Best Grass Type Moves in Pokemon Ranked

Grass type Pokemon often get a rep for being predictable and mediocre but I'm here to tell you that isn't true! Grass are the dark horse of the competition and harness more power than anyone realises. There are some epic tricks to deploy and some seriously powerful moves. Move over Electric type Pokemon, Grass type is the new elemental wildcard! This roster of moves isn’t only more extensive than most of the other types, but there’s an ongoing theme of powerful moves with drawbacks - turning grass into possibly the hardest on-paper hitters in the entire Pokédex!

20. Worry Seed

What does Worry Seed do? Worry Seed is a niche move you can use to completely nullify your opponent’s strategy if it is used right. It is able to change the target Pokemon's ability to insomnia. This means that you can remove whatever ability the opposing Pokemon had before and completely throw your opponent’s game plan out the window, although only with particular team builds. There’s absolutely no point in using Worry Seed outside of competitive. Once you’re in the PvP arena, however, it does have some very powerful usage!

19. Grassy Terrain

What is Grassy Terrain? It creates new grassy terrain that envelops the field and replaces the background environment and any other terrain that is already in effect. It lasts 5 turns and boosts the power of Grass-type moves and attacks by 50% (regardless of whether the target of the move is affected by Grassy Terrain). At the end of each turn, it restores HP to any Pokémon that's grounded on the field. It is a clever move in Pokémon SWSH and, though the whole terrain system that was introduced in X and Y is still thoroughly debated, Grassy Terrain is actually a somewhat powerful move.

18. Grav Apple

A move that is entirely exclusive to Flapple, Grav Apple is a physical attack with 100 accuracy and 80 power that’s guaranteed to lower the target’s defense by one stage. That’s a good move worthy of a spot by itself. Introduced in Generation 8, it’s also an Easter egg reference to Isaac Newton as the user inflicts damage by dropping an apple from high above. My inner nerd is screaming. It's such a cool thing to add in!

17. Synthesis

Synthesis is another very powerful grass move that can be employed in able to recover some much needed HP for the user. However, despite being such a popular competitive move, that HP gain is based on the active weather conditions in play. It also requires more setup than a lot of other recovery options, too, so although powerful, employing this move can be easier said than done!

16. Sleep Powder

That truly lamented Pokemon move - when you're on the wrong side of it! It's one of the best secret weapons to deploy - but to come back from it… let's just say annoying! Sleep Powder was first introduced in Generation 1 as a sleep counterpart to Poison Powder and Stun Spore. A sleep-inducing dust is scattered in high volume around a foe and if the move hits correctly, knock the target out and puts it in to a deep sleep. Sleeping Pokemon cannot move (with some exceptions such as Snore). If it hits, Sleep Powder is great for offense because it completely disables an opponent to use as setup bait and it lasts for 1-3 turns. This is one of the best moves up there, although its biggest qualm is that some Pokemon can be immune to this move and Pokémon with the abilities Insomnia or Vital Spirit, or those behind a Substitute cannot be put to sleep.

15. Stun Spore

Possibly the slightly less annoying version of Sleep Power as, rather than being a 75 accuracy move that induces sleep, Stun Spore only paralyzes. That’s way better than getting your Pokémon put to sleep, in my experience. However, on the other footing, while Sleep Powder is best for offense, Stun Spore is best to balance out the competition because it paralyses the opposing Pokemon, slowing down fast wallbreakers for slower attackers. It decreases their speed, which can stop their Pokémon dead in its tracks. Sleep, on the other hand, can be maneuvered around with moves like Sleep Talk and Snore.

14. Solar Beam

One of the oldest moves in the book and known one of the potential riskiest but most powerful moves in Pokémon, Solar Beam enables the user to exert an incredible amount of power upon their opponent, requiring two separate turns to complete. It is a move that takes one turn to power up, and one turn to actually hit, but carries units of 120 strength and 100 accuracy. That’s powerful as is, but what pushes Solar Beam over the edge is the fact that it can power up in one turn during sunlight. Essentially, if you have a sunlight-built weather team, you get access to a 100 accuracy 120 power move with absolutely no drawbacks whatsoever! One qualm to note is that during rain, hail or a sandstorm its power decreases by 50%.

13. Solar Blade

Solar Blade is pretty much Solar Beam, except it’s physical and does five more damage, just with an even cooler name! If you have to pick between the two, I’d advise to go with Solar Blade - but check your Pokémon’s stats to see what makes more sense.

12. Magical Leaf

Magical Leaf may or may not be here for its really awesome looking animation! In certain games, it will definitely dish out some serious damage. Introduced in Generation 3, it’s a level 60 damage special move that doesn’t miss - no misses! - in which the user scatters curious leaves that chase the target. It certainly looks cool and a 60 power + always hitting makes it an incredibly useful and versatile tool in combat.

11. Petal Dance

This Grass type move may not see too much competitive play, but is a killer move to use during any main game. The move itself is a 120 damage 100 accuracy special attack that lasts two to three turns in which the user scatters petals to harm the opponent, in a similar manner to Razor Leaf. You can’t switch your Pokémon out during these turns. The only qualm is that once those two or three turns have passed, your Pokémon becomes confused (with an exception of Pokémon with the Own Tempo Ability, such as Lilligant, who cannot become confused when the attack ends). It's actually a fantastic tradeoff and well worth it for what could be upwards of 360 damage in three turns!

10. Leaf Storm

For those Grass type risk takers in combat, Leaf Storm is another powerful grass-type attack that carries some drawbacks for the user. Instead of rendering your Pokemon confused, Leaf Storm decreases the user’s special attack by two stages after you use it. But this can be well worth it in the right situation as for that cost, you’re getting a special move that deals 130 damage with 90 accuracy. If you play your cards right, with the right build, there is a good potential to sweep your opponent’s entire team with Leaf Storm.

9. Frenzy Plant

Frenzy Plant won't take anything from you this time, but it does require you to recharge next turn. It is a good compromise as, for this, you will receive a 150 power special attack, which is more than worth it 90% of the time! It’s essentially a more powerful version of Solar Beam that can’t be insta-charged. Introduced in Generation 3, its only qualm is that only Grass-type fully evolved starter Pokemon can learn this move, which can limit its use in competitive play. 

8. Giga Drain

One of the best old school moves from Generation 2, Giga Drain has a power stat of 75 as a special move with 100 stat accuracy. Like its name implies, it can be used to drain your opponent’s health, healing you for 50% of the damage dealt! Giga Drain is one of those rare moves that both sees some competitive play, as well as being really useful and versatile in any mainline generation game.

7. Energy Ball

Easily among the most popular competitive moves, it is considered to be the go-to grass type move for grass friendly players alike! It’s a 100 accuracy 90 damage special move, making it powerful enough to compete with the other big moves on the circuit. It also carries the ability of having a 10% chance to lower the target’s special defense by one stage. It's popular enough, but there are some others that, for me, pip it to the post!

6. Leaf Blade

With a base power of 90 with 100 accuracy, and a significantly increased critical hit ratio, Leaf Blade needs a good place on this list. Introduced in Generation 1, it's one of the very few moves on this list that actually deals physical damage rather than special, making it the only real choice for any physical grass attackers. The user will handle a sharp leaf like a sword and attacks by slashing the foe with the leaf. On guard!

5. Aromatherapy

An incredibly unique and special move in the world of Pokémon, it is known to cure the user, all Pokémon in the user's party, and the user's allies, of all status conditions (sleep, poison, paralysis, freeze, and burn). Aromatherapy affects Pokémon even if they are behind a substitute. Bear in mind that it actually impacts the Pokémon that are currently in your party, but not out on the field. This move can literally be the difference between winning and losing a championship.

4. Spore

If you are still reeling over Sleep Powder, you won't want to encounter this move! Spore is pretty much Sleep Powder, but with more accuracy. The whole point of Sleep Powder is that despite it being incredibly annoying, it’s balanced. A 75 accuracy means that it’s regularly going to miss, making it a risky move to use. Spore has an accuracy of 100. A Spore-build Breloom is not something you want to encounter, ever.

3. Leech Seed

A legendary signature move in itself, Leech Seed is one of the best grass type moves of all time. Like its name suggests, it latches like a leech on to your opponent and drains 1/8 of their maximum HP each turn. Like Giga Drain, it will restore this HP to your Pokémon, except this time you get all the healing points based on 100% of the damage you dealt, a move that is unbelievably dominant competitively. If you Leech Seed your opponent and then switch out, your new Pokémon still gets the health restoration, making it just as valuable as the likes of Stealth Rocks or Spikes.

2. Seed Flare

The signature move of Shaymin, this legendary move is one of the most powerful grass type moves of all time. A damage dealing grass type move introduced in Generation 4, Seed Flare is a special attack that does 120 damage with an accuracy of 85. What makes it crazy special, though, is the 40% chance to decrease the target’s special defense, not just by one stage but as a full two-stage debuff! Making it one of the strongest moves that the grass type has to offer and well worth putting on your opponent.

1. Jungle Healing

Jungle Healing may be one of the newest moves on this list at time of writing and is the signature move of Zarude, a super cool mythical Pokémon we're still trying to figure out. Similar to Aromatherapy, it works to heal all of the status ailments within your party - but also heals 25% of everyone's HP. There’s no denying how strong this move is! Providing your Zarude stays alive long enough, you can use this move to pretty much give yourself a party-wide full heal! It results in an incredibly cool visual performance too, vines with magical healing properties that allow them to mend any wound that they wrap around!

If you enjoyed this definitely check out best Grass type Pokemon in the Franchise, best Water type Pokemon in the Franchise, Weakest Pokemon in the Franchise and the best Pokemon ROM hacks and fan games to play!