Water-type Pokemon weaknesses & resistances

Sam Smith
Water-type Pokemon

Master the art of battling Water-type Pokemon with our guide on their weaknesses and best counters. Stay ahead with knowledge of their resistances too.

Water-type Pokemon are among the most powerful adversaries in battle. Prepare your team with the right strategies to counter their water-based attacks and legendary might. Legendary Pokemon who are Water-types are even more intimidating, and there are a lot of them.

As with any type in the Pokemon games though, Water-types can be countered and have their own set of weaknesses that can be exploited. Now that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are with us, here’s what you need to know to survive an encounter with a Water-type Pokemon – and to come out victorious.

Contents

Manaphy Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
The Mythical Water-type Manaphy has to be hatched from an Egg.

What are a Water-type Pokemon’s weaknesses?

Water-type Pokemon have two primary weaknesses when it comes to moves and opposing Pokemon types:

  • Electric
  • Grass

Therefore, when looking to take down a Water-type Pokemon, bring along a team that includes Pokemon which belong to those types and make sure they have matching movesets.

Best counters for Water-type Pokemon

When coming up against Water-types, pure Electric-type Pokemon like Pikachu, Luxio, and Yamper are reliable options. These Pokemon can soak up and absorb Water-type moves, meaning your opponent will need to rely on physical attacks to win the match.

Electric currents run through Water-type Pokemon just like electricity runs through water in real life. Bear this in mind when battling Water-types and you’ll often win the day.

Always consider a Pokemon’s secondary type when selecting your counter Pokemon and moves. While the above examples are effective against Water-types, the opposing Pokemon may have resistances based on their primary/secondary type.

Lapras Pokemon Brilliant Diamond
Lapras is an ice and water Pokemon who’s from the original 150.

Water-type Pokemon strengths & resistances

As well as having weaknesses, Water-type Pokemon are also resistant to certain types and moves. Water-type Pokemon are resistant to the following types:

  • Fire
  • Steel
  • Ice
  • Water

When bringing another Water-type Pokemon into battle with one, try to make it a dual-type to give you the edge in battle.

What is a Water-type Pokemon?

Water-type Pokemon are usually easy to identify due to them resembling fish or other sea life creatures. However they can also take various other forms, but most tend to be blue or resemble the ocean in some form.

The type has existed since Gen 1 and most Pokemon games offer a Water-type as a starting Pokemon, along with a Grass or Fire-type. If you select a Water-type Pokemon, then your rival will usually select the Grass-type starter, giving them the edge in battle.

Many of them are dual-type Pokemon, so when bringing in your counters, make sure they’re effective against both types, not just Water-types. However, some are pure Water-types – which are still devastatingly powerful in the right hands.

So, that’s all of the weaknesses and resistances you need to know about to help you knock down Water-type Pokemon in the series.

For more Pokemon lists, check out some of our other guides below:

Fairy-type | Water-type | Grass-type | Fighting-type | Psychic-type | Electric-type | Legendary Pokemon | All cat Pokemon | All dog Pokemon | Creepiest ‘mon | Cutest Pokemon | The rarest and most expensive Pokemon cards | 10 best ROM hacks and fan-made gamesLucario weaknessesFairy-type Pokemon weaknesses | Fighting-type Pokemon weaknesses | Drifblim weaknesses

About The Author

Sam is a Senior Games Writer for Dexerto specializing in Survival Horror, Diablo, Final Fantasy, and Soulslikes. An NCTJ accredited journalist, Sam also holds a degree in journalism from the University of Central Lancashire and has many years of experience as a professional writer. Being able to marry his love of writing with his addiction to video games was always one of his life goals. He also loves all things PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo in equal measure. Contact at sam.smith@dexerto.com