You've been there. You're deep into a Master League set or maybe just trying to sweep a gym, and your Togekiss—the flappy, adorable "Jubilee Pokemon"—suddenly gets vaporized by a single move. It’s frustrating. You’ve invested the Candy, you’ve walked the miles for Buddy hearts, and yet it feels like it has a glass jaw the moment certain types hit the field. Knowing exactly what is togekiss weak against isn't just about reading a chart; it’s about understanding the weird intersection of its Fairy and Flying typing.
Togekiss is a beast. Honestly, with Charm or Air Slash, it can melt through Dragonite or Machamp without breaking a sweat. But that dual typing is a double-edged sword. It loses the pure Fairy-type resistance to Steel and picks up a nasty vulnerability to Rock. If you aren't careful, a stray Stone Edge or a well-timed Meteor Mash will end your run before you can even swap out.
The Core Vulnerabilities: Five Ways to Take Down the Fairy Queen
Togekiss has five primary weaknesses. Because it is a Fairy/Flying type, it inherits the flaws of both. You're looking at Poison, Steel, Rock, Electric, and Ice. Let's talk about Steel first. In the current meta, Steel is the "Togekiss Killer." Since the introduction of Gen 2's Scizor and the dominance of Metagross in later games, Steel moves have been the bane of any Fairy's existence. In Pokemon GO, a Metagross with Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash is basically Togekiss's sleep paralysis demon. The damage is calculated at 1.6x the standard rate. It's brutal. Even if you're shielded, the chip damage from fast moves adds up so quickly that you’re forced to switch.
Then there’s the Rock problem. Pure Fairy types don't care about Rocks. But because Togekiss has those wings, it gets the Flying-type weakness. This means Tyranitar or Rhyperior can absolutely wreck it. A Rock Wrecker from a Rhyperior is usually an instant KO. It’s one of those things where the dual typing actually hurts its survivability compared to something like Clefable.
Why Electric Types Are More Dangerous Than They Look
You might think you can tank a Thunderbolt. You probably can’t.
Electric is one of those types that people forget about because they’re too busy worrying about Metagross. But in the ultra-competitive Battle League, Magnezone is a frequent flyer. Magnezone is a nightmare because it resists almost everything Togekiss throws at it while hitting back with quad-effective (or at least highly boosted) Electric damage. If you’re facing a Zapdos or a Raikou, Togekiss is basically a sitting duck.
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Ice moves are equally terrifying. We aren't just talking about Mamoswine. Even a random Ice Beam from a bulky Water-type like Lapras or Suicune can catch you off guard. Because Togekiss relies so heavily on its bulk to stay in the fight and dish out Charm damage, taking a super-effective Ice hit ruins its "farm-down" potential.
The Poison Misconception: Is It Really That Bad?
Actually, Poison is the rarest weakness you'll encounter, but it's the most punishing when it happens.
Most players don't run Poison types in the higher tiers of Master League. However, if you run into a Roserade or a Nihilego, it’s over. Sludge Bomb is remarkably fast and hits for massive damage. The weird thing about what is togekiss weak against is that the "obvious" weaknesses like Poison are often the ones that catch you by surprise because nobody prepares for them. You're looking at your screen, wondering why your health bar turned red so fast, and then you realize you just let a Poison Jab lead stay on the field too long.
Breaking Down the Math (Without Making it Boring)
The game mechanics are pretty straightforward but the "feel" of the battle is what matters. In the main series games (like Scarlet and Violet), Togekiss has a base Special Defense of 115. That’s high. It’s tanky. But its physical Defense sits at 95.
This is the secret: Most Rock and Steel moves are physical.
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If a Melmetal hits you with Rock Slide (Physical), it’s hitting that lower 95 stat. If a Jolteon hits you with Thunder (Special), you might actually survive a bit longer. Expert players know this. They will purposefully bait your shields with physical attackers because they know Togekiss's feathers aren't as thick as its magical aura.
Strategic Counters You Need to Watch Out For
If you are the one using Togekiss, you need to have a "backline" that covers these holes. If you are the one fighting a Togekiss, these are the anchors you want on your team:
- Metagross: The undisputed king of the counter-meta. Meteor Mash is the best move in the game for this specific matchup.
- Melmetal: It’s fast. Rock Slide and Double Iron Bash (if you have the event move) pressure Togekiss so hard it’s not even funny.
- Nihilego: A specialized pick, but its Rock/Poison typing means it resists Togekiss’s entire kit while dealing super-effective damage back.
- Mamoswine: Avalanche or High Horsepower. Wait, no—stick to Avalanche. It’s a 2-hit KO at worst.
- Dialga: This is a skill matchup. Dialga is Steel/Dragon. Normally, Togekiss eats Dragons for breakfast. But Dialga takes neutral damage from Fairy and hits back with Iron Head. It’s a nail-biter every time.
Misconceptions About Togekiss's Resistances
People often swap Togekiss into things it shouldn't be fighting. Just because it’s a Fairy doesn't mean it wins every neutral fight.
It is "doubly resistant" to Dragon and Ground. This is its greatest strength. If you see a Garchomp using Earthquake or Outrage, Togekiss is your best friend. It takes almost no damage. It also resists Bug, Fighting, Grass, and Dark.
But here is where people mess up: they think Togekiss resists Fire or Water. It doesn’t. If you’re facing a Charizard with Blast Burn, Togekiss is going to take a neutral chunk of damage that it can't afford. It’s a specialist. Use it like one.
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The "Charm" Trap: Why Speed Matters
The biggest weakness isn't just a type—it's the move set. Most people run Charm. It’s a heavy-hitting Fast Move. But it generates energy slowly.
Because Togekiss takes forever to reach its Charged Moves (Ancient Power, Flamethrower, or Dazzling Gleam), its true weakness is timing. If your opponent has a fast-cycling Pokémon like Excadrill, they can reach two Rock Slides before you even get to one Flamethrower. You lose the race.
In the world of competitive Pokémon, "Time to First Move" (TTFM) is a hidden stat that determines most Togekiss losses. If you're stuck in a Charm animation while an Aggron is charging up a Heavy Slam, you’re already dead. You just haven't seen the animation yet.
Nuance in the Main Series vs. Pokémon GO
It’s worth noting that in the main series games, Togekiss often has the ability Serene Grace. This doubles the chance of secondary effects. This means Togekiss can use Air Slash to flinch you to death. In that context, "weakness" matters less if the opponent never gets to move.
But in Pokémon GO, there is no flinching. You just sit there and take the hits. This makes the question of what is togekiss weak against much more vital in GO, because you can't "hax" your way out of a bad matchup with flinches. You have to know the typing inside and out.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Battle
Don't just let your Togekiss get bullied. If you want to climb the ranks or beat your friends, follow these specific tactical steps:
- Identify the Lead: If the opponent leads with a Steel or Electric type, swap immediately. Do not try to "stick it out." Togekiss is a closer or a counter-switch, not a tank that can absorb neutral Steel pressure.
- The "Safe Swap" Rule: Pair Togekiss with a Ground-type like Garchomp or Excadrill. Ground covers Steel, Rock, Electric, and Poison—four out of Togekiss's five weaknesses. It’s a perfect partnership.
- Shield Management: Always save at least one shield for Togekiss if you know the opponent has a Rock-user in the back. A Togekiss with no shields is a liability; a Togekiss with one shield is a win condition.
- Move Baiting: If you’re locked in against a Steel type, try to bait a shield with Ancient Power (which is cheaper energy-wise) before going for the Flamethrower. If you land that Flamethrower, you can actually flip the matchup.
- Check the Weather: In Pokémon GO, "Snowy" weather boosts Steel and Ice, while "Partly Cloudy" boosts Rock. If you're fighting in these conditions, Togekiss is even more vulnerable than usual.
Knowing the vulnerabilities is half the battle. The other half is realizing that even with five weaknesses, Togekiss remains one of the most dominant forces in the game because its strengths are so overwhelming. Respect the Metagross, fear the Magnezone, and keep your shields ready.