What does STAB mean?

Question

sorry if this is a really dumb question -.-'

Answer 1

STAB stands for Same Type Attack Bonus. When a Pokemon uses a move that matches its type, that attack will get a 50% boost in damage.

So, if I had a Magby and it used Ember, it would get STAB seeing as both are Fire-type. Effectively, Ember is boosted from 40 base power to 60 base power (as 40 * 1.5 = 60).

Dual types like Crobat will get STAB on both their types. In Crobat's case, Poison and Flying moves will get the 50% bonus.

More information on the type chart page.

Comments

STAB technically boosts damage, not power. Power and damage are roughly proportional to each other, so boosting damage is effectively very similar to boosting power.

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This is why I changed the answer to say "effectively".
I think it's easier for new players to understand if they imagine it as a base power boost, so I left that in there.