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There are a ton of new types of Fairy Pokémon in these new games, since there are tons of Faeries in Celtic/UK folklore. Honestly, we can’t wait to watch the Galar-centered Pokémon Anime. We’re here to talk about the 10 best, in order, from strongest to weakest. Obviously this judging was based on power, utility, and design all in one.
Updated August 14th, 2020 by Tanner Kinney: With the release of the first DLC pack, The Isle of Armor, the metagame has had enough time to evolve that there is a clear divide between Pokémon in terms of power. The ones on the top likely still stay there and find themselves competing against old friends that are no longer easily checked. While some bottom feeders moved up, a lot, unfortunately, keep staying mediocre. It’s a tragic fate for many Pokémon to just not be good enough to bring into serious battles, even if they are cute.
However, for connoisseurs of all things pink, Sword and Shield did remember to bring a number of great Fairy-types. This update will mostly focus on the faces who just arrived in Galar through the DLC, along with an extra addition that was noticeably absent from before. Regardless, until the next DLC, this should be the ultimate list of the best Fairy-types available in Sword and Shield.
15 Comfey: Kick Back, Relax, Stay Comfey
The drain-tank is a class that’s rarely found in games, especially Pokémon. In their appearances, drain-tanks are hard to balance because they can pump out crazy damage while barely taking a scratch through powerful self-healing. Healing is less effective in Pokémon, so thankfully those with effective self-healing have a number of checks to them. The most obvious counter is that tanky Pokémon sacrifice speed and are susceptible to status ailments as a result.
This is true for any healer except Comfey, who gains priority on all healing moves. This includes its signature technique, Floral Healing, along with any draining attacks like Giga Drain or Draining Kiss. This gives Comfey a niche as a surprisingly effective drain tank, using Calm Mind to bulk up and Draining Kiss to heal it all back. Unfortunately, it has enough counters still in Sword and Shield that it shouldn’t be too threatening.
14 Azumarill: Huge Power Comes In Small Packages
With the tragic removal of Mega Evolutions, the once terrifying Mega Mawile (and its Huge Power) bit the dust and returned to its Untiered prison. The only Pokémon that still had this incredible ability was Diggersby, who at least puts it to good use. However, the Isle of Armor brought back the original Pika-Clone in Marill, along with its evolution of Azumarill. Azumarill, based just on its base stats, isn’t too impressive aside from solid bulk. Don’t underestimate this blue beast; with Huge Power and Belly Drum, this bulky friend can become more dangerous than anyone would expect.
The effectiveness of a +6 Attack Boost doubled by its ability makes it a force to be reckoned with. It’s slow, so it has to rely on priority in Aqua Jet, but since it isn’t missing any of the moves that once made it such a threat, it’s likely that Azumarill will go back to tearing up teams just like the good old days.
13 Klefki: Boo Boo Keys Takes No Prisoners
Generally, trainers like to play the game of Pokémon by attacking and having fun. Getting the meaty attack is quite the serotonin hit, after all. However, utility is equally important to success in competitive battles. So, how about a Pokémon that just wants everyone else to suffer? There’s a lot of joy in watching an opponent squirm through status ailments and hazards, even though hazards have been made less important with Heavy-Duty Boots in play. Few Pokémon are as sadistic as Klefki in that regard.
These Boo Boo Keys may be a cutesy gimmick on the surface, but it has the ability to fit into a ton of different competitive teams. Its supportive movepool is huge, and its Prankster ability gives it priority to just ruin someone’s day with Spikes, Paralysis, Confusion, Poison, and even just straight up a punch to the face. In wars of attrition, Klefki will not be weathered down. Klefki is cute and effective, making it an ideal Fairy-type support.
12 Clefable: A Wall As Immovable As The Moon
The Moon is always there; it’s reliable and calming. And much like the moon, Clefable has always been here, always at the top of the table. However, the Fairy-typing made Clefable so much better to the point it is a staple of the OU metagame. It was also in the base release of Sword and Shield, but it’s getting its recognition here.
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Clefable is a Pokémon capable of wearing many different hats. It has an ocean of a movepool, giving it options that few other Pokémon can dream of having. It’s best known for its utility and place as a bulky tank, using strong Moonblasts as a form of offensive pressure and boasting strong self-recovery. However, give it a Life Orb and some offensive techniques and Clefable can lay the smackdown like no one else. Changes to Teleport also give it the ability to Wish-pass, adding another skill into its overloaded kit. Clefable may be cute and possibly an alien (if the anime is to be believed), but it’s also an incredible Fairy-type Pokémon.
11 Magearna: Shifting Gears To Uber-Tier
Magearna, a Mythical Pokémon added in Sun and Moon, is very much an Ultra Beast in nature. Its Soul Heart ability works like Beast Boost, and it comes equipped with some serious power in terms of its movepool and steel-typing. Its signature move, Fleur Cannon, is the most powerful Fairy-type attack in the game currently (although there are two moves that are stronger). Additionally, it can function as both a setup-blocker with Heart Swap and a setup sweeper itself with Shift Gear.
The biggest drawback is that Magearna is still locked behind events, so finding this rare Pokémon will require either attending an event or a cheat device. Once it is obtained, it can easily become a force to be reckoned with in the highest tiers of competitive play. Never count out an Artifical Pokémon, especially one with as much power as Magearna.
10 Silvaly: Perfectly Balanced, As All Things Should Be
Turns out there aren’t too many fairy types in these new games. Man if only the Pokédex was bigger huh? Anyway, Silvaly is an oddball Legendary introduced in Pokémon Sun & Moon. This lab-grown Pokémon can change its typing depending on the memory it holds, and Fairy is one of them. The only problem is Silvally kind of sucks. Its stats are low for a Legendary, its ability is the type-changing aspect, and it just doesn’t excel in anything. Sure, it can also fight most anything with type advantage, but that’s not worth using this sub-par Pokémon. It was a neat idea Game Freak, but it just didn’t work out.
9 Galarian Rapidash: A Fantastic Design Accented By Its Pastel Veil
We wanted this My Little Pony wannabe to be better, we truly did. But Galarian Rapidash just isn’t good when compared to similar Pokémon, or even other Fairy Types in Sword & Shield. Heck, even Hatterene does everything Galar Rapidash can do, but better. The unique aspect of this variation Pokémon is their ability, Pastel Veil. But, all it does is prevent Rapidash from being poisoned, which is pretty minor when compared to other insanely strong abilities. Overall, Galarian Rapidash is totally usable for casual players and will be pretty useful. But for anyone looking to build a decent competitive/dream team, we advise you look elsewhere.
8 Gardevoir: The Moonblast Queen
Another non-Galarian exclusive Pokémon, Gardevoir has been a fan favorite since the first Ruby and Sapphire games came out for reasons that are sad, but not surprising. Back then, they were only Psychic-type, but once Fairy was introduced, it was tacked on to this evolutionary line as well. Gardevoir has a Mega-Evolution too, one that does insanely well in competitive play.
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Why? Because their ability Trace is quite handy, and they have access to Moonblast. Plus, because of the Psychic typing, they’re great for taking out Poison-types as well. The only big drawback is their overall low health and defense, so building for speed is recommended.
7 Alcremie: Aroma Veil Makes This Poke The Cream Of The Crop
Oddly enough, for a type that seems to be centered around cuteness, Fairy types sure tend to be tanky. Alcremie is no different, this Poke can take a few big hits, which is even more impressive considering they’re literally made out of whipped cream. Both of its abilities (Aroma Veil and Sweet Veil) have to do with the smell of sugary cream, and both are relatively decent. Honestly, Alcremie is fine, it’s just outclassed in most ways by other Pokémon. But, since it can learn Calm Mind and Recover, it can set itself up to sweep an entire team while healing any damage other Poke’s manage to do to it. But, since it’s a pure Fairy type, you’ve got to watch out for Poison moves. Still, even it if was terrible, we’d still recommend using it just to see that hilarious Gigantamax form.
6 Galarian Weezing: Turns Out A Top Hat Really Does Make A Difference
Much like normal Weezing, Galarian Weezing is quite bulky. On top of its newfound elegance, this twin-headed Pokémon can take a hit or two with ease. There’s more to it than that, but what it really comes down to is Galar Weezing’s ability, Neutralizing Gas. Why? Because it just turns off all abilities of any Pokémon while Galar Weezing is in the fight.
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And, since most of the competitive scene is set up around specific Abilities, this makes a huge difference. Outside of that, it’s a great support type Pokémon. Send it out, use moves like Aromatherapy to help the rest of the team, tank a few hits, then knock out the competition with a Flamethrower or two. And if all else fails, just use Pain Split!
5 Hatterene: The New Get On The Block With A Few New Trick…Rooms?
Hatterene is another one of those Pokémon that are misleadingly adorable. Yeah, their two pre-evolutions are even cuter, but all it takes is one look at their Pokedex entry and you’ll understand why they’re scary. The Psychic/Fairy typing is pretty common among all the different Fairy Pokémon, but Hatterene has a few tricks up their….hat? It’s slow, shockingly so, which makes it a great candidate for a Trick Room setup. Plus, Magic Bounce nullifies pesky hazards like Toxic or Spikes. Finally, their Gigantamax form is also quite useful, especially with Dazzling Gleam since it becomes G-Max Smite. This move can immediately decimate any dark type Pokémon and auto-inflicts confusion on any that survive, making Hatterene one of the best new Pokémon of the generation.
4 Sylveon: A Teensy Pokémon With A Very Large Voice
Sylveon was the most recent Eevee evolution to be introduced in Generation VI. We’re still waiting on a fighting-type Eeveelution but hey, that’ll do for now. For a Pokémon so tiny and adorable, Sylveon has quite the powerful stats. Its bread-and-butter aspect is the ability Pixelate, which turns normal moves into fairy type, giving Sylveon a STAB-version of Hyper Voice. Meaning this teensy pup has a hardcore bark. But, with Wish as a heal and Protect for defense, Sylveon also is sort of a one Pokémon band. And that’s just one out of many potential uses for this big-bowed beast.
3 Grimsnarl: A Prankster That’s More Dangerous Than We Expected
Grimsnarl is such a unique Fairy Pokémon. As we’ve seen since the type was introduced, tons of Fairy Pokémon tend to fall into the “it’s pink and cute, so it must be a fairy” stereotype. Grimsnarl and its pre-evolutions aren’t that. They’re quite ugly in fact. But, they fit more into the Celtic Faerie visualization than they do the stereotypical fairy one.
In battle, the dark-type Grimsnarl is also quite useful thanks to its Prankster ability. Essentially, any move that has a status effect now has higher priority, which has uses in casual play and tons of viability in competitive setups. Imagine being able to set up both Reflect and Light Screen with ease? Plus it gives Taunt priority, which allows it to trap powerful Pokémon into using a weak move easily.
2 Togekiss: An Adorably Deadly Facade
Odd that our next pick isn’t a Pokémon that’s new in Sword & Shield but regardless. Togekiss is an adorable little paper plane, but don’t let that fool you. Thanks to Dynamax, Togekiss is even more powerful than it was in previous Gen’s. With absurd bulk, high special attack, and a pretty amazing movepool, this flying Fairy demon is terrifying. The only thing it doesn’t have going for it is speed, but after using the move Max Airstream during its Dynamax phase, that problem is fixed right up.
1 Zacian & Zamazenta: The Crowned Kings Of Fairy Types
Oh hey, the strongest are the Legendaries, because well, duh. Of course, the Legendary of this gen is going to be the strongest if it happens to have the Fairy typing. Which, Zacian and Zamazenta both do. Why Fairy? Well because both these puppo’s represent King Arthurs Sword and Shield from the Knights of the Round Table fairy tale of course. And that’s not all. When holding their relic weapons both these dogs change into their “Crowned” formes which make them even more ridiculous. Between the two, Zacian is much more viable than Zamazenta due to his insanely high attack and ability, but neither is weak by any definition of the word.
NEXT: Pokémon Sword & Shield: 10 Worst Galarian Pokémon Designs, Ranked
