Fire-types are known for explosive energy acceleration and powerful, but energy-demanding, attacks. Here are 12 of the most powerful Fire-type Pokémon in the TCG Standard Format.
Fire is one of those types that is less about finesse and more about raw firepower. And in a format where speed matters, that aggression is deadly.
For this reason, they are carving out a solid place in the current Standard Format meta.
While star cards like Magma Basin and Radiant Charizard have been sidelined in the April 2025 rotation, a wave of new support has joined the Fire-type rank.
Below are the 12 strongest Fire-type Pokémon cards to heat up the battlefield.
Let’s level up.
Fire-Type Overview
Common gameplay traits shared by Fire-type Pokémon:
Known For
Strong energy acceleration and explosive damage that usually comes at the cost of discarding energy or skipping the next attack.
Roasting Heat does a massive 240 damage for just a single energy if the opponent’s Pokémon is Burned. Use Volcorona to inflict burn consistently.
Volcanic Meteor is energy-heavy, but timed well, it can be helpful to KO tanky threats that Roasting Heat cannot deal with.
Weaknesses:
Mega ex rule gives your opponent 3 Prize cards if Camerupt is knocked out.
High retreat cost makes it vulnerable to being trapped in the Active. Include switch cards or Air Balloon to recover from this.
2. Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex
Golden Fire energy accelerator
Strengths:
Golden Flame accelerates 2 Fire energy from your hand to a benched Ethan’s Pokémon each turn. Can be stacked with multiple Ho-Oh ex on the field.
Pair it with Ethan’s Adventure for a strong Fire-type search and acceleration engine in Ethan-themed decks.
Strong support card in general Fire-type decks (not Ethan-themed) when paired with Armarouge, which lets you move Fire energy to energy-hungry Fire attackers to hit massive damage.
Shining Feathers is an effective sustain counter against spread damage threats, like Dragapult ex and Mukodori.
Weaknesses:
Easily one-hit KO’d with only 230 HP and weakness to Water (one of the most popular types in the Pokémon cards).
You need Fire energy in your hand for Golden Flame. Support cards like Mela, SuperiorEnergy Retrieval, and Earthen Vessel are essential.
3. Ethan’s Typhlosion
Deadly Single-Prize Fire-type attacker.
Strengths:
Buddy Blast scales to 180+ damage quickly for just a single energy card. A potent single-prize attacker in Ethan-themed decks.
Synergizes consistently with Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex. Use Ethan’s Adventure to search for Ho-Oh, Typhlosion line, and Fire energy. Then use Ho-Oh to accelerate Fire energy.
Weaknesses:
Stage 2 evolution makes for a slow setup. Support is needed from cards like Rare Candy, Grand Tree, and Ethan’s Adventure.
Relies on getting multiple Ethan’s Adventures in the discard pile early and quickly to scale damage. Use Poké Gear 3.0 to dig Ethan’s Adventure from your deck.
4. Armarouge
Move Fire energy freely around the field.
Strengths:
Fire Off lets you move Fire energy freely around your field to charge up heavy-hitting Fire-type Pokémon.
Pair with Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex for a powerful energy acceleration engine in Fire-type decks.
Also combines well with Chi-Yu and Mela to recycle discarded Fire energy back onto the field for re-distribution.
Weaknesses:
Fragile 130 HP makes it susceptible to bench sniping, spread damage, and being gusted into the Active spot for an easy KO. Armarouge needs to be set up quickly and early for maximum effect. Consider running multiple copies in case the first one gets KO’d.
5. Armarouge ex
Explosive Fire-type attacker with bulk.
Strengths:
Scorching Bazooka can quickly snowball 240+ damage when paired with a strong energy acceleration engine.
Crimson Armor reduces 80 damage if Armarouge ex has full HP, effectively turning 260 HP into 340 HP. Tanky for a Stage 1 evolution.
Weaknesses:
Energy hungry. Scorching Bazooka needs a strong energy acceleration engine to avoid fizzling out.
Crimson Armor only works once unless you can find a way to heal after the initial attack. Lots of healing options are available in the current format, including Ho-Oh ex’s Shining Feathers, Pokémon Center Lady, Fennel, Super Potion, and Poké Vital A.
6. Ceruledge ex
Explosive mid to late-game cannon.
Strengths:
Abyssal Flames scales 20 damage for each Fire energy in the discard pile. Devastating in the mid to late-game after a few of your energy-hungry attackers, like Armarouge ex,have been knocked out.
Attach a Maxmium Belt, and Raging Amethyst can one-hit KO most Pokémon ex in the current format.
Tera protection keeps it safe from bench attacks until you’re ready to bring it onto the field.
Weaknesses:
Needs a high energy count to deal sufficient damage consistently. Aim for at least 15 Fire energy in your deck if running Ceruledge ex.
Raging Amethyst has an awkward energy cost and also discards after the attack. Fix the energy cost using Crispin.
7. Reshiram ex
Fire-type sweeper that scales damage with Prizes.
Strengths:
Blazing Burst scales to 280 to 380 damage in the mid to late-game after your opponent has taken a few Prizes, making it a great comeback card.
Basic evolution makes it easy to search using Nest Ball and Ultra Ball, drop, and swing hard.
Weaknesses:
230 HP leaves it fragile versus ex Pokémon, especially during the mid to late-game when it is most effective. Reshiram is best used as a mid-game attacker who helps another attack, or as a late-game sweeper to take decisive knockouts.
Because of the energy discard effect, it’s hard to keep attacking turn after turn. To counter this, you should match Reshiram with a strong draw and acceleration engine.
8. Chi-Yu
Fire energy recycler and accelerator
Strengths:
Flare Bringer attaches 2 Fire energy from discard directly to a Pokémon. Great recovery card to set up new Fire attackers.
Whilst it’s not Chi-Yu’s main strength, Megafire of Envy can still one-hit KO most single-prize cards or support Pokémon. Great for taking emergency or key knockouts.
Weaknesses:
110 HP is susceptible to being one-hit KO’d in the mid to late-game. Best used in the early game.
9. Emboar
Energy acceleration powerhouse for Fire-type decks.
Strengths:
Inferno Fandango is Fire’s version of Baxcallibur’s Super Cold– one of the strongest acceleration Abilities in the TCG’s history, allowing you to attach unlimited Fire from hand to board.
Stage 2 evolution needs support from Draw cards, Rare Candy, Grand Tree, and Ultra Ball.
4 retreat cost makes it clunky and susceptible to being trapped in the Active. Use switch cards or Big Air Balloon to fix this.
10. Flareon ex
Energy accelerator and Fire-type nuke.
Strengths:
Burning Charge is a powerful early-game setup tool, accelerating 2 Basic energy directly from your deck.
Use Maximum Belt to bump Carnelian to 330 damage and one-hit KO most Pokémon ex.
Tera protection shields it from bench damage.
Weaknesses:
Carnelian prevents Flareon from attacking next turn. Needs a pivot partner to switch in to avoid stalling the next turn (can be another Flareon or another Fire-type attacker).
Awkward energy requirements. Fix with Crispin.
11. Cinderace ex
Versatile Fire-type attacker
Strengths:
Flare Strike deals 280 damage for 3 Energy (330 damage with Maximum Belt attached). An efficient attack that one-hit KO’s most Pokémon ex.
Garnet Volley deals 180 to any Pokémon, KO’ing many single-prize bench-sitters like Munkidori and Baxcalibur in a single shot.
Weaknesses:
Flare Strike cannot be used on consecutive turns and needs a support attacker. It helps that Cinderace is highly mobile with 0 retreat cost, allowing it to pivot into a secondary attacker next turn.
Awkward energy requirement for Garnet Volley. Crispin is essential.
12. Arcanine ex
Tanky Stage 1 Fire-type with strong offense.
Strengths:
Bright Flame swings for 250, taking down almost any target, especially with a Maximum Belt or Defiance Band attached.
Raging Claws scales damage the more Arcanine has been hit, making it ideal for taking down low-HP targets that would otherwise be wasted with Bright Flame.
Tanky 280 HP for a Stage 1 and Tera protection gives it staying power.
Weaknesses:
Bright Flame has a heavy discard. Include a high energy count, as well as energy recycling (Superior Energy Retrieval and Mela) and acceleration (cards in this list), for sustained attacks.
High retreat cost makes it immobile, clunky, and susceptible to being trapped in the Active. Use Switch, JetEnergy, or AirBalloon to increase mobility.
13. Mela
Best Trainer support for Fire decks
Strengths:
Accelerates a Fire energy directly from discard to any Pokémon and a big draw effect.
Great comeback card to recover from knockouts.
Weaknesses:
Only playable after one of your Pokémon is KO’d.
Dead card in the early-game and can clog your hand. Limit to 1 to 2 copies.
Ready To Build A Fire-Type Deck?
Fire-type Pokémon cards are all about explosive bursts of high-celing damage that quickly change the tempo of a game…in your favor.
Be warned, though, it’s essential to manage the energy discards that burden this type. Thankfully, Fire is blessed with a host of strong energy accelerators.
Be sure to check out our Pokémon TCG deck-building guide to learn how to piece together a killer deck from the Pokémon in this list!!
Kalam is a PTCG gameplay expert and content creator. He started playing and collecting Pokémon cards since 1996. When he’s not working, you can find him nerding out on Anime!
