Fire-Types are arguably one of the most iconic variety of Pokemon. Charizard is one of the most beloved and popular Pokemon ever designed, and it's hard to forget the iconic showdown in the Pokemon anime between Ash's Charizard and Blaine's Magmar. Fire-Types are known to be heavy-hitters with an arsenal of burning moves at their disposal.
However, there are relatively few pure Fire-Type Pokemon out there. Charizard itself is a Fire and Flying-Type, as is Ho-Oh, Moltres, and Talonflame. Houndoom, Magcargo, Camerupt, and Coalossal all balance their Fire-Typing with another type. This begs the question: what are the best pure Fire-Type Pokemon? Well, that's the question we are going to answer today with the best pure Fire-Type from every generation, ranked by overall design.
8 Braixen (Generation 6)
Braixen comes from Generation VI and is the evolved form of Fennekin, which becomes Braixen at level 16. It is the bipedal Fox Pokemon, and it evolves into Delphox at level 36, which is a Fire and Psychic-Type. Braixen got some use from Serena in the anime and is even a playable character in Pokken Tournament DX.
One of the more creative details about Braixen is the fact that it keeps a stick that it channels its powers through like a wand. It stores this stick in the fur of its bushy tail and brings it out when the need arises. This theme of wielding magic is continued in its Delphox form, which is made to look like a wizard.
7 Darmanitan (Generation 5)
Darmanitan is the aggressive Blazing Pokemon from Generation V. It resembles a large quadrupedal ape with a flat face. It evolves from Darumaka at level 36 and learns the Fighting-Type move Hammer Arm upon doing so. Despite that, Darmanitan is a pure Fire-Type--it just has an affinity for Fighting-Type moves. There is also a Galarian alternate form to Darmanitan that is an Ice-Type Pokemon with white fur and a giant afro-like ball of hair on its head.
Though most Darmanitan are pure Fire-Types, there is a scenario in which a Darmanitan can be a Fire and Psychic-Type. Some Darmanitan have the ability, Zen Mode. This activates when Darmanitan has less than 50 percent HP, and it transforms into the Fire and Psychic-Type Zen Mode Darmanitan.
6 Gigantamax Cinderace (Generation 8)
Cinderace is the final form of the Generation VIII starter, Scorbunny. Cinderace evolves from Raboot at level 35, and Raboot evolves from Scorbunny at level 16. This evolutionary tree is made up of the only new pure Fire-Type Pokemon that the Galarian region has to offer.
The Cinderace family are made to resemble soccer (or football) players, and this comes out in a big way when Cinderace transforms into its Gigantamax form. It produces a giant fireball with a face and stands atop it. In this form, Cinderace looks pretty darn intimidating, daring you to challenge it while its angry fireball glares down upon you.
5 Litten (Generation 7)
Litten is the starting Fire-Type Pokemon for Generation VII. It's a cute red-and-black cat Pokemon that evolves into Torracat at level 17 and the Fire and Dark-Type Incineroar at level 34. Ash gets a Litten in the Pokemon Sun & Moon anime in possibly one of the most heartbreaking episodes in any Pokemon series, "One Journey Ends, Another Begins..." in which his Litten is taking care of an old and sick Stoutland. Ash's Litten later evolves into a Torracat and then an Incineroar.
Litten and Torracat are actually the only two new pure Fire-Type Pokemon in the Alola Region. That said, Litten is incredibly cute and beats out a good handful of Fire-Types to make this list, so don't underestimate this little fire-breather.
4 Torkoal (Generation 3)
Torkoal is the Coal Pokemon and hails from Generation III in the Hoenn Region. It doesn't evolve from or into another Pokemon. It is a favorite Pokemon of the Lavaridge Town Gym Leader, Flannery, and is even used by Ash in the anime. Torkoal does a lot of work for Ash in the show, winning a fair few battles.
In the games, Torkoal is an absolute tank and not an easy foe to knock out. It has stacked Defense, Special Defense, and HP stats, and it learns Iron Defense, Amnesia, and Curse through leveling up. It can learn Yawn to put its opponents to sleep, and, up until Generation VIII, it could be taught the dangerous move, Toxic. In addition, Torkoal can have the White Smoke ability, which prevents Torkoals stats from lowering, and Drought, which changes the weather to a Sunny Day effect when Torkoal enters the battlefield. Its Hidden Ability is Shell Armor, which keeps Torkoal from being subject to Critical Hits.
3 Arcanine (Generation 1)
Arcanine is the Legendary Pokemon--that's its description. It's not a Legendary Pokemon like Mewtwo, Groudon, Arceus, or others--it's the Legendary Pokemon. It comes from Generation I and evolves from Growlithe through the use of a Fire Stone. It's a beast of a Fire-Type and also a very good boy.
Arcanine can also come with some very good abilities. It can have the Intimidate ability, which lowers the attack of the opposing Pokemon when Arcanine enters the battlefield. It can also have the Flash Fire ability, which allows Arcanine to absorb any Fire-Type move that hits it. This, in turn, boosts Arcanine's own Fire-Type moves.
2 Magmortar (Generation 4)
As impressive as Blaine's Magmar was in the Pokemon anime, it is outclassed by Magmar's evolved form, Magmortar. It has flame cannons inside of its arms, which is just plain cool It evolves from Magmar when it is traded while holding a Magmarizer to a different game. Magmar itself evolves from the baby Pokemon, Magby, when it hits level 30.
Magmortar is a powerful pure Fire-Type Pokemon introduced in Generation IV. Magmortar parallels the Electric-Type Pokemon, Electivire--which was also introduced in Generation IV and evolves from Electabuzz when it's traded to another game while holding an Electrilizer. Magmortar is actually the only pure Fire-Type from that generation outside of the starter Pokemon, Chimchar. Magmortar has a beastly Special Attack stat and the ability Flame Body, which can burn an opposing Pokemon that lands a physical attack on Magmortar. Importantly, Flame Body can also lower the number of steps it takes to hatch a Pokemon egg while Magmortar is in your party.
1 Typhlosion (Generation 2)
Typhlosion hails from Generation II and is the final evolved form of the cute Fire-Type starter Pokemon, Cyndaquil. Typhlosion evolves from Quilava at level 36, and Quilava evolves from Cyndaquil at level 14. Typhlosion is a fast-moving and hard-hitting Fire-Type Pokemon, and it can learn the powerful Fire-Type move, Eruption (admittedly Torkoal can as well). Overall, the Typhlosion design is just great, and its flaming quills look awesome.
Ash never had a Typhlosion in the anime, but he did catch a Cyndaquil which later evolved into a Quilava. That said, Jimmy, who resembles the male trainer model from Pokemon Gold and Silver, had a Typhlosion which he used in battle against the Legendary Pokemon, Raikou. This is from the Pokemon Chronicles series story arc "The Legend of Thunder." Typhlosion held its own well against Raikou.