Fire-type moves, along with Fire-type Pokemon, have been one of the most favored types among Pokemon players since generation one. The reason for this is quite simple: Fire is one of the best types when it comes to delivering a devastating amount of damage to an opposing Pokemon. In addition to generally high damage output, many fire-based attacks also carry the chance of burning the opponent. Pokemon that are burned take damage each round (similar to being poisoned) and do only half damage when using physical attacks. The main complaints about fire attacks are the lower-than-average accuracy and the low PP counts.
Updated January 11, 2024, by Jeff Drake: There are few move types that make a Pokemon feel as powerful as the Fire type. These moves give the raw destructive power of fire to their users. Fire-type moves just feel more powerful than other move types. The only thing noticeably lacking from this category of moves is a wide variety of secondary effects. Still, many Fire-type moves lower one of the target’s stats, or have a chance of inflicting the burning status ailment. This update expands the list by five entries, making this a very comprehensive list of the best Fire-type moves in the main series.
Pokemon: Team Rocket’s 14 Best Pokemon Throughout The Anime
Team Rocket’s Pokemon often prove just as ineffectual as the duo themselves.
30 Blazing Torque
A No-Frills Damaging Move
This move doesn’t burn the target, or make them flinch, or lower defenses. This move only deals damage to the target — and nothing else. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it certainly isn’t good either. On the bright side, this move doesn’t damage the user, or lower the user’s stats.
Blazing Torque has a respectable 80 power rating, an accuracy of 100, and a PP count of 10. This puts it somewhere in the middle in terms of damage for Fire-type moves. That’s why it’s ranked so low. It’s a good attack move, but nobody will ever call it great.
29 Fiery Dance
Does Damage; Possibly Gives A Stat Boost
Despite being ranked so low, Fiery Dance is a powerful move that can improve future damage. The power rating of this move is 80, which is okay. At least Fiery Dance’s accuracy is 100, and it has a PP count of 10. There are many Fire-type moves with similar stats, but this move can provide a useful stat boost.
With each use of this move, there is a 50% chance the user’s Special Attack is raised by one stage. This makes Fiery Dance a great starter move. If the user gets the stat boost, switch to a stronger attack move for the next attack; just make sure it uses Special Attack and not Attack for damage.
28 Fire Spin
Traps The Opponent While Dealing Damage
This move’s power rating of 35 is rather low, but Fire Spin makes up for it in other ways. Targets are trapped for four to five turns. This prevents the target from being switched for another Pokemon, and the target takes damage every turn that they’re trapped. Fire Spin’s accuracy is 85, and it has a PP count of 15.
When used a Pokemon that’s weak against Fire-type moves, Fire Spin can be devastatingly effective. The low power rating gets boosted, and the target can’t run from battle. Pokemon with high HP and few weaknesses are good candidates to learn this move. Fire Spin can take a few turns to defeat the opponent, and the user will need to be able to survive for four to five turns.
27 Will-O-Wisp
Automatically Burns The Target
This move has a 100% chance of burning the target. Unfortunately, its accuracy rating is 85 so there will be occasional misses. Burning the opponent gives it a debilitating condition that gives the player’s Pokemon the advantage. Burned Pokemon suffer a loss of one-eighth of their maximum hit points in damage every turn, as well as a drop to their Attack.
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet – Indigo Disk DLC: Best Pokemon To Synchronize With
With The Indigo Disk DLC, Pokemon Scarlet & Violet players can now play as their Pokemon; here are the best ones to synchronize with.
This is a smart move to try when the opposing trainer might switch out a critically hurt Pokemon. Either it will burn the target before it can be switched, or it hits the new Pokemon and lowers its Attack before it gets to use a move.
26 Inferno
Automatically Burns, But Only If It Hits
Inferno is a hit-or-miss move — literally. After trying this move in battle a few times, reality sets in. Inferno has an accuracy of 50, so it misses a lot. This situation isn’t made any better by the fact its PP count is only 5. At least it has a high power rating of 100.
It misses a lot, yes, but there is a reason Inferno just made this list. Inferno burns the target automatically if it hits. Most Fire-type attacks that cause burning only give a 10%-30% chance (depending on the move) of inflicting the burning ailment on the target. With Inferno, this occurs 100% of the time — provided the attack hits.
25 Burning Jealousy
Increased Effectiveness Against Opponents With A Stat Boost
Burning Jealousy is a Special attack obtained only through Isle of Armor Move Tutors. In terms of raw stats, the move has an admittedly underwhelming 70 base power and a low PP count. However, this move is greater than the raw damage it deals, as its secondary effect is potentially game-changing.
If used, any opponent that used a stat-boosting move will receive a guaranteed burn and take serious damage. In terms of stopping a sweep right in its tracks, bulkier Fire-types and some other odd Pokemon can absolutely make use of it to ruin a physical sweeper’s Sunny Day. It also still deals damage even if the enemy doesn’t have a stat boost, meaning there isn’t much risk to using it. This attack provides a utility that’s lacking in most Fire-type attacks.
24 Overheat
Deals Incredible Damage…At A Cost
Overheat is a great finishing move, though it’s not one players will want to use early in a fight. The reason is the penalty that comes with using the move: a two-stage drop in Special Attack. Overheat is a Special attack move. So, its penalty will weaken every subsequent use.
The 130 power makes it great for use as a finisher. This will allow players to save moves like Fire Blast and Flamethrower for future fights. The 90 accuracy is good enough to use with confidence, and the 5 PP count last longer than one would think due to the move being used, at most, once or twice per fight.
23 Eruption
More Hit Points Eguals More Damage
This move is different from Overheat in that it’s a move that players will want to use at the start of a fight. The reason is simple, the power rating of this move drops when the user’s health is lower. It’s best to start with a couple of rounds of Eruption, then pick another move when the Pokemon’s health has been lowered.
Eruption seems a bit gimmicky; however, it is well worth using thanks to its high power of 150, and its accuracy of 100. A PP count of 5 is a bit of a hindrance, but this can be increased to eight.
22 Mystical Fire
Deals Damage And Lowers The Target’s Special Attack
Players wanting a Fire-type move they can use to defeat Pokemon that rely on Special Attack type moves will want to teach their Fire Pokemon Mystical Fire. Each hit from this move lowers the target’s Special Attack one stage. This will make the opponent’s Special attacks do less damage, or force them to use Physical attacks.
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: Best Pokemon for Sun Teams
Sunlight is a very useful condition to take advantage of and can give any competitive trainer a much-needed edge in battle.
Mystical Fire’s power of 75 could be higher. The 100 accuracy and 10 PP count make this move last through areas like gyms, where the player might be forced to fight a series of opponents.
21 Fire Fang
Can Make The Target Flinch
Fire Fang is a great all-around Fire-type attack. It has a power rating of 65, an accuracy of 95, and a PP count of 15. The 65 power is a bit on the lower side, but this move has a couple of status ailments it can inflict on the target. The accuracy of 95 isn’t a problem – it is very rare to miss with Fire Fang.
This move has a 10% chance of making the target flinch if the user attacks before the opponent. This move also has a 10% chance of burning the target – and yes the target can be struck with both ailments from one attack. So, yeah, it would be nice if the damage potential was higher, but at least Fire Fang might force the opponent to skip a round and give them a debilitating status ailment.
20 Heat Crash
Best Used By Heavy Pokemon
Heat Crash is in the line of attacks that has its base power determined by weight, along with the Steel-type Heavy Slam. The move stayed an exclusive technique for Tepig’s evolutionary line until Sword and Shield. The move did still return, but it was now available for a whole selection of Pokemon, even if many aren’t actually Fire-types.
The best user of this attack would have to be Coalossal, who gets a STAB bonus and can usually get the maximum base power of 120. Copperajah may be able to use it even more effectively, with its weight absolutely guaranteeing the maximum damage. Any Pokemon that could use Heavy Slam can also use Heat Crash with the same level of effectiveness, giving heavy friends slightly better type coverage.
19 Burn Up
Burns Bright, But Causes The Candle To Go Out – Forever
This attack has a massive 130 base power, 100 accuracy, and a reasonable 5 PP. Originally, it was given to Typhlosion as a special technique but could be given to other Pokemon through breeding. In Sword and Shield, a few other Pokemon were given Burn Up as a technique, which is interesting to see.
However, there is one huge drawback: the move erases the Fire-typing of its user. A Pokemon like Centiskorch will become a pure Bug-type, and Arcanine becomes no type at all. This can have its uses, but getting rid of STAB attacks can be a detriment in many cases. However, in terms of reliable raw power, this attack has the stats of a legendary technique and is available to more than just legendaries. For those willing to take the risk, Burning Up may be a solid option.
18 Torch Song
Raises Special Attack With Each Use
Generation nine added a few great Fire-type moves to the game and Torch Song is one of those few. This move has a decent power of 80, an accuracy of 100, and a PP count of 10. Those stats aren’t too remarkable and are about equal to Flamethrower’s stats.
Whereas Flamethrower has a chance of burning the target. Torch Song raises the user’s Special Attack. This ensures that every future use of Torch Song will do more damage. The damage can start getting ridiculous after four consecutive uses. For now, only one Pokemon, Skeledirge, can learn Torch Song.
17 Pyro Ball
A Cinderace Exclusive Move That Can Burn The Target
Pyro Ball is the signature move of Cinderace, the Fire-type starter in Galar. The attack has a 120 base power and a mostly reliable accuracy, along with a chance to apply a burn. For a Pokemon with as high of a base attack as Cinderace, this move is absolutely a trump card. It’s equivalent to using the Jecht Shot in Final Fantasy 10‘s Blitzball mini-game and is just as reliable.
Pokemon GO Tier List: Best Pokemon to Use
A detailed Pokemon GO guide on the best PvE/PvP attackers and gym defenders.
Going forward, it would be interesting to see if Pyro Ball becomes a technique learned by other Pokemon. A lot of signature moves have a habit of being distributed out to other Pokemon eventually, and something as powerful as Pyro Ball could make some waves. It’s one of the best Fire-type moves in the whole series for having all of the strengths with none of the downsides of other, equally powerful moves.
16 Searing Shot
High Damage And A Moderate Chance To Burn The Target
Searing Shot and Pyro Ball are very similar moves. This move has a power of 100, an accuracy of 100, and a PP count of 5. It does a little less damage than Pyro Ball but is also slightly more accurate. Both moves also have a chance of burning the opponent. The biggest difference between the two moves is that Pyro Ball is a Physical attack, and Searing Shot is a Special attack.
The deciding factor in placing Searing Shot ahead of Pyro Ball comes down to the burning effect it can inflict on the opponent. Searing Shot has a 30% chance of burning, whereas Pyro Ball only has a 10% chance of burning. The only Pokemon that can learn this move is Victini.
15 Bitter Blade
Heals The User While Damaging The Target
Bitter Blade is fairly new to the Pokemon games and is on this ranking because it has 90 power, 100 accuracy, and a PP count of 10. Those stats would be enough to get Bitter Blade on this list, but this awesome move also heals the user 50% of the damage it deals. This allows the Pokemon using Bitter Blade to stay healthy through multiple battles.
Here’s the problem with Bitter Blade – only one Pokemon can learn this move. Bitter Blade isn’t a TM or TR either. So, for now, to use this move requires getting Pokemon: Scarlet or Violet, then catching a Ceruledge.
14 Flare Blitz
Powerful, But Causes Recoil Damage
Flare Blitz is the bread-and-butter of any Fire-type physical attacker, with 120 base power and 100 accuracy. It even has a chance to burn and a high 15 PP count. For all intents and purposes, this move allows Fire-types to compete with the best.
So, what’s the catch? The catch is recoil damage. The user receives a third of the damage dealt in recoil. Considering the fact that many Flare Blitz users are looking to get a clean sweep, it’s a high-risk, high-reward move. Stealth Rocks in the past made it even sketchier to use, as taking extra damage early makes it harder to justify using. Heavy-Duty Boots keep Fire-types safe and healthy enough to start blitzing. Flare Blitz is right up there with Flamethrower and Fire Blast in terms of usage, perhaps even more so, and that’s because it’s one of the best physical Fire-type moves.
13 Heat Wave
Good Damage-To-PP Ratio
Heat Wave is one of the stronger Fire attacks for many Fire-type Pokemon. This move has a power rating of 95, an accuracy rating of 90, and a PP count of 10. Heat Wave also has a 10% chance of burning the opposing Pokemon.
The Best Pokemon Of Each Type, Ranked
With every type of Pokemon, there is always one that stands above all of the others.
This is a good move for finishing off a wounded Pokemon – not the best, but good. Heat Wave is the highest damaging fire move with a PP count higher than 5, and the 90 accuracy rating is higher than the average for a Fire move that has a power rating of 90+.
12 Fire Lash
Does Damage And Lowers The Targets Defense
This is one of the best Fire-type attacks to use as an opening attack. It has a power of 80, an accuracy of 100, and a PP count of 15. The power rating is pretty good, and with a PP count of 15, players don’t have to ration its use. Fire Lash is a Physical attack rather than a Special attack, which is uncommon for Fire-type moves. Physical attacks are calculated using the opponent’s Defense instead of Special Defense.
This move has one thing going for it that puts it near the middle of this list. In addition to its reasonably high power and 100% accuracy, Fire Lash lowers the opponent’s Defense. The chance of this is 100% – the opponent’s Defense is going to be lowered one stage with each hit (and with its accuracy, it probably will). Since this is a Physical attack it will do more damage with each subsequent use against an opponent.
11 Magma Storm
Great Damage With Two Abilities
Magma Storm has a power rating of 100, an accuracy rating of 75, and a PP count of 5. An accuracy of 75 means that, on average, one out of four uses will miss. Considering that Magma Storm only has 5 PPs, there is a fair chance that at least two of those will result in a miss. Magma Storm makes up for this by having a high power rating and two secondary abilities.
The first of these abilities is that the move traps the opposing Pokemon, making them unable to flee from combat. The other ability is that Magma Storm deals persistent damage each turn equal to 1/8 the opponent’s max hit points.
