Ground Type Guide: Strengths & Counters
Explore the Ground type: learn its strengths, weaknesses, resistances, immunities and practical tips for VGC and Showdown ladder play.
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What Is Ground Strong Against? Offensive Matchups
- Strong against: FireElectricPoisonRockSteel
- Not very effective against: GrassBug
- Has no effect: Flying
Average Offensive Power: 117%: Best offensively, ranking #1 of 18.
Offensive Matchup – Overview
Quakes smother Fire, short-circuit Electric, bury Poison, split Rock, and buckle Steel, yet roots bind soil, Bugs burrow safely, and Flyers soar beyond reach.
Super-Effective
- Fire – Dirt and sand extinguish embers.
- Electric – Earth grounds out current.
- Poison – Soil traps and isolates toxins.
- Rock – Tectonic force fractures stone.
- Steel – Quakes topple structures.
Not Very Effective
- Grass – Roots stabilize shifting soil.
- Bug – Tunneling insects dodge tremors.
Ineffective
- Flying – Quakes do not reach the sky.
What Is Ground Weak To? Defensive Matchups
- Weak to: WaterGrassIce
- Resists: PoisonRock
- Immune to: Electric
Average Defensive Strength: 95%: Poor defensively, ranking #10 of 18.
Defensive Matchup – Overview
Floods, foliage, and freezing temperatures erode, penetrate, and crack the earth, but Ground filters poisons, cushions Rock impacts, and stays immune to stray electricity.
Weak To
- Water – Erosion carves landscapes.
- Grass – Plants break apart soil.
- Ice – Freeze-thaw cycles split bedrock.
Resistant To
- Poison – Dirt neutralizes chemicals.
- Rock – The earth absorbs all rocks.
Immune To
- Electric – Charge dissipates into earth.
Uneven Matchups
- Ground→Fire2×←Fire→1×
- Ground→Water1×←Water→2×
- Ground→Electric2×←Electric→0×
- Ground→Ice1×←Ice→2×
- Ground→Flying0×←Flying→1×
- Ground→Bug0.5×←Bug→1×
- Ground→Steel2×←Steel→1×
Related Type Guides
Full Type Chart
Type Effectiveness Chart
Interactive Battle Type Chart
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Matchup Details
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• Chart based on rules effective since 2013