If you’ve ever experienced the thrill of selecting your first companion Pokémon, you’re likely well-versed with Fire-types. Fire represents one corner of the fundamental type triangle in the series: Fire overpowers Grass, Grass defeats Water, and Water extinguishes Fire. Trainers who opted for Fire-type starter Pokémon often found themselves challenged by their rival’s Water-type selection, compelling them to develop a diverse team to overcome such obstacles.
Fire-type Pokémon aren’t exclusively found in research laboratories. These blazing creatures can be discovered throughout various regions if you know their habitats. As a preferred type among gym leaders, Elite Four members, and seasoned battlers, understanding how to counter these formidable Pokémon becomes crucial when encountering them in battle. While they pose significant challenges, they’re not unbeatable.
Fire weakness: Water
Water-type moves represent Fire’s primary vulnerability.
According to Bulbapedia, Water is the most prevalent type, comprising 15.99 percent of all Pokémon species. Water frequently appears in dual-type combinations, so for maximum effectiveness against Fire-types, consider using a dual-type Water Pokémon whose secondary type also exploits Fire’s weaknesses.
Water-types can easily overcome Fire-types using devastating moves such as Surf, Hydro Pump, and Brine. However, avoid using Scald, as Fire-types possess immunity to burn status effects.
Fire weakness: Rock
Fire’s vulnerability to Rock-type moves is common knowledge among trainers who have battled against Charizard. Rock-types can effectively neutralize Fire-types using powerful moves like Rock Slide, Stone Edge, and Rock Tomb.
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Rock-type moves prove particularly effective against Fire and Flying-type combinations, such as Talonflame, Ho-Oh, or Charizard. However, Rock-types should be cautious of Fighting-type moves, commonly found in Fire-type movesets, or the potent Grass-type attack Solar Beam.
Fire weakness: Ground
Ground-type moves excel at defeating fiery opponents, provided you’re not facing a Fire and Flying-type Pokémon or a Fire-type possessing the Levitate ability. Ground-types have access to traditionally strong moves like Earthquake and Earth Power, which many non-Ground-type Pokémon can also learn. While Ground-type Pokémon don’t receive reduced damage from Fire-type attacks like their Water and Rock-type counterparts, they remain an excellent choice for swiftly defeating powerful Fire-type opponents.
When strategizing against Fire-type Pokémon, several additional type matchups deserve consideration. While Dragon-types don’t inflict super-effective damage on Fire-types, their defensive capabilities shine through as they receive only half damage from Fire-type moves, making them valuable defensive options.
It’s worth noting that both Fairy-types and fellow Fire-types deal reduced damage to Fire-type Pokémon, delivering only half their normal damage output. Unless absolutely necessary, it’s advisable to keep these types away from Fire-type encounters.
Though challenging, defeating a fully-evolved Fire-type Pokémon isn’t impossible with proper strategy and type selection.