Pokémon Go Type chart, Type effectiveness and weakness explained

Pokémon type charts serve as a crucial tool for players to navigate the intricate Rock Paper Scissors dynamics of Pokémon battles. Since the inception of the main series, Type effectiveness has played a significant role, with recent games like Scarlet and Violet introducing in-game tutorials to elucidate the impacts of elemental types, such as the effect of Fire-type moves against Grass-type Pokémon.

Elemental types determine the effectiveness of one Pokémon’s attack against another, dictating whether such an attack is effective, super effective, resistant, or super resistant. Additionally, there are considerations for neutral damage and immunities in main series games, which can greatly influence the damage output during battles.

While type effectiveness functions somewhat differently in Pokémon Go—lacking immunities and featuring adjusted damage multipliers—the overall matchups remain consistent across the franchise.

With a total of 18 types, mastering them may feel overwhelming, even for seasoned players. To assist in this endeavor, we present an overview of type effectiveness, including a detailed type chart and strategic planning tips.

Type Chart, Effectiveness, and Weakness Explained in Pokémon Go

In Pokémon Go, the elemental types mirror those from the main Pokémon games, with a notable exception: immunities. For instance, Fairy-type Pokémon are resistant to Dragon-type attacks in Pokémon Go, whereas they are immune in the main series. This principle applies to all type-based immunities; however, ability-based immunities are not present in Pokémon Go.

Understanding the type chart is essential as it reflects the effectiveness of various attacks. Remember, the effectiveness is determined by the attack being used, not necessarily the Pokémon itself. If a Pokémon uses a move of its own type, it benefits from a bonus known as the Same Type Attack Bonus (STAB), which amplifies damage output.

Type Effectiveness in Pokémon Go

How Attacks Are Measured

Here’s how the different types interact in Pokémon Go:

Normal: No strengths, weak to Rock, Ghost, and Steel; resistant to Ghost; vulnerable to Fighting.

Fighting: Strong against Normal, Rock, Steel, Ice, Dark; weak to Flying, Poison, Psychic, Bug, Ghost, Fairy; resistant to Rock, Bug, Dark; vulnerable to Flying, Psychic, Fairy.

Flying: Strong against Fighting, Bug, Grass; weak to Rock, Steel, Electric; resistant to Fighting, Ground, Bug, Grass; vulnerable to Rock, Electric, Ice.

Poison: Strong against Grass, Fairy; weak to Poison, Ground, Rock, Ghost, Steel; resistant to Fighting, Poison, Grass, Fairy; vulnerable to Ground, Psychic.

Ground: Strong against Poison, Rock, Steel, Fire, Electric; weak to Flying, Bug, Grass; resistant to Poison, Rock, Electric; vulnerable to Water, Grass, Ice.

Rock: Strong against Flying, Bug, Fire, Ice; weak to Fighting, Ground, Steel; resistant to Normal, Flying, Poison, Fire; vulnerable to Fighting, Ground, Steel, Water, Grass.

Bug: Strong against Grass, Psychic, Dark; weak to Fighting, Flying, Poison, Ghost, Steel, Fire, Fairy; resistant to Fighting, Ground, Grass; vulnerable to Flying, Rock, Fire.

Ghost: Strong against Ghost, Psychic; weak to Normal, Dark; resistant to Normal, Fighting, Poison, Bug; vulnerable to Ghost, Dark.

Steel: Strong against Rock, Ice, Fairy; weak to Steel, Fire, Water, Electric; resistant to Normal, Flying, Poison, Rock, Bug, Steel, Grass, Psychic, Ice, Dragon, Fairy; vulnerable to Fighting, Ground, Fire.

Fire: Strong against Bug, Steel, Grass, Ice; weak to Rock, Fire, Water, Dragon; resistant to Bug, Steel, Fire, Grass, Ice; vulnerable to Ground, Rock, Water.

Water: Strong against Ground, Rock, Fire; weak to Water, Grass, Dragon; resistant to Steel, Fire, Water, Ice; vulnerable to Grass, Electric.

Grass: Strong against Ground, Rock, Water; weak to Flying, Poison, Bug, Steel, Fire, Grass, Dragon; resistant to Ground, Water, Grass, Electric; vulnerable to Flying, Poison, Bug, Fire, Ice.

Electric: Strong against Flying, Water; weak to Ground, Grass, Electric, Dragon; resistant to Flying, Steel, Electric; vulnerable to Ground.

Psychic: Strong against Fighting, Poison; weak to Steel, Psychic, Dark; resistant to Fighting, Psychic; vulnerable to Bug, Ghost, Dark.

Ice: Strong against Flying, Ground, Grass, Dragon; weak to Steel, Fire, Water, Ice; resistant to Ice; vulnerable to Fighting, Rock, Steel, Fire.

Dragon: Strong against Dragon; weak to Steel, Fairy; resistant to Fire, Water, Grass, Electric; vulnerable to Ice, Dragon, Fairy.

Dark: Strong against Ghost, Psychic; weak to Fighting, Dark, Fairy; resistant to Ghost, Psychic, Dark; vulnerable to Fighting, Bug, Fairy.

Fairy: Strong against Fighting, Dragon, Dark; weak to Poison, Steel, Fire; resistant to Fighting, Bug, Dragon, Dark; vulnerable to Poison, Steel.

Practical Application of Type Effectiveness

Understanding these dynamics is vital in battles. For example, if Mewtwo uses Ice Beam against Venusaur, it inflicts significant damage due to Venusaur’s Grass typing. If Kyurem uses the same attack, the damage is even higher due to STAB, illustrating the importance of both type matchups and individual Pokémon stats.

Pokémon Go Type Effectiveness Changes Compared to Other Pokémon Games

In Pokémon Go, immunities found in the main series games are absent. For instance, Ground-type Pokémon are no longer immune to Electric-type attacks. Instead of complete immunity, affected Pokémon take reduced damage, approximately two-thirds of what they would normally take.

Here’s how damage multipliers work in Pokémon Go:

• Doubly effective: 2.56x damage (instead of 4x in the main series).
• Super effective: 1.6x damage (instead of 2x in the main series).
• Neutral: 1.0x damage (same as in the main series).
• Not very effective: 0.625x damage (instead of 0.5x in the main series).
• Immunity: 0.39x damage (instead of 0 damage in the main series).

For example, if a Charmeleon executes a Fire-type attack with 100 neutral damage against another Charmeleon, it will deal 120 damage after applying STAB. However, if it targets an Alolan Sandslash, which is weak to Fire, the damage is amplified to 307, demonstrating the critical nature of understanding type effectiveness.

In PvP battles, the element of surprise adds complexity, making it essential to grasp type interactions. Mastery of these elements provides a significant advantage, informing your decisions on when to swap Pokémon. After mastering type effectiveness, players should explore the best moves and top-performing Pokémon in Pokémon Go to enhance their battle strategies.

Pokémon Go Type Breakdowns

The Pokémon universe features 18 distinct types. Below is a breakdown of each type, emphasizing their strengths and weaknesses.

Normal-Type Attackers

Strengths: None

Weaknesses: Fighting

Best Normal-Type Attackers: Regigigas, Meloetta, Porygon-Z

Best Normal-Type Counters: Terrakion, Keldeo, Machamp, Lucario

Fighting-Type Attackers

Strengths: Normal, Rock, Steel, Ice, Dark

Weaknesses: Flying, Poison, Psychic, Bug, Ghost, Fairy

Best Fighting-Type Attackers: Terrakion, Keldeo, Lucario

Best Fighting-Type Counters: Mewtwo, Hoopa (Unbound), Lunala

Flying-Type Attackers

Strengths: Fighting, Bug, Grass

Weaknesses: Rock, Steel, Electric

Best Flying-Type Attackers: Rayquaza, Yveltal, Galarian Zapdos

Best Flying-Type Counters: Zekrom, Xurkitree, Therian Thunderus

Poison-Type Attackers

Strengths: Grass, Fairy

Weaknesses: Poison, Ground, Rock, Ghost, Steel

Best Poison-Type Attackers: Nihilego, Gengar, Roserade

Best Poison-Type Counters: Mewtwo, Hoopa Unbound, Groudon

Ground-Type Attackers

Strengths: Poison, Rock, Steel, Fire, Electric

Weaknesses: Flying, Bug, Grass

Best Ground-Type Attackers: Groudon, Ursaluna, Therian Landorus

Best Ground-Type Counters: Kartana, Kyogre, Zarude

Rock-Type Attackers

Strengths: Flying, Bug, Fire, Ice

Weaknesses: Fighting, Ground, Steel, Water, Grass

Best Rock-Type Attackers: Rampardos, Rhyperior, Nihilego

Best Rock-Type Counters: Terrakion, Keldeo, Kartana

Bug-Type Attackers

Strengths: Grass, Psychic, Dark

Weaknesses: Fighting, Flying, Poison, Ghost, Steel, Fire, Fairy

Best Bug-Type Attackers: Volcarona, Pheromosa, Genesect

Best Bug-Type Counters: Rayquaza, Reshiram, Chandelure

Ghost-Type Attackers

Strengths: Ghost, Psychic

Weaknesses: Normal, Dark

Best Ghost-Type Attackers: Lunala, Giratina, Chandelure

Best Ghost-Type Counters: Tyranitar, Hydreigon, Darkrai

Steel-Type Attackers

Strengths: Rock, Ice, Fairy

Weaknesses: Fighting, Ground, Fire

Best Steel-Type Attackers: Metagross, Melmetal, Jirachi

Best Steel-Type Counters: Reshiram, Terrakion, Keldeo

Fire-Type Attackers

Strengths: Bug, Steel, Grass, Ice

Weaknesses: Ground, Rock, Water

Best Fire-Type Attackers: Reshiram, Heatran, Volcarona

Best Fire-Type Counters: Kyogre, Groudon, Rampardos

Water-Type Attackers

Strengths: Ground, Rock, Fire

Weaknesses: Grass, Electric

Best Water-Type Attackers: Kyogre, Palkia, Greninja

Best Water-Type Counters: Kartana, Xurkitree, Zekrom

Grass-Type Attackers

Strengths: Ground, Rock, Water

Weaknesses: Flying, Poison, Bug, Fire, Ice

Best Grass-Type Attackers: Kartana, Zarude, Sky Shaymin

Best Grass-Type Counters: Rayquaza, Reshiram, Yveltal

Electric-Type Attackers

Strengths: Flying, Water

Weaknesses: Ground

Best Electric-Type Attackers: Xurkitree, Zekrom, Therian Thunderus

Best Electric-Type Counters: Groudon, Excadrill, Garchomp

Psychic-Type Attackers

Strengths: Fighting, Poison

Weaknesses: Bug, Ghost, Dark

Best Psychic-Type Attackers: Mewtwo, Hoopa Unbound, Lunala

Best Psychic-Type Counters: Hydreigon, Tyranitar, Giratina Origin

Ice-Type Attackers

Strengths: Flying, Ground, Grass, Dragon

Weaknesses: Fighting, Rock, Steel, Fire

Best Ice-Type Attackers: Kyurem, Baxcalibur, Galarian Darmanitan

Best Ice-Type Counters: Reshiram, Terrakion, Keldeo

Dragon-Type Attackers

Strengths: Dragon

Weaknesses: Steel, Fairy

Best Dragon-Type Attackers: Rayquaza, Palkia, Zekrom

Best Dragon-Type Counters: Dialga, Rayquaza, Salamence

Dark-Type Attackers

Strengths: Ghost, Psychic

Weaknesses: Fighting, Bug, Fairy

Best Dark-Type Attackers: Tyranitar, Hydreigon, Hoopa Unbound

Best Dark-Type Counters: Terrakion, Keldeo, Lucario

Fairy-Type Attackers

Strengths: Fighting, Dragon, Dark

Weaknesses: Poison, Steel

Best Fairy-Type Attackers: Hero Zacian, Xerneas, Tapu Koko

Best Fairy-Type Counters: Metagross, Nihilego, Dialga

Mastering the type chart and understanding type effectiveness is essential for success in Pokémon Go. Equip yourself with this knowledge to enhance your gameplay experience!