Grass Type

The Grass type (Japanese: くさタイプ Grass Type) is one of the eighteen Pokemon types. Grass-type Pokemon are characterized by their plant-based biology, photosynthetic abilities, and deep connection to nature. The type is one of the three original starter types alongside Fire and Water.[1]

Overview

AttributeDetails
IntroducedGeneration I
Number of Pokemon115+
Notable TrainersErika, Gardenia, Cilan, Ramos, Milo, Brassius
Common HabitatsForests, gardens, meadows, wetlands

Type Effectiveness

Offensive

EffectivenessAgainst Types
Super Effective (2x)Water, Ground, Rock
Not Very Effective (0.5x)Fire, Grass, Poison, Flying, Bug, Dragon, Steel
No Effect (0x)—

Defensive

EffectivenessFrom Types
Weak To (2x)Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, Bug
Resistant To (0.5x)Water, Electric, Grass, Ground
Immune To (0x)—

Key Note: Most Weaknesses

Grass-type Pokemon have the most weaknesses of any type, being weak to five different types: Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, and Bug.[2] This makes defensive Grass-types challenging to use without careful team building.

Characteristics

Common Traits

TraitDescription
AppearanceGreen, brown, floral motifs
AbilitiesOvergrow, Chlorophyll, Effect Spore
HabitatForests, gardens, natural areas
BehaviorOften peaceful, nature-oriented

Special Properties

PropertyEffect
Powder ImmunityGrass-types immune to powder moves (Gen VI+)
Grassy TerrainBoosts Grass moves 30%, heals grounded Pokemon
Sun SynergyGrowth, Solar Beam power
Leech SeedCannot affect Grass-types

Notable Grass-Type Pokemon

Starter Pokemon

PokemonGenerationFinal Evolution Secondary Type
Bulbasaur lineIPoison (Venusaur)
Chikorita lineIIPure Grass (Meganium)
Treecko lineIIIPure Grass (Sceptile)
Turtwig lineIVGround (Torterra)
Snivy lineVPure Grass (Serperior)
Chespin lineVIFighting (Chesnaught)
Rowlet lineVIIGhost (Decidueye)
Grookey lineVIIIPure Grass (Rillaboom)
Sprigatito lineIXDark (Meowscarada)

Legendary/Mythical

PokemonTypeGenerationRole
CelebiPsychic/GrassIITime Travel Pokemon (Mythical)
ShayminGrass (Sky: Grass/Flying)IVGratitude Pokemon (Mythical)
VirizionGrass/FightingVSword of Justice
Tapu BuluGrass/FairyVIIGuardian Deity of Ula'ula
KartanaGrass/SteelVIIUltra Beast
ZarudeDark/GrassVIIIRogue Monkey Pokemon (Mythical)
CalyrexPsychic/GrassVIIIKing Pokemon
Wo-ChienDark/GrassIXRuinous Pokemon

Iconic Grass-Types

PokemonTypeNotable For
VileplumeGrass/PoisonHuge flower, Sleep Powder
VictreebelGrass/PoisonCarnivorous plant
ExeggutorGrass/PsychicTall palm tree design
SunfloraGrassCheerful sunflower
BellossomGrassDance-themed flower
CacturneGrass/DarkDesert scarecrow cactus
TropiusGrass/FlyingFruit-bearing dinosaur
RoseradeGrass/PoisonElegant bouquet Pokemon
LilligantGrassFlowering dancer
TsareenaGrassKicking fruit queen

Competitively Notable

PokemonNotable For
FerrothornSteel typing, hazard setter
KartanaUltra Beast, Paper typing, high Attack
RillaboomGrassy Surge, priority Grassy Glide
AmoongussRegenerator, Spore user
TangrowthPhysical wall, Regenerator
VenusaurChlorophyll sweeper, Thick Fat
SerperiorContrary + Leaf Storm
Tapu BuluGuardian deity, Wood Hammer
BreloomTechnician, Spore + Focus Punch
WhimsicottPrankster support

Common Grass-Type Moves

Physical Moves

MovePowerAccuracyEffect
Wood Hammer120100%Recoil damage
Power Whip12085%High power, lower accuracy
Seed Bomb80100%Reliable damage
Leaf Blade90100%High critical hit ratio
Grassy Glide70/60100%Priority in Grassy Terrain
Vine Whip45100%Basic early move
Razor Leaf5595%High critical hit ratio
Knock Off65100%Removes held item

Special Moves

MovePowerAccuracyEffect
Solar Beam120100%Charges turn 1, attacks turn 2
Giga Drain75100%Heals 50% damage dealt
Energy Ball90100%May lower Sp. Def
Leaf Storm13090%Lowers user's Sp. Atk
Frenzy Plant15090%Requires recharge
Petal Blizzard90100%Hits all adjacent Pokemon
Apple Acid80100%Lowers Sp. Def
Magical Leaf60Never missesBypasses accuracy checks

Status Moves

MoveEffect
Spore100% accurate sleep (best sleep move)
Sleep Powder75% sleep chance
Stun SporeParalyzes target
Leech SeedDrains HP each turn
SynthesisHeals HP (weather dependent)
Cotton SporeSharply lowers Speed
Grassy TerrainSets terrain for 5 turns
AromatherapyCures team's status conditions
Worry SeedChanges target's ability

Grass-Type Specialists

Gym Leaders

TrainerRegionSignature PokemonGeneration
ErikaKantoVileplumeI
GardeniaSinnohRoseradeIV
CilanUnovaSimisageV
RamosKalosGogoatVI
MiloGalarEldegossVIII
BrassiusPaldeaSudowoodo (rematch Arboliva)IX

Elite Four/Champions

TrainerRegionNotable Pokemon
——No dedicated Grass Elite Four member in most games

Other Specialists

TrainerRoleNotable Pokemon
EusineResearcherShaymin enthusiast
NPlasma KingReshiram (but nature themed)

Type Combinations

All Grass-Type Combinations

Secondary TypeExample Pokemon
Pure GrassMeganium, Sceptile, Serperior
Grass/PoisonVenusaur, Vileplume, Roserade
Grass/PsychicExeggutor, Celebi
Grass/FlyingTropius, Jumpluff, Shaymin-Sky
Grass/GroundTorterra, Camerupt
Grass/FightingVirizion, Chesnaught, Breloom
Grass/SteelFerrothorn, Kartana
Grass/IceAbomasnow
Grass/DarkCacturne, Zarude, Meowscarada
Grass/GhostDecidueye, Gourgeist
Grass/FairyWhimsicott, Tapu Bulu
Grass/DragonAlolan Exeggutor, Applin line
Grass/WaterLudicolo, Lotad line
Grass/RockCradily
Grass/BugParas, Leavanny
Grass/ElectricRotom-Mow
Grass/Normal— (unused)
Grass/Fire— (unused in main games)

Notable Combinations

CombinationPokemonNote
Grass/PoisonVenusaur, VileplumeMost common in Gen I
Grass/SteelFerrothorn, KartanaExcellent defensive typing
Grass/FairyTapu Bulu, WhimsicottGood defensive synergy
Grass/FightingVirizion, BreloomOffensive powerhouses
Grass/DragonAlolan ExeggutorNeutralizes Ice weakness

Abilities

Grass-Type Related Abilities

AbilityEffectPokemon
Overgrow+50% Grass moves when low HPAll Grass starters
ChlorophyllDoubles Speed in sunVenusaur, Victreebel
Grassy SurgeSets Grassy TerrainRillaboom, Grassy Seed
Effect SporeMay paralyze/sleep/poison on contactParasect, Amoonguss
Sap SipperAbsorbs Grass moves, +1 AttackAzumarill, Gogoat
Grass Pelt+50% Defense in Grassy TerrainGogoat
Leaf GuardPrevents status in sunLeafeon, Cherrim
Flower GiftBoosts Attack/Sp. Def in sunCherrim
HarvestMay regain Berry each turnExeggutor, Trevenant

Competitive Analysis

Strengths

StrengthDetails
Status MovesSpore, Sleep Powder, Leech Seed
UtilityAromatherapy, Worry Seed, support
Grassy TerrainTeam healing, power boost
RecoverySynthesis, Giga Drain, Leech Seed
Sun TeamsChlorophyll sweepers

Weaknesses

WeaknessDetails
Five WeaknessesMost weaknesses of any type
Fire WeaknessCommon attacking type
Ice Weakness4x weak on many Grass/Flying, Grass/Ground
Bug WeaknessUncommon but present
Seven ResistancesFire, Grass, Poison resist Grass moves

Role in Metagame

RoleExamples
Hazard SetterFerrothorn, Roserade
Sun SweeperVenusaur, Lilligant
Defensive WallTangrowth, Amoonguss
Terrain SetterRillaboom
SupportWhimsicott, Amoonguss
WallbreakerKartana, Tapu Bulu

Special Mechanics

Powder Move Immunity

Starting in Generation VI, Grass-type Pokemon are immune to powder and spore moves, including:[3]

  • Sleep Powder
  • Stun Spore
  • Poison Powder
  • Spore
  • Cotton Spore
  • Rage Powder

This gives Grass-types protection against some of their own most powerful status moves.

Grassy Terrain

Grassy Terrain is a field effect that:

EffectDetails
Duration5 turns (8 with Terrain Extender)
Grass Boost+30% power to Grass moves
HealingRestores 1/16 HP to grounded Pokemon each turn
EarthquakeHalves Earthquake damage
Grassy GlideBecomes priority move

Set by: Grassy Surge ability (Rillaboom), Grassy Terrain move, Max Overgrowth

Weather Interactions

WeatherEffect on Grass-types
SunBoosts Growth, Solar Beam instant, halves Synthesis healing
RainDoubles Synthesis healing, Solar Beam halved power
SandstormChip damage (unless Steel/Rock/Ground)
Hail/SnowChip damage (unless Ice), halves Synthesis healing

Grass-Type in Competitive Formats

OU Tier Staples

PokemonRoleKey Features
RillaboomTerrain SetterGrassy Surge, priority Grassy Glide
KartanaSweeper/PivotBeast Boost, Paper typing, U-turn
TangrowthPhysical WallRegenerator, high Defense

VGC Usage

PokemonNotable For
RillaboomGrassy Surge, Fake Out, priority
AmoongussSpore, Regenerator, Rage Powder
VenusaurChlorophyll, Sleep Powder
WhimsicottPrankster support, Tailwind

Little Cup

PokemonNotable For
FoongusMini Amoonguss
ShroomishSpore user
OddishSleep Powder

Grass-Type Design Patterns

Generation I: Poison Dominance

In Generation I, most Grass-types were also Poison-type, giving them neutrality to Bug but adding a Psychic weakness:[4]

  • Bulbasaur line
  • Oddish line
  • Bellsprout line

Only Exeggcute line and Tangela were pure or non-Poison Grass-types.

Evolution Stones

Several Grass-types evolve via Leaf Stone:

  • Gloom → Vileplume
  • Weepinbell → Victreebel
  • Exeggcute → Exeggutor
  • Nuzleaf → Shiftry
  • Pansage → Simisage

Harvest Pokemon

Many Grass-types are based on fruits, vegetables, and crops:

PokemonBased On
CherrimCherry blossom
TropiusBanana plant
Bounsweet lineMangosteen
Applin lineApple
ScovillainPepper

See Also

References

  1. ^Grass (type) — Bulbapedia (2024)
  2. ^Grass Type Pokemon — Serebii.net (2024)
  3. ^Grass Type - Smogon University — Smogon University (2024)
  4. ^Pokemon Types — The Official Pokemon Website (2024)