Torkoal - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Torkoal Movesets in Other Games
SV	SWSH

This is a strategy guide for using Torkoal in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Torkoal, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Torkoal - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Torkoal

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Torkoal
Abilities
White Smoke	Prevents other Pokemon from lowering its stats.
Drought	Turns the sunlight harsh when the Pokemon enters a battle.
Shell Armor (Hidden)	The Pokemon is protected against critical hits.

Torkoal Weaknesses and Resistances

	Type
Takes 4x damage	-
Takes 2x damage
Takes 0.5x damage
Takes 1/4x damage	-
Takes 0x damage	-

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

HP	Attack	Defense	Sp. Atk	Sp. Def	Speed
70	85	140	85	70	20

Best Nature for Torkoal

Best Natures
Calm (+Sp.Def, -Atk)	Bold (+Def, -Atk)

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Torkoal

Eject Pack Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Calm (+Sp.Def, -Atk)
EV Spread	HP 252 / Def 28 / Sp.Def 228
Final Stat Values	HP 177 / Def 164 / Sp.Atk 105 / Sp.Def 130 / Spd 40
Ability	Drought
Held Item	Eject Pack
Moveset	・Overheat ・Yawn ・Stealth Rock ・Body Press

About Torkoal's Moves

This set revolves around dealing out full power Overheats in the sun. Otherwise, Torkoal can use Body Press as a Fighting-type coverage move that will be based off its' great defenses, and he can also provide utility through Yawn or Stealth Rock.

About Torkoal's Ability

Drought allows Torkoal to set the sun upon switching in. This is vitally important as a member of a sun-team, but also provides boosts to his own Fire-type moves while elminating his Water-type weakness.

About Torkoal's Held Item

Eject Pack works by switching out the user when their stats are lowered. This includes self-induced stat drops. This allows Torkoal to come in, set the sun, and fire off a full-powered STAB, sunlight-boosted, Overheat deal damage, then switch back out to regain the stat drops.

Other Viable Moves

Self-Destruct	A good move to use as Torkoal gets low on HP to deal a large amount of damage before fainting.
Fissure	Despite being a low-accuracy move, this can help Torkoal get essential KOs against Pokemon it couldn't otherwise take down.
Will-O-Wisp	Can be used to cripple physical attackers with a burn.
Clear Smog	Gives Torkoal a way to remove stat changes of the enemy.
Earth Power	A decently strong Ground-type coverage move.

Trick Room Attacker Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Quiet (+, -)
EV Spread	HP 252 / Def 4 / Sp.Atk 252
Final Stat Values	HP 177 / Def 161 / Sp.Atk 105 / Sp.Def 134 / Spd 40
Ability	Drought
Held Item	Choice Specs Charcoal
Moveset	・Eruption ・Solar Beam ・Earth Power ・Flamethrower

About Torkoal's Moves

There are few Pokemon who can outspeed Torkoal under Trick Room. With it set up, Torkoal can deal absurd amounts of damage from full HP thanks to a STAB, sun-boosted, Choice Specs Eruption.

Alternatively, a single-turn, Choice Specs Solar Beam can also deal significant damage to opposing Water/Rock/Ground-types.

Earth Power also serves as a ground-type coverage move, while Flamethrower can be used when Torkoal takes some damage and Eruption won't be as strong as it could be.

About Torkoal's EV Spread

This moveset uses a bulky special attacking set with maximum investment in HP and Sp.Atk. The remaining EVs may be placed in Defense.

About Torkoal's Held Item

Choice Specs is the ideal item of choice to deal the most damage possible. However, Charcoal is also a solid option to give you freedom of choice at the expense of raw firepower.

Other Viable Moves

Fissure	Despite being a low-accuracy move, this can help Torkoal get essential KOs against Pokemon it couldn't otherwise take down.
Sludge Bomb	Poison-type coverage move that can be used against opposing Fairy-types. Can be used as Max Ooze to increase Special Attack.
Fire Blast	A stronger alternative to Flamethrower, albeit less accurate.

How to Use Torkoal Effectively

Weather Support thanks to Drought

Torkoal's Drought Ability makes it a must-have on most sun-teams. Drought gives fire-types a boost to their attacking moves, while lowering the damage-received from water-type moves.

Among other things, Torkoal also works well as a support thanks to its access to moves like Stealth Rock, Yawn, and Will-o-wisp. Partner this with Torkoal's high natural bulk and we can see how he fits well as a bulky support.

Trick Room beast with Eruption

Since Torkoal has a really low speed stat, this makes it hard to outspeed in Trick Room. When attacking from full HP, Torkoal can deal absurd amounts of damage thanks to a STAB, sun-boosted, Eruption.

How to Build a Team with Torkoal

Weather Setter for a Sun Team

Example Sun Team

Weather Setter	Chlorophyll Sweeper	Dynamax Physical Sweeper
Torkoal	Venusaur	Cinderace

Torkoal serves as the weather setter for this team while also providing support via Stealth Rock. Venusaur benefits a lot as a Special Sweeper thanks to its synergy with the sun and its ability Chlorophyll.

These two work well together as Venusaur can cover Torkoal's weaknesses well. Cinderace can fill in the last spot as a versatile member thanks to Libero.

How to Build a Weather Team

Counters for Torkoal

Weakness

Disrupt Torkoal's Reliance on Weather

Torkoal, and teams with Torkoal tend to heavily rely on weather to build their path to success. By bringing in members who can easily switch the weather, it can disrupt not only Torkoal's strategy, but even the entire team.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Gyarados	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can set rain with Max Geyser and also benefits from other Max Moves like Max Airstream. Moveset & Best Build for Gyarados
Lapras	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Can set rain with Max Geyser and also benefits from other Max Moves like G-Max Resonance. Moveset & Best Build for Lapras

Use Ground or Rock-types

As bulky as Torkoal may be, he doesn't really have any reliable forms of recovery. By facing Torkoal against strong Ground/Rock types, Torkoal will sooner or later still fall against them.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Landorus (Therian Forme)	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Has access to the super effective move Earthquake. ・Can set up stealth rocks to deal chip damage against other fire-type teammates of Torkoal. Moveset & Best Build for Landorus (Therian Forme)
Nihilego	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・ Power Herb + Meteor Beam combo can easily take out Nihilego ・Has to be wary of Torkoal's Ground-type moves. Moveset & Best Build for Nihilego
Hippowdon	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Has access to the super effective move Earthquake. ・Can set up stealth rocks to deal chip damage against other fire-type teammates of Torkoal. Moveset & Best Build for Hippowdon
Rhyperior	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Has access to the super effective move Earthquake. ・Can change the weather with Max Rockfall ・High durability to outlive Torkoal Moveset & Best Build for Rhyperior

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 10 List of Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

Best Builds for Returning Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for Returning Pokemon
Mimikyu	Wash Rotom	Gyarados
Ferrothorn	Aegislash	Excadrill
Tyranitar	Hydreigon	Heat Rotom
Arcanine	Mamoswine	Toxapex
Togekiss	Cloyster	Durant
Snorlax	Charizard	Sylveon
Lucario	Hippowdon	Umbreon
Conkeldurr	Quagsire	Gastrodon
Lapras	Whimsicott	Rhyperior
Goodra	Haxorus	Glaceon
Mow Rotom	Type: Null	Gengar
Milotic	Gardevoir	Flygon
Chandelure	Lanturn	Torkoal
Bisharp	Seismitoad	Silvally
Butterfree	Primarina	Incineroar
Blastoise	Decidueye	Venusaur
Darmanitan	Alolan Ninetales	Gothitelle
Crawdaunt	Clefable	Reuniclus
Kommo-o	Terrakion	Cobalion
Virizion	Noivern	Fan Rotom
Toxicroak	Pelipper	Jellicent
Celebi	Clefairy	Hitmontop
Diggersby	Ditto	Raichu
Hawlucha	Shiftry	Tsareena
Ludicolo

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle ## Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 10 List of Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

Best Builds for Returning Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for Returning Pokemon
Mimikyu	Wash Rotom	Gyarados
Ferrothorn	Aegislash	Excadrill
Tyranitar	Hydreigon	Heat Rotom
Arcanine	Mamoswine	Toxapex
Togekiss	Cloyster	Durant
Snorlax	Charizard	Sylveon
Lucario	Hippowdon	Umbreon
Conkeldurr	Quagsire	Gastrodon
Lapras	Whimsicott	Rhyperior
Goodra	Haxorus	Glaceon
Mow Rotom	Type: Null	Gengar
Milotic	Gardevoir	Flygon
Chandelure	Lanturn	Torkoal
Bisharp	Seismitoad	Silvally
Butterfree	Primarina	Incineroar
Blastoise	Decidueye	Venusaur
Darmanitan	Alolan Ninetales	Gothitelle
Crawdaunt	Clefable	Reuniclus
Kommo-o	Terrakion	Cobalion
Virizion	Noivern	Fan Rotom
Toxicroak	Pelipper	Jellicent
Celebi	Clefairy	Hitmontop
Diggersby	Ditto	Raichu
Hawlucha	Shiftry	Tsareena
Ludicolo