Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: 18 Best Fighting-Types In The Game

Highlights

• Pokemon Scarlet and Violet introduces new Fighting-type Pokemon to catch and strengthen players’ teams for intense battles.
• The well-known Fighting-type Pokemon Hitmonchan is back in Scarlet and Violet and is a great defensive unit for any player’s team.
• Players can find powerful Fighting-type Pokemon like Breloom, Toxicroak, and Lucario in Scarlet and Violet to deal lethal amounts of damage.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet continue to grow the franchise through the newest pocket monster additions, expanding the number of Pokemon players can catch while exploring the region of Paldea. In this ninth generation of the Pokemon series, players have been rewarded with countless new Fighting-type Pokemon for players to use while competing against foes that are either Flying, Psychic, or Fairy.

Many of these new Pokemon are incredibly powerful, and therefore players will want to quickly catch these Fighting-type Pokemon to strengthen their party of small creatures before taking on the next intense battle. Not to mention their amazing and well-thought-out designs.

Updated December 21, 2023 by Megan Smith: Paldea Fighting-types have already shown promise with plenty of new additions being added to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet with the introduction of this new game. However, with the recent DLC known as The Indigo Disk, players have been met with not only new Pokemon but also returning Pokemon.

Therefore, there have been some new additions to what could be considered the best Fighting-type Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet. As players can catch these Fighting-type classics once more, they may feel the need to replace some of their newer Pokemon with these returning Fighting-types in Scarlet and Violet instead.

1 Hitmonchan

EV Yield: 2 Special Defense

Returning to the Indigo Disk DLC of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is the well-known Fighting-type Pokemon known as Tyrogue. This pocket monster with furious fists is well known for having the capability of evolving into three different types of Pokemon depending on its stats. One of the best of the three is Hitmonchan.

Tyrogue becomes this evolution if its Defense stat is higher than its attack. This therefore makes Hitmonchan a brilliant defensive unit for any player’s team, as this Fighting-type Pokemon can protect from punches while still giving them back.

2 Breloom

EV Yield: 2 Attack

Breloom may look adorable, but this unassuming mushroom Pokemon carries a fierce battle side as it possesses the dual-typing of Grass and Fighting. Being introduced to the game during Generation 3, Breloom has been a member of the Pokemon franchise, which has left many players ample time to get to know its strengths and weaknesses.

While it may not remain one of the greatest Fighting-types overall, its higher-than-average attack makes Breloom a brilliant option for dealing damage. Not to mention its signature move of Mach Punch, which has been passed across different Pokemon for generations before becoming an important move for Breloom in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

3 Crabominable

EV Yield: 2 Attack

While Crabominable may not be a new Fighting-type Pokemon to Scarlet and Violet, it hasn’t been seen in the franchise since Pokemon Moon and Sun. It is surprisingly seen once again during the Water-type gym leader’s battle as his final Pokemon to use against the player.

Crabominable may not be one of the strongest Fighting-types in the franchise due to being only Fighting and Ice. However, his power is increased during the gym battle due to Kofu terastallizing him to be entirely a Water-type Pokemon while possessing these moves.

4 Toxicroak

EV Yield: 2 Attack

Poison-types are another incredibly powerful typing inside the Pokemon franchise, with it only being weak against Psychic and Ground-type Pokemon. Combining these everlasting Poison-type moves with Toxicroak’s Fighting-type prowess means players can hit for a lethal amount of damage. Players can then rely on its Hidden Ability of Poison Touch for an added chance of poisoning whatever attacks it.

In Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, players can find the infamous Toxicroak roaming in the wild. However, those who enjoy evolving their Pokemon can also find themselves a Croagunk and work on that bond in the hope of evolving their Poison and Fighting-type at level thirty-seven.

5 Pawmot

EV Yield: 3 Attack

Moving on to the entirely new Pokemon in the ninth generation of the franchise, a new critter that players can catch early into their playthrough is the adorable mouse Pokemon Pawmot. Players will discover this orange rodent as Pawmi. Once evolving it to Pawmo, players will need to walk a thousand steps with the let’s go feature to strengthen its paws to become a Fighting-type combined with an Electric-type.

Overall, Pawmot is a great starting edition for players, especially due to knowing the signature move, Double Shock, though players may still wish to swap it out for a more powerful Fighting-type later in their journey.

6 Hawlucha

EV Yield: 2 Attack

Hawlucha was one of the original Flying/Fighting-type birds to be introduced into Pokemon with its reveal for Pokemon in X and Y in the sixth generation of the franchise. This wrestling bird has a design that mimics that of a Luchador and may not evolve from or into anything, but that doesn’t stop it from being a brilliant choice for Fighting-types in Scarlet or Violet.

While fellow Fighting-type Pokemon Primeape may be its natural enemy in the region of Paldea, Hawlucha is the only Pokemon that can learn the move Flying Press when leveling up with the player. This lethal move combines both the typing of Fighting and Flying to hit an enemy for a heap of damage, making Hawlucha a fair choice to consider.

7 Heracross

EV Yield: 2 Attack

Heracross hasn’t had any evolution since its Mega Evolve form in Generation 6. Heracross is still a much-loved bug and Fighting-type Pokemon, proving that even types like Bug have a chance of being something deadly.

A lot of this can be thanks to the Fighting-type moves it can learn. However, for a short amount of time, its importance was also seen through its signature move of Megahorn. As of Generation 3, this Bug-type move was made into something any Pokemon with the right requirements could learn.

8 Flamigo

EV Yield: 2 Attack

Players shouldn’t be fooled by the simple flamingo-like appearance of the Pokemon Flamigo as this pink bird can be just as deadly as other Fighting-types available in the game without even having an evolution to transform into.

Flamigo is the third Pokemon to combine the type of Flying with Fighting, and therefore players that have been hunting for another from this combination may wish to give this bird a try. It also introduced a new ability that only it can have called Costar, which allows the Pokemon to copy the stat changes of an allied Pokemon, making it great for raids or duo tournaments.

9 Lucario

EV Yield: 1 Attack And 1 Special Attack

Arguably one of the most loved Fighting-type Pokemon around, as well as the most lethal Lucario has been a staple of any player’s Pokemon team since its debut in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl. Since then, many players have been able to train and refine their Lucario in countless titles to turn this Fighting/Steel-type into a single Pokemon weapon.

Unlike other Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet, Lucario has three signature moves it can learn that help in different scenarios and also depends on the player’s plan of attack. These moves are Bone Rush, Meteor Mash, and Vacuum Wave, although Lucario still demolishes even without these moves available.

10 Emboar

EV Yield: 3 Attack

Players who like to live life on the edge will be thankful to hear that the fire pig Emboar has returned to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet from the Indigo Disk DLC. Fire Pokemon are one of the most loved types due to their burning capabilities. This is only made more deadly by adding it to a Fighting-type Pokemon that can deal heaps of damage.

Emboar is the final evolution of Tepig, whom players who played the fifth generation of Pokemon may likely have had as a starter. Players can take this tiny pig on their adventures again and eventually evolve it into a wreckless boar.

11 Blaziken

EV Yield: 3 Attack

Several other brilliant Fighting-type Pokemon were added during the Indigo Disk DLC, including the player being able to catch and evolve past starter Pokemon from the franchise. One such example of this is Blaziken, the final evolution of Torchic that combines Fire with Fighting.

There have been many similar Pokemon in the past, though many players have favored this once small bird that now has a pair of legs to knock any opponent unconscious. Players who are willing to work on this Pokemon are sure to be impressed with this classic addition to their party.

12 Quaquaval

EVV Yield: 3 Attack

Those who decided to choose the Water-type Quaxly as their starter Pokemon don’t need to worry about looking for a strong Fighting-type, as the final evolution of this tiny blue duck is Quaquaval, the dancer Pokemon.

Quaquaval can learn a variety of Fighting-type moves from not only TMs but also basic leveling. One ability that many players should look out for is Low Sweep. This move not only does a decent amount of damage but also reduces the target’s speed.

13 Annihilape

EV Yield: 3 Attack

Besides the usual entirely new Pokemon, Game Freak has also included some new evolutions for fan-favorite pocket monsters that have existed in the franchise for a while. Primeape is no different with its newest evolution of Annihilape, which turns this already powerful Fighting-type into a ball of rage when combined with the Ghost-type.

Players can unlock this deadly new addition when using the new Ghost-type move Rage Fist twenty times on enemies until it unleashes Primeape’s true potential while also being an incredibly powerful move in general.

14 Slither Wing

EV Yield: 3 Attack

When nearing the end game of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, players will finally be able to search and catch paradox Pokemon that roam freely around the inside of the crater known as Area Zero. One great Pokemon players can find here is Slither Wing, an ancestor of Volcorana that is both the Bug and Fighting-type.

Unfortunately, this is a Scarlet-exclusive Pokemon, and therefore players that own the Violet version of the game will only be able to receive this Pokemon by trading with a player that has the Scarlet version of the game.

15 Iron Hands

EV Yield: 3 Attack

A great Violet exclusive Fighting-type is the much-loved paradox Pokemon Iron Hands. This futuristic Pokemon, whose look is inspired by Hariyama, has become a fan favorite for completing a variety of different raids either solo or with others.

Focusing on gaining specific moves, such as Belly Drum to increase its attack and then Draining Punch to restore its health, makes Iron Hands a force many Pokemon will regret facing. It will also allow players to grind raids easily to earn themselves experience candies as well as possible herbs at higher-level raids.

16 Great Tusk

EV Yield: 3 Attack

However, stronger than these Violet exclusives is another Scarlet exclusive paradox Pokemon. As an ancient ancestor of Donphan, Great Tusk combines the types of Ground with Fighting to make a durable tank Pokemon for a player’s team.

This makes him not only powerful to use against a wide variety of opponents but also a great Pokemon to throw down while trying to heal other members of the party. Once again, it should be remembered that Violet players who want a Great Tusk will need to trade with a Scarlet player.

17 Iron Valiant

EV Yield: 3 Attack

Thankfully, if a player is unable to find a Scarlet player to trade with, there are other options available that are exclusive to Violet players. One example of this is Iron Valiant, a futuristic model of Gallade and Gardevoir that combines the two of them, creating a Fairy/Fighting-type.

Iron Valiant is an incredibly good attacker, and therefore players may wish to focus on leveling up this Pokemon to use in online battles or even taking part in the school battle tournament that tests the player’s limits.

18 Koraidon

EV Yield: 3 Attack

One of the most powerful Fighting-type Pokemon in the game is the box art legendary Koraidon, which is exclusive to players who purchased Pokemon Scarlet. This ancient relative of Cyclizar may be the player’s travel companion for the majority of the game, but its true purpose isn’t unlocked until the late game, when players may finally use them in battle.

It is possible for players who purchased Violet to obtain their own Koraidon if a Scarlet player can catch their second Koraidon that they may wish to trade with others.