Ever since Game Freak dropped the Fairy-type bomb back in Generation VI, the competitive Pokémon scene hasn't been the same. It was a meta-shifter. Dragon types, which had basically ruled the school since the days of Gold and Silver, suddenly found themselves staring down a pink, sparkly wall that they couldn't even touch. If you're wondering whats good against fairy type, you aren't just looking for a simple weakness chart. You're looking for a way to reclaim the board.
Fairies are tanky. They’re annoying. Between Clefable’s Unaware ability and the sheer offensive pressure of Zacian-Crowned, these things are everywhere. But they aren't invincible. Far from it.
The Hard Counters: Steel and Poison
You've probably noticed that Fairy types have two glaring weaknesses: Steel and Poison. Historically, Poison was kind of a joke offensively. Unless you were fighting a Grass type, you weren't really clicking Sludge Bomb for the damage. That changed in 2013. Now, Poison is your best friend when Sylveon or Flutter Mane shows up.
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Steel is the gold standard here. Not only do Steel-type moves hit Fairies for super-effective damage, but Steel also resists Fairy-type attacks. It’s a double-sided win. If you bring a Gholdengo or a Scizor into a fight, the Fairy user is immediately on the back foot. Scizor’s Bullet Punch is particularly nasty because it has priority. You’re hitting them hard before they can even get a Moonblast off. Honestly, a Choice Band-boosted Bullet Punch from a Technician Scizor is basically the "delete button" for most fragile Fairies.
Poison is a bit trickier because most Poison types aren't exactly known for their bulk, with a few exceptions like Toxapex or Amoonguss. However, Poison-type moves like Gunk Shot carry a massive 120 base power. If you land that on a Tapu Koko or a Primarina, it’s game over. The real issue is that many Fairies carry Psychic or Ground coverage moves precisely to lure in Poison types and knock them out. It’s a cat-and-mouse game.
Fire and Fire-types as Defensive Pivots
A lot of people forget that Fire types actually resist Fairy moves. They don't hit Fairies for super-effective damage—they just hit normally—but being able to switch a Skeledirge or an Arcanine into a Dazzling Gleam is huge. Fire types often have high physical bulk or burn-inflicting moves like Will-O-Wisp, which helps neuter physical Fairy attackers like Azumarill.
Why Dragons Are Still Scared
It’s the immunity. That’s the kicker. In Pokémon, there’s a massive difference between "resists" and "immune." When a Fairy type switches into an Outrage or a Draco Meteor, they take zero damage. Zip. Nada. This completely invalidated the "just click Dragon Pulse" strategy that defined the Diamond and Pearl era.
If you are running a Dragon, you must have coverage. This is where moves like Iron Head or Poison Jab become mandatory. Garchomp, for instance, is a monster, but without Iron Head, it’s just a sitting duck for a Togekiss. You've got to be proactive. If you see a Fairy on the opponent's team preview, don't just blindly lead with your Dragon. You're asking for a quick trip back to the Pokéball.
The Tera Factor in Modern Play
In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Terastalization changed the math on whats good against fairy type entirely. You might think you're safe because you have a Steel type out, but then your opponent Teras their Fairy into a Ground type. Suddenly, your "counter" is the one getting hit for super-effective damage by a Tera Blast.
The most common Tera types for Fairies are usually:
- Tera Steel: To flip the script and resist their own weaknesses.
- Tera Fire: To stop those pesky Steel types from revenge killing them.
- Tera Water: Great for defensive staples like Clefable to lose the Poison weakness.
Watching for the Tera is the difference between a Master Ball rank player and someone stuck in Great Ball. You have to predict the defensive shift. If you suspect a Tera, sometimes the best play isn't clicking the Steel move, but clicking a move that covers their likely Tera type. It's layers. Like an onion. A very frustrating, magical onion.
Hidden Gems and Niche Counters
Sometimes the best answer isn't a type advantage, but an ability.
Take Gooey or Tangling Hair. These lower the speed of anything that touches the Pokémon. Since many Fairies rely on being fast (like Iron Valiant), slowing them down lets your heavy hitters catch up.
Then there's Corrosive Gas or Knock Off. Fairy types love their items. Whether it's a Life Orb for extra kick or Leftovers for longevity, stripping that item away makes them much easier to manage. A Choice Specs Flutter Mane is terrifying; a Flutter Mane with no item is just a glass cannon waiting to be shattered.
Entry Hazards: The Silent Killer
Fairies hate Spikes and Stealth Rock. Because many competitive Fairy types are used as "pivots"—meaning they switch in and out a lot to soak up damage—they take chip damage every time they hit the field. Over a long match, that 12% from Stealth Rock adds up. By the time they want to sweep, they're already in range for your priority moves to finish the job. Ting-Lu is fantastic for this. It sets hazards, it's bulky as heck, and it doesn't really care about most Fairy attacks thanks to its absurd HP stat.
Understanding the "Bulky Fairy" Problem
We have to talk about the pink blobs. Blissey isn't a Fairy (she's Normal), but she shares a lot of DNA with things like Sylveon and Florges. These are "Special Walls." If you try to use a Special Attacker to take them down, you're going to have a bad time.
Even if you use a Poison-type move, if it's a Special move like Sludge Bomb, a high-Special Defense Fairy might just eat it.
The Solution? Physical Pressure.
Most Fairies have lower Physical Defense. This is why moves like Behemoth Blade (Zacian) or Iron Head are so effective. You want to hit them where it hurts. A strong Physical attacker like Metagross or Iron Hands can usually punch right through the magical mist.
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Real-World Competitive Examples
Look at the VGC (Video Game Championships) circuits. You'll see that top players rarely rely on just one counter. They use "cores." A common core might be a Fire/Water/Grass core that provides enough defensive coverage to outlast a Fairy's PP.
One famous example is the use of Amoonguss. It’s Poison type, so it threatens Fairies. It has Rage Powder to redirect attacks away from its partner. And it has Spore to put the Fairy to sleep. It’s a utility nightmare for Fairy users. If you aren't prepared for the mushroom, your Xerneas or Mimikyu is going to be taking a very long nap while the rest of your team gets dismantled.
Misconceptions About the Type
A lot of casual players think Fire is weak to Fairy. It's not. It's a neutral matchup offensively for the Fairy.
Others think Electric types are good against them because of the "magic" theme. Nope. Purely neutral.
The biggest misconception is that you need a Poison or Steel type to win. You don't. You just need high neutral damage and a way to bypass their support moves. Fairies love using Screen (Reflect/Light Screen) and Moonlight for recovery. If you have a Pokémon with Infiltrator (like Dragapult), you can hit right through those screens. If you use Taunt, you stop their recovery. Knowledge is power, basically.
Practical Steps to Beat Fairy Teams
To consistently win against Fairy-heavy teams, you need a checklist for your team building. Don't just throw a Cobalion on your team and call it a day.
- Check your speed tiers. Can your Steel type actually outspeed the Fairy? If not, do you have a way to survive one hit?
- Diversify your movesets. Give your non-Poison types moves like Poison Jab or Gunk Shot. It catches people off guard.
- Control the weather/terrain. Many Fairies benefit from Misty Terrain (which prevents status) or Sun (which boosts Fire coverage). Changing the weather with Pelipper or Tyranitar can strip away their environmental advantages.
- Focus on Physical attacks. Target that lower Defense stat whenever possible.
- Identify the "Win Con." Is the Fairy their main attacker or just a support piece? If it's support, ignore it and KO the threats first. If it's the attacker, save your Tera for the moment it hits the field.
The meta will keep evolving as new games and DLCs drop, but the fundamentals of whats good against fairy type remain the same. Stick to high-impact Steel moves, keep a Poison type in your back pocket for those pesky Clefables, and never, ever let your Dragon get cornered without a backup plan.
Start by auditing your current team's "Fairy Resistance." Count how many members of your six-Pokémon roster actually resist Fairy moves. If that number is zero or one, you're vulnerable. Aim for at least two solid resists—ideally one Steel and one Fire or Poison—to ensure you always have a safe switch-in option during a match. This simple adjustment usually results in an immediate jump in win rate against the current "pink" meta.
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Actionable Insight: Go to a team builder tool and filter for Pokémon that learn Heavy Slam. This move calculates damage based on weight difference. Since many Fairy types (like Whimsicott or Ribombee) are tiny, and many Steel types are massive, Heavy Slam often hits the maximum 120 base power, providing an easy one-hit knockout that doesn't rely on accuracy-prone moves like Iron Tail.