Blaziken - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

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

Blaziken - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Blaziken

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Blaziken
Abilities
Blaze	Powers up Fire-type moves in a pinch
Speed Boost (Hidden)	Its Speed stat is gradually boosted.

Blaziken 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
80	120	70	110	70	80

Best Nature for Blaziken

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

Singles Movesets for Blaziken

Life Orb Attacker Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Adamant (+Atk, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread	Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4 / Spd 252
Final Stat Values	HP 155 / Atk 189 / Def 90 / Sp.Def 91 / Spd 132
Ability	Speed Boost
Held Item	Life Orb
Moveset	・Close Combat ・Flare Blitz ・Thunder Punch ・Protect

Blaziken is a fast and powerful lead that has the potential to outrun opposing leads thanks to its Ability. Access to both Fighting and Fire-type STAB also make it a great Dynamax Lead that can boost the offenses of its team or change the weather.

About Blaziken's Moves

Close Combat is Blaziken's main Fighting-type STAB but lowers its Defense and Special Defense by 1 stage after attacking. It becomes Max Knuckle during Dynamax, boosting it and its team's Attack by 1 stage and preventing the defense drops from activating.

Flare Blitz is Blaziken's secondary STAB move and while powerful, also deals significant recoil damage. This move becomes Max Flare during Dynamax, removing the recoil damage and sets up Sunny Day for 5 turns.

Thunder Punch is its main coverage move, hitting Water and Flying-types for super effective damage. Its last move is Protect, which allows Blaziken to get a safe Speed boost from its Ability.

About Blaziken's EV Spread

We're using a standard physical attacking EV spread with full investment in Attack and Speed so that Blaziken can hit as hard and as fast as possible. The remaining 4 EVs are invested in Special Defense to round off its bulk.

About Blaziken's Ability

Speed Boost is Blaziken's best Ability, boosting its Speed by 1 stage at the end of every turn.

About Blaziken's Held Item

Life Orb is the held item for this build. This item boosts the power of Blaziken's moves by 30% at the cost of some recoil damage.

Other Viable Moves

Earthquake	An alternative coverage move that allows Blaziken to hit Rock-types.
Shadow Claw	An alternative coverage move that lets Blaziken hit Ghost and Psychic-types such as Dragapult and Latios.
Baton Pass	Can replace Thunder Punch if you want to pass Blaziken's Speed boost to other Pokemon in the team.

Baton Pass Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Jolly (+Spd, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread	Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4 / Spd 252
Final Stat Values	HP 155 / Atk 172 / Def 90 / Sp.Def 91 / Spd 145
Ability	Speed Boost
Held Item	Focus Sash
Moveset	・Close Combat ・Swords Dance ・Protect ・Baton Pass

Blaziken remains the most effective Baton Passer in the current offensive-oriented metagame. Unlike other Baton Passers, who are restricted to just support roles, Blaziken can still fill the role of a physical attacker.

About Blaziken's Moves

Close Combat is Blaziken's main Fighting-type STAB that prevents it from getting shut down by Taunt. Its remaining moves focus on its support role as a Baton Passer.

Swords Dance boosts Blaziken's Attack by 2 stages, while Protect lets it accummulate Speed boosts from its Ability. Finally, Baton Pass passes Blaziken's Attack and Speed boost to its next teammate.

About Blaziken's EV Spread

We're using a standard physical attacking EV spread with full investment in Attack and Speed so that Blaziken can hit as hard and as fast as possible. The remaining 4 EVs are invested in Special Defense to round off its bulk.

About Blaziken's Ability

Speed Boost is Blaziken's best Ability, boosting its Speed by 1 stage at the end of every turn.

About Blaziken's Held Item

Focus Sash ensures that Blaziken can get at least one Swords Dance and Speed boost and Baton Pass the next turn even if it gets hit by an attack that would otherwise KO it.

Other Viable Moves

Endure	An alternative to Protect that lets Blaziken endure a hit, even if it only has 1 HP left. Works well with Reversal.
Reversal	An alternative Fighting-type move that works well with Endure. If Blaziken has only 1 HP remaining, this move has a Base Power of 200.
Counter	Works well with Focus Sash if you're expecting a super effective physical move, and has the potential to KO the attacker.

How to Use Blaziken Effectively

A Fast Physical Attacker

Blaziken Speed Boost Ability sets itself apart from other physical attackers by being one of the few Pokemon that can potentially outrun the entire metagame if it accumulates enough boost.

As a result, it's one of the most popular leads and finds a place in both Offensive and Balanced teams. Its Fire typing also means it can't get shut down by Will-O-Wisp users.

An Offensive Baton Passer

Blaziken is one of the few and true offensive Baton Passers in the metagame. This means that although its main role is that of a support Pokemon, it can still deal significant damage with its STAB moves - especially if manages to get several Swords Dance boosts!

How to Build a Team with Blaziken

Blaziken's ability to support its team, either through Max Moves or as a Baton Passer means it's easy to fit into many teams. Both offensive and balanced teams appreciate the Swords Dance boosts it provides, and Defensive teams can benefit from the Speed Boost it provides.

A Lead Dynamax for Offensive Teams

Blaziken makes a great lead for offensive-oriented teams due to a combination of great Max Moves and its Speed Boost Ability.

Example Hyper Offense Team

Lead Dynamax	Physical Attacker	Offensive Pivot
Blaziken	Dragonite	Landorus (Therian Forme)

Blaziken serves as this team's Dynamax Lead, firing off powerful Max Knuckles and Max Flares - with the latter boosting the team's Attack stat by 1 stage.

Dragonite appreciates these boosts as although it has its own boosting move, the extra Attack increase lets it threaten even more Pokemon that may think of switching in. Blaziken's Max Flare also sets up Sunny Day, which boosts the power of its Fire Punch.

Landorus Therian serves as this team's offensive pivot, and as a defensive Pokemon, greatly appreciates the Attack boost it gets from Blaziken's Max Knuckle. Max Flare also reduces the power of Water-types moves that it's weak to.

Check out our article below to learn more about building a Hyper Offense team:
How to Build an Offensive Team | Best Hyper Offense Team

A Baton Passer for Defensive Teams

Defensive Teams appreciate both the Attack and Speed boosts Blaziken provides, letting otherwise slow Pokemon turn the tide against their faster opponents.

Example Baton Pass + Defensive Team

Lead Baton Pass	Physical Attacker	Defensive Pivot
Blaziken	Ferrothorn	Vaporeon

Blaziken fills the role of an offensive Baton Passer in this team, with Ferrothorn being the recepient.

Although Ferrothorn is usually a defensive Pokemon, it has a nice combination of Grass and Steel STAB that allows it to threaten many Pokemon in the current metagame.

Even though it only has 94 Base Attack, Ferrothorn hits surprisingly hard with full Attack investment and can surprise its usual switch-ins once it receives several Swords Dance and Speed Boosts.

Vaporeon serves as the team's defensive pivot, providing Wish and Scald support. It can also Baton Pass its bulky Substitutes to Ferrothorn, although this requires you to Baton Pass twice starting from Blaziken.

Check out our article below to learn more about building a Defensive Team:
How to Build a Defensive Team

Counters for Blaziken

Weakness

Check it With a Resistant Pokemon

Although Blaziken has the ability to outspeed and potentially overpower the entire metagame, it struggles against Pokemon that take little damage from its STAB and coverage moves.

In particular, it struggles against defensive Pokemon that can cripple it before it has the chance to set up.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Toxapex	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Resists Blaziken's dual STAB and can hit back with Scald ・Can use Baneful Bunker or Toxic to cripple Blaziken and lower its long-term survivability Moveset & Best Build for Toxapex
Tapu Fini	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Resists Blaziken's dual STAB and can hit back with Scald or Hydro Pump ・Can change Blaziken's typing with Soak Moveset & Best Build for Tapu Fini
Salamence	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Resists Blaziken's dual STAB and can hit back and potentially KO it with Dual Wingbeat ・Lowers Blaziken's Attack with its Intimidate Ability Moveset & Best Build for Salamence
Landorus (Therian Forme)	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Resists Blaziken's dual STAB and can hit back with Earthquake ・Lowers Blaziken's Attack with its Intimidate Ability Moveset & Best Build for Landorus (Therian Forme)

Hit it With Priority Moves

Pokemon that have priority moves can bypass Blaziken's Speed Boosts, damaging it heavily and even potentially dealing a KO!

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Dragonite	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Outspeeds Blaziken with Extreme Speed ・Resists Blaziken's dual STAB and can hit back and potentially KO it with Dual Wingbeat Moveset & Best Build for Dragonite
Azumarill	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Oustpeeds Blaziken with Aqua Jet and can KO it when holding a Choice Band ・Resists Blaziken's dual STAB Moveset & Best Build for Azumarill

Use a Pokemon with the Unaware Ability

Pokemon with the Unaware Ability can completely ignore all of Blaziken's stat boosts, essentially preventing it from Baton Passing or boosting its team's Attack with its Max Moves.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Quagsire	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Ignores Blaziken's Attack and Speed Boost with Unaware ・Resists Blaziken's Fire-type STAB and can threaten it with Scald or Earthquake Moveset & Best Build for Quagsire
Clefable	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Ignores Blaziken's Attack and Speed Boost with Unaware ・Resists Blaziken's Fighting-type STAB Moveset & Best Build for Clefable

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