In thePokemonworld, Grass-types sometimes get a bad reputation. They have several type weaknesses, and many elemental types resist their attacks — seven, making it the most-resisted type in the games. With their offensive disadvantages and many vulnerabilities, a lot of players dismiss Grass as one of theworst types in the games.
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However, Grass-types can come in handy in several situations. It is one of only two weaknesses of the most common type, Water, and can also take down offensively overpowered Ground-typePokemon. Though some still object that Grass-types are too fragile to use effectively, they can be quite powerful when combined with stronger types. These secondary typings give Grass-types some much-needed buffs, either offensively, defensively, or both.
5Grass/Poison
A typing that goes all the way back to the first Pokemon in the Pokedex, Bulbasaur’s Grass/Poison is one of the best type combinations involving Grass. The Grass-typing negates Poison’s weakness to Ground, while Poison does the same for Grass’s Poison-type weakness. What’s more, this secondary typing makes Budew and others like it immune to thetitular status condition, which can be debilitating in Pokemon battles.
Offensively, the addition of the Poison typing doesn’t do quite as much for Grass as some other secondary typings do. Attacks of this type only deal super-effective damage against two types, Grass and Fairy. However, access to moves that can inflict the Poison status condition makes for a potentially huge advantage. Since so many Pokemon resistGrass-type damage, Grass/Poison types can get around this disadvantage by using moves like Toxic and Poison Sting. This kind of chip damage can turn the battle in the player’s favor.
4Grass/Water
Currently,only Lotad’s evolutionary family possesses this typing, but it’s a strong one. Water-type Pokemon only have two weaknesses, Grass and Electric — and the Grass-type neutralizes both of them. Not only that, but the Water-typing does the same for Grass’s weakness to Fire-type attacks. Since Fire is one of Grass’s most common weaknesses, this does a lot to boost this type’s defensive viability on the battlefield.
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Water-type attacks don’t contribute as much to a Grass-type’s offensive potential as some others on this list, hence why it ranks lower. Both types are super-effective against Rock and Ground-types, creating some redundancy when it comes to offense. However, unlike Grass, few Pokemon have a resistance toWater-type attacks, giving Ludicolo and its relatives an extra edge against opponents who would resist their Grass-type attacks.
3Grass/Ground
Defensively, each of these types help cover the others' weaknesses. Ground resists Grass’s weakness to Poison, while Grass resists the Grass and Water attacks that can often spell doom for Ground-types. What’s more, it offers complete immunity toElectric-type attacks.
This combination’s biggest weakness in terms of defense is Ice-type attacks; since Grass and Ground are both weak to ice, these moves will deal 4x damage. However, since Ice is the rarest type in the Pokemon games, it is not as glaring a disadvantage as a double weakness could be. Flying, Bug, and Fire also pose some threats, but the latter can be easily taken care of with Ground-type attacks.
In fact, the Ground-typing gives this combination a significant offensive boost. Attacks like Earthquake deal super-effective damage against no less than five different types: Poison, Steel, Fire, Rock, and Electric. Considering the high resistance of Steel and Electric types in particular, Ground is an excellent type to pair with an offensively weak type like Grass.
2Grass/Ghost
When it comes to a frail type like Grass, any immunity comes in handy — and the Ghost-typing provides two. Pokemon like Decidueye andTrevenant are, thanks to their secondary typing, immune to Normal- and Fighting-type attacks. Additionally, since Ghost-type itself only has two weaknesses (Ghost and Dark, both of which are quite rare), it doesn’t add many vulnerabilities to this typing. It also neutralizes Grass’s weakness to Bug.
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Offensively, Ghost deals super-effective damage against Psychic and other Ghost-types. Grass does not ordinarily have too much difficulty with these, but as both of those types tend to be heavy special sweepers, having super-effective damage in one’s arsenal never hurts. Additionally, very few Pokemon resistGhost-type attacks, giving Pumpkaboo a better means of dealing damage against those that resist their Grass-type attacks.
1Grass/Steel
Considering the Steel-type has a whopping eleven resistances, any Pokemon typing becomes more resilient when combined with it. Grass is no different. What’s more, it gains an immunity to one of its weaknesses:Poison-type moves. As is the case with Grass-Poison, Grass/Steel types also cannot suffer from the Poison status ailment.
Grass/Steel has one major disadvantage: its 4x weakness to Fire-type moves. However, this is one of only two type weaknesses, the other being Fighting. The Steel-typing neutralizes all of Grass’s weaknesses, and Grass eliminates Steel’s weakness to Ground. As long as Pokemon like Ferrothorn aren’t placed in the path of any Fire-type moves, it’s hard to take them down.
In terms of offense, the combination of Grass and Steel moves means that these Pokemon can deal super-effective damage against Water, Rock, Ice, Fairy, and Ground-types. Consideringhow common Water-types are, the offensive power of Ground and Fairy-types, and the fact that every game so far has had an Ice-type gym, it’s safe to say that Grass/Steel types are a good investment.
