Man, I remember getting wrecked by Sabrina's Alakazam back in Pokémon Red. My Charizard kept eating Psychic moves like they were candy. Took me three tries to figure out what's good against psychic types. Turns out I was using all the wrong mons. If you're tired of getting mind-crushed by Metagross or Reuniclus, you're in the right place. Let's cut the fluff and talk real counters.
Why Psychic Types Mess People Up
Psychic Pokémon aren't just about fancy spoons and floating cats. They hit hard with special attacks, and many have wild coverage moves. Look at Gardevoir – it can blast you with Psychic, Thunderbolt, or even Shadow Ball. Plus, stuff like Slowbro's insane defense? Brutal. The biggest mistake I see? Folks sending in Fighting types because "punching beats brainpower." Nope. Machamp gets deleted by a single Psychic. Ouch.
Last tournament I played, some dude swept my whole team with a Calm Mind Latios. Felt like getting outplayed by a chess grandmaster. That's when I started seriously researching what beats psychic types consistently.
Top 3 Types That Wreck Psychic
Forget complicated charts. These three types dominate psychic matchups:
The Trinity of Psychic Counters
- Dark types: Immune to Psychic moves. Basically cheat mode.
- Bug types: Double super-effective damage? Yes please.
- Ghost types: Resist Psychic and hit back hard.
Steel used to be great until fairy types showed up. Now half the psychic/steel combos laugh at your Crunch. But Dark? Still king.
Dark Types: Your Psychic Kryptonite
Pure dark types like Umbreon or Absol don't just resist psychic attacks – they ignore them completely. It's hilarious watching a Mewtwo waste a turn Psychic-ing your Hydreigon. Here's the A-team:
| Pokémon | Why It Works | Must-Have Move | HP/Defense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyranitar | Sandstream boosts Sp.Def | Crunch (80 power) | 100 HP / 110 Def |
| Hydreigon | Dragon typing resists secondary attacks | Dark Pulse (85 power) | 92 HP / 90 Def |
| Mandibuzz | Overcoat blocks powder moves | Foul Play (95 power) | 110 HP / 105 Def |
Bug Types: Underrated Assassins
Scizor might be my favorite budget counter. Technician-boosted U-turn? Destroits psychic/grass types like Celebi. Bug's problem is defense – most are glass cannons.
| Pokémon | Key Strength | Ideal Move | Risk Factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scizor | Steel typing resists psychic | U-turn (70 power) | Weak to fire |
| Volcarona | Quiver Dance setup | Bug Buzz (90 power) | 4x weak to rock |
| Buzzwole | Massive physical bulk | Leech Life (80 power) | Slow speed |
Seriously though, don't bring Butterfree unless you want a replay of that scene from Godzilla.
Ghost Types: The Mind Game Masters
Gengar outspeeds most psychics and one-shots with Shadow Ball. Problem? If they predict your switch and drop a Dark Pulse, you're toast. High risk, high reward.
Pro tip: Use Chandelure instead of Gengar against bulkier psychics like Slowking. Fire typing burns through steel/psychic hybrids better.
Essential Moves to Shut Down Psychics
Having the right Pokémon means nothing without proper moves. These are non-negotiable:
| Move | Type | Effect | Best User |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knock Off | Dark | Removes items + damage boost | Bisharp, Krookodile |
| Sucker Punch | Dark | Priority move (if foe attacks) | Murkrow, Absol |
| Megahorn | Bug | 120 power (accuracy risk) | Heracross, Escavalier |
| Phantom Force | Ghost | Disappears turn 1, hits turn 2 | Dragapult, Golurk |
I've lost matches because I used Bite instead of Crunch. Don't be me.
Overlooked Non-Type Counters
Not every counter fits neatly into type advantages. These wildcards work:
Underestimated Tactics
- Taunt users: Shuts down Calm Mind spammers (Try Grimmsnarl)
- Choice Band physical attackers: Overwhelm with brute force (Dragonite works)
- Prankster ability: Priority status moves (Thundurus' Thunder Wave)
My Galarian Weezing with Neutralizing Gas once walled a competitive Reuniclus setup. Dude rage-quit after three failed Calm Minds.
Top 5 Pokémon That Counter Psychics
Based on 2023 usage stats from Smogon and personal testing:
- Tyranitar (Dark/Rock) - Sand stream boosts Sp.Def. Crunch OHKOs most psychics.
- Bisharp (Dark/Steel) - Defiant punishes Intimidate. Knock Off cripples item-reliant mons.
- Scizor (Bug/Steel) - Bullet Punch priority ruins fragile sweepers.
- Gengar (Ghost/Poison) - Shadow Ball + insane speed tier.
- Hydreigon (Dark/Dragon) - Great coverage with Fire Blast/Earthquake.
Honorable mention: Galarian Moltres. That Berserk ability turns it into a monster after eating one Psychic.
Psychic Counter Strategy Cheat Sheet
Matchup flowchart for common scenarios:
If they lead with...
- Fast psychic (Alakazam): Sucker Punch user or focus sash Bisharp
- Bulky setup (Slowbro): Taunt + Knock Off combo
- Psychic/Fairy (Hatterene): Steelix with Heavy Slam
- Weather teams (Psychic Surge): Mold Breaker Excadrill
Remember: Psychic terrain blocks priority moves. Ruins your Sucker Punch strategy. Happened to me in a regional qualifier - still salty.
What Doesn't Work (Common Mistakes)
Seen too many trainers make these blunders:
- Using Fighting types: Gets OHKO'd by Psychic. Conkeldurr ain't tanking that.
- Overrelying on Steel: Magearna laughs at your Bullet Punch.
- Ignoring coverage moves: That Gardevoir knows Mystical Fire for your Scizor.
- Switching predictably: Good players anticipate your dark type switch-in.
Psychic Counter FAQ
What's good against psychic in Gen 9 meta?
Kingambit's Supreme Overlord ability makes it brutal late-game. Chi-Yu's Beads of Ruin shreds through special walls too.
Can I beat psychics without dark types?
Possible but rough. Best bet is Scizor's U-turn or Gholdengo's Make It Rain. Still prefer dark types though.
Why do some psychic types resist dark moves?
Dual typings screw things up. Psychic/Fighting (Gallade) resists dark. Always check secondary types!
What item should my psychic counter hold?
Assault Vest for special tanks, Choice Band for attackers, Leftovers for walls. Never Lum Berry - they rarely run status.
Closing Thoughts
Figuring out what's good against psychic isn't just about type charts. It's anticipating coverage moves, predicting switches, and having backup plans. I keep a Tyranitar on 80% of my teams because it handles so much. But experiment! Try Krookodile's Intimidate or Hisuian Zoroark's illusion mind games. What matters is finding what clicks for your playstyle. Now go wreck that psychic gym leader.
Still stuck? Hit me on Twitter @PsychicBreaker - I share counter teams every Thursday. First round's on me if this guide saves you from another Alakazam sweep.
Leave a Message