It’s incredible to look at just how big the Pokémon series has become and there are no signs of it slowing down or becoming any less prevalent. Pokémon still revolves around the hundreds of creatures that the series has introduced, but the games continue to flesh out its rich world and add even more depth to it. There have been some satisfying changes to Pokémon and the most interesting revisions tend to involve the mechanics behind the actual Pokémon.
There is a ton of variety when it comes to the different types of Pokémon and Flying-Type creatures have been around since the start of the series. It often goes without saying that birds and winged creatures will qualify as Flying-Types, but there are also some more surprising Flying-Type additions from the Pokémon that lack wings, yet still make the cut.
10 Doduo Is The Rare Bird That Ditches The Wings
Doduo is one of the original Bird Pokémon to come out of the Kanto region and it’s a classic example of a Pokémon that references something familiar, but then puts its own radical spin on it. Doduo is a Flying- and Normal-Type that draws inspiration from an ostrich, but it adds an extra head to the equation and then throws off its balance even more by removing the wings. Curiously, Doduo’s evolved form, Dodrio, does gain some additional feathers that seem helpful to flight, but Doduo keeps it simple.
9 Gyarados Shouldn’t Qualify As Flying But It’s Hard To Argue With The Pokémon
Gyarados is one of the more notable Pokémon to come out of the series due to the fact that this aggressive beast evolves from the ostensibly useless Magikarp. Gyarados resembles a dragon-like sea creature and although it doesn’t qualify as a Dragon-Type, it makes up for this by adding Flying-Type qualities to its existing Water-Type skills. Gyarados might seem like it’s flying when it leaps out of the water, but it lacks any wings and it’s unlikely that its tiny fins could keep its extreme weight up in the air.
8 Jumpluff’s Spores Circumvent Its Need For Wings
Pokémon’s Johto region out of its second generation of games introduces a wealth of new Pokémon with some creative designs behind them. Jumpluff is part Flying-Type because it involves a spore-like design that casts the Pokémon into flight.
Jumpluff is often airborne, but it achieves this without any wings and depends upon the elements to help assist it. Jumpluff’s flight is technically without the same level of control or finesse as a Pokémon that has wings, but it still works.
7 Mantine’s Fins Operate Like Wings But Are Not The Same
If there are any two varieties of Pokémon of which there are many examples of, it’s definitely aquatic Pokémon and bird Pokémon, often because there are so many real animals to pull from for inspiration. Mantine quite clearly is based on a manta ray, which can’t fly but are capable of a similar sort of process, albeit one that’s heavily restricted. Mantine is both a Flying- and Water-Type and its fins allow it to temporarily soar in the sky, but it’s always set to return back to the water.
6 Fan Rotom Is A Peculiar Take On A Flying-Type Pokémon
Pokémon has come up with some extremely unique ideas for new creatures and Rotom is an ambitious Pokémon that’s a ghost that haunts different forms of machinery and electrical equipment. Rotom has multiple forms based on what appliance it possesses and it happens that Fan Rotom is a mix of both Electric- and Flying-Types. The Flying-Type in this sense relates to how Fan Rotom creates a breeze, but it’s basically a standard fan and it doesn’t have wings or fancy features that expand on the idea.
5 The Forces Of Nature Defy Gravity Without Wings In Their Incarnate Forms
Each new Pokémon title adds dozens of new creatures to the growing Pokédex total and a lot of the time, the most exciting new Pokémon are the Legendary and Mythical Pokémon. Generation V of Pokémon introduces the Forces of Nature trio, Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus.
In their Incarnate Formes, they all resemble angry genies and they have a cloud base rather than wings. Admittedly, Tornadus' Therian Forme is a giant bird, but it’s the Incarnate Formes that are usually present and it even feels like these alternate forms could be magic-fueled illusions and not even be genuine.
4 Emolga’s Flying Squirrel Routine Finds Another Loophole Around Wingless Flight
Pokémon has developed several Pokémon that don’t bear any relation to Pikachu, but still physically resemble the Pokémon in some way. Emolga is one such example that’s a Flying- and Electric-Type Pokémon that cheats its way into flight, so to speak. Emolga is modeled after a flying squirrel, which is able to glide on air currents, but it’s not technically the same as flight. Similarly, its underarm skin that aids it in this action is essential to stay in the air, but it’s also not the same thing as wings.
3 Even Shaymin’s Sky Forme Doesn’t Really Have Wings To Lift It From The Land
Shaymin is a versatile Pokémon that debuts in Generation IV and it's another example of a creature that doesn't evolve, but still has more than one form. Shaymin's primary form is its Land Forme, which is just Grass-Type. Shaymin's Sky Forme is a hybrid with Flying-Type, but it still doesn't go far enough in this department. Shaymin's Sky Forme has a much more active design, but it's still a quadruped animal that feels like it should stay on the ground. What might technically qualify as "wings" are more so Shaymin's ears and more aesthetic touches than something practical.
2 Mantyke Requires Water To Survive And Is Barely In The Air
The Pokémon series continues to look forward, but they’ve also had some success with the concept of Baby Pokémon that turn the clock backwards and reveal new pre-evolved forms of existing Pokémon. Mantyke is an example of this and it’s a Pokémon that is appropriately weaker and just a lesser version of its evolved form. Accordingly, Mantyke is both a Flying- and Water-Type Pokémon, but its fins aren’t much bigger than its stumpy body. Mantyke makes use of water and air currents to defy gravity, but it doesn’t have wings, nor does it fly.
1 Rayquaza Maintains Dominion Over The Atmosphere Without Wings
Rayquaza is one of the more popular and dangerous Legendary Pokémon to come about in the series and it’s even appeared as a boss in non-Pokémon series like Super Smash Bros. Rayquaza is a behemoth that watches over the planet and literally floats above the planet’s atmosphere. Rayquaza is both a Flying- and Dragon-Type Pokémon, but it doesn’t have wings and what it does shouldn’t be considered flying. The powerful Pokémon seems to defy gravity and swim through the air, which is even more reflective of the Pokémon’s strength since it’s not being held up by wings.
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