Pokemon Arena 2D Tier List: All 18 Elemental Blade Types Ranked

How Are the 18 Elemental Blade Types Ranked in Pokemon Arena 2D?

In Pokemon Arena 2D, every match starts with a 12-pick-6 draft from the 18 classic elemental types. Because all blades share the same 70 Base HP (plus +1 to +8 HP from your PC BST HP Bonus) and exchange damage simultaneously on every collision (10 DMG for 2×, 6 DMG for 1×, 3 DMG for 0.5×, 0 DMG for 0×), a type’s true strength is determined by four factors:

1. Defensive Immunities (0× = 0 Damage Taken) and 0.5× Resistances (3 Damage Taken).
2. Offensive Super Effective Coverage (2× = 10 Damage Dealt).
3. Hidden Grid Speed Order (TYPES Index 0 → 17): Faster types initiate more collisions; slower types survive longer on the perimeter before walls close.
4. Top Achievable PC BST Ceiling: Whether that type can reach +6 HP (Safari pseudo-legendary) or +7/+8 HP (Lab Legendary).

Complete 18-Type Tier List & Best PC Pokémon Table

Deep Dive: Why S-Tier Types Dominate the Arena

1. Steel (10 Resistances + Poison Immunity)

In a chaotic 10-blade arena where random collisions happen every second, damage mitigation is king. Steel takes only 3 damage (0.5×) from 10 different elemental types and 0 damage (0×) from Poison, while dealing 10 damage (2×) to Fairy, Ice, and Rock. If the 12-type draft pool lacks Fire, Fighting, or Ground, a Steel blade equipped with Metagross (+6 HP) or Dialga (+7 HP) can solo an entire enemy team.

2. Ground & Fighting (5 Super Effective Matchups Each)

Only two types in Pokemon Arena 2D deal 10-damage Super Effective hits to five different types: Ground (beats Fire, Electric, Poison, Rock, Steel + immune to Electric) and Fighting (beats Normal, Ice, Rock, Dark, Steel). Holding either Ground or Fighting as your 6th Reserve Special lets you assassinate enemy Steel and Rock tanks in the final 30 seconds.

3. Ghost & Fairy (Dual/Apex Immunities)

• Ghost is the only type in the game with two 0× immunities (Normal and Fighting take 0 HP from Ghost’s enemies while Ghost deals 6 DMG back to Fighting).
• Fairy completely shuts down Dragon (0× immunity + 10 DMG return hit), Dark, and Fighting, while only fearing Poison and Steel.

Which Types Make the Best 6th-Slot “Special” Reserve?

Not every good type belongs in your starting 5 blades! Fragile, high-offense types like Ice, Rock, Fighting, and Ground are much stronger when held back as your Special (Set your Special screen):

• Best Starting 5 Blades (Perimeter Bruisers): Steel, Water, Fire, Fairy, Ghost, Dragon, Normal (with Slaking/Arceus). These types have high resistance counts or neutral durability and win war-of-attrition trades during the first 30 seconds.
• Best 6th Reserve Special (Glass Cannon Assassins): Ground, Fighting, Ice, Electric, Rock. Keep them safe on the bench until their natural predators are knocked out, then click Launch Special to clean up weakened survivors!

Next, learn how to draft unbeatable 6-type combinations in our Type Wheel Draft Guide and farm your Safari roster in the Safari Zone & Game Corner Guide.