Ground-type Pokemon can be extremely powerful and resistant, despite their numerous weaknesses. Here’s how to take advantage of their vulnerabilities in battle and employ the best counters to knock out these sturdy Pokemon.
Ground types are known to be tough opponents thanks to their usually high Defense and HP stats, meaning they can deal heavy damage while taking some hits. Plus, their moves can be super effective against five different types.
So, here’s everything you need to know about the weaknesses and resistances of Ground-type Pokemon to make sure you don’t get stuck in the mud.
What is Ground-type weak to?
Ground-type Pokemon have three primary weaknesses when it comes to moves and opposing Pokemon types:
Therefore, when looking to take down a Ground-type Pokemon, bring along a team that includes those types and make sure they have matching movesets. However, take note of your opponent’s secondary typing, as they can change the rules.
Ground-type strengths
As well as having weaknesses, Ground-type Pokemon are also resistant to certain moves such as Poison and Rock, while being immune to Electric types.
When adding a Ground-type Pokemon to your team, focus on targeting Fire, Electric, Poison, Rock, and Steel enemies, as you’ll be able to deal super effective damage.
Ground-type weaknesses
Besides being weak to Water, Grass, and Ice, Ground-type Pokemon should never use matching type movesets against Grass or Bug opponents. This is because Ground attacks tend to not deal much damage against them.
Super effective types against Ground Pokemon
When heading into battle against Ground types, pure Water, Grass, and Ice-type Pokemon will be very useful. However, creatures with two of them are even better.
The best Pokemon you should use to counter Ground-type Pokemon are listed below:
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- Lapras (Water/Ice)
- Ludicolo (Water/Grass)
- Walrein (Ice/Water)
- Ogerpon Wellspring Mask (Grass/Water)
- Abomasnow (Grass/Ice)
Always bear in mind a Pokemon’s secondary type when selecting your counter Pokemon and moves. While the above examples are effective against pure ground types, the opposing Pokemon may have resistances based on their secondary typing.
Super effective moves to use against Ground Pokemon
There are plenty of Water, Grass, and Ice super-effective moves that players can use against Ground-type Pokemon. Here are the ones we recommend due to their power and effects:
- Hydro Cannon (Water)
- Origin Pulse (Water)
- Surf (Water)
- Frenzy Plant (Grass)
- Solar Blade (Grass)
- Solar Beam (Grass)
- Giga Drain (Grass)
- Ice Burn (Ice)
- Ice Beam (Ice)
- Icicle Spear (Ice)
Hydro Cannon is an iconic Water-type move that has been part of the franchise since Gen 3. This special move has an outstanding 150 power and 90% accuracy, though the Pokemon cannot move on the next turn. Surf is another iconic attack from Gen 1 that excels because it not only hits the target but all the adjacent opponents.
The Grass move, Frenzy Plant has also been part of Pokemon since Gen 3 like Hydro Cannon, and is one of the most used Grass-type attacks because of its sheer power of 150. However, the user must recharge the following turn. Both Solar Blade and Solar Beam are almost exactly the same and require a turn to charge. Their main difference is that Solar Blade is a physical move and Solar Beam is a special move.
Ice Burn is the strongest special Ice move available with 140 power. It requires a turn to charge, but it has a 30% chance of also burning the opponent. Icicle Spear is not as powerful, but it hits 2-5 times per turn and has 100% accuracy. More so, you can spam this move as it has 30 PP.
Best Tera Types
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet‘s addition of Tera Types can change the battle rules, so it’s always worth knowing the best Tera Types for a Ground-type Pokemon:
- Ground: Grants an extra boost of power with STAB
- Rock: Boosts the power of Rock-type moves
- Water: Eliminates the Ground-type weakness to Water-type moves
- Grass: Removes the Ground-type Pokemon weakness to Grass-type moves
Best Ground-type moves
There are 30 Ground-type moves and we’ve picked the most powerful special, physical, and status attacks you can use in battle:
| MOVE | CATEGORY | POWER | ACCURACY | PP | EFFECT | GEN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandsear Storm | Special | 100 | 80% | 10 | May burn the opponent | Gen VIII |
| Earth Power | Special | 90 | 100% | 10 | May lower the opponent’s Sp. Defense | Gen IV |
| Scorching Sands | Special | 70 | 100% | 10 | May burn the opponent | Gen VIII |
| Mud Bomb | Special | 65 | 85% | 10 | May lower the opponent’s Accuracy | Gen IV |
| Precipice Blades | Physical | 120 | 85% | 10 | Hits all adjacent opponents | Gen VI |
| Headlong Rush | Physical | 120 | 100% | 5 | Lowers the user’s Defense | Gen VIII |
| Earthquake | Physical | 100 | 100% | 10 | Power is doubled is using Dig | Gen I |
| High Horsepower | Physical | 95 | 95% | 10 | – | Gen VII |
| Shore Up | Status | X | X | 5 | User regains up to half of its max HP. Restores more during Sandstorm | Gen VII |
| Sand Attack | Status | X | 100% | 15 | Lowers the opponent’s Accuracy | Gen I |
Best Ground-types ever in Pokemon
The Pokemon franchise has a total of 92 Ground-type creatures (up to Gen 9), and here are the 10 best of the ranking:
- Groudon
- Zygarde (Complete Forme)
- Garchomp
- Landorus
- Excadrill
- Mamoswine
- Hippowdon
- Ursaluna
- Great Tusk
- Rhyperior
That’s all you need to know about Ground-type Pokemon weaknesses, resistances, and strengths. Don’t forget to check out our list of all the Cat or Dog Pokemon in the franchise, and learn more about other types such as Fire, Ghost, and Electric.