Explore Type Effectiveness in Pokémon Go and Calculate Damage for Any Matchup with Our Pokémon Weakness Chart!
Pokémon Go uses a complex system of type effectiveness to determine the strengths and weaknesses of different Pokémon attacks. If you’re familiar with the game’s mechanics, the Rock Paper Scissors model is used to figure out which Pokémon are strong against others. This has been a core element of Pokémon games since their inception, with recent titles like Scarlet and Violet offering players a deeper look into the underlying mechanics, even featuring an in-game tutorial on the effects of Fire-type moves against Grass-types.
In essence, each Pokémon type has an impact on its attacks and its defenses. For example, using a Fire-type move on a Grass-type Pokémon typically results in significant damage because Fire burns Grass. Likewise, certain types are resistant or even super resistant to specific moves, while others are more vulnerable. In previous generations, certain Pokémon had immunity to specific types, but this is adjusted in Pokémon Go for simplicity.
While Pokémon Go’s damage calculations are tweaked compared to the core series, many of the core matchups remain the same. The absence of immunities and adjusted damage multipliers make this version unique, but it’s easy to master once you understand the general type interactions.
Pokémon Go Type Chart: Strong Against, Weak Against, Resistant To, Vulnerable To
With 18 types in Pokémon Go, it may seem like a lot to keep track of. Even seasoned trainers need to reference the type chart regularly to stay sharp. Fortunately, we’ve created a helpful Pokémon type chart to clarify all the interactions, along with tips for making the most of type advantages during your battles.
Practical Example of Type Effectiveness in Action
Imagine Mewtwo uses Ice Beam against Venusaur. Since Venusaur is a Grass-type Pokémon, Ice Beam is extremely effective. However, if Kyurem (also a Pokémon with Ice-type moves) uses the same attack, the damage would be higher due to its Same Type Attack Bonus (STAB). This highlights how matching a move’s type to the Pokémon’s type can significantly amplify damage.
Important Changes in Pokémon Go Type Effectiveness Compared to the Main Series
While Pokémon Go shares the same elemental types as the main games, there are notable changes, especially when it comes to immunity. In the main games, certain types like Fairy have specific immunities (e.g., Fairy-types are immune to Dragon-type attacks), but in Go, the same Pokémon are merely resistant, not immune.
Type Breakdown: Weaknesses, Strengths, and Resistance
Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of each Pokémon type’s strengths, weaknesses, and resistances in Pokémon Go:
Normal: Strong against Rock, Steel, Fighting. Weak against Ghost. Resistant to Fighting.
Fighting: Strong against Normal, Rock, Steel, Ice, Dark. Weak against Flying, Poison, Psychic, Bug, Ghost, Fairy. Resistant to Rock, Bug, Dark.
Flying: Strong against Fighting, Bug, Grass. Weak against Rock, Steel, Electric. Resistant to Fighting, Ground, Bug, Grass.
Poison: Strong against Grass, Fairy. Weak against Poison, Ground, Rock, Ghost, Steel. Resistant to Fighting, Poison, Grass, Fairy.
Ground: Strong against Poison, Rock, Steel, Fire, Electric. Weak against Flying, Bug, Grass. Resistant to Poison, Rock, Electric.
Rock: Strong against Flying, Bug, Fire, Ice. Weak against Fighting, Ground, Steel. Resistant to Normal, Flying, Poison, Fire.
Bug: Strong against Grass, Psychic, Dark. Weak against Fighting, Flying, Poison, Ghost, Steel, Fire, Fairy. Resistant to Fighting, Ground, Grass.
Ghost: Strong against Ghost, Psychic. Weak against Normal, Dark, Ghost. Resistant to Normal, Fighting, Poison, Bug.
Steel: Strong against Rock, Ice, Fairy. Weak against Steel, Fire, Water, Electric. Resistant to Normal, Flying, Poison, Rock, Bug, Steel, Grass, Psychic, Ice, Dragon, Fairy.
Fire: Strong against Bug, Steel, Grass, Ice. Weak against Rock, Fire, Water, Dragon. Resistant to Bug, Fire, Grass, Steel, Ice, Fairy.
Water: Strong against Ground, Rock, Fire, Electric. Weak against Water, Grass, Dragon. Resistant to Steel, Fire, Water, Ice.
Grass: Strong against Ground, Rock, Water. Weak against Flying, Poison, Bug, Steel, Fire, Grass, Dragon. Resistant to Ground, Water, Grass, Electric.
Electric: Strong against Flying, Water. Weak against Ground, Grass, Electric, Dragon. Resistant to Flying, Steel, Electric.
Psychic: Strong against Fighting, Poison. Weak against Steel, Psychic, Dark. Resistant to Fighting, Psychic.
Ice: Strong against Flying, Ground, Grass, Dragon. Weak against Steel, Fire, Water, Ice. Resistant to Ice.
Dragon: Strong against Dragon. Weak against Steel, Fairy. Resistant to Fire, Water, Grass, Electric.
Dark: Strong against Ghost, Psychic. Weak against Fighting, Dark, Fairy. Resistant to Ghost, Psychic, Dark.
Fairy: Strong against Fighting, Dragon, Dark. Weak against Poison, Steel, Fire. Resistant to Fighting, Bug, Dragon, Dark.
Understanding Pokémon Go’s Damage Multipliers
In Pokémon Go, damage is calculated based on type match-ups. The game doesn’t use traditional immunity but adjusts damage with multipliers to reflect each type’s effectiveness. Here’s a quick rundown:
Doubly Effective: 2.56x damage (from 4x in the main series)
Super Effective: 1.6x damage (from 2x in the main series)
Neutral: 1.0x damage (no change)
Not Very Effective: 0.625x damage (from 0.5x in the main series)
Immunity: 0.39x damage (instead of no damage in the main series)
Understanding these multipliers can be the difference between winning and losing a battle, especially in high-level raids or competitive PvP matches.
Mastering Type Matchups in Pokémon Go
While the mechanics are complex, mastering Pokémon Go’s type effectiveness is crucial to success. Understanding when to swap in a Pokémon or make use of specific moves can dramatically improve your performance. Whether you’re raiding, battling in the Go Battle League, or hunting for rare Pokémon, these type matchups will help you make smarter decisions and gain an edge in battles.
Good luck, Trainer!
