You’re staring down a Dragonite or maybe a Corviknight. It feels impossible. Those wings aren't just for show; they represent one of the most consistently frustrating defensive typings in the history of Pokémon. If you've ever felt like your team just crumbles the second a Bird Pokémon hits the field, you're not alone. It's a common wall.
But here’s the thing: understanding whats strong against flying isn't just about memorizing a chart. It’s about knowing why these counters work and how to bait the switch. Most players just click a Rock-type move and pray. That’s a mistake.
The Big Three: Rock, Ice, and Electric
When we talk about the core mechanics, we’re looking at three primary weaknesses. It sounds simple. It isn't.
Rock Moves are the Bread and Butter
Rock is the most traditional answer. Why? Because most Flying-types are also part-Normal or part-Fire (looking at you, Charizard). Stealth Rock is arguably the most influential move in competitive play because it punishes Flying-types just for existing. Every time a Charizard switches in, it loses half its health if those jagged pebbles are on the field. That’s massive.
Using moves like Stone Edge or Rock Slide is the standard play. However, Rock-type Pokémon themselves often have low Special Defense. If you’re sending out a Gigalith against a Togekiss, you might get flinched to death by Air Slash before you even move. It’s a gamble. You've gotta time it right.
The Ice Factor
Ice is the "glass cannon" solution. It is devastating. Most of the scariest Flying-types—Landorus-Therian, Gliscor, Salamence—have a secondary Ground or Dragon typing. This gives them a "4x weakness" to Ice. One Ice Shard from a Mamoswine can delete a Dragonite before it even sets up a Dragon Dance.
But Ice is defensively terrible. If you don't land the hit, your Ice-type is probably getting KO'd by a Brave Bird. It's high stakes. Honestly, I prefer using Ice-type coverage moves on bulky Water-types rather than using actual Ice Pokémon. It’s safer.
Electric: The Reliable Choice
Electric is the most consistent way to handle the skies. Thunderbolt has 100% accuracy. Unlike Stone Edge, which misses at the worst possible moments, Electric moves hit.
The strategy here is pivoting. Using Volt Switch allows you to zap a Flying-type and immediately swap to a counter for whatever the opponent sends in next. It keeps the momentum. Zapdos is a great example of a Pokémon that is Flying itself but dominates other fliers because it resists their STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) moves while hitting back with super-effective electricity.
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Why Flying-types are Harder to Kill Than You Think
Don't get cocky just because you have a Raichu. Flying-types have built-in advantages that negate their weaknesses.
Ground-type moves? Useless. They have total immunity. This means you can't hit them with Earthquake, which is one of the most powerful moves in the game. This immunity is why Flying-types are often used as "safe switches." If they predict you're going to use a Ground move, they swap in for free.
Then there’s Roost. This move is a nightmare. When a Pokémon uses Roost, it lands on the ground for that turn. For that brief window, it actually loses its Flying type. This means your Electric move might suddenly deal neutral damage instead of super-effective damage. You have to predict the Roost. If you predict it, you can hit them with a Ground move that turn. It’s a high-level mind game.
Real Examples of the Best Counters
Let's look at the meta. If you're playing Pokémon GO, the answer to whats strong against flying is often a Rampardos or a Rhyperior with Smack Down. These things are tanks. In the main series games, specifically VGC or Smogon formats, the answers are more nuanced.
- Tyranitar: It brings the sandstorm. It resists Flying moves. It hits back with Rock Slide. It’s the classic "Bird Hunter."
- Rotom-Wash: Because it’s Water/Electric, it only has one weakness (Grass). It can sit in front of almost any Flying-type and threaten a paralysis with Thunder Wave or a heavy hit with Discharge.
- Weavile: Fast. Mean. It outspeeds almost every bird in the game. It uses Triple Axel or Icicle Crash to punch through even the tankiest Multiscale Dragonite.
The Hidden Advantage: Stealth Rock
I cannot emphasize this enough: if you want to beat Flying-types, you need hazards. Stealth Rock is the single best "move" against the entire Flying category.
Think about it. In a 6v6 battle, switching is constant. If every time a Flying Pokémon enters the fray, they lose 25% (or 50% for Charizard/Butterfree/Talonflame) of their health, they are on a timer. They can't stay in forever. They can't Roost away that much damage indefinitely. It forces your opponent to play predictably. They have to use Rapid Spin or Defog to clear those rocks. When they do that? That's your opening to attack.
Nuance: The Steel Resistance
People forget Steel. While Steel isn't "super effective" against Flying, it resists Flying moves. If you're struggling to survive an onslaught of Hurricane or Brave Bird, send out a Steel-type. A Corviknight vs. Corviknight battle is a stalemate, but a Melmetal can take those hits all day and eventually wear the opponent down.
Defense is just as important as offense. If you can't one-shot the bird, you need to be able to tank its hit.
Actionable Strategy for Your Next Battle
Knowing whats strong against flying is step one. Step two is execution. Don't just lead with an Electric-type; they’ll just switch to a Ground-type and you’ll lose momentum.
- Lead with a Hazard Setter: Get those Stealth Rocks up immediately. This puts the Flying-type on a "death clock" the moment the match starts.
- Pack "Bolt-Beam" Coverage: You don't need an Ice-type Pokémon. You just need a Pokémon that can learn both an Electric move and an Ice move. Porygon2 or Nidoking are famous for this. They cover almost every Flying-type's secondary typing.
- Check for the Secondary Type: Is it Flying/Steel? Use Fire or Electric. Is it Flying/Dragon? Use Ice. Is it Flying/Water? Use Electric. Never treat a Flying-type as just a Flying-type.
- Use Choice Scarf: Many Flying-types, like Tornadus-Therian, are incredibly fast. Use a Choice Scarf on a Pokémon like Galarian Darmanitan to ensure you move first and land that 4x effective Ice move before they can U-turn out.
Stop letting the birds dictate the pace of the game. Force them to land.