Dual-type weaknesses and team coverage
Check shared weaknesses and find teammates that can safely take a hit.
By Pokémonism · Maintained by Stone Baldwin · Published · Sources & editorial policy
Multiply the two matchups
A dual-type defender takes the product of the incoming move's multiplier against each of its types. An Ice move is super effective against both Dragon and Ground, so ordinary Garchomp takes 2 × 2 = 4 times the type-neutral damage. That is a four-times weakness, not two separate hits. An Electric move encounters Dragon's resistance and Ground's immunity: 0.5 × 0 = 0.
This table uses the modern main-series type chart and ordinary forms, before abilities, items or other battle effects. Pokémon GO and the card games use different multipliers.
| Defender | Incoming type | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garchomp (Dragon / Ground) | Ice | 2 × 2 | 4× |
| Garchomp | Electric | 0.5 × 0 | Immune |
| Charizard (Fire / Flying) | Rock | 2 × 2 | 4× |
| Charizard | Ground | 2 × 0 | Immune |
Find shared weaknesses
Garchomp and Charizard look different and cover different attacking roles, but variety alone is not defensive coverage. Start by counting which incoming types threaten several teammates, then identify the actual Pokémon expected to take each attack. Six different type labels do not automatically provide six useful switch-ins.
For example, adding a Water type to an Ice-weak core may create an Ice resistance, but you still need to examine that Pokémon's second type, defensive stats and role. A nearly fainted offensive attacker is not a dependable answer simply because the type chart paints its cell green. Consider entry hazards and the damage it has already taken.
Choose safe switch-ins
An attacking coverage move lets your Pokémon threaten a target after it gets an opportunity to move. It does not mean your Pokémon can switch into that target's attack. Write these as separate team jobs: who can enter the field safely, and who can finish the opponent afterward? The same teammate can do both, but the chart cannot establish that on its own.
A practical test is to choose one realistic opponent and calculate the damage it deals on the switch. Then ask whether your answer survives the following turn and has a useful response. An opponent's coverage move may punish the obvious type-based switch. You do not need to predict every possibility, but the common ones should be explicit in your plan.
Account for abilities and items
Abilities, items and field effects can change these matchups. Levitate grants Ground immunity unless an effect bypasses or suppresses it. Terastallization changes defensive typing. Check these alongside the type chart when planning a switch.
Historical games can also use different charts. Fairy did not exist in the earliest generations, and Steel's interactions changed. Set the game or ruleset before using a modern chart to evaluate an old playthrough. The same caution applies to alternate forms that change a Pokémon's typing.
Patch your team’s weaknesses
Build the six-member team, identify the two most exposed incoming types, and nominate a primary and backup response to each. Test those responses with the damage calculator under the conditions you expect to play. If both answers depend on the same fragile support Pokémon, the apparent redundancy may disappear after one knockout.
An offensive team can trade safe switch-ins for pressure. If yours does, plan how to regain momentum after a knockout or a forced switch.
Sources and scope
Written with AI assistance. Examples use the linked game data and Pokémonism calculators.
Report an error with the game, format and source so we can reproduce it.