Pokémon Sword & Shield released with only 400 Pokémon in the Galar Pokédex and no access to the National Dex, meaning that more than half of all the Pokémon were cut from the new games. This decision was very controversial among fans, but we’re not here to give an opinion on it.

Instead, we want to give you an idea of what kinds of Pokémon can you expect to see in Sword & Shield and how many of each type you can run across. There’s still lots of great Pokémon in the game you can make a balanced team with!

18 18. Water - 61

Water is far and away the most common type seen in Sword & Shield, as well as being the most common type of Pokémon overall. It’s been combined with all the other types at least once.

It’s also traditionally one of the starter types available at the beginning of the game. The Pokémon available include new additions like Sobble, as well as familiar faces like Gyarados.

17 17. Psychic - 48

Coming in at second most common is the Psychic-type. They’re the 5th most common type overall and is the number one most common type for Legendary and Mythical Pokémon.

You can find old favorites like Gardevoir roaming Galar, but there are new friends to be made, including regional forms of Ponyta and Mr. Mime.

16 16. Ground - 42

Ground is the eighth most common type overall, but comes it at number three in the Galar Dex. New Pokémon of this type include Sandaconda; you can also find Pokémon like Excadrill in this generation.

Ground Pokémon tend to be good physical attackers, but more Pokémon are immune to Ground-type attacks than any other.

15 15. Grass - 41

Another of the starter Pokémon types, Grass is the third most common type throughout the series. You can find examples of it in this generation in new Pokémon like Grookey as well as the returning Ferrothorn.

They can be very useful partners, with Grass moves being 4x effect against more Pokémon than any other type, as well as access to the most HP-draining moves.

14 14. Ghost - 39

Ghost is the second rarest of all the Pokémon types, despite showing up quite frequently in Sword & Shield. We suppose the Galar region is just chock full of restless spirits. Ghost is one of only two types weak to itself.

It was one of the types used in later games to check Psychic Pokémon’s dominance in Gen I. You can befriend these wandering ghosts in the form of Polteageist, as well as Mimikyu.

13 13. Normal - 37

Normal type Pokémon are the second most common type after water, though you might not know it from the big drop from 61 to 37 Pokémon in Sword & Shield.

You can find new Normals like the lovely Wooloo alongside other familiar Pokémon like Snorlax. There are more Normal-type moves than any other type and it’s generally considered the most basic type, sometimes even containing the potential for all other types within it.

12 12. Flying - 37

Flying is the fourth most common overall type, and has been combined with every other type at least once. It’s fitting that Flying and Normal have the same number of Pokémon in this generation.

Prior to Gen IV, almost all dual type Normal Pokémon were Normal/Flying, and before the introduction of Tornadus there were no monotype Flying Pokémon. You can soar the Galar skies with the likes of Corviknight or Braviary.

11 11. Dark - 36

Dark type was one of the first new types to be introduced after Red & Blue, appearing alongside Steel in Gen II. It is the sixth rarest type overall.

Members of this type include Sneasel and the new regional evolution of Linoone, Obstagoon. In fact, more regional forms gain the Dark type than any other. This versatile type has been overlooked up until recently, being the last type to have a dedicated Gym Leader.

10 10. Bug - 35

Bug is the sixth most common Pokémon type, as any trainer who’s had to walk through a forest will tell you.

They’re known for growing and evolving quickly, often making them some of the first Pokémon you encounter in a game. New additions like Frosmoth along with old favorites like Butterfree can be found in Galar.

9 9. Fairy - 34

Fairy type was introduced most recently, in Generation VI. Twenty two existing Pokémon were changed to be Fairy type when it was introduced. Despite this, it’s only the third rarest type of Pokémon.

It was added to the game partially to give the very powerful Dragon-type another weakness. You can find members of this type, like Grimmsnarl or Shiinotic, in Galar—notably in the Glimwood Tangle.

8 8. Fighting - 34

Fighting is the sixth rarest type, tied with Dark. This is interesting because Fighting and Dark are often juxtaposed with each other.

Fighting Pokémon are often depicted as more heroic and honorable, and they have a type advantage over the down and dirty Dark type. Farfetch’d’s new regional evolution, Sirfetch’d and Pangoro are examples of the Fighting Pokémon you can catch in Galar.

7 7. Ice - 32

Ice is the number one rarest type of Pokémon, having fewer than even Ghost or Fairy. Probably because of this, it also has the most unique type combinations.

While they’re effective against Dragon Pokémon, they have almost no resistances (other than Ice itself). You’ll spot Ice Pokémon like Galarian Darmanitan and the fossil Arctozolt in Sword & Shield.

6 6. Steel - 30

Steel was also introduced in Gen II and is the eighth rarest type. It sports the most type resistances, making them good defensive Pokémon.

Newly added Copperajah can be found along with Togedemaru.

5 5. Fire - 28

Fire is the seventh most common type and is one of the types available as a starter.

They are powerful partners, able to deal up to a 36x power multiplier under the exact right conditions. Scorbunny is a new addition to the type, and can be found along with Vulpix.

4 4. Poison - 28

Poison is the eighth most common type overall, tied with Ground. It was often considered an “evil” type, especially in earlier games, when it was used by the antagonist team.

You can find both forms of Toxitricity as well as Roselia among its numbers.

3 3. Dragon - 28

You would think the mystical Dragon would be the rarest type, but it’s only the fourth rarest, tied with Electric.

It’s the type most often used for powerful pseudolegendary Pokémon, as well as game version mascots. Sword & Shield’s Dragon pseudo is Dragapult, but you can also find Pokémon like Noivern.

2 2. Electric - 26

Series staple and type of the franchise’s mascot, Electric is the fourth rarest type. If Ash’s Pikachu is anything to go by, it’s also one of the strongest and most versatile.

You can find newcomer Yamper in the games, but can still track down a Pikachu if you want.

1 1. Rock - 25

Finally, the rarest type in this generation is the humble Rock-type, despite being only the ninth rarest type overall.

Only a handful of new Rock Pokémon were introduced: just two new lines and a standalone. One of these is Drednaw, but you can find old favorites like Onix as well.

NEXT: Pokémon: Making The Perfect Gen VIII Team