---
title: "Pokémon Weather Effects: Rain, Sun, Sandstorm and Snow Explained | pokee.si"
url: "https://pokee.si/articles/pokemon-weather-effects"
description: "What rain, harsh sunlight, sandstorm and snow do in Pokémon battles, which Pokémon set each weather, which Abilities use it, and how long it lasts."
last_updated: "2026-10-21"
publisher: "pokee.si: a Pokédex for families (unofficial fan site)"
published: "2026-10-21"
---

# Pokémon Weather Effects: Rain, Sun, Sandstorm and Snow Explained

There are four main kinds of weather in Pokémon battles: rain, harsh sunlight, sandstorm and snow. Rain powers up Water moves and weakens Fire moves, sun does the opposite, sandstorm hurts every Pokémon that isn't Rock, Ground or Steel, and snow raises the Defense of Ice types. Weather lasts five turns, or eight if the Pokémon that started it holds the matching rock.

Weather has been in every main game since Generation 2 (Gold and Silver). Only one kind can be active at a time, so setting your own weather also wipes out your opponent's.

## What each weather does

| Weather | Helps | Hurts | Other effects |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Harsh sunlight | Fire moves +50% | Water moves −50% | Solar Beam and Solar Blade fire at once; nobody can be frozen; Thunder and Hurricane drop to 50% accuracy |
| Rain | Water moves +50% | Fire moves −50% | Thunder and Hurricane can't miss; Solar Beam's power is halved |
| Sandstorm | Rock types get +50% Sp. Def (from Gen 4) | Non-Rock, non-Ground, non-Steel Pokémon lose 1/16 HP a turn | Solar Beam's power is halved |
| Snow (Gen 9) | Ice types get +50% Defense | Nothing takes damage | Blizzard is more accurate; Aurora Veil can be used |

Hail was the fourth weather before Scarlet and Violet. It hurt every non-Ice Pokémon by 1/16 of its HP each turn. Snow arrived in Legends: Arceus and replaced hail in Generation 9. It does no damage at all.

[Weather Ball](https://pokee.si/moves/weather-ball) is the move that cares most. It is a 50-power Normal move in clear skies, but in any weather it doubles to 100 and takes the weather's type: Fire in sun, Water in rain, Rock in sand and Ice in snow.

## How weather starts

Each weather has a move, an Ability and a rock that makes it last longer. These are the Pokémon in our data with each Ability. Some have it as a Hidden Ability, and some forms only appear in certain games.

| Weather | Move | Ability | Pokémon with the Ability | Rock that makes it last 8 turns |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Harsh sunlight | [Sunny Day](https://pokee.si/moves/sunny-day) | [Drought](https://pokee.si/abilities/drought) | [Vulpix](https://pokee.si/pokemon/vulpix), [Ninetales](https://pokee.si/pokemon/ninetales), [Torkoal](https://pokee.si/pokemon/torkoal), [Groudon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/groudon), [Mega Charizard Y](https://pokee.si/pokemon/charizard?form=charizard-mega-y) | Heat Rock |
| Rain | [Rain Dance](https://pokee.si/moves/rain-dance) | [Drizzle](https://pokee.si/abilities/drizzle) | [Politoed](https://pokee.si/pokemon/politoed), [Pelipper](https://pokee.si/pokemon/pelipper), [Kyogre](https://pokee.si/pokemon/kyogre) | Damp Rock |
| Sandstorm | [Sandstorm](https://pokee.si/moves/sandstorm) | [Sand Stream](https://pokee.si/abilities/sand-stream) | [Tyranitar](https://pokee.si/pokemon/tyranitar), [Hippopotas](https://pokee.si/pokemon/hippopotas), [Hippowdon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/hippowdon), [Gigalith](https://pokee.si/pokemon/gigalith) | Smooth Rock |
| Snow | [Snowscape](https://pokee.si/moves/snowscape) | [Snow Warning](https://pokee.si/abilities/snow-warning) | [Snover](https://pokee.si/pokemon/snover), [Abomasnow](https://pokee.si/pokemon/abomasnow), [Vanilluxe](https://pokee.si/pokemon/vanilluxe), [Amaura](https://pokee.si/pokemon/amaura), [Aurorus](https://pokee.si/pokemon/aurorus), [Alolan Vulpix](https://pokee.si/pokemon/vulpix?form=vulpix-alola) and others | Icy Rock |

Sunny Day and Rain Dance are very widely spread: 676 and 689 species can learn them in our Scarlet and Violet data. In older games the move to start hail was [Hail](https://pokee.si/moves/hail).

Before Generation 6, weather from an Ability lasted until the battle ended or another weather replaced it. That made Ability setters like Politoed and Tyranitar much more valuable before the change. Since Generation 6, Ability weather lasts five turns like everything else.

[Koraidon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/koraidon) sets weather with an Ability of its own, [Orichalcum Pulse](https://pokee.si/abilities/orichalcum-pulse), which turns the sunlight harsh and raises its Attack while the sun lasts. Weather can also simply happen in the overworld. Start a battle in a place where it is raining and the battle has rain too.

## Abilities that use weather

A weather team is a setter plus Pokémon that gain from that weather. These are the main Abilities, with the number of species or forms in our data that can have each one.

| Weather | Ability | What it does | Species |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sun | [Chlorophyll](https://pokee.si/abilities/chlorophyll) | Doubles Speed | 37: [Bulbasaur](https://pokee.si/pokemon/bulbasaur), [Ivysaur](https://pokee.si/pokemon/ivysaur), [Venusaur](https://pokee.si/pokemon/venusaur), [Oddish](https://pokee.si/pokemon/oddish) and 33 more |
| Sun | [Solar Power](https://pokee.si/abilities/solar-power) | Sp. Atk ×1.5, but loses 1/8 HP a turn | 8: [Charmander](https://pokee.si/pokemon/charmander), [Charmeleon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/charmeleon), [Charizard](https://pokee.si/pokemon/charizard), [Sunkern](https://pokee.si/pokemon/sunkern) and 4 more |
| Sun | [Protosynthesis](https://pokee.si/abilities/protosynthesis) | Raises its highest stat | 10: [Great Tusk](https://pokee.si/pokemon/great-tusk), [Scream Tail](https://pokee.si/pokemon/scream-tail), [Brute Bonnet](https://pokee.si/pokemon/brute-bonnet), [Flutter Mane](https://pokee.si/pokemon/flutter-mane) and 6 more |
| Rain | [Swift Swim](https://pokee.si/abilities/swift-swim) | Doubles Speed | 44: [Psyduck](https://pokee.si/pokemon/psyduck), [Golduck](https://pokee.si/pokemon/golduck), [Poliwag](https://pokee.si/pokemon/poliwag), [Poliwhirl](https://pokee.si/pokemon/poliwhirl) and 40 more |
| Rain | [Rain Dish](https://pokee.si/abilities/rain-dish) | Heals 1/16 HP a turn | 13: [Squirtle](https://pokee.si/pokemon/squirtle), [Wartortle](https://pokee.si/pokemon/wartortle), [Blastoise](https://pokee.si/pokemon/blastoise), [Tentacool](https://pokee.si/pokemon/tentacool) and 9 more |
| Rain | [Hydration](https://pokee.si/abilities/hydration) | Cures status at the end of each turn | 22: [Seel](https://pokee.si/pokemon/seel), [Dewgong](https://pokee.si/pokemon/dewgong), [Lapras](https://pokee.si/pokemon/lapras), [Vaporeon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/vaporeon) and 18 more |
| Sandstorm | [Sand Rush](https://pokee.si/abilities/sand-rush) | Doubles Speed | 10: [Sandshrew](https://pokee.si/pokemon/sandshrew), [Sandslash](https://pokee.si/pokemon/sandslash), [Herdier](https://pokee.si/pokemon/herdier), [Stoutland](https://pokee.si/pokemon/stoutland) and 6 more |
| Sandstorm | [Sand Force](https://pokee.si/abilities/sand-force) | Rock, Ground and Steel moves ×1.3 | 14: [Diglett](https://pokee.si/pokemon/diglett), [Dugtrio](https://pokee.si/pokemon/dugtrio), [Nosepass](https://pokee.si/pokemon/nosepass), [Shellos](https://pokee.si/pokemon/shellos) and 10 more |
| Snow | [Slush Rush](https://pokee.si/abilities/slush-rush) | Doubles Speed | 5: [Cubchoo](https://pokee.si/pokemon/cubchoo), [Beartic](https://pokee.si/pokemon/beartic), [Arctozolt](https://pokee.si/pokemon/arctozolt), [Arctovish](https://pokee.si/pokemon/arctovish) and 1 more |
| Snow | [Ice Body](https://pokee.si/abilities/ice-body) | Heals 1/16 HP a turn | 19: [Seel](https://pokee.si/pokemon/seel), [Dewgong](https://pokee.si/pokemon/dewgong), [Snorunt](https://pokee.si/pokemon/snorunt), [Glalie](https://pokee.si/pokemon/glalie) and 15 more |

[Dry Skin](https://pokee.si/abilities/dry-skin) cuts both ways: the Pokémon heals in rain but loses HP in harsh sunlight.

Doubling Speed lets a slow Pokémon move first, so Swift Swim and Chlorophyll are the usual reason to build a rain or sun team. One common pairing is Pelipper setting rain for a Swift Swim Pokémon.

Sandstorm works differently. It makes Rock types tougher on the special side and chips everyone else. In our data, 195 species are Rock, Ground or Steel and so take no sandstorm damage.

## Extreme weather from Primal and Mega forms

Three forms create a stronger weather that ordinary moves can't replace. It lasts as long as the Pokémon stays in battle.

- [Desolate Land](https://pokee.si/abilities/desolate-land), from [Primal Groudon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/groudon?form=groudon-primal): extremely harsh sunlight, where damaging Water moves fail.
- [Primordial Sea](https://pokee.si/abilities/primordial-sea), from [Primal Kyogre](https://pokee.si/pokemon/kyogre?form=kyogre-primal): heavy rain, where damaging Fire moves fail.
- [Delta Stream](https://pokee.si/abilities/delta-stream), from [Mega Rayquaza](https://pokee.si/pokemon/rayquaza?form=rayquaza-mega): strong winds, where no move is super effective against Flying types.

## Stopping weather

You don't always want the weather. [Cloud Nine](https://pokee.si/abilities/cloud-nine) (on [Psyduck](https://pokee.si/pokemon/psyduck), [Altaria](https://pokee.si/pokemon/altaria) and a few others) and [Air Lock](https://pokee.si/abilities/air-lock) (on [Rayquaza](https://pokee.si/pokemon/rayquaza)) cancel weather's effects while the Pokémon is in battle. The Utility Umbrella item makes its holder ignore rain and sun. [Overcoat](https://pokee.si/abilities/overcoat) and Safety Goggles stop sandstorm damage.

Setting your own weather is the simplest answer. A Sunny Day will replace your opponent's rain.

## Quick tips

- Match the weather to your Pokémon's best moves. A Fire attacker loves sun and a Water attacker loves rain.
- Watch out for Solar Beam in other weather. It still charges for a turn, and its power is halved in rain and sandstorm.
- Ice types did well out of the switch to snow. They get a Defense boost, and their non-Ice teammates no longer take hail damage.

Weather works alongside terrain, which boosts moves and blocks some status for Pokémon on the ground. Read [terrain moves explained](https://pokee.si/articles/pokemon-terrain-explained) for the four terrains, or the [weather and terrain guide](https://pokee.si/guide/mechanics/weather-and-terrain) for the short version.

## Questions people ask

### What does rain do in Pokémon?

Rain makes Water moves 50% stronger and Fire moves 50% weaker. Thunder and Hurricane can't miss in rain, and Abilities like Swift Swim double the Speed of the Pokémon that have them.

### What does harsh sunlight do?

Fire moves get 50% stronger and Water moves 50% weaker. Solar Beam and Solar Blade skip their charging turn, and no Pokémon can be frozen.

### Which Pokémon don't take sandstorm damage?

Rock, Ground and Steel types, plus Pokémon with Abilities such as Sand Veil, Sand Rush, Sand Force or Overcoat, and any Pokémon holding Safety Goggles.

### What is the difference between snow and hail?

Hail hurt every Pokémon that wasn't Ice type each turn. Snow, which replaced hail in Scarlet and Violet, does no damage and raises the Defense of Ice types by 50% instead.

### How long does weather last in Pokémon?

Five turns from a move or, since Generation 6, from an Ability. Holding the matching rock makes it eight turns.

## Sources

- [Bulbapedia: Weather](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Weather)
- [Bulbapedia: Snow (weather condition)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Snow_(weather_condition))
- [Serebii: Weather Effects](https://www.serebii.net/games/weather.shtml)

---

Source: https://pokee.si/articles/pokemon-weather-effects (HTML page). pokee.si is an unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with Nintendo, Creatures, GAME FREAK or The Pokémon Company. Pokémon and all related names and images are © their respective owners.