Ground-type Pokemon weaknesses & resistances explained

Sam Smith
pokemon ground type dugtrio header

Ground-type Pokemon like Mamoswine, Rhyperior, or Groudon can be extremely powerful and resistant, despite their numerous weaknesses. Here’s how to take advantage of their vulnerabilities in battle and employ the best counters to knock out these sturdy Pokemon.

Ground-type Pokemon can be tough opponents for an unprepared trainer. They are often dual-type Pokemon and don’t have an obvious elemental weakness, but they are indeed weak against certain attacks – just like any other type in the Pokemon games.

On top of the fact that Ground-type moves are effective against five different types, Ground-type Pokemon often have high Defense and HP stats, meaning they can take hits and deal heavy damage.

So, here’s everything you need to know about the weaknesses and resistances of Ground-type Pokemon to make sure you don’t get stuck in the mud. Now that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are with us, here’s what you need to know to survive an encounter with a Ground-type Pokemon – and to come out victorious.

Contents

pokemon scarlet violet diglett in the wild
Diglett was the first Ground-type Pokemon fans met in Gen 1.

Ground-type Pokemon’s weaknesses

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

  • Grass
  • Water
  • Ice

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

Best counters for Ground-type Pokemon

When heading into battle against ground types, Pokemon like Lapras, Ludicolo, Abomasnow, and Gen 9’s Iron Bundle are reliable options. These are all a nice mix of Ice, Water, and Grass-type Pokemon so will be adept at taking down ground 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 pure ground types, the opposing Pokemon may have resistances based on their secondary typing.

Pokemon like Steelix, Mamoswine, and Gen 9’s Iron Treads have secondary types that are lessen their weaknesses to the Pokemon mentioned above, so players must always be on their toes when facing Ground-type Pokemon.

Sandshrew is another popular Ground-type Pokemon.

Ground-type Pokemon strengths & resistances

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

  • Poison
  • Rock

Ground-types are also immune to Electric-type Pokemon attacks in the mainline games, so bear that in mind before you go toe-to-toe with them.

What is a Ground-type Pokemon?

Ground-type Pokemon come in many different shapes and sizes, but they often have common design elements that make them more easily recognizable.

Ground-type Pokemon often incorporate brown, red, and grey colors into their designs. Additionally, many Ground-type Pokemon have rounded shapes and bulky builds, which give away their typing.

Many of them are dual-type Pokemon, so when bringing in your counters, make sure they’re effective against both types, not just Ground types.

So, that’s all of the weaknesses and resistances you need to know about to help you knock down Ground-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