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Every Pokémon Type’s Strengths, Weaknesses, and Counters

The strengths and weaknesses of all 18 Types

Timothy Monbleau

Published: Jan 3, 2024 02:16 pm

Though Pokemon is often considered a children’s franchise, the series’ full Type-chart can take months for even an adult to memorize.

A few notes on verbiage

Super Effective means an attack deals twice the damage it normally would.
Not Very Effective damage inflicts half of what the attack normally would.
A Pokemon with two Types that share a weakness will take four times the damage from that attack.
A Pokemon with two Types that both resist the same Type will take only .25% damage from it.
A Pokemon with a Type immunity will always take zero damage regardless of what their secondary Type is (with some rare exceptions). For example, a Flying/Electric-Type Pokemon will be immune to Ground-Type attacks, even though Electric Pokemon would normally take Super Effective damage from them.

We couldn’t track every possible Type combination to make this list, so do these calculations yourself if you’re evaluating the strength of a specific Pokemon.

Normal

Inflicts Super Effective damage against

Inflicts Not Very Effective damage against

Rock
Steel

Inflicts no damage against

Ghost

Receives Super Effective damage from

Fighting

Receives Not Very Effective damage from

Receives no damage from

Ghost

Summary: The Normal-Type is the only Type in the game that cannot inflict Super Effective damage or receive Not Very Effective damage. They don’t specifically match-up well against any specific Pokemon Type, though they have a unique immunity against Ghosts. Read our detailed guide here.

Fighting

Inflicts Super Effective damage against

Normal
Rock
Steel
Ice
Dark

Inflicts Not Very Effective damage against

Flying
Poison
Bug
Psychic
Fairy

Inflicts no damage against

Ghost

Receives Super Effective damage from

Flying
Psychic
Fairy

Receives Not Very Effective damage from

Rock
Bug
Dark

Summary: Fighting-Type Pokemon are some of the strongest physical attackers in the franchise. In addition to their impressive offensive spread, they are the only Type that deals Super Effective damage to Normal-Type opponents. These monsters are an excellent counter against Dark enemies, but they get shut down by Flying, Psychic, and Fairy-Types. Read our detailed guide here.

Flying

Inflicts Super Effective damage against

Fighting
Bug
Grass

Inflicts Not Very Effective damage against

Rock
Steel
Electric

Receives Super Effective damage from

Rock
Electric
Ice

Receives Not Very Effective damage from

Fighting
Bug
Grass

Receives no damage from

Ground

Summary: Flying-Type monsters are a straightforward counter to Fighting, Bug, and Grass-Type foes. Since Ground-Type Pokemon are traditionally fierce attackers, the Flying-Type’s immunity to Ground attacks is especially noteworthy. Rock and Electric-Type foes are major threats to Flying Pokemon.

Poison

Inflicts Super Effective damage against

Grass
Fairy

Inflicts Not Very Effective damage against

Poison
Ground
Rock
Ghost

Inflicts no damage against

Steel

Receives Super Effective damage from

Ground
Psychic

Receives Not Very Effective damage from

Fighting
Poison
Bug
Grass
Fairy

Summary: The Poison-Type adds a strong spread of defense to any Pokemon. It is especially powerful against Grass and Fairy opponents, and its added immunity to the Poison status effect can seriously come in handy. That said, Poison-Type Pokemon need to watch out for Psychic and Ground-Type foes. Read our detailed guide here.

Ground

Inflicts Super Effective damage against

Poison
Rock
Steel
Fire
Electric

Inflicts Not Very Effective damage against

Bug
Grass

Inflicts no damage against

Flying

Receives Super Effective damage from

Water
Grass
Ice

Receives Not Very Effective damage from

Poison
Rock

Receives no damage from

Electric

Summary: Ground Pokemon are some of the most powerful threats in the series’ history. They are the sole source of Super-Effective damage against Electric Pokemon in addition to their already impressive offensive capabilities. Poison and Rock monsters will fold before a Ground-Type monster, though Grass-Types are a strong counter. Read our detailed guide here.

Rock

Inflicts Super Effective damage against

Flying
Bug
Fire
Ice

Inflicts Not Very Effective damage against

Fighting
Ground
Steel

Receives Super Effective damage from

Fighting
Ground
Steel
Water
Grass

Receives Not Very Effective damage from

Normal
Flying
Poison
Fire

Summary: Rock-Type monsters are situationally useful due to how many Types they are effective against and weak to. Flying and Fire-Type Pokemon are especially vulnerable to them, while Fighting, Ground, and Steel make for dangerous opponents. Pick your match-ups carefully and consider all secondary Types for best results.

Bug

Inflicts Super Effective damage against

Grass
Psychic
Dark

Inflicts Not Very Effective damage against

Fighting
Flying
Poison
Ghost
Steel
Fire
Fairy

Receives Super Effective damage from

Flying
Rock
Fire

Receives Not Very Effective damage from

Fighting
Ground
Grass

Summary: Looking at those offenses, Bug-Type Pokemon clearly got a raw deal. They can be deadly in the right match-up, but they only truly excel against Grass opponents. Meanwhile, Rock, Flying, and Fire-Type Pokemon will destroy them. That’s not to say Bug-Types are useless, as their resistance to the dangerous Ground-Type comes in handy. In particular, Bug-Type Pokemon can learn unique moves like Quiver Dance and Bug Buzz that make them more powerful than they appear.

Ghost

Inflicts Super Effective damage against

Ghost
Psychic

Inflicts Not Very Effective damage against

Dark

Inflicts no damage against

Normal

Receives Super Effective damage from

Ghost
Dark

Receives Not Very Effective damage from

Poison
Bug

Receives no damage from

Normal
Fighting

Summary: As the only Type with two immunities, Ghost Pokemon are among the most unique in the franchise. Though Dark-Types shut them down, Ghosts work best if you play to their unusual strengths. For example, they deal at least neutral damage to a majority of Pokemon Types, making them function well as well-rounded attackers. It can be scary to pit two Ghosts against each other since they’ll both deal Super Effective damage, so make sure you’re working with the better speed stat if you engage in such a match.

Steel

Inflicts Super Effective damage against

Rock
Ice
Fairy

Inflicts Not Very Effective damage against

Steel
Fire
Water
Electric

Receives Super Effective damage from

Fighting
Ground
Fire

Receives Not Very Effective damage from

Normal
Flying
Rock
Bug
Steel
Grass
Psychic
Ice
Dragon
Fairy

Receives no damage from

Poison

Summary: Holy moly is this the absolute king of defensive Types. Just look at those resistances! Steel-Type Pokemon are somewhat lacking offensively, though their effectiveness against Fairy-Types can’t be ignored. Fire-Type Pokemon are among the best counters to Steel-Types, though any Pokemon that can at least deal neutral damage should be considered viable when breaking defenses like that. The Poison status condition also does not affect Steel monsters.

Fire

Inflicts Super Effective damage against

Bug
Steel
Grass
Ice

Inflicts Not Very Effective damage against

Rock
Fire
Water
Dragon

Receives Super Effective damage from

Ground
Rock
Water

Receives Not Very Effective damage from

Bug
Steel
Fire
Grass
Ice
Fairy

Summary: Fire is a potent defensive Type with respectable offensive capabilities. Its most unique niche is countering Steel-Type Pokemon, though it fares just as well against Grass, Ice, and Bug opponents. That said, Rock and Water Pokemon are deadly to a Fire monster. Remember that some Fire-Type attacks inflict the Burn status effect, rendering physical attackers less threatening. Read our detailed guide here.

Water

Inflicts Super Effective damage against

Ground
Rock
Fire

Inflicts Not Very Effective damage against

Water
Grass
Dragon

Receives Super Effective damage from

Grass
Electric

Receives Not Very Effective damage from

Steel
Fire
Water
Ice

Summary: It might not look it, but Water is an invaluable Type. Aquatic creatures combine solid offense with respectable defense, especially considering only two Types inflict Super Effective damage to them. They fare best against Fire Pokemon, though Grass opponents will give Water-Types trouble. Read our detailed guide here.

Grass

Inflicts Super Effective damage against

Ground
Rock
Water

Inflicts Not Very Effective damage against

Flying
Poison
Bug
Steel
Fire
Grass
Dragon

Receives Super Effective damage from

Flying
Poison
Bug
Fire
Ice

Receives Not Very Effective damage from

Ground
Water
Grass
Electric

Summary: With that spread of weaknesses, Grass Pokemon can seem awfully frail. On one hand, they struggle when facing Flying, Poison, Bug, and Fire Pokemon. On the other hand, they’re among the best counters for Ground and Water-Type Pokemon, both of which are as strong as they are common. Keep in mind that Grass-Types also resist powder moves, making them viable to block a Spore user in a pinch. Read our detailed guide here.

Electric

Inflicts Super Effective damage against

Flying
Water

Inflicts Not Very Effective damage against

Grass
Electric
Dragon

Inflicts no damage against

Ground

Receives Super Effective damage from

Ground

Receives Not Very Effective damage from

Flying
Steel
Electric

Summary: Electric Pokemon don’t necessarily do a lot, but they’re very good at what they do. They’re typically a great answer to Flying opponents, and their penchant to inflict the Paralyze status effect makes them almost universally useful. Ground of course renders Electric-Types useless, though otherwise they don’t have many hard counters. Check out our detailed guide here.

Psychic

Inflicts Super Effective damage against

Fighting
Poison

Inflicts Not Very Effective damage against

Steel
Psychic

Inflicts no damage against

Dark

Receives Super Effective damage from

Bug
Ghost
Dark

Receives Not Very Effective damage from

Fighting
Psychic

Summary: Psychic Pokemon were the masters of Generation 1, but since then they’ve become more niche. They are very effective against Fighting-Type Pokemon, but Dark-Type foes pose a major threat. Like Bug-Types, Psychic monsters are best used when you lean into their unique moves and traits, such as Light Screen for protection or Stored Power for comically high damage.

Ice

Inflicts Super Effective damage against

Flying
Ground
Grass
Dragon

Inflicts Not Very Effective damage against

Steel
Fire
Water
Ice

Receives Super Effective damage from

Fighting
Rock
Steel
Fire

Receives Not Very Effective damage from

Summary: Ice is the ultimate glass cannon Type. Its sole resistance to itself pales in comparison to the amount of moves that deal Super Effective damage to it. However, they make up for this with their impressive offensive spread. It can’t be understated how useful Ice attacks are in shutting down Ground and Dragon Pokemon, as both Types feature incredibly dangerous monsters. Just make sure your Ice-Type goes nowhere near a Steel or Fire opponent. Read our detailed guide here.

Dragon

Inflicts Super Effective damage against

Dragon

Inflicts Not Very Effective damage against

Steel

Inflicts no damage against

Fairy

Receives Super Effective damage from

Ice
Dragon
Fairy

Receives Not Very Effective damage from

Fire
Water
Grass
Electric

Summary: Looking at a Dragon‘s spread of weaknesses and resistances doesn’t tell the entire story of this Type’s power. Numerous pseudo-legendary Pokemon feature the Dragon-Type, so monsters in this category typically are threatening for their stats alone. Combine this with moves like Draco Meteor and Dragon Dance and it’s easy to see why Dragons are scary. That said, Fairy Pokemon are the best option for shutting down Dragons by a landslide.

Dark

Inflicts Super Effective damage against

Ghost
Psychic

Inflicts Not Very Effective damage against

Fighting
Dark
Fairy

Receives Super Effective damage from

Fighting
Bug
Fairy

Receives Not Very Effective damage from

Ghost
Dark

Receives no damage from

Psychic

Summary: A Dark-Type’s purpose is straightforward: take out Psychic and Ghost Pokemon. They are utterly fantastic in this niche, but outside of that, you’ll once again want to lean into unique Dark-Type moves like Knock Off and Taunt to see what makes them unique. Fighting and Fairy Pokemon are threats to Dark-Types, so avoid them as much as you can.

Fairy

Inflicts Super Effective damage against

Fighting
Dragon
Dark

Inflicts Not Very Effective damage against

Poison
Steel
Fire

Receives Super Effective damage from

Poison
Steel

Receives Not Very Effective damage from

Fighting
Bug
Dark

Receives no damage from

Dragon

Summary: Fairy was specifically created to bring balance to the franchise, so it’s no surprise they are well worth using. They are an unparalleled counter to Dragon-Type Pokemon, though Fighting and Dark monsters should absolutely fear Fairies. That said, they have two notable weaknesses in Steel and Poison. While Poison is still somewhat niche, Steel is already a powerful defensive option that can bring Fairies monsters down with ease. As long as you can play around these weaknesses, Fairy Pokemon fulfill a valuable role.

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Author

Timothy Monbleau

Guide Editor - Timothy started writing community blogs for Destructoid in 2012. He liked it so much he decided to write articles for the site professionally. His love for RPGs and the Ys series will endure forever.