Pokemon GO Type Chart: All Type Matchups
The Pokemon GO type chart is very, very similar to the main series of Pokemon. However, true immunity does not exist in Pokemon GO (for example, Ghost is immune to Normal and Fighting in the main series). This means that immunity works a little differently, which then causes Pokemon with an immunity to be capable of a triple resistance, or even more complicated calculations.
Additionally, Pokemon GO differs from the main series when it comes to how much extra or less damage is dealt in type matchups. In the main series, a super effective attack deals double damage, but it's not quite the same in Pokemon GO.
So, let's take a deep dive into how type matchups work, how to calculate damage increase or decrease quickly off the top of your head, and more.
- Check out our guide for the rarest Pokemon in Pokemon GO here.
The Pokemon GO Type Chart
Click to enlargeAt a glance, this chart outlines the weaknesses of every type, then the types that each is super effective against in turn. The arrows indicate the direction of super effectiveness.
For example, take a look at the Water-type symbol in the grey row in the centre (fourth from the left). Water-type Pokemon will take extra damage from Electric- or Grass-type attacks. Water will, in turn, do extra damage to Fire- or Rock-types. Every type is good against other types, with the exception of Normal, which doesn't deal super effective damage against anything, and Dragon, which is only super-effective against itself.
An important thing to note is that these matchups are all single type to single type. Many Pokemon have two types, meaning that these matchups can change. For example, Gardevoir is a Psychic/Fairy-type. Psychic is weak to Dark, but Fairy resists Dark, meaning Gardevoir will take normal damage from Dark-type moves. Dual-typing can also provide "double" weakness and "double" resistance, as well, or even triple resistance in some cases. Let's outline how to calculate all of these next.
Feel free to download this chart and keep it handy.
- Check out our guide to beating Giovanni in Pokemon GO.
Pokemon GO Type Chart: How To Calculate Weaknesses And Resistances
Click to enlargeIn Pokemon GO, weaknesses and resistances are calculated through a percentage increase or decrease, and it's a bit harder to do than in the main series. This is because it's not a strict doubling or halving like the main games.
When a move hits its target, its damage is calculated based on the type matchup. Here are the percentages that damage is multiplied by under different circumstances:
| Condition |
Multiplier |
Example |
| Single weakness to move type |
160% |
A Fire-type move hits a Grass-type |
| Double weakness to move type | 256% | A Fire-type move hits a Grass/Ice-type |
| Resistance to move type | 62.5% | A Fire-type move hits a Water-type |
| Double resistance to move type | 39.1% | A Fire-type move hits a Water/Rock-type |
| Immunity to move type | 39.1% | A Ground-type move hits a Flying-type |
| Immune and resistant to move type | 24.4% | A Ground-type move hits a Grass/Flying-type |
| Immune and weak to move type | 62.5% | A Ground-type move hits an Electric/Flying-type attack |
It's not an exact mathematical translation, but when calculating damage dealt on the fly, it can be easy to think of it in terms of points. Let's say a single weakness is +1 point, a resistance is -1 point, and an immunity is -2 points (since a double resistance and an immunity are both multiplied by 39.1%).
With this in mind, any type matchup can be calculated very roughly but quickly.
If a Fire-type move hits a Grass-type, that's +1, since it's a single weakness. If the target was an Abomasnow, who is Grass/Ice, that's +2, since it has, essentially, two weaknesses to the Fire-type. It'll take "double" damage from Fire-type moves. Again, it's not strictly double, but for all intents and purposes, it's close enough for quick calculation.
This is why a Pokemon that's Electric/Flying like Zapdos takes 62.5% damage from a Ground-type move. The Flying-type is immune to Ground, which is -2 points, but Electric is weak to it, which is +1. This means, overall, Zapdos has -1 points against Ground-type moves, or the same as a standard resistance (-2 +1 = -1).
- Check out our guide to the Pokemon GO Retro Cup, which bans Dark, Steel, and Fairy Pokemon.
The Same-Type Attack Bonus (STAB) in Pokemon GO
Unfortunately, one metric is left out of this equation that we have to discuss to see the whole picture. The Same-Type Attack Bonus is a boost to damage if the move used is the same type as the user. For example, if a Fairy-type Pokemon uses a Fairy-type move, that move will do more damage than if another type were to use it.
The STAB in Pokemon GO works out to a 20% increase to the move used, meaning it'll multiply the damage by 120%. This is part of the overall equation, so be sure to keep it in mind when doing a rough calculation of a type matchup.
STAB is often why you'll see that some Pokemon are considered not competitively viable, or why you will sometimes see people say "if [Pokemon] had access to [move], it'd be way better!" Pokemon are much better when using a move of the same type, so when a Pokemon doesn't have access to a STAB move, it'll often fall behind in competitive rankings. One example is Xerneas, who is a very powerful Fairy-type Pokemon. Unfortunately, in Pokemon GO, it doesn't have access to a Fairy-type fast move, which hurts its performance overall.
This isn't always a detriment, though. Some Pokemon are so powerful or capable that the STAB calculation is irrelevant. Perhaps the best example of this is Mewtwo, who is ranked as one of the best Ice-type attackers in the game. It's capable of learning Ice Beam, but isn't an Ice-type itself. However, it's powerful enough that it can exceed the ability of some Ice-type Pokemon that benefit from STAB.
That's all there is to know about calculating type matchups! Be sure to save the handy chart above for quick reference, and watch out for those pesky dual-types. Good luck out there, Trainer.