Water Type Weakness
Water-type Pokémon are weak to Electric and Grass. Check exact Water type matchups, resistances, and immunities with the Pokémon Type Calculator below.
Check Water Matchups ↓💧 Water Type Matchup Checker
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Quick Answer: Water Type Weakness
Water-type Pokémon are weak to Electric and Grass. These two attacking types are super effective against a pure Water-type Pokémon and deal 2× damage. If the Pokémon has a second type, the complete type combination should be checked because the additional type can change the final matchup. See the Pokémon Type Chart for the full type interactions.
What Is Water Weak To in Pokémon?
The Water type is weak to Electric and Grass. This means Electric-type and Grass-type attacks have a type advantage against a pure Water-type Pokémon. Both are commonly used to exploit a Water-type weakness.
However, a dual-type Water Pokémon may have a different set of weaknesses. Its second type can add new weaknesses, reduce existing ones, or create resistances and immunities.
⚡ Electric vs Water
Electric-type attacks are super effective against Water Pokémon. Electric moves are one of the most direct and widely available ways to exploit a Water-type weakness.
🌿 Grass vs Water
Grass-type attacks are also super effective against Water Pokémon. Grass can be especially useful when the opponent’s second type does not resist Grass attacks.
🔄 Dual Types Can Shift Results
A Water/Ground type, for example, loses its Electric weakness entirely. Always use the matchup checker to confirm the final result for dual-type combinations.
📊 Only Two Weaknesses
Pure Water is one of the more defensively stable types — only two attacking types are super effective against it, making it a reliable defensive choice in many situations.
Water Type Strengths
Water-type attacks are super effective against:
This makes Water a strong offensive type against Pokémon associated with fire, earth, and rock. Water coverage is widely valued in competitive team building because of how commonly Fire, Ground, and Rock types appear.
Water Type Resistances
A pure Water-type Pokémon resists the following attacking types:
These resistances can make Water Pokémon effective defensive choices against several common attack types. Resisting Fire, Ice, and Steel makes Water a strong answer to many common offensive threats.
Water Type Immunities
A pure Water type does not have a natural type immunity to any attacking type. However, a Water-type Pokémon may gain an immunity through a second type, an ability, or another battle mechanic. Use the matchup checker above to explore how a second type changes this.
Water Type Weaknesses for Dual-Type Pokémon
A second type changes everything. It can add a 4× weakness, cancel one of Water’s normal weaknesses, or give an extra immunity. The table below covers every Water dual-type combination that exists in the games, with real Pokémon examples.
| Type combo | Example Pokémon | 4× weak to | 2× weak to | Immune to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water Normal | Bibarel | None | Electric Grass Fighting | Ghost |
| Water Fire | Volcanion | None | Electric Ground Rock | None |
| Water Electric | Chinchou, Lanturn, Wash Rotom | None | Grass Ground | None |
| Water Grass | Lotad, Lombre, Ludicolo | None | Poison Flying Bug | None |
| Water Ice | Dewgong, Cloyster, Lapras | None | Electric Grass Fighting Rock | None |
| Water Fighting | Poliwrath, Keldeo, Resolute Keldeo | None | Electric Grass Flying Psychic Fairy | None |
| Water Poison | Tentacool, Tentacruel, Qwilfish | None | Electric Ground Psychic | None |
| Water Ground | Wooper, Quagsire, Marshtomp | Grass | None | Electric |
| Water Flying | Gyarados, Mantine, Wingull | Electric | Rock | Ground |
| Water Psychic | Slowpoke, Slowbro, Starmie | None | Electric Grass Bug Ghost Dark | None |
| Water Bug | Surskit, Dewpider, Araquanid | None | Electric Flying Rock | None |
| Water Rock | Omanyte, Omastar, Kabuto | Grass | Electric Fighting Ground | None |
| Water Ghost | Frillish, Jellicent, Basculegion | None | Electric Grass Ghost Dark | Normal Fighting |
| Water Dragon | Kingdra, Palkia, Origin Palkia | None | Dragon Fairy | None |
| Water Dark | Carvanha, Sharpedo, Crawdaunt | None | Electric Grass Fighting Bug Fairy | Psychic |
| Water Steel | Empoleon | None | Electric Fighting Ground | Poison |
| Water Fairy | Marill, Azumarill, Primarina | None | Electric Grass Poison | Dragon |
Watch out for 4× weaknesses: Water/Ground (Wooper) takes 4× from Grass, Water/Flying (Gyarados) takes 4× from Electric and Water/Rock (Omanyte) takes 4× from Grass.
Combos that cancel a Water weakness: Water/Fire is no longer weak to Grass, Water/Electric is no longer weak to Electric, Water/Grass is no longer weak to Electric and Grass, Water/Poison is no longer weak to Grass, Water/Ground is no longer weak to Electric, Water/Flying is no longer weak to Grass, Water/Bug is no longer weak to Grass, Water/Dragon is no longer weak to Electric and Grass and Water/Steel is no longer weak to Grass.
Want the exact numbers for a specific Pokémon? Search it in the Water matchup checker above.
Water Type Matchup Strategy
When facing a Water-type Pokémon, first check whether it has one type or two. For a pure Water type, Electric and Grass attacks are the main super-effective options. For a dual-type Pokémon, check the second type before making your final choice, including Ghost Type Weakness and Fairy Type Weakness.
- Identify the Pokémon’s complete type combination — one type or two?
- Check its weaknesses using the Water Type Matchup Checker above.
- Look for Electric or Grass-type coverage where appropriate.
- Check whether the second type changes or cancels the effectiveness of your chosen attack.
- Choose the attack with the strongest final effectiveness.
Best Pokémon to Use Against Water Types
The safest counters do two things at once: they hit Water Pokémon for super effective damage, and they resist Water-type attacks. These popular Pokémon do both:
| Pokémon | Types | Hits Water with (2×) | Takes from Water moves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rillaboom | Grass | Grass | ½× |
| Ferrothorn | Grass Steel | Grass | ½× |
| Amoonguss | Grass Poison | Grass | ½× |
| Ludicolo | Water Grass | Grass | ¼× |
| Wash Rotom | Electric Water | Electric | ½× |
Before you switch in, check the opponent’s second type and its coverage moves. Tap any Pokémon above to see its full matchup in the calculator.
About This Guide
Written and maintained by Mical Boje, who has been playing Pokémon games for more than 10 years. All matchups, tables and examples on this page come from the same data that powers the Pokémon Type Calculator.
- Rules used: the current type chart, from Gen 6 (X and Y) to Scarlet and Violet.
- Sources: the official main-series games, cross-checked with Bulbapedia’s Water type page. Pokémon types and forms come from PokéAPI.
- Last updated:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Water weak to in Pokémon?
Water is weak to Electric and Grass-type attacks. These two types are super effective against a pure Water-type Pokémon and deal 2× damage.
What types are Water strong against?
Water-type attacks are strong against Fire, Ground, and Rock types. These types take 2× damage from Water moves.
What types does Water resist?
A pure Water type resists Fire, Water, Ice, and Steel-type attacks. These attacking types deal only 0.5× damage against a Water-type Pokémon.
Does a second type change a Water Pokémon’s weakness?
Yes. A Pokémon’s second type can change its weaknesses, resistances, and immunities. For example, Water/Ground removes the Electric weakness, and Water/Grass removes both Electric and Grass weaknesses.
How can I check a dual-type Water Pokémon’s exact weaknesses?
Use the Water Type Matchup Checker at the top of this page. Select the second type and click Calculate — the tool will show the exact weaknesses, resistances, and immunities for that Water-type combination.
Does Water have any immunities?
A pure Water type does not have a natural immunity to any attacking type. A second type, ability, or battle mechanic can create an immunity. Use the matchup checker above to explore dual-type combinations.
Other Type Weakness Guides
Need the whole picture? See the complete Pokémon Type Chart or the overview of all 18 type weaknesses.