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Typing Review: An Overview of Fire Types for Raids in Pokemon Go

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Among the eighteen types, Fire is definitely one of the most high-profile. Not only is it the type that reflects one of the mascot Pokemon of the series, Charizard, it's also one of the three famed starter types, giving rise to the ancient question of "which starter do I pick?". In Pokemon Go, Fire has been a force to be reckoned with since the release of Moltres, and has only gotten stronger with age. While Fire Type weaknesses aren't the most common, Fire is likely to be the top choice when a weakness does show up, making this one of the types that every raider really should have a team ready for.

The State of the Type

The current top Fighting Type attackers in the game are already outlined in our Best Attackers by Type list, linked above, so we recommend that you take a look at that to get a better list-breakdown, but these are the current candidates that we'll be working with in this article:

Right now, Fire is a type in a pretty good place. It sports two of the strongest Mega Evolutions currently available in the game, a few genuinely great shadows, and some very strong Legends. It also has a number of strong TDO options like Shadow Ho-oh and Heatran to bring balance where needed, making it one of the most well-rounded types in the game. On top of this, Clear weather tends to be at least fairly common in many places across the globe, so Fire will generally get a weather boost a fair percentage of the time to bring its damage up even higher. Honestly, when Fire is one of the weaknesses that a Raid Boss carries, then Fire will tend to be the main type that we call for in our raid guides due to just how good this type is overall. 

The Secondary Options

While the top options are pretty much always the best way to go, Fire does have a number of options that don't quite hit the numbers of the above. So here are a few options for those struggling to put together a team that can help out in Fire-weak raids.

Fire Type Moves

As of the publishing of this article, we currently have access to 24 different Fire Type attacks, divided into 5 Fast Moves and 19 Charged Moves.

Fast Moves Charged Moves
Ember Blast Burn
Fire Fang Blaze Kick
Fire Spin Fire Blast
Incinerate Fire Punch
Hidden Power (Fire) Flame Burst
Flame Charge
Flame Wheel
Flamethrower
Fusion Flare
Heat Wave
Magma Storm
Mystical Fire
Overheat
Sacred Fire
Sacred Fire +
Sacred Fire ++
Techno Blast (Burn)
Weather Ball Fire
V-Create

The Good Moves

Generally speaking, Fire Spin is the gold-standard for Fire Type Fast Moves. It’s the move of choice for many of the top Fire Type attackers, and it definitely deserves the title given its solid stats. However, it's not the top Fire Type Fast Move, as Fire Fang tends to out-pace Fire Spin most of the time. Despite having a lower base power and lower energy generated per use, Fire Fang’s speed allows it to have a higher DPS and an energy generation that’s just slightly below Fire Spin, so Pokemon with access to both will tend to stick with Fire Fang. Moving on, we come to a doozy of an attack; Incinerate. This Fast Move has the highest base power of any Fast Move in the game, to the point where it’s actually stronger than a few Charged Moves. It’s also got very high energy generation per use, ranked 2nd in the game alongside Gust, Ice Fang, Present, and Splash, and surpassed only by Volt Switch. So how could this monster of a move possibly fall below Fire Spin and Fire Fang? It can because it holds one other record currently; the slowest Fast Move in the game. Executing a single Incinerate takes 2.3 seconds, which is more than double the execution time of Fire Spin, so it actually tends to fall behind a bit in terms of actual performance. Oh, and forget dodging when you’re locked into a Fast Move that lasts an eternity to fully execute. Incinerate is best utilized by bulky attackers like Ho-oh that can tank hits and keep firing back, and even then it’s best classified as “usable” as it is substantially weaker than the big-two, but it’s still enough to make some Fire Type attackers acceptable. Honestly, it BARELY gets a pass here, and primarily because it’s one of the moves that finally made Ho-oh decent.

For Charged Moves, we have to start with V-Createthe signature move of Victini and the strongest Fire Type Charged Move in the entire game to date. This attack mixes power and flexibility, making it the move that any Fire Type would want, but its extremely limited distribution means we probably won't see it take the top ranks any time soon, or rather at all. Next up is Fusion Flarewhich is the move that really put Reshiram back on the map. Again, this is a move with pretty limited distribution, so it's unlikely to spread far beyond what we have now, but it's still objectively great. Following that is Blast Burnthe signature move of all Fire Type starters. It's another genuinely powerful move and is strong enough to make many starters viable despite lower stats. And with an almost identical general performance we have Magma Stormbringing up Heatran's performance substantially. After that is Sacred Fire+which is a great move for anyone lucky enough to have a good Apex Shadow Ho-oh. Next up is Weather Ball Firewhich is a strong and versatile move.... that basically no Fire Types actually learn. And then we come to Overheatwhich is the gold-standard of the type. It's the strongest Fire Type Charged Move with general distribution, making it the move of choice for a great many Pokemon. After that are Blaze Kick and Mystical Fire, which are great moves... but they have to directly compete with Blast Burn on the only two Pokemon that can currently learn them, so they're not going to see much utility in practice. We follow that up with the other move that finally brought Ho-oh out of the abyss, the basic version of Sacred FireDespite being weaker than the + variant, it's still a solid move that.. is actually pretty close to Flamethrower in practice. And speaking of, we finish up this side of the list with Flamethrowerwhich is the borderline move of the type. Flamethrower is the Fire Type equivalent to moves like Thunderbolt and Ice Beam, and is just good enough to keep Pokemon like Heatran from falling into total obscurity. It's not a good move, but it's serviceable. 

The Bad Moves

When it comes to the bad Fast Moves, we come at last to Ember. And… It's pretty unremarkable. Its overall attack profile is pretty unappealing, and it just doesn’t have many saving graces. Honestly, an argument can be made that it’s better than Incinerate due to the fact that it only has a slightly lower DPS, but at least it’s possible to dodge with it. But Ember didn’t help to save Ho-oh from obscurity, now did it? And just when you thought that we'd hit the bottom of the barrel,  Hidden Power (Fire) is here again. And as usual, it's really underwhelming. You roll the dice for this move, and if you happen to get it on a Pokemon that may actually want it, it generally won't be enough to push said Pokemon into viability.

The Charged move list starts with Fire BlastDespite being iconic in the main series, this move got a bad treatment in Pokemon Go, and is one of the moves that Pokemon genuinely don't want to see in their moveset. From here, we have Fire Punch, Flame Burst, Heat Wave, Flame Wheeland Flame Chargeall of which are disappointing moves for any Fire Type. "But wait!", I see some of the more eagle-eyed readers already getting ready to type. "You've missed a couple of Charged Moves on the list!". Well, these moves weren't missed so much as reserved a special place in this section just for them! First is Techno Blast (Burn)which is a great move that gets relegated down here due to the lack of Pokemon that ever have a chance of utilizing it. And second is Sacred Fire++strictly because no Ho-oh should ever, ever have this move! Seriously; do not purify your Apex Shadows! In no way is having "++" on the move able to compete with the sheer power Shadow Boost combined with a single "+"!.

The Future of Fire Types

Currently Unreleased Fire-Type Pokemon

Currently Unreleased Fire-Type Moves

  • Armor Cannon*
    • Armarouge
  • Bitter Blade*
    • Ceruledge
  • Blue Flare*
    • Reshiram
  • Burning Jealousy 
  • Burn Up
  • Eruption
  • Fiery Dance**
    • Volcarona
  • Fire Lash**
    • Heatmor
  • Fire Pledge*
    • Fire-Type Starters
  • Flare Blitz
  • Heat Crash**
    • Emboar
  • Inferno
  • Ivy Cudgel*
    • Ogerpon (Fire Type when used by Ogerpon - Hearthflame Mask)
  • Judgment*
    • Arceus
  • Lava Plume
  • Mind Blown*
    • Blacephalon
  • Multi-Attack*
    • Silvally
  • Pyro Ball*
    • Cinderace
  • Raging Bull*
    • Tauros (Fire Type when used by Paldean Tauros- Blaze Breed)
  • Raging Fury
    • Hisuian Arcanine
  • Searing Shot*
    • Victini
  • Shell Trap*
    • Turtonator
  • Sizzly Slide*
    • Eevee (Let's Go Eevee)
  • Torch Song*
    • Skeledirge
  • Sunny Day
  • Wil-O-Wisp

*: Signature Move
**: Formerly a Signature Move

The Non-Threats

Aside from the Pokemon that aren't fully evolved, we can pretty safely rule out Paldean Tauros - Blaze Breed, Rotom Heat, Silvally, Coalossal, Centiskorch, and Scovillain due to the lack of strong stats or good moveset potential.

Candidates that will only make the cut if we get some new, really good moves that they can utilize are Arceus, Armarouge, Ogerpon - Hearthflame Mask, and Ceruledge. While potential exists, these Pokemon are not projected to be genuinely great for the Fire meta unless their signature moves end up really powerful for whatever reason and/or they somehow gain access to a good Fire Type Fast Move.

Sadly, it's also worth mentioning that Hisuian Typhlosion, Incineroar, and Cinderace are unlikely to make major waves when they're inevitably given access to Blast Burn. This is due to their low base Attack stat, which leaves other Fire Type starters objectively better than them within the same niche. Likewise, Mega Camerupt is destined to be an underwhelming Mega Evolution unless Niantic goes out of their way to buff its moveset with something brand new.

For Signature Moves that probably won't pan out in the future (if we get them at all), we have Fire Lash, Multi-Attack, Shell Trap, Torch Song, Pyro Ball, Bitter Blade, Armor Cannon, Raging Fury,  Raging Bull, Icy Cudgel, and Sizzly Slide. This is because of low stats, odd moves, or other issues with the Pokemon that can utilize them.

On that note, Pokemon frequently gain access to moves that aren't signature but that bring them into viability regardless, so even our low-priority list isn't 100% safe, they're simply the least likely to see new viability in the future given what we currently know.

The Existing Threats

Pokemon in this section have already been released into Pokemon Go, but their future is still bright. Due to moveset updates or other bonuses, they have the potential to rise on the list to varying degrees.

Note that we may treat select unreleased Mega Evolutions and alternate formes as Existing Threats, where applicable, due to their base-formes already existing in-game.

  • Best Possible Moveset: Fire Fang + Overheat
  • Current Moveset: Mud Shot + Fire Punch

To start with, this is extremely unlikely to ever happen as Niantic seems to want to keep the Primals primarily focused on Ground and Water, but if it ever did then we'd be looking at a monster with DPS close to Mega Blaziken but double the TDO in most scenarios. Primal Groundon would rule the Fire meta if ever given access to its ideal Fire Type moveset.

  • Best Possible Moveset: Fire Fang + Fusion Flare
  • Current Moveset: Fire Fang + Fusion Flare

Reshiram is sitting in a very, very strong place at the moment, standing as arguably the best non-Mega Fire Type in the entire game... but it can still go even farther than that! In the main series, Reshiram has access to another Signature Move that's even stronger than Fusion Flare: Blue Flare. If even a slight improvement over Fusion Flare, this move has the very real potential to rocket Reshiram into an even stronger position than it already holds down in the Fire meta.

  • Current Moveset: Fire Spin + Overheat
  • Best Possible Moveset: Fire Spin + Overheat

Already sitting on our Top Attackers by Type list for Fire Types, Volcarona does have the potential to get even more power. While it's true that it can't really go up from where it is now given our current moves, it's worth noting that Volcarona had a signature move on its release, Fiery Dance. If this pans out, then Volcarona could very well become even stronger than it is now.

  • Best Possible Moveset: Fire Spin + Overheat
  • Current Moveset: Fire Spin + Fire Punch

Shadow Magmortar has the potential to sit a bit below Shadow Moltres in terms of DPS, but it's needlessly and tragically held back by Fire Punch. All it'd take is one reasonable moveset update for this Pokemon to be good at last!

  • Best Possible Moveset: Fire Spin + V-Create
  • Current Moveset: Confusion or Quick Attack + V-Create

Victini has low stats and no Fire Type fast move, but an absolute killer Charged Move! If Niantic ever gives it Fire Spin, then it would be a force to surpass Moltres, making a legitimately good Pokemon. Not quite enough to be considered outstanding, but enough to be worth considering if you don't have better Fire Types available. However, even more than that, Victini has a second Signature Move by the name of Searing Shot, so if Niantic were to release this move as an overpowered Fast Move, then Victini actually has some potential to be a good Fire Type attacker.

This is a mass-entry that includes all of the Fire Type starters for one very real reason: Blast Burn isn't the only starter-exclusive Fire Type move. Alongside the three big moves; Blast Burn, Frenzy Plant, and Hydro Cannon, Gamefreak has also released an often overlooked second set of moves that are exclusive to the starters: Grass Pledge, Water Pledge, and most important to this list, Fire Pledge. These moves are easily overlooked in the main series as they're not exactlly useful, and chances are very slim that Niantic would ever release them as Charged Moves that would surpass the existing Starter moves. Still, it is possible that they could be released as Fast Moves, which could bring all of the starters even higher than they are now if they're given a kind treatment by Niantic.

This is admittedly pretty unlikely, but the fact that the three Pledge moves do exist means that Niantic has even more wiggle room for customizing the starters in the future.

  • Best Possible Moveset: Hidden Power + Fusion Flare
  • Current Moveset: (No Fire Type moves known)

This is... a bit of an odd one. Kyurem's white variant is the version that's really overlooked, but it's also got the potential to learn Fusion Flare, which would help its standing quite a bit.... unfortunately, the only Fire Type Fast Move that it can learn and the highest energy-generation Fast Move that it can learn is the acursed Hidden Power....

That said, if it did score Hidden Power Fire and Fusion Flare, it would catapult this titan all the way up to... a bit better than Emboar. Oh well, it's still worth a quick mention.

  • Best Possible Moveset: Fire Fang + V-Create
  • Current Moveset: (No Fire Type moves known)

Okay, now we're getting into some industrial-strength theorycrafting. In the main series, Gamefreak once saw fit to release an event Rayquaza that had access to Victini's signature move, V-Create. This move, when combined with Fire Fang, is strong enough to put Mega Rayquaza ahead of a Fire Dang/Overheat Primal Kyogre in terms of DPS, and not too far behind it in terms of TDO. However, the fact that Mega Rayquaza isn't a Fire Type itself also means that it doesn't spread around the Fire Type Mega Boost, so it'll probably never be the top Fire Type pick even if given access to this downright stupid moveset.

This is all extremely unlikely, needless to say, but it's fun to muse that something this stupid at least possible!

The Future Threats

These are the Pokemon that we don't currently have in-game, but have the potential to join our Top Attackers by Type list if Niantic does them justice. Note that this list won't necessarily order Pokemon according to their potential, as we will take likelihood of a good implementation into consideration as well.

  • Best Possible Moveset: Fire Fang + Overheat
  • Current Moveset: (any) + Overheat

A snowman probably isn't the first thing that many of us think about when it comes to Fire Types, but here we are!

Galarian Darmanitan is a very solid Ice Type attacker, standing as a reliable partner for raids that require its frosty skills. And on top of that, it's a pretty chill Pokemon too (pun intended). Seeming like an easy-going Pokemon in design, it contrasts with normal Darmanitan's fiery, almost sardonic nature. And just as normal Darmanitan's forme-change into its Zen Mode flips this apparent personality upside down, Galarian Darmanitan's nature also flips as it turns into a murderous, fiery snowman!

Galarian Darmanitan - Zen Mode is a powerhouse of a a Pokemon, sporting the 3rd highest Attack stat of all Fire Types in the entire franchise once translated into Pokemon Go stats, and it also has main-series access to the best generally available Fire Type moveset in the game! 

....it's just too bad that its current datamined moveset has no Fire Type Fast Moves at all. It has Overheat, which is definitely something, but it'll take a moveset change pre-release to make this self-melting snowman good on this end of the spectrum.... oh well, we'll definitely talk about this monster again in the Ice article!

  • Best Possible Moveset: Fire Spin + Overheat

Blacephalon has a monstrous 315 Attack stat and access to one of the best possible Fire Type movesets in the game, meaning it has the potential to stand as the top non-Mega/non-Shadow Fire Type in the game... assuming Galarian Darmanitan - Zen Mode doesn't get a good Fire Type moveset. But even then, Blacephalon also has a Fire Type Signature Move that's particularly strong in the main series by the name of Mind Blown, so it's got the potential to be to the Fire Type meta what Kartana is to the Grass Type meta in the future.

  • Best Possible Moveset: Fire Spin + Overheat

This future-variant of Volcarona drops its Bug typing for Poison, and picks up additional power. If it manages to pick up its best possible moveset, then it's going to be a great Fire Type with a good defensive typing against Grass types in particular (assuming whatever it's fighting isn't packing Ground Type moves) that will likely come in handy! It's also worth mentioning that Iron Moth has access to Volcarona's signature move, Fiery Dance, so it may have even greater potential than what we can currently expect.

  • Best Possible Moveset: Fire Spin + Overheat

Chi-Yu has access to a great Fire Type moveset, and has the potential to sit around Volcarona in terms of total power, though a bit squishier in cases where its Dark sub-typing doesn't come in handy. This ruinous Pokemon isn't likely to top the charts, but it'll definitely be solid if Niantic treats it right.

  • Best Possible Moveset: Fire Fang + Overheat

Volcanion has the potential to be a decent filler given the right moveset, though the majority of its potential is in its Water typing thanks to its signature move. Still, it's worth a passing mention here.

The Looming Shadows

The biggest potential Shadow threat has to be Shadow Reshiram, which is a Pokemon that we're very likely to see... someday. Since we've still got a lot of ground to cover by way of Legendary Shadows, this monster is probably several years away still. Other big-names would be Shadow Chandelure, Shadow Volcarona, Shadow Darmanitan, and Shadow Heatran if it ever gets a better moveset.

Surprisingly, Shadow Flareon would actually be pretty good too, and it seems a bit odd that we still don't have Shadow Eevee yet. Shadow Hisuian Typhlosion and Shadow Cinderace could be good as well if they get good Fast Moves to back up Blast Burn, while Shadow Emboar and Shadow Delphox and Shadow Infernape could be good as well.

Moving into the "less likely" category, one of the scariest potential Shadows would be Shadow Blacephalon given a good moveset, and not too far below that would be a far-future Shadow Iron Moth.  Shadow Volcanion could also be a good one, though Shadow Mythical Pokemon aren't really a thing right now.

The Gigantamax Factor

While not extremely likely, it's possible that Niantic could release the Dynamax/Gigantamax system first introduced in Generation 8/Galar into Pokemon Go. For those unaware, this system turns Pokemon giant, gives them new/overpowering moves, and grants a tremendous HP boost while active. And while the release of this feature isn't super likely, we thought it best to at least list the possible candidates with unique formes just to cover all bases, so these are all of the Fire Type Pokemon with a Gigantamax forme:

Verdict for the Future

As we are now, Fire as a type likely isn't going to improve a whole lot. But that isn't actually a bad thing, as Fire is currently among the better types in the game. We definitely have some room for improvement, but investing in the current Fire Type roster is a pretty safe move, all-in-all.

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About the Author(s)

Gamepress Pokemon Go site lead with a focus on theorycrafting and gameplay optimization and a background in business management and freelance writing.  A bit of a hermit, but also an outdoors enthusiast who loves cycling and hiking. Long-time Gamepress fan who is very proud to be a part of the team.

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