal consequences. Ariados has a lot of that going on and if its poison wasn't enough to deter enemies, then they'll find themselves stuck in this spider's tangled web.
16 Salazzle
HP
Attack
Defense
Special Attack
Special Defense
Speed
68
64
60
111
60
117
Rather than just coming at an opposing monster with poison or venom, Salazzle is all about spreading toxic clouds that can leave the enemy filled with deadly gas. Salazzle's also got one of the most bizarre-looking stat spreads around, with lots of "jagged" numbers and appreciable spikes in Special Attack and Speed at the complete cost of utterly rough counterparts.
This evolution line, with its unique Corrosion ability, can poison Steel-types, which are immune to Poison otherwise. To go to such lengths just to inflict venom upon other living creatures is almost admirable. Weirdly, Salazzle's signature move is Fire Lash, a physical-based technique reliant upon a bad Attack stat. But hey, replace it with Fire Blast and all is well.
15 Garbodor
HP
Attack
Defense
Special Attack
Special Defense
Speed
80
95
82
60
82
75
This Pokemon is trash, but that's the whole point. Garbodor was introduced in the Unova region, a setting often criticized for its weak designs. Garbodor is typically trumped as the ultimate example of it, alongside a certain ice cream Ice-type.
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PostsHave you ever wandered down the dingy streets of Hunts Point in the South Bronx and not seen a Garbodor, though? They're everywhere. Unova's modeled after New York, so you know what, here's your Garbodor. Give this piece of garbage Gunk Shot, a 120-base power physical move with a 30 percent chance of poisoning the target.
14 Weezing
HP
Attack
Defense
Special Attack
Special Defense
Speed
65
90
120
85
70
60
Weezing is the evolved form of Koffing. Even in the halcyon days of Red and Blue, Game Freak's name game was on point. It's also a fairly physically tanky Pokemon with Attack decent enough to make a dent and a plethora of status-inflicting options. Also, it has two heads, but it happens to even the best Poison Pokemon among us.
And then there's Galarian Weezing, introduced in Sword and Shield. Both heads wear top hats and green gas fuses on their faces in the likeness of a beard and mustache. It's Poison/Fairy, which is, terribly odd but also quite unique. Sludge Bomb, Fire Blast, and Thunderbolt are all good choices for both varieties; toss in Dazzling Gleam on the Galarian chaps for a good STAB option.
13 Nidoking & Nidoqueen
Nidoqueen
HP
Attack
Defense
Special Attack
Special Defense
Speed
90
92
87
75
85
76
Nidoking
HP
Attack
Defense
Special Attack
Special Defense
Speed
81
102
77
85
75
85
It's impossible to mention Nidoqueen and Nidoking separately, given their clear links and shared base stat total of 505. While each has a legitimate case as one of the best Poison Pokemon, their minor stat differences aren't enough to separate them beyond picking and choosing on a case-by-case basis.
As generation after generation passes, it seems like a matter of time before these Pokemon receive additional mechanics like a Mega Evolution, as their complementary style sticks out from the crowd. For now, the king and queen will have to wait to reclaim their crowns.
12 Toxicroak
HP
Attack
Defense
Special Attack
Special Defense
Speed
83
106
65
86
65
85
The Pokemon anime just loves to present its protagonists with companions who never evolve to their final form. Sure, there are exceptions. But look at Croagunk, one of Brock's most iconic buddies. Why didn't he evolve into Toxicroak? We have a theory. Croagunk loved to beat Brock up for his lecherous tendencies. Toxicroak probably would have just straight up killed Brock by accident.
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Posts By Andrew ScariatiFrom a fighting perspective, the coolest thing about Toxicroak is that it poisons its foes if they make contact. Most physical attacks, and even a handful of special ones, fit the contact rule. Stick with Poison Jab until Gunk Shot comes along as a great replacement. Its high Attack stat gives Toxicroak an edge with access to Stone Edge as well.
11 Tentacruel
HP
Attack
Defense
Special Attack
Special Defense
Speed
80
75
65
80
120
100
Tentacruel is another Kanto classic, and frankly, it's unnerving that it and its pre-evolution are the most common creatures in pretty much every regional sea. Why are there more of these things than there are fish? What monstrous places these naval routes prove to be. And there are swimmers all over the place; are they even remotely aware of these beasts?
The glass-half-full philosophy here is that Tentacruel is so prolific precisely because it's so good. Its Special Defense makes it a nice special-based wall stall in the competitive game, while its Speed keeps it swimming swiftly. An 80 Special Attack might not set the sea on fire, but combined with Tentacruel's clear penchant for inflicting poison, it's enough to make moves like Sludge Bomb and Hydro Pump shine.
10 Toxapex
HP
Attack
Defense
Special Attack
Special Defense
Speed
50
63
152
53
142
35
Mareanie and its evolved form, Toxapex are excellent representations of a true Poison-type Pokemon. This starfish-like sea creature uses its spiny legs that extend from its head as an impenetrable defensive shield, as evidenced by its top-notch defensive statistics.
Those spikes can be used for more than just defense, as Toxapaex can shoot its poisonous spines at Pokemon, injecting them with a powerful poison that can hurt the victim for up to a few days after the incident. Toxapex roams the ocean floor looking for Corsola to feast on, making them a powerful ocean predator and one of the best Poison-type Pokemon around.
9 Muk
HP
Attack
Defense
Special Attack
Special Defense
Speed
105
105
75
65
100
50
Muk's high HP and Special Defense give it solid tanking ability, while its solid Attack allows it to take advantage of the usual physical-based Poison picks. You know, Garbodor's probably uglier, but it's worth noting for all those 'Unova-no-buena' fans out there that Kanto has had a pile of purple sludge for a Pokemon since 1996. Luckily, after more than 20 years, this garbage-based Poison-type Pokemon finally got some love.
After the release of Pokemon Sun and Moon, we've also got Alolan Muk to consider, and it shines like a rainbow. It's... weirdly pretty. It's also Poison and Dark type rather than the original's pure Poison, so make certain you've got a Dark-type attack for STAB if you prefer the rainbow version.
