The Electric type (Japanese: でんきタイプElectric type) is one of the eighteen types. Notable Trainers who specialize in Electric-type Pokémon are the Gym Leaders Lt Surge of Vermilion City, Wattson of Mauville City,Volkner of Sunyshore City, Elesa of Nimbasa City, and Clemont of Lumiose City. Prior to changes in Generation IV, all damaging Electric-type moves were special, but they may now also be physical depending on the attack.
Overall, Electric types have average defense and above average Special Defense. As a single type, Electric is one of only two types to have only one weakness, the other being the Normal type. Electric types have a key resistance to the quite common Flying type, which is used mainly as an offensive type. The downside to this is that Ground type attacks are very common.
Thunder Wave, being one of the most reliable forms of inducing paralysis, is commonly seen on a wide variety of defensive Pokémon. Electric-type Pokémon are immune to paralysis, making many of them ideal sweepers.
Although pure Electric-type Pokémon only have resistances to other Electric-type moves, Flying, and Steel (which is rarely used offensively), many dual-typed Electric-type Pokémon (such as Magnezone) have secondary types that give them a large total number of resistances. Also, due to their single weakness to Ground, pure Electric-type Pokémon with the ability Levitate, such as Eelektross, have no weaknesses.
Offense[]
Electric-type Pokémon often have high speed and Special Attack stats. The ability of the Electric type to hit the very common Water and Flying types super effectively is important for many offensive Pokémon. Moreover, the Electric type pairs well with other common attacking types such as Ice, which is super-effective against Ground (which Electric is weak to and has no effect on), Grass and Dragon, both of which resist Electric. Additionally, there are only a few Pokémon that have a double resistance to Electric-type attacks. Again, the downside to this is that Electric-type moves are nullified by Ground.