Quick Links
As one of the most significant battle-related mechanics in the Pokemon franchise, the Same Type Attack Bonus (often referred to as simply "STAB") offers a very intuitive way for trainers to increase the damage output of their pockets monsters' attacking moves. This mechanic has been in the franchise since Generation 1 and still exists today in Generation 8 games, such as in Pokemon Sword & Shield.
As the name implies, this boost to attacking moves occurs when a pokemon uses a move that matches its type. For example, a Charizard (Fire and Flying-type) using the damage-dealing move Fire Blast will always get a STAB in battle under normal circumstances. In the main series games, such as Pokemon Sword & Shield, the STAB grants an x1.5 multiplier to one's damage output unless affected by an ability, so it can greatly increase how much HP one takes from foes with each strike.
How The Same Type Attack Bonus Works
In the equation that determines the overall Damage of an attacking move, STAB is calculated alongside many other factors that determine how much HP the target will lose, however, it shows up pretty late in the order of operations. Also, when compared to the other potential multipliers, STAB has the opportunity to be one of the biggest influences of total Damage.
These two traits combine to mean that STAB will have one of the biggest effects on the Damage calculation in any given scenario, meaning that players should prioritize activating STAB over most other controllable passive factors in battle. The only factors that increase damage more than STAB are those that change in-battle, such as activating a specific weather condition or using status moves to buff one's Attack or Special Attack stat directly.
Abilities & Moves That Apply STAB In Unique Ways
Adaptability
Easily the best ability to take advantage of STAB mechanics, Adaptability grants a massive x2 multiplier (as opposed to the default x1.5 multiplier) to STAB moves used by pokemon who possess it. Here is a list of pokemon that can gain Adaptability either as a first, second, or hidden ability:
- Beedrill (Mega-only)
- Eevee
- Corphish
- Crawdaunt
- Feebas
- Lucario (Mega-only)
- Porygon-Z
- Basculin
- Skrelp
- Dragalge
- Yungoos
- Gumshoos
Weather Ball
Since this damage-dealing move starts out as Normal-type, it can be a bit confusing to plan STAB tactics for it since it changes type in-battle. However, an easy way to remember how to get STAB on Weather Ball is to think about the type of the weather status move that was used. As such, the STAB for this move will change, though there are only four variants total:
- Sunny Day will turn Weather Ball into a Fire-type move
- Rain Dance will turn Weather Ball into a Water-type move
- Hail will turn Weather Ball into an Ice-type move
- Sandstorm will turn Weather Ball into a Rock-type move
Flying Press
Despite dealing damage as if it is both a Fighting-type and Flying-type move, Flying Press is squarely a Fighting-type move only. The way Pokemon games are coded means that a move cannot be more than one type, even though it can have a secondary effect that makes this seem untrue. As such, Flying Press will only get a STAB when used by Fighting-type pokemon.
Grass Pledge, Fire Pledge, & Water Pledge
The Pledge moves are very strange for a number of reasons, as there aren't any other moves in the franchise that work as they do. Grass Pledge, Fire Pledge, and Water Pledge are the only moves in the main series games that allow players to gain a STAB bonus even without meeting the usual criteria.
If two of the Pledge moves are used in a single turn by multiple pokemon on the same team, the first one used will always act as a charging move and deal no damage, however, the second one will combine the base power of both moves in addition to giving a guaranteed STAB before unleashing the combined damage onto the target.
Moves That Are Unaffected By STAB Mechanics
Direct Damage Moves
Since STAB is a factor implemented in the regular Damage Equation during battle, moves that do not use these calculations are not influenced by STAB. These moves, known as "Direct Damage" moves exist in multiple variants that each follow unique rules for calculating damage. Here is a list of Direct Damage moves that currently exist and are usable in Generation 8 Pokemon games:
- Bide
- Counter
- Dragon Rage
- Endeavor
- Final Gambit
- Guardian of Alola
- Metal Burst
- Mirror Coat
- Nature's Madness
- Night Shade
- Psywave
- Seismic Toss
- Sonic Boom
- Super Fang