Pokémon Should the Fairy type be nerfed?

[Snek]

In Generation 6 the Fairy type was introduced.

It is immune against Dragon type moves and is supereffective against them. It resists the Dark and Fighting types and is also supereffective against them. It is also needlessly resistant against the Bug type. An even bigger advantage for Fairy is that it is only weak to the Poison and Steel type, two uncommonly used offensive types. Poison, Steel and Fire resist Fairy, but a hypothetical Fairy/Ground legendary could be massively broken if given the right BST.

Should the Fairy type be nerfed in the future? Or should the newest and possibly final Pokémon type remain the way it is?

 

[LambdaDelta]

I'm genuinely not enough into competitive pokemon to even care

if anything, I wish they made the stellar type stronger. which yeah, I know. that's a different discussion. but even not being super into, I can tell they really dropped the ball on that one

which maybe was as a result of them being scared of making it too strong, but I feel they played it much too safe, all things considered

anyways, I guess my stance is, if anything, just give fairy more counters via buffing the stuff around it, instead of nerfing the type itself

 

[Dunquixote]

I don’t play competitive atm. So atm, I’m neutral about this. If you’re not talking about just competitive, I’m fine with it the way it is. I do have bias for some things from older Pokemon games, but Pokemon types I’m fine with as they are .

 

[Midoriya]

Personally I'd like to see another type resist and be super effective against Fairy types, seeing as that would push its total weaknesses to three. I don't think it has enough weaknesses for how strong of a type it is, so I believe it'd help balance things a bit more.

Although I will say that I'm somewhat biased against it because Dragon is my favorite Pokemon type, and ever since the introduction of the Fairy type Dragon types aren't as strong as they used to be/can be taken out more easily.

Yes, I know there's some mons that can combat this like Duraludon and Naganadel, but I still think Fairy is a bit too prominent in the game as is.

 

[Paperboy012305]

I don’t play competitive Pokemon either, but I like the concept on how Fairy types are used as defensive walls and pivots.

Clefable is a common Fairy type to see in OU, and I like that. Sure it is annoying to face off against, especially if it maintains Unaware, but since I don’t play competitive I don’t have to feel the pressure. Not to mention it’s pre-evolution Clefairy is a really good support Pokemon to use in doubles with the OP ability in Friend Guard.

Let’s not forget about the infamous Zacian, which broke Ubers when it was introduced. It did get the nerf it deserved, so it can be a viable option in Ubers without being too broken.

 

[Neb]

My hot take is that fairy type should be weak to bug and bug should resist it. It nerfs a broken type while making bug, arguably the worst type in the game, more viable. Honestly steel type should be nerfed too. I think it should lose one or two or its resistances since six is overkill.

 

[Alolan_Apples]

I may be a huge fan of the Fairy Type, but I find its Bug resistance unnecessary.

 

[Halloqueen]

When I first came across this thread, I was sorta of the opinion that I like the Fairy type as it is. Then you pointed out the unnecessary Bug resistance when it's always been hard enough out here for the Bug type. Additionally, when you pointed out the hypothetical issue of a potential eventual Fairy/Ground type, I'm on board for some changes. Removing the Bug resistance would be nice for a start. I like the weaknesses to Poison and especially Steel just based on the real world lore of fairies being weak to iron. I'm not sure about what other types the Fairy type should potentially be weak to, or be ineffective against, but yeah, it could use a nerf so it's not too crazy in the future.

 

[DarthGohan1]

i play more tcg than modern pokemon video games, and sadly it got nerfed, as in completely removed, a couple years back sadly.

hated playing against this deck

 

[Lancelot]

I dont think anything needs to be changed about it other than the bug resistance tbh. Bug already isn't the strongest type, so making fairy resist it just seems a bit unneccesary

 

[Snek]

I voted that Fairy should get another weakness but I also want Fairy's Bug resistance to be removed.

My hot take is that fairy type should be weak to bug and bug should resist it. It nerfs a broken type while making bug, arguably the worst type in the game, more viable. Honestly steel type should be nerfed too. I think it should lose one or two or its resistances since six is overkill.

I think Bug can be fixed by removing Fairy and Ghost's resistances to it and...just imo...for it to also be immune to Dark since that would give Bugs a lot more usage. Steel is actually fine the way that it is tbh. Fire, Ground and Fighting are good offensive types that see a lot of usage. If there was a defensive type other than Fairy I would nerf it would be Water. Perhaps making Poison only supereffective to it would solve it.

I'm not sure about what other types the Fairy type should potentially be weak to, or be ineffective against, but yeah, it could use a nerf so it's not too crazy in the future.

I was thinking Psychic could be a good choice. The type is terrible, a far cry from its Gen1 glory days and so I think it is due now for some love.

 

[IonicKarma]

As a competitive player, I don't really think it needs to be nerfed. Sure its a strong type, but not the only strong type by a longshot. No idea why they resist bug though, but they definitely don't need a 3rd weakness imo.

 

[VillageDweller]

TBH I don't think it needs changing, but if they could maybe make it not resist Bug (and/or make Bug super-effective against Fairy, to give it a buff) I think that would be good. I'm more concerned with just making Bug better (offensively/defensively) and Ice better defensively. Fairy isn't TOO common so it feel like a 'fair' ish strong typing.

 

[Holla]

I think the Fairy type is fine. It was a nice addition and a much needed additional counter to the super powerful dragon type.

 

[Snek]

It was a nice addition and a much needed additional counter to the super powerful dragon type.

Actually this is a common misconception. Dragon type is average at best, even before Fairy type's introduction. The only mons that benefit it are Dragon types themselves with STAB and most of them are either legends or pseudo-legends. GF and their infinite wisdom thought it was the type when it was the high BST they kept giving Dragon types. Druddigon is a good example of this. It is terrible. No one in their right mind would use one, especially now that Fairy exists. I am probably of the minority on here that thought the type chart was ok before Fairy type. Fairy actually nerfed Fighting more than Dragon types and took away more of Bug's offensive power. The BST problem remains and knowing GF they'll continue to churn out Dragon legends and pseudos until the end of time. Well, Fairy is here to stay though and I do appreicate Steel and Poison being better offensively.

 

[LittleMissPanda]

Competitive mon is a game about stats so once you get that 10% Ancient Power boost (or 20% if Serene Grace + 40% doubled chance from a Rainbow field effect, which happens after a Water Pledge/Fire Pledge combo) then it's pretty much GG lol but this is just me coming here after watching a couple of Pokémon Showdown singles and doubles.

No but really, it's about stats and how lucky/unlucky you and your opponent get, though how you build your team does play its role, too. That being said, I voted for another type resisting and being super effective against the Fairy type. The Bug type resistance reminds me of how Bug is, for some random reason, super effective against Dark. I understand Fighting being super effective against Dark, but why Bug? It's a GameFreak mystery.

Steel is immune to Poison when the latter wasn't all that powerful to begin with, with only Grass being weak. Dark being immune to Psychic and Fairy being immune to Dragon go hand in hand, when you think about it. It was their last minute, we-don't-have-time-to-balance-type matchups attempt at nerfing two previously powerful Types.

And it's not even that Dragon was all that powerful to begin with since Dragon is only good against Dragon (not counting how strong the moves tend to be, such as BP 80 - 150) when I personally think about Dragons, I think about how powerful they are in terms of bulk. And the fact that a lot of Dragons, like Normal Types, can learn a vast range of coverage move Types such as Fire, Water, Electric, etc.

Sometimes life is easier when one doesn't think too hard about type matchups.

Edit: typo grrrr

 

[Snek]

it's about stats and how lucky/unlucky you and your opponent get, though how you build your team does play its role,

Exactly. To be honest I am just bored with the current type chart and want a nice shake up. Not really wanting a new type, just a shake up. I also have OCD and its not good for my mental health to do competitive now but I understand the game. Its not just about luck either but about prediction. Of course that prediction can be lucky or unlucky. That being said, stats is still king. Not just BST but also stat spread. And ability. There are so many factors now its crazy. I don't really feel like doing that anymore. That's why I have fun now playing retro mon games on emulators than playing current day Pokemon.

The Bug type resistance reminds me of how Bug is, for some random reason, super effective against Dark. I understand Fighting being super effective against Dark, but why Bug? It's a GameFreak mystery.

Bug type can be seen as the heroic type in Japan. In Japan, insects are often associated with heroes. Take Kamen Rider for example. Dark type is not the Darkness type (that would be Ghost) so it makes sense to me that Bug is supereffective against Dark. Fighting is the honourable/martial arts type. This is why both Bug and Fighting are also resistant against each other. Of course this is just speculation but it makes the most sense...I think.