STAB Calculator Guide: How Same-Type Attack Bonus Works in Pokemon

STAB (Same-Type Attack Bonus) is one of the most important damage mechanics in Pokemon. Understanding STAB can mean the difference between a KO and a loss. This guide explains everything about STAB, from basic mechanics to advanced strategies.

What is STAB?

STAB = Same-Type Attack Bonus

When a Pokemon uses a move that matches one of its types, the move gets a 1.5× damage boost.

Simple Example

Charizard (Fire/Flying) uses Flamethrower (Fire move)

Base damage: 100
With STAB: 100 × 1.5 = 150 damage

Charizard uses Thunderbolt (Electric move)

Base damage: 100
No STAB: 100 damage (no boost)

STAB Multiplier Breakdown

Standard STAB: 1.5×

Applies when:

Move type matches Pokemon's type
Pokemon has 1 or 2 types

Examples:

Pikachu (Electric) + Thunderbolt (Electric) = 1.5× STAB
Garchomp (Dragon/Ground) + Earthquake (Ground) = 1.5× STAB
Garchomp (Dragon/Ground) + Dragon Claw (Dragon) = 1.5× STAB

Adaptability: 2× STAB

Ability: Adaptability

Pokemon with Adaptability:

Porygon-Z
Crawdaunt
Eevee (and evolutions in some games)

Effect: STAB becomes 2× instead of 1.5×

Example:

Porygon-Z (Normal, Adaptability) + Hyper Beam (Normal)
Base: 150 damage
With Adaptability: 150 × 2 = 300 damage

Terastal STAB (Gen 9)

When Terastallized:

If Tera Type matches move type: 2× STAB
If Tera Type matches original type: 1.5× STAB (stacks with original)

Example 1: Charizard (Fire/Flying) → Fire Tera

Flamethrower (Fire move)
Original STAB: 1.5×
Tera STAB: 1.5×
Total: 1.5 × 1.5 = 2.25× damage

Example 2: Charizard (Fire/Flying) → Water Tera

Surf (Water move)
No original STAB
Tera STAB: 2×
Total: 2× damage

STAB Damage Calculation

Basic Formula

Final Damage = Base Damage × STAB × Type Effectiveness × Other Modifiers

Step-by-Step Example

Scenario: Garchomp uses Earthquake vs Heatran

Step 1: Base damage

Earthquake base power: 100
Garchomp Attack: 130
Heatran Defense: 106
Level 50 calculation: ~80 damage

Step 2: Apply STAB

Garchomp is Ground-type
Earthquake is Ground-type
STAB: 1.5×
Damage: 80 × 1.5 = 120

Step 3: Apply type effectiveness

Ground vs Fire/Steel (Heatran)
Ground → Fire: 2×
Ground → Steel: 2×
Total: 2× × 2× = 4×
Damage: 120 × 4 = 480

Step 4: Other modifiers

Weather, abilities, items, etc.
Assume none for simplicity

Final Damage: 480 (guaranteed OHKO)

STAB vs Type Effectiveness

Which is Stronger?

STAB: 1.5× boost

Super Effective: 2× boost

Answer: Super effective is stronger, but STAB + Super Effective = 3× total

Damage Comparison

Scenario	Multiplier	Example
No STAB, Neutral	1×	Charizard + Thunderbolt vs Gyarados
STAB, Neutral	1.5×	Charizard + Flamethrower vs Gyarados
No STAB, Super Effective	2×	Charizard + Thunderbolt vs Gyarados (Water)
STAB + Super Effective	3×	Charizard + Flamethrower vs Scizor (Bug/Steel)
STAB + 4× Weakness	6×	Garchomp + Earthquake vs Heatran

Dual-Type Pokemon & STAB

How STAB Works with Dual-Types

Rule: Pokemon gets STAB for both of its types

Example: Charizard (Fire/Flying)

Fire moves: 1.5× STAB
Flying moves: 1.5× STAB
Other moves: No STAB

Best Dual-Type STAB Combinations

1. Dragon/Ground (Garchomp, Flygon)

Dragon STAB: Hits Dragons super effectively
Ground STAB: Hits Electric, Fire, Poison, Rock, Steel
Coverage: Excellent

2. Water/Ground (Swampert, Gastrodon)

Water STAB: Hits Fire, Ground, Rock
Ground STAB: Hits Electric, Fire, Poison, Rock, Steel
Only weak to Grass (4×)

3. Steel/Fairy (Magearna, Zacian)

Steel STAB: Hits Ice, Rock, Fairy
Fairy STAB: Hits Dragon, Dark, Fighting
Defensive typing: 9 resistances

STAB in Competitive Play

When to Use STAB Moves

Always prioritize STAB when:

Neutral matchup: STAB (1.5×) > No STAB (1×)
STAB + Super Effective: Maximum damage
Reliable damage: STAB moves are your bread and butter

Consider coverage moves when:

Coverage hits 2× weakness: May be better than STAB neutral
STAB is resisted: Coverage move hits neutrally
Prediction: Opponent switches to resist your STAB

STAB Move Selection

Rule of thumb: Every Pokemon should have at least 1 STAB move

Ideal moveset:

2 STAB moves (one for each type if dual-type)
2 coverage moves

Example: Garchomp

STAB 1: Earthquake (Ground)
STAB 2: Dragon Claw (Dragon)
Coverage 1: Stone Edge (Rock) - hits Flying-types
Coverage 2: Fire Fang (Fire) - hits Steel-types

STAB Calculator Examples

Example 1: Charizard vs Venusaur

Charizard (Fire/Flying) uses Flamethrower vs Venusaur (Grass/Poison)

Calculation:

Base power: 90
STAB: 1.5× (Fire move, Fire-type Pokemon)
Type effectiveness: 2× (Fire → Grass) × 1× (Fire → Poison) = 2×
Total multiplier: 1.5 × 2 = 3×
Effective power: 90 × 3 = 270

Result: Guaranteed OHKO

Example 2: Garchomp vs Togekiss

Garchomp (Dragon/Ground) uses Dragon Claw vs Togekiss (Fairy/Flying)

Calculation:

Base power: 80
STAB: 1.5× (Dragon move, Dragon-type Pokemon)
Type effectiveness: 0× (Dragon → Fairy immune)
Total multiplier: 1.5 × 0 = 0×
Effective power: 0 (no damage)

Result: Togekiss is immune

Better option: Earthquake (Ground STAB, hits neutrally)

Example 3: Porygon-Z with Adaptability

Porygon-Z (Normal, Adaptability) uses Hyper Beam vs Garchomp (Dragon/Ground)

Calculation:

Base power: 150
STAB: 2× (Adaptability ability)
Type effectiveness: 1× (Normal → Dragon/Ground)
Total multiplier: 2 × 1 = 2×
Effective power: 150 × 2 = 300

Result: Massive damage, likely OHKO

Advanced STAB Strategies

1. STAB Priority Moves

Priority moves with STAB are devastating

Examples:

Weavile (Dark/Ice) + Ice Shard (Ice, +1 priority)
- STAB: 1.5×
- Priority: Moves first
- Result: Revenge kills Dragons
Azumarill (Water/Fairy) + Aqua Jet (Water, +1 priority)
- STAB: 1.5×
- Huge Power ability: 2× Attack
- Result: Powerful priority

2. STAB + Weather

Weather boosts stack with STAB

Example: Charizard in Sun

Flamethrower (Fire STAB)
STAB: 1.5×
Sun boost: 1.5×
Total: 1.5 × 1.5 = 2.25×

3. STAB + Choice Items

Choice Band/Specs boost STAB moves

Example: Garchomp with Choice Band

Earthquake (Ground STAB)
STAB: 1.5×
Choice Band: 1.5×
Total: 1.5 × 1.5 = 2.25×

4. Terastal STAB Optimization

Best Tera Types for STAB:

Same as original type: 2.25× STAB (1.5 × 1.5)
Different type: 2× STAB, but changes defensive matchups

Example: Garchomp (Dragon/Ground) → Ground Tera

Earthquake: 1.5 (original) × 1.5 (Tera) = 2.25× STAB
Loses Dragon STAB, but Earthquake becomes nuclear

Common STAB Mistakes

Mistake 1: Ignoring STAB

Wrong: Using coverage moves when STAB is better

Example: Charizard using Thunderbolt (no STAB) vs Gyarados

Thunderbolt: 90 × 2 (SE) = 180 effective power

Right: Using Flamethrower (STAB) vs Gyarados

Flamethrower: 90 × 1.5 (STAB) × 1 (neutral) = 135 effective power

Wait, Thunderbolt is better here! But in most neutral matchups, STAB wins.

Mistake 2: Overvaluing STAB

Wrong: Always using STAB even when resisted

Example: Garchomp using Earthquake vs Togekiss (Flying-type)

Earthquake: 100 × 1.5 (STAB) × 0 (immune) = 0 damage

Right: Using Stone Edge (coverage)

Stone Edge: 100 × 2 (SE) = 200 effective power

Mistake 3: Forgetting Adaptability

Wrong: Treating Adaptability Pokemon like normal STAB

Right: Adaptability gives 2× STAB, making STAB moves even more valuable

STAB in Different Generations

Gen 1-8: Standard 1.5× STAB

Consistent across all generations
No changes to STAB multiplier

Gen 9: Terastal STAB

Introduces 2× STAB for Tera Type moves
Stacks with original STAB (2.25× total)
Adds strategic depth

Pokopia (2026): Enhanced Multipliers

Type effectiveness: 2.2× instead of 2×
STAB: Still 1.5×
STAB + Super Effective: 1.5 × 2.2 = 3.3× (up from 3×)

STAB Calculator Tool

How to Use Our Calculator

Select your Pokemon (determines types)
Select your move (determines move type)
Select opponent (determines type effectiveness)
Calculator shows:
- STAB multiplier (1×, 1.5×, or 2×)
- Type effectiveness
- Total damage multiplier
- Effective move power

Example Calculation

Input:

Pokemon: Garchomp (Dragon/Ground)
Move: Earthquake (Ground)
Opponent: Heatran (Fire/Steel)

Output:

STAB: 1.5× ✓
Type effectiveness: 4× (2× Fire, 2× Steel)
Total multiplier: 6×
Effective power: 100 × 6 = 600

Conclusion

STAB is a fundamental Pokemon mechanic that boosts same-type moves by 1.5×. Key takeaways:

Always consider STAB when building movesets
STAB + Super Effective = 3× damage (or 3.3× in Pokopia)
Adaptability doubles STAB to 2×
Terastal adds 2× STAB for Tera Type moves
Every Pokemon should have at least 1 STAB move

Use our STAB Calculator to optimize your damage output!

Last Updated: March 6, 2026
Game Version: All generations + Pokopia