Type

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If you were looking for the property of a Pokémon called type in The Official Pokémon Handbook, see Pokémon category.

Types (Japanese: タイプ Type) are properties for Pokémon and their moves. As of Generation VI, there are 18 types, as listed to the right. Most of these were introduced during Generation I, but the Dark and Steel types were introduced in Generation II and the Fairy type was introduced in Generation VI. A unique ??? type also existed from Generations II through IV. During Generation I, types were occasionally referred to as elements. The types are based on the concept of classical elements in popular culture.

A Pokémon may have either one or two types: For instance, Charmander is a Fire type, while Bulbasaur is both a Grass type and a Poison type. With the current 18-type system, there are a total of 324 possible ways to assign types to Pokémon, with 171 unique combinations. As of Generation VIII, 154 different type combinations have been used. Similar to Pokémon, Pokéstar Studios opponents also have types.

A move has exactly one type. The type of a damaging move typically defines which types of Pokémon it is super effective against, which types of Pokémon it is not very effective against, and which types of Pokémon it is completely ineffective against. (Uniquely, Flying Press is a Fighting-type move but has the type effectiveness of both a Fighting- and Flying-type move.) If the type of a move matches one of the types of the Pokémon using it, it gains a boost in power.

Most Gym Leaders and members of the Elite Four are designed to have a type-specific theme.

Type effectiveness

Sylveon using a super effective move on Hydreigon
"Super effective" redirects here. For the webcomic, see Super Effective (webcomic).
"It's super effective" redirects here. For the podcast, see It's Super Effective (podcast).
"Weakness" and "Resistance" redirect here. For the TCG mechanics, see Appendix:Glossary (TCG) → Weakness and Appendix:Glossary (TCG) → Resistance.

Damaging moves typically vary in effectiveness (Japanese: 効果 effectiveness) depending on the move's type and the type(s) of its target.

Type effectiveness greatly influences how much damage moves deal:

  • If the type of a move is super effective (Japanese: 効果はバツグン super effective) against a type of its target, the damage is doubled;
  • If the type of a move is not very effective (Japanese: 効果は今一つ not very effective) against a type of its target, the damage is halved;
  • If the type of a move is not effective (Japanese: 効果がない not effective) against a type of its target, the target is completely immune to it, and the move will deal no damage.

For targets that have multiple types, the type effectiveness of a move is the product of its effectiveness against each of the types:

  • If the type of a move is super effective against both of the opponent's types (such as Dig, a Ground-type move, used against an Aggron, a Steel/Rock Pokémon), then the move does 4 times the damage;
  • If the type of a move is not very effective against both of the opponent's types (such as Wake-Up Slap, a Fighting-type move, used against a Sigilyph, a Psychic/Flying Pokémon), then the move only does ¼ of the damage;
  • If the type of a move is super effective against one of the opponent's types but not very effective against the other (such as Razor Leaf, a Grass-type move, used against a Gyarados, a Water/Flying Pokémon), then the move deals regular damage;
  • If the type of move is completely ineffective against one of the opponent's types, then the move does no damage, even if the opponent has a second type that would be vulnerable to it (as in Thunderbolt, an Electric-type move, used against a Quagsire, a Water/Ground Pokémon).

The moves Flying Press, Freeze-Dry, and Thousand Arrows have custom interactions with defending types and do not strictly obey the type chart. Fire-type moves double in effectiveness against Pokémon affected by Tar Shot. Moves that deal direct damage (including one-hit knockout moves) do not employ effectiveness, although since Generation II Pokémon are immune to them based on type interactions. Certain Abilities, held items, or types of weather (such as Levitate, the Ring Target, or strong winds, respectively) may modify the effectiveness of specific types of moves.

Status moves typically do not employ type effectiveness; however, Ground-type Pokémon are immune to Thunder Wave based on type interactions, and Ghost-type Pokémon are immune to Glare based on type interactions in Generations II and III only. Furthermore, status moves may be unable to affect Pokémon based on type-related interactions other than effectiveness; for example, Poison-type Pokémon cannot be afflicted with poison and are thus unaffected by Poison Gas.

Type chart

For type charts from previous generations, see Type/Type chart

A type chart, also known as type matchup chart, or pokemon weakness chart shows which modifiers are applied to move types when attacking Pokémon of each type. If the defending Pokémon is dual-typed, the modifier is calculated as the product of the modifiers for both of its types: a Flying-type move would hit for 4× damage on a Bug/Grass Pokémon, while a Ground-type move used against the same would do only a quarter of the regular damage. (A complete ineffectiveness against either type will make the move deal no damage since 0 multiplied by any number is 0.)

The type chart differs depending on the generation of games it is from. The type chart for Generation VI onward is shown below.

× Defending type
Normal Fighting Flying Poison Ground Rock Bug Ghost Steel Fire Water Grass Electric Psychic Ice Dragon Dark Fairy
A
t
t
a
c
k
i
n
g

t
y
p
e
Normal ½× ½×
Fighting ½× ½× ½× ½× ½×
Flying ½× ½× ½×
Poison ½× ½× ½× ½×
Ground ½× ½×
Rock ½× ½× ½×
Bug ½× ½× ½× ½× ½× ½× ½×
Ghost ½×
Steel ½× ½× ½× ½×
Fire ½× ½× ½× ½×
Water ½× ½× ½×
Grass ½× ½× ½× ½× ½× ½× ½×
Electric ½× ½× ½×
Psychic ½× ½×
Ice ½× ½× ½× ½×
Dragon ½×
Dark ½× ½× ½×
Fairy ½× ½× ½×
These matchups are suitable for Generation VI onward.

In Inverse Battles, a different type chart is used that essentially inverts the regular type chart, turning immunities and resistances into weaknesses, and weaknesses into resistances.

Dual-type damage misinformation glitch

Main article: List of glitches in Generation I → Dual-type damage misinformation

In Generation I only, if a damaging move is used on a Pokémon with two types such that one of its types is weak to the move and the other type resists the move, it will correctly receive neutral damage, but the incorrect message will be displayed on-screen. This does not occur in Pokémon Stadium.

Type-affected game mechanics

Prior to Generation IV, the category of damaging moves only depends on the move's type (except for Shadow moves); for example, all Normal-type damaging moves are physical moves and all Water-type damaging moves are special moves. From Generation IV onward, each individual move has a damage category that is independent of its type.

When the type of a move matches one of the types of the Pokémon using it, the attack power will be increased by 50%. This is referred to as same-type attack bonus, or STAB for short. As an example, an Aron that knows the Steel-type move Metal Claw will have the move's power increased by 50% because one of Aron's types is Steel; the power of Cut would not be increased as Normal is not one of Aron's types.

Some Pokémon types are immune to certain status moves or effects. For example, Grass-type Pokémon are immune to Leech Seed, and Ice-type Pokémon are not damaged by Hail.

Some moves, field effects, Abilities, and held items affect moves of a certain type. Sunny Day, for example, causes Fire-type moves to increase in power, while Levitate causes Ground-type moves to not work on the Pokémon with this Ability. Likewise, each type has a specific held item that can be given to a Pokémon that will power up one of the specific types by 20% (or 10%, prior to Generation IV), such as the Metal Coat for Steel-type moves.

Some moves can change the type of a Pokémon. For example, Camouflage changes the user's type to a type corresponding to the battlefield terrain. Abilities can also change the type of a Pokémon. These abilities include Color Change, Multitype, Protean, RKS System, and Libero.

Additionally, the type of some moves may depend on the circumstances they are used in; for example, Weather Ball may be Fire-, Water-, Ice-, Rock-, or Normal-type depending on the weather it is used in. Additionally, there are Abilities that can modify move types as well as exactly three moves: (Electrify, Ion Deluge, and Plasma Fists).

When a Pokémon has two types, those two types are always listed in an order specific to the Pokémon. This order is mostly aesthetic, but it affects Present in Generation II and Revelation Dance.

??? type

Main article: ??? (type)

The ??? type is the only type to have been removed from the core series games. The ??? type only existed from Generation II to Generation IV and was primarily used in the core series as the type of the move Curse. It was removed in Generation V, and Curse became a Ghost-type move. Any damaging moves given the ??? type deal regular damage against all types, and any Pokémon given the ??? type takes regular damage from all moves.

Shadow

While not generally regarded as an actual type, in Pokémon XD, Shadow moves have their type listed as "------". Shadow Pokémon can be considered to be of this type, but they still retain their regular typing as well. In Pokémon XD, all Shadow moves are not very effective against Shadow Pokémon and super effective against non-Shadow Pokémon.

Typeless

There are situations where Pokémon or moves behave as if they were typeless, unable to receive STAB and boosts from type-enhancing items or Abilities. This is most commonly possible through effects that make one lose a type, such as Burn Up and Roost. Typeless Pokémon take regular damage from all moves, and typeless moves deal regular damage against all Pokémon.

Struggle acts typelessly from Generation II onward. The move Weather Ball acts typelessly under shadowy aura, and the move Revelation Dance acts typelessly if used by a typeless user (in which case it does not receive STAB). Beat Up, Future Sight and Doom Desire deal typeless damage before Generation V.

A typeless Pokémon has no types displayed on its battle summary.

Glitch types

Main article: Glitch type

The glitch types are types which only appear through the use of glitches, such as on the types of glitch Pokémon. Most famously this includes the Bird type, which was intentionally programmed into the code of the Generation I and II games but was not given to any real Pokémon. Other glitch types are the result of the game reading other data as if it were types. Like the ??? type, all glitch types, except 'l) m) ZM, have no special effectiveness (they both inflict regular damage against all types and take regular damage from all types).

Icons

In Generations I and II, the core series games just used the type's name, with the only icons being in Pokémon Stadium series games.

In Pokémon GO, icons were introduced to represent each of the types during gameplay. Very similar icons were later adopted into the core series, starting with Pokémon Sun and Moon and then following up with the subsequent core series games and Pokémon HOME.

In Pokémon X and Y, a different set of type icons were used as decorations for the floor of Diantha's Champion room.

Normal icon SwSh.png Fighting icon SwSh.png Flying icon SwSh.png Poison icon SwSh.png Ground icon SwSh.png Rock icon SwSh.png
Normal Fighting Flying Poison Ground Rock
Bug icon SwSh.png Ghost icon SwSh.png Steel icon SwSh.png Fire icon SwSh.png Water icon SwSh.png Grass icon SwSh.png
Bug Ghost Steel Fire Water Grass
Electric icon SwSh.png Psychic icon SwSh.png Ice icon SwSh.png Dragon icon SwSh.png Dark icon SwSh.png Fairy icon SwSh.png
Electric Psychic Ice Dragon Dark Fairy

Name icons

In HeartGold and SoulSilver, the icons similar to ones in Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald are used in the summary and in-battle, while the Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum icons are used in the Pokédex.

RSEHGSS FRLG DPPtHGSS BWB2W2 XYORAS SMUSUM SwSh Stad Stad2 Colo. XD PBR
File:NormalIC.gif NormalIC FRLG.png NormalIC Big.png NormalIC BW.png File:Picross NormalIC.png NormalIC SM.png NormalIC.png NormalIC Stad.png NormalIC Stad2.png NormalIC Colo.png NormalIC XD.png NormalIC PBR.png
File:FightingIC.gif FightingIC FRLG.png FightingIC Big.png FightingIC BW.png File:Picross FightingIC.png FightingIC SM.png FightingIC.png FightingIC Stad.png FightingIC Stad2.png FightingIC Colo.png FightingIC XD.png FightingIC PBR.png
File:FlyingIC.gif FlyingIC FRLG.png FlyingIC Big.png FlyingIC BW.png File:Picross FlyingIC.png FlyingIC SM.png FlyingIC.png FlyingIC Stad.png FlyingIC Stad2.png FlyingIC Colo.png FlyingIC XD.png FlyingIC PBR.png
File:PoisonIC.gif PoisonIC FRLG.png PoisonIC Big.png PoisonIC BW.png File:Picross PoisonIC.png PoisonIC SM.png PoisonIC.png PoisonIC Stad.png PoisonIC Stad2.png PoisonIC Colo.png PoisonIC XD.png PoisonIC PBR.png
File:GroundIC.gif GroundIC FRLG.png GroundIC Big.png GroundIC BW.png File:Picross GroundIC.png GroundIC SM.png GroundIC.png GroundIC Stad.png GroundIC Stad2.png GroundIC Colo.png GroundIC XD.png GroundIC PBR.png
File:RockIC.gif RockIC FRLG.png RockIC Big.png RockIC BW.png File:Picross RockIC.png RockIC SM.png RockIC.png RockIC Stad.png RockIC Stad2.png RockIC Colo.png RockIC XD.png RockIC PBR.png
File:BugIC.gif BugIC FRLG.png BugIC Big.png BugIC BW.png File:Picross BugIC.png BugIC SM.png BugIC.png BugIC Stad.png BugIC Stad2.png BugIC Colo.png BugIC XD.png BugIC PBR.png
File:GhostIC.gif GhostIC FRLG.png GhostIC Big.png GhostIC BW.png File:Picross GhostIC.png GhostIC SM.png GhostIC.png GhostIC Stad.png GhostIC Stad2.png GhostIC Colo.png GhostIC XD.png GhostIC PBR.png
File:SteelIC.gif SteelIC FRLG.png SteelIC Big.png SteelIC BW.png File:Picross SteelIC.png SteelIC SM.png SteelIC.png None SteelIC Stad2.png SteelIC Colo.png SteelIC XD.png SteelIC PBR.png
File:UnknownIC.gif UnknownIC FRLG.png UnknownIC Big.png None None None None None UnknownIC Stad2.png UnknownIC Colo.png UnknownIC XD.png UnknownIC PBR.png
File:FireIC.gif FireIC FRLG.png FireIC Big.png FireIC BW.png File:Picross FireIC.png FireIC SM.png FireIC.png FireIC Stad.png FireIC Stad2.png FireIC Colo.png FireIC XD.png FireIC PBR.png
File:WaterIC.gif WaterIC FRLG.png WaterIC Big.png WaterIC BW.png File:Picross WaterIC.png WaterIC SM.png WaterIC.png WaterIC Stad.png WaterIC Stad2.png WaterIC Colo.png WaterIC XD.png WaterIC PBR.png
File:GrassIC.gif GrassIC FRLG.png GrassIC Big.png GrassIC BW.png File:Picross GrassIC.png GrassIC SM.png GrassIC.png GrassIC Stad.png GrassIC Stad2.png GrassIC Colo.png GrassIC XD.png GrassIC PBR.png
File:ElectricIC.gif ElectricIC FRLG.png ElectricIC Big.png ElectricIC BW.png File:Picross ElectricIC.png ElectricIC SM.png ElectricIC.png ElectricIC Stad.png ElectricIC Stad2.png ElectricIC Colo.png ElectricIC XD.png ElectricIC PBR.png
File:PsychicIC.gif PsychicIC FRLG.png PsychicIC Big.png PsychicIC BW.png File:Picross PsychicIC.png PsychicIC SM.png PsychicIC.png PsychicIC Stad.png PsychicIC Stad2.png PsychicIC Colo.png PsychicIC XD.png PsychicIC PBR.png
File:IceIC.gif IceIC FRLG.png IceIC Big.png IceIC BW.png File:Picross IceIC.png IceIC SM.png IceIC.png IceIC Stad.png IceIC Stad2.png IceIC Colo.png IceIC XD.png IceIC PBR.png
File:DragonIC.gif DragonIC FRLG.png DragonIC Big.png DragonIC BW.png File:Picross DragonIC.png DragonIC SM.png DragonIC.png DragonIC Stad.png DragonIC Stad2.png DragonIC Colo.png DragonIC XD.png DragonIC PBR.png
File:DarkIC.gif DarkIC FRLG.png DarkIC Big.png DarkIC BW.png File:Picross DarkIC.png DarkIC SM.png DarkIC.png None DarkIC Stad2.png DarkIC Colo.png DarkIC XD.png DarkIC PBR.png
None None None None File:Picross FairyIC.png FairyIC SM.png FairyIC.png None None None None None

Symbol icons

Battrio Tretta MDRTDX New Snap GO Masters EX Rumble Rush Ranger Mezastar
Battrio Normal type.png Tretta Normal type.png PMD DX Normal type.png NormalIC NPSnap.png GO Normal.png NormalIC Masters.png NormalIC RR.png Normal Assist.png Mezastar Normal type.png
Battrio Fighting type.png Tretta Fighting type.png PMD DX Fighting type.png FightingIC NPSnap.png GO Fighting.png FightingIC Masters.png FightingIC RR.png Fighting Assist.png Mezastar Fighting type.png
Battrio Flying type.png Tretta Flying type.png PMD DX Flying type.png FlyingIC NPSnap.png GO Flying.png FlyingIC Masters.png FlyingIC RR.png Flying Assist.png Mezastar Flying type.png
Battrio Poison type.png Tretta Poison type.png PMD DX Poison type.png PoisonIC NPSnap.png GO Poison.png PoisonIC Masters.png PoisonIC RR.png Poison Assist.png Mezastar Poison type.png
Battrio Ground type.png Tretta Ground type.png PMD DX Ground type.png GroundIC NPSnap.png GO Ground.png GroundIC Masters.png GroundIC RR.png Ground Assist.png Mezastar Ground type.png
Battrio Rock type.png Tretta Rock type.png PMD DX Rock type.png RockIC NPSnap.png GO Rock.png RockIC Masters.png RockIC RR.png Rock Assist.png Mezastar Rock type.png
Battrio Bug type.png Tretta Bug type.png PMD DX Bug type.png BugIC NPSnap.png GO Bug.png BugIC Masters.png BugIC RR.png Bug Assist.png Mezastar Bug type.png
Battrio Ghost type.png Tretta Ghost type.png PMD DX Ghost type.png GhostIC NPSnap.png GO Ghost.png GhostIC Masters.png GhostIC RR.png Ghost Assist.png Mezastar Ghost type.png
Battrio Steel type.png Tretta Steel type.png PMD DX Steel type.png SteelIC NPSnap.png GO Steel.png SteelIC Masters.png SteelIC RR.png Steel Assist.png Mezastar Steel type.png
Battrio Fire type.png Tretta Fire type.png PMD DX Fire type.png FireIC NPSnap.png GO Fire.png FireIC Masters.png FireIC RR.png Fire Assist.png Mezastar Fire type.png
Battrio Water type.png Tretta Water type.png PMD DX Water type.png WaterIC NPSnap.png GO Water.png WaterIC Masters.png WaterIC RR.png Water Assist.png Mezastar Water type.png
Battrio Grass type.png Tretta Grass type.png PMD DX Grass type.png GrassIC NPSnap.png GO Grass.png GrassIC Masters.png GrassIC RR.png Grass Assist.png Mezastar Grass type.png
Battrio Electric type.png Tretta Electric type.png PMD DX Electric type.png ElectricIC NPSnap.png GO Electric.png ElectricIC Masters.png ElectricIC RR.png Electric Assist.png Mezastar Electric type.png
Battrio Psychic type.png Tretta Psychic type.png PMD DX Psychic type.png PsychicIC NPSnap.png GO Psychic.png PsychicIC Masters.png PsychicIC RR.png Psychic Assist.png Mezastar Psychic type.png
Battrio Ice type.png Tretta Ice type.png PMD DX Ice type.png IceIC NPSnap.png GO Ice.png IceIC Masters.png IceIC RR.png Ice Assist.png Mezastar Ice type.png
Battrio Dragon type.png Tretta Dragon type.png PMD DX Dragon type.png DragonIC NPSnap.png GO Dragon.png DragonIC Masters.png DragonIC RR.png Dragon Assist.png Mezastar Dragon type.png
Battrio Dark type.png Tretta Dark type.png PMD DX Dark type.png DarkIC NPSnap.png GO Dark.png DarkIC Masters.png DarkIC RR.png Dark Assist.png Mezastar Dark type.png
None Tretta Fairy type.png PMD DX Fairy type.png FairyIC NPSnap.png GO Fairy.png FairyIC Masters.png FairyIC RR.png None Mezastar Fairy type.png

In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

Main article: Damage modification (Mystery Dungeon)

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, the matchup multipliers are 0.5×, 0.9×, 1× and 1.5×. In Explorers of Time, Darkness and Sky, the multipliers have been changed to 0.5×, 0.7×, 1× and 1.4×; if either the attacker or the defender has Erratic Player IQ skill, they are 0.25×, 0.5×, 1× and 1.7×, instead. Immunities provided from Abilities or moves, such as Levitate or Magnet Rise, are still 0×.

In Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, moves that are ineffective in the core series are now ineffective as well (0× damage).

Pokémon Ranger series

In the Pokémon Ranger series, each Pokémon has a group, equivalent to a type in the core series. The effectiveness of Poké Assists on wild Pokémon is dependent on the Pokémon's group.

Pokémon Rumble series

In the Pokémon Rumble series, the type effectiveness chart differs from the equivalent type chart in contemporaneous core series games. Moves that are ineffective in the core series deal 0.6× damage instead, moves that would be not very effective against one or both of the target's types deal ~0.8× or ~0.7× damage, respectively, and moves that would be super effective against one or both of the target's types deal ~1.2× and ~1.4× damage, respectively.

Pokémon Battrio

Main article: Type (Battrio)

Pokémon in Pokémon Battrio all have one type in line with one of their types in the core games. Battrio also includes two unique types exclusively for Arceus, the Full Plate and Eleven-Plate types.

Pokémon Battrio's type effectiveness chart is also unique, with different possible strengths for weaknesses or resistances. For example, while Grass-type Pokémon are weak to both Ice- and Fire-type moves, they are weaker to Fire-type moves than to Ice-type moves.

Players with a Memory Key can also gain experience towards different types that will level up their Type Levels, granting Pokémon of that type a bonus in Attack or HP.

Pokémon Shuffle

Main article: Pokémon Shuffle → Type

Pokémon in Pokémon Shuffle each only have one type. Pokémon Shuffle's type effectiveness chart is also slightly different than the contemporaneous Generation VI chart, with 0× effectivenesses turned into ½× effectiveness.

Pokémon GO

In Pokémon GO, type effectiveness multipliers differ from the core series games, but using the same type effectiveness chart.

The multipler Pokémon GO is 1.6n (1.4 prior to December 12, 2018 and 1.25 prior to June 21, 2017). The exponent n starts at 0, with weakness adding 1, resistance substracting 1, and an immunity being equal to a double resistance, subtracting 2.

As such, the following multipliers are possible:

Type effectiveness Multiplier
Doubly super effective ×2.56
Super effective ×1.6
Neutral ×1
Resisted ×0.625
Doubly resisted ×0.390625
Triply resisted* ×0.244140625

Pokémon UNITE

There are no type advantages in Pokémon UNITE.

In the TCG

Main article: Type (TCG)

There are eleven types in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, significantly fewer than the in other Pokémon media. Because of the smaller number of types, Pokémon often have different types in the TCG to other Pokémon media. Due to the fact that Pokémon in the TCG can usually only have one type, dual-type Pokémon often have different cards which correspond to the Pokémon's two different types, since type is a property of the individual card and not the species. In the TCG, moves do not have their own type. Instead, for Weakness and Resistance, the type of the Pokémon card is used instead.

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 屬性 Suhksing
Mandarin 屬性 / 属性 Shǔxìng
The Czech Republic Flag.png Czech Typ
Denmark Flag.png Danish Type
Finland Flag.png Finnish Tyyppi
France Flag.png French Type
Germany Flag.png German Typ
India Flag.png Hindi प्रकार Prakaar
Hungary Flag.png Hungarian Típus
Indonesia Flag.png Indonesian Tipe
Italy Flag.png Italian Tipo
South Korea Flag.png Korean 타입 Type
Malaysia Flag.png Malaysian Type
Jenis
Poland Flag.png Polish Typ
Portuguese Brazil Flag.png Brazil Tipo
Elemento*
Portugal Flag.png Portugal Tipo
Russia Flag.png Russian Тип Tip
Spain Flag.png Spanish Tipo
Sweden Flag.png Swedish Typ
Sort*
Elementklass*
Thailand Flag.png Thai ประเภท Praphet
Turkey Flag.png Turkish Tür
Vietnam Flag.png Vietnamese Hệ

See also


Project Games logo.png This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.