Analysis of the Normal-type

INTRODUCTION

The Normal-type is perhaps the one type that all trainers regardless of age or experience are at least partially familiar with, as Normal-type Pokémon are second in terms of commonness, only being outdone by the Water-type in sheer numbers and species. Trainers of all kinds often come to both love and hate the Normal-type for its obvious advantages and disadvantages, but overall, it is a welcome type in any battle for its simple functions and reliability in battle. Even then, however, the boundaries of the Normal-type go far beyond what some trainers would believe, as the otherwise unassuming type is the source for diverse warfare unlike that offered by any other type, making its mastery both difficult and extraordinarily rewarding in the end.


POWERS AND ATTRIBUTES

The Normal-type is unique in comparison to all other types because it is effectively the neutral or 'anti-type' to all others because all Normal-types generally have one very important thing in common: the inability to truly specialize in any elemental area. This in truth makes Normal-type Pokémon akin to humans, as we generally do not possess the ability to truly wield the natural elements as if they were normally a part of us. This makes the type somewhat unique in that it spans across a wide range of animal life, including mammals, reptiles, birds, and even artificial Pokémon among others, and essentially makes most of them similar in construction to their non-Pokémon relatives, making the process of understanding their biological functions and attacks easy. Because the Normal-type is defined by the complete absence of elemental specialty, each species generally has access to a wide variety of moves from birth and have the capacity to utilize the elements in ways that are restricted amongst most other types. This is also why Normal-types are gifted in their capacity to utilize many different moves from TMs and HMs, as their neutral typing allows them to freely learn and utilize moves of otherwise impossible type-combinations, such as having the power to use both Water and Fire-type moves without any trouble. However, this versatility is often downplayed because Normal-type rarely ever manage to become significant opponents in battle and possess relatively lackluster stats in many cases; even so, there are still some Normal-types, such as Snorlax, Slaking and Regigigas, that defy that assignment and can potentially become significant threats in battle if trained properly.


CATEGORIES OF IDENTIFICATION
There are currently 133 recognized species of Normal-types, 75 of them being pure-types and 58 of them being dual-types. Additionally, 45 of the dual-types are primary Normal-types while the remaining 13 are secondary Normal-types (not including Alolan Rattata and Alolan Raticate).

QUADRUPEDAL MAMMALS: Rattata (also Alolan Rattata), Raticate (also Alolan Raticate), Meowth, Persian, Tauros, Eevee, Sentret, Furret, Stantler, Miltank, Girafarig, Farigiraf, Zigzagoon, Linoone, Slakoth, Skitty, Delcatty, Bidoof, Bibarel, Glameow, Purugly, Patrat, Watchog, Lillipup, Herdier, Stoutland, Bouffalant, Deerling, Sawsbuck, Bunnelby, Litleo, Pyroar, Furfrou, Yungoos, Komala, Stufful, Skwovet, Greedent, Wooloo, Dubwool, Wyrdeer, Ursaluna, Hisuian Zorua, Hisuian Zoroark, Lechonk, Oinkologne and Shroodle

These creatures are primarily defined by the fact that they are mammals but more importantly because they generally rely on all four of their legs in order to move around. While many of these creatures are capable of battling on their hind limbs, this is not the usual manner in which they will move around in the wild. These creates possess a wide variety of skills and powers and each have their own method of survival, so the methods they use in battle to defeat opponents will vary to the point in some cases where past experience with other Normal-type will be all but worthless.

BIPEDAL MAMMALS: Kangaskhan (also Mega Kangaskhan), Aipom, Ambipom, Teddiursa, Ursaring, Smeargle, Vigoroth, Slaking, Whismur, Loudred, Exploud, Azurill, Spinda, Zangoose, Buneary, Lopunny (also Mega Lopunny), Munchlax, Snorlax, Lickitung, Lickilicky, Minccino, Cinccino, Diggersby, Gumshoos, Bewear, Oranguru, Obstagoon, Indeedee, Tandemaus, Maushold and Grafaiai

These creatures are also effectively mammals but are distinguished by their constant use of bipedal movements over any form of quadrupedal movement. This form of locomotion has proven to be the saving grace of humans, as it has allowed us to develop into creatures that have the capacity to use our front limbs to carry and build objects, ultimately leading to the development of civilization. However, this is not necessarily the case with bipedal Pokémon, as the method of transportation seems to be due to not only sheer preference but because it allows these creatures to be more mobile and ingenious with their offensive and defensive tactics. This does not always give them an edge in battle or in the wild, but it can often prove to be an important factor when it comes to executing attacks that depend upon a Pokémon’s upper body strength. Aside from this, though, these creatures still share a diverse set of moves and the capacity to learn many different types of attacks and techniques naturally and artificially.

BIRDS: Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot (also Mega Pidgeot), Spearow, Fearow, Farfetch'd, Doduo, Dodrio, Hoothoot, Noctowl, Taillow, Swellow, Swablu, Starly, Staravia, Staraptor, Chatot, Pidove, Tranquill, Unfezant, Rufflet, Braviary, Fletchling, Pikipek, Trumbeak, Toucannon and Squawkabilly

These creatures are easily separated from other Normal-types simply because they are birds and thus tend to utilize their Flying-type attributes over their Normal-type attributes. Even so, these creatures are dominantly neutral in regards to type and thus are treated much as Normal-types in scientific analyses. However, this group is different from most other Normal-types in that they are usually unable to learn a diverse set of moves and predominantly rely on their Flying-type powers to deal damage in battle, making them a fairly poor choice when specializing in the Normal-type offensively and/or defensively.

FAIRY-MORPHS: Igglybuff, Jigglypuff, Wigglytuff, Happiny, Chansey, Blissey, Audino (also Mega Audino) and Meloetta.

These creatures are generally mammalian in structure and reproduce in a similar fashion but are nonetheless different in that their natural abilities and powers are strikingly less conventional than other mammals and are apparently designed (at least in most cases) not to help the Pokémon survive but to help others survive. This strange behavioral complex is what defines these creatures and their moves as a whole; not surprisingly, they generally have poor stats and are difficult to use either offensively or defensively, though their unique powers can make them great tactical players.

REPTILES/DRAGONS: Dunsparce, Dudunsparce, Kecleon, Helioptile, Heliolisk, Drampa and Cyclizar

These creatures are certainly unique among Normal-type for being primarily reptiles, but their natural abilities are just as varied and bizarre as their mammalian counterparts. These creatures actually serve as a useful midpoint in terms of battle specialty between mammals and fairy-morphs, as they generally learn strong offensive attacks but also gain access or are already born with many tactical moves that can make them difficult to overcome without a significant type advantage.

PLANTS: Smoliv, Dolliv and Arboliva

The members of the Smoliv family are the only true plants that are classified as partial Normal-types, and this is a consequence of not only their rigid plant forms, which are susceptible to armor-breaking strikes from Fighting-type attacks, but also the neutral olive oil that they naturally produce, which is normally flavorless outside of its sometimes bitter taste and has specials qualities that allow it to be used for spiritual cleansing, dispelling spiritual energy and in tern making these plants immune to damage from Ghost-type attacks.

SUPER-CELLULAR: Ditto

Ditto belongs in an abnormal category of its own, as it is in fact a sentient blob of life more similar in construction to amoebas than anything else. This works well with their natural ability to transform into other creatures and makes them a bit difficult to understand scientifically, but in terms of tactics, the sky is the limit with the potential these strange creatures hold within their genetically-malleable bodies.

AUTOMATON/ARTIFICIAL: Porygon, Porygon2, Porygon-Z, Castform and Regigigas

These creatures are all man-made organisms that had varied purposes behind their designs but are nonetheless unified in regards to their construction and biological functions in particular, mainly because they have no biological components within them. However, they do still retain the ability to learn a wide variety of attacks and techniques both naturally and artificially and are in fact among the best of their type in terms of overall combat ability.

SYNTHETIC: Type: Null and Silvally

These creatures are synthetic life forms made from a combination of robotic components and cellular tissue taken from Pokémon of every single elemental type. They were created as bioweapons in order to hunt down Ultra Beasts and were to be equipped with an experimental RKS System which would allow them to harness the power any of the different types in order to have an advantage against any enemy they might encounter. However, all three of the prototype creatures rejected the RKS System when installed and went completely berserk; as a result, a power limiter was placed on each of them to seal away part of their power to make them docile and controllable once again. Their original name was changed from Type: Full to Type: Null to reflect their status as failures, but it was eventually discovered by accident that the only way to bring out their true power was to show them Friendship. Only after building a sense of trust with a trainer do these beasts become capable of removing their power limiters and controlling their power, resulting in their evolution into Silvally and their acquisition of the full might and versatility of the RKS System.

HEART OF TERASTALLIZATION: Terapagos

Terapagos is the entity responsible for the Terastal Phenomenon seen in the Paldea region as well as the Kitakami region and the Blueberry Academy in Unova, and while the method by which its power works is not currently understood, it radiates this energy and can equally absorb it in order to grow stronger to fend of those that seek to do it harm. The entity itself takes on the form of a turtle-like creature normally, but if pressed into a combat situation, it is able to use Terastal energy in its surroundings to generate a crystalline shell that can be even further powered up by undergoing the process of Terastallization to enter into true form and acquire its full power. While it can sometimes lose control over its power in this state, it nonetheless renders the beast incredibly resilient and more than strong enough to use this unique power to decimate those that get in its way.

SUPER-ENTITY: Arceus

Arceus stands far above all other Normal-type Pokémon and is recognized by many as a creator or god-like organism, especially in Sinnoh and Hisuian lore; not surprisingly, visitations and appearances by Arceus have been beyond rare throughout all of human history and are often the only source of information in regards to its power. The only thing that can be said for certain is that it has the traditional Normal-type ability to learn both naturally and potentially artificially a wide variety of moves, as well as the fact that its Multitype Ability and Judgment attack effectively make it the most powerful fighter out of all organisms. As such, any encounter with it is likely to be one of a truly grand scale, and not worth missing if the opportunity presents itself.


TYPE ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES (OFFENSIVELY):

Disadvantage against Rock: Since Normal-type attacks do not have any elemental or even physical properties that can bypass or destroy simple armor, rocky armor is able to withstand direct attacks fairly well without any major damage.

Disadvantage against Steel: As with rocky armor, the inability of Normal-type attacks to damage armor physically or with any special characteristics make metallic armor an equally-effective buffer against direct damage.

No damage against Ghost: The Ghost-type is predominantly defined by its capacity to exist outside of a fully-material existence; as such, purely-material Normal-type attacks deal effectively no damage at all against their spiritual forms.


TYPE ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES (DEFENSIVELY):

Weak against Fighting: Although the Normal-type's neutrality makes it very difficult for super-effective damage to be dealt, the Fighting-type's natural capacity to break through armor means that their attacks tend to have a significant impact against creatures that do not have an elemental power to buffer direct damage; as a result, Fighting-type attacks tend to be much more damaging against Normal-types than one would think.

Immune to Ghost: Ironically enough, the fact that Normal-types are unable to directly harm Ghost-types works both ways. It seems that Ghost-types have a difficult time locking onto a target without some sort of elemental signature to show them their target outside of a semi-physical state; as such, Ghost-types are unable to properly attack or damage Normal-types due to being unable to physically target them.


DIFFICULTY OF USE/REQUIRED TRAINING SPECIALTIES

The Normal-type is likely the easiest type to use in any battle since most types will be unable to prevent taking full damage from a direct attack; it is also easy to use defensively, as it can avoid taking super-effective damage from all but Fighting-type attacks and can thus serve as a barrier against damage that few other types can match. More importantly, the fact that many Normal-types can learn a diverse set of moves means that they can easily tackle nearly any type of opponent and put up a good fight. However, the fact that most Normal-types are limited by poor or otherwise average stats means that they are also among the hardest of types to use professionally. The extreme versatility of their moves can further make encounters with wild Pokémon difficult, as they usually will be able to strike with some form of super-effective damage if they are experienced enough and thus can make a capture extremely difficult. Any trainer can start to use Normal-types without any serious issues, but to bring any Normal-type Pokémon to its full potential, a trainer be willing to dedicate themselves to learning that species' unique powers and abilities, a task that can take years in some cases. Thankfully, most wild Normal-types are generally quite nice and easy for other Pokémon to get along with, so they can certainly act as social buffers within a party without automatically taking the lead-role in the team. Overall, the Normal-type can act offensively, defensively and tactically in just about any situation, so for trainers looking to fight back with any sort of well-rounded offense, the Normal-type is a reliable choice that can adapt and perform just about any serious task in battle when needed.

Professor Wormwood