Here's Why Pokemon Types Matter Even More Than Leveling

Normal type Pokémon deal regular damage to most different types, but they are not super effective against anything. Fighting types are strong against Normal, while Ghost type Pokémon are immune to Normal attacks.

Example: A Normal attack will deal neutral damage to Water type Pokémon but zero damage to Ghost. Normal types are weak to Fighting and have few resistances, so defense often relies on stats rather than typing.

Normal Type Pokemon

Fire type Pokémon shine when they attack Grass, Bug, Ice and Steel types. A fire type move against a Steel type Pokémon is super effective and deals boosted power.

They are weak to Water type, Rock and Ground type Pokémon. Water type moves and Rock type attacks can quickly overwhelm them. Fire resists Grass, Bug, Ice and Fairy type attacks.

Fire Type Pokemon

Water type Pokémon handle Fire, Rock and Ground threats with ease. A Water type move will deal super effective damage to Fire type Pokémon.

They are weak to Electric and Grass. Against Steel types, Water usually deals neutral damage. Water resists Fire, Water, Ice and Steel.

Water Type Pokemon

Grass is strong against Water type, Rock type and Ground type Pokémon. In early game quests, picking Grass can counter the first gym leaders in some regions.

Grass is weak to Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying and Bug. Ice type moves in particular can exploit Grass weaknesses. Grass resists Water, Electric, Ground and Grass.

Grass Type Pokemon

Electric attacks are super effective against Water type Pokémon and Flying type Pokémon. They deal regular damage to many others.

Electric is weak to Ground. Ground type Pokémon are immune to Electric moves entirely. Electric resists Flying, Electric and Steel.

Electric Type Pokemon

Ice type moves are some of the most powerful offensive tools in the game. They are super effective against Dragon type, Flying type, Grass and Ground.

Ice is weak defensively to Fire, Rock, Fighting and Steel. Many Ice type Pokémon struggle because they take regular damage from common attacks and lack strong defense.

Ice Type Pokemon

Fighting types excel against Normal, Rock, Steel, Ice and Dark. A Fighting attack against a Steel type Pokémon deals heavy damage.

They are weak to Flying, Psychic and Fairy. Fighting resists Bug, Rock and Dark.

Fighting Type Pokemon

Poison is strong against Grass and Fairy. In battle, poison status can chip away at a defending Pokémon each turn.

Poison is weak to Ground and Psychic. It resists Grass, Fighting, Poison and Bug.

Poison Type Pokemon

Ground type Pokémon dominate Electric, Fire, Poison, Rock and Steel types. Ground moves are super effective and often determine late game matchups.

Ground is weak to Water, Grass and Ice. It is immune to Electric and resists Poison and Rock.

Ground Type Pokemon

Flying type attacks are strong against Grass, Fighting and Bug. Many three Pokémon evolutionary lines gain Flying as a second typing.

Flying is weak to Electric, Ice and Rock. It resists Grass, Fighting and Bug and is immune to Ground.

Flying Type Pokemon

Psychic deals super effective damage to Fighting and Poison.

Psychic is weak to Bug, Ghost and Dark. It resists Fighting and Psychic.

Psychic Type Pokemon

Bug type is strong against Grass, Psychic and Dark. Though often underestimated, Bug can swing a match with the right ability and move set.

Bug is weak to Fire, Flying and Rock. It resists Grass, Fighting and Ground.

Bug Type Pokemon

Rock crushes Fire, Ice, Flying and Bug. Rock type Pokémon often have high defense value.

Rock is weak to Water type, Grass, Fighting, Ground and Steel. It resists Fire, Flying, Normal and Poison.

Rock Type Pokemon

Ghost is strong against Psychic and other Ghost. Normal and Fighting moves do not affect Ghost at all.

Ghost is weak to Ghost and Dark. It resists Poison and Bug.

Ghost Type Pokemon

Dragon type attacks deal super effective damage to other Dragon type Pokémon. They usually deal neutral damage to most other types.

Dragon is weak to Ice, Dragon and Fairy. It resists Fire, Water, Electric and Grass.

Dragon Type Pokemon

Dark is strong against Psychic and Ghost. It is weak to Fighting, Bug and Fairy.

Dark resists Ghost and Dark and is immune to Psychic. There are no Dark Pokémon in the original 151.

Steel type Pokémon boast incredible defense. They resist many types including Normal, Grass, Ice, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Rock, Dragon, Steel and Fairy.

Steel is weak to Fire, Fighting and Ground. Steel types deal super effective damage to Rock, Ice and Fairy. There are no Dark Pokémon in the original 151.

Fairy type counters Dragon, Fighting and Dark. A Fairy move against Dragon will deal massive damage.

Fairy is weak to Poison and Steel. It resists Fighting, Bug and Dark and is immune to Dragon. There are no Dark Pokémon in the original 151.

The Stellar Tera Type appeared in recent generation updates and special battle formats. Terastallizing with the Stellar Tera Type grants a boost to moves of all types—but only once per type. There are no Dark Pokémon in the original 151.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.