Why is Sceptile not a Dragon?
Sceptile, the final evolution of Treecko, has long been a topic of discussion among Pokémon fans about its type classification. Considering its impressive powers and grass-type moves, many think it would make a worthy addition to the Dragon type category. In this article, we will delve deeper into the reasoning behind Pokémon game developers’ decision not to include Sceptile as a Dragon-type and what makes its unique character shine.
Adding Dragon to a Grass-type starter unbalances the type triangle
If Sceptile were part Dragon-type, it would have inherited all the many resistances and weaknesses that come with that type. This, however, would have inadvertently changed the dynamics of the Pokémon type triangle. Recall that each of the five basic types – Normal, Fire, Water, Electric, and Grass – balances the others to create harmony. By including a Dragon-type in the Grass-type spectrum, the triangle would collapse, making certain Pokémon redundant and disrupting the delicate interplay between the types (See Table 1. below).
| Table 1: Original Type Balance (Grass-type excluded) | Type A | Type B | Type C | Type D | Type E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resistance | weakness | ST | weak | imm | *Normal | |
> |
*Fire | |||||
| *weak** | immune | *Water| *strong*< |
||||
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To maintain this balance and harmony, Pokémon game designers wisely chose to keep the original type associations intact (e.g., Fire as an opposing type to Grass) rather than introducing conflicting attributes. This caution ensured the sustainability of all 18 unique Pokémon battling mechanics.