Free switch-ins on Ground moves make Moltres useful in any team that needs that coverage. Only 3 weaknesses keeps it safe in most matchups. A longtime staple going back to Gen 1. It sits at a decent but contested Speed tier.
Everything pushes toward special damage here. Moltres's Sp. Atk does the work, Sp. Def pays the price. But you're still getting 3 Sp. Atk EVs per KO. Near-impossible to catch, on a slow 1.25M XP grind.
Known as the legendary bird of fire. Every flap of its wings creates a dazzling flash of flames.
Moltres Weakness
GoodType-wise, Moltres takes extra damage from Rock, Water, and Electric. Watch out for Rock attacks, those deal 4x damage. Ground moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. The Fire/Flying typing picks up 4 resistances to work with. With 90 HP and balanced defenses, Moltres can afford to eat a neutral hit or two.
- Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
- Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
- Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split
No breeding, no evolution. Moltres is a Fire/Flying legendary with 580 base stat total that you obtain once and build around.
How to Evolve
Nothing fancy here. Moltres builds around an item for extra utility, a nature nature for the right stat lean, and flexible EVs EVs. An ability does its job quietly.
Best Build
Best Moltres Moveset
- Fire Blast
- Agility
- Fire Spin
- Hyper Beam
Recommended Teammates
Most of Moltres's flexibility comes from TMs. Same-type output runs through Sky Attack and Fire Blast, but Normal and the rest of the TM pool push it from predictable to genuinely threatening.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Moltres waits at a fixed spot in this game. Head to Victory Road for a one-time encounter. No random spawns or encounter rates involved — it's a set battle at a known location.
Best Locations
Moltres is a Legendary Pokemon rated B-Tier on our tier list. At 580 BST, it hits hard. It excels as a wallbreaker. That 125 base Sp. Atk does the heavy lifting.
Moltres doesn't evolve. As a Legendary Pokemon, it stands on its own without an evolutionary line. It's a Fire/Flying type with 580 BST.
Moltres is leaning toward the special side (base 125 Sp. Atk). Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. But the speed tells the real story — base 90 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many. Fits the wallbreaker role.
Moltres appears in 20 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.
Since Red & Blue, Moltres has appeared in 20 games. Legendary Pokemon like Moltres are usually found through story events or special post-game areas rather than random encounters.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwShGalarian
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A