Understanding the ways different Pokémon types interact with each other is a crucial part of battle in any Pokémon game, and this is no exception in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. To be successful in fights, players are supposed to pick their active Pokémon based on what best counters the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents, meaning players should have a basic understanding of the different Pokémon types and how they work.
There are 18 different Pokémon types in Pokémon BDSP, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. This means rather than simply using the same strong Pokémon over and over again, players are encouraged to build a well-rounded team of different types of Pokémon that can be prepared for any situation. Here’s a breakdown of every Pokémon type in the new game, along with its strengths and weaknesses.
Each Pokémon has attack types that are “Very Effective” against, “Not Very Effective” against, “Weak Against”, or “Immune To” other enemies. If a Pokémon type is "Very Effective" against another type, it means they will do additional damage when fighting a Pokémon of that type. "Not Very Effective" means they will deal less damage against that type, while "Weak Against" means they will take additional damage from moves of that type. Finally, "Immune To" means the Pokémon cannot take any damage from moves of that type.
Every Pokémon Type Breakdown in Pokémon BDSP
Here is every Pokémon type in the game, as well as its relation to other types.
Bug-type Pokémon
- Very Effective: Dark, Grass, and Psychic
- Not Very Effective: Fighting, Fire, Flying, Ghost, Poison, and Steel
- Weak Against: Fire, Flying, and Rock
Dark-type Pokémon
- Very Effective: Ghost and Psychic
- Not Very Effective: Dark, Fairy, and Fighting
- Weak Against: Bug, Fairy, and Fighting
- Immune To: Psychic
Dragon-type Pokémon
- Very Effective: Dragon
- Not Very Effective: Steel
- Weak Against: Dragon, Fairy, and Ice
Electric-type Pokémon
- Very Effective: Flying and Water
- Not Very Effective: Dragon, Electric, and Grass
- Weak Against: Grass
Fairy-type Pokémon
- Very Effective: Dark, Dragon, and Fighting
- Not Very Effective: Dragon, Electric, and Grass
- Weak Against: Poison and Steel
- Immune To: Dragon
Fighting-type Pokémon
- Very Effective: Dark, Ice, Normal, Rock, and Steel
- Not Very Effective: Bug, Fairy, Flying, Poison, and Psychic
- Weak Against: Fairy, Flying, and Psychic
Fire-type Pokémon
- Very Effective: Bug, Grass, Ice, and Steel
- Not Very Effective: Dragon, Fire, Rock, and Water
- Weak Against: Ground, Rock, and Water
Flying-type Pokémon
- Very Effective: Bug, Fighting, and Grass
- Not Very Effective: Electric, Rock, and Steel
- Weak Against: Electric, Ice, and Rock
- Immune To: Ground
Ghost-type Pokémon
- Very Effective: Ghost and Psychic
- Not Very Effective: Dark
- Weak Against: Dark and Ghost
- Immune To: Normal
Grass-type Pokémon
- Very Effective: Ground, Rock, and Water
- Not Very Effective: Bug, Fire, Flying, Grass, Poison, and Steel
- Weak Against: Bug, Fire, Flying, Ice, and Poison
Ground-type Pokémon
- Very Effective: Electric, Fire, Poison, Rock, and Steel
- Not Very Effective: Bug and Grass
- Weak Against: Grass, Ice and Water
- Immune To: Electric
Ice-type Pokémon
- Very Effective: Dragon, Flying, Grass, and Ground
- Not Very Effective: Fire, Ice, Steel, and Water
- Weak Against: Fighting, Fire, Rock, and Steel
Normal-type Pokémon
- Very Effective: None
- Not Very Effective: Rock and Steel
- Weak Against: Fighting
Poison-type Pokémon
- Very Effective: Fairy and Grass
- Not Very Effective: Poison, Ghost, Ground, and Rock
- Weak Against: Ground and Psychic
Psychic-type Pokémon
- Very Effective: Fairy and Grass
- Not Very Effective: Steel and Psychic
- Weak Against: Bug, Dark and Ghost
Rock-type Pokémon
- Very Effective: Bug, Fire, Flying, and Ice
- Not Very Effective: Fighting, Ground, and Steel
- Weak Against: Fighting, Grass, Ground, Steel, and Water
Steel-type Pokémon
- Very Effective: Fairy, Ice, and Rock
- Not Very Effective: Electric, Fire, Steel, and Water
- Weak Against: Fighting, Fire, and Ground
- Immune To: Poison
Water-type Pokémon
- Very Effective: Fire, Ground, and Rock
- Not Very Effective: Dragon, Grass, and Water
- Weak Against: Electric and Grass
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are available now for the Nintendo Switch.