Psychic type
Pokémon.
Once dominant — now niche thanks to Dark immunity and Steel resist.
Psychic stats
What defines the Psychic type
Psychic was OP in Gen 1 — no defensive counters existed (Bug was meant to counter Psychic but Bug-types had bad stats and no good Bug moves). Gen 2 added Dark (immune to Psychic) and Steel (resists Psychic) to permanently nerf the type. Today Psychic survives via specific niche Pokémon: Mewtwo, Tapu Lele (Psychic Surge boosting STAB), Iron Crown, Calyrex-Shadow (Astral Barrage), and Gardevoir (Mega evolution). Psychic Terrain blocks priority moves against grounded Pokémon — huge for slowing down Talonflame, Sucker Punch, and Extreme Speed.
Best Psychic-type Pokémon
Top 12 by Base Stat Total across all generations
Mewtwo
Lugia
Solgaleo
Lunala
Mew
Celebi
Metagross
Latias
Latios
Jirachi
Deoxys
Victini
Psychic offensive analysis
Psychic hits Fighting and Poison super-effective. The Dark immunity is the kill — any Dark-type laughs off Psychic STAB. Tera Psychic on a Pokémon that bypasses Dark via item or coverage (e.g., Calyrex-Shadow's Astral Barrage which is Ghost typing) keeps the offensive viable.
What Psychic attacks hit super-effective
What resists Psychic attacks
Strongest Psychic moves
Top 12 attacking moves by base power (Gen 9)
| Move | Cat | BP | Acc | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Future Sight | special | 120 | 100 | Two turns after this move is used, a hunk of psychic energy attacks the target. |
| Psychic | special | 90 | 100 | The target is hit with a strong telekinetic force to inflict damage. This may al… |
| Psychic Fangs | physical | 85 | 100 | The user attacks by biting the target with its psychic capabilities. This move c… |
| Expanding Force | special | 80 | 100 | The user attacks the target with its psychic power. When the ground is Psychic T… |
| Extrasensory | special | 80 | 100 | The user attacks with an odd, unseeable power. This may also make the target fli… |
| Lumina Crash | special | 80 | 100 | The user attacks by unleashing a peculiar light that even affects the mind. This… |
| Psyshock | special | 80 | 100 | The user materializes an odd psychic wave to attack the target. This move deals … |
| Zen Headbutt | physical | 80 | 90 | The user focuses its willpower to its head and attacks the target. This may also… |
| Psycho Cut | physical | 70 | 100 | The user tears at the target with blades formed by psychic power. This move has … |
| Psybeam | special | 65 | 100 | The target is attacked with a peculiar ray. This may also confuse the target. |
| Confusion | special | 50 | 100 | The target is hit with a weak telekinetic force to inflict damage. This may also… |
| Twin Beam | special | 40 | 100 | The user shoots mystical beams from its eyes to inflict damage. The target is hi… |
Psychic defensive analysis
Resists Fighting and Psychic. Weak to Bug, Ghost, Dark. Three weaknesses + one of the most-used offensive types (Dark) makes pure Psychic defensively poor. Psychic/Steel (Metagross, Magearna, Necrozma) drops to one weakness (Fire).
Psychic's weaknesses, resistances, and immunities
Weak to (2×)
Resists (½×)
Best Psychic dual-type combos
Psychic / Steel
Examples: Metagross, Necrozma-DM, Magearna
Only Fire weakness; Bullet Punch + Meteor Mash
Psychic / Fairy
Examples: Gardevoir, Mr. Mime
Drops Dark weakness; Pixilate Hyper Voice (Mega)
Psychic / Ghost
Examples: Hoopa, Calyrex-Shadow
Norm/Fighting immunity + Shadow Ball STAB
Psychic / Fighting
Examples: Medicham, Mienshao (no — Mienshao is Fighting)
Pure Power Mega Medicham hits at +6 Atk
Psychic type history & meta shifts
Gen 1: dominant. Gen 2: nerfed via Dark + Steel additions. Gen 4: Mega-evolution era didn't help much (Mega Alakazam, Mega Gardevoir were good but not meta-defining). Gen 7: Tapu Lele brought Psychic Surge to OU. Gen 9: Calyrex-Shadow + Iron Crown maintain a Psychic presence in Ubers.
Vibe in one line
Once-dominant glass cannon; now niche.