If you have ever watched a Poison-type Pokemon crumble in a single hit, you already know something is going on with its weaknesses. The answer is narrower than most players expect, which makes it easy to remember once you see it. This guide breaks down exactly what Poison is weak to, why those two types matter so much, and how to plan around them.
Why pokemon what is poison weak to is getting attention: what is new or changing
Type matchups have always been the backbone of Pokemon battles, but Poison has quietly become more relevant in recent years. Fairy-types were introduced as a hard counter to Dragons, and the moment they arrived, Poison became one of the few reliable answers to them. That single change reshaped how players build teams in every generation that followed.
At the same time, Poison has kept a reputation as a "defensive" type. It resists Fighting, Poison, Bug, Grass, and Fairy, which is a genuinely strong set of resistances. Players who only remember that Poison-types are hard to knock out sometimes forget that the type still has two very real holes in its defenses.
That contrast is why searches around "what is Poison weak to" keep climbing. The type is popular on defensive and stall-oriented teams, and knowing its weaknesses is the difference between a wall that holds and a wall that gets deleted. Whether you are building a competitive team or just trying to get through a gym, this matchup is worth knowing cold.
The short answer
Poison-type Pokemon take double damage from Ground-type moves and double damage from Psychic-type moves. That is the complete list in the core series games. No other type hits Poison for super effective damage.
How it works: a clear explanation a beginner can follow
Every attack in Pokemon has a type, and every Pokemon has one or two types. When a move connects, the game checks the move's type against the defender's type and applies a multiplier. Most matchups are neutral, meaning the move deals normal damage. Some are resisted, meaning the move deals reduced damage. Some are super effective, meaning the move deals extra damage.
For a pure Poison-type Pokemon, a Ground or Psychic move deals double damage. That multiplier is applied before other factors like stats, items, and abilities, so it stacks with everything else. A strong Ground move from a strong attacker against a Poison-type is usually a knockout.
The two weaknesses in practice
Ground is a physical-leaning type with moves like Earthquake and Earth Power. Earthquake is one of the most common coverage moves in the game, which means many teams can hit Poison-types hard without ever planning for it specifically. Pokemon that fly or levitate avoid Ground moves entirely, and that is a big part of why certain Poison-types are far more durable than others.
Psychic is a special-leaning type with moves like Psychic and Psyshock. Psyshock is notable because it calculates damage using the target's Defense instead of Special Defense, which can catch bulky Poison-types off guard. Psychic-type attackers tend to be fast, so a Poison-type that cannot outspeed them often has to switch out.
Where Poison shines
Poison is not just a defensive type. Poison-type moves are super effective against Grass and Fairy, which gives the type real offensive value. Fairy is a common type on both offensive and defensive teams, so a Poison move is often the cleanest way to remove a Fairy-type threat.
Poison also pairs well with other types. Poison and Dark, Poison and Fighting, and Poison and Ground all cover each other's weak spots in different ways. A dual-type Pokemon's weakness list is the combination of both types, so a Poison and Dark Pokemon is not weak to Psychic in the same way a pure Poison-type is, because Dark resists Psychic.
The immunity rule
One more detail matters here. Steel-types are immune to Poison moves entirely, not just resistant. That means Poison-type attacks do nothing to a Steel-type. This is separate from Poison's own weaknesses, but it is easy to confuse the two, and it comes up constantly in battle.
Frequently asked questions
Is Poison weak to Psychic?
Yes. Psychic-type moves deal double damage to Poison-type Pokemon in the core series games. This is one of the two standard weaknesses.
Is Poison weak to Ground?
Yes. Ground-type moves deal double damage to Poison-type Pokemon. Ground is the other of the two standard weaknesses.
Is Poison weak to Fire or Water?
No. Poison-type Pokemon take neutral damage from Fire and Water moves. Neither type is super effective against Poison.
What does Poison resist?
Poison-type Pokemon resist Fighting, Poison, Bug, Grass, and Fairy moves. That resistance list is unusually long, which is why Poison-types are often used as defensive pivots.
What is Poison super effective against?
Poison-type moves are super effective against Grass-type and Fairy-type Pokemon. Poison moves also cannot affect Steel-types at all.
Risks and limitations
The biggest limitation is that type charts are not universal. Spin-off games, side series, and some older titles handle matchups differently, and fan-made games often rebalance them. If you are playing something outside the main series, check that game's own documentation rather than assuming the standard chart applies.
The second limitation is that weaknesses alone do not decide a battle. A Poison-type with Levitate or Air Balloon ignores Ground moves completely. An Assault Vest or a strong Special Defense stat can blunt Psychic damage. Abilities like Dry Skin and Water Absorb change what a Pokemon is vulnerable to, and held items add another layer.
There is also a practical risk in over-preparing. Building a team entirely around exploiting Poison's two weaknesses can leave you exposed to the many other types you will face. Treat this matchup as one tool, not a full strategy.
Finally, matchup knowledge ages. New Pokemon, new moves, and new mechanics are added over time, and while the core Poison weaknesses have been stable for a long time, you should verify details in the specific game you are playing if a battle hinges on it.
Common misconceptions
Myth: Poison is weak to Steel
This one is understandable but wrong. Steel-types are immune to Poison-type moves, meaning Poison attacks do nothing to them. That is the reverse of Poison being weak to Steel. Poison-types do not take extra damage from Steel moves.
Myth: Poison is weak to Fire
Fire deals neutral damage to Poison. There is no super effective relationship in either direction between these two types.
Myth: All Poison-types have the same weaknesses
Only pure Poison-types have exactly two weaknesses. A dual-type Pokemon combines the weakness lists of both types, which can add new weaknesses or cancel existing ones. A Poison and Grass Pokemon, for example, is weak to Fire and Psychic among others, while its Poison half resists Grass.
Myth: Poison is a weak attacking type
Poison has real offensive uses. It hits Fairy and Grass for super effective damage, and it is one of the more reliable answers to Fairy-types. The Steel immunity is a genuine drawback, but it does not make the type useless offensively.
Who it is for
This guide is for anyone who plays Pokemon and wants a clear, dependable reference for the Poison matchup. That includes new players learning the type chart, returning players who have not played since earlier generations, and team builders who want a quick reminder before a battle.
It is especially useful if you are building a defensive team and want to know which threats to prepare for, or if you are trying to counter a specific Poison-type that keeps giving you trouble.
You should skip this if you are looking for deep competitive analysis, damage calculations, or tier-specific advice. This is a fundamentals guide, not a metagame breakdown. If you already know the type chart by heart, you will not find much new here.
If this helped, consider bookmarking it for your next team-building session or sharing it with a friend who is still memorizing the type chart.
Conclusion
Poison-type Pokemon are weak to exactly two types: Ground and Psychic, both dealing double damage in the core series games. Everything else is either neutral or resisted, and Poison resists a long list that includes Fighting, Poison, Bug, Grass, and Fairy. Remember that dual-type Pokemon combine weaknesses, that Steel-types are immune to Poison attacks rather than strong against them, and that abilities and items can override the chart entirely. Keep those basics straight and you will read almost any Poison matchup correctly.
