Flying-type Pokemon weaknesses & resistances explained

Sam Smith
pokemon flying type header

If Flying-type Pokemon are swooping down and ruining your day, here’s how to take advantage of their weaknesses in battle and bring them down to earth with the best counters. We’ll also include the details of their resistances so you’re fully prepared.

Flying-type Pokemon are some of the most evasive and frustrating creatures you can battle in Pokemon games. They can fly up into the air, dodge your attacks, and then hit back with devastating levels of accuracy.

This is why it pays to end the battle quickly, but to do that, you’ll need to field a Pokemon that’s strong against Flying-types, and resistant to their aerial skills.

As with any type in the Pokemon game series, Flying types can be countered and have their own set of weaknesses that can be exploited. When you face a Flying-type Pokemon in battle, here’s what you need to know to stop them from pecking your head.


Contents


Pidgey flying-type
Pidgey was the first Flying-type Pokemon many people came across in Gen 1.

Flying-type Pokemon weaknesses

Flying-type Pokemon have three primary weaknesses when it comes to moves and opposing Pokemon types:

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

If you have a dual-type Pokemon that belongs to two of these groups, even better. Alolan Golem, for example, is a Rock and Electric-type Pokemon, making it a major threat to Flying-types.

Best counters for Flying-type Pokemon

When coming up against Flying types, Pokemon like Pikachu, Glaceon, and Onix are reliable options. These are all pure Electric, Ice, or Rock types.

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

Shiny Galarian Articuno appearing in Pokemon Sword and Shield
Articuno is a Legendary dual-type Flying Pokemon.

Flying-type Pokemon strengths & resistances

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

Flying types are also completely immune to Ground-type attacks, so bear this in mind when heading into battle. Either avoid using Ground-type moves or be sure to have a move like Gravity to get rid of the immunity.


So, that’s all of the weaknesses and resistances you need to know about to help you knock down Flying-type Pokemon in the series. For more Pokemon lists, check out some of our other guides below:

Water-type | Grass-type | Fighting-type | Psychic-type | Electric-type | Bug-type | Ghost-type | Steel-type weaknesses | Ice-type weaknesses | Fairy-type weaknesses | 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 games

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