Type Effectiveness Calculator

If you’ve ever played a Pokémon game and found yourself wondering, “Is this move super effective or not?”, you’re not alone. Pokémon battles can be a complex dance of strategy, where knowing your type matchups makes all the difference. To simplify your decisions and boost your battle IQ, we’ve developed an easy-to-use Pokémon Type Effectiveness Calculator — a web tool that helps you determine exactly how effective your attack will be against any defending Pokémon type combination.

Whether you’re a competitive trainer, a casual gamer, or just someone trying to understand why Thunderbolt didn’t do much to that Garchomp, this tool is for you.

What Is the Pokémon Type Effectiveness Calculator?

The Type Effectiveness Calculator is a free online tool that allows you to input specific details about an attacking move and a defending Pokémon’s type(s), and then calculates:

  • Type effectiveness multiplier
  • Same Type Attack Bonus (STAB)
  • Estimated relative damage output
  • Whether your attack will be effective, not very effective, or have no effect
  • A strategic recommendation based on the matchup

It factors in all known Pokémon types, including dual-type combinations and whether the move qualifies for STAB, giving trainers a quick, accurate understanding of battle outcomes.

How to Use the Tool: Step-by-Step Instructions

Using the Type Effectiveness Calculator is fast and simple:

  1. Choose the Attacking Type: Select the type of the move you’re planning to use (e.g., Fire, Electric, Ground).
  2. Select the Primary Type of the Defending Pokémon: This is the Pokémon’s main type.
  3. (Optional) Select a Secondary Type: If the Pokémon is dual-typed (e.g., Flying/Steel), select its second type.
  4. Pick the Move Category: Choose whether the move is Physical, Special, or Status.
  5. Enter Base Power: Input the base power of the move (default is 80). For status moves, this isn’t necessary.
  6. STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus): Select Yes if the attacking Pokémon’s type matches the move type — this gives a 1.5× bonus to damage.
  7. Click “Calculate”: The tool will generate a detailed effectiveness report, including total damage multiplier, effectiveness summary, and strategic tips.
  8. Use “Reset” to clear the fields and start over.

Example: Thunderbolt vs. Gyarados

Let’s walk through a real example:

  • Attacking Type: Electric
  • Defending Type (Primary): Water
  • Defending Type (Secondary): Flying
  • Move Category: Special
  • Base Power: 90
  • STAB: Yes (assume user is using an Electric-type Pokémon)

Result:

  • Effectiveness: Super effective (4×)
  • Damage Multiplier: 6.00× (4× effectiveness × 1.5 STAB)
  • Recommendation: This is an excellent choice — expect massive damage!

This explains why Electric-type moves like Thunderbolt are devastating against Pokémon like Gyarados, which has a double weakness to Electric.

Use Cases for the Type Effectiveness Calculator

This tool is especially useful for:

  • Competitive battlers trying to optimize move selection
  • Story mode players planning gym or Elite Four strategies
  • Nuzlocke players avoiding critical mistakes
  • Trainers building type-diverse teams
  • Pokémon GO players understanding type interactions (with adaptation)
  • Newcomers trying to understand game mechanics
  • Veterans validating their team synergy or experimenting with unique combos

15+ Detailed FAQs About Pokémon Type Effectiveness

1. What is type effectiveness in Pokémon?
It determines how effective an attack is based on the move’s type and the opponent’s type(s). It can result in double, half, or no damage.

2. What does STAB mean?
STAB stands for “Same Type Attack Bonus.” If a Pokémon uses a move that matches its own type, the move’s damage is multiplied by 1.5×.

3. How is total damage multiplier calculated?
It’s the product of type effectiveness (e.g., 2× or 0.5×) and STAB (if applicable).

4. Can type effectiveness stack for dual-type Pokémon?
Yes. Each type is evaluated separately, and the total effectiveness is multiplied (e.g., Electric vs. Water/Flying = 2× × 2× = 4×).

5. What does “No Effect” mean?
The move will not affect the target at all — for example, Normal-type moves have no effect on Ghost-type Pokémon.

6. Do Status moves benefit from type effectiveness?
No. Status moves don’t deal direct damage, so they’re not affected by type matchups or STAB.

7. What types are immune to each other?
Some examples:

  • Normal can’t hit Ghost
  • Ghost can’t hit Normal
  • Ground doesn’t affect Flying
  • Electric doesn’t affect Ground

8. Why isn’t my super effective move doing much damage?
Factors like opposing Pokémon stats, abilities, or held items can reduce the impact, even if the type matchup is favorable.

9. Is the calculator accurate for all generations?
This tool is based on modern type charts from Gen VI onward. Earlier generations may have slight differences.

10. Can I use this for Pokémon GO?
This tool is best for main-series games. Pokémon GO has different mechanics, though type effectiveness is similar.

11. What is a double weakness?
When a Pokémon has two types that are both weak to the same move type. For example, Gyarados is double weak to Electric (4× damage).

12. What’s the difference between Physical and Special?
Physical moves use the Attack stat; Special moves use the Special Attack stat. This tool includes the category for better strategy planning.

13. Should I always go for super effective moves?
Not necessarily. Sometimes neutral moves with higher power or better accuracy are more reliable, especially if the Pokémon resists your move.

14. Does STAB apply to dual-type Pokémon with either type?
Yes. If a Pokémon has either of the types that match the move, it gets the STAB bonus.

15. Why does the calculator use base power and not full battle formulas?
To keep things simple and fast. This tool focuses on type interaction, not full damage formulas involving levels and stats.

16. How can I improve my team with this tool?
Use the calculator to cover your team’s weaknesses and ensure you have answers to common threats based on type.

17. Are there exceptions or anomalies in the type chart?
Some abilities and moves (like Scrappy or Levitate) modify interactions. This tool assumes standard type matchups.

18. Can I use this during a match?
Absolutely! It’s mobile-friendly and quick to use, making it perfect for real-time decisions.

19. Is there a best attacking type?
Fighting, Ground, and Fairy are often top-tier due to their strong offensive coverage — but the best type depends on your opponent.

20. Does the tool help with Pokémon resistances?
Yes — by showing reduced damage output when using a move against resistant types, helping you avoid ineffective choices.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re battling friends, climbing the Battle Tower, or diving into online tournaments, understanding type effectiveness is crucial. With this Pokémon Type Effectiveness Calculator, you gain an immediate advantage by choosing the right move for every situation.

Give it a try before your next battle — and never be surprised by an “it’s not very effective…” again!