What Beats Dragon Type Pokémon? Complete Counter Guide
Quick Answer
Dragon types are weak to Ice, Dragon, Fairy. Learn the best counters, type matchups, and team building strategies to beat Dragon type Pokémon.
Facing a tough Dragon type Pokémon and not sure how to deal with it? Here’s everything you need to know about beating Dragon types, backed by actual type chart data.
Dragon Type Weaknesses
Dragon type Pokémon take super-effective (2×) damage from:
- Ice — hits Dragon for 2× damage
- Dragon — hits Dragon for 2× damage
- Fairy — hits Dragon for 2× damage
That’s 3 weaknesses to exploit when building your counter strategy.
What Resists Dragon Moves?
If you need to switch into Dragon attacks safely, these types take reduced damage:
- Steel — takes 0.5× from Dragon moves
Plus complete immunities:
- Fairy — takes 0× from Dragon moves
Best Counter Strategy
The ideal counter both resists Dragon moves AND hits back super-effectively. Look for:
- Ice types that resist Dragon — these create free switch-in opportunities
- Dual types combining Ice or Dragon with a Dragon-resistant type
- Pokémon with coverage moves — even non-STAB Ice moves deal solid damage to Dragon types
Team Building Tips
When using the Team Builder, make sure your squad has at least one strong answer to Dragon types:
- Include Ice or Dragon STAB moves for offensive pressure
- Keep a defensive pivot that resists Dragon for safe switches
- Check your team’s overall type coverage to avoid leaving Dragon as an uncovered threat
Dragon types have 4 resistances of their own defensively, so they’re decent defensively. But with the right counters on your team, you’ll have no trouble breaking through them.
For more type strategy, read our complete type chart guide or try building a team with full Dragon coverage in the Team Builder.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Dragon type weak to?
- Dragon type Pokémon are weak to Ice, Dragon, Fairy type moves, taking 2× damage from these attacks.
- What types resist Dragon moves?
- 1 type resists Dragon attacks: Steel. Additionally, Fairy is completely immune. Using Pokémon of these types will reduce incoming Dragon damage to 0.5× or less.
- What is the best counter to Dragon type Pokémon?
- The best counters are Ice and Dragon types that also resist Dragon moves. Check the Dragon type page for specific Pokémon recommendations.
- Is Dragon type good defensively?
- Dragon type resists 4 types, but is weak to 3 types. It has decent defensive utility.
- How do I build a team to beat Dragon types?
- Include at least 2 Pokémon with Ice or Dragon type STAB moves. Use the Team Builder to check your team's coverage against Dragon types and identify gaps.
- What types pair well against Dragon type teams?
- Ice and Dragon and Fairy types are essential. Having a Pokémon that resists Dragon moves while hitting back super-effectively creates ideal switch-in opportunities.