But luckily there’s quite a few great fire-type picks across the Gen 3 games (and the Gen 6 remakes). So let’s look into some noteworthy Fire-type Pokémon you can find in the Hoenn Region.
5. Torkoal
Suggested Moves:
Toxic Iron Defense Protect (Undecided)
Torkoal is often overlooked, probably because it can’t be played like a normal Fire-type. It’s mostly a physically defensive wall, specializing in stalling opponents out as their health slowly drains. Toxic is the central move for stalling strategies, learned through TM06 found in the Fiery Path. To buff Torkoal’s defense while the opponent succumbs to poison, use Iron Defense, learned at level 38. And even better than raising Torkoal’s defense is avoiding damage altogether – Protect can help with that, learned at level 30. Make sure to swap between using Protect and Iron Defense, as using Protect multiple times in a row will cause it to fail. How to catch: You can catch a Torkoal in Fiery Path. If you’re playing Emerald, you can also find one in the Magma Hideout.
4. Camerupt
Suggested Moves:
Earthquake Magnitude Lava Plume (Undecided)
Camerupt is a Fire/Ground-type that makes the most of its typing. As well as the typical high-powered Fire moves, it also has access to Earthquake, something that boosts any Pokémon through the rankings. It learns Earthquake through level-up too (Level 46). So you won’t have to wait until the end of the game to use it. Until level 46, Magnitude is the best Ground move that Camerupt learns. Numel should already know it when you catch it. But if not, take it to the Move Reminder in Fallarbor Town to teach it. For Fire-type STAB, Lava Plume is best here, learned by Numel at level 22. Once you reach Victory Road, be sure to pick up Flamethrower with TM35. This will be Camerupt’s best Fire-type move. This TM can be found on Floor B1F. How to catch: Catch a Numel on Route 112, then raise it to level 33 to evolve it into Camerupt. Unfortunately, Camerupt’s Mega Stone isn’t available until the post-game during the Delta Episode in Omega Ruby & in the Battle Resort in Alpha Sapphire.
3. Ninetales
Suggested Moves:
Confuse Ray Will-O-Wisp Flamethrower (Undecided)
Ninetales is a pure Fire-type that focuses on Special stats and Speed. Its physical Defense and HP are low, so you should focus on building it to survive long enough to get off some big special damage hits. Bear in mind that since Ninetales evolves using an Evolution Stone, it doesn’t learn moves naturally after evolution. So make sure Vulpix knows all the level-up moves you want Ninetales to have before you evolve it. The most important move for keeping Ninetales alive is Confuse Ray, learned at level 15. Vulpix may know Confuse Ray when you catch it, but if not, the Fallarbor Town Move Reminder will re-teach it for you. Will-O-Wisp is another great choice, learned at level 26. It’s guaranteed to burn the opponent if it hits. While the burn damage is nice, the main draw to this move is the side-effect of burning – it halves the opponent’s physical Attack. Against a physical attacker, this will basically double the hits that Ninetales can take before going down. So don’t miss out on it. Ninetales’ main offensive move is best left to Flamethrower, learned at level 34, right after you catch Vulpix. How to catch: Catch a Vulpix on Mt. Pyre, then get a Fire Stone from Fiery Path. Once Vulpix has learned Flamethrower, use the Fire Stone on it to evolve it into Ninetales.
2. Arcanine
Suggested Moves:
Fire Fang Flamethrower Thunder Fang (Undecided)
Arcanine comes with much higher stats than Ninetails, along with one of the best abilities in the game (Intimidate). This ability lowers the enemy’s Attack stat by one stage as soon as it enters battle. This is so good it’s almost broken. Arcanine also evolves with a Fire Stone, so hold off on evolving Growlithe until you’re certain it knows all the level-up moves you want it to know. Since Arcanine is a mixed attacker, you should teach it two Fire-type moves: one physical and one special. For physical damage, teach Growlithe Fire Fang at level 21. Arcanine’s best special damage dealer is Flamethrower, learned by Growlithe at level 34. Then as soon as it evolves, take Arcanine to the Fallarbor Town Move Reminder to teach it Thunder Fang, its best shot at covering against Water-type attacks. How to catch: In ORAS, use the DexNav on Mt. Pyre to catch a Growlithe. Once Growlithe knows the level-up moves you want it to know, collect a Fire Stone from Fiery Path and use it on Growlithe to evolve it into Arcanine. Arcanine is unfortunately not available in RSE.
1. Blaziken
Suggested Moves:
Blaze Kick Flare Blitz Sky Uppercut Rock Tomb
Blaziken is, of course, the strongest Fire-type Pokémon you can find in the Hoenn region. Add in a mega form in Gen 6 and Blaziken is all but unstoppable. Its Fire/Fighting-type gives it a much wider set of moves than most others on this list. And its focus on physical Attack means that Flamethrower can be traded in for some unusual Fire-type STAB moves, too. To get us started, we can teach Blaziken Blaze Kick when it evolves at level 36, as well as Flare Blitz at level 63. Flare Blitz is extremely strong, but will probably end up taking Blaziken down along with the enemy, so use it carefully. For Fighting-type STAB, teach Combusken Double Kick at level 16. Then once Blaziken hits level 57 replace Double Kick with Sky Uppercut for a power boost. Finally, you can cover Blaziken’s Flying-type weakness with Rock Tomb, which you’ll get as a TM reward for beating the Rustboro City Gym. How to catch: Choose Torchic as your starter on Route 101, then raise it to level 16 to evolve it into Combusken. Combusken will evolve again into Blaziken at level 36. In ORAS, you’ll get Blaziken’s Mega Stone as a gift from Steven on Route 120 during the story.
