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Question about psychic Pokemon.

I always assumed it was just to give Bug an ironic strong point, given how strong Psychic was in the early Gens.
 
That's what people say, but in my opinion that's just kind of trying to explain the decision rather than why it's actually there. I think it's more along the lines of "we need to balance the game so we'll make psychic weak to types that aren't good against anything else" and then "holy crap psychic is still too powerful let's change this".

Like people are afraid of poison, fire, and dragons too. And getting punched to death. Plus dark isn't really like "I'm afraid of the dark" but more "I like to cheat when I fight and may be evil too". It's not even called dark in Japan right?

I guess what I'm getting at is that balance always came above everything else in terms of type charts, and everything else is fairly arbitrary.
 
I feel really dumb for not picking up on this....


wow.

brb looking into a mirror and contemplating what I have done with my life
 
Beelzebufo said:
That's what people say, but in my opinion that's just kind of trying to explain the decision rather than why it's actually there. I think it's more along the lines of "we need to balance the game so we'll make psychic weak to types that aren't good against anything else" and then "holy crap psychic is still too powerful let's change this".

Like people are afraid of poison, fire, and dragons too. And getting punched to death. Plus dark isn't really like "I'm afraid of the dark" but more "I like to cheat when I fight and may be evil too". It's not even called dark in Japan right?

I guess what I'm getting at is that balance always came above everything else in terms of type charts, and everything else is fairly arbitrary.
Click to expand...
They are also irrational fears, unlike something such as Fire that actually is dangerous. Since Psychic type is all about the mind, something that induces irrational behavior would logically be its weakness.
 
Toxi said:
They are also irrational fears, unlike something such as Fire that actually is dangerous. Since Psychic type is all about the mind, something that induces irrational behavior would logically be its weakness.
Click to expand...
This makes a lot of sense too!
 
Beelzebufo said:
That's what people say, but in my opinion that's just kind of trying to explain the decision rather than why it's actually there. I think it's more along the lines of "we need to balance the game so we'll make psychic weak to types that aren't good against anything else" and then "holy crap psychic is still too powerful let's change this".

Like people are afraid of poison, fire, and dragons too. And getting punched to death. Plus dark isn't really like "I'm afraid of the dark" but more "I like to cheat when I fight and may be evil too". It's not even called dark in Japan right?

I guess what I'm getting at is that balance always came above everything else in terms of type charts, and everything else is fairly arbitrary.
Click to expand...

The difference is that poison, fire, and dragons are rational fears. Bugs, dark, and ghosts are irrational.

Though realistically it's probably a bit of both.
 
Toxi said:
They are also irrational fears, unlike something such as Fire that actually is dangerous. Since Psychic type is all about the mind, something that induces irrational behavior would logically be its weakness.
Click to expand...
But on the other hand, shouldn't a psychic type be resistant against irrational behavior, because they're so smart? And weak against types like fighting and poison? Like how nerds get beat up by bullies but probably aren't as terrified of bees as like a little kid would be.

Crayolan said:
The difference is that poison, fire, and dragons are rational fears. Bugs, dark, and ghosts are irrational.

Though realistically it's probably a bit of both.
Click to expand...
How is being afraid of something like Houndoom or Jellicent irrational anyway?
 
Toxi said:
They are also irrational fears, unlike something such as Fire that actually is dangerous. Since Psychic type is all about the mind, something that induces irrational behavior would logically be its weakness.
Click to expand...

What about faeries?
 
FantasticMrFoxdie said:
how did I not see this


I just blew myself
Click to expand...

tumblr_m1t4lhbdnS1qb3qif.jpg
Click to expand...
.
 
Beelzebufo said:
But on the other hand, shouldn't a psychic type be resistant against irrational behavior, because they're so smart? And weak against types like fighting and poison? Like how nerds get beat up by bullies but probably aren't as terrified of bees as like a little kid would be.
Click to expand...
The point is that those fears make you behave irrationally. If your strength is based on the mind, something that makes you behave irrationally weakens you.
Beelzebufo said:
How is being afraid of something like Houndoom or Jellicent irrational anyway?
Click to expand...
It's not. Obviously the type relations aren't based on specific Pokemon. Then we'd be stuck explaining why a Muk isn't strong against Water.
 
Crayolan said:
I meant that in a real life sense. In real life it's pretty irrational to be afraid of bugs (unless they're like, poisonous spiders), darkness, or ghosts.
Click to expand...
I guess that kinda makes sense. Dragons should be included too though right? Dragons aren't real, like ghosts.

And like I said, you could easily argue that psychic should be strong against irrational fears haha. I mean it's fine, but it doesn't really make sense.
 
CurseoftheGods said:
Are psychic-type Pokemon weak to bug, dark, and ghost-type attacks because those types are psychological fears that people have?
Click to expand...

People being afraid of heights is like a top 2 most common fear, and yet flying is not SE.

It's a cute little reasoning to come up with, but understand that any type would fit that description considering there is a phobia of literally everything. It's much more likely they're SE for balancing reasons.
 
Beelzebufo said:
Plus dark isn't really like "I'm afraid of the dark" but more "I like to cheat when I fight and may be evil too". It's not even called dark in Japan right?
Click to expand...
It is called Evil in Japan. But like you said it is more the cheating and dirty tricks like surprise attacks (or sucker punches as well call them over here which ends up confusing everyone when things lacking arms can use the move...and leads to arguments that squid Pokémon need it because they have suckers) and even biting people.

Sand attack needs to dark type.
 
Beren the Empty-Handed said:
If you don't think faeries can be pants-shittingly terrifying, you haven't read the right fairy stories.
Click to expand...

That's what I was more or less getting at.

If you're going to justify Psychic being weak against those things by saying "they're irrational and thus feared", it doesn't explain fairy type or dragon type for that matter.
 
Crayolan said:
I meant that in a real life sense. In real life it's pretty irrational to be afraid of bugs (unless they're like, poisonous spiders), darkness, or ghosts.
Click to expand...
Medically significant spiders bite remarkably few people every year and outside a few exceptions aren't likely to even get you hospitalized. Fear of them is pretty irrational.

If there's any bug to be afraid of, it's the bloodsuckers, since they often transmit lethal diseases.
 
Now explain why Dragons are vulnerable to Faires:

- OH HAI IM A MOTHERFUCKING TYRANOSAURUS

697Tyrantrum.png


- I'm a... thing. Small and fluffy and supposedly adorable

685Slurpuff.png


- I BETTER RUN AND HIDE
 
Beelzebufo said:
I guess that kinda makes sense. Dragons should be included too though right? Dragons aren't real, like ghosts.

And like I said, you could easily argue that psychic should be strong against irrational fears haha. I mean it's fine, but it doesn't really make sense.
Click to expand...
When was the last time you met someone afraid of dragons?

DR2K said:
Why are dragons weak to fairy and ice?
Click to expand...
Ice: They're giant lizards. Ergo, they're ectothermic and weak to cold.

Fairy: Game balance
 
Beelzebufo said:
But on the other hand, shouldn't a psychic type be resistant against irrational behavior, because they're so smart?
Click to expand...

Smart people aren't necessarily rational. Nikola Tesla's scientific achievements were well ahead of his time. He also wanted to achieve world peace by lining national borders with ray guns.
 
khaaan said:
That's what I was more or less getting at.

If you're going to justify Psychic being weak against those things by saying "they're irrational and thus feared", it doesn't explain fairy type or dragon type for that matter.
Click to expand...

Fairies' weaknesses I can understand, since I've seen poison be the weakness of fairies in other games too. Plus machines/technology (AKA steel type) is a common weapon used against magical/fictional creatures.

For Dragons, I guess they're weak against dragon since nothing else has as much pure strength as them, and as for ice and fairy...you got me.
 
Crayolan said:
I meant that in a real life sense. In real life it's pretty irrational to be afraid of bugs (unless they're like, poisonous spiders), darkness, or ghosts.
Click to expand...

Not really sure how being afraid of evil/darkness is irrational but I get what you're saying.
 
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