Bug

Bug Type

Bug-type moves are effective against Grass, Psychic, and Dark types.

Bug matchups, one generation at a time

Reading an older Bug chart without its generation label can produce a wrong answer because some rows belong to types that did not exist yet.

Generation I: Bug is super effective against Grass and Psychic; Dark, Steel, and Fairy are not rows in this generation's chart.
Generation II: Dark and Steel arrive. Bug gains Dark as an offensive target, while Steel resists Bug.
Generation VI: Fairy arrives and resists Bug, adding a modern defensive answer that older charts cannot show.
Generations VII–IX: The 18-type baseline remains, while battle mechanics such as regional forms and Terastallization can change the practical matchup without changing the base Bug row.

Use the generation label first, then read the Bug multiplier; the same move can be evaluated against a different type roster in an older game.

Offensive Matchups

When using Bug-type moves:

Super Effective Against (2×):

Grass Psychic Dark

Not Very Effective Against (0.5×):

Fire Fighting Poison Flying Ghost Steel Fairy

Defensive Matchups

When defending as a Bug-type:

Weak To (2× damage):

Fire Flying Rock

Resists (0.5× damage):

Grass Fighting Ground

Strategy Tips

Offensive Strategy

Use Bug-type moves against Grass, Psychic, Dark types for maximum damage.

Defensive Strategy

Be cautious of Fire, Flying, Rock type moves. Switch in against Grass, Fighting, Ground type moves to take reduced damage.

Bug Type Editorial Analysis

Offensive chart index

-4

A site-created comparison index: super-effective targets − resisted targets − 2 × immune targets. It is not an in-game stat or an official ranking.

Defensive chart index

A site-created comparison index: 2 × weaknesses − resistances − 2 × immunities. noticeable defensive burden describes this formula only; it is not an in-game stat or an official ranking.

Role Fit

Bug targets Grass, Psychic, and Dark, but it is resisted by seven types and often needs a secondary role to justify the slot.

Original TypeMatchup judgment

Use Bug when the Pokémon brings momentum, setup, priority, hazards, or a strong secondary typing. Bug STAB alone is usually not enough to carry an offensive plan.

Team partners and coverage

Water, Rock, and Ground teammates can pressure Fire, Flying, and Steel answers, while Steel partners cover many of Bug’s defensive weaknesses.

Data check: Bug attacks are resisted or blocked by Fire, Fighting, Poison, Flying, Ghost, Steel, Fairy. Candidate partner attack types that pressure at least one of those answers include Fire, Water, Electric, Ice, Fighting, Poison.

Best use case

Bug works best when it punishes Psychic or Dark targets while also providing utility such as pivoting, trapping pressure, or defensive resistances.

On defense, Bug is threatened by Fire, Flying, Rock. Teammate types that can resist or blank at least one of those threats include Fire, Water, Electric, Fighting, Ground, Rock.

Important exception

If the opposing team has Fire, Flying, Ghost, Steel, Poison, Fighting, and Fairy answers, Bug attacks can disappear quickly; avoid drafting Bug without a secondary plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bug type strong against?

Bug type moves are super effective (2× damage) against Grass, Psychic, Dark types.

What is Bug type weak against?

Bug type is weak to (takes 2× damage from) Fire, Flying, Rock type moves.

What types resist Bug?

Fire, Fighting, Poison, Flying, Ghost, Steel, Fairy types resist Bug type moves (take 0.5× damage).

What does Bug type resist?

Bug type resists (takes 0.5× damage from) Grass, Fighting, Ground type moves.

Explore More

Dual Type Calculator

See how Bug combines with other types

Battle Simulator

Test Bug in battle scenarios