Does the type chart work backwards for Ash?

[Master Cyrus]

The majority of important battles he won in Unova were when he had a type disadvantage vs the enemy, and when Ash does have the type advantage he usually screws it up ie Palpitoad vs Zebstrika, Unfezant vs Riolu, Magenzone vs Pignite and so on. Anyone else feel the same?

 

[FaerieStar]

Yeah, a little. It all started with that Pikachu vs Onix battle, i think... *old times feeling*
I've also seen a Shadow Ball hit an Eevee once :3

 

[Ambipom666]

There are some notables instances of Ash winning with a type advantage in BW (e.g. his battle with Clay) but they're way too few and far between.

The battle against Burgh is probably the most egregious example to me, where against Dwebble Ash sends out Tepig instead of Oshawott who'd be a better matchup. When Tepig goes down he doesn't use Oshawott, but instead uses Sewaddle, who's weak to Rock-type moves just like Tepig was. But at least it manages it win, I guess. Ironically, Tepig would be a great match-up against Whirlipede and Leavanny. Tranquil would be a great match-up against both of them as well, but of course Ash never uses her!

Another example that sticks out to me is Ash's battle with Elesa. Though he tries to use type advantage initally, he sends in Snivy to battle Emolga when Roggenrola would have been a better choice.

Thankfully, the next 3 gym battles are better in this regard.

 

[DracoMan]

It works when TPTB want it to work (which isn't too often, seeing how often they screw the rules).

 

[Supreme Leader Palpitoad]

Yeah it indeed seems to work backwards. But types are sometimes ignored in the anime. Example: In Cilan takes Flight, Cilan orders Stunfisk to use Mud Bomb at Swanna. It does not hit but he is a gym leader and should know that Ground type moves never work against Flying types.

 

[Ambipom666]

Yeah it indeed seems to work backwards. But types are sometimes ignored in the anime. Example: In Cilan takes Flight, Cilan orders Stunfisk to use Mud Bomb at Swanna. It does not hit but he is a gym leader and should know that Ground type moves never work against Flying types.

Some deviations from the type chart I can accept for the sake for realism. Mud Bomb pretty much just the user throwing a ball of mud at the opponent, so if it hits, it's not unreasonable to expect it to cause damage. It doesn't really strike me as all that different from other dirty attacks like Sludge Wave or Octazooka that can hit Flying-attacks.

Likewise, if a Flying-type is sitting or standing on the ground, I can accept that it's susceptible to attacks like Dig. Some immunties on the type chart are a little crazy is you ask me. A lot of Bug Pokémon like Beedrill, Dustox or Volcarona fly in the air, but they aren't Flying-type or have the ability Levitate so they're still susceptible to all Ground-type moves. Ghost-types being immune to Normal and Fighting-type moves but not other physical moves like Iron Tail or Vine Whip is a little wonky, but I can roll with it. Ground-type Pokémon have very diverse bodies, so all of them totally being immune to Electricity is kinda weird. Makes one wonder how types are classified. Ground-type Pokémon can be affected by the ability Static, so that's another layer of weird.

 

[MarshiyanMisutaa]

"Type disadvantages/advantages are overrated" is a common theme in the show. "David vs Goliath" is another common theme on the show. So...

 

[Nymphia]

Anime ==/== games. In the anime, there are more liberties than the games to happen unexpected results. A battle is not better because it's like the games (like Cameron's battle).

 

[Master Cyrus]

Anime ==/== games. In the anime, there are more liberties than the games to happen unexpected results. A battle is not better because it's like the games (like Cameron's battle).

They screwed with types 2 in the cameron battle. Only it wasn't ash screwing them.

 

[Team Gaara]

In a way, it seems to. He loses battles when he has an advantage and wins them when there is no reason why he should due to the disadvantage. I get what they're trying to teach us, but the whole thing is ruined when it's so overdone as it is. It just looks like this is the only way they feel they can make Ash look good, rather than having him actually improve.

It's never: "I have a neutrally effective Pokemon I'll use!"; it's always: "I have a NVE Pokemon, let's use that one because I believe in him!"

 

[Psychotic]

IMO the writers are going too far with the "anyone type can beat any type" I think they enforced it to reduce predictability but they are ironically making it just that.

 

[Almonds]

The above posts have said it all, but yeah. I can understand why they're doing it, but I would appreciate it if they reduced that pattern as the story advances towards the League where Ash should have learned something. It SHOULD be noted that while using type advantages might not always let him win, it would at least make him look that he took the effort to use his brains and come up with a strategy that would give him a good shot in the most effective way possible. Sending a pokemon with a type disadvantage in battle just because he trusts that pokemon looks just downright fail and stupid, and unless they pull off something really dramatic or creative, even if Ash won it'll look stupid, regardless. If Ash loses by sending out a type disadvantaged pokemon... then he's just screwed over by bad writing. This is one of the reasons why people hate Cameron - sending out type disadvantaged pokemons out to battle - at the Pokemon League Tournament.



If Ash wins due to a type advantage, it's not a cheap win because it's a strategy to win, and it's the opponents fault (or rather, writers' fault) for not being creative and failing to come up with a counter-strategy. A lot of gym leaders were depicted utilizing certain tricks for that - such as Skyla having Swanna use Aqua Ring to redirect Pika's electricity attack. That was creative, and certainly surprised Ash. One of the more impressive cases.

If Ash loses despite the type advantage, then it's simply because the opponent was overpowered, really smart, or Ash needs more training. This was abused for dramatic comebacks, but at least this doesn't look stupid.