New players sometimes expect the card game's type interactions to mirror the video games exactly, and the differences trip them up early on.
Simpler than the games
Rather than a full type-effectiveness chart, the card game prints a specific Weakness (and sometimes Resistance) directly on each Pokémon's card, rather than relying on players to memorise a broad type chart the way the video games require.
How Weakness plays out
Each Pokémon lists which type it's weak to directly on the card. When it's hit by an attack of that type, its Weakness applies to the damage taken, most commonly doubling it — a significant swing that shapes a lot of matchup planning.
Resistance is rarer than it used to be
Resistance, which reduces damage from a specific type, appears far less frequently on modern cards than Weakness does, making it a smaller factor in day-to-day matchup planning than it was in earlier eras of the game.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Pokémon TCG type chart the same as the video games?
No, the card game uses a simplified Weakness and Resistance system per card.
What happens when a Pokémon attacks a type it's weak against?
Its Weakness applies to the damage taken, most commonly doubling it.
Is Resistance as common as Weakness on modern cards?
No, Resistance appears far less often than Weakness.