Playthrough tier listRuby & Sapphire

Best Fighting Pokémon in Ruby & Sapphire

Brawly's Dewford Gym, the second badge, uses Machop and Makuhita, and Makuhita fills Granite Cave on the same island. We graded 11 Fighting Pokémon you can get in Ruby & Sapphire, S to D, for beating the game. Breloom leads.

11gradedOct 18, 2026updated
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  • Trade-in
  • Trade to evolve
  • Starter: pick 1 of 3
STop1 PokémonCarries a Ruby & Sapphire run against most of the bossesClick any Pokémon for its gradeTap a card for its grade
BreloomBreloom
Click any Pokémon for its gradeTap a card for its grade
AStrong5 PokémonA strong pick for most of the game
HariyamaHariyama
BlazikenBlazikenStarter: pick 1 of 3
HitmonleeHitmonleeTrade-in only
PoliwrathPoliwrathTrade-in only
HitmonchanHitmonchanTrade-in only
BSolid4 PokémonDoes the job with some help
MachampMachampTrade to evolve
HeracrossHeracross
PrimeapePrimeapeTrade-in only
HitmontopHitmontopTrade-in only
CSituational4 PokémonStruggles against several bosses
MedichamMedicham
MakuhitaMakuhita
CombuskenCombuskenStarter: pick 1 of 3
TyrogueTyrogueTrade-in only
DBottom4 PokémonHard to use for beating the game
MachokeMachoke
MachopMachop
MedititeMeditite
MankeyMankeyTrade-in only

What each tier means

  • STop Carries a Ruby & Sapphire run against most of the bosses
  • AStrong A strong pick for most of the game
  • BSolid Does the job with some help
  • CSituational Struggles against several bosses
  • DBottom Hard to use for beating the game
2 reads blended into one listreblend in Showing18 11 in Ruby & Sapphire + 7 trade-ins

Board breakdown

Every Fighting Pokémon you can get is checked here against the 13 Ruby & Sapphire gym leader, Elite Four and Champion fights, Roxanne to Steven. Next to Blaziken, Breloom does well in 7 of them, 4 fights have no Fighting answer, and both versions play out the same.

Which Fighting Pokemon is the best partner for Blaziken?

Your best second Fighting Pokemon is Breloom, with 7 of 13 fights, starting with Roxanne.

Each row is one Fighting pick and its 13 boxes are the fights in order. A filled box means it does well there: Breloom has 7, first at Roxanne.

Gym 1, RoxanneGym 2, BrawlyGym 3, WattsonGym 4, FlanneryGym 5, NormanGym 6, WinonaGym 7, Tate & LizaGym 8, WallaceElite Four, SidneyElite Four, PhoebeElite Four, GlaciaElite Four, DrakeChampion, Steven
  • BlazikenGym 1 Roxanne: has troubleGym 2 Brawly: does wellGym 3 Wattson: no clear edgeGym 4 Flannery: does wellGym 5 Norman: no clear edgeGym 6 Winona: no clear edgeGym 7 Tate & Liza: no clear edgeGym 8 Wallace: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: does wellDrake: no clear edgeSteven: does wellStarterTorchicRoute 101#004TorchicLevel 16#005CombuskenLevel 36#006Blazikenfinal form by Tate & Liza
    Does wellBrawlyFlanneryWallaceSidneyGlaciaStevenHas troubleRoxanneNo clear edgeWattson, Norman, Winona, Tate & Liza, Phoebe, Drake
  • BreloomGym 1 Roxanne: does wellGym 2 Brawly: no clear edgeGym 3 Wattson: has troubleGym 4 Flannery: no clear edgeGym 5 Norman: does wellGym 6 Winona: has troubleGym 7 Tate & Liza: does wellGym 8 Wallace: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: does wellDrake: no clear edgeSteven: does wellFrom the startShroomishPetalburg Woods15% of encounters#034ShroomishLevel 23#035Breloomfinal form by Flannery
    Does wellRoxanneNormanTate & LizaWallaceSidneyGlaciaStevenHas troubleWattson, WinonaNo clear edgeBrawly, Flannery, Phoebe, Drake
  • HariyamaGym 1 Roxanne: does wellGym 2 Brawly: no clear edgeGym 3 Wattson: no clear edgeGym 4 Flannery: does wellGym 5 Norman: does wellGym 6 Winona: no clear edgeGym 7 Tate & Liza: has troubleGym 8 Wallace: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: has troubleGlacia: does wellDrake: no clear edgeSteven: no clear edgeFrom the startMakuhitaRustboro CityTrade a Slakothor Granite Cave 1Fafter badge 150% of encounters#048MakuhitaLevel 24#049Hariyamafinal form by Flannery
    Does wellRoxanneFlanneryNormanWallaceSidneyGlaciaHas troubleTate & Liza, PhoebeNo clear edgeBrawly, Wattson, Winona, Drake, Steven
  • MachampGym 1 Roxanne: not on your team yetGym 2 Brawly: not on your team yetGym 3 Wattson: not on your team yetGym 4 Flannery: does wellGym 5 Norman: does wellGym 6 Winona: no clear edgeGym 7 Tate & Liza: no clear edgeGym 8 Wallace: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: has troubleGlacia: does wellDrake: no clear edgeSteven: no clear edgeAfter badge 3MachopRoute 11225% of encounters#073MachopLevel 28#074MachokeTrade#075Machamp
    Not yet: Roxanne to WattsonDoes wellFlanneryNormanWallaceSidneyGlaciaHas troublePhoebeNo clear edgeWinona, Tate & Liza, Drake, Steven
  • HeracrossGym 1 Roxanne: not on your team yetGym 2 Brawly: not on your team yetGym 3 Wattson: not on your team yetGym 4 Flannery: not on your team yetGym 5 Norman: not on your team yetGym 6 Winona: not on your team yetGym 7 Tate & Liza: no clear edgeGym 8 Wallace: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: has troubleGlacia: does wellDrake: no clear edgeSteven: does wellAfter badge 6Safari Zone northeast5% of encounters
    Not yet: Roxanne to WinonaDoes wellWallaceSidneyGlaciaStevenHas troublePhoebeNo clear edgeTate & Liza, Drake
  • MedichamGym 1 Roxanne: not on your team yetGym 2 Brawly: not on your team yetGym 3 Wattson: not on your team yetGym 4 Flannery: not on your team yetGym 5 Norman: not on your team yetGym 6 Winona: not on your team yetGym 7 Tate & Liza: no clear edgeGym 8 Wallace: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: does wellDrake: no clear edgeSteven: no clear edgeAfter badge 6MedititeMt. Pyre30% of encounters#076MedititeLevel 37#077Medichamfinal form by Tate & Liza
    Not yet: Roxanne to WinonaDoes wellWallaceSidneyGlaciaNo clear edgeTate & Liza, Phoebe, Drake, Steven

Best pair

Blaziken + Breloom9/13 togetherevery fight a Fighting pick wins

Which badge fights and league battles have no Fighting answer?

Wattson, Winona, Phoebe and Drake have no Fighting answer.

One row per fight, Roxanne to Steven, with the best Fighting pick you can have by then. Tap a fight for its team and every pick. First with none: Wattson.

Gyms

  1. Breloomas Shroomish+1 more

    Team

    1. GeodudeLv 14RockGround
    2. NosepassLv 15RockAce

    Does well (2)Breloomas ShroomishMoves: Bullet SeedHariyamaas MakuhitaMoves: Vital Throw

    Has trouble (1)Blaziken Starter: pick 1 of 3as Torchic

    Full fight

  2. Blazikenas Combuskenstarter only

    TeamFighting-type team

    1. MachopLv 17Fighting
    2. MakuhitaLv 18FightingAce

    Does well (1)Blaziken Starter: pick 1 of 3as CombuskenMoves: Peck

    No clear edge (2)Breloomas ShroomishHariyamaas Makuhita

    Full fight

  3. Closest: Combusken
    PoliwrathTrade-in

    Team

    1. MagnemiteLv 22ElectricSteel
    2. VoltorbLv 20Electric
    3. MagnetonLv 23ElectricSteelAce

    No clear edge (2)Blaziken Starter: pick 1 of 3as CombuskenHariyamaas Makuhita

    Has trouble (1)Breloomas Shroomish

    Full fight

  4. Hariyama+2 more

    Team

    1. SlugmaLv 26Fire
    2. SlugmaLv 26Fire
    3. TorkoalLv 28FireAce

    Does well (3)HariyamaMoves: DigBlaziken Starter: pick 1 of 3as CombuskenMoves: DigMachamp Trade to evolveas MachopMoves: Dig

    No clear edge (1)Breloom

    Full fight

  5. Breloom+2 more

    Team

    1. SlakingLv 28Normal
    2. VigorothLv 30Normal
    3. SlakingLv 31NormalAce

    Does well (3)BreloomMoves: Mach PunchHariyamaMoves: Vital ThrowMachamp Trade to evolveMoves: Revenge

    No clear edge (1)Blaziken Starter: pick 1 of 3as Combusken

    Full fight

  6. Closest: Hariyama

    Team

    1. SwellowLv 31NormalFlying
    2. PelipperLv 30WaterFlying
    3. SkarmoryLv 32SteelFlying
    4. AltariaLv 33DragonFlyingAce

    No clear edge (3)HariyamaBlaziken Starter: pick 1 of 3as CombuskenMachamp Trade to evolve

    Has trouble (1)Breloom

    Full fight

  7. Breloom

    Team

    1. LunatoneLv 42RockPsychicAce
    2. SolrockLv 42RockPsychic

    Does well (1)BreloomMoves: Solar Beam

    No clear edge (4)HeracrossBlaziken Starter: pick 1 of 3MedichamMachamp Trade to evolve

    Has trouble (1)Hariyama

    Full fight

  8. Breloom+5 more

    Team

    1. LuvdiscLv 40Water
    2. WhiscashLv 42WaterGround
    3. SealeoLv 40IceWater
    4. SeakingLv 42Water
    5. MiloticLv 43WaterAce

    Does well (6)BreloomMoves: Solar Beam and Focus PunchHeracrossMoves: Focus PunchHariyamaMoves: Focus PunchMachamp Trade to evolveMoves: Focus PunchBlaziken Starter: pick 1 of 3Moves: Focus PunchMedichamMoves: Focus Punch

    Full fight

League

  1. Breloom+5 more

    Team

    1. MightyenaLv 46Dark
    2. ShiftryLv 48GrassDark
    3. CacturneLv 46GrassDark
    4. SharpedoLv 48WaterDark
    5. AbsolLv 49DarkAce

    Does well (6)BreloomMoves: Focus PunchHeracrossMoves: Focus PunchBlaziken Starter: pick 1 of 3Moves: Focus PunchMachamp Trade to evolveMoves: Focus PunchHariyamaMoves: Focus PunchMedichamMoves: Focus Punch

    Full fight

  2. Closest: Blaziken

    Team

    1. DusclopsLv 48Ghost
    2. BanetteLv 49Ghost
    3. SableyeLv 50DarkGhost
    4. BanetteLv 49Ghost
    5. DusclopsLv 51GhostAce

    No clear edge (3)Blaziken Starter: pick 1 of 3MedichamBreloom

    Has trouble (3)HariyamaMachamp Trade to evolveHeracross

    Full fight

  3. Breloom+5 more

    Team

    1. GlalieLv 50Ice
    2. SealeoLv 50IceWater
    3. SealeoLv 52IceWater
    4. GlalieLv 52Ice
    5. WalreinLv 53IceWaterAce

    Does well (6)BreloomMoves: Focus PunchHeracrossMoves: Focus PunchMachamp Trade to evolveMoves: Focus PunchBlaziken Starter: pick 1 of 3Moves: Focus PunchHariyamaMoves: Focus PunchMedichamMoves: Focus Punch

    Full fight

  4. Closest: Machamp
    PoliwrathTrade-in

    Team

    1. ShelgonLv 52Dragon
    2. AltariaLv 54DragonFlying
    3. FlygonLv 53GroundDragon
    4. FlygonLv 53GroundDragon
    5. SalamenceLv 55DragonFlyingAce

    No clear edge (6)Machamp Trade to evolveHariyamaHeracrossBlaziken Starter: pick 1 of 3MedichamBreloom

    Full fight

  5. Breloom+2 more

    Team

    1. SkarmoryLv 57SteelFlying
    2. ClaydolLv 55GroundPsychic
    3. AggronLv 56SteelRock
    4. CradilyLv 56RockGrass
    5. ArmaldoLv 56RockBug
    6. MetagrossLv 58SteelPsychicAce

    Does well (3)BreloomMoves: Focus Punch, Solar Beam and Iron TailBlaziken Starter: pick 1 of 3Moves: Overheat, Focus Punch and Rock TombHeracrossMoves: Focus Punch, Megahorn and Rock Tomb

    No clear edge (3)Machamp Trade to evolveHariyamaMedicham

    Full fight

Is a traded Poliwrath the fix for the 4 fights with no Fighting answer?

Partly: Poliwrath fills 2 of the 4, Wattson and Drake.

Of the 13 fights, Fighting picks found in Ruby & Sapphire cover 9, trade-ins raise that to 11, and 2 stay open. Poliwrath fills the most.

This game9 of 13With trade-ins11 of 13Still openWinonaPhoebe
  • PoliwrathFireRed or LeafGreenNational DexCelio's Network Machine fixedFish a PoliwhirlEvolve it with a Water StoneLv 20 to 30Obeys from badge 2FillsWattsonDrake
    Your team then: about Lv 21 to 26Won't obey: Roxanne, BrawlyDoes wellWattsonFlanneryNormanTate & LizaWallaceSidneyGlaciaDrakeSteven
What each trade needs
  • From FireRed or LeafGreenIts National DexCelio's Network Machine fixedRuby and Sapphire gems found
  • Your Ruby or SapphireA PokedexOne other Pokemon in party
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