If you watched the Pokémon anime, you’ll most likely associate Water Pokémon with Misty. Both Ash’s companion on his journey and a Gym Leader, she showed what this type is capable of.
Other notable Water-type trainers include the Gym Leaders Crasher Wake, Nessa, and Marlon.
We also can’t forget to give a shout-out to Wallace, who went from a Gym Leader to the champion of the Elite Four!
In the main games, the Water-type is everywhere! There are 144 of them in total as of now, way more than any other type!
Water-type Pokémon can be incredibly versatile, with a wide range of capabilities. For example, some can be bulky tanks, while others are fast, hard-hitting opponents.
With so many of them, and with so many different tricks up their sleeves, we’re here to help you from getting washed away by Water-type Pokémon!
Water Type Pokémon Weaknesses & Strengths Chart
| Weakness | Strong Against |
|---|---|
| Grass, Electric | Rock, Ground, Fire |
Water-Type Pokémon Weaknesses
Water-type Pokémon are weak to the Grass and Electric types. They take double damage from these types of moves.
The Grass and Dragon types also take half damage from Water-type moves, as they resist them.
As a result, Grass is the best overall type to use. This is because it is super effective and also resists any attacks fired back!
Also read: 20 Pokemon Quiz Questions for Ultimate Fans
Water-Type Pokémon Strengths and Resistances
Water-type Pokémon resist moves from Ice, Fire, and Steel-type Pokémon. This means they take half the damage from their attacks.
Water-type moves are also super effective against Rock, Ground, and Fire types. If you have a Pokémon with these typings you better watch out!
This is especially true for Rock and Ground types, which is a common type pairing. A Rock/Ground type such as Geodude will take 4 times the damage of a Water-type move!
Pokémon Good Against Water Types
There are plenty of Pokémon that can be good against Water-type Pokemon, that either can exploit their weaknesses or resist their moves.
5 of the best Water-type counters are:
1. Leafeon
Leafeon is the Grass-type Eeveelution. This works in its favor as its type is not only super effective against Water types, but it resists their attacks too!
Leafeon has a solid Defense stat, which is one of the highest in the game. This can help it to absorb physical attacks. Not only this, but it has a great Attack stat and decent Speed, too!
With moves like Swords Dance, Leafeon can raise its Attack even further. This means that moves like Leaf Blade pack a huge punch!
Leafeon also has the ability Chlorophyll, which boosts its Speed if it is in sunny weather.
2. Rotom-Mow
Rotom-Mow is Electric/Grass type, which are both deadly to Water types!
Being in its lawnmower form allows Rotom-Mow to be able to use Leaf Storm. This powerful Grass-type attack can rip through foes, but it does weaken Rotom afterward.
However, Rotom-Mow can restore its stats by switching out. This is made easy by using the move Volt Switch, allowing it to deal Electric-type damage!
Rotom-Mow can also inflict a burn on opponents by using Will-o-Wisp. Burns not only cause damage every turn but halve your foe’s Attack stat!
3. Ludicolo
Ludicolo is a Water/Grass type. As a result of this, it has 4 times damage resistance against Water-type attacks!
Ludicolo by being part Water-type can use this to its advantage. If a Water-type opponent uses a move or ability to bring about rain, a variety of things can happen.
In rain, Ludicolo’s ability Swift Swim activates, upping its Speed. Another ability activated by rain, Rain Dish will restore its HP every turn!
4. Heliolisk
Heliolisk is a Normal/Electric type. The Electric-type allows it to inflict super effective damage against Water-type Pokémon.
You may be wondering why you might want to use Heliolisk, as it looks like it can’t resist Water-type moves. This is where you would be wrong!
Heliolisk has access to the ability Dry Skin. What this means is that Water-type attacks won’t do any damage to it. Instead, they will restore its health!
Heliolisk also has great Special Attack and Speed, which lets it hit hard, and fast!
5. Lanturn
Lanturn is a Water/Electric type. Although its stats might not seem as impressive as other Pokémon we could choose for this spot, it has a lot going for it.
To start with, Lanturn’s HP is pretty good in comparison to its other stats. This allows it to be able to take a beating without needing to invest much in its Defense and Special Defense.
Lanturn also has the ability to heal itself of status ailments using the move Heal Bell. This also helps it to be able to stay out in battle longer.
However, the true ace up Lanturn’s sleeve is its two abilities. Lanturn has access to both Volt Absorb, and Water Absorb.
Volt Absorb allows Lanturn to restore health when hit by an Electric-type move. Water Absorb also follows the same principle, but instead restores health if it is hit by a Water-type attack!
| Pokémon | Type | Moves |
|---|---|---|
| Leafeon | Grass | Swords Dance Leaf Blade Knock Off Synthesis |
| Rotom-Mow | Electric/Grass | Leaf Storm Volt Switch Thunderbolt Will o Wisp |
| Ludicolo | Water/Grass | Giga Drain Ice Beam Hydro Pump Rain Dance |
| Heliolisk | Normal/Electric | Thunderbolt Volt Switch Hyper Voice Grass Knot |
| Lanturn | Water/Electric | Scald Volt Switch Thunderbolt Heal Bell |
| Lilligant | Grass | Sleep Powder Quiver Dance Leaf Storm Giga Drain |
| Magnezone | Electric/Steel | Thunderbolt Flash Cannon Volt Switch Toxic |
| Rillaboom | Grass | Grassy Glide Knock Off Wood Hammer Swords Dance |
| Tangrowth | Grass | Power Whip Sludge Bomb Focus Blast Giga Drain |
| Arctozolt | Ice/Electric | Bolt Beak Low Kick Freeze Dry Icy Wind |
| Galvantula | Electric/Bug | Sticky Web Bug Buzz Volt Switch Thunder |
| Morpeko | Electric/Dark | Aura Wheel Seed Bomb Crunch Taunt |
| Cradily | Rock/Grass | Giga Drain Toxic Recover Leech Seed |
| Roserade | Poison/Grass | Toxic Spikes Giga Drain Sleep Powder Sludge Bomb |
| Jolteon | Electric | Thunderbolt Hyper Voice Volt Switch Shadow Ball |
Attacks Super Effective Against Water-Type Pokémon
Grass or Electric-type attacks will be your moves of choice to defeat Water-type Pokémon quickly and easily.
It’s always key to remember that you don’t need a Pokémon that has Grass or Electric typing to use a super effective move. Lots of different Pokémon can learn them and help you out in a pinch.
Here is a list of some of the top 10 moves to look out for.
- Giga Drain (Grass)
- Freeze Dry (Ice)
- Thunder (Electric)
- Volt Switch (Electric)
- Leaf Blade (Grass)
- Thunderbolt (Electric)
- Seed Bomb (Grass)
- Leaf Storm (Grass)
- Thunder Fang (Electric)
- Discharge (Electric)
Tips on Defeating Water-Type Pokémon
Water-type Pokémon have a lot of tricks up their sleeves that you need to be aware of.
To start with, it’s always worth keeping in mind that because there are lots of them, they often have dual typing.
Normally this can be OK, but if for example, they have a Water/Ground typing, Electric moves won’t work at all!
Other pairings to be aware of include Water/Grass, Water/Electric, and Water/Flying. All these resist either Electric or Grass attacks.
Water-type Pokémon also gain an advantage when it comes to the weather effect of rain. This can either be brought about by the ability Drizzle or through a Pokémon using the move Rain Dance.
When rain is in effect Fire moves are less powerful, Water moves are powered up, and some Pokémon’s abilities activate. These include Rain Dish, Swift Swim, and Hydration.
However, you can also use weather to your advantage too! Creating the weather effect of heavy sun by using Sunny Day or the ability Drought lowers the effectiveness of Water-type moves.
As mentioned previously with some of our top picks, a few abilities can also be used to combat Water types. For example, Dry Skin and Water Absorb will restore your HP if hit by a water-based move. The ability Storm Drain will raise your Special Attack!
Although most Ice-type moves are resisted by Water Pokémon, there is one that you will want to look out for. Freeze Dry is an Ice-type move that is unique in the fact that it is super effective against Water-type Pokémon!
Hopefully, now you feel like you can stay afloat against the deluge of Water Pokémon!
Are there any other types you are worried about facing? Let us and your fellow trainers know in the comments.