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Quick Verdict
Pokemon Go type effectiveness helps you choose better counters by matching attack types to enemy weaknesses. The key is to use the chart, understand multipliers, and check dual-type Pokémon before raids, PvP, gyms, or Rocket battles.
Who It's For
This guide is for Pokémon GO players who want to understand weaknesses, avoid resisted moves, pick stronger counters, and plan battles more efficiently.
Key Takeaways:
- Main Rule: Use moves that are super effective against the defender's type.
- Multiplier Tip: Super effective damage is 1.6×, while double weaknesses deal 2.56×.
- Dual-Type Tip: Two types can stack weaknesses, cancel damage, or create strong resistance.
- Tool Tip: Use a type chart for common matchups and a calculator for dual-type checks.
Choosing a Pokémon with high CP can feel like the obvious move, but Pokémon GO battles often come down to something more important: type effectiveness. A lower-CP Pokémon with the right move type can outperform a stronger-looking option if it hits the opponent’s weakness.
That is why understanding the Pokemon Go type effectiveness chart matters for raids, gyms, PvP, Team GO Rocket battles, and Legendary encounters. Once you know which attacks are super effective, which ones are resisted, and how dual-type Pokémon change the calculation, building a better team becomes much easier.
What Is Type Effectiveness in Pokémon GO?
Type effectiveness is the relationship between the type of an attack and the type of the defending Pokémon. For example, a Water-type attack is strong against Fire, Ground, and Rock Pokémon. An Electric-type attack is strong against Water and Flying Pokémon.
The important detail is that the move’s type matters most when calculating effectiveness. A Dragon-type Pokémon using a Fire-type move deals Fire-type damage, not Dragon-type damage. The Pokémon’s own type still matters because it can receive a same-type attack bonus, but the actual weakness check starts with the attack type.
In simple terms:
- Use moves that are super effective against the defender.
- Avoid moves the defender resists.
- Watch dual-type Pokémon carefully because weaknesses and resistances can stack.
For example, if you are fighting a Flying-type Pokémon, Rock, Electric, and Ice attacks are strong choices. If that Flying-type Pokémon is also Dragon-type, Ice becomes even better because Ice is strong against both Flying and Dragon.
Pokémon GO Type Effectiveness Multipliers Explained
Pokémon GO uses different damage multipliers from the main Pokémon games. In the main series, a super effective move usually deals 2× damage. In Pokémon GO, a super effective move deals 1.6× damage.
That difference matters when comparing counters. Type advantage is powerful, but move quality, Pokémon stats, energy generation, shields, and battle format still affect the final result.
Pokemon Go Type Effectiveness Multiplier Table
| Battle result | Pokémon GO multiplier | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Double super effective | 2.56× | The attack is strong against both defender types |
| Super effective | 1.6× | The attack hits the defender’s weakness |
| Neutral | 1× | No advantage or resistance applies |
| Not very effective | 0.625× | The defender resists the attack |
| Double resisted / immunity-style resistance | About 0.39× | The attack is heavily reduced |
| Very ineffective | About 0.244× | Multiple resistances stack strongly |
A key Pokémon GO difference is that traditional immunities do not work as complete zero-damage immunities. Instead, they become a stronger form of resistance. For example, Normal attacks are extremely ineffective against Ghost-type Pokémon in Pokémon GO, but they are not treated as true zero-damage attacks.
What About STAB in Pokémon GO?
STAB means Same-Type Attack Bonus. If a Pokémon uses an attack that matches one of its own types, that move gets an extra damage boost.
For example, a Water-type Pokémon using a Water-type move benefits from STAB. A dual-type Pokémon can receive STAB from either of its two types, so a Water/Ground Pokémon can benefit from both Water-type and Ground-type moves.
A strong counter usually combines three things:
- The move is super effective.
- The Pokémon gets STAB from that move.
- The Pokémon has good stats and a strong moveset.
This is why two Pokémon with the same type advantage can perform differently in real battles.
Pokemon Go Type Effectiveness Chart
Use this Pokemon Go type effectiveness chart by looking at the attacking move type first. The “Super effective against” column shows which Pokémon types take increased damage from that attack. The “Not very effective against” and “Heavily resisted by” columns show when that move is a poor choice.
| Attack type | Super effective against | Not very effective against | Heavily resisted by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | — | Rock, Steel | Ghost |
| Fire | Bug, Steel, Grass, Ice | Rock, Fire, Water, Dragon | — |
| Water | Ground, Rock, Fire | Water, Grass, Dragon | — |
| Electric | Flying, Water | Grass, Electric, Dragon | Ground |
| Grass | Ground, Rock, Water | Flying, Poison, Bug, Steel, Fire, Grass, Dragon | — |
| Ice | Flying, Ground, Grass, Dragon | Steel, Fire, Water, Ice | — |
| Fighting | Normal, Rock, Steel, Ice, Dark | Flying, Poison, Bug, Psychic, Fairy | Ghost |
| Poison | Grass, Fairy | Poison, Ground, Rock, Ghost | Steel |
| Ground | Poison, Rock, Steel, Fire, Electric | Bug, Grass | Flying |
| Flying | Fighting, Bug, Grass | Rock, Steel, Electric | — |
| Psychic | Fighting, Poison | Steel, Psychic | Dark |
| Bug | Grass, Psychic, Dark | Fighting, Flying, Poison, Ghost, Steel, Fire, Fairy | — |
| Rock | Flying, Bug, Fire, Ice | Fighting, Ground, Steel | — |
| Ghost | Ghost, Psychic | Dark | Normal |
| Dragon | Dragon | Steel | Fairy |
| Dark | Ghost, Psychic | Fighting, Dark, Fairy | — |
| Steel | Rock, Ice, Fairy | Steel, Fire, Water, Electric | — |
| Fairy | Fighting, Dragon, Dark | Poison, Steel, Fire | — |
This chart is most useful when you are choosing attack moves. If you are checking what your own Pokémon is weak to, reverse the logic and look at which attack types are strong against your Pokémon’s type.
How Dual-Type Pokémon Change Pokemon Go Type Effectiveness
Dual-type Pokémon are where type effectiveness becomes more interesting. A Pokémon with two types can have stacked weaknesses, stacked resistances, or matchups that cancel each other out.
The game checks the attack against both defender types. Then the multipliers combine.
Example 1: Double Super Effective Damage
A Dragon/Flying Pokémon is weak to Ice because Ice is strong against both Dragon and Flying.
That creates:
1.6× × 1.6× = 2.56×
This is why Ice-type attackers are often excellent against Pokémon such as Rayquaza. The move is not just super effective; it is double super effective.
Example 2: Weakness and Resistance Cancel Out
A Grass/Poison Pokémon takes neutral damage from Poison attacks because Grass is weak to Poison, but Poison resists Poison.
That creates:
1.6× × 0.625× = 1×
The result feels surprising if you only remember one of the Pokémon’s types. This is why a dual-type chart or calculator can be useful before difficult battles.
Example 3: Double Resistance
A Pokémon that resists the same move through both of its types can reduce damage heavily.
For example, a move that is not very effective against both defender types becomes:
0.625× × 0.625× = about 0.39×
This is the kind of matchup where even a strong Pokémon can feel weak if it brings the wrong move type.
Pokemon Go Type Chart vs Type Effectiveness Calculator
A type chart is best when you are learning patterns. A calculator is better when the defender has two types and you want an instant answer.
Use a chart when you want to memorize the basics:
- Fighting beats Normal.
- Electric beats Water and Flying.
- Fire beats Grass, Bug, Steel, and Ice.
- Fairy beats Dragon, Fighting, and Dark.
Use a Pokemon Go type effectiveness calculator when the matchup is less obvious. Dual-type Pokémon can create neutral damage, double weakness, or double resistance, and a calculator can save time before raids or PvP battles.
Pokémon GO Type Effectiveness Calculator
Pick an attack type and defender types to see the exact Pokémon GO damage multiplier, including dual-type stacking.
Select types above to calculate effectiveness.
Best move types against this defender
For important battles, do not stop at type effectiveness alone. A raid or PvP counter tool can also help compare movesets, DPS, bulk, and team performance.
How PoKeep Helps You Put Battle Prep Into Action
Knowing the Pokémon GO type effectiveness chart helps you choose the right counters. The next challenge is finding the right battles, raids, gyms, routes, and event-heavy areas where those counters actually matter.
PoKeep Location Changer fits naturally into this part of the gameplay. It is designed for iPhone and Android location control, including Pokémon GO scenarios where players want more flexible access to location-based game content.
For Pokémon GO players, PoKeep can help with:
- 360° GPS Joystick: Move around nearby areas with controlled, realistic movement.
- Teleport Mode: Change location when planning around raids, gyms, or event zones.
- Two-spot and multi-spot movement: Simulate routes between selected points.
- Cooldown timer: Plan safer waiting times between location changes.
- No jailbreak or root: Change GPS location without modifying the device at a system-risk level.
- Free trial access: Test core features before deciding whether to upgrade.
This is especially useful when you already know what you are looking for. For example, if an Ice-weak raid boss is appearing in a busy raid area, you can prepare Ice-type counters first, then use PoKeep to explore that area more conveniently. If you are collecting items before PvP or raid hours, route movement can help you plan around PokéStops and gyms.
Use location-changing tools carefully and avoid unrealistic jumps or rushed actions. Type knowledge gives you the battle advantage; thoughtful location planning helps you make better use of that advantage.
How to Build a Better Pokémon GO Battle Plan
The easiest way to use type effectiveness is to create a simple pre-battle routine. You do not need to memorize every matchup at once. Start with the opponent’s type, then choose your attackers based on weakness, moveset, and battle format.
Step 1 Check the opponent’s type or likely lineup
For raids, look at the boss type. For Rocket battles, read the Grunt hint. For PvP, think about common meta picks in the league.
Step 2 Find the weakness using the type chart
Look for attacks that are super effective. If the defender has two types, check whether the weakness stacks or cancels out.
Step 3 Choose Pokémon with the right move type
A Pokémon’s type alone is not enough. Make sure its fast and charged moves actually hit the target effectively.
Step 4 Consider survival, not just damage
A counter that deals strong damage but faints instantly may not be the best choice. Resistance can matter, especially in raids and Rocket battles.
Step 5 Plan where to battle
Once your counters are ready, look for raids, gyms, routes, and events where you can use them. This is where PoKeep can support location-based planning without interrupting the educational value of the type chart itself.
FAQ About Pokemon Go Type Effectiveness
What is the strongest type effectiveness multiplier in Pokémon GO?
The strongest standard type-effectiveness result is double super effective damage, which is 2.56×. This happens when an attack is super effective against both types of a dual-type Pokémon.
Is super effective 2× in Pokémon GO?
No. In Pokémon GO, super effective damage is 1.6×. The main Pokémon games usually use 2×, but Pokémon GO uses its own multiplier system.
Do immunities exist in Pokémon GO?
Not in the same way as the main Pokémon games. In Pokémon GO, immunity-style matchups act as heavy resistance instead of blocking all damage.
What is super effective against Normal type Pokémon GO?
Fighting attacks are super effective against Normal-type Pokémon. Normal has only one weakness, so Fighting is the direct answer.
What is effective against Flying type Pokémon GO?
Rock, Electric, and Ice attacks are super effective against Flying-type Pokémon. If the Flying Pokémon has a second type, check whether one of those weaknesses becomes double effective.
What is Water not very effective against in Pokémon GO?
Water attacks are not very effective against Water, Grass, and Dragon Pokémon.
How does Pokemon Go PvP type effectiveness work?
PvP uses the same basic type-effectiveness logic, but the best choice also depends on shields, energy, fast move pressure, charged move timing, and team coverage.
Should I memorize the whole Pokemon Go type effectiveness chart?
You do not need to memorize everything at once. Start with the most common matchups, then use a chart or calculator for dual types and unfamiliar Pokémon.
Final Thoughts on Pokemon Go Type Effectiveness
Pokemon Go type effectiveness is one of the fastest ways to improve your battle results. Once you understand super effective damage, resistances, dual-type stacking, and move-type selection, you can build stronger teams for raids, gyms, PvP, and Team GO Rocket battles.
The best approach is simple: learn the chart, check the multiplier, choose the right moves, and plan where to use your counters. When you are ready to put that preparation into action, PoKeep Location Changer can help you explore Pokémon GO locations more flexibly with joystick movement, teleport options, route simulation, and cooldown planning.
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