Pokemon Sword and Shield

Entei - Movesets & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Pokemon - Entei banner.png
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
Pokemon SWSH - Entei Evolution and LearnsetEvolution and Learnset Pokemon SWSH - Entei Best BuildBuild for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Entei

Types and Abilities

Pokemon Type 1 Type 2
Pokemon Sword and Shield - Fire Type
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
Pokemon Water Image Pokemon Ground Image Pokemon Rock Image
Takes 0.5x damage
Pokemon Fire Image Pokemon Grass Image Pokemon Ice Image Pokemon Bug Image Pokemon Steel Image Pokemon Fairy Image
Takes 1/4x damage
-
Takes 0x damage
-

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

HP Attack Defense Sp. Atk Sp. Def Speed
115 115 85 90 75 100

Best Nature for Entei

Best Natures
Adamant
(+Atk, -Sp.Atk)

Singles Movesets for Entei

Choice Band Sweeper Moveset & Best Build

Choice Band Sweeper Entei.png

Nature Adamant (+Atk, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread Atk 252 / Def 4 / Spd 252
Final Stat Values HP 190 / Atk 183 / Def 106 / Sp.Def 95 / Spd 152
Ability Inner Focus
Held Item Choice Band
Moveset Sacred Fire
Extreme Speed
Stone Edge
Iron Head

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

Crunch An alternative to Iron Head that allows Entei to threaten Psychic-types and Ghost-types.
Flare Blitz Can be used instead of Iron Head. It's stronger and more accurate than Sacred Fire, but inflicts recoil damage.

Assault Vest Sweeper Moveset & Best Build

Assault Vest Sweeper Entei.png

Nature Adamant (+Atk, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread HP 132 / Atk 252 / Def 52 / Sp.Def 52 / Spd 20
Final Stat Values HP 207 / Atk 183 / Def 112 / Sp.Def 102 / Spd 123
Ability Inner Focus
Held Item Assault Vest
Moveset Sacred Fire
Stone Edge
Stomping Tantrum
Extreme Speed

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

Crunch An alternative to Extreme Speed that allows Entei to threaten Psychic-types and Ghost-types.

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

Entei
Weakness Pokemon Water Image Pokemon Ground Image Pokemon Rock Image

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
Pokemon SWSH - Conkeldurr ImageConkeldurr 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
Pokemon SWSH - Toxapex ImageToxapex 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
Pokemon SWSH - Suicune ImageSuicune 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

Pokemon Sword and Shield - Best Builds for Ranked Battle

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Pokemon SWSH - Tier ListTier List Pokemon SWSH - Best BuildsBest Builds Pokemon Sword and Shield - Ranked Battle Series 10 Contenders.pngSeries 10 List of Contenders
Pokemon SWSH - Doubles Tier ListDoubles Tier List Pokemon SWSH - Competitive Team BuildingTeam Building Pokemon SWSH - Rental TeamsRental Teams

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