Playthrough tier listRuby & Sapphire

Best Fire Pokémon in Ruby & Sapphire

Flannery's Lavaridge Gym, the fourth badge, is the Fire gym with Slugma and Torkoal, yet only 5 Fire families live in Ruby and Sapphire. We graded 10 Fire Pokémon you can get in Ruby & Sapphire, S to D, for beating the game. Blaziken leads.

10gradedOct 18, 2026updated
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  • Trade-in
  • 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
BlazikenBlazikenStarter: pick 1 of 3
Click any Pokémon for its gradeTap a card for its grade
AStrong6 PokémonA strong pick for most of the game
Ho-OhHo-OhTrade-in only
ArcanineArcanineTrade-in only
FlareonFlareonTrade-in only
HoundoomHoundoomTrade-in only
MoltresMoltresTrade-in only
CharizardCharizardTrade-in only
BSolid4 PokémonDoes the job with some help
EnteiEnteiTrade-in only
MagmarMagmarTrade-in only
TyphlosionTyphlosionTrade-in only
RapidashRapidashTrade-in only
CSituational5 PokémonStruggles against several bosses
CombuskenCombuskenStarter: pick 1 of 3
TorchicTorchicStarter: pick 1 of 3
GrowlitheGrowlitheTrade-in only
HoundourHoundourTrade-in only
CharmeleonCharmeleonTrade-in only
DBottom12 PokémonHard to use for beating the game
CameruptCamerupt
NinetalesNinetales
MagcargoMagcargo
TorkoalTorkoal
NumelNumel
VulpixVulpix
SlugmaSlugma
CharmanderCharmanderTrade-in only
MagbyMagbyTrade-in only
QuilavaQuilavaTrade-in only
CyndaquilCyndaquilTrade-in only
PonytaPonytaTrade-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 Showing28 10 in Ruby & Sapphire + 18 trade-ins

Board breakdown

This breakdown rates each Fire Pokémon you can get against all 13 Ruby & Sapphire gym leader, Elite Four and Champion fights, from Roxanne to Steven. Next to Blaziken, Ninetales does well in 4 of them, 6 fights have no Fire answer, and both versions play out the same.

Besides Blaziken, which Fire Pokemon does the most work?

Next to Blaziken, raise Ninetales: it does well in 4 of 13 fights, starting with Sidney.

Each row is one Fire pick and its 13 boxes are the fights in order. A filled box means it does well there: Ninetales has 4, first at Sidney.

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 & LizaFire moves use Sp. Atk 110, not Attack 120
    Does wellBrawlyFlanneryWallaceSidneyGlaciaStevenHas troubleRoxanneNo clear edgeWattson, Norman, Winona, Tate & Liza, Phoebe, Drake
  • NinetalesGym 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: has troubleGym 8 Wallace: no clear edgeSidney: does wellPhoebe: does wellGlacia: does wellDrake: has troubleSteven: does wellAfter badge 6VulpixMt. Pyre20% of encounters#153VulpixFire Stone#154NinetalesFire Stone in the Fiery Pathneeds StrengthLet Vulpix learn Flamethrower at Lv 29, then use the Fire Stone.
    Not yet: Roxanne to WinonaDoes wellSidneyPhoebeGlaciaStevenHas troubleTate & Liza, DrakeNo clear edgeWallace
  • MagcargoGym 1 Roxanne: not on your team yetGym 2 Brawly: not on your team yetGym 3 Wattson: not on your team yetGym 4 Flannery: has troubleGym 5 Norman: no clear edgeGym 6 Winona: no clear edgeGym 7 Tate & Liza: has troubleGym 8 Wallace: has troubleSidney: does wellPhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: does wellDrake: has troubleSteven: no clear edgeAfter badge 3SlugmaFiery Path10% of encounters#103SlugmaLevel 38#104Magcargofinal form by Tate & Liza
    Not yet: Roxanne to WattsonDoes wellSidneyGlaciaHas troubleFlannery, Tate & Liza, Wallace, DrakeNo clear edgeNorman, Winona, Phoebe, Steven
  • CameruptGym 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: has troubleGym 6 Winona: has troubleGym 7 Tate & Liza: has troubleGym 8 Wallace: no clear edgeSidney: no clear edgePhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: no clear edgeDrake: has troubleSteven: no clear edgeAfter badge 3NumelRoute 11275% of encounters#101NumelLevel 33#102Cameruptfinal form by Tate & Liza
    Not yet: Roxanne to WattsonDoes wellFlanneryHas troubleNorman, Winona, Tate & Liza, DrakeNo clear edgeWallace, Sidney, Phoebe, Glacia, Steven
  • TorkoalGym 1 Roxanne: not on your team yetGym 2 Brawly: not on your team yetGym 3 Wattson: not on your team yetGym 4 Flannery: has troubleGym 5 Norman: no clear edgeGym 6 Winona: no clear edgeGym 7 Tate & Liza: has troubleGym 8 Wallace: has troubleSidney: does wellPhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: no clear edgeDrake: has troubleSteven: no clear edgeAfter badge 3Fiery Path18% of encounters
    Not yet: Roxanne to WattsonDoes wellSidneyHas troubleFlannery, Tate & Liza, Wallace, DrakeNo clear edgeNorman, Winona, Phoebe, Glacia, Steven

Best pair

Blaziken + Ninetales7/13 togetherevery fight a Fire pick wins

Camerupt or Ninetales: which Fire pick should join Blaziken?

Ninetales, if you can wait for badge 6: it adds Phoebe, a fight Blaziken misses, and Camerupt adds nothing new.

Waiting costs little: between the two arrivals you face only Flannery, Norman and Winona.

Camerupt and Ninetales side by side, row by row: when each arrives, where you find it, how it evolves, its Speed and the fights it does well in.

CameruptSooner
NinetalesMore fights
ArrivesAfter badge 3After badge 6
WhereNumelRoute 11275% of encountersVulpixMt. Pyre20% of encounters
EvolvesCamerupt at Lv 33final form by Tate & LizaNinetales by Fire Stone
Speed (avg 54)40100
Does wellFlannerySidneyPhoebeGlaciaSteven
Has trouble4 fightsNormanWinonaTate & LizaDrake2 fightsTate & LizaDrake

Which gym or league battles need a type other than Fire?

Fire has no answer you can get for Roxanne, Wattson, Norman, Winona, Tate & Liza and Drake.

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

Gyms

  1. Has trouble: Torchic

    Team

    1. GeodudeLv 14RockGround
    2. NosepassLv 15RockAce

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

    Full fight

  2. Blazikenas Combuskenstarter only

    Team

    1. MachopLv 17Fighting
    2. MakuhitaLv 18FightingAce

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

    Full fight

  3. Closest: Combusken
    HoundoomTrade-in

    Team

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

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

    Full fight

  4. Cameruptas Numel+1 more

    TeamFire-type team

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

    Does well (2)Cameruptas NumelMoves: DigBlaziken Starter: pick 1 of 3as CombuskenMoves: Dig

    Has trouble (2)Magcargoas SlugmaTorkoal

    Full fight

  5. Closest: Combusken

    Team

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

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

    Has trouble (1)Cameruptas Numel

    Full fight

  6. Closest: Torkoal
    MoltresTrade-in

    Team

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

    No clear edge (3)TorkoalBlaziken Starter: pick 1 of 3as CombuskenMagcargoas Slugma

    Has trouble (1)Cameruptas Numel

    Full fight

  7. Closest: Blaziken
    HoundoomTrade-in

    Team

    1. LunatoneLv 42RockPsychicAce
    2. SolrockLv 42RockPsychic

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

    Has trouble (4)NinetalesMagcargoCameruptTorkoal

    Full fight

  8. Blazikenstarter only

    Team

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

    Does well (1)Blaziken Starter: pick 1 of 3Moves: Focus Punch

    No clear edge (2)NinetalesCamerupt

    Has trouble (2)MagcargoTorkoal

    Full fight

League

  1. Ninetales+3 more

    Team

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

    Does well (4)NinetalesMoves: Overheat and DigBlaziken Starter: pick 1 of 3Moves: Focus PunchMagcargoMoves: Rock Smash and OverheatTorkoalMoves: Rock Smash and Overheat

    No clear edge (1)Camerupt

    Full fight

  2. Ninetales

    Team

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

    Does well (1)NinetalesMoves: Overheat

    No clear edge (4)CameruptMagcargoTorkoalBlaziken Starter: pick 1 of 3

    Full fight

  3. Ninetales+2 more

    Team

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

    Does well (3)NinetalesMoves: OverheatBlaziken Starter: pick 1 of 3Moves: Focus PunchMagcargoMoves: Overheat and Rock Slide

    No clear edge (2)CameruptTorkoal

    Full fight

  4. Closest: Blaziken

    Team

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

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

    Has trouble (4)NinetalesMagcargoCameruptTorkoal

    Full fight

  5. Ninetales+1 more

    Team

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

    Does well (2)NinetalesMoves: Overheat, Dig and Iron TailBlaziken Starter: pick 1 of 3Moves: Overheat, Focus Punch and Rock Tomb

    No clear edge (3)TorkoalCameruptMagcargo

    Full fight

Houndoom or Moltres: which trade-in fills more of the 6 Fire gaps?

Go with Houndoom, which fills 2 of the 6: Wattson and Tate & Liza.

The Emerald route is the pick, since from Colosseum it comes at Lv 48 and obeys only from badge 4.

Of the 13 fights, Fire picks found in Ruby & Sapphire cover 7, trade-ins raise that to 10, and 3 stay open. Houndoom fills the most.

This game7 of 13With trade-ins10 of 13Still openRoxanneNormanDrake
  • HoundoomEmeraldHall of FameNational DexBreed a HoundourLv 24 to 30Obeys from badge 2orColosseumFinish its storyPurify the PokemonGameCube Game Boy Advance cableLv 48Obeys from badge 4FillsWattsonTate & Liza
    Your team then: about Lv 21 to 26Won't obey: Roxanne, BrawlyDoes wellWattsonTate & LizaWallaceSidneyPhoebeGlaciaSteven
  • MoltresFireRed or LeafGreenNational DexCelio's Network Machine fixedLv 50Obeys from badge 4FillsWinona
    Your team then: about Lv 29 to 31Won't obey: Roxanne to FlanneryDoes wellWinonaSidneyPhoebeGlaciaSteven
What each trade needs
  • From EmeraldBeat Emerald's Elite FourNational Dex from BirchA Houndour to breed
  • From ColosseumStory finishedPokemon purifiedGameCube to GBA cable
  • 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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