Traversing through Temtem is like riding a bicycle for anyone that has ever played a Pokemon game in their lives. However, those who are used to the type standards set by the Pocket Monsters may get a tad confused when entering the world of Temtem.
Honestly, it all works very similarly to the rock-paper-scissors format that Pokemon popularized over the past two decades, with some definite changes to the status quo. Temtems each have a “type” of element attached to them, such as the starter option Crystle being a Crystal type. They can be broken down into twelve possible options, as well as some being dual-types.
Where to Start - What Are All The Types?
Those types are: Fire, Water, Nature, Electric, Crystal, Melee, Mental, Earth, Wind, Digital, Toxic, and Neutral. Each one makes sense in terms of context, but they can be exploited for advantages in battle. Water, for instance, is strong against Fire types, and so on.
For those that are fans of Pokemon, this is how we get “super effective” moves. In fact, the game will offer a double damage, or “2x” in times of superior typing. This can go as far as to offer a “4x” when it’s doubly effective on a dual-type. When attacking something resistant, it will only give ½ damage, and when doubly resistant, it’ll give a ¼ damage. Eventually, you’ll find yourself hovering over a Temtem opponent and seeing the circle turn green or red, which indicate if something is going to hit more effectively, or incredibly weakly.
Very early in the game, you and your rival/ “friend” Max are brought to the Professor’s lab to start your journey as a Temtem Tamer. There, you’re faced with three “starter” Temtem. This isn’t your usual Fire, Water, and Grass options either.
You’re faced with the Crystal type Crystle, the Melee type Smazee, and the Mental type Houchic. These work in a circle similar to the old Pokemon starters, with Crytle being good over Houchic, Houschic having the advantage over Smazee, and Smazee able to best Crystle. You’ll also likely lose your first battle against Max, who rocks a Digital type that has no disadvantages here as all. Don’t feel bad when you lose.
Fire Type
Fire is exactly as it sounds. It’s a Temtem that utilizes Fire-based attacks and is likely fire-themed. Don’t get burned!
Strength: Nature, Crystal
Weakness: Water, Earth, Fire
Pokemon Equivalent: Fire-types like Charizard.
Water Type
Water-themed Temtem are usually found near bodies of water. Their moves make a bit of a splash.
Strength: Fire, Earth, Digital
Weakness: Nature, Toxic, Water
Pokemon Equivalent: Water-types like Blastoise.
Nature Type
Anything green is under this typing. It doesn’t matter if it’s the trees, plants, or the bugs that live in them.
Strength: Water, Earth
Weakness: Fire, Toxic, Nature
Pokemon Equivalent: Grass- and Bug-types, such as Butterfree or Bulbasaur
Electric Type
With a zap and a spark, Electric Temtems are really strong against a ton of other types, but they’re also super weak to a bunch of types as well.
Strength: Water, Wind, Mental, Digital
Weakness: Nature, Earth, Crystal, Electric
Pokemon Equivalent: Electric-types like Pikachu
Crystal Type
Some Temtem out there crystallize and form hard shells. These Crystal types, such as the starter Temtem Crystle, offer different abilities than the average everyday Nature type.
Strength: Electric, Mental
Weakness: Fire, Earth
Pokemon Equivalent: Closest approximation would be the Ice-type, such as Regice or Glaceon, but is likely to be a stand-in for Dark or Steel as well.
Melee Type
Head to head, Melee types are strong. They focus on strong attacks. The starter Smazee falls under this heading.
Strength: Earth, Crystal
Weakness: Mental
Pokemon Equivalent: Fighting-types like Hitmonchan or Pancham
Mental Type
Why use physical force when you can use your mind to take your opponents down? Mind over matter, as they always say, and the starter Houchic embodies that.
Strength: Neutral, Melee
Weakness: Crystal
Pokemon Equivalent: Psychic-type, such as Abra or Mewtwo
Earth Type
In terms of both Temtem that live in caves or just underground, the Earth-type is rockin’ and rollin’.
Strength: Fire, Electric, Crystal
Weakness: Water, Nature, Wind
Pokemon Equivalent: Rock- or Ground-type, such as Rhydon or Diglett
Wind Type
Take to the skies with these birds and floating type Temtem. Early in the game, you’re given a Tuwai by the Professor, which resembles a toucan. Then, toucan can do the double battles. Sorry, I’ll see myself out.)
Strength: Toxic
Weakness: Electric, Wind
Pokemon Equivalent: Flying-type, such as Pigeot or Pidove
Digital Type
Digital Temtem are newly discovered in the lore of the world, making them incredibly rare and incredibly powerful.
Strength: Mental, Melee, Digital
Weakness: NONE
Pokemon Equivalent: Digimon. No, seriously, there’s nothing in Pokemon like this, but Digimon is the closest approximation here. They’re digital-based, so Porygon technically. Except Porygon is “Normal-type” in Pokemon.
Toxic Type
Toxic Temtems sometimes have the ability to poison other Temtem in battle. They ooze toxicity and probably should not be cuddled too close.
Strength: Water, Nature
Weakness: Earth, Digital, Crystal, Toxic
Pokemon Equivalent: Poison-type, such as Koffing or Grimer
Neutral Type
This is as basic as basic gets. Normal type Temtems and techniques generally will hit but don’t have any advantages over anything. They’re a True Neutral.
Strength: None
Weakness: Mental
Pokemon Equivalent: Normal-type, such as Eevee or Rattata
Additional Thoughts and Best Types
Based on the original type charts available during Temtem’s Kickstarter, minor changes to type advantages have happened even in a short amount of time. The game itself doesn’t tell you in the listing of type advantages that sometimes when attacking a Temtem of the same type will be considered a type disadvantage altogether, but that isn’t always true.
Since the game is in Early Access currently, the ongoing meta of the game is likely to change and, well, evolve over time. At the time of writing, digital is by far the strongest type, with no weaknesses and three strengths. It’s also the rarest of all Temtem and you won’t get one early in the game.
The important aspect, just like Pokemon before it, is to create a well-rounded team here. Try not to fill your team with all Wind-types, for instance, and vary what goes into your team of six. You have a lot of options in the wild and tall grass. Take advantage of that. Also, don't forget to use your Tempedia to figure out what the type is of each Temtem you encounter and catch.
If you’re into Pokemon-related games, check out our review of the mobile game Pokemon Masters. While you’re at it, check out our first impressions of Temtem.
