Part of the appeal of Pokémon is its diversity of monsters, each of which comes with their own distinct characteristics and elemental types. These types largely determine what types of moves a monster will learn, in addition to what elements they’re most affected by.
Adding a second element into the mix can make things even more interesting. These “dual-type” Pokémon have the luxury of excelling with multiple elements. It expands their skillset and allows them to have super effective abilities on a larger range of opponents.
This infusion of multiple element types wasn’t quite as commonplace when we trace things back to the original 150 of Generation 1. Still, there are a number of awesome dual-type beasts that can prove effective in battle, thanks to their sheer power and array of skills.
With this list, we’ll cover the 10 most powerful dual-type Pokémon of this first Generation, drawing from the total base stats of each to reach our conclusions.
10 Aerodactyl
Gen 1 Pokémon players can certainly remember the excitement of unearthing this flying beast upon revitalizing a Fossil in Red/Blue. This prehistoric Pokémon comes with the rather nice compliment of Flying and Rock, with offensive power and swiftness that can overwhelm opponents. With this complement of styles, Aerodactyl is effective against a whopping 6 elemental types between its Flying and Rock types.
It can learn some pretty strong moves like Fly, Crunch, Take Down, and Hyperbeam. Though it doesn’t evolve in the older Pokémon titles, you won’t really need it to, with its 440 total base stats.
9 Rhydon
This rhino-like beast comes laced with a similar duo of Ground and Rock, and can pick up moves that pack a punch on both fronts, with attacks like Earthquake and Stone Edge.
In fact, this monster is so strong that it’s been known to topple buildings just by sweeping its tail, and its horn can apparently shatter solid rock and even diamonds. Thanks mainly to its solid Defense and potent Attack power, this is one of the best dual-type Pokémon of Gen 1, with total base stats hitting 440.
8 Lapras
This massive Pokémon is useful for more than simply being a means of transportation for Ash and friends in the anime. It’s quite the formidable Water Pokémon, with a collective 450 base stats, and a pretty beastly Attack power of 130 to boot.
One can argue that its secondary type of Ice is fairly similar to its Water specialty - and this might be true to a degree. Still, the ability to freeze opponents in their wake before blasting them with Hydro Pump proves a devastating combo.
And while it’s not officially a Psychic-type, Lapras can also pick up the occasional Psychic and Dragon TM, giving it quite the diverse toolset of destruction.
7 Exeggutor
This odd anthropomorphic egg tree is peculiar in more than just its physical traits. It also has the distinction of being a rare breed of Grass and Psychic - and it’s effective in both areas.
Though you may remember seeing quite a few of these guys in the anime, they’re quite rare, which isn’t surprising given their potency. Even more than its pre-evolved form, Exeggcute, Exeggutor is a pretty solid Pokémon all-around.
This is thanks to its powerful Psychic attacks/status effects, along with its Grass traits that make it effective against Water, Ground, and Rock. You’ve got powerful Grass-type assaults in Wood Hammer and Leaf Storm. Not only this, but Exeggutor is one of the very few Pokémon that can learn Barrage. Exeggutor’s total base stats are an admirable 455.
6 Gyrados
It’s true that Gyrados begins as the rather weak and useless Magikarp. Still, you’ll want to make the effort to get that Pokémon to level 20, as it eventually evolves into this titan of a Water-type, Gyarados.
Though you might not know it from its appearance and lack of Flying moves, this serpentine is also a Flying-type, as it eventually picks up the potent Special Attack, Hurricane, at level 44. Couple this with moves like Hyper Beam and even a few Dragon moves, and you’ve got a well-rounded beast that’s effective on several fronts. Its total base stats are at a respectable 455.
5 Cloyster
Now we’re really getting up there in terms of monstrous might. Like our previous entry, Cloyster’s pre-evolved stage, Shellder, might not sport the most intimidating build. Regardless, upon using a Water Stone, you’ll be graced with this shelled-beast of a Water-type, Cloyster.
As you might imagine with the massive spiked shell, this thing is truly a Defensive juggernaut, towering above all Gen 1 Pokémon at a whopping 180. Basically, you’ll want to bring an Electric or Grass-type to really have a fighting chance against this guy.
Not only this, but it’s also an Ice-type, which means it can render foes helpless with Freeze before pummeling them. Its total base stats are a solid 480.
4 Articuno
We all remember the excitement of landing our first Legendary bird in Red/Blue. For this writer, nabbing this elusive avian beast and walloping friends with Blizzard and Sky Attack was a joy rarely rivaled. This thing was one of the holy grails of Gen 1 Pokémon, and there’s a reason for that.
This majestic bird is seen in the anime aiding travelers and guiding them to safety - but just ask Articuno’s opponents how safe they feel, with its 125 base Special and total base stats of 485.
3 Zapdos
Being largely the Electric counterpart to Articuno, this thing was akin to having a Pikachu on steroids, with the ever-useful added Flying-type.
While Articuno excels more on the Defensive front, this super-charged bird is both swift and powerful offensively, clocking in at 490 total base stats. Indeed, Zapdos is so powerful, that it can summon thunderstorms by just flapping its electrically-charged wings.
With moves like Thunder and Sky Attack, it can mount a deadly assault on opponents, especially given its ability to Paralyze foes.
2 Moltres
Rounding out our list of Legendary Kanto birds is Moltress, the Flying-Fire type that’s a soaring inferno of destruction. Its beastly base stats of 495 make it the strongest among the Legendary birds in Gen 1, and the 4th most power Pokémon overall in Red/Blue.
Where many are marred by fire, Moltres revels in it, with its ability to heal itself by diving into pools of magma. Heat Wave and Sky Attack can be used in battle to really bring the heat on Moltres’ opponents, while the Flying move Roost can help it win the war of attrition by restoring half its HP.
1 Dragonite
Outside of the ever-elusive Mew and Mewtwo, Dragonite is the most powerful Pokémon, dual-type or otherwise. This Dragon/Flying hybrid really has the best of both elemental types, along with a whopping 500 total base stats. This is actually equal to Mew, and only eclipsed by Mewtwo.
This is a Pokémon that’s intelligent, strong, and (at least according to lore), quite swift; as it’s capable of flying faster than the speed of sound. With its 134 base Attack, and solid moves like Outrage and others, this is a Pokémon any Targaryen would want at their side.
NEXT: Pokémon: All The Pseudo-Legendaries, Ranked
