Glass cannons. That’s the label most players slap on Ice type Pokemon before they even finish the first gym. It’s a reputation earned through decades of getting shattered by a single Machamp's Low Kick or a Charizard's Flamethrower. But honestly? There is so much more to these frozen monsters than just being fragile.
If you've played since Red and Blue, you know the deal. Lorelei was the first real wall you hit in the Elite Four. Her Dewgong and Lapras weren't just "Ice types"—they were bulky, water-hybrid nightmares that taught a generation of kids why Freeze is the most terrifying status condition in the game. Yet, despite that power, the typing has spent years at the bottom of the competitive tier lists. It's a paradox. You have the most effective offensive tool in the history of the franchise paired with a defensive profile that's essentially wet tissue paper.
Let's get into why this typing is such a mess, and why you’re probably using it wrong anyway.
The Brutal Reality of the Ice Type Pokemon Defense Problem
Look, we have to talk about the weaknesses. It’s the elephant in the room. Or the Mamoswine in the room.
Ice type Pokemon have exactly one resistance. One. They resist themselves. That's it. If you're an Ice type, you're looking at four major weaknesses: Fire, Fighting, Rock, and Steel. In the modern meta, those are arguably the four most common offensive types you'll run into. Stealth Rock alone—a Rock-type entry hazard—shaves off 25% of an Ice type's health just for switching into the battle. It's brutal. It's almost like Game Freak wanted these creatures to be temporary.
But here is where it gets interesting.
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The community often begs for a defensive buff. Maybe a resistance to Water? Or Grass? But the developers took a different route in Generation 9 with the introduction of Snow. Replacing the old Hail weather, Snow doesn't chip away at non-Ice types anymore. Instead, it gives Ice types a 50% boost to their Physical Defense. Suddenly, a Pokemon like Cetitan or Avalugg isn't just a sitting duck. They become physical fortresses. It’s a subtle shift that changed the way we look at "bulky" Ice types. You’re not just hoping to survive; you’re actually baiting physical attackers into a wall they can't break.
Why You Absolutely Need Ice Moves
Offense is where the story completely flips.
While the typing is a disaster defensively, it is a godsend on the attack. Ice hits four of the most dangerous types in the game for super effective damage: Grass, Ground, Flying, and—most importantly—Dragon. For years, Dragon types ruled the competitive landscape with an iron fist. Garchomp, Dragonite, Salamence. These were the kings. And the only thing keeping them in check? A well-timed Blizzard or Ice Beam.
Think about the move Freeze-Dry. Introduced in Gen 6, this move changed everything. Usually, Water types resist Ice. It’s a classic stalemate. But Freeze-Dry is "super effective" against Water types. This single move turned Pokemon like Aurorus and Cryogonal into surgical tools designed to dismantle common cores like Pelipper or Quagsire.
It’s about coverage.
Even if a trainer doesn't have an Ice type Pokemon on their team, they almost certainly have an Ice-type move. Water types love carrying Ice Beam. Normal types love Ice Punch. The utility is just too high to ignore. If you aren't prepared for a 4x weakness hit on your Landorus-T, you’re going to have a very short match.
The Legends and the Letdowns
Not all Ice types are created equal. You’ve got the icons like Articuno, the graceful bird that unfortunately suffers the most from that 4x Stealth Rock weakness. Then you have the weird stuff. Eiscue? A penguin with a literal ice cube for a head that shatters when hit? It’s gimmicky, sure, but in the right hands, that "Ice Face" ability is a free substitute.
Then there’s Iron Bundle.
This Paradox Delibird from Pokemon Violet is a menace. It’s fast. It’s mean. It hits like a truck. It’s basically what happens when you take the "glass cannon" concept and actually give it the speed to fire first. On the flip side, you have Regice. Poor Regice. It has massive Special Defense, but because it lacks reliable recovery and has those aforementioned weaknesses, it often just sits there and gets chipped away.
A Quick Look at the Heavy Hitters
- Weavile: For a long time, the king of "glass cannons." High speed, high attack, and access to Triple Axel (if the RNG gods are kind). It's the ultimate revenge killer.
- Baxcalibur: The Godzilla of the Paldea region. Thermal Exchange is a brilliant ability—getting hit by Fire actually raises its attack instead of hurting it. It flipped the script on one of Ice's biggest weaknesses.
- Glastrier: A slow, terrifying horse. In a Trick Room team, this thing is an unstoppable force of nature.
- Chien-Pao: One of the "Treasures of Ruin." Its ability, Sword of Ruin, lowers the defense of everything else on the field. It’s so powerful it ended up getting banned from standard Smogon play for a while.
The Mystery of the Frozen Status
We need to talk about the most controversial mechanic in Pokemon: Freeze.
Unlike Paralysis, Burn, or Poison, there is no "Freeze-heal" over time. You don't just snap out of it after three turns. Every turn, you have a measly 20% chance to thaw out. That’s it. If you’re frozen, you are essentially dead until the game decides otherwise.
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It’s the reason there is no move with a 100% freeze rate. Imagine a "Will-O-Wisp" but for freezing. The game would be unplayable. Even the 10% chance on Ice Beam is enough to cause "salt" in the competitive scene. It’s a mechanic that feels outdated, almost a relic from the 90s, yet it remains. It adds a layer of "what if" to every Ice-type encounter. You're never truly safe.
Tera Types: The Saving Grace?
The Terastal phenomenon in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet was the best thing to ever happen to Ice types.
Previously, if you had a great Ice type, you were stuck with that terrible defensive profile. Now? You can have a Pokemon like Glaceon change its type to Water or Fairy mid-battle while still keeping the "STAB" (Same Type Attack Bonus) on its powerful Ice moves. Or, conversely, you can take a bulky Pokemon like Garganacl and turn it into an Ice type to surprise a Dragon-type attacker.
It gave Ice type Pokemon the one thing they never had: versatility.
How to Actually Use Ice Types
If you’re building a team, don’t just throw a Froslass on there and hope for the best. You need a strategy.
- Weather is Key: If you aren't running Snow, you're doing it wrong. Use Abomasnow or Alolan Ninetales with the "Snow Warning" ability. That defense boost is non-negotiable for survival.
- Aurora Veil: This is the best move in the Ice arsenal. It acts like Reflect and Light Screen at the same time, halving all damage for five turns. It only works in the snow, though.
- Focus on Speed or Trick Room: Since you can't take a hit, you have to hit first. Fast attackers like Frosweavile or Iron Bundle are standard. If you want to go bulky, you need Trick Room support to ensure your slow behemoths like Crabominable aren't just target practice.
- Heavy-Duty Boots: If your Ice type isn't holding these, it's probably going to die to entry hazards. It’s the single most important item for any Ice-type trainer.
The Ice type is a gamble. It’s high-risk, high-reward. It’s for the player who likes to play on the edge, who values raw power over safety. It might be the "worst" type on paper, but in the hands of someone who knows how to manipulate the weather and timing, it is absolutely devastating.
Next Steps for Your Team
- Check your team's Ice coverage: Go to your current roster and see how many moves can actually hit a Dragon or Ground type for super effective damage. If the answer is zero, head to the nearest TM machine.
- Hunt for a Ninetales (Alolan form): It’s arguably the best support Ice type in the game. Get one with the Snow Warning hidden ability and the Aurora Veil move.
- Experiment with Snow: Take a bulky Ice type into a casual battle and see how much a 50% defense boost actually changes the math. You'll be surprised what you can live through.