Why Ice Type Pokémon Feel Like a Myth You Dreamed Up (AKA: Yes, They’re That Rare)
If you’ve ever tried to build an Ice type team and ended up squinting at your boxes like, “Surely there are more than… this,” you’re not imagining it. Ice is the rarest type in the whole franchise: only about 5.66% of all Pokémon are Ice type.
Which is honestly rude, because Ice types are the drama queens of the Pokédex. Beautiful. Spiky. Slightly fragile. Always showing up fashionably late (usually in a snow route you don’t reach until your team is already level “why is everything evolving without my consent?”).
So let’s talk real numbers, why you keep seeing different totals online, and what to do with the teeny tiny Ice roster once you’ve accepted this chilly reality.
Okay, how many Ice type Pokémon are there actually?
As of Generation IX, here’s the deal:
- 58 Ice type Pokémon if you’re counting base species only (the cleanest, least arguable number)
- Around 65 if you also count regional forms (Alolan, Galarian, Hisuian, Paldean aka “same Pokémon, different vibes”)
- 71 if you count all forms, including stuff like Mega Evolutions and Gigantamax Lapras
So yes: depending on how picky you are (or how spicy the internet thread is), all of those totals can be “right.”
And if your goal is a living dex or an Ice only run, this is why it feels like the menu is… small. Like “here are your four desserts, and two of them are the same cake in different hats.”
Why you keep seeing 58 vs 65 vs 71 (and nobody agrees)
Here’s the simplest way to think about it:
1) “Base species” count (58)
This is the “one entry per National Dex species” approach. Clean. Calm. Doesn’t start fights at dinner.
2) “Base species + regional forms” count (~65)
Regional forms matter because they can change typing, which definitely changes team building. (A regional variant isn’t just a haircut; it’s a whole personality shift.)
3) “All forms” count (71)
This is where you add special forms like:
- Mega Glalie
- Mega Abomasnow
- Gigantamax Lapras
Most people don’t include battle only temporary stuff or purely cosmetic differences in these totals, because then the counting turns into a cursed spreadsheet situation.
Why Ice types are so limited (Game Freak, explain yourself)
Ice types aren’t rare by accident. The games keep doing a few things that naturally squeeze the Ice roster into a tiny snow globe.
1) They’re geographically gatekept
Ice types are usually parked in:
- late game snowy routes
- icy caves
- “congrats, you have 7 badges, now you may have one (1) frost creature”
So if you wanted an Ice type early? Historically, the games have been like: “That’s cute. No.”
2) The move pool is weirdly small
There are only 33 Ice type moves, which is a surprisingly small slice of the overall move universe (about 3.53%).
And here’s my favorite mildly ridiculous fact: Generation VI added only one new Ice move—Freeze Dry. ONE. Like they tossed Ice types a single crouton and said, “Enjoy.”
3) Ice doesn’t get “bonus” forms as often
Some types get showered with extra toys—megas, regionals, special gimmicks. Ice has gotten some, sure, but overall it hasn’t been spoiled in the same way.
And that’s how you end up with a type that feels iconic but has a roster that’s basically “a handful of cold weather legends, a few adorable weirdos, and several things shaped like snow.”
The Ice type timeline (a very dramatic summary)
I’m not going to make you slog through every generation like it’s homework, but the broad pattern is kind of wild:
- Gen I: Ice shows up, but it’s tiny—5 Ice types, and they’re all dual type
- Gen II: a few additions (hi, Sneasel), still not exactly a blizzard
- Gen III: the roster finally starts feeling like a real category (Snorunt line! Regice!)
- Gen IV-V: steady growth (Glaceon, Weavile, Froslass; then Vanillite and Kyurem)
- Gen VI: the awkward phase—only 4 new Ice types, and Central Kalos had zero in its regional dex (I know)
- Gen VII: basically one new Ice species (Crabominable), though regional forms helped
- Gen VIII: the big glow up—11 new Ice types (the most ever)
- Gen IX: 6 more (Cetitan, Baxcalibur, Chien-Pao), and Paldea is absolutely loaded with Ice options compared to older regions
So yes, the modern games are improving the situation. But historically? Ice types have been treated like seasonal décor.
Ice type pairings: why so many are “Ice + something else”
Here’s a fun quirk: there were no pure Ice types until Generation III. In the early days, every Ice type was paired with something else (Water, Psychic, Flying…).
Even now, dual types outnumber pure Ice types, and honestly that’s usually a good thing because Ice can use all the help it can get defensively. (I love Ice types, but they can be a little… “falls down the stairs if you look at them funny.”)
Common pairings you’ll see a lot for beating Dragon type threats:
- Water/Ice (classic: Lapras, Dewgong, Walrein)
- Dark/Ice (hello, Weavile energy)
- Dragon/Ice (for when you want to hit hard and also be terrifying)
And weirdly enough, Ice has a ton of different pairing combos floating around—variety isn’t the problem. Quantity is.
If you’re team building or collecting, here’s what I’d do
Because “Ice types are rare” is interesting trivia, but “what do I do with that?” is the real question.
If you’re building a team:
- Start with dual types. They usually give you better coverage and a little more flexibility.
- Then double check the actual Ice moves they can learn (level up, TMs, egg moves). Some Pokémon are Ice type but feel like they were raised by someone who hates snow.
If you’re collecting:
Do it in this order so you don’t burn out and start naming your boxes “WHY”:
- Get the 58 base species
- Add regional variants (this is where the number creeps toward ~65)
- Finish with the “extra credit” forms (to reach 71)
If you play spin offs:
Just know the rosters are smaller and change over time. Your favorite Ice type might simply not exist in that game yet, which is annoying, but at least it’s not personal.
The bottom line (from a fellow Ice type appreciator)
Ice types are rare on purpose: they’re often late game, their move pool is smaller than you’d expect, and they don’t get quite as many “bonus” forms to inflate their numbers. The upside is that when you do find a great Ice type, it feels like discovering a limited edition item on sale.
So if you’re going Ice only (or trying to build the ultimate frosty living dex), don’t panic when the list feels short. Pick your targets, pay attention to regional forms, lean on dual typing for coverage, and embrace the fact that you’re basically collecting Pokémon’s most exclusive little snow club.
Now go forth and acquire your tiny army of elegant hail gremlins.
