Fairy types are a pain. Seriously. Ever since Game Freak introduced them in Generation VI to finally nerf the Dragons that were running rampant across the competitive scene, these pink, sparkly powerhouses have been absolute menaces. They resist some of the most common offensive types in the game, and if you aren't prepared, a single Clefable or Zacian can dismantle your entire team.
If you're wondering what is super effective against fairy, the short answer is Poison and Steel. That's it. Only two weaknesses.
It feels a bit lopsided, doesn't it? Especially when you consider that Fairies are completely immune to Dragon moves. You can't just spam Outrage and hope for the best anymore. You have to be tactical. You have to understand the chemistry of the meta.
The Toxic Truth: Why Poison Works
For years, Poison was basically the "bad" type. Aside from inflicting status conditions, it didn't do much on offense. Then X and Y changed the rules. Suddenly, your Nidoking or Gengar became the ultimate Fairy hunters.
Poison-type moves deal double damage to Fairy-types because, well, the lore basically suggests that purity is corrupted by toxins. It's a classic fantasy trope. When you're looking at what is super effective against fairy, Poison is often your best bet for a "surprise" knockout because many players forget it's an offensive threat.
Think about moves like Sludge Bomb or Gunk Shot. Sludge Bomb is reliable. It has a 30% chance to poison the target, which adds chip damage on top of the super-effective hit. If you're running a Gengar or an Iron Moth, you're looking for that raw Special Attack power to melt through Sylveon’s high Special Defense.
Then there's the utility of the Poison type itself. Most Fairy-types rely on the move Toxic to stall you out. But guess what? Poison types can't be poisoned. You effectively shut down their secondary win condition just by existing. It's a beautiful bit of irony.
The Best Poison-Type Counters
- Gunk Shot users: If you have a physical attacker like Cinderace (with Libero) or Galarian Slowbro, Gunk Shot hits like a truck. 120 base power. It’s risky with 80% accuracy, but it deletes Fairies.
- Overqwil: This thing is a nightmare for Fairy types. With its Poison/Dark typing, it handles the psychic-type moves that Fairies often carry as coverage.
- Salazzle: It’s fast. It’s mean. It can poison even Steel and Poison types thanks to its Corrosion ability, but its primary job is hitting Fairies with a fast Sludge Wave.
Cold, Hard Steel: The Defensive Wall
Steel is arguably the best type in Pokémon, and its dominance against Fairy only cements that. When people ask what is super effective against fairy, Steel is usually the first thing they think of because Steel resists Fairy moves in return.
It's a two-way street of pain for the Fairy type. They hit you for "not very effective" damage, and you hit them back for double.
Steel types like Metagross, Corviknight, or Gholdengo are the gold standard here. Gholdengo is particularly nasty because its ability, "Good as Gold," prevents the Fairy type from using status moves like Thunder Wave or Encore. You just stand there, shiny and impervious, while you blast them with a Make It Rain.
Actually, let's talk about Iron Head. It’s the bread and butter of physical Steel attackers. A 30% flinch chance? On a super-effective hit? That is how you break a stall-heavy Clefable. You don't just beat it; you don't even let it move.
Not All Steel is Created Equal
You have to be careful, though. A lot of Fairy-types, like Mawile or Klefki, are actually part Steel themselves. This neutralizes their weakness to Steel. In those specific cases, you’re better off looking at Ground or Fire moves, which are the standard weaknesses for Steel.
Also, watch out for Mystical Fire. Many Fairies (like Gardevoir or Hatterene) carry Fire-type coverage specifically to lure in Steel types and melt them. If you’re switching your Scizor into a predicted Moonblast, you might just find yourself catching a 4x effective Fire Blast instead. It's a high-stakes game.
Defensive Strategies: What Resists Fairy?
Knowing what is super effective against fairy is only half the battle. You also need to know who can actually take a hit. If your "counter" gets one-shotted on the switch-in, it’s not much of a counter.
Fairy-type attacks (specifically the ubiquitous Moonblast and Play Rough) are resisted by:
💡 You might also like: Surviving the Barren Swamp in Lies of P: What the Maps Don't Tell You
- Fire types: Think Arcanine or Volcarona.
- Poison types: Toxapex is the king of this.
- Steel types: As mentioned, Kingambit or Heatran.
Fire types are often the unsung heroes of Fairy defense. Since they resist Fairy moves and often have high offensive pressure, they can force a switch. Heatran is a particularly hilarious example because it resists Fairy AND is a Steel type, making it one of the hardest walls for a Fairy type to climb.
The Dragon Problem
We have to address the elephant in the room. Dragon types are 100% useless against Fairies on the offensive side. If you use a Dragon move against a Fairy, it does zero damage. No "not very effective." Just a big, fat "It had no effect."
If you love your Garchomp or your Dragonite, you absolutely must give them coverage moves. A Garchomp with Iron Head or Poison Jab is a Fairy's worst nightmare because they expect to be safe. They aren't.
Common Misconceptions About Fairy Weaknesses
I see this a lot on forums and in casual play: people think Fire is super effective against Fairy. It's not. Fire resists Fairy, but it deals neutral damage to them.
Another one is Psychic. People get Poison and Psychic mixed up constantly. Psychic is super effective against Poison, but Fairy and Psychic actually have a bit of a "neutral" relationship. They don't do much to each other defensively, though many Fairies have high Special Defense, making them naturally bulky against Psychic-type attackers.
Then there’s the Bug type. Poor, poor Bug types. They already have it rough, but Fairy-types actually resist Bug moves. So, if you were planning on U-turning out of there with your Scyther, just know you're doing minimal damage on the way out.
The Competitive Landscape: 2024-2026 Meta
In the current VGC (Video Game Championships) and Smogon tiers, the Fairy type remains a central pillar. You can't build a team without asking: "How do I beat Flutter Mane?" or "What do I do about Iron Valiant?"
🔗 Read more: Why You Still Hear Continue Your Penance Oblivion in 2026
Flutter Mane is arguably the most dangerous Fairy type ever created. It’s incredibly fast and hits like a nuclear bomb. Because it’s also a Ghost type, it’s immune to Normal and Fighting moves. To beat it, you almost always need a priority Steel-type move like Bullet Punch from a Scizor or a very fast Choice Scarf Poison-type.
Tera Types: The Ultimate Curveball
With the Terastal phenomenon, the question of what is super effective against fairy gets complicated. A Primarina might "Tera Steel" to lose its Poison weakness and gain resistances. Or, a non-Fairy type might "Tera Fairy" just to gain that sweet Dragon immunity.
You have to play the prediction game. If you see a bulky Pokémon that's weak to Fighting, there's a very high chance they will Tera into a Fairy type to resist your Close Combat. Having a "pocket" Steel or Poison move on your non-Steel/Poison Pokémon is often the difference between a win and a loss.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Battle
If you want to stop losing to Fairies, stop relying on raw power and start relying on typing. Here is how you actually handle them in practice:
- Check your coverage: Does your physical attacker have Iron Head or Poison Jab? If not, go to the Move Reminder immediately. Even a non-STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) Poison Jab can catch a Whimsicott off guard.
- Use the "Steel Pivot": Carry a bulky Steel type like Corviknight or Archaludon. When you see the Fairy type coming, switch into the Steel move. You’ll take minimal damage and can threaten a heavy hit back.
- Hazard Control: Many Fairy types hate being chipped down. Stealth Rock and Spikes are your friends. Since Fairies like Clefable often use "Magic Guard" to ignore hazard damage, you specifically need to target them with direct, super-effective hits.
- Priority is King: Fairy types are often either very fast (Flutter Mane) or very slow and bulky (Azumarill). Priority moves like Bullet Punch bypass the speed issue and can finish off a weakened Fairy before it can heal with Moonlight or Wish.
The Fairy type isn't going anywhere. It’s a permanent part of the Pokémon ecosystem now. But once you realize that their "magic" is just a weakness to a well-placed hunk of metal or a splash of toxin, they become a lot less scary.
Focus on Steel and Poison. Watch out for their Fire and Ground coverage. Don't bring a Dragon to a glitter fight. If you stick to those rules, you'll be fine.
Next Steps for Mastering Type Matchups
- Audit your current roster: Identify which of your Pokémon are currently "Fairy bait" (Dragons, Fighting, Dark types).
- Equip a "Fairy Killer": Add at least one Pokémon with STAB Steel or Poison moves to your core rotation.
- Practice the pivot: Go into a few casual battles and practice switching your Steel type into a predicted Moonblast to get a feel for the damage calculations.