Weakness & Resistance in Pokémon Cards Explained

You see those little icons near the bottom of your Pokémon card? The ones you have probably glossed over a hundred times if you’re new to playing Pokémon TCG (Trading Card Game)? Yeah- those are Weakness and Resistance. And they’re not just there for decoration. They’re an important mechanic in the game

This article explains what Weakness & Resistance in Pokémon cards are, how they work, and the rules you need to know.

Importance Of Weakness & Resistance In Pokémon Cards

Weakness & Resistance are damage dials baked into Pokémon attacks. One turns the damage up. The other softens the blow so your Pokémon lasts longer.

Let’s run the numbers to show the importance of this game mechanic, especially in competitive play.

Take Team Rocket’s Tyranitar (DRI 096) for example. It’s a fighting-type that usually deals 180 damage by default. But hit an electric-type Pokémon, who usually have x2 Weakness to Fighting, and suddenly you’re throwing 360. 

That’s enough to one-hit KO any electric-type Pokémon in the current meta. All of a sudden, popular attackers like Miraidon ex, Pikachu ex, and Iron Hands ex become vulnerable targets.

On the flip side, if your opponent’s Pokémon has -30 Resistance, your 180 damage attack becomes 150. That 30-damage reduction can be the difference between a clean KO and a lifeline for your opponent.

In competitive play, these modifiers aren’t just technical details. They dictate how you approach building a Pokémon deck, especially in competitive play, where a handful of popular “meta Pokémon” show up often, each with their own Weakness and Resistance to consider.

How To Identify Weakness & Resistance On A Pokémon Card

Look at the bottom of your Pokémon card, to the left of the Retreat Cost area. You’ll see two fields- one for Weakness and one for Resistance.

On modern cards:

• Weakness is a x2 damage modifier. In other words, the attack does double the damage.
• Resistance is a -30 damage modifier. In other words, the attack does 30 less damage.
• An empty field means no Weakness or Resistance.

This format has stayed consistent throughout the years. But be aware- in true Pokémon Company style- there have been times when the Weakness & Resistance rules changed: 

• 2007 to 2009 (Diamond & Pearl, Platinum). Weakness switched to additive values (+10, +20, +30, +40) and Resistance got nerfed to -20.
• 2011 to 2013 (Black & White). Switched back to x2 Weakness, but Resistance stayed at -20.

Always follow the Weakness and Resistance rules printed on the Pokémon card.

Pokémon Card Weakness

Weakness is a damage multiplier. If your attack type matches the opponent’s Weakness, you double your base damage.

Here are the important Pokémon TCG Weakness rules to remember:

• Weakness only applies to the opponent’s Active Pokémon.
• Apply it before Resistance and any other modifiers.

Skilled players build decks that exploit common Weaknesses in the meta. Are Lightning-type decks running wild in the competitive scene? Maybe slip in a Fighting-type with low attack cost to counter. If your deck is weak against a specific type match-up? Counter with a secondary attacker that matches the weakness of the type you’re weak against.

Pokémon Card Resistance

Resistance is a damage subtractor. If Weakness is the accelerator, Resistance is the brakes. It flat-out reduces damage from an incoming attack by 30 in the modern Scarlet & Violet era.

Here are the important Pokémon TCG Resistance rules to remember:

• Like Weakness, Resistance only affects the Defending Active Pokémon.
• It’s always calculated after Weakness and before other modifiers.

Strategically, Resistance can extend your Pokémon’s lifespan and turn one-hit knockouts into two or three. Prefer playing a defensive tank deck? Pair Resistance with healing cards or cards that reduce damage, and it becomes part of a full survival engine.

Step-by-Step Damage Calculation Example

Follow this order to calculate Pokémon card Weakness & Resistance damage right every time: 

1. Add or subtract damage modifiers (Tools, Abilities, Stadiums, etc.).
2. Apply Weakness by multiplying base damage by 2 (if applicable).
3. Apply Resistance by subtracting 30 (if applicable).

Here’s the quick formula: 

Final damage = [base damage + modifier] x [2 for weakness] – [30 for resistance]

Example 1 (Weakness With Tool Modifier):

• Base damage = 120
• Choice Belt (+30) = 150
• Weakness (x2) = 300 final damage

Example 2 (Resistance With Tool Modifier):

• Base damage = 120
• Choice Belt (+30) =150
• Resistance (-30) = 120 final damage

Note: Dual-type Pokémon cards don’t exist in the current format. This means Active Pokémon can only be weak or resistant to the Opponent’s Active Pokémon, and not both.

Building Decks Around Weakness & Resistance

Ready to level up your deck-building skills? Here are some tips on using Pokémon Weakness & Resistance to build counterplays that exploit your opponent’s vulnerabilities and protect your own.

1. Exploiting Weakness

Use tech attackers that match common Weaknesses in the meta. These are low-cost Pokémon that can be powered up quickly and are chosen specifically to counter popular Weakness types or problematic meta Pokémon.

For example, Lillie’s Clefairy ex (JTG 056) is a solid tech in Psychic-type decks to counter two popular dragon decks- Dragapult ex and Raging Bolt ex.

2. Countering Weakness

Sometimes your main attackers are weak against specific types. Here, Tech attackers can also be used as a counter to give you a fighting chance of winning. 

For example, dragon-type Pokémon do not have a Weakness to any type. Including one or two as secondary tech attackers can remove your main attackers from the firing line against specific weak matchups.

3. Exploiting Resistance

This is a good strategy in defense-style stall decks- take advantage of Resistance to stall opponents and buy extra turns. Are grass-type decks running rampant in the meta? Use Metal-types, which are usually resistant to Grass. Then pair Resistance with healing or damage-reducing Tool cards and Abilities to bolster the defense.

4. Countering Resistance

If you’re having problems with a specific Resistance type, try using Colorless-type attackers like Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex (TWM 141), which are not affected by resistance (no Pokémon card is resistant to Colorless types).

Alternatively, include Pokémon that deal damage using damage counters, which are not affected by weakness or resistance.

Another option is to use Pokémon that place damage counters instead of dealing attack damage. Since damage counters bypass both Resistance, they’re a reliable way to chip away at resistant Pokémon that would otherwise reduce your attacks.

Conclusion

Weakness and Resistance in Pokémon cards are damage modifiers that determine how hard you hit and how long you survive. Understand how they work, as well as common Weaknesses and Resistances in the meta, to secure more wins!

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