Type Changing

Types have been the main basis of the battle aspect of Pokémon since the very beginning. With 18 different types with dozens of Pokémon in each type with dozens of attacks of each type. All Pokémon have set types but this is not always the case. While Castform, Arceus, Shaymin, Rotom, Darmanitan & Meloetta have different types based on forms, there are other ways to change the type of the Pokémon.

There are various moves and abilities which can remove immunities based upon the Pokémon's type combinations and some which boost stats, but there are a handful of attacks and abilities which can alter the Pokémon's type. To top that off, Black & White introduced a means in order to change your opponent's type to a specific type.

Pokémon Type Changing

Opponent's Type

Soak

The move Soak is a relatively simple move. With it, you can take your opponent and submerse them in water, thus making them a pure Water-type, removing all of their type combinations and immunities. It also removes any Same-Type-Attack-Bonus they would have received from the moves in their moveset. This will allow you to fully hit in with Grass & Electric-type moves to damage the opponent.

Name Type Cat. PP Att. Acc. Effect
Soak 20 -- 100 It bathes the opponent in lots of water and makes their type Water.

Forest's Curse

The move Forest's Curse is a relatively simple move. With it, you curse the Pokémon and add the Grass-type to them. This will make Single typed Pokémon Dual-typed and Dual-typed Pokémon Triple-typed. As such, the Pokémon's type calculations will be altered. The Pokémon gains all the benefits and hinderances of the Grass-type, including immunity to Leech Seed, Grass-type STAB and the various other bonuses. It fails if the target is already Grass-type

Name Type Cat. PP Att. Acc. Effect
Forest's Curse 20 -- 100 The user puts a forest curse on the target. Afflicted targets are now Grass type as well.

Trick-or-Treat

The move Trick-or-Treat works identically to the Forest's Curse move. With it, you curse the Pokémon and add the Ghost-type to them. This will make Single typed Pokémon Dual-typed and Dual-typed Pokémon Triple-typed. As such, the Pokémon's type calculations will be altered. The Pokémon gains all the benefits and hinderances of the Ghost-type, including ability to retreat from battle if restricted by an ability, and immunity to Normal and Fighting-type moves. It fails if the target is already Ghost-type

Name Type Cat. PP Att. Acc. Effect
Trick-or-Treat 20 -- 100 The user takes the target trick-or-treating. This adds Ghost type to the target's type.

Magic Powder

The move Magic Powder works akin to the move Soak in that it completely replaces a Pokémon's type. In this case, it makes them a Psychic-type. However, this move is also a Powder move so cannot work on Grass-type Pokémon.

Name Type Cat. PP Att. Acc. Effect
Magic Powder Magic Powder - PSYCHIC 20 -- 100 The user scatters a cloud of magic powder that changes the target to Psychic type.

User's Type

Tera Types

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet introduced the new mechanic, Terastallization. This mechanic allows for you to change the type of your Pokémon to your specific Tera Type. This overwrites both of your current types.

You have the ability to change your Pokémon's Tera Type to any of the 18 types in Medali.

Moves that change the Pokémon's type will fail when used by or used against Pokémon of Tera Types.

Click here for full details on Terastallisation

Tera Types

Burn Up & Double Shock

Burn Up is a move introduced in Sun & Moon with an interesting twist. While it is a powerful Fire-type move, when a Pokémon uses it they will lose their Fire-type. This means if they're dual-typed, they'd become single type. If they are pure Fire-type normally, they will then become typeless with no weaknesses. This effect is removed on switch out and the move will fail if it is used by a Pokémon that is not a Fire-type, including those that are now typeless.
In Scarlet & Violet, an Electric-type variant of this move was introduced, Double Shock. It had the same effects as Burn Up.
With Tera Type Pokémon, if the Pokémon trying to use the move are not the type of the move, it will fail. However, if they are of the same Tera Type, they will continue being that type.

Name Type Cat. PP Att. Acc. Effect
Burn Up 5 130 100 To inflict massive damage, the user burns itself out. After using this move, the user will no longer be Fire type.
Double Shock 5 120 100 The user discharges all the electricity from its body to perform a high-damage attack. After using this move, the user will no longer be Electric type.
Burn Up

Camouflage

Camouflage was originally a Staryu only move, but has since been learned by various other Pokémon. Camouflage will change the type of the user to a type depending upon the terrain in which it battles. In-game, this is highly useful. However, in the multiplayer, it is rather limited as it will always be within a building. The places and types are as follows

Location Type
Buildings Normal-type
Caves/Mountainsides Rock-type
Desert/Roads Ground-type
Fields/Grass/Swamp Grass-type
Snow Ice-type
Water Water-type

Name Type Cat. PP Att. Acc. Effect
Camouflage 20 -- -- The user's type is changed depending on its environment, such as at water's edge, in grass, or in a cave.
Camouflage

Conversion

Conversion is a move introduced within the first generation and thus the first move which actually changed the type of the Pokémon. Conversion changes the user's type to the type of the first of its four moves. This will allow you to get the Same-Type-Attack-Bonus from these moves. However, as you don't have control over it, it will be completely random.

Name Type Cat. PP Att. Acc. Effect
Conversion 30 -- -- The user changes its type to become the same type as one of its moves.
Conversion

Conversion 2

Conversion2 is a move which was introduced in the second generation to randomly change the type of the user. Unlike the above move, the type the user becomes varies. The user will become a type resistant to the type of the move that hit it so if it got hit by an Electric-type move, it may become a Ground-type. However, it can't make the user the same type as it already is, so if that would occur, the move will fail. Click here to consult with our Type Chart

Name Type Cat. PP Att. Acc. Effect
Conversion 2 30 -- -- The user changes its type to make itself resistant to the type of the attack it last took.
Conversion 2

Reflect Type

Reflect Type is a move introduced within Generation V which allows for the user to take the complete type of the target Pokémon. This includes both types so can turn Mew from a Psychic Pokémon to a Dragon/Fire if it's against Reshiram or basically any type it is battling against. This can also be done Double & Triple Battles, by targetting your allies instead of your opponent, that way your Pokémon shall receive their type.

Name Type Cat. PP Att. Acc. Effect
Reflect Type 15 -- -- It reflects the opponent’s type and becomes the same type.
Reflect Type

Abilities

Color Change

Color Change is a simple ability known only by Kecleon. This ability will change Kecleon's type to the type of the move that previously hit it. This gives Kecleon a tactical advantage against Pokémon who use single type moves. In Generations III & IV, this ability changed Kecleon's type with each hit on multi-hit moves, but with Black & White, this was removed and Kecleon only changes type after the final hit has occured.

Color Change

Mimicry

Mimicry is a new ability known by Galarian Stunfisk. This ability allows Stunfisk to change its type depending on the current terrain. If Electric Terrain, it becomes Electric-type. If Grassy Terrain, it becomes Grass-type. If Psychic Terrain it becomes Psychic-type and if Misty Terrain it becomes Fairy-type.

Protean & Libero

Protean is a new ability that is able to be had by Kecleon, Froakie, Frogadier and Libero by Scorbunny, Raboot and Cinderace. This ability will change the type of the Pokémon into the type of the move it is using, just before it uses it. This makes it a pure Pokémon of that type, and gives it STAB from the moves it uses. It also messed with any strategy that the opponent may have.

Multi-type & RKS System

Arceus' Multitype and Silvally's RKS System ability allows for it to change its type based upon its hold item. Throughout the games, you will find 17 different kind of plates and Memories. Attach these plates to Arceus & Silvally and its type will change to the respective type for however long it holds onto this item.

Normal-typeBug-typeDark-typeDragon-typeElectric-typeFighting-type
No Item
Insect Plate

Dread Plate

Draco Plate

Zap Plate

Fist Plate
Fire-typeFlying-typeGhost-typeGrass-typeGround-typeIce-type

Flame Plate

Sky Plate

Spooky Plate

Meadow Plate

Earth Plate

Icicle Plate
Poison-typePsychic-typeRock-typeSteel-typeWater-typeFairy-type

Toxic Plate

Mind Plate

Stone Plate

Iron Plate

Splash Plate

Pixie Plate
RKS System

Attack Type Changing

In addition to Pokémon changing their type, there are various moves and abilities that can change the type of moves used by other Pokémon.

Aura Wheel

Aura Wheel is the move known by Morpeko and can only be used by it. Its type changes depending upon the form that Morpeko is currently in. If in Full Belly Mode, then Aura Wheel will be an Electric-type while if it's in.

Name Type Cat. PP Att. Acc. Effect
Aura Wheel Aura Wheel - ELECTRIC
Aura Wheel - Dark
10 110 100 Morpeko attacks and raises its Speed with the energy stored in its cheeks. This move's type changes depending on the user's form.
Aura Wheel

Electrify

Electrify is a move known by a few Pokémon that targets the opponent. If the Pokémon it is used on attacks after it has been hit by this move, its move becomes Electric-type and susceptable to all resistances including Lightningrod in Double Battles.

Name Type Cat. PP Att. Acc. Effect
Electrify 20 -- -- If the target is electrified before it uses a move during that turn, the target's move becomes Electric type.
Electrify

Ion Deluge

Ion Deluge is a move known by a few Pokémon that targets the entire field. When in effect, it turns all Normal-type moves into the Electric-type.

Name Type Cat. PP Att. Acc. Effect
Ion Deluge 25 -- -- The user disperses electrically charged particles, which changes Normal-type moves to Electric-type moves.
Ion Deluge

Judgment & RKS System

The move Judgment is known by Arceus and, like Arceus, will change its type to the type of the plate that is attached to it..

Name Type Cat. PP Att. Acc. Effect
Judgment 10 100 100 The user releases countless shots of light at the target. Its type varies with the kind of Plate the user is holding.
Multi-Attack 10 120 100 Cloaking itself in high energy, the user slams into the target. The memory held determines the move's type.
Multi Attack

Raging Bull

Revelation Dance is a move that changes type based on the type of the Pokémon using it. It can only be used by Paldean Tauros but changes based on its form so it can be Fighting, Fire or Water.

Name Type Cat. PP Att. Acc. Effect
Raging Bull Raging Bull - NORMAL 10 90 100 The user performs a tackle like a raging bull. This move's type depends on the user's form. It can also break barriers, such as Light Screen and Reflect.
Raging Bull

Revelation Dance

Revelation Dance is a move that changes type based on the type of the Pokémon using it. It can only be used by Oricorio but changes based on its form so it can be Electric, Fire, Psychic and Ghost.

Name Type Cat. PP Att. Acc. Effect
Revelation Dance 15 90 100 The user attacks the target by dancing very hard. The user's type determines the type of this move.
Revelation Dance

Weather Ball

The move Weather Ball is an adaptable move that changes its type based upon the current weather effect. If Sunny Day, it becomes Fire-type. If Rain Dance is in effect, it becomes Water-type. If Hail is in effect, it becomes Ice-type and if Sandstorm is in effect, it becomes Rock-type. Its power is also doubled.

Name Type Cat. PP Att. Acc. Effect
Weather Ball 10 50 100 An attack move that varies in power and type depending on the weather.
Weather Ball

Abilities

There are also several abilities in the game that will change the type of certain moves used by it. This allows for them to receive STAB for the move, as well work into the strategies. Abilities such as Mold Breaker do not affect them, however once a Pokémon loses its ability, it loses the change.

Name Effect
Aerilate Normal-type moves become Flying-type moves.
Galvanize Normal-type moves become Electric-type moves.
Liquid Voice Sound based moves become Water-type moves.
Normalize All the Pokémon’s moves become the Normal type.
Pixilate Normal-type moves become Fairy-type moves.
Refrigerate Normal-type moves become Ice-type moves.