Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Type Chart Strengths Weaknesses

Type matchups can make or break a battle in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Mastering which types hit hardest-and which crumble under pressure-turns every encounter into a calculated test of strategy.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet type chart – strengths and weaknesses, explained

The type chart in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet outlines how each elemental type interacts in battles, showing which moves hit harder or deal less damage. Knowing these strengths and weaknesses helps trainers decide which Pokémon to send out and which attacks to use. For instance, Water is strong against Fire but weak to Electric, while Steel resists many types but struggles against Fire and Ground. Mastering these matchups gives players a tactical edge in competitive and in-game battles alike.

Each Pokémon has its own set of strengths and weaknesses. Attacks that are “super effective” (i.e. strong) against a certain type will deal double damage, while attacks that are “not very effective” (i.e. weak) against a type will deal half the damage.

Memorizing type advantages can be simple. Water-type moves are strong against the fire-type Charmander, for example. Rock- and ground-type moves are also strong against Charmander. This is fairly easy to remember, as you can use water, rocks, or dirt to put out a fire. However, some of the types get more confusing. Steel- and poison-type moves are strong against fairy-type Pokémon, as knights in armor and poisoned fruit are powerful in fairy tales. Sheesh.

Things get even more complex when a Pokémon has two types. Charizard, which is both fire- and flying-type, has different weaknesses than Charmander. Not only is it weak to water- and rock-type moves, but it’s also weak to electric-type moves. However, its fire-typing prevents it from taking extra damage from ice-type moves (as flying-types usually do). It’s flying-typing also gives it complete immunity against ground-type moves. Nice.

Strengths and weaknesses also aren’t necessarily just opposites of each other. Though fire-type move deal less damage to water-type Pokémon and water-type moves do doubled damage against fire-type Pokémon, this isn’t the case with every type. For example, fighting-type moves are strong against normal-types, but normal-types just do regular damage against fighting-types, rather than reduced damage.

Notably, in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, you can change a Pokémon’s type in battle by Terastilizing. All Pokémon can Terastilize into one type, changing its typing completely. For example, if a Charizard (typically fire/flying) Terastilizes into a fire-type, it will lose its flying-typing, making it also lose its vulnerability to electric-type moves. You can even have Pokémon that Terastilize into completely different types – a Charizard, for instance, that Terastilizes into a dragon- or water-type. It’s a radical change to the Pokémon type chart for Scarlet and Violet.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind when battling Pokémon in Tera Raids. You should remember to bring a Pokémon who’s strong against the opponent’s tera type, but isn’t weak against its usual typing. Raid Pokémon still retain their original movesets, so you’ll need to look out for moves that counter your Pokémon’s type. For example, if you face off against a dragon Tera Type Charizard, don’t bring any ice-type Pokémon. Yes, ice-type moves are super effective against the dragon Tera Type, but the Charizard will still know plenty of fire-type moves, which will melt down your ice-type Pokémon in an instant.

Knowing what a Pokémon’s strengths and weaknesses are is an important aspect of battling. To do the most damage you can, you should make sure that your Pokémon’s moves are strong against what it’s battling.

Memorizing all of it can get confusing. Here’s a chart to help you out.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet type strength and weakness chart

Understanding type strengths and weaknesses in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet helps players choose the best moves and battle strategies. Each of the eighteen types interacts differently in combat, with some dealing double damage and others half or none. A well-balanced team should cover multiple types to handle various opponents. Knowing which types are strong or weak against others can turn the tide in gym battles, Tera Raid challenges, and competitive matches.

Best Pokémon team types for balanced coverage

A balanced Pokémon team in Scarlet and Violet prioritizes offensive coverage against all 18 types while minimizing shared weaknesses defensively. Common cores like Water/Grass/Fire or Fighting/Ground/Flying provide broad matchup advantages with 6 Pokémon.

Offensive Coverage Core

These type combinations hit every type super effectively:

• Ground (covers Electric, Fire, Poison, Rock, Steel)

• Fighting (covers Normal, Rock, Steel, Ice, Dark)

• Ice (covers Flying, Ground, Grass, Dragon)

• Electric or Grass (covers Water, Flying)

• Fire (covers Bug, Steel, Grass, Ice)

• Dark, Ghost, or Fairy (covers Psychic, Ghost; Fairy adds Dragon)

Example team: Golem (Rock/Ground), Gallade (Psychic/Fighting), Rotom-Frost (Electric/Ice), Kingdra (Water/Dragon), Volcarona (Bug/Fire), Sableye (Dark/Ghost).

Defensive Balance

Avoid stacking weaknesses (e.g., no multiple Fire-weak teams):

• Include Steel or Poison to resist Fairy/Dragon.

• Ground or Grass for Electric coverage.

• Water or Flying for Rock/Fire threats.

Dual-types like Gyarados (Water/Flying) enhance this by merging roles.

Example Pokémon teams with Fire Water Grass core

Fire, Water, and Grass cores excel in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet for their mutual defensive synergy-Water resists Fire, Fire resists Grass, and Grass resists Water-while providing solid offensive coverage against common threats like Ground, Rock, and Steel.

Scarlet/Violet Starter Core

Use the Gen 9 starters for a beginner-friendly team foundation.

• Skeledirge (Fire/Ghost): Tanky special attacker resisting Fighting and Normal; covers Grass, Bug, Steel, Ice.

• Quaquaval (Water/Fighting): Fast physical sweeper handling Rock, Fire, Normal, Dark.

• Meowscarada (Grass/Dark): Speedy revenge killer resisting Water, Ground, Ghost; hits Psychic, Ghost super effectively.

Add supports like Tinkaton (Fairy/Steel) for Fairy/Dragon coverage and Gholdengo (Ghost/Steel) for Ghost immunity.

Competitive VGC Core

From Regulation-era teams, this mirrors popular Scarlet/Violet play.

Completes with Incineroar (Fire/Dark) for Intimidate and Ogerpon-Wellspring (Water/Grass) for utility; strong in doubles for terrain control and pivoting.​​

In-Game Balance Team

Optimized for story mode with broad coverage.

• Armarouge (Fire/Psychic): Armor Cannon nuke, Psychic STAB.

• Kingdra (Water/Dragon): Swift Swim rain sweeper.

• Iron Valiant (Fairy/Fighting) as Grass Tera (Grass coverage via moves).

Fills gaps with Dragapult (Dragon/Ghost) and Corviknight (Flying/Steel).