Pokemon Diamond / Pearl Types Guide Last updated 4-2-08 By R2 ========================================================================== ========================================================================== Basics Each Pokemon has at least one type. This is an elemental affinity or fighting style, and there are seventeen: Normal, Fire, Water, Electric, Grass, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Ground, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Rock, Ghost, Dragon, Dark, and Steel. Each move in the game also has a type, and when a move is used, the type of the move is compared to the type of the Pokemon. Certain types of moves do double damage to certain types of Pokemon (the game calls them "super-effective"), and half damage to Pokemon of some other types (the game calls them "not very effective"). For example, Zangoose is a Normal-type Pokemon, Arcanine is a Fire-type Pokemon, and Tangrowth is a Grass-type Pokemon. Surf is a Water-type move and Blizzard is an Ice-type move. Normal-type is not weak to Water or Ice, nor does it resist either of those types. If Zangoose is hit with Surf or Blizzard, it takes normal damage. Fire-type is weak against Water but resists Ice. Arcanine takes double damage from Surf, but half damage from Blizzard. Grass-type is weak against Ice but resists Water. Tangrowth takes half damage from Surf but double damage from Blizzard. ========================================================================== ========================================================================== Types The seventeen types interact in complex ways, sometimes logical (Water beats Fire), sometimes not (Bug beats Psychic). Following is a list of all seventeen types and a list of what attacks are and are not effective against them. For brevity's sake, if another type is not listed at all, it does normal damage. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Legend: <> Weak to: Moves of these types do double damage. Resists: Moves of these types do half damage. Immune to: Moves of these types do no damage at all! Moves of these types that cause status effects (e.g. Thunder Wave) do not work. Pokemon: A list of Pokemon that have only this type. Notes: Miscellaneous notes. NORMAL Weak to: Fighting Immune to: Ghost Pokemon: Rattata/Raticate, Cleffa/Clefairy/Clefable, Igglybuff/Jigglypuff/Wigglytuff, Meowth/Persian, Lickitung/Lickilicky, Happiny/Chansey/Blissey, Kangaskhan, Tauros, Ditto, Eevee, Porygon/Porygon2/Porygon-Z, Munchlax/Snorlax, Sentret/Furret, Togepi, Aipom/Ambipom, Dunsparce, Snubbull/Granbull, Teddiursa/Ursaring, Stantler, Smeargle, Miltank, Zigzagoon/Linoone, Slakoth/Vigoroth/Slaking, Whismur/Loudred/Exploud, Azurill, Skitty/Delcatty, Spinda, Zangoose, Castform, Kecleon, Bidoof, Buneary/Lopunny, Glameow/Purugly, Regigigas, Arceus FIRE Weak to: Water, Ground, Rock Resists: Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel Pokemon: Charmander/Charmeleon, Vulpix/Ninetales, Growlithe/Arcanine, Ponyta/Rapidash, Magby/Magmar/Magmortar, Flareon, Cyndaquil/Quilava/Typhlosion, Slugma, Entei, Torchic, Torkoal, Chimchar WATER Weak to: Electric, Grass Resists: Fire, Water, Ice, Steel Pokemon: Squirtle/Wortortle/Blastoise, Psyduck/Golduck, Poliwag/Poliwhirl/Politoed, Seel, Shellder, Krabby/Kingler, Horsea/Seadra, Goldeen/Seaking, Staryu, Magikarp, Vaporeon, Totodile/Croconaw/Feraligatr, Marill/Azumarill, Remoraid/Octillery, Suicune, Mudkip, Wailmer/Wailord, Corphish, Feebas/Milotic, Clamperl/Huntail/Gorebyss, Luvdisc, Kyogre, Piplup/Prinplup, Buizel/Floatzel, Shellos, Finneon/Lumineon, Phione, Manaphy ELECTRIC Weak to: Ground Resists: Electric, Flying, Steel Pokemon: Pichu/Pikachu/Raichu, Voltorb/Electrode, Elekid/Electabuzz/Electivire, Jolteon, Mareep/Flaaffy/Ampharos, Raikou, Electrike/Manectric, Plusle, Minun, Shinx/Luxio/Luxray, Pachirisu Notes: Electric is the only single type to offer only one weakness. Unfortunately, it's a big one. Doubly unfortunately, most single-type Electric Pokemon are pretty lackluster. GRASS Weak to: Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, Bug Resists: Water, Electric, Grass, Ground Pokemon: Tangela/Tangrowth, Chikorita/Bayleef/Meganium, Bellossom, Sunkern/Sunflora, Treecko/Grovyle/Sceptile, Seedot, Shroomish, Cacnea, Turtwig/Grotle, Cherubi/Cherrim, Carnivine, Leafeon, Shaymin ICE Weak to: Fire, Fighting, Rock, Steel Resists: Ice Pokemon: Snorunt/Glalie, Regice, Glaceon FIGHTING Weak to: Flying, Psychic Resists: Bug, Rock, Ghost Pokemon: Mankey/Primeape, Machop/Machoke/Machamp, Tyrogue/Hitmonlee/Hitmonchan/Hitmontop, Makuhita/Hariyama, Riolu POISON Weak to: Ground, Psychic Resists: Grass, Fighting, Poison, Bug Pokemon: Ekans/Arbok, Nidoran Female/Nidorina, Nidoran Male/Nidorino, Grimer/Muk, Koffing/Weezing, Gulpin/Swalot, Seviper Notes: All Pokemon that possess the Poison type are immune to the Poison status effect, including Toxic Poison. Poison-type Pokemon that are not also Flying-type and do not have the Levitate ability (i.e. not Weezing or Crobat) will absorb Toxic Spikes when they switch in, causing no harm and removing the Toxic Spikes. GROUND Weak to: Water, Grass, Ice Resists: Poison, Rock Immune to: Electric Pokemon: Sandshrew/Sandslash, Diglett/Dugtrio, Cubone/Marowak, Phanpy/Donphan, Trapinch, Groudon, Hippopotas/Hippowdon FLYING Weak to: Electric, Ice, Rock Resists: Grass, Fighting, Bug Immune to: Ground Pokemon: All natural Flying-types are dual-typed and appear under a combination entry in the next section. This entry is here because Kecleon, Porygon, or Arceus can change into a single-type Flying by using Color Change, Conversion or Conversion2, or Multitype respectively. PSYCHIC Weak to: Bug, Ghost, Dark Resists: Fighting, Psychic Pokemon: Abra/Kadabra/Alakazam, Drowzee/Hypno, Mime Jr./Mr. Mime, Mewtwo, Mew, Espeon, Unown, Wynaut/Wobbuffet, Ralts/Kirlia/Gardevoir, Spoink/Grumpig, Chingling/Chimecho, Deoxys, Uxie, Mespirit, Azelf, Cresselia BUG Weak to: Fire, Flying, Rock Resists: Grass, Fighting, Ground Pokemon: Caterpie/Metapod, Pinsir, Pineco, Wurmple/Silcoon/Cascoon, Volbeat, Illumise, Kricketot/Kricketune, Burmy Notes: Back in the first-gen days on the original Game Boy, Pinsir was the only fully-evolved single-type Bug to be found. These days there are many great options, like... uh, Volbeat, Illumise, and Kricketune. On second thought, forget I mentioned it. ROCK Weak to: Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground, Steel Resists: Normal, Fire, Poison, Flying Pokemon: Bonsly/Sudowoodo, Nosepass, Regirock, Cranidos/Rampardos Notes: And you thought it was tough to find a first-gen single-type Bug. GHOST Weak to: Ghost, Dark Resists: Poison, Bug Immune to: Normal, Fighting Pokemon: Misdreavus/Mismagius, Shuppet/Banette, Duskull/Dusclops/Dusknoir DRAGON Weak to: Ice, Dragon Resists: Fire, Water, Electric, Grass Pokemon: Dratini/Dragonair, Bagon/Shelgon Notes: Almost every Dragon-type in the game, and all of the fully-evolved ones, are dual-type and thus listed in the section below. In almost every case the additional type magnifies the Dragon's natural weakness to Ice attacks. DARK Weak to: Fighting, Bug Resists: Ghost, Dark Immune to: Psychic Pokemon: Umbreon, Poochyena/Mightyena, Absol, Darkrai STEEL Weak to: Fire, Fighting, Ground Resists: Normal, Grass, Ice, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Rock, Ghost, Dragon, Dark, Steel Immune to: Poison Pokemon: Mawile, Registeel Notes: Most Steel-types are dual-types and listed below. In many cases this magnifies or adds weaknesses without effectively contributing resistances. It's a shame that neither Mawile or Registeel are particularly great. ========================================================================== ========================================================================== Dual-Types Many Pokemon have two types. In these cases, weaknesses and resistances of both types stack. For example, Bibarel is Normal/Water. Normal-type Pokemon are vulnerable to Fighting-type moves and Water-type Pokemon are vulnerable to Grass- and Electric-type moves. Bibarel is vulnerable to Fighting, Grass, and Electric moves because of his type combination. In many cases the two types to have the same weakness, called a double weakness, or the same resistance, called a double resistance. Moves that are doubly effective do quadruple their normal damage; moves that are doubly resisted do 1/4 their normal damage. If one type is weak to an attack but the other type resists it, the attack does normal damage. For example, Scizor is Bug/Steel. Both Bug and Steel are weak to Fire-type moves, so Fire-type moves do quadruple damage to Scizor. Both Bug and Steel resist Grass-type moves, so Grass-type moves do one-quarter damage. Ground is resisted by Bug but effective against Steel; this balances out to neutral damage. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The the order that types come in don't matter. Medicham is Fighting/Psychic and Gallade is Psychic/Fighting. There is no difference whatsoever. However, to prevent duplicate listings in this guide, I've lumped Pokemon with the same types but different orders together. Namely: - Spheal, Sealeo, and Walrein are listed under Water/Ice; the game calls them Ice/Water. - Omanyte, Omastar, Kabuto, and Kabutops are listed under Water/Rock; the game calls them Rock/Water. - Celebi is listed under Grass/Psychic; the game calls it Psychic/Grass. - Gallade is listed under Fighting/Psychic; the game calls it Psychic/Fighting. - Skorupi is listed under Bug/Poison; the game calls it Poison/Bug. - Rhyhorn, Rhydon, and Rhyperior are listed as Rock/Ground; the game calls them Ground/Rock. - Vibrava and Flygon are listed under Dragon/Ground; the game calls them Ground/Dragon. - Anorinth and Armaldo are listed under Bug/Rock; the game calls them Rock/Bug. - Aron, Lairon, and Aggron are listed under Rock/Steel; the game calls them Steel/Rock. - Sableye is listed under Ghost/Dark; the game calls it Dark/Ghost. ========================================================================== ========================================================================== What follows is a list of every type combination in the game and a list of what is is weak to and what it resists. For quick searching, every Pokemon that has those types is also listed. <> Doubly Weak to: Moves of these types do quadruple damage. Weak to: Moves of these types do double damage. Resists: Moves of these types do half damage. Doubly Resists: Moves of these types do one-quarter damage. Immune to: Moves of these types do no damage at all! Moves of these types that cause status effects (e.g. Thunder Wave) do not work. Pokemon: A list of Pokemon that have this type combination. Notes: Miscellaneous notes. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORMAL/WATER Weak to: Electric, Grass, Fighting Resists: Fire, Water, Ice, Steel Immune to: Ghost Pokemon: Bibarel NORMAL/FLYING Weak to: Electric, Ice, Rock Resists: Grass, Bug Immune to: Ground, Ghost Pokemon: Pidgey/Pidgeotto/Pidgeot, Spearow/Fearow, Farfetch'd, Doduo/Dodrio, Hoothoot/Noctowl, Togetic/Togekiss, Taillow/Swellow, Swablu, Starly/Staravia/Staraptor, Chatot NORMAL/PSYCHIC Weak to: Bug, Dark Resists: Psychic Immune to: Ghost Pokemon: Girafarig Notes: A surprisingly effective combination. Being Normal-type removes the Psychic's vulnerability to Ghost, while being Psychic-type removes Normal's vulnerability to Fighting. Too bad everything else about Girafarig sucks. FIRE/FIGHTING Weak to: Water, Ground, Flying, Psychic Resists: Fire, Grass, Ice Doubly Resists: Bug Pokemon: Combusken/Blaziken, Monferno/Infernape FIRE/GROUND Doubly Weak to: Water Weak to: Ground Resists: Fire, Poison, Bug, Steel Immune to: Electric Pokemon: Numel/Camerupt FIRE/FLYING Doubly Weak to: Rock Weak to: Water, Electric Resists: Fire, Fighting, Steel Doubly Resists: Grass, Bug Immune to: Ground Pokemon: Charizard, Moltres, Ho-oh FIRE/ROCK Doubly Weak to: Water, Ground Weak to: Fighting, Rock Resists: Normal, Ice, Poison, Flying, Bug Pokemon: Magcargo FIRE/STEEL Doubly Weak to: Ground Weak to: Water, Fighting Resists: Normal, Flying, Psychic, Ghost, Dragon, Dark Doubly Resists: Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel Immune to: Poison Pokemon: Heatran Notes: Since Heatran is the only Fire/Steel and has the Flash Fire ability, Fire is effectively an immunity rather than a type that does neutral damage. WATER/ELECTRIC Weak to: Grass, Ground Resists: Fire, Water, Ice, Flying Doubly Resists: Steel Pokemon: Chinchou/Lanturn Notes: It's safe to assume that any Lanturn you meet in a PVP match has Volt Absorb, making Electric an immunity rather than a type that does neutral damage. WATER/GRASS Weak to: Poison, Flying, Bug Resists: Ground, Steel Doubly Resists: Water Pokemon: Lotad/Lombre/Ludicolo WATER/ICE Weak to: Electric, Grass, Fighting, Rock Resists: Water Doubly Resists: Ice Pokemon: Dewgong, Cloyster, Lapras, Spheal/Sealeo/Walrein WATER/FIGHTING Weak to: Electric, Grass, Flying, Psychic Resists: Fire, Water, Ice, Bug, Rock, Steel Pokemon: Poliwrath Notes: Any given Poliwrath might have Water Absorb, making Water-type moves an immunity rather than a resistance. WATER/POISON Weak to: Electric, Ground, Psychic Resists: Fire, Water, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Bug, Steel Pokemon: Tentacool/Tentacruel, Qwilfish WATER/GROUND Doubly Weak to: Grass Resists: Fire, Poison, Rock, Steel Immune to: Electric Pokemon: Wooper/Quagsire, Marshtomp/Swampert, Barboach/Whiscash, Gastrodon WATER/FLYING Doubly Weak to: Electric Weak to: Rock Resists: Fire, Water, Fighting, Bug, Steel Immune to: Ground Pokemon: Gyarados, Mantyke/Mantine, Wingull/Pelipper WATER/PSYCHIC Weak to: Electric, Grass, Bug, Ghost, Dark Resists: Fire, Water, Ice, Fighting, Psychic, Steel Pokemon: Slowpoke/Slowbro/Slowking, Starmie WATER/ROCK Doubly Weak to: Grass Weak to: Electric, Fighting, Ground Resists: Normal, Ice, Poison, Flying Doubly Resists: Fire Pokemon: Omanyte/Omastar, Kabuto/Kabutops, Corsola, Relicanth WATER/DRAGON Weak to: Dragon Resists: Steel Doubly Resists: Fire, Water Pokemon: Kingdra, Palkia WATER/DARK Weak to: Electric, Grass, Fighting, Bug Resists: Fire, Water, Ice, Ghost, Dark, Steel Immune to: Psychic Pokemon: Carvanha/Sharpedo, Crawdaunt WATER/STEEL Weak to: Electric, Fighting, Ground Resists: Normal, Water, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Rock, Ghost, Dragon Doubly Resists: Ice, Steel Immune to: Poison Pokemon: Empoleon ELECTRIC/FLYING Weak to: Ice, Rock Resists: Grass, Fighting, Flying, Bug, Steel Immune to: Ground Pokemon: Zapdos Notes: The addition of Flying-type removes Electric's sole weakness... and replaces it with two more. ELECTRIC/GHOST Weak to: Ground, Ghost, Dark Resists: Electric, Poison, Flying, Bug, Steel Immune to: Normal, Fighting Pokemon: Rotom Notes: Since Rotom is the only Electric/Ghost and has the Levitate ability, Ground is effectively an immunity rather than a weakness. ELECTRIC/STEEL Doubly Weak to: Ground Weak to: Fire, Fighting Resists: Normal, Electric, Grass, Ice, Psychic, Bug, Rock, Ghost, Dragon, Dark Doubly Resists: Flying, Steel Immune to: Posion Pokemon: Magnemite/Magneton/Magnezone GRASS/FIGHTING Doubly Weak to: Flying Weak to: Fire, Ice, Poison, Psychic Resists: Water, Electric, Grass, Ground, Rock, Dark Pokemon: Breloom Notes: Even with Poison Heal, Breloom takes double damage from Poison-type attacks. It's Poison status that restores HP. GRASS/POISON Weak to: Water, Electric, Fighting Resists: Fire, Ice, Flying, Psychic Doubly Resists: Grass Pokemon: Bulbasaur/Ivysaur/Venusaur, Oddish/Gloom/Vileplume, Bellsprout/Weepinbell/Victreebel, Budew/Roselia/Roserade GRASS/GROUND Doubly Weak to: Ice Weak to: Fire, Flying, Bug Resists: Ground, Rock Immune to: Electric Pokemon: Torterra GRASS/FLYING Doubly Weak to: Ice Weak to: Fire, Poison, Flying, Rock Resists: Water, Fighting Doubly Resists: Grass Immune to: Ground Pokemon: Hoppip/Skiploom/Jumpluff, Tropius GRASS/PSYCHIC Doubly Weak to: Bug Weak to: Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, Ghost, Dark Resists: Water, Electric, Grass, Fighting, Ground, Psychic Pokemon: Exeggcute/Exeggutor, Celebi GRASS/DARK Doubly Weak to: Bug Weak to: Fire, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Flying Resists: Water, Electric, Grass, Ground, Ghost, Dark Immune to: Psychic Pokemon: Nuzleaf/Shiftry, Cacturne ICE/GRASS Doubly Weak to: Fire Weak to: Fighting, Poison, Flying, Bug, Rock, Steel Resists: Water, Electric, Grass, Ground Pokemon: Snover/Abomasnow Notes: Ice/Grass is even with Grass/Psychic with number of weaknesses, but has fewer resistances. Mathematically speaking, this is the worst type combination in the game. ICE/GROUND Weak to: Fire, Water, Grass, Fighting, Steel Resists: Poison Immune to: Electric Pokemon: Swinub/Piloswine/Mamoswine ICE/FLYING Doubly Weak to: Rock Weak to: Fire, Electric, Steel Resists: Grass, Bug Immune to: Ground Pokemon: Articuno ICE/PSYCHIC Weak to: Fire, Bug, Rock, Ghost, Dark, Steel Resists: Ice, Psychic Pokemon: Smoochum/Jynx ICE/GHOST Weak to: Fire, Rock, Ghost, Dark, Steel Resists: Ice, Poison, Psychic Immune to: Normal, Fighting Pokemon: Froslass FIGHTING/PSYCHIC Weak to: Flying, Ghost Resists: Fighting, Rock Pokemon: Meditite/Medicham, Gallade FIGHTING/STEEL Weak to: Fire, Fighting, Ground Resists: Normal, Grass, Ice, Ghost, Dragon, Steel Doubly Resists: Bug, Rock, Dark Pokemon: Lucario POISON/FIGHTING Doubly Weak to: Psychic Weak to: Ground, Flying Resists: Grass, Fighting, Poison, Rock Doubly Resists: Bug Pokemon: Croagunk/Toxicroak POISON/GROUND Weak to: Water, Ice, Ground, Psychic Resists: Fighting, Bug, Rock Doubly Resists: Poison Immune to: Electric Pokemon: Nidoking, Nidoqueen Notes: Come on, what are the odds of somebody bringing Surf, Ice Beam, or Earthquake to a serious battle? POISON/FLYING Weak to: Electric, Ice, Psychic, Rock Resists: Poison Doubly Resists: Grass, Fighting, Bug Immune to: Ground Pokemon: Zubat/Golbat/Crobat POISON/DARK Weak to: Ground Resists: Grass, Poison, Ghost, Dark Immune to: Psychic Pokemon: Stunky/Skuntank, Drapion GROUND/FLYING Doubly Weak to: Ice Weak to: Water Resists: Fighting, Poison Immune to: Electric, Ground Pokemon: Gligar/Gliscor GROUND/PSYCHIC Weak to: Water, Grass, Ice, Bug, Ghost, Dark Resists: Fighting, Poison, Psychic, Rock Immune to: Electric Pokemon: Baltoy/Claydol Notes: Since the Claydol family are the only Ground/Psychic and all of them have the Levitate ability, Ground is effectively an immunity rather than a weakness. PSYCHIC/FLYING Weak to: Electric, Ice, Rock, Ghost, Dark Resists: Grass, Psychic Doubly Resists: Fighting Immune to: Ground Pokemon: Natu/Xatu, Lugia BUG/WATER Weak to: Electric, Flying, Rock Resists: Water, Ice, Fighting, Ground, Steel Pokemon: Surskit BUG/GRASS Doubly Weak to: Fire, Flying Weak to: Ice, Poison, Bug, Rock Resists: Water, Electric, Fighting Doubly Resists: Grass, Ground Pokemon: Paras/Parasect, Wormadam Notes: A Parasect with the Dry Skin ability takes quintuple damage from Fire-type moves. Nasty. BUG/FIGHTING Doubly Weak to: Flying Weak to: Fire, Psychic Resists: Grass, Fighting, Ground, Bug, Dark Pokemon: Heracross BUG/POISON Weak to: Fire, Flying, Psychic, Rock Resists: Poison, Bug Doubly Resists: Grass, Fighting Pokemon: Weedle/Kakuna/Beedrill, Venonat/Venomoth, Spinarak/Ariados, Dustox, Skorupi BUG/GROUND Weak to: Fire, Water, Ice, Flying Resists: Fighting, Poison, Ground Immune to: Electric Pokemon: Nincada, Wormadam BUG/FLYING Doubly Weak to: Rock Weak to: Fire, Electric, Ice, Flying Resists: Bug Doubly Resists: Grass, Fighting Immune to: Ground Pokemon: Butterfree, Scyther, Ledyba/Ledian, Yanma/Yanmega, Beautifly, Masquerain, Ninjask, Mothim, Combee/Vespiquen Notes: There's no shortage of them despite being a pretty awful type combination. BUG/ROCK Weak to: Water, Rock, Steel Resists: Normal, Poison Pokemon: Shuckle, Anorinth/Armaldo Notes: A few more resistances would be nice, but with so few weaknesses Shuckle and Armaldo become pretty good at what they do best: taking hits. BUG/GHOST Weak to: Fire, Flying, Rock, Ghost, Dark Resists: Grass, Poison, Ground Immune to: Normal, Fighting Pokemon: Shedinja Notes: Since Shedinja is the only Bug/Ghost and has the Wonder Guard ability, practically speaking it is immune to Normal, Water, Electric, Grass, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Ground, Psychic, Bug, Dragon, and Steel. BUG/STEEL Doubly Weak to: Fire Resists: Normal, Ice, Psychic, Bug, Ghost, Dragon, Dark, Steel Doubly Resists: Grass Immune to: Poison Pokemon: Forretress, Scizor, Wormadam ROCK/GRASS Weak to: Ice, Fighting, Bug, Steel Resists: Normal, Electric Pokemon: Lileep/Cradily ROCK/GROUND Doubly Weak to: Water, Grass Weak to: Ice, Fighting, Ground, Steel Resists: Normal, Fire, Flying, Rock Doubly Resists: Poison Immune to: Electric Pokemon: Geodude/Graveler/Golem, Onix, Rhyhorn/Rhydon/Rhyperior, Larvitar/Pupitar ROCK/FLYING Weak to: Water, Electric, Ice, Rock, Steel Resists: Normal, Fire, Poison, Flying, Bug Immune to: Ground Pokemon: Aerodactyl ROCK/PSYCHIC Weak to: Water, Grass, Ground, Bug, Ghost, Dark, Steel Resists: Normal, Fire, Poison, Flying, Psychic Pokemon: Lunatone, Solrock Notes: Since Lunatone and Solrock are the only Rock/Psychic and both have the Levitate ability, Ground is effectively an immunity rather than a weakness. ROCK/DARK Doubly Weak to: Fighting Weak to: Water, Grass, Ground, Bug, Steel Resists: Normal, Fire, Poison, Flying, Ghost, Dark Immune to: Psychic Pokemon: Tyranitar ROCK/STEEL Doubly Weak to: Fighting, Ground Weak to: Water Resists: Ice, Psychic, Bug, Rock, Ghost, Dragon, Dark Doubly Resists: Normal, Flying Immune to: Poison Pokemon: Aron/Lairon/Aggron, Shieldon/Bastiodon, Probopass Notes: It'd be an awesome tanky type combination -- like it's supposed to be -- except for that whole "double weakness to two of the most common attack types" thing. GHOST/POISON Weak to: Ground, Psychic, Ghost, Dark Resists: Grass Doubly Resists: Poison Immune to: Normal, Fighting Pokemon: Gastly/Haunter/Gengar Notes: Since the Gastly family are the only Ghost/Poison and all of them have the Levitate ability, Ground is effectively an immunity rather than a weakness. GHOST/FLYING Weak to: Electric, Ice, Rock, Ghost, Dark Resists: Grass, Poison Doubly Resists: Bug Immune to: Normal, Fighting, Ground Pokemon: Drifloon/Drifblim GHOST/DRAGON Weak to: Ice, Ghost, Dragon, Dark Resists: Fire, Water, Electric, Grass, Poison Immune to: Normal, Fighting Pokemon: Giratina Notes: This combination makes Giratina the only dual-type Pokemon weak to both of its own types. GHOST/DARK Resists: Poison Immune to: Normal, Fighting, Psychic Pokemon: Sableye, Spiritomb Notes: A nigh-perfect type combination that offers no weaknesses. If the Ghost's immunity to Fighting-types is removed (via the moves Foresight or Odor Sleuth or the Scrappy ability), that becomes an exploitable weakness. DRAGON/GROUND Doubly Weak to: Ice Weak to: Dragon Resists: Fire, Poison, Rock Immune to: Electric Pokemon: Vibrava/Flygon, Gible/Gabite/Garchomp DRAGON/FLYING Doubly Weak to: Ice Weak to: Rock, Dragon Resists: Fire, Water, Fighting, Bug Doubly Resists: Grass Immune to: Ground Pokemon: Dragonite, Altaria, Salamence, Rayquaza DRAGON/PSYCHIC Weak to: Ice, Bug, Ghost, Dragon, Dark Resists: Fire, Water, Electric, Grass, Fighting, Psychic Pokemon: Latias, Latios Notes: Since Latias and Latios are the only Dragon/Psychics and both have the Levitate ability, Ground is effectively an immunity. DARK/FIRE Weak to: Water, Fighting, Ground, Rock Resists: Fire, Grass, Ice, Ghost, Dark, Steel Immune to: Psychic Pokemon: Houndour/Houndoom Notes: Houndoom is great, but sadly hampered by all four of its weaknesses being extremely common in competitive play. It might come with the Flash Fire ability, turning Fire moves from a resistance to an immunity. DARK/ICE Doubly Weak to: Fighting Weak to: Fire, Bug, Rock, Steel Resists: Ice, Ghost, Dark Immune to: Psychic Pokemon: Sneasel/Weavile DARK/FLYING Weak to: Electric, Ice, Rock Resists: Grass, Ice, Rock Immune to: Ground, Psychic Pokemon: Murkrow/Honchkrow Notes: Honchkrow is quite fragile, but that's due to its stats, not its types. Two immunities give it plenty of chances to switch in and nullify an opponent's Earthquake or Psychic. STEEL/GROUND Weak to: Fire, Water, Fighting, Ground Resists: Normal, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Ghost, Dragon, Dark, Steel Doubly Resists: Rock Immune to: Electric, Poison Pokemon: Steelix Notes: Steelix is easy to bring into play if you think your opponent is about to throw down a Thunder Wave or Toxic, since he's immune to both. He can also take Stealth Rock without breaking a sweat. STEEL/FLYING Weak to: Fire, Electric Resists: Normal, Flying, Psychic, Ghost, Dragon, Dark, Steel Doubly Resists: Grass, Bug Immune to: Ground, Poison Pokemon: Skarmory Notes: Steel doesn't have many weaknesses, but taking extra damage from Ground and Fighting moves is a big hindrance. Being Flying-type gives immunity to Ground and cuts the Fighting weakness. STEEL/PSYCHIC Weak to: Fire, Ground Resists: Normal, Grass, Ice, Flying, Rock, Dragon, Steel Doubly Resists: Psychic Immune to: Poison Pokemon: Beldum/Metang/Metagross, Jirachi, Bronzor/Bronzong Notes: Bronzor and Bronzong have either the Levitate ability or the Heatproof ability. The first makes Ground an immunity rather than a weakness, and the second removes Fire as a weakness (i.e. Fire-type moves do normal instead of double damage). STEEL/DRAGON Weak to: Fighting, Ground Resists: Normal, Water, Electric, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Rock, Ghost, Dragon, Dark, Steel Doubly Resists: Grass Immune to: Poison Pokemon: Dialga ========================================================================== ========================================================================== Type Attacks Every attacking move has one of the seventeen types. As detailed above, the type of the move is compared with the type of the Pokemon it targets to determine whether it is "super-effective" for double (or quadruple) damage or "not very effective" for half (or one-quarter) damage. One move, Curse, is not one of the seventeen types (the game gives its type as "???"), but it doesn't deal direct damage and thus doesn't matter for purposes of this section. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Same-Type Attack Bonus If a Pokemon uses a move that is the same type as either of its own types, it gets what is called a Same-Type Attack Bonus -- abbreviated STAB -- and the move becomes does 150% base damage before the target's Defense or Special Defense is factored in. For example, Thunderbolt is an Electric-type move. Everything else being equal, Pikachu (an Electric-type) will do more damage with a Thunderbolt than Sentret (a Normal-type) thanks to STAB. On the other hand, Sentret will do more damage with Quick Attack (a Normal-type move) than Pikachu. Neither of them get a bonus to using Iron Tail (a Steel-type move). -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The list of attack types that follows describes the types of Pokemon that each type is effective or ineffective against. NORMAL-TYPE ATTACKS Ineffective Against: Rock, Steel Useless Against: Ghost FIRE-TYPE ATTACKS Effective Against: Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel Ineffective Against: Fire, Water, Rock, Dragon Notes: While few widely-used Pokemon are Fire-type because it's weak to the ubiquitous Water and Ground, many Pokemon carry Fire attacks because they're effective against many types, including the otherwise-tough Steel. WATER-TYPE ATTACKS Effective Against: Fire, Ground, Rock Ineffective Against: Water, Grass, Dragon Notes: One of the more common attack types because so many Pokemon can learn Surf or Waterfall. Given the sheer number of Water-types who get STAB on these moves, it's no surprise. Pairs nicely with Ice attacks to give an advantage against nearly every other type. Furthermore, most Water-type Pokemon can learn Ice attacks and vice versa. ELECTRIC-TYPE ATTACKS Effective Against: Water, Flying Ineffective Against: Electric, Grass, Dragon Useless Against: Ground Notes: It doesn't seem that great, but with Gyarados a common sight in many competitive teams, it can be a lifesaver. A better combination with Ice than Water, and "Boltbeamers" -- sweepers with both Thunderbolt and Ice Beam -- are a common sight. GRASS-TYPE ATTACKS Effective Against: Water, Ground, Rock Ineffective Against: Fire, Grass, Poison, Flying, Bug, Dragon, Steel Notes: Pretty lousy, but most of the good Grass-type attacks are status moves anyway. ICE-TYPE ATTACKS Effective Against: Grass, Ground, Flying, Dragon Ineffective Against: Fire, Water, Ice, Steel Notes: Effective against Ground, Flying, and Dragon. That covers a lot of widely-used Pokemon. The ability to KO a Garchomp, Salamence, or Dragonite makes Ice quite useful in and of itself. FIGHTING-TYPE ATTACKS Effective Against: Normal, Ice, Rock, Dark, Steel Ineffective Against: Poison, Flying, Psychic, Bug Useless Against: Ghost Notes: Being Super-effective against five other types gives Fighting unmatched coverage. POISON-TYPE ATTACKS Effective Against: Grass Ineffective Against: Poison, Ground, Rock, Ghost Useless Against: Steel Notes: Like Grass, Poison is a pretty lousy attacking type. The appeal of most Poison moves is that they carry a chance of adding Poison status. GROUND-TYPE ATTACKS Effective Against: Fire, Electric, Poison, Rock Ineffective Against: Grass, Bug Useless Against: Flying Notes: Seems everybody has an Earthquake to spare. Outside of Earthquake, though, Ground has little to offer. FLYING-TYPE ATTACKS Effective Against: Grass, Fighting, Bug Ineffective Against: Electric, Rock, Steel PSYCHIC-TYPE ATTACKS Effective Against: Fighting, Poison Ineffective Against: Psychic, Steel Useless Against: Dark Notes: Psychic was king of first-gen. Back then it was only weak to Bug and Ghost, and only ineffective against other Psychic Pokemon. The best Bug attack was Twineedle, the best Ghost attack was... uh, Lick. Not to mention the Bugs in the game were pretty awful and all the Ghosts were also Poison-type. With the advent of Dark and Steel and the introduction of more powerful Bugs and Ghosts, Psychic has fallen far. BUG-TYPE ATTACKS Effective Against: Grass, Psychic, Dark Ineffective Against: Fire, Fighting, Poison, Ghost, Steel Notes: I have no idea why bug attacks are particularly useful against the psionically active and beings of evil, but hey, there you go. ROCK-TYPE ATTACKS Effective Against: Fire, Ice, Flying, Bug Ineffective Against: Fighting, Ground, Steel Notes: While most Rock attacks are pretty awful, Stealth Rock is extremely common. Since Stealth Rock does damage to every Pokemon that switches in based on that Pokemon's weakness to Rock, it's important to not have too many Rock weaknesses on a team. GHOST-TYPE ATTACKS Effective Against: Psychic, Ghost Ineffective Against: Dark, Steel Useless Against: Normal DRAGON-TYPE ATTACKS Effective Against: Dragon Ineffective Against: Steel Notes: Dragon offers at least neutral damage against nearly every type in the game. A Pokemon with a Dragon move and a Fire move (to take on Steel-types) can be quite effective. Fire is generally preferred because the most commonly-used Steels are Metagross, Skarmory, and Bronzong, who tend to resist or ignore Fighting and Ground. DARK-TYPE ATTACKS Effective Against: Psychic, Ghost Ineffective Against: Fighting, Dark, Steel Notes: It seems to me like Dark is everything Ghost was supposed to be. STEEL-TYPE ATTACKS Effective Against: Rock, Ice Ineffective Against: Fire, Water, Electric, Steel Notes: Steel is a much better defensive type than offensive type. If you think Rock or Ice Pokemon will give you trouble, pack a Fighting-type move. Disclaimer: does not apply to Articuno, Aerodactyl, Solrock, or Lunatone. But if you get swept by Solrock or Lunatone you have bigger problems anyway. ========================================================================== ========================================================================== This game guide is copyright 2007 Richard Rouse. It may not be duplicated or sold for profit without permission. No guarantee, promised or implicit, is given for the authenticity of the information contained in this guide, but if you screw up your Pokemon game it's not exactly the end of the world. Whatcha gonna do, cry about it? This guide is posted on my personal website at http://www.intentionallyblank.net, so if you found it anywhere else, I'd appreciate knowing about it (I can be contacted from the website listed above).