Water Type Guide: Strengths & Counters
Explore the Water type: learn its strengths, weaknesses, resistances, immunities and practical tips for VGC and Showdown ladder play.
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What Is Water Strong Against? Offensive Matchups
- Strong against: FireGroundRock
- Not very effective against: WaterGrassDragon
- Has no effect: None
Average Offensive Power: 108%: Good offensively, ranking #5 of 18.
Offensive Matchup – Overview
Tidal force extinguishes Fire, erodes Ground, and batters Rock, but it splashes harmlessly on Water, nourishes Grass, and rolls off imperious Dragons.
Super-Effective
- Fire – Water removes heat and oxygen, killing flame.
- Ground – Floods liquefy soil foundations.
- Rock – Persistent surf chips and caves cliff faces.
Not Very Effective
- Water – Two waves merge with little force.
- Grass – Plants absorb and redirect the flow.
- Dragon – Dragons command rivers and tides.
What Is Water Weak To? Defensive Matchups
- Weak to: ElectricGrass
- Resists: FireWaterIceSteel
- Immune to: None
Average Defensive Strength: 100%: Okay defensively, ranking #8 of 18.
Defensive Matchup – Overview
Electric currents rip through water and shock its dwellers, while thirsty Grass siphons strength; in return, Water shrugs off Fire, mingles with Ice, endures its own flow, and corrodes Steel only slowly.
Weak To
- Electric – Conductive water channels every volt to living tissue.
- Grass – Roots and vines literally drink Water Pokemon dry.
Resistant To
- Fire – Flames sputter out on contact.
- Water – Fluid meets fluid evenly.
- Ice – Ice is merely solid water.
- Steel – Rust and corrosion act gradually.
Uneven Matchups
- Water→Electric1×←Electric→2×
- Water→Ice1×←Ice→0.5×
- Water→Ground2×←Ground→1×
- Water→Rock2×←Rock→1×
- Water→Dragon0.5×←Dragon→1×
- Water→Steel1×←Steel→0.5×
Related Type Guides
Full Type Chart
Type Effectiveness Chart
Interactive Battle Type Chart
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• Chart based on rules effective since 2013