Gouging Fire Movesets and Best Builds

This is a guide to movesets and best builds for using Gouging Fire in competitive play for the games Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV). Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, Tera Type, and Held Items to use with Gouging Fire, as well as its strengths and weaknesses.

Gouging Fire - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Moveset for Ranked Battle

Gouging Fire Base Stats, Type, Ability and Weakness

Blueberry #236		Type
Gouging Fire
		Abilities
		Protosynthesis
Weak to:
	(2x)
Damaged Normally By:	(1x)
Resists:	(0.5x)
	(0.25x)

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Gouging Fire

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Gouging Fire

Assault Vest Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Adamant (+Atk, -Sp. Atk）
EV Spread	HP 252 / Atk 252 / Sp. Def 4
Final Stat Values	HP 212 / Atk 183 / Def 141 / Sp. Def 114 / Spe 111
Ability	Protosynthesis
Tera Type
Held Item	Assault Vest
Moveset	・ Flare Blitz ・ Earthquake ・ Stone Edge ・ Tera Blast

Summary

Great bulk combined with a good amount of resistances. Has the strong Ground + Rock offensive combo. Terastallization is great both offensively and defensively.

Ability and Held Item

Ability	Held Item
Protosynthesis	Assault Vest

Gouging Fire's only ability is Protosynthesis. This will boost its highest stat whenever the Sun is up or if it holds a Booster Energy.

The item chosen for this build is an Assault Vest. This will increase Gouging Fire's lower Sp. Def stat, making it harder to knockout.

Moves Breakdown

Flare Blitz is its strongest Fire-type STAB move, but it will cause recoil damage whenever it hits the opponent.

Earthquake and Stone Edge are its main coverage moves that hit a wide range of Pokemon for super-effective damage.

Tera Blast becomes a really strong Fairy-type coverage move once Gouging Fire Terastallizes.

Best Tera Type: Fairy

Fairy Tera Type Matchup
Weak to:
	(2x)
Damaged Normally By:	(1x)
Resists:	(0.5x)
Immune to:	(0x)

Fairy is the best Tera Type for this build because it is one of the best defensive types in the game and it also makes Tera Blast an amazing coverage move.
Best Fairy (Tera) Type Pokemon for Ranked Battle

EV Spread and Nature

A full 252 EVs are placed in Gouging Fire's HP and Attack to make it as bulky as possible while still being able to hit hard. The extra 4 EVs are put into its Sp. Def to help round out its bulk.

An Adamant nature is preferred to maximize Gouging Fire's damage output.

Other Viable Moves

Key Damage Calculations

Damage Dealt by Gouging Fire
87 HP｜95 Def Defensive EV Investment: 4 HP (Timid) Item: Choice Scarf	Flare Blitz 198 ~ 234 (121.4 ~ 143.5%) Guaranteed OHKO
55 HP｜80 Def Defensive EV Investment: 4 HP (Timid) Item: Choice Scarf	Earthquake 126 ~ 150 (96.1 ~ 114.5%) 81.3% Chance to OHKO
80 HP｜84 Def Defensive EV Investment: 4 HP (Jolly) Item: Hearthflame Mask	Stone Edge 122 ~ 144 (78.2 ~ 92.3%) Guaranteed 2HKO
100 HP｜100 Def Defensive EV Investment: 4 HP (Jolly) Item: Punching Glove	Gouging Fire Tera: Tera Blast 126 ~ 150 (71.5 ~ 85.2%) Guaranteed 2HKO
Damage Received by Gouging Fire
135 Sp. Atk Offensive EV Investment: 252 Sp. Atk (Modest) Item: Assault Vest	Earth Power 122 ~ 146 (57.5 ~ 68.8%) Guaranteed 2HKO
120 Atk Offensive EV Investment: 252 Atk (Jolly) Item: Cornerstone Mask	Ivy Cudgel 168 ~ 198 (79.2 ~ 93.3%) Guaranteed 2HKO

Game8's Competitive Damage Calculator

Choice Band Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Jolly (+Spe, -Sp. Atk)
EV Spread	Atk 252 / Sp. Def 4 / Spe 252
Final Stat Values	HP 180 / Atk 167 / Def 141 / Sp. Def 114 / Spe 157
Ability	Protosynthesis
Tera Type
Held Item	Choice Band
Moveset	・ Raging Fury ・ Outrage ・ Earthquake ・ Stone Edge

Summary

Great bulk combined with a good amount of resistances. Has the strong Ground + Rock offensive combo. Really high base power STAB moves.

Ability and Held Item

Ability	Held Item
Protosynthesis	Choice Band

Gouging Fire's only ability is Protosynthesis. This will boost its highest stat whenever the Sun is up or if it holds a Booster Energy.

The item chosen for this build is a Choice Band. This increases Gouging Fire's damage output, helping it knock out Pokemon it normally wouldn't be able to.

Moves Breakdown

Raging Fury and Outrage are its strongest STAB moves, but they will confuse Gouging Fire after 2-3 turns when either of these moves are used.

Earthquake and Stone Edge are its main coverage moves that hit a wide range of Pokemon for super-effective damage.

Best Tera Type: Stellar

Stellar Tera Type Matchup
Weak to:
	(2x)
Damaged Normally By:	(1x)
Resists:	(0.5x)
	(0.25x)

Stellar is the best Tera Type for this build because it will boost the first attack of whatever move Gouging Fire uses, helping it get a quick and easy knockout.

Do note that even if it is a Stellar Type, it will still keep the defensive properties of its Fire/Dragon typing.

Stellar Tera Type Match-Ups Explained

EV Spread and Nature

A full 252 EVs are placed in Gouging Fire's Attack and Speed to make it hit as hard and fast as possible. The extra 4 EVs are put into its Sp. Def to help round out its bulk.

A Jolly nature is preferred to help it outspeed as many Pokemon as possible.

Other Viable Moves

Doubles Movesets for Gouging Fire

Physically Offensive Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Jolly (+Spe, -Sp. Atk）
EV Spread	Atk 252 / Sp. Def 4 / Spe 252
Final Stat Values	HP 180 / Atk 135 / Def 141 / Sp. Def 114 / Spe 157
Ability	Protosynthesis
Tera Type
Held Item	Clear Amulet
Moveset	・ Flare Blitz ・ Stomping Tantrum ・ Iron Head ・ Burning Bulwark

Summary

Great bulk combined with a good amount of resistances. Fire-type Physical Attacker makes it immune to Will-O-Wisp. Great Signature Move in Burning Bulwark which burns a foe on contact.

Ability and Held Item

Ability	Held Item
Protosynthesis	Clear Amulet

Gouging Fire's only ability is Protosynthesis. This will boost its highest stat whenever the Sun is up or if it holds a Booster Energy.

The item chosen for this build is an Clear Amulet. This is important for giving Gouging Fire an immunity to Incineroar's Intimidate.

Moves Breakdown

Flare Blitz is its strongest Fire-type STAB move, but it will cause recoil damage whenever it hits the opponent.

Stomping Tantum is valuable Ground-type coverage which may prove useful against the likes of Incineroar, Raging Bolt, and Archaludon.

Iron Head gives Gouging Fire a way to dispose of Flutter Mane.

And lastly, Burning Bulwark is a powerful new protecting move that burns opponents on contact, which works as a deterent to Fake Out.

Best Tera Type: Grass

Grass Tera Type Matchup
Weak to:
	(2x)
Damaged Normally By:	(1x)
Resists:	(0.5x)

Grass is the best Tera Type for this build because it gives Gouging Fire a valuable immunity to Amoonguss's Spore, as well as a resistance to Ground.

Best Grass (Tera) Type Pokemon for Ranked Battle

EV Spread and Nature

A full 252 EVs are placed in Gouging Fire's Speed and Attack to make it as bulky as possible while still being able to hit hard. The extra 4 EVs are put into its Sp. Def to help round out its bulk.

A Jolly nature is preferred to maximize Gouging Fire's Speed, which may prove important for when Protosynthesis is activated.

Other Viable Moves

Key Damage Calculations

Damage Dealt by Gouging Fire
87 HP｜95 Def Defensive EV Investment: 4 HP (Timid) Item: Choice Scarf	Flare Blitz 198 ~ 234 (121.4 ~ 143.5%) Guaranteed OHKO
55 HP｜55 Def Defensive EV Investment: 4 HP (Timid) Item: Booster Energy	Iron Head 136 ~ 160 (103.8 ~ 122.1%) Guaranteed OHKO
Damage Received by Gouging Fire
135 Sp. Atk Offensive EV Investment: 252 Sp. Atk (Timid) Item: Booster Energy	Tera Fairy Dazzling Gleam 130 ~ 154 (72.2 ~ 85.5%) Guaranteed 2HKO

Game8's Competitive Damage Calculator

How to Use Gouging Fire Effectively

Can Also be Used as a Defensive Pivot

While in most scenarios you'd want to use Gouging Fire as an attacker, its great natural HP and Defense stats make it a viable defensive pivot. Don't be afraid to use Gouging Fire to tank hits for its allies, especially into physical attackers that it resists.

How to Build a Team with Gouging Fire

Gouging Fire wants to be on a team that can utilize their resistances to cover for each other's weaknesses.

Sample Singles Team

Offensive Lead	Physical Attacker	Special Attacker
Landorus (Therian Forme)	Gouging Fire	Primarina

When combined, these three Pokemon have a good amount of resistances which allows them to freely switch in and out to take hits for each other.

Also, Landorus and Primarina both have the option to offensively switch out on their turns with U-Turn and Flip Turn respectively.

Sample Doubles Team

Physical Attacker	Physical Attacker
Gouging Fire	Groudon
Special Attacker	Physical Attacker
Walking Wake	Chien-Pao

Gouging Fire is a great partner for Groudon in Regulation G, as it is able to enjoy the benefits of Sun from its Drought Ability which can automatically trigger its Protosynthesis.

Walking Wake is a valuable Pokemon for matchups against Rain, as well as Rock and Ground-types.

Chien-Pao can help increase Gouging Fire's damage output with its Sword of Ruin Ability.

Counters for Gouging Fire

Use Fast Attackers to Quickly Knock It Out

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Landorus (Therian Forme)	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Comfortably tanks Gouging Fire's attacks thanks to Intimidate. ・Forces it to Terastallize or it'll take a lot of damage from Earthquake. ▶️ Landorus Therian Best Movesets
Walking Wake	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Naturally outspeeds Gouging Fire. ・Forces it to Terastallize or it will get OHKO'd by a Choice Specs Draco Meteor ▶️ Walking Wake Best Movesets
Ogerpon (Cornerstone Mask)	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Guaranteed to survive a hit thanks to Sturdy. ・Terastallizing boosts both Ogerpon's Defense and Ivy Cudgel's damage, making it a guaranteed OHKO. ▶️ Cornerstone Ogerpon Best Movesets

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Related Guides

Movesets & Best Builds for Ranked Battle

All Indigo Disk DLC Builds for Ranked Battle

New Indigo Disk Pokemon Builds

New Indigo Disk Pokemon Builds

Snack Legendary Builds

New Indigo Disk Pokemon Builds

Returning Indigo Disk Pokemon Builds

Returning Indigo Disk Pokemon Builds

Blueberry Pokedex: List of All Indigo Disk Pokemon

All Teal Mask DLC Builds for Ranked Battle

All Teal Mask DLC Builds

Kitakami Pokedex: List of All Teal Mask DLC Pokemon

All Pokemon HOME Builds for Ranked Battle

All Pokemon HOME Builds

All Pokemon HOME Transferable Pokemon

All Treasures of Ruin Builds for Ranked Battle

All Treasures of Ruin Builds

Best Treasures of Ruin Builds for Ranked Battle and Raids

All Paradox Pokemon Builds for Ranked Battle

All Paradox Pokemon Builds

Paradox Pokemon Builds for Competitive Battles and Tera Raids

All Other Gen 9 Meta Pokemon Builds for Ranked Battle

All Other Gen 9 Meta Pokemon Builds

Gen 9 Pokemon: All New Pokemon

All Gen 1~8 Meta Pokemon Builds for Ranked Battle

All Gen 1~8 Meta Pokemon Builds

Best Pokemon Tier List

All Off-Meta Builds for Ranked Battle

All Off-Meta Pokemon Builds

Competitive Team Building for Singles Ranked Battle

Banned/Restricted Builds

Banned/Restricted Builds

Ranked Battle Regulation E: Rules and Banned Pokemon