In Hoenn, though, Fighting-types are much more than just punching and kicking – with many having unique playstyles and typings. So which ones are most worth tracking down? Here’s my ranking of the best you can find on your trip across Hoenn.
5. Hariyama
Suggested Moves:
Force Palm Vital Throw Belly Drum (Undecided)
Okay so I know I just mentioned how unique the Fighting-types in Hoenn are, but first… Hariyama is a pure Fighting-type that does exactly what it looks like it would. This thing hits very hard with its massive hands. It’s not the most well-rounded fighter on this list. But it’s available early, and is very easy to train. All of Hariyama’s best moves are learned by level up, starting with Force Palm at level 13. This will be Makuhita’s first great STAB move, joined by Vital Throw at level 22. After Makuhita has evolved into Hariyama, it’ll learn Belly Drum at level 26. Belly Drum is a risky but super-powerful attack that takes half of Hariyama’s max HP, in exchange for raising its attack by 6 stages. Assuming it can survive taking the damage, Hariyama will one-shot just about anything while in this state. How to catch: Catch a Makuhita in Granite Cave, then raise it to level 24 to evolve it into Hariyama.
4. Mega Medicham
Suggested Moves:
Calm Mind High Jump Kick Zen Headbutt Ice Punch/Thunder Punch
Medicham got a huge glow-up in Generation 6. What once was a fairly weak Pokémon became a force to be reckoned with. And Medicham will already know two of its best moves when you catch it in its pre-evolved form, Meditite. So let’s look into a good moveset build here. Calm Mind is a huge buff to Medicham’s Special Stats, while High Jump Kick is Medicham’s best STAB move. Both moves are essential, so don’t overwrite them. Once you evolve your Meditite into Medicham, take it to the Fallarbor Town Move Reminder to teach it its final two moves. And really, you have a few options as to how you want to fill these slots. I recommend first teaching Medicham Zen Headbutt, since it’s the best Psychic-type move it can learn. The second move is up to you – Ice Punch is great for covering Medicham’s Bug-type weakness, while Thunder Punch will come in handy against the horde of Water-types in Hoenn’s eastern routes. How to catch: Catch a Meditite on Mt. Pyre, then raise it to level 37 to evolve it into Medicham. In ORAS, Medicham’s Mega Stone is found near the summit of Mt. Pyre.
3. Breloom
Suggested Moves:
Spore Toxic/Poison Powder Sky Uppercut (Undecided)
Breloom is the most unique entry on the list. It’s a Grass/Fighting-type that makes the list through its support moves rather than its high Attack stat. Breloom’s greatest weapon is Spore, a move learned by its pre-evolution (Shroomish) if you delay its evolution until level 40. This is a huge task, since Shroomish is pretty useless in battle. But if you want a great support Pokémon, there’s few that do it better than a Breloom with Spore. Because Spore is the only 100%-accurate sleep move in the game – and Breloom is one of very few Pokémon that learn it. Shroomish also learns Stun Spore at level 5 and Poison Powder at level 19, giving Breloom the choice of 3 status moves to inflict on an opponent. When you reach the Fiery Path, be sure to pick up TM06 Toxic and replace Poison Powder with that, just to give Breloom another one of the best status effect moves in the game. And finally, take Breloom to the move relearner in Fallarbor Town once it evolves to teach it Sky Uppercut – which is its best Fighting-type STAB move. How to catch: Catch a Shroomish in Petalburg Woods, then raise it to level 23 to evolve it into Breloom.
2. Mega Heracross
Suggested Moves:
Close Combat Brick Break Megahorn Rock Tomb
Heracross should strike fear into anyone who’s beaten Pokémon Platinum. It’s an endless thorn in your side throughout the Sinnoh Games, and it’s that same thorn that will be turned on your foes if you build Heracross well. Close Combat and Brick Break will be Heracross’ main STAB moves, with Brick Break acting as a backup to Close Combat once its PP has run out. Heracross will already know Brick Break when you catch it. Close Combat is learned later, at level 43. For Bug-type STAB, teach Heracross Megahorn at level 37. And finally, we can cover Heracross’ x4 weakness to Flying-type attacks with Rock Tomb, learned via the TM you get from beating Roxanne at the Rustboro City Gym. How to catch: You can find Heracross in the north-west area of the Safari Zone. In ORAS, Heracross’ Mega Stone can be found on a beach on Route 127.
1. Mega Blaziken
Suggested Moves:
Double Kick/Sky Uppercut Blaze Kick Swords Dance Shadow Claw
You don’t need me to tell you how strong Blaziken is. I know, you know, even Gamefreak knows how great it is. That’s why they created two more Fire/Fighting starters! Being one of your options as a Hoenn starter, Blaziken will get a nice string of ever-strengthening Fire and Fighting-type moves as you raise it. The level-up moves that you want to keep around are Double Kick, learned when Torchic evolves into Combusken, and Blaze Kick, learned when Combusken evolves into Blaziken. If Blaziken reaches level 57 by the end of the game, teach it Sky Uppercut as an upgrade to Double Kick. In Gen 6, Blaziken can also learn some great status moves – with the best of them being Swords Dance, which will sharply raise Blaziken’s already high Attack stat. You can find TM75 (Swords Dance) in Lavaridge Town, specifically in the Lavaridge Poke Mart (talk to the black belt NPC). And finally, you can teach Blaziken Shadow Claw to cover it’s weakness to Psychic-type attacks. You can find this move (TM65) in Granite Cave. How to catch: Choose Torchic as your starter on Route 101, then raise it to level 16 to evolve it into Combusken. Combusken will evolve again into Blaziken starting at level 36. In ORAS, you’ll be given Blaziken’s Mega Stone by Steven during the main story.
