Fire-types have always been a favorite among Pokémon fans, from adorable starters like Charmander to legendary Moltres. With their tendency towards high Attack and Special Attack stats, they make great offensive players on any Trainer's team.
What's more, every new generation of games only adds more attacks that these Pokémon can use to scorch and sear their opponents. Out of each generation's most powerful contribution to the Fire-type move set, which is most useful in battle? Aside from the overpowered Z-Moves and Max Moves, here's the strongest Fire-type move from every generation, ranked from worst to best.
Updated August 8, 2021 by Demaris Oxman: With the ever enduring popularity of the Pokemon franchise, fans are still constantly curious to know which moves will give them an advantage in battle. For Fire-type users, every generation has offered up at least one attack that's worth adding to a trainer's roster. To help players determine which of these moves are best suited to their style of battling, we've updated this list to include the stats of each attack, as well as information on how easy or difficult the move is to come by.
8 Gen VI: Mystical Fire
Move Stats
- Base Power: 75
- Accuracy: 100%
- PP: 10
Since only one Fire-type move was introduced in Gen VI, there wasn't a lot of competition for this spot. However, with its accuracy and its decent base damage, Mystical Fire is far from a useless attack. It also lowers the target's Special Attack by one stage, giving the user a little extra advantage.
Compared with other moves on this list, though, 75 damage doesn't quite stack up. Its PP is also quite low for a move of its power. Finally, in double or triple battles, Mystical Fire can harm allies adjacent to the user.
Only three Pokemon can learn Mystical Fire through level-up: Mismagius, Delphox, and Blacephalon. However, a few dozen can learn it via TM, including Ponyta, Charizard, Clefairy, and more.
7 Gen I: Fire Blast
Move Stats
- Base Power: 110
- Accuracy: 85%
- PP: 5
Despite its high power and its 10% chance to inflict a burn, the Special move Fire Blast's reliability leaves a little to be desired. An 85% base accuracy isn't terrible, but there are plenty other Fire-type moves with high power and a greater chance to hit.
With its low PP, players have to be careful to choose the right moments to use this attack. It's also helpful to have Pokémon equipped with Fire Blast hold an accuracy-boosting item, or for Trainers to use an X Accuracy. It's worth the effort, because a successful Fire Blast can be devastating to opponents.
Fire Blast does have the advantage of being a very common, high-powered move. 19 Fire-types learn this attack through level-up, including common finds like Ponyta. What's more, several dozen Pokemon are able to learn Fire Blast via TM.
6 Gen V: Blue Flare
Move Stats
- Base Power: 130
- Accuracy: 85%
- PP: 5
This signature Special move of Reshiram not only boasts massive power, but also has a 20% chance to burn the target. Like Fire Blast, its accuracy is decent but not spectacular. Players can use the same accuracy-boosting techniques mentioned above to make sure that its PP aren't wasted on missed attacks.
One downside of Blue Flare is its rarity. Since Reshiram is a legendary Pokémon and doesn't appear in every game, its signature move is exclusive to the versions that include Reshiram. Not every player gets the opportunity to engulf their foes in blue fire — but for those who do, it's a glorious attack.
5 Gen II: Sacred Fire
Move Stats
- Base Power: 100
- Accuracy: 95%
- PP: 5
This legendary Physical move is slightly less powerful than Fire Blast and Blue Flare. However, 100 base power is still a lot of damage, and its higher accuracy means that it's a little more dependable. Like the previous two moves, its low PP means that Trainers must employ some strategy as to how and when they use this attack.
Sacred Fire also has the greatest chance of any move on this list to inflict a status condition, with a 50% chance to burn its target. If the target Pokemon is frozen, this attack will thaw out the opponent in addition to dealing damage.
Like Blue Flare, this is a rare move; only Ho-Oh and Entei can learn Sacred Fire.
4 Gen VIII: Pyro Ball
Move Stats
- Base Power: 120
- Accuracy: 90%
- PP: 5
This Physical attack's high power allows it to obliterate enemies — and, like Sacred Fire, thaw them out if frozen. Considering its accuracy and PP, layers need to use it carefully, but the damage is worth it. Coupled with the 10% chance to burn foes, this move is an ace in the hole for any trainer who chooses this starter Pokémon in Gen VIII.
Like several other moves on this list, Pyro Ball does affect adjacent ally Pokémon in double and triple battles. However, since these aren't very common in Sword and Shield, this isn't too big a drawback for this powerful attack.
As Pyro Ball is Cinderace's signature move, it is currently the only Pokemon who can learn this attack — however, this may change in future games.
3 Gen VII: Shell Trap
Move Stats
- Base Power: 150
- Accuracy: 100%
- PP: 5
Turtonator's signature move is massively powerful. The user sets the trap at the beginning of its turn, and if it is hit with an opponent's physical move, Shell Trap will then trigger. If the opposing Pokémon doesn't use a physical attack, Shell Trap will fail.
The most obvious drawback, of course, is that it's hard to predict if and when an opponent will use a physical move. Thus, it helps for players to be familiar with their enemies' moves, because Shell Trap's huge damage is worth utilizing.
The other drawback is that as of Sword & Shield, only Turtonator can use this move. More Pokemon may be able to utilize it in future games, but considering how well the move fits with Turtonator's design, this may be unlikely.
2 Gen IV: Flare Blitz
Move Stats
- Base Power: 120
- Accuracy: 100%
- PP: 15
Very few moves with such high base power have such high accuracy, not to mention so many uses. With 120 damage, Flare Blitz is an immensely powerful Physical attack that can turn the tide of a difficult battle. Additionally, its 10% chance to burn the target offers potential for even more damage.
Despite its 15 PP, players should still use this attack judiciously due to the recoil. Users receive recoil equal 1/3 of the damage done to the target, so it's important to use Flare Blitz with high HP. Having Pokémon hold a Sitrus Berry or Leftovers can help mitigate this recoil damage as well by restoring their health.
Plenty of Pokemon learn Flare Blitz through level up, including some Fire-type starters. Even more can learn the move through TR, giving dozens of Pokemon the opportunity to deal massive damage.
1 Gen III: Eruption
Move Stats
- Base Power: 150
- Accuracy: 100%
- PP: 5
This Special move's explosive power lives up to its name. It's unique in that the higher the user's HP, the more damage it does. Thus, it's best used at the beginning of a battle to immediately gain the upper hand.
Additionally, unlike many moves on this list, Eruption affects all adjacent enemies in double and triple battles without affecting ally Pokémon. Considering its incredibly high damage, strong accuracy, and lack of drawbacks for the user, Eruption is one of the best Fire-type attacks not just in Gen III, but across all Pokémon games.
This move is relatively rare, as only seven Pokemon can learn it: Cyndaquil and its evolutions, Entei, Camerupt, Torkoal, and Groudon. For players lucky enough to have one of these in their roster, Eruption is an essential move to learn.