Understand type interactions, build defensive cores, and master offensive coverage strategies.
Last updated: 2026-06-03
Type matchups are the foundation of Pokemon battling. Each of the 18 types has strengths and weaknesses against specific types. A Fire move deals double damage to Grass, Ice, Bug, and Steel types, but half damage to Fire, Water, Rock, and Dragon types. Mastering these interactions is essential for both building teams and making predictions during battle.
The type chart creates a complex web of offensive and defensive relationships. Offensively, the best types are those that hit many types for super effective damage. Ice hits three types super effectively and is resisted by only three. Ground hits five types super effectively and is resisted by only three. Fighting hits five types super effectively, but is resisted by four types and has one immunity (Ghost).
The Steel/Fairy/Dragon defensive core is the gold standard of type synergy. Steel types resist 10 types: Normal, Grass, Ice, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Rock, Dragon, Steel, and Fairy. They are immune to Poison. This makes Steel types incredibly valuable for defensive teams. Popular Steel types include Ferrothorn, Corviknight, Heatran, and Jirachi.
Fairy types provide crucial resistances to Fighting, Bug, and Dark types, and are completely immune to Dragon. This makes Fairy an excellent partner for Steel, as Fighting is the primary weakness of Steel types. In return, Steel covers Fairy's weakness to Poison and Steel. Common Fairy types include Clefable, Togekiss, Mimikyu, and Tapu Fini.
Dragon types round out the core by resisting Fire, Water, Grass, and Electric, which are common attacking types that hit Steel and Fairy neutrally or super effectively. Dragonite, Garchomp, Dragapult, and Raging Bolt are examples of Dragon types that fit well into this core. The result is a trio that collectively resists or is immune to 16 of the 18 types.
Ghost and Fighting types provide near-perfect neutral coverage together. No type resists both Ghost and Fighting, meaning a Pokemon that carries both a Ghost move and a Fighting move can hit every type for at least neutral damage. This is why Pokemon like Annihilape, Marshadow, and Hisuian Decidueye are so threatening.
The EdgeQuake combination (Earthquake + Rock Slide or Stone Edge) is a classic doubles coverage pair. These two moves together hit every type for at least neutral damage except for a few combinations. In singles, the BoltBeam combination (Thunderbolt + Ice Beam) provides excellent coverage, hitting 15 types for at least neutral damage.
Defensive synergy is not just about team building but also about in-battle decision making. Proper pivoting requires predicting what move the opponent will use and switching to a Pokemon that resists or is immune to it. A player who consistently makes correct switches gains a significant advantage over one who simply attacks every turn.
Common switching patterns include bringing in a Ground type to absorb an Electric attack, switching to a Ghost type to block a Fighting or Normal move, and using a Steel type to take a Dragon or Fairy move. Leftovers recovery, Regenerator ability, and Heal Bell support make prolonged switching wars viable for defensive teams.