Bug (type)
The Bug type (Japanese: むしタイプ Insect type) is one of the eighteen types. Notable Trainers that specialize in Bug-type Pokémon are Bugsy of Azalea Town, Aaron of the Sinnoh Elite Four, Burgh of Castelia City, and Viola of Santalune City. Prior to changes in Generation IV all Bug-type moves were physical, but they may now also be special depending on the attack.
Statistical averages
Overall
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Fully evolved
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Battle properties
Generation I
| Offensive | 
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Defensive | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power | Types | Power | Types | |
| 2× |   
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½× |  
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| ½× |   
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2× | 
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| 0× | None | 0× | None | |
Generation II-V
| Offensive |
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Defensive | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power | Types | Power | Types | |
| 2× | 
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½× |
| |
| ½× | 
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2× |
| |
| 0× | None | 0× | None | |
Generation VI-onward
| Offensive |
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Defensive | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power | Types | Power | Types | |
| 2× |
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½× |
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| ½× | 
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2× |
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| 0× | None | 0× | None | |
Characteristics
Bug Pokémon are usually amongst the first Pokémon types a Trainer can find in the wild, with the exception of Pokémon Black and White. They generally evolve at very early levels compared to most other Pokémon. The type varies from strong to weak. Depending on the Bug Pokémon, they can prove to be a nuisance with stat altering moves or hit hard with attacks such as Megahorn, X-Scissor, Signal Beam and Bug Buzz. As of Generation V there is only one legendary Bug-type Pokémon, Genesect. (Excluding Arceus holding the Insect Plate.)
Offense
Offensively, they are somewhat flawed. They are effective against Psychic and Dark types, which are two types common in most teams; but their strength against the very common Grass type is reduced by the common Grass/Poison typing.
In the Generation I games, there were only three Bug-type moves (Leech Life, Twineedle, and Pin Missile); none of which were very powerful. Since then, the range (and average base power) of Bug-type moves has increased. However, since seven types resist Bug-type attacks, Bug-type attacks still don't deal a lot of damage to many types. The fact that they are resisted by Poison—a popular defensive type—causes further problems (though many Poison types also have a subtype that is weak to Bug—commonly Grass—which helps alleviate this issue). Furthermore, their advantage over Psychic types is compromised by the relatively common typing of Bug/Poison types; Psychic types with Bug-resistant types; and the high speed, special attack and wide movepools that many Psychic types have. Despite these offensive flaws, the Bug type pairs effectively with Water and Ice.
Defense
Defensively, Bug types are still flawed, because of their low Defense and the fact that there are many that are part Flying, multiplying their weakness to Rock. In this way their resistance to Ground and Fighting, the two most effective types (in terms of number of type advantages), are of little use seeing as many Pokémon of both types can learn Rock moves. Dual-type Bug/Flying and Bug/Poison Pokémon have an outstanding double resistance to Fighting, which can make up for their low Defense. They also have a double resistance to common Grass moves, meaning they would take very little damage from powerful moves such as Giga Drain, Energy Ball, or Petal Dance.
The Bug/Steel Pokémon prove particularly effective as they only have one weakness (although it's a double weakness) and ten resistances (including one immunity).
Contest properties
When used in Contests, Bug-type moves do not favor one Contest category.
Pokémon
As of Generation V, there are 69 Bug-type Pokémon or 9.4% of all Pokémon (counting forms and Mega Evolutions that change typing as different Pokémon).
Pure Bug-type Pokémon
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Half Bug-type Pokémon
Primary Bug-type Pokémon
Secondary Bug-type Pokémon
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Moves
| Gen | Move | Category | Contest | Power | Accuracy | PP | Target | Description | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | Attack Order | Physical | Smart | 90 | 100% | 15 (max 24) |
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The user calls out its underlings to pummel the target. Critical hits land more easily. | |||||||||
| IV | Bug Bite | Physical | Tough | 60 | 100% | 20 (max 32) |
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The user bites the target. If the target is holding a Berry, the user eats it and gains its effect. | |||||||||
| IV | Bug Buzz | Special | Cute | 90 | 100% | 10 (max 16) |
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The user vibrates its wings to generate a damaging sound wave. It may also lower the target's Sp. Def stat. | |||||||||
| IV | Defend Order | Status | Smart | — | —% | 10 (max 16) |
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The user calls out its underlings to shield its body, raising its Defense and Sp. Def stats. | |||||||||
| VI | Fell Stinger | Physical | 30 | 100% | 25 (max 40) |
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When the user knocks out a target with this move, the user's Attack stat rises sharply. | ||||||||||
| II | Fury Cutter | Physical | Cool | 20 | 95% | 20 (max 32) |
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The target is slashed with scythes or claws. Its power increases if it hits in succession. | |||||||||
| IV | Heal Order | Status | Smart | — | —% | 10 (max 16) |
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The user calls out its underlings to heal it. The user regains up to half of its max HP. | |||||||||
| VI | Infestation | Special | 20 | 100% | 20 (max 32) |
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The target is infested and attacked for four to five turns. The target can't flee during this time. | ||||||||||
| I | Leech Life | Physical | Smart | 20 | 100% | 20 (max 32) |
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The user drains the target's blood. The user's HP is restored by half the damage taken by the target. | |||||||||
| II | Megahorn | Physical | Cool | 120 | 85% | 10 (max 16) |
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Using its tough and impressive horn, the user rams into the target with no letup. | |||||||||
| I | Pin Missile | Physical | Cool | 14 | 85% | 20 (max 32) |
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Sharp spikes are shot at the target in rapid succession. They hit two to five times in a row. | |||||||||
| VI | Powder | Status | — | —% | 20 (max 32) |
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The user covers the target in a powder that explodes and damages the target if it uses a Fire-type move. | ||||||||||
| V | Quiver Dance | Status | — | —% | 20 (max 32) |
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The user lightly performs a beautiful, mystic dance. It boosts the user's Sp. Atk, Sp. Def, and Speed stats. | ||||||||||
| V | Rage Powder | Status | — | —% | 20 (max 32) |
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The user scatters a cloud of irritating powder to draw attention to itself. Opponents aim only at the user. | ||||||||||
| III | Signal Beam | Special | Beauty | 75 | 100% | 15 (max 24) |
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The user attacks with a sinister beam of light. It may also confuse the target. | |||||||||
| III | Silver Wind | Special | Beauty | 60 | 100% | 5 (max 8) |
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The target is attacked with powdery scales blown by wind. It may also raise all the user's stats. | |||||||||
| II | Spider Web | Status | Smart | — | —% | 10 (max 16) |
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The user ensnares the target with thin, gooey silk so it can't flee from battle. | |||||||||
| V | Steamroller | Physical | 65 | 100% | 20 (max 32) |
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The user crushes its targets by rolling over them with its rolled-up body. This attack may make the target flinch. | ||||||||||
| I | String Shot | Status | Smart | — | 95% | 40 (max 64) |
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The targets are bound with silk blown from the user's mouth. This silk reduces the targets' Speed stat. | |||||||||
| V | Struggle Bug | Special | 30 | 100% | 20 (max 32) |
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While resisting, the user attacks the opposing Pokémon. The targets' Sp. Atk stat is reduced. | ||||||||||
| VI | Sticky Web | Status | — | —% | 20 (max 32) |
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The user weaves a sticky net around the opposing team, which lowers their Speed stat upon switching into battle. | ||||||||||
| III | Tail Glow | Status | Beauty | — | —% | 20 (max 32) |
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The user stares at flashing lights to focus its mind, drastically raising its Sp. Atk stat. | |||||||||
| I | Twineedle | Physical | Cool | 25 | 100% | 20 (max 32) |
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The user damages the target twice in succession by jabbing it with two spikes. It may also poison the target. | |||||||||
| IV | U-turn | Physical | Cute | 70 | 100% | 20 (max 32) |
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After making its attack, the user rushes back to switch places with a party Pokémon in waiting. | |||||||||
| IV | X-Scissor | Physical | Beauty | 80 | 100% | 15 (max 24) |
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The user slashes at the target by crossing its scythes or claws as if they were a pair of scissors. | |||||||||
| All details are accurate to Generation VII games. For details that have changed between generations, please see an individual move's page. Target data assumes user is in the lower left. | |||||||||||||||||
Trivia
- Generation V introduced the most Bug-type Pokémon of any Generation, with 18, and Generation VI introduced the fewest Bug-type Pokémon, with three.
- Generation V is also the only Generation not to introduce a dual Bug/Flying Pokémon.
- Generation IV introduced the most Bug-type moves of any Generation, with seven, and Generations II and III introduced the fewest Bug-type moves, with three.
- Statistically, the Bug type is the weakest; among the 17 elemental types, the Bug type has the lowest average base stat total (371.57). This may be a reference to the position of bugs in nature; they are small compared with other animals, and few of them are predators.
- However, Generation IV and V introduced several Bug-type Pokémon with higher base stat totals, even over 500, including one at 600.
- Almost all Bug-type Pokémon evolve very early, perhaps due to their low stats. In the games, one reason for this could be to give the player the opportunity of having a strong, evolved Pokémon in the beginning of their journey in order to earn the first Gym Badges more easily. Despite this, the first Gyms of the first four generations are strong against Bug types, as they specialize in Rock and Flying types. Of the ones that are not strong, the Striaton City Gym has a chance to specialize in Fire types, while the Aspertia City and Santalune City Gyms are type-neutral. In fact, Cilan is the only potential first Gym Leader with a type weakness to Bug.
- Even though Flying is a common secondary type among Bug-type Pokémon, the only Bug-type Pokémon that can learn the move Fly, Volcarona and Genesect, are not Flying types.
- Until Platinum, several Bug-type Pokémon, Shuckle, Kricketot, Burmy, Wormadam, and Combee, were unable to learn any Bug-type moves. Each of them is now able to learn Bug Bite by level, and Wormadam can learn Signal Beam by Move Tutor.
- Larvesta evolves at level 59, the highest among two-stage evolutionary lines and second-highest overall, only surpassed by Zweilous, which evolves at level 64.
- Until Generation IV, the only Bug moves with a power above 25 were Megahorn, Signal Beam, and Silver Wind, which made them extremely difficult to use offensively.
- As of Generation II, the Bug type (along with the Fighting type) are one of only two pairs of different types to share the same interaction against each other (Bug resists Fighting and vice versa). The other pair is Normal and Ghost (Normal is immune to Ghost and vice versa).
- In Generation I, the Bug type and the Poison type also shared the same interaction: they were super-effective against each other. As of Generation II, Poison-type Pokémon now resist Bug-type moves, and Poison-type moves are neutral against Bug types.
- The Poison type's now neutral match-up against the Bug type could reflect the real-life principle behind insects being able to adapt to poison.
- In Generation I, the Bug type and the Poison type also shared the same interaction: they were super-effective against each other. As of Generation II, Poison-type Pokémon now resist Bug-type moves, and Poison-type moves are neutral against Bug types.
- The Flying type is one of the two types most commonly paired with the Bug type (along with Poison). However there are a number of Bug types, despite being able to fly, that are not Flying types, nor have the Ability Levitate. These include Beedrill, Venomoth, Heracross, Dustox, Volbeat, Illumise, and Volcarona.
- With the exception of Whirlipede, all mid-evolution Bug Pokémon are based on cocoons.
- String Shot is the only Bug-type status move that can miss.
- The Bug type was the most common 4× weakness in Generation I, with 11 Pokémon doubly weak to it, mainly due to Poison type having a weakness to it at the time.
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