Pokémon GO Type Chart: Strengths & Weaknesses Guide

Matchups between Pokémon types have long been a series staple, and that important aspect of the game again takes center stage in Pokémon GO. In this article, we’ll go over the different types and examine their matchups to take full advantage of them and improve your game.

How Pokémon GO Type Effectiveness Works in Battle

Each type has advantages that provide a bonus to damage, while resistances decrease damage instead. But there are different ways to apply damage multipliers or penalties. This will be discussed in detail below.

Pokémon GO Damage Multipliers (Not the Same as Main Series)

Like the mainline series, damage multipliers play a large role in securing advantages in battles, but multiplier numbers are different in Pokémon GO. Let’s go over the various multipliers below.

• Super Effective (1.6x): Multiplier for basic type advantage. Your Pokémon is strong against the defender.

• Not Very Effective (0.625x): For matchups with type disadvantage, meaning your Pokémon is weak against the defender.

• Double Super Effective (2.56x): The target is a dual-type, and both types are weak to your Pokémon’s attack.

• Double Resistance (0.391x): Both of the opponent Pokémon’s types have a resistance to your attack.

• Immunity (0.391x): Instead of a true immunity, type immunities are treated similarly to a double resist instead.

Complete Pokémon GO Type Chart: All 18 Types

STAB: The Same Type Attack Bonus in Pokémon GO

STAB or Same Type Attack Bonus is a system that provides an additional 20% damage when the chosen attack move’s type is the same as the attacking Pokémon. This stacks with other in-game bonuses such as super effectiveness and weather boost.

How Dual Types Change the Matchup Math

Most Pokémon have two types, and taking advantage of this fact makes it much easier to land devastating blows or to manage the damage received. Here are a few things to take note of.

• Double weakness (2.56x): A Pokémon like Rayquaza is powerful, but a single Ice Beam can be fatal due to Rayquaza’s two types both being vulnerable against Ice.

• Cancellation (1.0x): When there are two types, and one type is weak to an attack, while the other resists the attack, the result is a neutral attack figure. The type advantage is cancelled by the resistance, making it a sort of cancellation.

• Resistance Stacking: Flipping double weakness, we get resistance stacking, which is when both types of a certain Pokémon both resist the attack type. 

Every Pokémon Type: Strengths, Weaknesses, and What to Know

Normal-Type Pokémon

Normal doesn’t have big type advantages on attack, but its only real weakness is Fighting, and also possesses a pseudo-immunity to Ghost. This Pokémon type usually has high HP, which is often the reason for its use in various lineups.

Fire-Type Pokémon

Super effective against four types (Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel) and resists six types, making Fire strong for both offense and defense. Signature Fire-types like Reshiram, Mega Charizard Y, and Shadow Moltres are staples for raids, but be on the lookout for weaknesses to Water, Ground, and Rock.

Water-Type Pokémon

This is a balanced type, super effective against three (Fire, Ground, and Rock) while taking super effective damage only against two (Electric and Grass), on top of having four resist types. This is one of the easiest types to build around on, and Krogre, Primal Kyogre, and Mega Swampert are the dominant ones in the meta. 

Electric-Type Pokémon

Defensively excellent with only one type weakness in Ground, it is also excellent offensively by advantages against Water and Flying, covering many raid bosses. The biggest problem with this type is that it's not effective against three types (Grass, Electric, and Dragon), on top of having almost no damage dealt to Ground.

Grass-Type Pokémon

This type has five weaknesses (Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, Bug), tying it with Rock for having the most type weaknesses. It’s also resisted by seven types, the most in the game for all types. These disadvantages are made up for by Grass’s ability to counter some of the most common Pokémon types (Rock, Water, Ground). Kartana and Mega Sceptile represent this type best.

Ice-Type Pokémon

Grass, Ground, Flying, and Dragon are among the most notable types in the game, and Ice is super effective against all these, making Ice quite a valuable type to have in any lineup, and Ice is the most accessible counter to Dragons. Ice resists only itself though, so along with four type weaknesses, it makes powerful attacker Pokémon like Mamoswine, Galarian Darmanitan, and Shadow Weavile seem like glass cannons.

Fighting-Type Pokémon

One of the best types for offense for being super effective against five types (Normal, Ice, Rock, Dark, and Steel, ensuring coverage for many raid and gym meta Pokémon. Its weakness to Flying, Psychic, and Fairy is notable, and Ghost can really throw a wrench into your offense if you’re not careful. Terrakion, Mega Lucario, and Shadow Machamp are all elite picks of this type.

Poison-Type Pokémon

It’s been known as an offensively weak type, super effective only against Grass and Fairy, but has recently carved out a space for itself. Fairy has recently been a dominant force in PVP and raids, so Poison has seen a lot of use lately as well. It also has only two real weaknesses (Psychic, Ground) and is resistant against five others. Nihilego and Shadow Roserade are solic picks here.

Ground-Type Pokémon

Moves belonging to this are super effective against five (Fire, Electric, Poison, Rock, and Steel), making Ground one of the best for offense in the game. It’s only weak to Water, Grass, and Ice, along with a pseudo-immunity to Electric, so it also has overall solid defense. Primal Groudon is a popular choice.

Flying-Type Pokémon

Flying deals super-effective damage to Grass, Fighting, and Bug, but most flying Pokémon usually rely on other types for offense, such as Dragon, Dark, and Psychic. Those same types are also the ones that this type resists. It also has a pseudo-immunity to Ground, making for excellent defense against some of the stronger attackers in the game.

Psychic-Type Pokémon

Pokémon in this category are powerhouses in the franchise, with the likes of Mewtwo, Mega Gardevoir, and Hoopa Unbound showcasing the raw power and versatility of this type. Offensively, these are only strong against Fighting and Poison, and have weaknesses to Bug, Ghost, and Dark. But with the high raw stats of Pokémon belonging to this type, they’re a solid part of any raid lineup.

Bug-Type Pokémon

Bug Pokémon are super effective against Grass, Psychic, and Dark, but are considered less than solid offensively due to having seven types that resist them.  It’s also weak to Fire, Flying, and Rock, which are among the more common types of Pokémon. Mega Pinsir and Mega Scizor are popular choices here, but these Pokémon are generally used only to counter specific Pokémon.

Rock-Type Pokémon

Being super effective against four types (Fire, Ice, Flying, Bug) makes for excellent coverage, especially against common dual-types in raids such as Fire/Flying. Rock is weak to five types (Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground, Steel) though, making its defense shaky at best. Consider this the “high risk, high reward” type in the game.

Ghost-Type Pokémon

These Pokémon are the least resisted in the game, with only Dark in that category. Top-tier Pokémon in this group include Mega Gengar, Origin Forme Giratina, and Shadow Chandelure owing to their excellent raid performance. They’re also pseudo-immune to Normal and Fighting, rounding out their excellent usage, despite only being super effective against other Ghost and Psychic.

Dragon-Type Pokémon

Rayquaza, Dialga, Palkia, and Garchomp are all Pokémon that are highly regarded, and they’re all Dragon types that have the best base stats in the game. While Dragons deal super effective damage only to other Dragons, their resistance to the four most common types (Fire, Water, Electric, and Grass) is an added advantage. Their other weaknesses are Ice and Fairy.

Dark-Type Pokémon

This type deals super effective damage to Psychic and Ghost, the two most prominent types in raids. It also possesses pseudo-immunity to Psychic, making for excellent counters in Mewtwo raids. But while they’re also solid defensive Pokémon, their weakness against Fighting, Bug, and Fairy offsets the unfair advantage.

Steel-Type Pokémon

This type represents the defensive champion of the game, resisting ten types and possessing pseudo-immunity to Poison. Notable Pokémon of this type are Metagross, Dialga, and Melmetal, often used for PVP and raid teams. It’s strong against Ice, Rock, and Fairy. Despite being weak to some common types (Fire, Fighting, and Ground), its extensive resistance coverage more than makes up for the disadvantage.

Fairy-Type Pokémon

This type was added mainly to provide a counter to Dragon. Being super effective against Fighting, Dragon, and Dark while also having pseudo-immunity to Dragon, allows tit to do the job well. Togekiss, Mega Gardevoir, and Xerneas are the best options for this type. Being weak only against Poison and Steel, it’s one of the most stable types for defense in the game.

Best and Worst Types for Pokémon GO Battles

The best and worst types are defined by the number of type advantages and resistances that each one has. Here’s a breakdown of notable ones in the game, including their key characteristics. Take note of these for building teams for raids or Go Battle League.

• Best Offense: Ground (5 advantages), Fighting (5 advantages), Ice (Dragon counter), Rock (Fire/Flying counter)

• Best Defense: Steel (ten resistances), Fairy (three resistances and Dragon immunity)

• Worst Types: Poison (only 2 advantages), Bug (resisted by seven types)

Tips for Using the Pokémon GO Type Chart

Here are a few key tips to help ensure that you’re making full use of the Pokémon GO type chart.

• Stack STAB with super effectiveness.

• Build multiple strong teams to counter each type, beginning with offensive powerhouses.

• Double-check double weaknesses, especially in raids.

• Pay attention to weather boost (1.2x).

Building Your Dream Team Takes Time (Or Not)

Learning about types and making full use of their matchups in Pokémon GO is just the beginning. There’s also building the roster up by capturing various Pokémon, then grinding to power them up properly.

If you want to skip the tedious process of having to build up your roster from scratch, pick up your premium Pokémon GO account on igitems, complete with high-level Pokémon ready to compete on any stage. You can also check out the Pokémon GO marketplace for specific shinies or legendaries to complete your collection.