Mothra
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Making sense of the type effectiveness chart NO I HAVE NEVER TRIED
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Mothra
For water not SE against Electric: Well, it's sort of a cop-out, but pure H2O is not a conductor. It's the stuff (electrolytes) in water that make it conductive. As for water vs Steel, I think it's more about how steel attacks tend to be rigid, which water types can flex around a bit, dampening the blow, while the rust is way to slow to have an effect. As for Ice vs Fighting, well, cold applies most in the longer run than most battles go, and perhaps Fighting is Fighting instead of Normal because Fighting has the metabolism that can keep it warm enough? Though Thick Fat ability would disagree with this analysis.
Water attacks are more in the lines of dousing with water and a full soak. Ice attacks are more in the cold, which fire is logically resistant to, rather than the water itelf.
I always presumed that Bug-type ruined the concentration of Psychic-types with all the buzzing and stinging and stuff.
Also, I am pretty sure that there aren't birds that eat grass. They eat it indirectly, but I'm not aware of any species that straight up eat grass. You'll have to ask leading ornithologist ballabrown for the full scoop on that one. Caw.
Also, I am pretty sure that there aren't birds that eat grass. They eat it indirectly, but I'm not aware of any species that straight up eat grass. You'll have to ask leading ornithologist ballabrown for the full scoop on that one. Caw.
Dark
-Bug can see in the dark and with it's need-to-feed bug mindset is not distracted by the powers of darkness
@Birdkal Chickens (the subspecies of bird that makes up most of the bird population) , ducks, geese, grouse, quail, pheasant
-Bug can see in the dark and with it's need-to-feed bug mindset is not distracted by the powers of darkness
@Birdkal Chickens (the subspecies of bird that makes up most of the bird population) , ducks, geese, grouse, quail, pheasant
I always just figured Bug resisted Fighting because if you were to attack a human-sized bug with your fists, it would do jack-squat to it's exoskeleton.
thats what you always figured? i did not know what an exoskeleton was when i first played pokemon
If there are any sciences young boys are well acquainted with, they are entomology and paleontology.
That's like saying, sure, setting me on fire might turn me into a smoldering pile of ash, but you can spread my ashes over the fire to put it out!
I'm pretty sure all the psychic weaknesses are common fears.
Ghosts, bugs, darkness... Operates off the same logic as the Rattled Ability.
Being scared is obviously not ideal when your power is dependant on your mental state.
Ghosts, bugs, darkness... Operates off the same logic as the Rattled Ability.
Being scared is obviously not ideal when your power is dependant on your mental state.
I always figured that Ground is super effective against Steel and Rock because sand erodes rock faces and shuts down machinery.
Nah man, earthquakes fuck up buildings.
idk i've heard pokemon are quite a lot more powerful than people
Charge travels the path of least resistance, like a lot of other things in existence. It will happily travel through metal (a good conductor) straight through the ground and will less happily travel through <not metal> (a shittier conductor). Relatively less current will pass through the <not metal> and less energy will be exerted on it in a given time.
Even if you did land a blow on the insect it barely does anything, it just continues flying. I have struck several bugs in mid air and it hardly affects them. Though I would imagine a Caterpie wouldn't be so resistant to hammer arm.
Based on this then the charge should have less resistance against steel clad opponents and be able to reach their vitals, though I don't know how that would work with crap like Bronzong since it doesn't look like he has a place to fit a heart.....
I'm an aspiring entomologist who has always been an aspiring entomologist. :P
Another interesting theory I've heard is that Psychic types are weak to bugs because their hive mind overwhelms the Psychic's telepathy.
Also, Steel is weak to Fighting because ki/body heat affects it, maybe?
My ideas on the subject:
Problems with this list that need to be addressed:
What do you guys and gals think? I'm open to any and all suggestions on how to make each one of these relationship explanations stronger or more concrete/believable.
Most of these are written from the "attacking" side.
Normal
Too weak to break through Rock and Steel.
Ghosts are incorporeal.
Fire
Fire burns Grass, melts Steel and Ice.
Rock requires too high a temperature to burn, (but could still happen, as represented by the low Sp Def in general across all rock types).
Dragons are superior to the normal elements found in nature (except see Ice).
Fire pokemon are plenty used to being on fire.
Water
Water extinguishes Fire.
Rocks sink in water.
Water quickly erodes loose gravel.
Water is already wet.
Roots (Grass types) are stronger than all but the strongest water currents.
Dragons are superior to normal elements found in nature (except see Ice).
Electric
Ignoring the science behind water actually being a conductor or not, the moisture on/in a Water pokemon’s body certainly doesn’t help it resist the currents.
Electric pokemon are plenty used to shock and jolts.
Ground and Grass are grounded well against electricity, Flying is not.
Dragons are superior to normal elements in nature (except see Ice).
Grass
Leaves and roots are ineffective at putting out fires.
Plants soak up and feed off of Water.
Plants are usually not effective against clearing out other plants, unless they have a special advantage like size, or are a parasite.
Roots break through Rock and Ground with easy, albeit gradually.
Bugs and some birds are herbivores, and Poison is dangerous to a plant (think weed killer), so Grass types have to take care when attacking these types, losing their effectiveness.
Steel types are both harder than rocks and have sharp scales/hides. Both are effective against keeping out unwanted roots/vines.
Dragons are superior to the normal elements found in nature (except see Ice).
Ice
Fire types heat themselves naturally faster than ice can cool them off directly.
Water types require much more ice than normal before feeling any change to their body temperature.
Grass and birds (Flying) are poorly defended against cold, and most don’t thrive in cold conditions.
Ice types are used to cold temperatures already.
Ice penetrates and freezes the moisture in Ground types, which is not something a living being would particularly enjoy.
Dragons are reptilian, and are not fit for cold environments in general. Alternatively, they, as the legendary creatures of mythology they represent, abhor being trapped/sealed (a common theme in stories with dragons), which Ice is quite good at doing.
Fighting
Someone trained in martial arts usually has no trouble fighting Normal types who aren’t trained.
Smashing Rocks and Ice are a test of strength.
Bending Steel girders is a classic cartoon-y way to show strength.
Psychics outsmart them, so their effectiveness is decreased. The only reason it isn't a full-blown immunity is because Psychic types are not usually physically strong.
Poison types use dirty and underhanded tactics which make them tough to fight honorably.
Fighting types can ignore the fear of the Dark (types), and enjoy beating up bullies.
It’s difficulty to fight something effectively if you can’t even reach it, like if it’s Flying or incorporeal like Ghosts.
Bugs are resilient and don’t move as expected, making it tough to find openings in their defenses (and shells).
Poison
Plants are susceptible to pollution (Yes, Pokemon is just a PSA to recycle).
Poison types already have poison in their bodies AND are wise to all other poison types’ tricks.
Rock and Ground are both well defended from underhanded tactics AND act as decent mediums in filtration systems for toxins.
Ghosts are incorporeal so poison itself doesn’t work well, but they still fall for underhanded tricks, resulting in poor effectiveness rather than immunity.
Steel types are completely protected against both Poison in their perfectly constructed bodies, but also have few to no weaknesses for a roundabout style of attack to exploit.
Ground
Dirt is effective at extinguishing fire.
Electric, Rock, and Steel types need foundation, which ground types are best at disheveling.
Bugs and Grass types are adaptive, and are usually too well embedded in dirt to care about small shifts, or too good at digging.
Ground is an effective filter for toxins (Poison).
Flying types can simply... fly.
Flying
It’s difficult to attack Electric types without getting shocked yourself if you’re not grounded, so effectiveness is decreased.
Grass and Bugs are commonly preyed on by birds. This not only represents a fear of being eaten, but also a natural predisposition to fighting them.
Fighting types can’t defend against every single angle that Flying types can attack from.
Flying type attacks rely on quick strikes, from which Rock and Steel are well defended.
Psychic
Psychic types can outwit both Fighting and Poison (remember, poison uses
sneaky, underhanded tactics).
But they cannot outwit other Psychics.
Dark types are conniving and so withdrawn from conventional thought that they are impossible to read or attack.
Even the best Psychics have to put a lot of effort into bending just a spoon with their minds, so an entire Steel pokemon is out of the question. Also, tin foil hats.
Bug
Bugs are not well protected against extreme heat or poison, so attacking fire and poison types requires more care than normal, so effectiveness is decreased.
Many Bugs are nocturnal herbivores, so Grass and Dark types are a pleasure to fight.
Fighting and Steel are good at defending themselves against the predictable
attacks of Bug types. (This is not contradictory to the Fighting type entry, as defending yourself from an unconventional foe is easier than breaking through his defenses).
Flying types are difficult to fight effectively when you can’t even reach them.
Psychic types are freaked out by bugs and thusly can’t concentrate, making them an easy fight.
Ghosts are incorporeal, but bugs are simple minded, so they try anyway. This results in poor effectiveness rather than invulnerability.
Rock
Rocks, like dirt, are pretty good at extinguishing fires, rather than fueling them.
Rocks are solid, Ice is crystalline. The result is a smashing success.
Bugs and birds (Flying) are frail and subject to squishing and squashing. Rocks are also easier to make airborne than martial artists.
Steel types are resistant against the imprecise bludgeoning of rocks.
Fighting types can just punch the rock, reducing it to pebbles, reducing its effectiveness.
Ghost
Normal pokemon can’t see ghosts, and pay them no mind, as opposed to Psychic types, who are hyper-aware of their presence, and can’t concentrate, making it an easy fight.
Steel types are simply too well defended to fall for a Ghost types’ tricks.
Dark types live and feed off fear, and are neither fooled nor amused by a Ghost type, reducing effectiveness.
Dragon
Steel types are well defended against almost every type of attack, including the straight-forward brute force of dragons.
Dragons are beings of legendary power, so the only thing that can come close to their level is another dragon.
Dark
Fighting types are resistant to the fear which Dark relies on for an effective attack.
Psychic types are especially vulnerable to said fear.
Ghosts exist in this world as shadows, which are destroyed by and cannot exist in true darkness.
Dark types live and breathe fear, so it’s difficult to scare them.
Steel types may be scared shitless, but their super-tough skin and scales still protect them from any underhanded attack Dark types cook up.
Steel
Attacking a Fire type runs the risk of melting, or at least a weakening of a Steel types’ tough hide, so effectiveness is decreased.
Water A: attacking a water type runs risk of rust, so effectiveness is decreased.
Water B: water is well protected against both bludgeoning and slashing, which is all steel has up its shiny sleeve.
Electric types can repel metals by generating a strong enough magnetic field with their body, reducing effectiveness.
As stated in the Rock description, Ice is crystalline, and poor defense against the blunt smash of a Steel attack.
Normal
Too weak to break through Rock and Steel.
Ghosts are incorporeal.
Fire
Fire burns Grass, melts Steel and Ice.
Rock requires too high a temperature to burn, (but could still happen, as represented by the low Sp Def in general across all rock types).
Dragons are superior to the normal elements found in nature (except see Ice).
Fire pokemon are plenty used to being on fire.
Water
Water extinguishes Fire.
Rocks sink in water.
Water quickly erodes loose gravel.
Water is already wet.
Roots (Grass types) are stronger than all but the strongest water currents.
Dragons are superior to normal elements found in nature (except see Ice).
Electric
Ignoring the science behind water actually being a conductor or not, the moisture on/in a Water pokemon’s body certainly doesn’t help it resist the currents.
Electric pokemon are plenty used to shock and jolts.
Ground and Grass are grounded well against electricity, Flying is not.
Dragons are superior to normal elements in nature (except see Ice).
Grass
Leaves and roots are ineffective at putting out fires.
Plants soak up and feed off of Water.
Plants are usually not effective against clearing out other plants, unless they have a special advantage like size, or are a parasite.
Roots break through Rock and Ground with easy, albeit gradually.
Bugs and some birds are herbivores, and Poison is dangerous to a plant (think weed killer), so Grass types have to take care when attacking these types, losing their effectiveness.
Steel types are both harder than rocks and have sharp scales/hides. Both are effective against keeping out unwanted roots/vines.
Dragons are superior to the normal elements found in nature (except see Ice).
Ice
Fire types heat themselves naturally faster than ice can cool them off directly.
Water types require much more ice than normal before feeling any change to their body temperature.
Grass and birds (Flying) are poorly defended against cold, and most don’t thrive in cold conditions.
Ice types are used to cold temperatures already.
Ice penetrates and freezes the moisture in Ground types, which is not something a living being would particularly enjoy.
Dragons are reptilian, and are not fit for cold environments in general. Alternatively, they, as the legendary creatures of mythology they represent, abhor being trapped/sealed (a common theme in stories with dragons), which Ice is quite good at doing.
Fighting
Someone trained in martial arts usually has no trouble fighting Normal types who aren’t trained.
Smashing Rocks and Ice are a test of strength.
Bending Steel girders is a classic cartoon-y way to show strength.
Psychics outsmart them, so their effectiveness is decreased. The only reason it isn't a full-blown immunity is because Psychic types are not usually physically strong.
Poison types use dirty and underhanded tactics which make them tough to fight honorably.
Fighting types can ignore the fear of the Dark (types), and enjoy beating up bullies.
It’s difficulty to fight something effectively if you can’t even reach it, like if it’s Flying or incorporeal like Ghosts.
Bugs are resilient and don’t move as expected, making it tough to find openings in their defenses (and shells).
Poison
Plants are susceptible to pollution (Yes, Pokemon is just a PSA to recycle).
Poison types already have poison in their bodies AND are wise to all other poison types’ tricks.
Rock and Ground are both well defended from underhanded tactics AND act as decent mediums in filtration systems for toxins.
Ghosts are incorporeal so poison itself doesn’t work well, but they still fall for underhanded tricks, resulting in poor effectiveness rather than immunity.
Steel types are completely protected against both Poison in their perfectly constructed bodies, but also have few to no weaknesses for a roundabout style of attack to exploit.
Ground
Dirt is effective at extinguishing fire.
Electric, Rock, and Steel types need foundation, which ground types are best at disheveling.
Bugs and Grass types are adaptive, and are usually too well embedded in dirt to care about small shifts, or too good at digging.
Ground is an effective filter for toxins (Poison).
Flying types can simply... fly.
Flying
It’s difficult to attack Electric types without getting shocked yourself if you’re not grounded, so effectiveness is decreased.
Grass and Bugs are commonly preyed on by birds. This not only represents a fear of being eaten, but also a natural predisposition to fighting them.
Fighting types can’t defend against every single angle that Flying types can attack from.
Flying type attacks rely on quick strikes, from which Rock and Steel are well defended.
Psychic
Psychic types can outwit both Fighting and Poison (remember, poison uses
sneaky, underhanded tactics).
But they cannot outwit other Psychics.
Dark types are conniving and so withdrawn from conventional thought that they are impossible to read or attack.
Even the best Psychics have to put a lot of effort into bending just a spoon with their minds, so an entire Steel pokemon is out of the question. Also, tin foil hats.
Bug
Bugs are not well protected against extreme heat or poison, so attacking fire and poison types requires more care than normal, so effectiveness is decreased.
Many Bugs are nocturnal herbivores, so Grass and Dark types are a pleasure to fight.
Fighting and Steel are good at defending themselves against the predictable
attacks of Bug types. (This is not contradictory to the Fighting type entry, as defending yourself from an unconventional foe is easier than breaking through his defenses).
Flying types are difficult to fight effectively when you can’t even reach them.
Psychic types are freaked out by bugs and thusly can’t concentrate, making them an easy fight.
Ghosts are incorporeal, but bugs are simple minded, so they try anyway. This results in poor effectiveness rather than invulnerability.
Rock
Rocks, like dirt, are pretty good at extinguishing fires, rather than fueling them.
Rocks are solid, Ice is crystalline. The result is a smashing success.
Bugs and birds (Flying) are frail and subject to squishing and squashing. Rocks are also easier to make airborne than martial artists.
Steel types are resistant against the imprecise bludgeoning of rocks.
Fighting types can just punch the rock, reducing it to pebbles, reducing its effectiveness.
Ghost
Normal pokemon can’t see ghosts, and pay them no mind, as opposed to Psychic types, who are hyper-aware of their presence, and can’t concentrate, making it an easy fight.
Steel types are simply too well defended to fall for a Ghost types’ tricks.
Dark types live and feed off fear, and are neither fooled nor amused by a Ghost type, reducing effectiveness.
Dragon
Steel types are well defended against almost every type of attack, including the straight-forward brute force of dragons.
Dragons are beings of legendary power, so the only thing that can come close to their level is another dragon.
Dark
Fighting types are resistant to the fear which Dark relies on for an effective attack.
Psychic types are especially vulnerable to said fear.
Ghosts exist in this world as shadows, which are destroyed by and cannot exist in true darkness.
Dark types live and breathe fear, so it’s difficult to scare them.
Steel types may be scared shitless, but their super-tough skin and scales still protect them from any underhanded attack Dark types cook up.
Steel
Attacking a Fire type runs the risk of melting, or at least a weakening of a Steel types’ tough hide, so effectiveness is decreased.
Water A: attacking a water type runs risk of rust, so effectiveness is decreased.
Water B: water is well protected against both bludgeoning and slashing, which is all steel has up its shiny sleeve.
Electric types can repel metals by generating a strong enough magnetic field with their body, reducing effectiveness.
As stated in the Rock description, Ice is crystalline, and poor defense against the blunt smash of a Steel attack.
Problems with this list that need to be addressed:
-Many of these explanations assume a situation where the pokemon is the same type as the attack, or at least becomes/adheres to that type for the duration of the attack. Why would an Aerodactyl using Steel Wing against a Fire type be afraid of melting?
-As an addition to that, many explanations rely on a situation where the pokemon is smart enough to reduce their own strength and attack carefully. How would a newly hatched Wurmple know it has to be careful when using Bug Bite against a Fire type? Why is there no option to take some damage to do full damage back?
-This list assumes Poison types still have the flavor of 1st Gen (Ninjas, tricksters, underhanded tactics), which is continuously stolen from them by Dark and Ghost as the Generations come out.
-Fighting and Rock are also bludgeoning like Steel, but Water doesn’t resist them.
-This list assumes Steel types aren't actually steel as we know it, just an amalgam of different metals, which end up being strong and solid, but have a low melting point, and don't conduct electricity any better or worse than a normal living being.
-Water is easily polluted just like Grass, but Poison isn’t super effective against it.
-Grass vs Grass' ineffectiveness is pretty difficult to explain, as most Grass attacks are slashing anyway.
-Rocks sink in Water, but Steel doesn't?
-Steel attacks are represented by both slashing and smashing, but Grass doesn’t seem to mind the cutting part, even though swords and shears make quick work of any plant.
-Ice DOES freeze Water, but only Ground gets affected by this fact.
-Unless you’re playing Minecraft, uprooting trees, pulling out weeds, and navigating through a dense jungle is either very difficult, requires great effort, or is just plain impossible, but Fighting and Normal types seem to ignore this fact when attacking Grass types.
-Bug types don’t seem to mind being punched square in the face but god forbid a pebble falls on them. (And what about bug spray and bug zappers?)
-The relationship between wind and fire is either A. The fire is fueled by the extra oxygen. Or B. the fire is extinguished like a birthday candle. Do these two facts counter each other into a neutral effectiveness when flying attacks fire?
-I probably have a contradiction or two up there somewhere *shrug*
-As an addition to that, many explanations rely on a situation where the pokemon is smart enough to reduce their own strength and attack carefully. How would a newly hatched Wurmple know it has to be careful when using Bug Bite against a Fire type? Why is there no option to take some damage to do full damage back?
-This list assumes Poison types still have the flavor of 1st Gen (Ninjas, tricksters, underhanded tactics), which is continuously stolen from them by Dark and Ghost as the Generations come out.
-Fighting and Rock are also bludgeoning like Steel, but Water doesn’t resist them.
-This list assumes Steel types aren't actually steel as we know it, just an amalgam of different metals, which end up being strong and solid, but have a low melting point, and don't conduct electricity any better or worse than a normal living being.
-Water is easily polluted just like Grass, but Poison isn’t super effective against it.
-Grass vs Grass' ineffectiveness is pretty difficult to explain, as most Grass attacks are slashing anyway.
-Rocks sink in Water, but Steel doesn't?
-Steel attacks are represented by both slashing and smashing, but Grass doesn’t seem to mind the cutting part, even though swords and shears make quick work of any plant.
-Ice DOES freeze Water, but only Ground gets affected by this fact.
-Unless you’re playing Minecraft, uprooting trees, pulling out weeds, and navigating through a dense jungle is either very difficult, requires great effort, or is just plain impossible, but Fighting and Normal types seem to ignore this fact when attacking Grass types.
-Bug types don’t seem to mind being punched square in the face but god forbid a pebble falls on them. (And what about bug spray and bug zappers?)
-The relationship between wind and fire is either A. The fire is fueled by the extra oxygen. Or B. the fire is extinguished like a birthday candle. Do these two facts counter each other into a neutral effectiveness when flying attacks fire?
-I probably have a contradiction or two up there somewhere *shrug*
What do you guys and gals think? I'm open to any and all suggestions on how to make each one of these relationship explanations stronger or more concrete/believable.
You're misunderstanding.
An ironclad pokemon acts as a giant faraday cage, which will protect it from most effects of electricity. A car is safe in a thunderstorm for the same reason. Granted, steel-types don't have a resistance to electric, but I'm assuming that's solely for balancing purposes.
yeah i think i've rationalized poison vs psychic with poison being brutish and physical (at least in gen 1, you either had rocket assholes or those stupid cue ball biker dudes ), so psychic beats it on account of the whole 'brains over brawn' thing, much like psychic vs fighting. i think fighting should have been SE on psychic too though, seeing how if a fighter manages to somehow circumvent a psychic foe's the telekinetic advantages he would probably be able to beat the shit out of him
that said i always thought psychic should have been SE vs steel given the oft-promulgated spoon-bending gimmick, which, you know, alakazam was kind of modeled after (but that wouldnt really fly considering how steel was introduced to nerf the then-broken psychic type)
Are we ignoring gen 1 type differences?
-ice is normally effective to fire because fuck fire, if I spam a blizzard at you do you think a flame is going to stop me?
-ghost can't touch psychic because the intelligent know that a lick can not hurt you
-bug and poison types were in a centuries long feud between one another that ended in gen 2
-ice is normally effective to fire because fuck fire, if I spam a blizzard at you do you think a flame is going to stop me?
-ghost can't touch psychic because the intelligent know that a lick can not hurt you
-bug and poison types were in a centuries long feud between one another that ended in gen 2
