Pokémon Weakness Calculator

Discover optimal type matchups for trainers and battlers.

Type Effectiveness Calculator

Select the attacking type to see its effectiveness against all other Pokémon types.

Type Chart

A comprehensive view of all type interactions. Mouse over or tap to see details.

Type Effectiveness Chart

Attacking ⟶	Normal	Fire	Water	Grass	Electric	Ice	Fighting	Poison	Ground	Flying	Psychic	Bug	Rock	Ghost	Dragon	Steel	Dark	Fairy

Type Effectiveness Trends

Visualizing the impact of the selected attacking type across different defensive types.

What is Pokémon Type Effectiveness?

Pokémon type effectiveness is a fundamental mechanic in the Pokémon franchise that governs the outcome of battles. Each Pokémon possesses one or two types (e.g., Fire, Water, Grass, Electric), and these types determine how much damage attacks of certain types will deal. Understanding these interactions is crucial for any aspiring Pokémon Trainer aiming to win battles, strategize effectively in Pokémon GO, or succeed in competitive play. The system is based on a rock-paper-scissors-like network of strengths and weaknesses, where certain types are super effective against others, while some are not very effective, and a few result in no damage at all (immunities).

Who should use this calculator:

• New Pokémon players learning the game’s mechanics.
• Experienced trainers looking for a quick reference during battles, especially in games like Pokémon GO or the main series games.
• Competitive battlers needing to optimize their team composition and move choices.
• Players curious about specific type matchups or wanting to understand the underlying logic.

Common misconceptions about Pokémon type effectiveness include:

• Assuming a type is always strong or weak against another without checking the specific matchup (e.g., Fire is strong against Grass, but Grass is strong against Water).
• Forgetting about dual-typing, where a Pokémon’s resistances and weaknesses are a combination of its two types, often leading to surprising outcomes.
• Overlooking immunities (e.g., Ground-type moves not affecting Flying-type Pokémon) or underestimating resistances.

Pokémon Type Effectiveness Formula and Mathematical Explanation

The core of Pokémon type effectiveness lies in a multiplier system applied to the base damage calculation of an attack. When an attack of type ‘A’ hits a Pokémon with type ‘B’ (or types ‘B1’ and ‘B2’), the game consults a type chart to determine the damage multiplier.

The formula for calculating the damage multiplier is as follows:

Damage Multiplier = AttackingTypeMultiplier(A -> B1) * AttackingTypeMultiplier(A -> B2)

If a Pokémon has only one type, the second multiplier is effectively 1.

Step-by-step derivation:

1. Identify Attacking Type: Determine the type of the move being used (e.g., Fire).
2. Identify Defensive Type(s): Determine the type(s) of the defending Pokémon (e.g., Grass, Flying).
3. Consult Type Chart: For each of the defending Pokémon’s types, find the multiplier against the attacking type.
• Fire attacking Grass yields a 2x multiplier.
• Fire attacking Flying yields a 1x multiplier.
4. Calculate Total Multiplier: Multiply the individual multipliers together. In the example above, 2x * 1x = 2x.

Variable Explanations:

• Attacking Type (A): The type of the move being used in the battle.
• Defensive Type 1 (B1): The primary type of the defending Pokémon.
• Defensive Type 2 (B2): The secondary type of the defending Pokémon (if applicable).
• AttackingTypeMultiplier(X -> Y): A value derived from the type chart, indicating the effectiveness of type X against type Y. This can be 2 (Super Effective), 0.5 (Not Very Effective), 1 (Normally Effective), or 0 (Immune).
• Damage Multiplier: The final calculated value applied to the base damage.

Variables Table:

Variable	Meaning	Unit	Typical Range
Attacking Type	The type of the move used.	Type Category	Normal, Fire, Water, etc.
Defensive Type(s)	The type(s) of the Pokémon being hit.	Type Category	Normal, Fire, Water, etc.
AttackingTypeMultiplier	Effectiveness of one type against another.	Numeric Multiplier	0, 0.5, 1, 2
Damage Multiplier	Final multiplier applied to attack damage.	Numeric Multiplier	0, 0.5, 1, 2, 2.5, 4

Practical Examples (Real-World Use Cases)

Example 1: Charizard’s Fire Spin vs. Venusaur

Scenario: A player is battling with Charizard (Fire/Flying) against Venusaur (Grass/Poison).

Inputs:

• Attacking Type: Fire
• Defending Pokémon Types: Grass, Poison

Calculation:

• Fire vs. Grass: 2x (Super Effective)
• Fire vs. Poison: 1x (Normally Effective)
• Total Damage Multiplier = 2x * 1x = 2x

Outputs:

• Primary Result: 2x Damage
• Intermediate Values:
  • Super Effective vs. Grass
  • Normally Effective vs. Poison
  • No Immunities involved
• Explanation: Fire-type attacks are Super Effective against Grass-types and Normally Effective against Poison-types. The combined multiplier is 2x.

Interpretation: A Fire-type move like Fire Spin will deal double damage to Venusaur, making it an excellent offensive choice.

Example 2: Gengar’s Shadow Ball vs. Alakazam

Scenario: A trainer wants to use Gengar (Ghost/Poison) to attack an Alakazam (Psychic).

Inputs:

• Attacking Type: Ghost
• Defending Pokémon Types: Psychic

Calculation:

• Ghost vs. Psychic: 2x (Super Effective)
• Total Damage Multiplier = 2x

Outputs:

• Primary Result: 2x Damage
• Intermediate Values:
  • Super Effective vs. Psychic
  • No other types involved
  • No Immunities involved
• Explanation: Ghost-type attacks are Super Effective against Psychic-types, resulting in a 2x damage multiplier.

Interpretation: A Ghost-type move like Shadow Ball will be highly effective against Alakazam.

How to Use This Pokémon Weakness Calculator

Our Pokémon Weakness Calculator is designed for simplicity and speed, whether you’re in the heat of battle or planning your team. Here’s how to get the most out of it:

1. Select the Attacking Type: In the “Attacking Type” dropdown menu, choose the type of the move you intend to use. This could be Fire, Water, Grass, Electric, or any of the other Pokémon types.
2. Click “Calculate Effectiveness”: Once you’ve selected the attacking type, press the “Calculate Effectiveness” button.
3. Review the Results: The calculator will immediately display:
   • Primary Highlighted Result: This shows the main multiplier (e.g., 2x, 0.5x, 0x) for the selected attacking type against a standard single-type Pokémon.
   • Key Intermediate Values: These provide a breakdown:
     • “Super Effective” indicates types that take 2x damage.
     • “Not Very Effective” indicates types that take 0.5x damage.
     • “Immune” indicates types that take 0x damage.
   • Formula Explanation: A brief description of how the effectiveness is determined.
4. Consult the Type Chart: For a complete, detailed view of all type matchups, refer to the comprehensive Type Chart table below the calculator. This chart shows interactions for every combination of attacking and defending types.
5. Analyze the Dynamic Chart: The Effectiveness Trends chart provides a visual representation of the multipliers for the selected attacking type against all other types, helping you quickly grasp the overall offensive potential.
6. Use the “Reset” Button: If you want to clear the current selections and start over, click the “Reset” button. It will set the attacking type back to the default placeholder.
7. Copy Results: The “Copy Results” button allows you to easily copy the main result, intermediate values, and the formula explanation to your clipboard, useful for sharing or noting down strategies.

Decision-making Guidance: Use the calculator to identify super effective moves (2x multiplier) to maximize your damage output. Avoid using moves that are not very effective (0.5x multiplier) or immune (0x multiplier) against your opponent. Remember to consider your Pokémon’s own typing for resistances and weaknesses when choosing moves and switching Pokémon.

Key Factors That Affect Pokémon Type Effectiveness Results

While the type effectiveness system is straightforward, several factors influence how these multipliers play out in an actual battle:

1. Dual-Typing: This is the most significant factor. A Pokémon with two types has its effectiveness determined by the combination of multipliers against both its types. For instance, a Water/Ground type is hit neutrally (1x) by Electric attacks (0.5x against Water, 2x against Ground; 0.5 * 2 = 1). This can create unexpected resistances or weaknesses.
2. STAB (Same-Type Attack Bonus): Although not directly part of the type effectiveness calculation itself, STAB is a critical battle mechanic. When a Pokémon uses a move that matches one of its own types, the move’s power is boosted by 50%. This means a Fire-type Pokémon using a Fire-type move deals significantly more damage than just the type effectiveness multiplier would suggest.
3. Abilities: Many Pokémon have unique Abilities that can alter type interactions. For example, Levitate grants immunity to Ground-type moves, negating a standard weakness. Wonder Guard makes a Pokémon vulnerable only to super effective attacks.
4. Move Power and Stats: Type effectiveness is a multiplier applied to the base damage calculation. A powerful move with high base stats, even if only normally effective (1x), might still deal more damage than a weaker move that is super effective (2x). A Pokémon’s Attack/Special Attack and the opponent’s Defense/Special Defense stats also play a huge role.
5. Items: Certain held items can influence battle outcomes. Items like Choice Specs or Choice Band boost offensive stats but lock the user into one move, while items like an Expert Belt boost the power of super effective moves.
6. Weather Conditions: In some games, weather effects can influence the power of certain types. For example, a Water-type move becomes stronger during Rain, and a Fire-type move weakens.
7. Critical Hits: Critical hits ignore damage-reducing effects, including resistances. A critical hit deals double damage (before other multipliers are applied), potentially bypassing a defensive typing advantage.
8. Status Conditions: While not directly affecting type effectiveness multipliers, status conditions like Paralysis, Burn, or Poison can significantly impact a Pokémon’s ability to battle effectively, indirectly influencing the perceived outcome of type matchups.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the difference between “Super Effective”, “Not Very Effective”, and “Immune”?

• Super Effective: The attacking move deals 2x damage.
• Not Very Effective: The attacking move deals 0.5x damage.
• Immune: The attacking move deals 0x damage (no damage).

These are determined by the attacking move’s type versus the defending Pokémon’s type(s).

How does dual-typing affect weaknesses and resistances?

When a Pokémon has two types, the damage multiplier is the product of the multipliers for each individual type. For example, a Water/Ground type Pokémon facing an Electric attack: Electric is Not Very Effective (0.5x) against Water and Super Effective (2x) against Ground. The combined multiplier is 0.5 * 2 = 1x, meaning the Electric attack deals normal damage.

Are there any types that are super effective against everything?

No single type is super effective against all other types. The type chart is designed with a balance of strengths and weaknesses across all types.

Which type is the strongest in Pokémon?

“Strongest” is subjective and depends on the context (offensive vs. defensive, specific matchups). However, types like Ground and Fighting often have many super effective offensive matchups. Defensively, Steel and Fairy types have numerous resistances.

Does the calculator account for STAB?

No, this calculator specifically focuses on type effectiveness multipliers (e.g., 2x, 0.5x, 0x). STAB (Same-Type Attack Bonus), which provides a 50% power boost when a Pokémon uses a move of its own type, is a separate mechanic calculated during battle and is not included in these effectiveness ratings.

How does type effectiveness work in Pokémon GO?

Pokémon GO uses a similar type effectiveness system to the main series games. Attacks are categorized as “Super Effective” (dealing 1.6x damage), “Not Very Effective” (dealing 0.625x damage), or normal damage (1x). Immunities (0x) do not exist in Pokémon GO.

Can a move be both super effective and not very effective?

This can happen with dual-type Pokémon. For example, an Electric-type move is Not Very Effective (0.5x) against a Water-type, but Super Effective (2x) against a Flying-type. If a Pokémon is Water/Flying, the calculation would be 0.5 * 2 = 1x, resulting in normal damage.

Are there any types that resist everything?

No type resists all other types. However, some types, like Steel and Fairy, have a large number of resistances and few weaknesses, making them defensively very strong.