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.
So, the best half (approximately) of all Fire moves will be detailed in the article. One thing you might notice about Fire-type moves is that there are few utility moves - those moves that don’t do damage to the target but rather inflict a reduction in stats or a status ailment, or raise the user’s stats. There are only two Fire-type moves, apart from G-Max or Z-moves, that don’t damage the opponent - only one of them made this list.
20 Inferno
Inferno is a hit-or-miss move - literally. This is one of those moves where you look at the stats on paper and think this it’s easily one of the best Fire-type moves. Then you notice it. 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 actually hits.
19 Burning Jealousy
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; 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 didn’t stat boost, meaning there isn’t much risk to using it. This attack provides a utility that’s missed with a lot of Fire-type attacks.
18 Fire Fang
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 your opponent to skip a round and give them a debilitating status ailment.
17 Heat Crash
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.
16 Burn Up
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 Pokémon 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.
15 Pyro Ball
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.
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.
14 Searing Shot
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.
13 Flare Blitz
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.
12 Heat Wave
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.
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 average for a Fire move that has a power rating of 90+.
11 Fire Lash
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, you 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 when this hits (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.
10 Magma Storm
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.
9 Lava Plume
Lava Plume is a great standard Fire attack with which to start a battle. It has a power rating of 80, an accuracy rating of 100, and a PP count of 15; also, Lava Plume has a 30% chance of burning the opposing Pokemon.
The 15 PP count is high for a fire attack that has an 80+ power and 100 accuracy. The 30% chance to burn is high enough that at least 5 of the 15 uses should burn the opponent. This move can be learned by less than twenty Pokemon, and it is unfortunately not a TM.
8 Blaze Kick
Those players that picked Torchic in Pokemon Sapphire, Ruby, and Emerald are probably quite fond of Blaze Kick. This move is an extremely effective Fire-type attack. It has a power of 85, an accuracy of 90, and a PP count of 10. This was a Special attack in Gen 3 but has since been changed to a Physical attack.
Blaze Kick has a 10% chance of burning the opponent. This is nice, but the move’s increased chance to score a critical hit is even better. Generally, critical hits have a 1 in 20 chance of happening; Blaze Kick has a 1 in 8 chance of scoring a critical hit. When it does critically hit, its power is effectively 170.
7 Sunny Day
Sunny Day has the distinction of being the only move in this list that is not an attack. The weather-altering move causes the sun to shine brighter for five turns. This has numerous effects on the game. The primary effect is that all Fire attacks deal 50% more damage, water attacks deal half damage, and the Thunder and Hurricane move lose 50% of their accuracy.
The moves Solar Beam and Solar Blade no longer require a turn to charge when under a Sunny Day. The healing effect of the moves Morning Sun, Synthesis, and Moonlight are all increased by Sunny Day. There are other minor effects to Sunny Day, like preventing Pokemon from being frozen.
6 Flamethrower
Flamethrower has been around since generation one, and it is still one of the better flame attacks available in Pokemon. This move has a power rating of 90, an accuracy rating of 100, a PP count of 15, and a small (10%) chance of burning the opponent.
This is one of the best TMs a trainer can teach to a Pokemon. Flamethrower is the best of the mid-range Fire attacks; its power-to-accuracy-to-PP ratio is one of the best out of any move – regardless of type and generation. The PP count can be increased to 24, and you will not regret using your PP Ups on Flamethrower.
5 Fire Blast
This is another first-generation Fire move and another great TM (#38) to teach to a Fire-type Pokemon lacking a powerful attack move. Fire Blast is one of the most damaging Fire moves, with a power rating of 110. The problem with Fire Blast is the 85 accuracy rating and its PP count of 5. The 85 accuracy doesn’t sound too bad, but this move seems to fail more than its 15% miss rate would suggest.
The PP count of 5 is also few enough that players will need to ration them, but the PP count can thankfully be increased to 8. Fire Blast also has a 10% chance of burning the opponent.
4 Sacred Fire
Sacred Fire has a power rating of 100, an accuracy rating of 95, and a PP count of only 5. The reason for such a low PP count is not only due to high power and accuracy but because of its chance to burn. Sacred Fire has the highest chance (50%) to burn an opponent, except for the few moves that automatically burn.
Unfortunately, only two Pokemon can learn Sacred Fire; Entei and Ho-oh. This would have been a great move for Niantic to make a TM since it is powerful yet balanced.
3 Sizzly Slide
This is one of the best Fire attacks to use as a first-strike attack. Sizzly Slide has a power rating of 90, an accuracy rating of 100, and a PP count of 15. The best aspect of Sizzly Slide, though, is that it automatically burns the target.
There are other Fire moves that automatically burn the opponent; those moves either do no damage initially, like Will-O-Wisp, or suffer a penalty to damage or accuracy, like Inferno. Sizzly Slide is such a great fire move that only one Pokemon can learn it – Eevee.
2 Blast Burn
Blast Burn is a devastating attack that can absolutely destroy most Grass-type Pokemon with one shot. This has an astounding power rating of 150, a respectable accuracy rating of 90, but a PP count of 5. The PP count can be increased to 8, and it is recommended that players increase the PP count if possible.
The trade-off for having such high power and accuracy is that Blast Burn doesn’t have a chance of burning the opponent. This is the most damaging Fire attack that doesn’t have an immediate draw-back, like needing to power up for a round; unfortunately, as a Hyper Beam-esque move, it does leave the user vulnerable the next turn.
1 Blue Flare
This is easily the strongest Fire-type move in the Pokemon franchise. Blue Flare has a power rating of 130, an accuracy rating of 100, and a low PP count of 5; also, Blue Flare has a 20% chance to burn the opponent. This move does not need to charge, it does not lower the user’s stats, nor does the user suffer recoil damage.
This is unique for a Fire move with such high accuracy and power. The one negative to this move is that only two Pokemon can learn Blue Flare; Reshiram and Victini. Definitely increase the PP count of this move if possible.
