Fighting Pokémon are usually used as a subtype in Pokémon Go because they can be easily countered if that's their only type. Their attacks are boosted by cloudy weather, so expect to see plenty of other trainers using them if the weather is good. ! This guide will help you get through the toughest battles against any type of Fighting Pokémon, including some of the strongest combinations!
counters-in-pok-mon-go">Fighting Pokémon Weaknesses and Counters in Pokémon Go
One of the first things you need to know about choosing the right counters in Pokémon Go is that not all Pokémon are created equal. There is no universal solution against them. With each subtype, moveset, and specialty comes the suggestion of a different technique to counter it. That being said, we are going to cover a couple of things in this guide.
Weaknesses and strengths
Unfortunately, the dynamics of Fighting Pokémon have no real science to compare. They are weak against Flying, Fairy and Psychic, and strong against Bug, Rock and Dark. Still, there are additional stats to know about Pokemon and Fighting-type attacks. The list below provides the base damage effectiveness against their respective types. If something is not listed, it can be assumed to apply standard damage/defenses.
- Attack
- Super effective against (160% damage): Normal, Ice, Rock, Dark, Steel
- Not very effective against (62,5% damage): Poison, Flying, Psychic, Bug
- No effect against (<35% damage): Ghost
- Defend
- Weak against (160% damage): Flying, Fairy, Psychic
- Strong Against (62,5% Damage): Bug, Rock, Dark
Related: Best Fire-type Pokémon in Pokémon Go - Pro Game Guides
Combination of weaknesses and strengths
Sometimes when Pokémon have secondary types, the weaknesses and strengths of that type can negate, magnify, or add to the weaknesses and strengths of the Pokémon's primary type. In this list, we'll specifically cover subtypes that change the original weaknesses and strengths.
- Amplify
- Boosts Weakness to Flying: Grass, Bug
- Amplifies weakness to Psychic: Poison
- Amplifies Fairy Weakness: Dragon, Dark
- Negation
- Nullifies Flying Weakness: Electric, Rock, Steel
- Nullifies Weakness to Psychic: Psychic, Steel
- Nullifies Fairy Weakness: Fire, Poison, Steel
- Nullifies Insect Resistance: Grass, Psychic, Dark
- Nullifies Rock Resistance: Fire, Ice, Flying, Bug
- Nullifies Dark Resistance: Psychic, Ghost
counters
The best way to counter a Pokémon is to know its weaknesses and strengths, which are listed in the previous two sections of the guide. However, as mentioned earlier, some of these weaknesses and resistances can be modded with subtypes. So the question is, what do you do if the Pokemon has multiple types? Well, find another counter, of course!
We will cover a few points with the lists below. First, we'll explain how to counter basic fighting Pokémon. Next, we'll list the best counters for all Pokemon Fighting subtypes.
Best Combat Counters
When we think of counters for battling Pokemon, we instinctively think that Ghost Pokemon are the best, because they're immune to battling attacks. However, Ghost Pokémon don't have many strengths and weaknesses outside of that, so if the Fighting Pokémon has a subtype, it can always just use an attack of that type instead.
To battle Pokémon without additional subtypes, you'll be looking to use Flying, Psychic, and Fairy attacks and dodge Bug, Rock, and Dark attacks. Note that these advantages do not mean that you must counter or avoid countering with these types of Pokémon, but with these types of attacks in particular.
Since Flying, Psychic, and Fairy Pokemon all do decent damage and resist Fighting Pokemon, you'll want this to be your standard roster against them (assuming there are subtypes). Ghost Pokémon should only be used if the Fighting Pokémon has no subtypes. If you want to find the best of each of these types, you can follow these links: Best Flying Pokemon, Best Psychic Pokemon, Best Ghost Pokemon, and Best Fairy Pokemon.
Best Subtype Counters
Since Fighting Pokémon have three weaknesses, trainers can use counters that negate them. While this can be an advanced technique to use against other unsuspecting trainers, we must remember that each type has its own weaknesses and strengths. This means that if certain subtypes can negate a weakness, it could amplify other weaknesses or add new ones. The list below explains all the best counters for each Fighting Pokémon subtype.
Related: Best Dragon-type Pokémon in Pokémon Go - Pro Game Guides
- Fighting + Electric: Electric Pokemon negates Fighting Pokemon's weakness to Flying, but adds a weakness to Ground Pokemon. Ground Pokemon would probably be the best option here as they are not only effective against Electric Pokemon, but also immune to Electric attacks.
- Fighting + Dragon: Dragon Pokémon are weak against Fairy Pokémon, so the combination of these two types makes them especially vulnerable to Fairy Attacks. Use these if you're fighting a Fighting + Dragon Pokémon.
- Fighting + Grass: Grass Pokémon are weak against Flying Pokémon, so the combination of these two types makes them especially vulnerable to Flying Attacks. Use these if you're fighting a Fighting + Grass Pokémon.
- Fighting + Ice: Ice does not negate any of the Fighting-type weaknesses, so you can stick with the standard lineup against Fighting + Ice Pokémon. However, due to Ice's weaknesses, you can now also use other types such as Fire or even other Fighting Pokémon.
- Fighting + Dark: Fighting Pokemon are weak against Fairy Pokemon, so the combination of these two types makes them especially vulnerable to Fairy attacks. Use these if you're fighting a Fighting + Fighting Pokémon.
- Fighting + Poison: Poison Pokémon are weak against Psychic Pokémon, so the combination of these two types makes them especially vulnerable to Psychic Attacks. Use these if you're fighting a Fighting + Poison Pokémon.
- Fighting + Ground: Ground does not negate any of the Fighting-type weaknesses, so you can stick with the standard range against Fighting + Ground Pokémon. However, due to Ground's weaknesses, you can now also use other types such as Water or Grass. Make sure you don't use Electric Pokemon, as even the strongest of them won't do well against Fighting + Ground Pokemon.
- Fighting + Normal: Normal does not negate any of the Fighting-type weaknesses, so you can stick with the standard range against Fighting + Normal Pokémon. However, Normal is also weak against Fighting Pokémon, making these Pokémon weak against their own type of attack! Ghost Pokemon are immune to normal attacks, but normal Pokemon are immune to ghost attacks.
- Fighting + Fire: Fire Pokemon are resistant to Fairy attacks, so try to avoid using them. These Pokémon are still vulnerable to flying and psychic attacks, so we recommend using one. Alternatively, Water-type Pokemon are also effective against Fighting + Fire and resistant to their attacks.
- Fighting + Flying: Flying doesn't negate any of the Fighting-type weaknesses, so you can stick with the standard range against Fighting + Flying Pokémon. However, due to the weaknesses of Flying, you can now also use other types such as Electric or Ice. Make sure you don't use any Ground Pokemon, as even the strongest of them won't do well against Fighting + Flying Pokemon.
- Fighting + Psychic: Psychic Pokémon negates Fighting Pokémon's weakness to Psychic, but adds a weakness to Ghost Pokémon. Since Ghost Pokémon are immune to Fighting attacks, they are your best option against Fighting + Psychic Pokémon.
- Fighting + Bug: Bug Pokémon are weak against Flying Pokémon, so the combination of these two types makes them especially vulnerable to Flying Attacks. Use these if you're fighting a Fighting + Bug Pokemon.
- Fighting + Rock: Rock Pokémon negates Fighting Pokémon's weakness to Flying, but adds weakness to several others like Water, Grass, and other Fighting Pokémon. Still, we recommend sticking to the standard range such as Fairy or Psychic.
- Fighting + Ghost: Ghost-types are weak against their own attacks, which adds ghosts as a weakness for these Pokémon. Since they're also immune to battle attacks, ghost Pokemon and attacks are probably the best option here. If you find your opponent's ghost attacks are too strong, you can try switching back to Fairy or Psychic Pokemon.
- Fighting + Water: Water doesn't negate any of the Fighting-type weaknesses, so you can stick with the standard range against Fighting + Water Pokémon. However, due to Water's weaknesses, you can now also use other types such as Electric or Grass.
- Fighting + Steel: Steel Pokemon are resistant to all Fighting Pokemon weaknesses, so you'll have to completely change the lineup in this battle. Fire, Fighting, and Ground Pokémon are strong against Fighting + Steel, but only Fire is resistant to Steel attacks. That means Fire Pokemon are probably the best option against them.
- Fighting+Fairy: Fairy doesn't negate any of the Fighting-type weaknesses, so you can stick with the standard lineup against Fighting+Fairy Pokémon. However, due to Water's weaknesses, you can now also use other types such as Poison or Steel.
With this guide, you should be ready to defeat any Fighting type opponent! In summary, you have probably realized that the best Pokémon and Attacks to use will probably be Flying or Fairy. Remember that Ghost Pokemon are great options against Fighting Pokemon, but only in specific situations!
Legend season has begun! Check out our All Tasks Guide for Season of Legends Research!
