Pokémon counters guide

Best Counters for Pawniard

Find practical counter Pokémon, attacking types, and defensive matchup notes for Pawniard.

DarkSteel
Pawniard Pokémon sprite

Pawniard

#0624

Quick answer

Fighting is the strongest answer because both Dark and Steel are weak to Fighting, creating a 4x weakness. Fire and Ground are strong secondary attacking types.

Best move types

Fighting×4Fire×2Ground×2

Biggest weakness

Fighting×4

Type matchup table

Fighting type iconFighting4x
Fire type iconFire2x
Ground type iconGround2x
Water type iconWater1x
Electric type iconElectric1x
Bug type iconBug1x
Fairy type iconFairy1x
Normal type iconNormal0.5x
Grass type iconGrass0.5x
Ice type iconIce0.5x
Flying type iconFlying0.5x
Rock type iconRock0.5x
Ghost type iconGhost0.5x
Dragon type iconDragon0.5x
Dark type iconDark0.5x
Steel type iconSteel0.5x
Poison type iconPoison0x
Psychic type iconPsychic0x

Recommended practical counters

Lucario Pokémon sprite

Lucario

#0448

Resists both STABsBudget option
FightingSteel
  • Deals 4x damage with Fighting-type attacks
  • Has STAB Fighting-type attacks
  • Resists the target's Dark 0.5x, Steel 0.5x STAB attacks
  • Strong attacking stats help convert the matchup
Best typeFighting×4

Safe into Dark 0.5x, Steel 0.5x

115 offense · 90 Speed

Strong theoretical counters

Best move types to use

Fighting×4Fire×2Ground×2

Move availability depends on game version and learnset data, so this page recommends move types rather than guaranteed moves.

Fighting type pageFire type pageGround type page

Counter notes for Pawniard

  • Pawniard's Dark / Steel typing makes Fighting the cleanest answer because it reaches 4x damage. Its 60 base Speed means very slow counters still need enough bulk to take a hit first.
  • Fire and Ground attackers are useful secondary options when the top weakness is unavailable, but they should be chosen for safety, Speed, or team fit rather than raw multiplier alone.
  • Known abilities include Defiant, Inner Focus, and Pressure. This page does not assume ability-specific battle effects, so verify the format before relying on a single counter.
  • Avoid counters that are weak to Dark / Steel unless they are fast enough to pressure immediately or bulky enough to survive the exchange.
  • Pawniard does not need a separate alternate-form note for the standard National Dex matchup shown here.

What not to use

Poison×0Psychic×0Normal×0.5Grass×0.5Ice×0.5Flying×0.5Rock×0.5Ghost×0.5Dragon×0.5Dark×0.5Steel×0.5

These attacking types are resisted or blocked by the defender's typing, so they are usually lower-priority choices unless they provide a special battle role.

Battle caveats

  • This ranking uses modern Gen 6+ type matchups, STAB value, defensive switch-in safety, and base stats.
  • Abilities, held items, Terastallization, weather, terrain, and format rules can change real battle outcomes.
  • Coverage moves can punish obvious counters, so treat this as type-based guidance rather than a full matchup simulator.
  • Move availability depends on game version and learnset data; this page recommends attacking types rather than guaranteed moves.

Related pages

Pawniard weakness chartPawniard PokédexDark / Steel countersFighting type pageFire type pageGround type pagePokémon type chartSpeed tiers

FAQ

What is the best counter for Pawniard?

Pawniard is best countered by Pokémon that can use Fighting (4x) attacks while avoiding bad defensive matchups into Dark / Steel STAB attacks. Because this is a 4x weakness, even moderate attackers can create pressure if they can enter safely.

What type is best against Pawniard?

Fighting is the strongest attacking type against Pawniard, dealing 4x damage under the modern Gen 6+ type chart.

How many useful attacking types hit Pawniard super-effectively?

Pawniard has 3 super-effective attacking options: Fighting, Fire, and Ground. Use the highest multiplier first, then choose a Pokémon that is not exposed to Dark / Steel STAB attacks.

Are abilities included in this counter ranking?

No. The ranking uses base typing and base stats. Abilities, items, Terastallization, weather, terrain, and special move rules can change the real matchup.

Does Terastallization change Pawniard counters?

Yes. Terastallization can replace the defensive typing used here, so the recommended counter types may change completely in formats where Tera is active.

What should I avoid using against Pawniard?

Avoid relying on Poison, Psychic, Normal, Grass, and Ice attacks unless they have a special role or unusually high power.

© 2026 NationalDex. All rights reserved.
Pokémon and Pokémon character names are trademarks of Nintendo / GAME FREAK / Creatures Inc. This is a fan-made website for learning and community use only. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the trademark holders.
Terms·Privacy·About

Search NationalDex

Search Pokémon, moves, abilities, types, and items.