Top Water-Type Attackers in Pokémon GO

Background: 1996 to 2016 — Building an 18-Type Framework

The modern type system did not appear fully formed. The Pokémon series began in 1996 with a smaller set of types, then widened as new categories were added. Dark and Steel joined in 1999, and Fairy arrived in 2013, bringing the total to 18. Pokémon Go, released in 2016 for iOS and Android and developed by Niantic, uses that expanded 18-type environment. Today, Water-type Pokémon are just one of 18 different types in the world of Pokémon Go. Each of those 18 types has its own strengths, weaknesses, and best Pokémon.

Development: The Three-Element Start Line and the Largest, Deepest Pool

The key early-game anchor is the starter trio. Water is one of three starter elements that players start each game with: Grass, Fire, and Water. That places Water-type creatures in a position players can reach from the beginning, not as a rare late-game reward. The original Water starter line, starting with Squirtle, is the clearest non-Legendary example, while other familiar water creatures such as Vaporeon, Lapras, and Gyarados broaden the field. This is why Water is mostly known for having the largest and deepest pool: many playable forms sit inside the same type identity.

Latest: What Water-Type Means for Players Now

At the current stage, the fact matters because it changes team planning. A Water-type choice inside an 18-type system is not just a visual theme; it creates immediate advantages and disadvantages against other types. The original description's conclusion remains true: Water is one of three starter elements, and that gives players exceptional options among non-Legendary Pokémon while still operating under the rules of a 18-type chart where each type has strengths, weaknesses, and best Pokémon.