Psychic-type Pokémon: Powers, Strengths, Weaknesses, Moves & More

The world of Pokémon has been a growing phenomenon since 1996, when the first pair of video games came out in stores. Pokémon started off as a video game series and although new creatures are primarily introduced in the video games, the anime series has become as popular as the video games. As of December 2021, there are almost 900 individual Pokémon identified by the PokéDex divided into one or two of the eighteen Pokémon types. In this article, we are going to analyze one of those types – the Psychic-type

Psychic-type Pokémon are among the eighteen Pokémon types, as introduced in the core game series. As of Generation VIII, there are 98 Psychic-type Pokémon, including pure and dual types. Traditionally, Psychic-type Pokémon are super effective against Fighting- and Poison-type Pokémon, and are weak against Bug-, Dark-, and Ghost-type Pokémon.

In this article, we are going to tell you all the information you’ll need if you want to focus on Psychic-type Pokémon in any of the games. You’ll find out about the type, its powers, its strengths and weaknesses, the Pokémon of that type, and their moves. We’re going to focus on both the core games, as well as other popular video games based on the Pokémon franchise.

List of Psychic-type Pokémon

As we have said, there is a total of 98 Psychic-type Pokémon in the franchise. Some of them are pure Psychic-type Pokémon, while others are dual-type Pokémo; dual-type Pokémon can have Psychic- as their primary or secondary type. Here is a full list of all Psychic-type Pokémon based on these three categories:

Pure Psychic-type

#	Name
063	Abra
064	Kadabra
065	Alakazam / Mega Alakazam
077	Ponyta (Galarian Form)
079	Slowpoke (Galarian Form)
096	Drowzee
097	Hypno
150	Mewtwo / Mega Mewtwo Y
151	Mew
196	Espeon
201	Unown
202	Wobbuffet
325	Spoink
326	Grumpig
358	Chimecho
360	Wynaut
386	Deoxys (Normal Forme / Attack Forme / Defense Forme / Speed Forme)
433	Chingling
480	Uxie
481	Mesprit
482	Azelf
488	Cresselia
517	Munna
518	Musharna
574	Gothita
575	Gothorita
576	Gothitelle
577	Solosis
578	Duosion
579	Reuniclus
605	Elgyem
606	Beheeyem
677	Espurr
678	Meowstic
789	Cosmog
790	Cosmoem
800	Necrozma
856	Hatenna
857	Hattrem

Dual-type (Primary Psychic-type)

#	Name	Type 1	Type 2
078	Rapidash (Galarian Form)	Psychic	Fairy
122	Mr. Mime*	Psychic	Fairy
144	Articuno (Galarian Form)	Psychic	Flying
150	Mega Mewtwo X	Psychic	Fighting
177	Natu	Psychic	Flying
178	Xatu	Psychic	Flying
249	Lugia	Psychic	Flying
251	Celebi	Psychic	Grass
280	Ralts*	Psychic	Fairy
281	Kirlia*	Psychic	Fairy
282	Gardevoir / Mega Gardevoir	Psychic	Fairy
439	Mime Jr.*	Psychic	Fairy
475	Gallade / Mega Gallade	Psychic	Fighting
494	Victini	Psychic	Fire
527	Woobat	Psychic	Flying
528	Swoobat	Psychic	Flying
561	Sigilyph	Psychic	Flying
628	Braviary (Hisuian Form)	Psychic	Flying
720	Hoopa Confined	Psychic	Ghost
720	Hoopa Unbound	Psychic	Dark
741	Oricorio (Pa’u Style)	Psychic	Flying
786	Tapu Lele	Psychic	Fairy
791	Solgaleo	Psychic	Steel
792	Lunala	Psychic	Ghost
800	Dusk Mane Necrozma	Psychic	Steel
800	Dawn Wings Necrozma	Psychic	Ghost
800	Ultra Necrozma	Psychic	Dragon
858	Hatterene / Gigantamax Hatterene	Psychic	Fairy
876	Indeedee	Psychic	Normal
898	Standard Calyrex	Psychic	Grass
898	Ice Rider Calyrex	Psychic	Ice
898	Shadow Rider Calyrex	Psychic	Ghost

Dual-type (Secondary Psychic-type)

#	Name	Type 1	Type 2
026	Raichu Alolan Form	Electric	Psychic
079	Slowpoke	Water	Psychic
080	Slowbro / Mega Slowbro	Water	Psychic
080	Slowbro (Galarian Form)	Poison	Psychic
102	Exeggcute	Grass	Psychic
103	Exeggutor	Grass	Psychic
121	Starmie	Water	Psychic
122	Mr. Mime (Galarian Form)	Ice	Psychic
124	Jynx	Ice	Psychic
199	Slowking	Water	Psychic
199	Slowking (Galarian Form)	Poison	Psychic
203	Girafarig	Normal	Psychic
238	Smoochum	Ice	Psychic
307	Meditite	Fighting	Psychic
308	Medicham / Mega Medicham	Fighting	Psychic
337	Lunatone	Rock	Psychic
338	Solrock	Rock	Psychic
343	Baltoy	Ground	Psychic
344	Claydol	Ground	Psychic
374	Beldum	Steel	Psychic
375	Metang	Steel	Psychic
376	Metagross / Mega Metagross	Steel	Psychic
380	Latias / Mega Latias	Dragon	Psychic
381	Latios / Mega Latios	Dragon	Psychic
385	Jirachi	Steel	Psychic
436	Bronzor	Steel	Psychic
437	Bronzong	Steel	Psychic
555	Darmanitan Zen Mode	Fire	Psychic
648	Meloetta Aria Forme	Normal	Psychic
655	Delphox	Fire	Psychic
686	Inkay	Dark	Psychic
687	Malamar	Dark	Psychic
765	Oranguru	Normal	Psychic
779	Bruxish	Water	Psychic
825	Dottler	Bug	Psychic
826	Orbeetle / Gigantamax Orbeetle	Bug	Psychic
866	Mr. Rime	Ice	Psychic
???	Wyrdeer	Normal	Psychic

Powers and Abilities

In this section, we are going to give you the basic statistical averages for all Psychic-type Pokémon in general:

Stats	Overall	Fully evolved
HP	71.13	82.38
Attack	73.39	90.78
Defense	74.45	86.14
Special Attack	93.07	110.28
Special Defense	86.34	99.51
Speed	74.62	89.01
Total	473	558.1

Before Generation VI, Steel/Psychic-types were exempt from Psychich’s three weaknesses, but since Steel is no longer resistant to Darkness and Ghost, this is no longer the case. One disadvantage of Psychic-type moves is that they do not affect Dark-type Pokémon, although this immunity can be removed with Miracle Eye. The immunity, as well as the resistances to Psychic-type, can also be bypassed with coverage moves such as Ground- or Fighting-type attacks.

When Psychic Terrain is in effect, the power of Psychic-type moves is increased by 30% (50% before generation VIII) when the user is on the ground. When used in contests, Psychic-type moves are typically Clever moves, but can also be one of the other four contest types, with the exception of Tough.

In the Generation I games, Psychic-type Pokémon were the focus of a balance problem. Therefore, this issue was fixed in Generation II by adding Steel and Dark types, an additional weakness to Ghost-type moves (as opposed to the previous immunity to them), and some moves that are strong against Psychic types.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Psychic-type Pokémon are super effective (dealing double damage) against Fighting-type and Poison-type Pokémon. On the other hand, Dark-type Pokémon are completely immune to Psychic-type attacks. They are resistant to Psychic- and Steel-type moves. Their weaknesses are Bug-, Dark-, and Ghost-type moves.

Moves

As of Generation VIII, these are the known Psychic-type moves:

Gen	Move	Category	Contest	Power	Accuracy	PP	Description
I	Agility	Status	Cool	—	—%	30 (max 48)	The user relaxes and lightens its body to move faster. This sharply raises the Speed stat.
V	Ally Switch	Status	Clever	—	—%	15 (max 24)	The user teleports using a strange power and switches places with one of its allies.
I	Amnesia	Status	Cute	—	—%	20 (max 32)	The user temporarily empties its mind to forget its concerns. This sharply raises the user’s Sp. Def stat.
I	Barrier	Status	Cool	—	—%	20 (max 32)	The user throws up a sturdy wall that sharply raises its Defense stat.
III	Calm Mind	Status	Clever	—	—%	20 (max 32)	The user quietly focuses its mind and calms its spirit to raise its Sp. Atk and Sp. Def stats.
I	Confusion	Special	Clever	50	100%	25 (max 40)	The target is hit by a weak telekinetic force. This may also confuse the target.
III	Cosmic Power	Status	Beautiful	—	—%	20 (max 32)	The user absorbs a mystical power from space to raise its Defense and Sp. Def stats.
I	Dream Eater	Special	Clever	100	100%	15 (max 24)	The user eats the dreams of a sleeping target. It absorbs half the damage caused to heal its own HP.
VIII	Eerie Spell	Special		80	100%	5 (max 8)	The user attacks with its tremendous psychic power. This also removes 3 PP from the target’s last move.
VIII	Expanding Force	Special		80	100%	20 (max 32)	The user attacks the target with its psychic power. This move’s power goes up and damages all opposing Pokémon on Psychic Terrain.
III	Extrasensory	Special	Cool	80	100%	20 (max 32)	The user attacks with an odd, unseeable power. This may also make the target flinch.
VIII	Freezing Glare	Special		90	100%	10 (max 16)	The user shoots its psychic power from its eyes to attack. This may also leave the target frozen.
II	Future Sight	Special	Clever	120	100%	10 (max 16)	Two turns after this move is used, a hunk of psychic energy attacks the target.
VII	Genesis Supernova	Special		185	—%	1 (max 1)	After obtaining Z-Power, the user, Mew, attacks the target with full force. The terrain will be charged with psychic energy.
VII	Glitzy Glow	Special		80	95%	15 (max 24)	The user bombards the target with telekinetic force. A wondrous wall of light is put up to weaken the power of the opposing Pokémon’s special moves.
VIII	G-Max Gravitas	Physical		—	—%	3 (max 4)	A Psychic-type attack that Gigantamax Orbeetle use. This move changes gravity for five turns.
VIII	G-Max Gravitas	Special		—	—%	3 (max 4)	A Psychic-type attack that Gigantamax Orbeetle use. This move changes gravity for five turns.
IV	Gravity	Status	Clever	—	—%	5 (max 8)	This move enables Flying-type Pokémon or Pokémon with the Levitate Ability to be hit by Ground-type moves. Moves that involve flying can’t be used.
V	Guard Split	Status	Clever	—	—%	10 (max 16)	The user employs its psychic power to average its Defense and Sp. Def stats with those of the target.
IV	Guard Swap	Status	Clever	—	—%	10 (max 16)	The user employs its psychic power to switch changes to its Defense and Sp. Def stats with the target.
IV	Heal Block	Status	Clever	—	100%	15 (max 24)	For five turns, the user prevents the opposing team from using any moves, Abilities, or held items that recover HP.
V	Heal Pulse	Status	Beautiful	—	—%	10 (max 16)	The user emits a healing pulse that restores the target’s HP by up to half of its max HP.
IV	Healing Wish	Status	Beautiful	—	—%	10 (max 16)	The user faints. In return, the Pokémon taking its place will have its HP restored and status conditions cured.
V	Heart Stamp	Physical	Cute	60	100%	25 (max 40)	The user unleashes a vicious blow after its cute act makes the target less wary. This may also make the target flinch.
IV	Heart Swap	Status	Clever	—	—%	10 (max 16)	The user employs its psychic power to switch stat changes with the target.
VI	Hyperspace Hole	Special	Clever	80	—%	5 (max 8)	Using a hyperspace hole, the user appears right next to the target and strikes. This also hits a target using a move such as Protect or Detect.
I	Hypnosis	Status	Clever	—	60%	20 (max 32)	The user employs hypnotic suggestion to make the target fall into a deep sleep.
III	Imprison	Status	Clever	—	—%	10 (max 16)	If opposing Pokémon know any move also known by the user, they are prevented from using it.
VII	Instruct	Status		—	—%	15 (max 24)	The user instructs the target to use the target’s last move again.
I	Kinesis	Status	Clever	—	80%	15 (max 24)	The user distracts the target by bending a spoon. This lowers the target’s accuracy.
I	Light Screen	Status	Beautiful	—	—%	30 (max 48)	A wondrous wall of light is put up to reduce damage from special attacks for five turns.
VII	Light That Burns the Sky	Special		200	—%	1 (max 1)	This attack inflicts Attack or Sp. Atk damage—whichever stat is higher for the user, Necrozma. This move ignores the target’s Ability.
IV	Lunar Dance	Status	Beautiful	—	—%	10 (max 16)	The user faints. In return, the Pokémon taking its place will have its status and HP fully restored.
III	Luster Purge	Special	Clever	70	100%	5 (max 8)	The user lets loose a damaging burst of light. This may also lower the target’s Sp. Def stat.
III	Magic Coat	Status	Beautiful	—	—%	15 (max 24)	A barrier reflects back to the target moves like Leech Seed and moves that damage status.
VIII	Magic Powder	Status		—	100%	20 (max 32)	The user scatters a cloud of magic powder that changes the target to Psychic type.
V	Magic Room	Status	Clever	—	—%	10 (max 16)	The user creates a bizarre area in which Pokémon’s held items lose their effects for five turns.
VIII	Max Mindstorm	Physical		—	—%	3 (max 4)	This is a Psychic-type attack Dynamax Pokémon use. The user turns the ground into Psychic Terrain for five turns.
VIII	Max Mindstorm	Special		—	—%	3 (max 4)	This is a Psychic-type attack Dynamax Pokémon use. The user turns the ground into Psychic Terrain for five turns.
I	Meditate	Status	Beautiful	—	—%	40 (max 64)	The user meditates to awaken the power deep within its body and raise its Attack stat.
IV	Miracle Eye	Status	Clever	—	—%	40 (max 64)	Enables a Dark-type target to be hit by Psychic-type attacks. This also enables an evasive target to be hit.
II	Mirror Coat	Special	Beautiful	—	100%	20 (max 32)	A retaliation move that counters any special attack, inflicting double the damage taken.
III	Mist Ball	Special	Clever	70	100%	5 (max 8)	A mist-like flurry of down envelops and damages the target. This may also lower the target’s Sp. Atk stat.
VII	Photon Geyser	Special		100	100%	5 (max 8)	The user attacks a target with a pillar of light. This move inflicts Attack or Sp. Atk damage—whichever stat is higher for the user.
V	Power Split	Status	Clever	—	—%	10 (max 16)	The user employs its psychic power to average its Attack and Sp. Atk stats with those of the target.
IV	Power Swap	Status	Clever	—	—%	10 (max 16)	The user employs its psychic power to switch changes to its Attack and Sp. Atk stats with the target.
IV	Power Trick	Status	Clever	—	—%	10 (max 16)	The user employs its psychic power to switch its Attack stat with its Defense stat.
VII	Prismatic Laser	Special		160	100%	10 (max 16)	The user shoots powerful lasers using the power of a prism. The user can’t move on the next turn.
I	Psybeam	Special	Beautiful	65	100%	20 (max 32)	The target is attacked with a peculiar ray. This may also leave the target confused.
I	Psychic	Special	Clever	90	100%	10 (max 16)	The target is hit by a strong telekinetic force. This may also lower the target’s Sp. Def stat.
VII	Psychic Fangs	Physical		85	100%	10 (max 16)	The user bites the target with its psychic capabilities. This can also destroy Light Screen and Reflect.
VII	Psychic Terrain	Status		—	—%	10 (max 16)	This protects Pokémon on the ground from priority moves and powers up Psychic-type moves for five turns.
III	Psycho Boost	Special	Clever	140	90%	5 (max 8)	The user attacks the target at full power. The attack’s recoil harshly lowers the user’s Sp. Atk stat.
IV	Psycho Cut	Physical	Cool	70	100%	20 (max 32)	The user tears at the target with blades formed by psychic power. Critical hits land more easily.
IV	Psycho Shift	Status	Clever	—	100%	10 (max 16)	Using its psychic power of suggestion, the user transfers its status conditions to the target.
V	Psyshock	Special	Beautiful	80	100%	10 (max 16)	The user materializes an odd psychic wave to attack the target. This attack does physical damage.
V	Psystrike	Special	Cool	100	100%	10 (max 16)	The user materializes an odd psychic wave to attack the target. This attack does physical damage.
I	Psywave	Special	Clever	—	100%	15 (max 24)	The target is attacked with an odd psychic wave. The attack varies in intensity.
I	Reflect	Status	Clever	—	—%	20 (max 32)	A wondrous wall of light is put up to reduce damage from physical attacks for five turns.
I	Rest	Status	Cute	—	—%	10 (max 16)	The user goes to sleep for two turns. This fully restores the user’s HP and heals any status conditions.
III	Role Play	Status	Cute	—	—%	10 (max 16)	The user mimics the target completely, copying the target’s natural Ability.
VII	Shattered Psyche	Physical		—	—%	1 (max 1)	The user controls the target with its Z-Power and hurts the target with full force. The power varies, depending on the original move.
VII	Shattered Psyche	Special		—	—%	1 (max 1)	The user controls the target with its Z-Power and hurts the target with full force. The power varies, depending on the original move.
III	Skill Swap	Status	Clever	—	—%	10 (max 16)	The user employs its psychic power to exchange Abilities with the target.
VII	Speed Swap	Status		—	—%	10 (max 16)	The user exchanges Speed stats with the target.
V	Stored Power	Special	Clever	20	100%	10 (max 16)	The user attacks the target with stored power. The more the user’s stats are raised, the greater the move’s power.
V	Synchronoise	Special	Clever	120	100%	10 (max 16)	Using an odd shock wave, the user inflicts damage on any Pokémon of the same type in the area around it.
V	Telekinesis	Status	Clever	—	—%	15 (max 24)	The user makes the target float with its psychic power. The target is easier to hit for three turns.
I	Teleport	Status	Cool	—	—%	20 (max 32)	Use it to flee from any wild Pokémon.
III	Trick	Status	Clever	—	100%	10 (max 16)	The user catches the target off guard and swaps its held item with its own.
IV	Trick Room	Status	Clever	—	—%	5 (max 8)	The user creates a bizarre area in which slower Pokémon get to move first for five turns.
V	Wonder Room	Status	Clever	—	—%	10 (max 16)	The user creates a bizarre area in which Pokémon’s Defense and Sp. Def stats are swapped for five turns.
IV	Zen Headbutt	Physical	Clever	80	90%	15 (max 24)	The user focuses its willpower to its head and attacks the target. This may also make the target flinch.