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Pokémon X and Y: the ultimate team

According to our calculations, this team of six Pokémon will see you all the way clear to the Elite Four.

Michelle Starr Science editor
Michelle Starr is CNET's science editor, and she hopes to get you as enthralled with the wonders of the universe as she is. When she's not daydreaming about flying through space, she's daydreaming about bats.
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Michelle Starr
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According to our calculations, this team of six Pokémon will see you all the way clear to the Elite Four.

(Credit: Nintendo)

There are 18 Pokémon types in X and Y, and knowing what to have in your party can be a tricky prospect. We've examined the type chart and calculated what we believe to be the ultimate team for defeating any other Pokémon the game can throw at you.

The types are:

  • Normal

  • Fighting

  • Flying

  • Poison

  • Ground

  • Rock

  • Bug

  • Ghost

  • Steel

  • Fire

  • Water

  • Grass

  • Electric

  • Psychic

  • Ice

  • Dragon

  • Dark

  • Fairy.

You can have six Pokémon in your party. These can be swapped in and out, but if you want a party that has an elemental advantage over every other type of Pokémon in the game, the line-up would be:

  • Fighting

  • Ground

  • Ice

  • Flying

  • Ghost/Steel

  • Electric or Grass.

(Credit: Nintendo)

With that in mind, here is our ultimate team. Obviously, some of these Pokémon don't become available until later in the game, but if you stick to the type guide above, you shouldn't go too far wrong.

  • Hawlucha: Fighting/Flying type. Effective against: Normal, Rock, Steel, Ice, Dark (Fighting moves); Fighting, Bug, Grass (Flying moves); or Panchoro: Fighting/Dark type. Effective against: Normal, Rock, Steel, Ice, Dark (Fighting moves); Ghost, Electric (Dark moves)

  • Marowak: Ground type. Effective against: Poison, Rock, Steel, Fire, Electric (Ground moves)

  • Lapras: Ice/Water type. Effective against: Flying, Ground, Grass, Dragon (Ice moves); Ground, Rock, Fire (Water moves)

  • Talonflame: Flying/Fire type. Effective against: Fighting, Bug, Grass (Flying moves); Bug, Steel, Grass, Ice (Fire moves)

  • Doublade: Ghost/Steel type. Effective against: Ghost, Psychic (Ghost moves); Rock, Ice, Fairy (Steel moves)

  • Venusaur: Grass type. Effective against: Ground, Rock, Water (Grass moves); or Ampharos: Electric type. Effective against: Flying, Water (Electric moves).

You need a flying Pokémon for HM02 (Fly), which can get you around the game's map quickly. If you're happy to use one of Hawlucha's four moves on the HM, you can substitute the Flying Pokémon for another of your choice. Also bear in mind that as long as all the types are covered, you can have whatever double-type Pokémon you like — in fact, it actually helps to have that backup in case your effective Pokémon faints.

We've also included Lapras as Ice/Water — a Water-type Pokémon will be required for HM03 (Surf).

If you want to come up with your own team, you can find a type chart to reference here. Let us know your own dream team in the comments below!