Flying Type Pokemon: Pros, Cons, Moves and Fighting Tips

Flying type Pokemon have great benefits when it comes to speed, offensive abilities and fighting against certain types. Their primary defense against an attack is resistance to the Ground type, while their weaknesses are Electric, Ice and Rock type Pokemon. Nevertheless, their secondary type makes all the difference when it comes to matchups and fighting.

This article will show you how Flying type Pokemon works, what opponents they are good against, what can beat them and how to create an even stronger team.

1. What Sets Flying Type Pokemon Apart?

The Flying type is one of 18 Pokemon types. As the name suggests, most Flying types are depicted as birds, insects and flying creatures, however, there are a few exceptions where they do not follow this rule and even have various types combination.

Some of the examples include Charizard (Fire/Flying), Gyarados (Water/Flying), Corviknight (Flying/Steel) and Noivern (Flying/Dragon). The combination of types gives them a unique fighting ability instead of similar functions.

From the information on Pokemon Database, the Pokemon type that has the highest average speed is the Flying type Pokemon, and hence they are effective when you need to pressurize your opponent before they attack. However, the stats of the particular Pokemon and the battle format should still be considered.

2. The Matchups You Should Remember

When it comes to Flying type attacks, all that matters is to keep track of the opponents whose Pokemon can be hurt effectively by those moves.

Moves that are super effective against:

• Grass: The Flying moves will hurt the Grass Pokemon.
• Fighting: Flying moves are great against Fighting Pokemon.
• Bug: The bug-type Pokemon also get hurt by the Flying moves.

Moves that are resistant to:

• Electric
• Rock
• Steel

A fast-moving Pokemon does not mean that their moves will be the best choice. When you are facing a Pokemon that resists Flying moves, try another type of move. For instance, an attacking Flying-type Pokemon using a Fire-type attack has an alternative that could be better against a Steel-type opponent. The correct move choice varies according to the available moves of the Pokemon and the typing of the opponent.

3. The Three Weaknesses That Can Alter the Outcome of a Battle

There are three usual weaknesses of Flying-type Pokemon: Electric, Ice, and Rock. Information about the weaknesses is needed to help you decide whether to change Pokemon and which Pokemon to use as a teammate.

Electric-type attacks: They pose a serious threat to many Flying-type Pokemon. When your opponent uses a powerful Electric attack, do not rely only on Speed.

Ice-type attacks: Ice-type attacks are a serious threat as well. It becomes even more crucial when a second type of your Flying Pokemon is weak to Ice.

Rock-type Attacks: Rock moves deal a lot of damage to Flying Pokemon. The entry hazard also has significance because Stealth Rock reduces the HP of a Pokemon when it switches in and its effectiveness will depend on the typing of the Pokemon. If the Pokemon is doubly vulnerable to the Rock moves, then it can lose a significant amount of HP upon entering the field.

When you plan to send out a Flying-type Pokemon, try looking at the moves of the Pokemon that is expected to be used against your own as well as its typing. This simple step can avoid a possible knockout for your Pokemon.

4. Ground-type Weakness: A Good Defense Strategy

One of the most useful things about the Flying type is its ability to have resistance from Ground-type attacks when using standard main-series mechanics. This implies that all Ground-type moves such as Earthquake cannot harm a Flying Pokemon when the immunity is in effect.

It can be used to counter expected Ground-type moves and thus get an advantage from switching.

There are exceptions when it comes to immunity. The effects Gravity, Smack Down, Thousand Arrows, and carrying an Iron Ball, can nullify the natural Ground immunity in relevant game mechanics. The move Roost also temporarily influences a Flying Pokémon’s typing when it uses it.

Battle advice: Utilize the Flying Pokémon’s immunity to the Ground moves as your advantage. However, you should make sure to check both the move and battle conditions.

5. The Importance of Dual Typing

The secondary typing of a Flying Pokémon can make the difference between its success and failure. Even though two Pokémon have Flying as one of their types, their weaknesses and resistances can differ drastically.

Here are three examples of such Pokémon:

• Charizard (Fire/Flying): Its Flying typing provides it with Ground immunity, but the Fire/Flying combination is exceptionally weak to Rock moves due to being quadruple weak.
• Gyarados (Water/Flying): The Water typing influences its type matchup chart, making it exceptionally weak to Electric moves due to being quadruple weak.

• Corviknight (Flying/Steel): The Steel typing affects the defense of this Pokemon and provides it with more resistances. Also, the combination of typings affects the weaknesses of the Corviknight, making them different from the ones of Charizard and Gyarados.

The above examples show that one should not underestimate the second type of a flying Pokemon. It is important to take into account both types of the Pokemon when deciding what moves to use against it and what opponents to choose for the battle.

6. Flying Type Moves: Which Ones Should You Consider?

As well as Flying Pokemon, the Flying moves can have different functions. Some of them are plain attacks, while others are moves with special effects.

Wing Attack

Wing Attack is a physical attack of Flying-type that deals damage to the opponent. It is a move worth considering if a Pokemon needs an attack of the same type.

Drill Peck

Drill Peck is a physical attack of Flying-type that can be used by Pokemon, that use physical Attack stat.

Fly

Fly is a two-turn move in the main-series games, where the user goes to the air on the first turn and makes an attack on the second.

Hurricane

Hurricane is a strong special Flying-type move. The accuracy and effects of this move need to be confirmed based on the particular game and battle conditions. The move will be most effective when used by a Pokemon that focuses on special attack.

Brave Bird

Brave Bird is a strong physical Flying-type move that deals with recoil damage. This move can help in dealing with strong damage, though overusing it may reduce your Pokemon’s strength.

A move that is not the strongest according to the move listing may be the best choice. Take into consideration factors such as accuracy, recoil, user stats, and opposing Pokemon’s type. Remember that move details are different in various games, and hence you should verify them from the current game’s move listing.

7. Building a Team Around a Flying Pokemon

A good team needs more than an offensive Pokemon; it should have other elements that ensure that weaknesses do not render it ineffective during battles.

Step 1: Determine its Role

You should consider what your Flying-type Pokemon will do in terms of physical offense, special offense, speed offense, or defense. The stats, abilities, and moveset of your Pokemon should influence your choice here.

Step 2: Defend against Electric and Ice types

Choose teammates who can deal with Electric- and Ice-type opponents. Your teammate will depend on your Flying-type Pokemon, because dual-typing will add other weaknesses.

Step 3: Prepare for Rock-type attacks

Should your team depend greatly on Flying Pokemon, then Rock-type attacks and Stealth Rock should be considered. If entry hazards are used in the format in which you will be playing, then you need a good hazard remover.

Step 4: Do not focus on only one type of attack

The Flying-type move is helpful when fighting against Grass, Fighting, and Bug-types, but it is resisted by Electric, Rock, and Steel. Coverage moves can help if your opponent gets a good matchup against your Flying-type attacks.

Step 5: Consider the battle format

The rewards for story playthroughs, casual battling, and even competitions might differ from each other. The same technique or ability could be more beneficial in one situation than the other.

8. Abilities and Other Mechanics to Know About

There is a variety of abilities available to Flying-type Pokémon, which means that not all Flying-type Pokémon share the same abilities. There are some specific mechanics that could be considered while developing strategies based on this type.

Gale Wings: When this ability is available in particular generation games, it gives priority to Flying-type moves under certain conditions. Make sure you know exactly how it works depending on the generation to develop an effective strategy.

Aerilate: With this ability, Normal-type moves become Flying-type moves in particular games with such ability and increase in power. This ability makes the moves performed by Pokémon different from what the moves would do due to being of particular types.

Entry hazards: The majority of Flying-type Pokémon are immune to hazards like Spikes, Toxic Spikes, and Sticky Web while they are ungrounded. There is an exception in Stealth Rock, which damages Flying-type Pokémon upon entering the battlefield.

These effects may affect team building, but whether or not they are available and what they do depends on the game. You should always check whether the specific ability or effect is present in the game you are playing.

9. Common Mistakes to Avoid

A strong Flying-type Pokemon can become useless when its match-up is not considered.

• Thinking all Flying Pokemon are fast: It is true that the average Speed of the type is quite high.
• Overlooking the other type of the Pokemon: For instance, Charizard and Gyarados have their unique weaknesses.
• Throwing Flying moves at resistant opponents: Electric, Rock, and Steel types resist Flying-type attacks.
• Failing to use Rock hazards: Stealth Rock hurts any Flying Pokemon with an additional Rock type.
• Counting on Ground immunity all the time: Some moves and effects can negate it.
• Selecting only the most powerful moves: Accuracy, Recoil, stats, and type match-ups also matter.

Avoiding these mistakes will make your team more consistent regardless of having high stat Pokemon or not.

10. Should You Consider Having a Flying Type Pokemon On Your Team?

It might be a good idea to have a Flying-type Pokemon in case you want to benefit from good matchup opportunities, Ground-type immunity, and variety in speed and role of your Pokemon. As they are vulnerable to Electric, Ice, and Rock types, having supportive Pokemon is vital, especially when your selected Pokemon has an additional type, providing even more vulnerabilities.

What matters the most is what kind of Pokemon your team needs. It could be physical, special attacker, or a defender, for example.

In case you need some help with choosing, you can generate a random Pokemon using the Random Pokemon Generator. Thus, you will be able to check typing, statistics, abilities, and movepool of this Pokemon to decide if it suits your strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Against what types is Flying type vulnerable?

Flying-type Pokemon have weakness to Electric, Ice, and Rock types. A second type might bring additional weaknesses or affect the way Flying works with another type.

Against which types are Flying moves super-effective?

The Flying type is super-effective against Grass, Fighting, and Bug types.

Can Flying type Pokemon get hit by Ground attacks?

Normally, no. Flying-type Pokemon are immune to Ground-type moves. However, there are several ways how Ground type immunity can be disabled.

Do Flying type Pokemon have any resistance?

Yes, the Flying type resists Fighting, Bug, and Grass-type moves. Resistance of the Flying-type depends on its secondary type as well.

Is Flying type a good choice for a team?

This is a question of personal choice. Flying is good due to many offensive matchups and immunity to Ground-type moves. However, you should take Electric, Ice, and Rock types into account.

How many Flying type Pokemon are there?

The number of Flying type Pokemon depends on the counting methods used by the respective database, such as whether the alternate forms are counted separately. As a result, there will be differences between the number shown by Pokemon Database, Serebii, and DittoBase.