How do type multipliers work in Pokémon?

Super effective attacks deal 2× damage; not very effective deal 0.5×; immunities deal 0×. Dual-type Pokémon compound these: a 2× weakness and 2× weakness together = 4× damage from that type. Dual resistances compound to 0.25×. Add STAB (1.5×) for moves matching the attacker's type.

What is STAB in Pokémon?

STAB (Same-Type Attack Bonus) is a 1.5× damage multiplier applied when a Pokémon uses a move that matches one of its own types. Charizard (Fire/Flying) gets STAB on Fire and Flying moves. In competitive Pokémon, STAB moves are almost always prioritized because of this significant bonus.

How do I maximize type coverage for competitive play?

Choose 4 moves that cover different types with minimal overlap. Identify your key threats in the meta and ensure you can hit them super effectively. Coverage types most broadly useful: Fighting (hits Rock, Steel, Ice, Normal, Dark), Ground (hits Fire, Electric, Rock, Steel, Poison), Ice (hits Dragon, Flying, Ground, Grass). Avoid all moves of the same type.

What does 4× super effective mean in Pokémon?

A Pokémon with a dual-type weakness to the same offensive type takes 4× damage. Example: Gyarados (Water/Flying) has 2× weakness to Electric (Water) × 2× weakness to Electric (Flying) = 4× damage from Electric moves. These quad weaknesses are critical to know in competitive play — they're almost always KOs.

How Pokémon Type Coverage Works: Damage Multipliers and Strategic Coverage

Understand Pokémon type coverage — how damage multipliers work, how to calculate combined coverage of a moveset, and how to choose moves that hit as many types as possible.

Related Calculators

Pokémon Type Coverage Calculator
Summarize a move set's type coverage from the number of defending types hit super effectively, neutrally, resisted or immune.
Catch Rate Calculator
Estimate Pokémon capture chance from HP, species catch rate, Poké Ball modifier and status-condition modifier.

How Pokémon Type Matchups Work

Pokémon damage uses a type effectiveness multiplier applied to the base damage calculation:

Damage = Base × (Type Effectiveness) × STAB × Other Modifiers

Type Effectiveness Multipliers: | Matchup | Multiplier | |---------|-----------| | Super Effective | 2× (or 4× for double weakness) | | Normal | 1× | | Not Very Effective | 0.5× (or 0.25× for double resistance) | | No Effect (immunity) | 0× |

Dual-Type Interactions

When attacking a dual-type Pokémon, both types' multipliers are multiplied together:

Example: Fire vs. Grass/Steel: - Fire vs. Grass: 2× (super effective) - Fire vs. Steel: 2× (super effective) - Total: 2 × 2 = 4× (quad super effective)

Example: Electric vs. Water/Ground: - Electric vs. Water: 2× - Electric vs. Ground: 0× (immune) - Total: 2 × 0 = 0× (no effect — Ground immunity negates everything)

This is why Ground-immune typing (Levitate, Air Balloon, Ghost-type) matters so much for Electric types.

STAB Bonus (Same Type Attack Bonus)

When a Pokémon uses a move of the same type as itself, it receives a 1.5× damage bonus: - Charizard (Fire/Flying) using Flamethrower: 1.5× STAB - Charizard using Air Slash: 1.5× STAB - Combined with super effectiveness: 2× × 1.5× = 3× total

Coverage: Building a Moveset

"Coverage" refers to which types your moveset can hit super effectively. Good coverage means your Pokémon can threaten many types without switching.

Measuring coverage: Count how many of the 18 types your moveset hits at ≥1× damage, and how many it hits for 2× or more.

Classic 4-move coverage example: - Fighting + Ghost + Fairy + Ice - Fighting: covers Normal, Rock, Steel, Ice, Dark - Ghost: covers Psychic, Ghost - Fairy: covers Fighting, Dragon, Dark - Ice: covers Dragon, Flying, Ground, Grass

Together, this hits every type for at least 0.5× and provides super effective coverage against 13+ types.

Resisted and Immune Matchups

Most notoriously immune types: - Normal/Fighting: Immune to Ghost moves - Ghost: Immune to Normal and Fighting - Ground: Immune to Electric - Steel: Immune to Poison - Dark: Immune to Prankster-boosted moves (not standard attacks)

Quadruple weaknesses (exploitable): - Rock/Flying (×4 to Electric, Ice, Rock, Water) - Fire/Grass (×4 to Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, Rock, Bug) - Ice/Rock (×4 to Fighting, Steel, Rock)

Pokémon with quad weaknesses are typically handled carefully or paired with specific team support.

Related Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How do type multipliers work in Pokémon?: Super effective attacks deal 2× damage; not very effective deal 0.5×; immunities deal 0×. Dual-type Pokémon compound these: a 2× weakness and 2× weakness together = 4× damage from that type. Dual resistances compound to 0.25×. Add STAB (1.5×) for moves matching the attacker's type.
What is STAB in Pokémon?: STAB (Same-Type Attack Bonus) is a 1.5× damage multiplier applied when a Pokémon uses a move that matches one of its own types. Charizard (Fire/Flying) gets STAB on Fire and Flying moves. In competitive Pokémon, STAB moves are almost always prioritized because of this significant bonus.
How do I maximize type coverage for competitive play?: Choose 4 moves that cover different types with minimal overlap. Identify your key threats in the meta and ensure you can hit them super effectively. Coverage types most broadly useful: Fighting (hits Rock, Steel, Ice, Normal, Dark), Ground (hits Fire, Electric, Rock, Steel, Poison), Ice (hits Dragon, Flying, Ground, Grass). Avoid all moves of the same type.
What does 4× super effective mean in Pokémon?: A Pokémon with a dual-type weakness to the same offensive type takes 4× damage. Example: Gyarados (Water/Flying) has 2× weakness to Electric (Water) × 2× weakness to Electric (Flying) = 4× damage from Electric moves. These quad weaknesses are critical to know in competitive play — they're almost always KOs.

Last updated 7/28/2026