Entei - Movesets & Best Build for Ranked Battle

This is a strategy guide for using Entei 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 Entei, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Entei - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Entei

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Entei
Abilities
Pressure	The Pokemon raises the foe's PP usage.
Inner Focus (Hidden)	The Pokemon is protected from flinching.

Entei 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

Best Nature for Entei

Singles Movesets for Entei

Choice Band Sweeper Moveset & Best Build

Although it faces some competition with other Choice Band users, Entei has a niche as a sweeper that threatens opposing physical sweepers thanks Sacred Fire.

About Entei's Moves

Sacred Fire is Entei's main STAB move, and has a 50% to burn the target. This allows Entei to check and threaten opposing physical sweepers as they risk getting burned and getting their Attack cut in half if they stay in battle with the Volcano Pokemon.

Extreme Speed is its other main attacking move and, thanks to its +2 priority, allows Entei to attack and potentially KO faster but frailer sweepers like Cinderace and Mienshao.

It's remaining moves are for coverage. Stone Edge hits opposing Fire-types and Flying-types for super effective damage, while Iron Head allows Entei to threaten Fairy-types.

About Entei's EV Spread

We're using a straigthforward physical attacking EV spread with full investment in Attack and Speed so that Entei hits as hard and as fast as possible. The remaining EVs are placed in Defense to further boost its natural bulk, and works well with Sacred Fire's high burn rate.

About Entei's Ability

Inner Focus is the recommended Ability for this Entei. Apart from giving it immunity to flinching attacks, Inner Focus also blocks Intimidate.

About Entei's Held Item

Choice Band boosts Entei's attack by 50%, but restricts it to using only the initial move it used for that turn.

Other Viable Moves

Assault Vest Sweeper Moveset & Best Build

Entei is also an effective Assault Vest user thanks to its great HP stat and respectable bulk.

About Entei's Moves

Sacred Fire is Entei's main STAB move, and has a 50% to burn the target. Stone Edge is its secondary attack, and gives great neutral coverage - especially against opposing Fire-types.

Stomping Tantrum is its secondary coverage move. This move becomes a 150 Base Power Ground-type move if Entei's previous move misses or is blocked by the opposing Pokemon's Ability. Both Sacred Fire and Stone Edge have a chance to miss, meaning Entei can potentially deal out powerful Stomping Tantrums against the opposing team.

Extreme Speed is its last attacking move and, thanks to its +2 priority, allows Entei to attack and potentially KO faster but frailer sweepers.

About Entei's EV Spread

We're using a modified physical attacking EV spread for this build. While we're still giving Entei full EV investment in Attack, we're also giving it split 52 EVs between Defense and Special Defense, as well as 132 HP EVs to give it some bulk. The remaining 20 EVs are invested in Speed to slightly boost its respectable speed stat.

About Entei's Ability

Inner Focus is the recommended Ability for this Entei. Apart from giving it immunity to flinching attacks, Inner Focus also blocks Intimidate.

About Entei's Held Item

This build relies on Assault Vest. This item boosts Entei's Special Defense by 50%, but it can't use any status moves.

Other Viable Moves

How to Use Entei Effectively

Spread Burns with Sacred Fire

Entei separates itself from other Choice Band sweepers with its ability to spread the Burn status with its Sacred Fire attack. While other Choice Band users will switch against a Check, Entei can risk staying in battle and potentially inflicting a Burn.

The Assault Vest build is especially good at threatening its usual checks, as it can potentially withstand a super effective attack and burn the opposing Pokemon with Sacred Fire.

How to Build a Team with Entei

Entei needs to compete with stronger and faster Choice Band users for a slot in most Singles teams, but it has a niche in Doubles as a lead status spreader.

Lead with Entei in Doubles

Immunity to flincing and Intimidate courtesy of Inner Focus allows Entei to function as a good offensive lead in Doubles. It's Sacred Fire move, with its 50% to inflict a burn, allows it to threaten Hyper Offense teams. A lucky burn from Sacred Fire can turn the tide of battle to your favor, especially if you manage to land it on an opposing setup sweeper!

Check out our full article below to learn more about building a Doubles Team.
How to Build a Doubles Team

Counters for Entei

Weakness

Check it With a Guts Pokemon

Entei's threat is mostly from the 50% burn rate from Sacred Fire, but there are Pokemon that actually benefit from this status effect. These Pokemon can freely switch into Entei and even KO it if it decides to stay.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Conkeldurr	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can survive Entei's Choice Banded Sacred Fire ・Can KO Entei with Close Combat if it gets burned Moveset & Best Build for Conkeldurr

Counter it With a Defensive Water-Type

Entei can't do much against Bulky Waters due to its lack of coverage. Many defensive Water-types can freely switch into Entei, not caring about burns, and force it to switch out with their Water-type moves.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Toxapex	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Resist Entei's main STABs and take little damage from the rest of its attacks, even Stomping Tantrum ・Can poison Entei with Toxic and stall it until it switches out Moveset & Best Build for Toxapex
Suicune	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Resists Entei's main STAB and take slittle from its other moves ・CroCune variants can stall Entei and eventually threaten it with Calm Mind boosted Scald or Surf Moveset & Best Build for Suicune

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 The Crown Tundra Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for The Crown Tundra Pokemon
Galarian Articuno	Galarian Zapdos	Galarian Moltres
Raikou	Entei	Suicune
Articuno	Zapdos	Moltres
Tornadus	Thundurus	Landorus
Tapu Koko	Tapu Lele	Tapu Bulu
Tapu Fini	Regieleki	Regidrago
Latios	Latias	Heatran
Cresselia	Glastrier	Spectrier
Nidoking	Swampert	Dragonite
Salamence	Garchomp	Metagross
Galarian Slowking	Nihilego	Naganadel
Pheromosa	Buzzwole	Celesteela
Kartana	Stakataka	Blaziken
Kyogre	Yveltal	Xerneas
Necrozma (Dusk Mane)	Calyrex (Shadow Rider)	Mewtwo
Calyrex (Ice Rider)	Dialga	Lugia
Black Kyurem	Zekrom	Ho-Oh
Rayquaza	Zygarde	Reshiram
White Kyurem	Groudon	Regirock
Palkia	Regigigas	Registeel
Regice	Giratina	Solgaleo
Lunala	Kyurem	Necrozma
Uxie	Mesprit	Azelf
Calyrex