Top 10 Best Pokemon Type Combinations for Competitive Battles
Top 10 Best Pokemon Type Combinations for Competitive Battles
When building a competitive Pokemon team, choosing the right type combinations can make the difference between victory and defeat. Some dual-type combinations offer exceptional defensive capabilities, while others provide incredible offensive coverage.
In this guide, we'll analyze the 10 best type combinations based on their defensive resistances, offensive coverage, and competitive viability.
What Makes a Type Combination Great?
Before diving into the rankings, let's understand what makes a type combination powerful:
- Few Weaknesses - Ideally 1-2 weaknesses
- Multiple Resistances - 6+ resistances is excellent
- Immunities - Complete immunity to certain types
- Offensive Coverage - STAB moves that hit many types super effectively
- Competitive Viability - Actually used in VGC and competitive formats
#1: Steel/Fairy
Example Pokemon: Magearna, Zacian (Crowned Sword)
Why It's #1:
- Weaknesses: Only 2 (Fire, Ground)
- Resistances: 9 types
- Immunities: Dragon, Poison
- Offensive Coverage: Excellent
Steel/Fairy is widely considered the best defensive typing in Pokemon. With only two weaknesses and resistance to nine types, Pokemon with this combination are incredibly difficult to take down.
Key Strengths:
- Dragon immunity (huge in competitive)
- Poison immunity (rare and valuable)
- Resists: Normal, Flying, Rock, Bug, Steel, Grass, Psychic, Ice, Dark, Fairy
- Excellent STAB combination
Competitive Usage: Magearna and Zacian are top-tier threats in VGC and Smogon formats.
#2: Water/Ground
Example Pokemon: Swampert, Gastrodon, Quagsire
Why It's #2:
- Weaknesses: Only 1 (Grass - 4× weak!)
- Resistances: 4 types
- Immunities: Electric
- Defensive Synergy: Excellent
Water/Ground has the distinction of having only one weakness - Grass. While it's a 4× weakness, it's still easier to manage than multiple weaknesses.
Key Strengths:
- Electric immunity (Water's main weakness covered)
- Resists: Fire, Poison, Rock, Steel
- Excellent defensive typing
- Great for pivoting
Competitive Usage: Gastrodon is a VGC staple, and Swampert is a fan favorite.
Weakness Management: Pair with a Pokemon that resists Grass (Fire, Flying, Poison, Bug, Steel)
#3: Dragon/Ground
Example Pokemon: Garchomp, Flygon, Zygarde
Why It's #3:
- Weaknesses: 3 (Ice - 4×, Dragon, Fairy)
- Resistances: 4 types
- Immunities: Electric
- Offensive Coverage: Exceptional
Dragon/Ground combines incredible offensive power with solid defensive capabilities. While it has a crippling 4× Ice weakness, its offensive presence makes it a top-tier choice.
Key Strengths:
- Electric immunity
- Resists: Fire, Poison, Rock
- Excellent STAB combination (Dragon + Ground hits almost everything)
- High base stats on most Pokemon with this typing
Competitive Usage: Garchomp is one of the most used Pokemon in competitive history.
Weakness Management: Avoid Ice-type moves at all costs. Pair with Steel-types that resist Ice.
Try Dragon/Ground Calculator →
#4: Steel/Flying
Example Pokemon: Skarmory, Celesteela, Corviknight
Why It's #4:
- Weaknesses: 2 (Fire, Electric)
- Resistances: 10 types
- Immunities: Ground, Poison
- Defensive Wall: Excellent
Steel/Flying is another defensive powerhouse with 10 resistances and two immunities. It's the go-to typing for physical walls.
Key Strengths:
- Ground immunity (Steel's main weakness covered)
- Poison immunity
- Resists: Normal, Flying, Bug, Steel, Grass, Psychic, Dragon, Fairy, Rock, Ice
- Excellent for physical defense
Competitive Usage: Corviknight and Skarmory are premier physical walls.
#5: Ghost/Poison
Example Pokemon: Gengar, Haunter, Dragapult (Ghost/Dragon but similar concept)
Why It's #5:
- Weaknesses: 4 (Ground, Psychic, Ghost, Dark)
- Resistances: 5 types
- Immunities: Normal, Fighting
- Offensive Pressure: High
Ghost/Poison offers two immunities and excellent offensive typing. While it has four weaknesses, the immunities make it valuable for specific matchups.
Key Strengths:
- Normal immunity (blocks many common moves)
- Fighting immunity (huge in competitive)
- Resists: Grass, Fairy, Poison, Bug
- Excellent offensive STAB
Competitive Usage: Gengar is a glass cannon with incredible speed and special attack.
#6: Fire/Flying
Example Pokemon: Charizard, Moltres, Talonflame
Why It's #6:
- Weaknesses: 3 (Rock - 4×, Water, Electric)
- Resistances: 6 types
- Immunities: Ground
- Iconic Status: High
Fire/Flying is one of the most iconic type combinations, but it comes with a crippling 4× Rock weakness. Despite this, it offers solid offensive coverage.
Key Strengths:
- Ground immunity (Fire's main weakness covered)
- Resists: Fighting, Bug, Steel, Fire, Grass, Fairy
- Excellent offensive STAB
- High speed on most Pokemon
Competitive Usage: Charizard (especially Mega forms) and Talonflame have seen competitive success.
Weakness Management: Stealth Rock is your worst enemy. Use Rapid Spin or Defog support.
#7: Water/Flying
Example Pokemon: Gyarados, Pelipper, Cramorant
Why It's #7:
- Weaknesses: 2 (Electric - 4×, Rock)
- Resistances: 6 types
- Immunities: Ground
- Versatility: High
Water/Flying offers good defensive typing with a 4× Electric weakness being the main concern.
Key Strengths:
- Ground immunity (Water's weakness covered)
- Resists: Fighting, Bug, Steel, Fire, Water
- Good offensive coverage
- Access to Intimidate (Gyarados)
Competitive Usage: Gyarados is a setup sweeper, Pelipper enables rain teams.
#8: Grass/Poison
Example Pokemon: Venusaur, Roserade, Amoonguss
Why It's #8:
- Weaknesses: 4 (Fire, Flying, Ice, Psychic)
- Resistances: 6 types
- Defensive Utility: Good
- Support Role: Excellent
Grass/Poison is a classic combination that excels in support roles with access to Sleep Powder, Spore, and other utility moves.
Key Strengths:
- Resists: Fighting, Water, Grass, Electric, Fairy
- Good defensive synergy
- Excellent support movepool
- Venusaur is a top-tier Mega Evolution
Competitive Usage: Amoonguss is a VGC staple for Spore and Rage Powder support.
#9: Electric/Flying
Example Pokemon: Zapdos, Thundurus, Emolga
Why It's #9:
- Weaknesses: 2 (Rock, Ice)
- Resistances: 6 types
- Immunities: Ground
- Offensive Power: High
Electric/Flying offers Ground immunity, which completely negates Electric's only weakness in most generations.
Key Strengths:
- Ground immunity (Electric's main weakness covered)
- Resists: Fighting, Flying, Bug, Steel, Grass
- Excellent offensive STAB
- High speed and special attack
Competitive Usage: Zapdos is a legendary staple, Thundurus dominates VGC.
Try Electric/Flying Calculator →
#10: Psychic/Fairy
Example Pokemon: Gardevoir, Galarian Rapidash, Hatterene
Why It's #10:
- Weaknesses: 3 (Poison, Ghost, Steel)
- Resistances: 5 types
- Offensive Coverage: Good
- Special Attack: High
Psychic/Fairy offers solid offensive typing with good special attack stats on most Pokemon.
Key Strengths:
- Resists: Fighting, Psychic
- Good offensive STAB combination
- High special attack
- Access to Calm Mind
Competitive Usage: Gardevoir and Hatterene are popular special attackers.
Try Psychic/Fairy Calculator →
Honorable Mentions
Dragon/Flying (Dragonite, Salamence, Rayquaza)
- 4× Ice weakness holds it back
- Excellent offensive presence
Fighting/Steel (Lucario, Cobalion)
- Only weak to Fighting, Fire, Ground
- Great offensive coverage
Bug/Steel (Scizor, Forretress, Genesect)
- Only weak to Fire (4×)
- Excellent defensive typing
Building Your Team
When constructing a competitive team, consider:
- Type Coverage - Cover each other's weaknesses
- Role Distribution - Physical attacker, special attacker, wall, support
- Speed Tiers - Mix of fast and slow Pokemon
- Weather/Terrain - Synergy with field effects
- Core Combinations - Classic cores like Fire/Water/Grass
Example Core: Steel/Fairy + Water/Ground + Dragon/Ground
This core covers:
- Steel/Fairy handles Dragon and Fairy threats
- Water/Ground handles Fire and Rock threats
- Dragon/Ground provides offensive pressure
Weaknesses to Cover:
- Grass (4× to Water/Ground)
- Ice (4× to Dragon/Ground)
- Fire (2× to Steel/Fairy)
Solution: Add a Fire-type or Flying-type to handle Grass, and a Steel-type to handle Ice.
Conclusion
The best type combinations in Pokemon offer a balance of few weaknesses, multiple resistances, and strong offensive coverage. While Steel/Fairy and Water/Ground top the list for defensive prowess, Dragon/Ground and Ghost/Poison excel in offensive roles.
Remember: Team synergy matters more than individual typing. A well-constructed team with good type coverage will always outperform a team of individually strong Pokemon with poor synergy.
Use Our Tools
- Dual Type Calculator - Calculate any type combination
- Battle Simulator - Test matchups with STAB
- All Type Combinations - Explore all 18 types
What's your favorite type combination? Share your thoughts and strategies in the comments below!
Last updated: January 29, 2026