The Flame Pokemon. A-Tier and waiting at the end of Victory Road in Yellow. Moltres has powerful Fire-type attacks and Special, but a 4x Rock weakness drags it down.
620HP90Attack100Defense90Speed90Sp.Def125Sp.Atk125
Weak to
Mixed
Wallbreaker
90Speed · Above Avg

Is Moltres Good in Yellow Playthrough?

Found in Victory Road right before the E4. Moltres hits hard but the Fire/Flying typing creates a Rock weakness that matters against Lance. Usable and still a legendary, but Zapdos and Articuno fit onto teams more cleanly.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadEGESSEEEGGEEGBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4KogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8MoltresCatchableLoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Even

Moltres trades roughly evenly with Brock's team.

Even
Geodude
Lv 10
RockGround
Rock Head
Tackle
Even
Onix
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBindBide
Misty
Gym 2
Good

Moltres has the type edge here and should clean up Misty's team.

You Win
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Even
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunHardenBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Even

Moltres trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.

Even
Raichu
Lv 28
Electric
Static
ThunderboltMega PunchMega KickGrowl
Erika
Gym 4
Strong

Moltres resists most of Erika's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Tangela
Lv 30
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBindMega DrainVine Whip
Easy KO
Weepinbell
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafSleep PowderStun SporeAcid
Easy KO
Gloom
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DanceStun SporeSleep PowderAcid
Koga
Gym 5
Strong

Moltres resists most of Koga's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Venonat
Lv 44
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicTackleSleep PowderPsychic
Easy KO
Venonat
Lv 46
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicPsybeamSupersonicPsychic
Easy KO
Venonat
Lv 48
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicDouble EdgeSleep PowderPsychic
You Win
Venomoth
Lv 50
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Leech LifeDouble TeamPsychicToxic
Sabrina
Gym 6
Even

Moltres trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

You Win
Abra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
Flash
Even
Kadabra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
KinesisRecoverPsychicPsywave
Even
Alakazam
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
PsywaveRecoverPsychicReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Even

Moltres trades roughly evenly with Blaine's team.

Even
Ninetales
Lv 48
Fire
Flash Fire
FlamethrowerTail WhipQuick AttackConfuse Ray
Even
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
StompGrowlFire SpinTake Down
Even
Arcanine
Lv 54
Fire
Intimidate
FlamethrowerFire BlastReflectTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Even

Moltres trades roughly evenly with Giovanni's team.

You Win
Dugtrio
Lv 50
Ground
Sand Veil
DigSand AttackFissureEarthquake
You Win
Persian
Lv 53
Normal
Limber
ScreechDouble TeamFury SwipesSlash
You Win
Nidoqueen
Lv 53
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeTail WhipThunderDouble Kick
Even
Nidoking
Lv 55
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeLeerThunderDouble Kick
Risky
Rhydon
Lv 55
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Rock SlideFury AttackHorn DrillEarthquake
Lorelei
Elite Four
Good

Moltres has the type edge here and should clean up Lorelei's team.

You Win
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
Bubble BeamAurora BeamRestTake Down
You Win
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampIce BeamSpike Cannon
Even
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
PsychicSurfWithdrawAmnesia
You Win
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchLovely KissThrash
Even
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Good

Moltres has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.

Even
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamDig
Easy KO
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchFire PunchDouble Team
Easy KO
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Double KickMega KickHigh Jump KickDouble Team
Risky
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamEarthquake
Easy KO
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopStrengthSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Even

Moltres trades roughly evenly with Agatha's team.

Even
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RaySubstituteLickMega Drain
You Win
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicToxicWing AttackLeech Life
Even
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayLickHypnosisDream Eater
You Win
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
WrapGlareScreechAcid
Even
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayPsychicHypnosisDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Even

Moltres trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

Even
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveSlamThunderboltHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Bubble BeamWrapIce BeamHyper Beam
Risky
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackSwiftFlyHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
BlizzardFire BlastThunderHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Good

Moltres has the type edge here and should clean up Blue's team.

You Win
Sandslash
Lv 61
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashPoison StingEarthquakeFury Swipes
Even
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicKinesis
Easy KO
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStompLeech Seed
Even
Ninetales
Lv 61
Fire
Flash Fire
Confuse RayTail WhipQuick AttackFire Spin
Even
Magneton
Lv 63
Electric
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltThunder WaveSwiftScreech
Even
Vaporeon
Lv 65
Water
Water Absorb
Aurora BeamMistQuick AttackHydro Pump

Catchable

Available after Badge 8
Type
FireFlying
Tier
A

Catch Moltres in Victory Road (interact, Lv 50, limited). Strength. Found on 2F of Victory Road, the final dungeon before the Pokemon League.

View Moltres locations

How to Get Moltres in Yellow

Moltres perches near the end of Victory Road, behind a Strength boulder puzzle. A lone bird at level 50 with the same brutal catch rate of 3, so save your Ultra Balls and don't let it slip.

1 location to catch Moltres

Badge 8

Moltres Weakness

Type-wise, Moltres takes extra damage from Rock, Water, Electric, and Ice. 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. Moltres's special bulk (base 125 Special) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.

Moltres Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
4x (Critical)Rock
2x (Weak)Water, Electric, Ice
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Fighting
0.25x (Resist)Grass, Bug
0x (Immune)Ground
Gen I Type Chart
  • 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

What is Moltres Weak Against

Avg
4Weak
4Resist
1Immune
Score-1
4xCritical
½xResist
¼xResist
0xImmune

What is Moltres Strong Against

4Strong
1Resisted
0Immune
Score+3
½xResisted
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Moltres

Rhydon
Rhydon
GroundRock
S
Omastar
Omastar
RockWater
C
Zapdos
Zapdos
ElectricFlying
A
Kabutops
Kabutops
RockWater
C
Articuno
Articuno
IceFlying
B

Moltres Evolutions

No breeding, no evolution. Moltres is a Fire/Flying legendary with 620 base stat total that you obtain once and build around. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

No Evolution
Moltres
#146Moltres
Does not evolve
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Y Moltres Best Moveset

125 Special behind MoveFire Blast hits harder than any other Fire-type, but the Fire/Flying combination invites Rock moves and MoveEarthquake that dominate the format. MoveHyper Beam finishes weakened targets without recharge on KO. The Special stat competes at the highest level even when the typing constantly works against it.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Moltres
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Fire BlastSTAB
  • AgilitySetup
  • Fire SpinSTAB
  • Hyper Beam

Moves List

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

Lv 1
Fire Spin
B527015Fire
Lv 1
Peck
D5210035Flying
Lv 51
Leer
——10030Normal
Lv 55
Agility
B——30Psychic
Lv 60
Sky Attack
B210905Flying

TM Moves

All 17 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
B12010015Normal
TM38B180855Fire
HM02—1059515Flying
TM15
Hyper BeamRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
B150905Normal
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM33
ReflectKanto Power Plantbadge 3
C——20Psychic
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
TM43
Sky AttackVictory Roadnot until badge 8
B210905Flying
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
C——10Normal
TM39
SwiftRoute 12 Gate 2Fbadge 2
C60—20Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
C908520Normal
TM06C—9010Poison
TM04
Whirlwind-6Route 4badge 1
———20Normal

Tutor Moves

Moltres can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Legend
HP90
B
Attack100
B
Defense90
B
Sp. Atk125
A
Sp. Def125
A
Speed90
B
Total620
Details
Catch Rate
Legendary3 / 255
Growth Rate
Slow1.25M XP
Height2.0 m
Weight60.0 kg
Base XP290
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpA+3SpDSpe
Strong Special Attack training target
Pokedex Entry

A legendary bird POKéMON. As it flaps its flaming wings, even the night sky will turn red.

Pokemon Yellow

Moltres Yellow Guide

  • Moltres is a static encounter at Victory Road in Yellow. Moltres appears at level 50. Prerequisite: Strength. Save before the encounter. These one-shot Pokemon don't respawn if you knock them out or run out of Poke Balls.

  • In Yellow, Moltres plays as a wallbreaker. Speed is middling, so pick your spots carefully. Set up with Agility when you get a free turn.

  • Yes. Galarian Moltres is a regional variant with different typing and a reworked stat spread. Introduced in Gen 8. Plays completely differently from the original.

Game Availability

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.

Explore

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