10 Best Underdog Wins With Type Disadvantage

Everyone loves a battle where the odds are stacked the wrong way and the winner still pulls it off, and few moments hit harder than a clutch victory through a clear type disadvantage in the world of ‘Pokémon’. From classic Gym challenges to high-stakes league bouts and showcase matches, these are the instances where solid tactics, unusual move choices, or field conditions turned supposed weaknesses into surprise wins. Each entry here focuses on what happened, which moves or mechanics mattered, and why the matchup was unfavorable on paper before the tide turned inside the arena.

Ash’s Pikachu vs Brock’s Onix

In the Pewter Gym rematch, Pikachu faced Onix despite Electric attacks not affecting Ground types. The sprinkler system soaked the field after a stray attack triggered it and the water allowed electricity to conduct across Onix’s body. Pikachu used the opening to land decisive Thunderbolts that would not have worked on a dry battlefield. The referee stopped the match and Brock conceded the Gym Badge after recognizing how the environmental change swung the outcome.

Ash’s Pikachu vs Blaine’s Rhydon

On Cinnabar Island, Pikachu confronted Rhydon even though Electric moves should not work on a Ground type. Ash instructed Pikachu to aim electricity at Rhydon’s horn and the focused strike acted like a lightning rod that bypassed the usual immunity. The targeted Thunderbolt connected and knocked Rhydon out in front of the Gym crowd. Blaine accepted the result and the tactic became one of the series’ most quoted solutions to a type wall.

Ash’s Charizard vs Gary’s Blastoise

During the Silver Conference quarterfinals, Charizard entered against Blastoise with Fire normally struggling against Water. Charizard limited exposure to Water attacks with aerial movement and forced close quarters to reduce Blastoise’s long range pressure. After trading heavy blows, Charizard seized a window for Seismic Toss to decide the match. The victory advanced Ash past a long-time rival despite the elemental mismatch.

Ash’s Grovyle vs Winona’s Altaria

At the Fortree Gym, Grovyle battled Altaria while dealing with Flying moves that threaten Grass types and resist Grass offense. Grovyle relied on speed, wall-runs, and timed Leaf Blade strikes to avoid repeated Aerial Ace attempts. A final Leaf Blade connected as Altaria committed to an attack pattern Grovyle had tracked across the gym’s suspended platforms. The knockout secured the Feather Badge in a matchup that favored Winona’s team on paper.

Ash’s Pikachu and Swellow vs Tate and Liza’s Lunatone and Solrock

The Mossdeep Gym double battle put a Flying type and an Electric type against two Rock and Psychic opponents that typically punish Flying. Pikachu unleashed a powerful Thunder that struck Swellow as well and the charge coated Swellow in an electrical aura. The pair pressed forward under the improvised enhancement to land decisive hits on both Lunatone and Solrock. The strategy overcame Rock resistance and delivered a rare Gym victory through synchronized offense.

Iris’s Dragonite vs Georgia’s Beartic

In the Junior Cup, Dragonite faced Beartic with a four-times Ice weakness on the line. Dragonite absorbed early Ice-type pressure through raw stamina and kept closing distance to limit ranged attacks. Once inside reach, Dragonite chained heavy physical strikes to break Beartic’s guard and prevent another clean Ice hit. The referee called the battle for Dragonite despite the stark chart disadvantage.

Ash’s Pikachu vs Donphan

In the first ‘Pokémon’ Advanced episode, Pikachu encountered a wild Donphan, a Ground type that ignores Electric damage. Pikachu shifted to Iron Tail for reliable contact damage and avoided direct charges to set up clean angles. A sequence of Iron Tail connects and quick dodges wore Donphan down without relying on electricity at all. The finish highlighted how a single learned move can solve an otherwise dead matchup.

Ash’s Snorlax vs Frontier Brain Greta’s Hariyama and Medicham

At the Battle Arena, Snorlax fought two Fighting types that hit Normal targets super effectively. Snorlax leaned on high endurance, Thick Fat to soften certain coverage, and Body Slam pressure to trade favorably across the Arena’s time-based judging system. It outlasted Hariyama’s close-range bursts and then neutralized Medicham’s offensive rhythm with repeated heavy collisions. The result handed Ash the Guts Symbol despite an adverse offensive profile.

Leon’s Charizard vs Drednaw

During an exhibition in ‘Pokémon Journeys’, Leon’s Charizard confronted a rampaging Drednaw, a Water and Rock type that threatens Fire and Flying users. Charizard Gigantamaxed to control the field and set G-Max Wildfire to apply ongoing damage that ignored typical resist patterns through effect mechanics. It then pressured Drednaw with high-power Max moves before the residual flames closed out the battle. The finish underscored how format rules and field effects can flip matchups.

Alain’s Charizard X vs Siebold’s Blastoise

In Kalos competition, Alain matched Mega Charizard X against Siebold’s Mega Blastoise, keeping a Fire and Dragon attacker in against a Water specialist. Charizard X revealed Thunder Punch to threaten Blastoise’s typing and forced it off balance between ranged blasts. After wearing Blastoise down with targeted strikes, Charizard X ended the fight with Blast Burn. The upset hinged on coverage selection and timing rather than a natural type edge.

Share your favorite type-defying victories in the comments and tell us which clutch wins we should add next.