Calculate type effectiveness, build your team, and analyze matchups with precision.
Attacking Types
Defending Types
Attack Effectiveness
Super Effective (2x)
Very Effective (4x)
Not Very Effective (0.5x)
Resistant (0.25x)
No Effect (0x)
Normal (1x)
Defense Effectiveness
Weaknesses (2x)
Double Weak (4x)
Resistances (0.5x)
Double Resist (0.25x)
Immunities (0x)
Normal (1x)
Team Builder
Add Pokémon to Your Team
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Your Team
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Matchup Analyzer
Your Team’s Offensive Coverage
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Your Team’s Defensive Weaknesses
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Type Effectiveness Chart
| Defending → Attacking ↓ |
|---|
Type Effectiveness Tips
- Dual-type Pokémon multiply type effectiveness
- Some types have immunities (0x damage)
- STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) increases damage by 1.5x
Team Building Strategy
- Balance offensive and defensive coverage
- Cover your team’s weaknesses with resistances
- Consider type immunities when building
Recent Calculations
- Fire vs Grass/Water: 2x / 0.5x
- Electric vs Flying/Ground: 2x / 0x
- Fighting vs Normal/Ghost: 2x / 0x
A comprehensive resource for understanding Pokémon type effectiveness and battle calculations
Mastering Pokémon type matchups is the cornerstone of competitive battling success. With 18 unique types and complex effectiveness relationships, understanding how to calculate damage multipliers is essential for any serious Pokémon trainer.
Pokémon type calculators are sophisticated tools that help trainers predict battle outcomes by calculating damage based on type effectiveness, stats, moves, and various battle conditions. This guide explores the mathematics behind these calculations and provides strategies for leveraging type advantages in competitive play.
Did You Know?
The type effectiveness system has remained largely consistent since Generation I, with only minor adjustments like the Fairy type introduction in Generation VI to rebalance the Dragon type dominance.
Understanding Pokémon Types
Pokémon types determine strengths, weaknesses, and resistances in battle. Each Pokémon has one or two types, and each move has a single type. The interaction between move types and Pokémon types determines damage effectiveness.
Normal Type
Weak to: Fighting
Resistant to: None
Immune to: Ghost
Fire Type
Weak to: Water, Ground, Rock
Resistant to: Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel, Fairy
Immune to: None
Water Type
Weak to: Electric, Grass
Resistant to: Fire, Water, Ice, Steel
Immune to: None
Electric Type
Weak to: Ground
Resistant to: Electric, Flying, Steel
Immune to: None
Type Effectiveness Multipliers
Type effectiveness follows a simple multiplier system:
Not Very Effective: 0.5× damage
No Effect: 0× damage
For dual-type Pokémon, these multipliers are applied consecutively. For example, a Grass/Poison type hit by a Ground move would calculate:
Poison vs. Ground: 2× (super effective)
Total multiplier: 0.5 × 2 = 1× (neutral damage)
Key Concept: Dual-Type Calculations
When calculating damage against dual-type Pokémon, multiply the effectiveness against each type. The order doesn’t matter (multiplication is commutative). A 4× effectiveness occurs when a move is super effective against both types.
The Damage Calculation Formula
Pokémon damage calculation is a complex process that considers multiple factors beyond just type effectiveness. The complete formula used in modern Pokémon games is:
Where modifiers include:
- Type effectiveness (0, 0.5, 1, or 2)
- STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) – 1.5× if move type matches Pokémon type
- Critical hit – 1.5× or 2× depending on generation
- Weather effects
- Abilities
- Items
- Other battle conditions
STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus)
When a Pokémon uses a move that matches one of its types, it receives a 1.5× damage bonus. This is a crucial factor in damage calculation.
Calculation Insight
A super effective STAB move deals 3× damage (2× for super effective × 1.5× for STAB). This is why type-matched offensive Pokémon are so powerful.
Critical Hit Mechanics
Critical hits ignore defensive stat changes and deal increased damage:
Generation VI+: Critical hits deal 1.5× damage
Various abilities, items, and moves can increase critical hit ratios.
Advanced Type Interactions
Beyond basic effectiveness, several advanced type interactions influence battle outcomes.
Immunities and Their Exceptions
Some type matchups result in complete immunity where moves have no effect. However, certain abilities and moves can bypass these immunities:
| Immunity | Standard Effect | Exceptions |
|---|---|---|
| Normal vs. Ghost | No Effect | Foresight, Odor Sleuth, Scrappy ability |
| Ghost vs. Normal | No Effect | None |
| Ground vs. Flying | No Effect | Gravity, Smack Down, Thousand Arrows |
| Electric vs. Ground | No Effect | Mold Breaker, Teravolt, Turboblaze abilities |
Type-Changing Abilities and Moves
Several abilities and moves can alter type interactions during battle:
Protean/Libero
Changes the Pokémon’s type to match the move it’s about to use.
Color Change
Changes the Pokémon’s type to match the last move it was hit by.
Soak
Changes the target’s type to Water.
Ion Deluge/Electrify
Changes Normal-type moves to Electric-type.
Strategic Applications
Understanding type calculations enables sophisticated battle strategies beyond simple super effective attacks.
Type Coverage
Select moves that cover your Pokémon’s weaknesses. For example, a Water-type Pokémon might learn Ice Beam to counter Grass-types that would normally resist Water moves.
Predicting Switches
Anticipate your opponent’s type-based switches and use moves that will be super effective against their likely counters.
Sacrificial Plays
Sometimes switching to a Pokémon that will take minimal damage from an expected attack can preserve your more valuable Pokémon.
Weather and Terrain Abuse
Use weather conditions and terrains that enhance your Pokémon’s types while weakening opposing types.
Team Building Considerations
Effective team building requires careful type balancing:
- Type Synergy: Ensure your Pokémon cover each other’s weaknesses
- Offensive Coverage: Your team should collectively threaten all 18 types
- Defensive Core: Include Pokémon that can switch into common offensive types
- Meta Awareness: Prepare for commonly used types in your competitive format
Historical Changes to Type Effectiveness
The type effectiveness chart has evolved across Pokémon generations with significant balancing changes.
Generation II Changes
Dark and Steel types were introduced to rebalance the Psychic type dominance from Generation I:
- Psychic types became weak to Dark and Ghost
- Steel types resisted Psychic moves
- Ghost and Bug moves became super effective against Psychic
Generation VI Changes
The Fairy type was introduced to rebalance Dragon type dominance:
- Fairy is immune to Dragon and super effective against it
- Fairy is weak to Poison and Steel
- Several Pokémon were retconned to be Fairy type
Minor Adjustments
Other changes include:
| Generation | Change | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| II | Ghost and Bug made super effective against Psychic | Reduced Psychic dominance |
| VI | Steel no longer resists Ghost and Dark | Nerfed Steel type defenses |
| VII | Freeze Dry super effective against Water | Unique type interaction exception |
Pokémon Type Calculator Tools
Various online tools help trainers calculate type effectiveness and battle outcomes.
Features of Advanced Calculators
Modern Pokémon calculators include:
Damage Calculators
Calculate exact damage ranges considering all battle factors.
Team Builders
Analyze type coverage and weaknesses across your entire team.
Speed Tiers
Determine which Pokémon will attack first in various scenarios.
Stat Comparators
Compare Pokémon stats with different natures, EVs, and IVs.
Using Calculators Effectively
To get the most from Pokémon calculators:
- Input accurate data including natures, EVs, IVs, and items
- Consider all possible scenarios and opponent sets
- Use damage ranges rather than exact numbers due to random variation
- Test your calculations in practice battles
Pro Tip: Damage Rolls
Pokémon damage has a random multiplier between 0.85 and 1.00. Always consider the minimum and maximum damage ranges rather than assuming average damage.
Conclusion
Mastering Pokémon type calculations is essential for competitive success. While type effectiveness provides the foundation, advanced trainers consider the complete damage formula, ability interactions, and strategic implications of type matchups.
As the Pokémon games continue to evolve with new types, abilities, and mechanics, the calculations become more complex. However, the fundamental principles of type advantage remain constant, providing a stable foundation for strategic gameplay.
Final Battle Insight
Remember that type calculations are just one aspect of Pokémon battles. Prediction, team synergy, and adaptability often matter more than raw type advantage. The best trainers use type knowledge as a tool rather than a crutch.
Frequently Asked Questions
For dual-type Pokémon, multiply the effectiveness against each type. For example, if a move is super effective (2×) against one type and not very effective (0.5×) against the other, the total multiplier is 2 × 0.5 = 1× (neutral damage). If it’s super effective against both types, the multiplier is 2 × 2 = 4×.
STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) is a 1.5× damage multiplier applied when a Pokémon uses a move that matches one of its types. This bonus stacks multiplicatively with type effectiveness. For example, a Water-type using a Water move against a Fire-type would deal 2 × 1.5 = 3× damage.
The type effectiveness chart has undergone several major changes: Generation II introduced Dark and Steel types to counter Psychic dominance; Generation VI added the Fairy type to rebalance Dragon types; and various minor adjustments have been made to specific type interactions across generations.
Steel/Flying (like Skarmory) has historically been considered one of the best defensive type combinations, with only two weaknesses (Fire and Electric) and numerous resistances. However, the “best” combination depends on the current metagame and the specific Pokémon’s stats and movepool.
The damage formula includes a level component: (2 × Level ÷ 5 + 2). This means higher-level Pokémon naturally deal more damage. In competitive play where Pokémon are typically the same level, this factor is constant, but it’s crucial for in-game battles against wild Pokémon and trainers with level variations.
Several abilities alter type interactions: Levitate makes Ground moves miss; Wonder Guard blocks non-super effective moves; Flash Fire powers up Fire moves when hit by one; Motor Drive raises Speed when hit by Electric moves; and abilities like Scrappy allow Normal moves to hit Ghost types.
Reputable online Pokémon calculators are extremely accurate when provided with correct inputs. They use the same formulas as the games themselves. However, they typically show damage ranges rather than exact numbers due to the random factor in damage calculation (0.85-1.00 multiplier).
As of the current generation, Normal/Ghost (like Hisuian Zorua) is one of the rarest type combinations with only a few Pokémon having this pairing. Other rare combinations include Ice/Fire (Galarian Darmanitan Zen Mode) and Electric/Dark (Morpeko).