Summary
Pokemonis one of thebest turn-based RPGsever made. It’s not a coincidence it’s such a popular game. There is a lot to learn about the game and it can be very hard to master. There are dual-type Pokemon as well as monotype, either one possessing its own advantages.Monotype Pokemononly have a single type, which means that if they’re Water-type, they have a secondary type just as Flying, for example.Dual-type Pokemoncan have both types at the same time - this is a double-edged sword, however.
How does it work? Well, for example,Kartanais a dual-type Pokemon, it’s a Grass-type as well as a Steel-type. So, although Ground-type attacks are super effective on Steel-type Pokemon, its Grass-type nature makes it neutral to these types of attacks. On the other hand, since both Steel- and Grass-types are weak to Fire-type attacks, it’s got a double weakness to Fire and these attacks hit twice as hard.
Bug-type Pokemontend to be quite underrated, but they’re either neutral or resistant to most attack types. Combined with certain other typings they can become quite strong - it’s all about being creative. Some great combinations arerarely even used. Take a look at the best secondary typings for Bug-type Pokemon.
Updated on August 03, 2025, by Ben Painter:Bug types are regarded as some of the weakest in the Pokemon franchise. They are amazing in the early game thanks to their low evolution levels, meaning gamers can have a fully evolved Pokemon to take on the first few gyms. However, they quickly become useless as the game progresses. There are a few exceptions to this rule, with some strong Bugs that can carry themselves all the way to the Elite Four. This is mainly due to said Pokemon’s secondary typing, which helps to counteract the Bug-type’s weaknesses. This update adds three more types which work well as asecondary-type for Bug Pokemon.
13Ghost
Shedinja’s Ability Means Very Little Can Hit It
The sole entry to this type combination isShedinja, which is an interesting Pokemon for another reason besides its typing. It’s ability, Wonder Guard, means that it can only be hit by moves that are Super Effective. All other moves do not affect thisBug/Ghost-type.
Since there are no other members of this typing, the table below is not a true representation of this match-up, but since there are no others, the actual battle properties do not exist in the games.Only being able to be hit by 5 movesmeans this Pokemon is insanely useful and, in certain scenarios, it is literally untouchable.
Flying (2x), Rock (2x), Ghost (2x), Fire (2x), Dark (2x)
Immune to:
Normal (0x), Fighting (0x) Poison (0x), Ground (0x), Bug (0x), Steel (0x), Water (0x), Grass (0x), Electric (0x), Psychic (0x), Ice (0x), Dragon (0x), Fairy (0x)
12Ice
Ice Is A Great Counter To Flying
Another unique typing,Snomand its evolution,Frosmoth, are the only candidates for theIce/Bug-type.With the Flying-type being a big weakness to Bugs, this is countered by the Ice-type, and it can strike hard with moves such as Blizzard and Bug Buzz.
Although this Pokemon has two 4x weaknesses, Fire and Rock, it has insane Sp. Atk at 125, so it may not give its opponents a chance to hit. GameFreak need to include more Pokemon with this type. Perhaps in the next entryPokemon Legends Z-A, a Bug-type Pokemon may get a secondary Ice typing as a regional variant.
Type effectiveness:
Damaged normally by:
Normal (1x), Fighting (1x) Poison (1x), Bug (1x), Ghost (1x), Water (1x) Electric (1x), Psychic (1x), Dragon (1x), Dark (1x), Fairy (1x)
Flying (2x), Rock (4x), Steel (2x), Fire (4x)
Ground (1/2x), Grass (1/2x), Ice (1/2x)
11Fairy
Immune To Dragon And Resists A Lot Of Other Types
TheFairy typeis one of the best Pokemon types in the franchise, but the only acceptable entry for Bug types areCutiefly and Ribombee. This cute little Pokemon is actually really useful in the games. It is completely immuneto the powerful Dragon-type, for starters. If gamers are doing a solo Bug-type run, Ribombee should be one of the first Pokemon on their roster.
It also resists five more types: Fighting, Ground, Bug, Grass & Dark. When it comes to defense, a Fairy-type is a prime selection. Regarding Bugs, Ribombee is the only choice!
Normal (1x), Ghost (1x), Water (1x) Electric (1x), Psychic (1x), Ice (1x), Fairy (1x)
Flying (2x), Poison (2x), Rock (2x), Steel (2x), Fire (2x)
Dragon (0x)
Fighting (1/2x), Ground (1/2x), Bug (1/2x), Grass (1/2x), Dark (1/2x)
10Fighting
A Counter To The Rock Weakness
Unlike Bug-type Pokemon,dual Bug- and Fighting-type Pokemon aren’t weak against Rock. On top of this, they can resist Dark- and Bug-type attacks.
There are highly competitive Pokemon, such asPheromosa, that have this type combination, and they can be very valuable on the right team.
Normal (1x), Poison (1x), Rock (1x), Ghost (1x), Steel (1x), Water (1x) Electric (1x), Ice (1x), Dragon (1x)
Flying (4x), Fire (2x), Psychic (2x), Fairy (2x)
9Grass
The Grass Type Helps With Resistances
AlthoughGrasswill accentuate some typical Bug-type Pokemon weaknesses like Fire- and Flying-types, it also makes it even more resilient against its resistances, such as Grass- and Ground-type Pokemon.
On top of this,the Pokemon will also become resistant to Water- and Electric-type moves. Unfortunately, it will become weak against Poison-, Ice-, and Bug-type moves but these aren’t too common in competitive Pokemon.
Normal (1x), Ghost (1x), Steel (1x), Psychic (1x), Psychic (1x), Dragon (1x), Dark (1x), Fairy (1x)
Weak to:
Flying (4x), Poison (2x), Rock (2x), Bug (2x), Fire (4x), Ice (2x)
Fighting (1/2x), Ground (1/2x), Water (1/2x), Grass (1/2x), Electric (1/2x)
8Flying
Ground Type Immunity And Adds An Offensive Edge
Flying-typeisn’t the optimal secondary type for a Bug-type Pokemon, but it still complements it quite well. Bug becomes twice as resistant to Fighting- and Grass-type attacks.
On top of that,the Pokemon also becomes immune to Ground. Unfortunately, though, Rock-type attacks become twice as effective against it.
Normal (1x), Poison (1x), Ghost (1x), Steel (1x), Water (1x), Psychic (1x), Dragon (1x), Dark (1x), Fairy (1x)
Flying (2x), Rock (4x), Fire (2x), Electric (2x), Ice (2x)
Ground (0x)
Fighting (1/2x), Bug (1/2x), Grass (1/2x)
7Water
Removes A Big Weakness To Fire & Counters Rock Moves
A Bug and Water dual-type Pokemonis a great mix because Fire attacks lose their super effectiveness and have a neutral effect only.
The Pokemon alsogains resistance to Steel- and Water-type attacks. On the downside, the Pokemon loses its resistance to Grass attacks.
Normal (1x), Poison (1x), Bug (1x), Ghost (1x), Fire (1x), Grass (1x), Psychic (1x), Dragon (1x), Dark (1x), Fairy (1x)
Flying (2x), Rock (2x), Electric (2x)
Fighting (1/2x), Ground (1/2x), Steel (1/2x), Water (1/2x), Ice (1/2x)
6Ground
Immune To Electric Attacks
Ground-typesare only weak to Water-, Grass-, and Ice-type attacks. Meanwhile, they’re immune to Electric, and resistant to Poison- and Rock-type attacks.
So,a Ground and Bug dual-type Pokemonwould only be weak to Flying-, Ice- and Water-type attacks because its weaknesses and strengths would complement each other. However, there are only two Pokemon with this typing and one of them has to have a special cloak in order to get this specific type combination.
Normal (1x), Rock (1x), Bug (1x) Ghost (1x), Steel (1x), Grass (1x), Psychic (1x), Dragom (1x), Dark (1x), Fairy (1x)
Flying (2x), Fire (2x), Water (2x), Ice (2x)
Electric (0x)
Fighting (1/2x), Poison (1/2x), Ground (1/2x)
5Poison
Resists A Few Types And Can Now Hit STAB Poison Moves
There are quite a fewBug and Poison dual-type Pokemon, perhaps because it seems logical for certain bugs to be poisonous in the real-world - althoughnot all Pokemon types make sense. There are quite a fewPokemon inspired by real-life animalsso it shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Bug-types that also have Poison typing are twice as resistant to Fighting- and Grass-type attacks. They also gain resistance to Fairy- and Bug-type attacks. Unfortunately, they become neutral to Ground-type attacks, while Psychic- and Water-type attacks become super effective.
Normal (1x), Ground (1x), Ghost (1x), Steel (1x), Water (1x), Electric (1x), Ice (1x), Dragon (1x), Dark (1x)
Flying (2x), Rock (2x), Fire (2x), Psychic (2x)
Fighting (1/2x), Poison (1/2x), Bug (1/2x), Grass (1/2x), Fairy (1/2x)
4Rock
Weaknesses And Strengths Balance Each Other Well
Similar to other type combinations,Rock and Bug dual-type Pokemonhave a good typing due to how the two’s strengths and weaknesses complement each other to make a balanced Pokemon.
This way, Pokemon with these two types are only weak to Steel- and Water-type moves. But, sadly, they’re only resistant against Normal-type attacks, which aren’t all that common when playing competitively.
Fighting (1x), Flying (1x), Ground (1x), Bug (1x), Ghost (1x), Fire (1x), Grass (1x), Electric (1x), Psychic (1x), Ice (1x), Dragon (1x), Dark (1x), Fairy (1x)
Rock (2x), Steel (2x), Water (2x)
Normal (1/2x), Poison (1/2x),
