The 10 best Fairy Pokémon of all time

Fairy Pokémon are the newest type on the scene, but they've carved out a strong identity

Author:
Ryan Woodrow
Publish date:
Jul 22, 2023 4:00 AM EDT

While they still feel like the new kids on the block, Fairy-types have been a part of Pokémon for a decade now. Introduced in Generation 6, they shook up the type chart and allowed the design team to go wild with their light and fluffy designs.

That doesn’t mean that all Fairy-types are bright, pink, and happy though, there’s plenty of edge and brutality in there if you look for it. Cute and deadly is the combination we want, and what the best Fairy Pokémon have in spades.

If you want to see more Pokémon rankings then check out our lists of the best Psychic Pokémon, the best Dark Pokémon, and the best Dragon Pokémon.

Dachsbun

Admittedly, Dachsbun leans all the way cute with very little deadly, but come on, are you really going to say you don’t like this adorable bread dog? You just know having this around the house would fill every morning with that wonderful smell of freshly-baked bread, and apparently, it can help wheat grow too – which is a definite plus.

Klefki

Wait, hold on, shut up. You’re wrong about Klefki.

When people mock the “lazy” designs of the later generations, Klefki is one of the prime examples people point to, but it’s actually adorable and surprisingly tough. Fairy/Steel is a brilliant type-combination that can let it cause mischief in battle, but its lore is where it really shines. Not only does it get very attached to certain keys, but when it’s under threat, it will furiously jiggle said keys at the attacker. If that image doesn’t make you smile, then I don’t want to be your friend.

Mimikyu

While Mimikyu certainly leans more into the ghostly half of its typing, it still fits as a good fairy. As horrifying as its true form is said to be, the idea that it creates crudely drawn Pikachu costumes to hide over is weirdly heartwarming. It wants to be popular like Pikachu…just don’t hug it.

Alolan Ninetails

Pokémon Alolan Ninetales — The Pokémon Company

When Gen 7 introduced regional forms, it's no surprise that Ninetails was .one of the Pokémon heavily pushed to promote it. The harsh, uptight, and fiery Ninetails gives way to something that is purely graceful in its Alolan form. Of course, it will still freeze you in an instant if you annoy it, but old habits die hard.

Togekiss

Togepi has always been a cute Pokémon, but until Gen 4, its evolution line was missing something. Since Togekiss came along, it’s been perfect. The design may be overly simplistic for some, but it helps keep Togepi’s charm intact as it grows into a powerful bird that benefitted hugely from the switch to Fairy-type.

Tinkaton

The Tinkaton line is fascinating to me, as the base form, Tinkatink, is one of my least favorite Pokémon in Gen 9, yet by the time it becomes Tinkaton, it’s become one of the best. Between Tinkaton and Sena from Xenoblade Chronicles 3, “small girl wielding a massive hammer” has become one of my favorite JRPG tropes.

Zacian

Nothing about Zacian truly screams Fairy when you look at it but to a certain extent that does matter. As a heroic Pokémon that has almost certainly slayed a dragon or two in its day, it’s earned its place. The light colors are so nice to look at, pairing perfectly with the gold of its sword, not to mention that it packs a heck of a punch in battle.

Gardevoir

While Gardevoir is definitely more of a Psychic-type than a Fairy-type, it’s still one of the biggest beneficiaries of the switch. It’s a simple and elegant design that’s easy to love – and that’s before you use it in battle. Its wide movepool and fantastic special attacking prowess make it an easy choice for any Hoenn team.

Sylveon

Arguably Gen 6’s main ambassador for the Fairy type, Sylveon is the encapsulation of everything you’d stereotypically associate with the type. It highlights the cutest parts of Eevee’s design, has soft ribbons and bows running down its body, and of course, is covered head to toe in bright pink fur.

Xerneas

When the Fairy-type was introduced, there was no question that the box-art legendary had to be a Fairy, and sure enough, Xerneas is still the perfect example of the genre. It’s not bathed in pink like Sylveon, but it still manages to capture the best elements of the type. Its rainbow horns are a sight to behold, and its deer-like movement makes it seem light and graceful. Yet it has the power to utterly destroy anything in its path with those eight strong horns and the power of the moon itself.