Pokémon type chart: Strengths and weaknesses for all types
How to become an ultimate trainer.
If you're a fan of Pokémon - be it the games, the anime or the card game - you're bound to have some understanding of the types, and each one's strengths and weaknesses.
If it is the games that you're into, however, a good understanding of these types can mean the difference between winning and losing.
It's all about choosing the right Pokémon for the battle, and having the elemental edge against your opponent.
But this isn't just a case of Water, Fire and Grass - there are 18 different types of Pokémon.
If you're feeling overwhelmed, don't be. We're here to help!
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Why is the Pokémon type chart important?
Just as Pokémon are assigned a type, each of their moves also has an assigned type - for instance, Cyndaquil, one of the three starter Pokémon in Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, SoulSilver and Arceus, is a Fire-type Pokemon but its move Rollout is a Rock-type move.
Moves that are effective against your opposing Pokémon's type will result in increased damage, while using a move that isn’t as effective against the same Pokémon will inflict decreased damage. The same goes for attacks made against your own Pokémon by an opponent, for instance, if you choose a Fire-type Pokémon to battle against a Water-type you’re likely to watch your Pokémon faint.
But how does this translate in practice? Well, it’s all down to maths.
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A single-type advantage such as a Fire-type attack against a Grass-type Pokémon will give you double the normal damage.
However, a double-type advantage, such as Fire-type attack against a Grass AND Bug-type Pokémon will let you inflict an impressive four times the normal damage on your opponent.
If a Pokémon resists a certain type (such as a Fire-type attack on a Water-type Pokémon), you’ll inflict just half the normal damage and you’ll receive the dreaded message ‘it’s not very effective’ following your attack.
The same applies to a double-type disadvantage - if you use a Fire-type attack on a Water AND Rock-type Pokémon you’ll inflict a measly quarter of the normal damage.
Another type strategy you can take advantage of is STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) - as the name suggests, if you use a move from a Pokémon that matches its type (for example a Fire-type Pokémon using a Fire-type move) you can achieve 1.5 times the normal damage.
Add that to your double-type advantage method, i.e. a Fire-type Pokémon using a Fire-type move against Grass/Bug-type Pokémon, and you’ll bag a whopping six times the amount of normal damage.
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Pokémon type chart
Bug
Strong against: Grass, Dark, Psychic
Weak against: Fire, Flying Rock
Dark
Strong against: Ghost, Psychic
Weak against: Bug, Fairy, Fighting
Dragon
Strong against: Dragon
Weak against: Dragon, Fairy, Ice
Electric
Strong against: Flying, Water
Weak against: Ground
Fairy
Strong against: Fighting, Dark, Dragon
Weak against: Poison, Steel
Fighting
Strong against: Dark, Ice, Normal, Rock, Steel
Weak against: Fairy, Flying, Psychic
Fire
Strong against: Bug, Grass, Ice, Steel
Weak against: Ground, Rock, Water
Flying
Strong against: Bug, Fighting, Grass
Weak against: Electric, Ice, Rock
Ghost
Strong against: Ghost, Psychic
Weak against: Dark, Ghost
Grass
Strong against: Ground, Rock, Water
Weak against: Bug, Fire, Flying, Ice, Poison
Ground
Strong against: Electric, Fire, Poison, Rock, Steel
Weak against: Grass, Ice, Water
Ice
Strong against: Dragon, Flying, Grass, Ground
Weak against: Fighting, Fire, Rock, Steel
Normal
Strong against: N/A
Weak against: Fighting
Poison
Strong against: Fairy, Grass
Weak against: Ground, Psychic
Psychic
Strong against: Fighting, Poison
Weak against: Bug, Dark, Ghost
Rock
Strong against: Bug, Fire, Flying, Ice
Weak against: Fighting, Grass, Ground, Steel, Water
Steel
Strong against: Fairy, Ice, Rock
Weak against: Fighting, Fire, Ground
Water
Strong against: Fire, Ground, Rock
Weak against: Electric, Grass
Pokémon type anomalies
A crucial point to remember while using type strategies in battles is that not all Pokémon types are resistant to the types they’re super effective against.
Pokémon are also almost always resistant to their own type but there are two exceptions to the rule: Fairy-type and Normal-type Pokémon, among others, are not resistant to Fairy-type moves and Normal-type moves.
Most Pokémon will also have at least two weaknesses - apart from one particularly challenging Pokémon most trainers will have come across in the main gaming series: Snorlax. Notoriously hard to knock out, Snorlax has just a single weakness - it takes extra damage from Fighting-type moves.
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