Pokémon Weather and Terrain Explained: Field Effects

Some of the most powerful effects in Pokémon battles don't come from a single Pokémon at all. They come from the battlefield itself. Pokémon weather and terrain can boost certain types, weaken others, double a Pokémon's Speed, or stop status conditions entirely. Whole teams are built around them.

This guide covers each type of weather and terrain, how they're set, and how to build around them or play against them.

How Weather Works

There are four main types of weather in current Pokémon games: sun, rain, sandstorm, and snow. Only one weather can be active at a time. When a new one is set, it replaces the old one.

Weather can be set in two ways:

• Moves: Sunny Day, Rain Dance, Sandstorm, and Snowscape each set weather for five turns.
• Abilities: Pokémon with Drought, Drizzle, Sand Stream, or Snow Warning set weather automatically when they enter battle, also for five turns.

Each weather has a matching held item that extends it to eight turns: Heat Rock for sun, Damp Rock for rain, Smooth Rock for sandstorm, and Icy Rock for snow.

Sun

When the sunlight is harsh:

• Fire-type moves do 1.5× damage.
• Water-type moves do half damage.
• Solar Beam and Solar Blade fire immediately instead of needing a turn to charge.
• Pokémon can't be frozen.
• Synthesis, Morning Sun, and Moonlight restore more HP than usual.
• Growth raises Attack and Special Attack by two stages instead of one.
• Thunder and Hurricane become less accurate.

Pokémon with the ability Chlorophyll have their Speed doubled in sun, which makes them some of the most dangerous Pokémon on a sun team.

Rain

When it's raining:

• Water-type moves do 1.5× damage.
• Fire-type moves do half damage.
• Thunder and Hurricane never miss.
• Solar Beam is weakened, and healing moves like Synthesis restore less HP.

Pokémon with Swift Swim have their Speed doubled in rain. Rain teams are among the most common weather teams, because they boost Water moves and make two powerful but inaccurate moves reliable.

Sandstorm

During a sandstorm:

• All Pokémon except Rock, Ground, and Steel types lose 1/16 of their maximum HP at the end of every turn.
• Rock-type Pokémon get a 50% boost to Special Defense.

Pokémon with Sand Rush have their Speed doubled in a sandstorm. Pokémon with Sand Force get a power boost for their Rock, Ground, and Steel moves.

Sandstorm is less about raw offense and more about wearing down the opponent's team while making Rock types harder to knock out. Pokémon with the abilities Overcoat or Sand Veil take no damage from it.

Snow

Snow was introduced in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet as a replacement for hail. During snow:

• Ice-type Pokémon get a 50% boost to Defense.
• Blizzard never misses.
• Aurora Veil, a move that cuts both physical and special damage to the user's team, can be used.

Unlike the old hail, snow doesn't damage Pokémon each turn. Pokémon with Slush Rush have their Speed doubled in snow.

Countering Weather

If your opponent's team relies on weather, you have several options:

• Set your own weather. The newest weather always replaces the old one, so a Pokémon with a weather-setting ability can undo the opponent's on entry.
• Use Cloud Nine or Air Lock. Pokémon with these abilities cancel weather effects while they're on the field.
• Stall it out. Weather lasts only five or eight turns. Switching defensively and using Protect can run down the clock.
• Hold a Utility Umbrella. It shields the holder from the effects of sun and rain.

How Terrain Works

Terrain was introduced in Generation 6, with a fourth type added in Generation 7. There are four terrains: Electric, Grassy, Misty, and Psychic.

Like weather, terrain lasts five turns, or eight turns if the setter holds a Terrain Extender. It can be set by moves, such as Electric Terrain or Grassy Terrain, or by abilities like Electric Surge, Grassy Surge, Misty Surge, and Psychic Surge, which set terrain when the Pokémon enters battle. Only one terrain can be active at a time.

The most important rule is that terrain only affects Pokémon on the ground. Flying-type Pokémon, Pokémon with Levitate, and Pokémon holding an Air Balloon ignore terrain completely, for better or worse.

Electric Terrain

• Electric-type moves used by grounded Pokémon do 1.3× damage.
• Grounded Pokémon can't fall asleep.

Grassy Terrain

• Grass-type moves used by grounded Pokémon do 1.3× damage.
• Grounded Pokémon restore 1/16 of their maximum HP each turn.
• Earthquake and Bulldoze do half damage to grounded targets.

Grassy Terrain is both offensive and defensive. The healing and weakened Earthquake make it useful for teams that would otherwise struggle against Ground-type attackers.

Misty Terrain

• Grounded Pokémon can't get major status conditions or become confused.
• Dragon-type moves do half damage to grounded targets.

Misty Terrain is a strong defensive tool, especially against teams that rely on status moves like Will-O-Wisp and Toxic.

Psychic Terrain

• Psychic-type moves used by grounded Pokémon do 1.3× damage.
• Grounded Pokémon are protected from priority moves, like Quick Attack, Sucker Punch, and Fake Out.

Blocking priority makes Psychic Terrain especially powerful for slower attackers, since opponents can't use priority to knock them out first.

Items and Moves That Use Terrain

• Terrain Seeds raise a stat when the matching terrain is active. Electric and Grassy Seeds raise Defense, and Misty and Psychic Seeds raise Special Defense.
• Terrain Pulse changes type to match the active terrain and doubles in power.

Building a Weather or Terrain Team

Most weather and terrain teams follow the same structure:

1. A setter: a Pokémon with a weather or terrain ability, ideally holding the item that extends it.
2. Abusers: Pokémon that benefit most, like Swift Swim attackers on a rain team or Chlorophyll attackers on a sun team.
3. A backup plan: at least one or two Pokémon that can still perform if the opponent removes or replaces the weather.

The biggest risk is relying on the field effect too much. If the opponent replaces your weather or stalls out your terrain, the team should still be able to fight.

Final Thoughts

Weather and terrain change the rules of a battle. Sun and rain change type matchups, sandstorm and snow strengthen certain types defensively, and terrain can block status, block priority, or boost damage. Whether you build around them or just learn to play against them, understanding these effects gives you a big advantage.

Check a Pokémon's abilities on Pokemondatabase.com to see whether it sets weather or terrain, or benefits from them.

Related Pokémon Guides

• Pokémon Type Chart Guide: how type matchups, STAB and immunities work
• Pokémon Stats, IVs, EVs and Natures: how base stats, IVs, EVs and natures build a stronger Pokémon
• Pokémon Held Items Guide: the best held items and when to use them
• Pokémon Status Conditions Guide: what burn, paralysis, poison, sleep and freeze do
• Pokémon Abilities Guide: the best abilities and how they shape matchups
• How to Build a Competitive Pokémon Team: a step-by-step team building process

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