Pokémon TCG Types, Weakness and Resistance Explained
The ten Pokémon TCG types, how Weakness (×2) and Resistance (−30) work, common type matchups, when they do not apply, and how to use Weakness when building and playing a deck.
Last updated · 4 min read
Weakness is the single biggest damage modifier in the Pokémon TCG. It doubles the damage an attack does, which turns a solid hit into a one-hit Knock Out. Resistance is smaller but can still decide close games. This guide explains both, plus the types they depend on.
The ten types
Current Pokémon cards use ten types, each shown by a symbol near the HP:
| Type | Typical Pokémon |
|---|---|
| Grass | Plants and bugs |
| Fire | Fire Pokémon |
| Water | Water and Ice Pokémon |
| Lightning | Electric Pokémon |
| Psychic | Psychic, Ghost and Fairy Pokémon |
| Fighting | Fighting, Ground and Rock Pokémon |
| Darkness | Dark and Poison Pokémon |
| Metal | Steel Pokémon |
| Dragon | Dragon Pokémon |
| Colorless | Normal and Flying Pokémon |
The card game has fewer types than the video games, so several video game types are folded together. Older cards also used a Fairy type, which was retired; Fairy Pokémon on current cards are usually Psychic.
Basic Energy exists for eight of the types. There is no Basic Dragon or Colorless Energy: Dragon Pokémon usually need two different Energy types, and Colorless costs can be paid with any Energy.
Weakness: ×2
Weakness is printed at the bottom left of the card as a type symbol and ×2. When an attacking Pokémon of that type does damage to this Pokémon while it is in the Active Spot, the damage is doubled.
Example: your Lightning Pokémon attacks for 110 against a Water Pokémon with Lightning Weakness. The attack does 220, enough to Knock Out most Pokémon ex in one hit.
Resistance: −30
Resistance is shown next to Weakness as a type symbol and −30. Damage from that type is reduced by 30. Many current cards have no Resistance, so it appears less often than Weakness.
Example: an attack for 60 against a Pokémon that resists its type does 30.
When they do not apply
- Benched Pokémon: damage to the Bench ignores Weakness and Resistance unless the attack says otherwise.
- Damage counters: effects that “put damage counters” rather than “do damage” skip Weakness and Resistance entirely.
- Pokémon Checkup: Poison and Burn damage are not attacks, so they ignore both.
- The attacker’s type, not the Energy: Weakness depends on the type of the attacking Pokémon, not the type of Energy attached to it.
The order matters
Weakness and Resistance are applied after effects on the attacking Pokémon and before effects on the defending Pokémon:
- Base damage and the attack’s text
- Effects on the attacker (+)
- Weakness (×2)
- Resistance (−30)
- Effects on the defender (−)
The worked examples are in how damage is calculated, and the damage calculator does the maths for you.
Common matchups
Weakness varies from card to card, so always read the card in front of you. That said, many recent cards follow these familiar patterns:
| Type | Often weak to |
|---|---|
| Grass | Fire |
| Fire | Water |
| Water | Lightning or Grass |
| Lightning | Fighting |
| Psychic | Darkness or Metal |
| Fighting | Grass or Psychic |
| Darkness | Grass or Fighting |
| Metal | Fire |
| Colorless | Fighting |
| Dragon | Usually no Weakness |
Treat this table as a starting point for spotting likely threats, not as a rule.
Using Weakness in practice
When building a deck
- Look at the most popular decks in your area. If many of them share a Weakness, a Pokémon of that type can be a strong tech card, even as a single copy.
- Check your own main attacker’s Weakness. If a popular deck hits it for double, consider a backup attacker of a different type.
- Pokémon that can attack with Colorless Energy are easy to fit into almost any deck, which makes them common tech choices.
During a game
- Before you attack, check the defending Pokémon’s Weakness. Using a switching or “gust” effect to bring up a Benched Pokémon that is weak to you can turn a two-hit Knock Out into one.
- When you choose your Active Pokémon, avoid putting forward one that is weak to your opponent’s main attacker if you have a choice.
- Remember Weakness when counting Prizes: a single doubled attack on a Pokémon ex can be worth 2 Prize cards.
Tracking damage with Weakness
PTCG Companion lets you add damage in steps of 10, 50 or 100, so even a doubled hit takes a couple of taps. For a quick check before you attack, open the damage calculator. Want to see where Weakness and Resistance are printed? Read how to read a Pokémon card.
