The rarest dual types, a gift in the crossword
About half the Pokémon in the crossword have two types. Many pairs repeat dozens of times (Normal and Flying, for example), but some belong to a single Pokémon. When a clue names one of these pairs, the answer is already written: you just need to recognise it.
Why a rare dual type is a gift
A type on its own narrows things down very little: there are loads of Water type Pokémon. Two types together narrow it down much more, and if the pair is unique there’s no doubt left. Among the nearly nine hundred Pokémon in the crossword, twenty-three combinations belong to a single Pokémon. Here they are, region by region.
Johto and Hoenn
- Dark and Rock: Tyranitar, from Johto. The last stage of Larvitar’s line.
- Bug and Ground: Nincada, from Hoenn.
- Bug and Ghost: Shedinja, from Hoenn. It comes from Nincada’s evolution, so Hoenn’s two rare types sit in the same line.
Sinnoh, the region with the most unique pairs
- Grass and Ground: Torterra, the Grass starter.
- Steel and Water: Empoleon, the Water starter.
- Normal and Water: Bibarel.
- Ice and Ghost: Froslass.
- Electric and Ghost: Rotom.
- Fire and Steel: Heatran.
Six pairs in a single region: if the clue talks about Sinnoh and two unusual types, start from this list.
Unova and Kalos
- Electric and Ground: Stunfisk, from Unova.
- Fighting and Rock: Terrakion, from Unova.
- Dragon and Ice: Kyurem, from Unova.
- Normal and Ground: Diggersby, from Kalos.
- Fighting and Flying: Hawlucha, from Kalos.
- Fire and Water: Volcanion, from Kalos. Two types that look like opposites, which is exactly why you won’t forget it.
Alola and Galar
- Fighting and Ice: Crabominable, from Alola.
- Fairy and Ghost: Mimikyu, from Alola.
- Dragon and Normal: Drampa, from Alola.
- Rock and Poison: Nihilego, from Alola.
- Fighting and Ghost: Marshadow, from Alola.
- Dark and Normal: Obstagoon, from Galar.
- Dark and Electric: Morpeko, from Galar.
- Electric and Ice: Arctozolt, from Galar.
How to use them in the grid
When you read the clues, look for the dual types first: they’re the words you can write straight away, with confidence. Every letter you add becomes a hint for the words that cross it. Remember too that Check only judges whole words: a rare pair gives you a complete name to confirm at the first attempt.
One last warning: the list applies to the Pokémon that appear in the crossword, in their base form. Other forms or Pokémon that came later may have the same pairs, so outside the game don’t take it as an absolute rule.
Ready to give it a go? Play today’s crossword.