What is a good moveset for Cinderace?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Cinderace, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for any of its pre-evolutions can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some explanation, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Cinderace Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

I call this one the banded bunny!

Cinderace @ Choice Band
Ability: Libero
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Pyro Ball
- High Jump Kick
- U-turn
- Iron Head

Pyro ball is cinderace’s best fire type move, iron head and high jump kick are for coverage and u-turn would never hurt

Comments

Hugh Jump Kick is a move Cinderace can learn?

Are you sure about that, I don’t see it on the list of moves Cinderace is able to use.

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It is an egg move on Scorbunny. :P

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Oh, well that’s just perfect, I can’t get that then. I have a male Cinderace on my team. But I’m not too upset since I have this moveset: Pyro Ball, Blaze Kick, Iron Head, Bounce

It’s not possible to breed a Scorbunny with a male Scorbunny right? I just want to be sure.

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You could just breed it with a ditto until you get a female. :P

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@jc_fireshot15 IF you REALLY wish to let your original cinderace to know the move Hi Jump Kick, you can get a FEMALE hawlucha or a FEMALE Scafty, and then put that female in the daycare with your cinderace with at least one moveslot available on the cinderace.

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@BloodVorse111, that only works for Pokémon of the same species. So, he'd have to breed a Scorbunny that knows HJK, evolve that to Cinderace, then put the HJK Cinderace and his original Cinderace (with at least one eempy moveslot) together in the daycare and then walk around for a bit for the move to transfer to the original Cinderace.

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REALLY late but if your choice banded why U-turn?

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Keeping momentum. It’s actually a great option for band

Answer 2

This is a Clear moveset for Cinderace, not one where they give you 16 different moves to choose from. Also, this is a bit different so please bear with me:

Cinderace @ Wide Lens (yes you heard me, Wide lens)
Ability: Libero
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Gunk Shot
- Pyro Ball
- High Jump Kick
- U-Turn

It's different because it doesn't run the Life Orb set - but Wide Lens. From personal experience (and this has been extremely frustrating), using a Pyro Ball, only to realize you have missed. With Wide Lens, it makes High Jump Kick a much safer motion, allowing it to hit Normal Types, Rock Types, Steel Types, Ice Types and Dark Types extremely hard. Pyro Ball for the stab, Gunk shot for the fairies and U-Turn for the scout.

If you feel you are a lucky person and barely miss shots, go for Life Orb.

Comments

I feel the very rare chance of miss is considered inferior to damage output. Therefore, Wide Lens seems to be unviable.

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This to me is honestly not that bad of a set.

Answer 3

Cinderace @ Life Orb / Leftovers
Ability: Blaze / Libero (preferably Libero)
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Adamant Nature / Jolly Nature
- Pyro Ball
- Iron Head
- High Jump Kick
- Bounce / U-turn

Pyro Ball: STAB, high power
Iron Head: Decent flinch chance works with speed, works great with libero as steel is good as defensive type.
High Jump Kick: Great power offensive as a type gets STAB after Libero + high power
Bounce / U-Turn / Flame Charge / Blaze kick / Flare Blitz

If going for extra STAB, Blaze and Charcoal may be useful.

No use of Gunk Shot unless you want poison as Fire covers Grass and Steel covers Fairy.

Comments

Gunk Shot isn't that bad—it deals with Tapu Fini which is neutral to Iron Head.

Answer 4

Role: Sweeper, Effect Swapper

Zaydaan (Cinderace) @ Charcoal
Ability: Libero (because it is incredible and just came out)
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Court Change
- Pyro Ball
- U-turn
- High Jump Kick

Court Change (To swap reflect and light screen mainly)
Pyro Ball (STAB + Charcoal + Good Power)
U-turn ( To get out of bad situations)
High Jump Kick (Good Power, can change type to live and attack again, -only problem is missing)

High Jump Kick and U-turn will also get STAB from Libero.

Comments

Good set! Don’t forget that high jump kick and u-turn get STAB from Libero. Might want to add that

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Thanks for reminding me, I fixed it

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Great set!

Answer 5

This ANSWER is available for Cinderace of Gen 8 only, as due to the terrible nerfs for Libero and Protean, these Abilities are too inconvenient in the latest version S/V.

Cinderace (M) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Libero
Gigantamax: Yes
EVs: 200 Atk / 138 Def / 170 Spe
Jolly / Adamant Nature
- Pyro Ball
- High Jump Kick
- Sucker Punch
- Iron Head

[Ability]: Libero (The owner synchronizes its type to the type of the move it's about to use - give you the access to the multi-typed manipulation - as one the most unique Pokemon with all 4 moves being STAB, it can vary up to 4
different types with freedom.)
[Item]: Assault Vest (To stay a bit bulky and to save some EVs to optimize the 3 other stats.
[Nature]: Jolly (As Cinderace owns a fragile Defense state of 40, outspeeding is the KEY - if you're more into causing damage, Adamant is totally fine as well.
[Moveset]:
- Pyro Ball (Outstanding 120BP STAB move. This is ofcoz a must-have move in the set, as when it's Gigantamaxed, the move will become a signature G-Max Move: G-Max FIREBALL. It inflicts crazy damage [160BP] while ignoring foes' Abilities.)
- High Jump Kick - (Immediately change itself to the advantageous Fighting type against its usual weakness to Rock types. This move is another strong move with 130BP.)
- Sucker Punch (A Dark type move with +1 Priority and pretty reasonable power of 70BP is to calm down the common Gen 8 pseudo-legendary, Dragapult. The priority nullifies its faster Speed of 142.)
- Iron Head - (A very strong Steel type move with lots of potential -- for example, turning you into a defensive Steel type, to counter annoying Fairy types that are seen every battle these days, etc.)

Comments

...You do realize that in Gen 8, Trailblaze didn't exist, right?

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i really didnt until u made me :( thanks.

Answer 6

Cinderace (F) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Libero
EVs: 12 HP / 248 Atk / 248 Spe
Jolly Nature
- U-turn
- Pyro Ball
- High Jump Kick
- Iron Head / Sucker Punch

U-turn - This is used when you come across anything Cinderace can't fight against such as water and ground types)
Pyro Ball - STAB with high power with good accuracy and burn chance
High Jump Kick - Great damage and good against rock and steel types, also good type coverage
Iron Head / Sucker Punch - Iron Head to deal with pesky rock types and good vs fairy types, Sucker Punch for priority against anyone who may be faster than you in a sweep attempt

Answer 7

Cinderace@Life Orb
Ability: Libero
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk/ 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Pyro Ball
- Iron Head
- Zen Headbutt
- U-turn

Moves:

Pyro Ball: STAB, great power, decent accuracy.
Iron Head: Covers Rock Weakness, great flinch chance (30%).
Zen Headbutt: Good flinch chance (20%), coverage
U-Turn: Switch out if needed.

Comments

I suggest using Heavy Duty Boots so you don't get rekt by rocks. And about saying that Pyro Ball is STAB, everything is STAB because Libero, which makes Life Orb a bit unnecessary.

Answer 8

Physical Attacker

Cinderace @ King's Rock
Ability: Libero
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature / Jolly Nature
- Pyro Ball
- U-Turn
- High Jump Kick /Zen Headbutt /Gunk Shot / Iron Head / Bounce
- High Jump Kick /Zen Headbutt /Gunk Shot / Iron Head / Bounce

Pyro Ball does a lot of damage (and looks cool). U-turn is to pivot. The last two slots are for Cinderace to switch type and do some damage. I don't think Sucker Punch is good for Cinderace because it is already fast but you can use it anyways.

Comments

why Electro Ball as an option if you have Jolly/Adamant Nature? Why Leftovers on a frail, fast, offensively inclined Pokemon? You didn't specify the EVs, and Pyro Ball is definitely the best fire move for CInderace but in competitive looks don't matter

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And Libero was misspelled.

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don't think this is a good moveset but it's not flag worthy. flags are used for things that don't answer a question. this IS a cinderace moveset, is it not?

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"Include ALL standard set details. This means item, nature, EVs, ability and moves. It is also helpful to mention your intended game mode; for example, Gen 8 Smogon OU or VGC 2020."
(from guidelines)
It doesn't have real EVs, which makes it flag-worthy. Not sure why flags got cleared tho.

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I usually accept "max x, max y" for EVs (and in any case, they're now edited with the actual values).

Answer 9

Cinderace-Gmax @ Life Orb/Heavy-duty boots
Ability: Libero
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Pyro Ball
- Gunk Shot/High Jump Kick
- Sucker Punch
- U-turn
Great set in Ubers. Pyro Ball is it's main STAB and deals a lot of damage, also covering Zacian-C. Gunk Shot can poison oppoments, Sucker Punch can OHKO Calyrex-Shadow which is good, U-Turn can quickly switch out Cinderace to something that can take a hit from the oppoment. High Jump Kick can deal lots of damage and covers Cinderace's Rock weakness.
Recommended teammates:
Rillaboom-Covers all of a Fire types' weaknesses. Goes great with Grassy Seed Unburden Hawlucha too.

I've hoped I've helped!

Answer 10

Cinderace @ Life Orb
Ability: Blaze / Libero
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature / Jolly Nature
- Pyro Ball
- Agility
- Electro Ball
- High Jump Kick

Pyro Ball (excellent STAB)
Agility (speed boost)
Electro Ball (to take advantage of EVs and Agility)
High jump Kick (fighting coverage)

Comments

A Cinderace with a special move, especially one with an Adamant/Jolly Nature, is just awful.

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As X said above, you really don't need Electro Ball. At all. You have a -SpA nature with a Special attacking move. While this can work in some cases, like Fire Blast on Life Orb Salamence and Dragapult, Cinderace is just too weak on the specialy offensive side to do any meaningful damage with super-effective Electro Ball

Answer 11

Cinderace (F) @ Heavy Duty Boots
Ability: Libero
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Naughty Nature
- Pyro Ball
- High Jump Kick
- Zen Headbutt
- Court Change

Pyro Ball is an obvious and amazing move seriously you cannot have a good Cinderace without this move. Plus, it's STAB. High Jump Kick is to hit hard against Pokemon like Tyranitar, Blissey, Snorlax, Melmatal, and more!!!
Zen Headbutt is also a great move for coverage against poison types, which their use always grows more and more and more. Court Change is Court Change

Answer 12

Cinderace @ Life Orb
Ability: Libero
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Sp
Jolly Nature
- Pyro Ball
- High Jump Kick
- Iron Head
- Bounce

This Cinderace is a good doubles Dynamax candidate with stat-boosting max moves and Libero allowing you to get STAB on all attacks means you can do a lot of damage.

Answer 13

Cinderace @ Choice Band
Ability: Libero
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Pyro Ball
- High Jump Kick
- U-turn
- Iron Head

Pyro Ball: STAB
High Jump Kick: Coverage
U-turn: Coverage
Iron Head: Coverage

Make it a female for the memes

Answer 14

Pretty OP Pokemon, I really like this one specially because of his ability.

Cinderace @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Libero
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature / Adamant Nature
- Pyro Ball
- Bounce
- Iron Head
- Court Change

This one is all about his ability. Pyro is STAB, Court Change is to clear those annoying Stealth Rocks and get some extra protection from Reflect and Light Screen if the opponent used it. Bounce and Iron Head can make you change type and catch your opponent off guard :)

Comments

Bounce is a bad move. Iron Head doesn't hit anything important, other than Fairy types, which can be dealt with via the much better Gunk Shot. Why use Weakness Policy on a Pokemon as frail as Cinderace? If you want to remove hazards, use bulky Defoggers like Landorus-Therian/Tornadus Therian or Rapid Spin Excadrill instead of Cinderace.

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Nowhere is it mentioned that it's OU. It could be for AG/Ubers (at that time), and Bounce for boosting Spe as Max Airstream and Iron Head as Max Steelspike boosting Def.

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But Cinderace is awful/bad in any tier above OU

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Bounce Sucks,It Can Miss And Cinderace COULD Be Killed.Ditch Bounce For Gunk Shot And Ditch Iron Head For Sucker Punch/Zen Headbutt,Why Use Weakness Policy if Cinderace Is Already Good,I'd Say Put Heavy Duty Boots On It Or Life Orb To Hit Stronger.Also If You Want To Remove Hazards Use Bulky Pokemon Like Excadrill With The Move Rapid Spin.

Answer 15

If you've played Nat Dex within the past month or so, then you've probably lost to this set before.

National Dex

Cinderace @ Normalium Z
Ability: Libero
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Pyro Ball
- Double-Edge
- Bulk Up
- Sucker Punch / High Jump Kick / Gunk Shot / Substitute

Pyro Ball allows Cinderace to get rid of Steels like Corviknight, Ferrothorn, and Magearna. Double-Edge is already strong enough by itself, however with STAB, Normalium Z, and a potential Bulk Up it becomes almost impossible to switch into, overwhelming usual checks like Toxapex, Clefable, and NDOU's resident Ground types, especially after hazard chip.

Bulk Up boosts Cinderace's Attack, and the Defense boost is nice. Sucker Punch revenge-kills faster Pokemon and kills the rare Ghost types, including the Scald-clicking Jellicent which is rising in order to counter standard variants of this set.

High Jump Kick gets rid of Heatran and Tyranitar, both of which resist Normal and either resist or, in Flash Fire Heatran's case, are immune to Fire. Gunk Shot hits Clefable hard without wasting Normalium Z and can spread Poison. Substitute lets Cinderace set up Bulk Up more easily, and makes it immune to Intimidate.

Answer 16

Gen 8 NFE

Raboot @ Choice Scarf / Heavy Duty Boots
Ability: Libero
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- High Jump Kick
- Gunk Shot
- U-turn
- Flare Blitz / Blaze Kick

High Jump Kick is a really strong move that deals with rock types. Gunk Shot is another strong move. U-Turn is for pivoting. Flare Blitz or Blaze Kick, whichever one you choose, is fire type STAB. For the item, you can use Choice Scarf to get more speed, or Heavy Duty Boots to not take damage from entry hazards.

Comments

why not pyro ball flare blitz is recoil,blaze kick miss but crit and pyro ball burn and may miss but you got a point but man,its cinderace's signature move why not

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...This is a moveset for Raboot. Raboot can't even learn Pyro Ball.

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im blind and dumb

Answer 17

Another galar starter that really apreciated it's HA, crazy

Gen VIII
Cinderace @ Life Orb
Ability: Libero
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature / Jolly Nature
- Pyro Ball
- High Jump Kick
- Iron Head
- Sucker Punch
Same story as Greninja, use the right move in the right situation, be careful with Hi Jump Kick

Answer 18

Cinderace @ Life Orb / Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Libero
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature / Brave Nature
- Pyro Ball (Signature Move, why not?)
- Shadow Ball
- High Jump Kick
- U-Turn/Sucker Punch

Comments

Shadow Ball is literal garbage on Cinderace. What's the point of using it?

Answer 19

Coverage Cinderace

Cinderace @ Leftovers
Ability: Libero / Blaze
EVs: 6 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Gunk Shot
- Bounce
- Pyro Ball
- High Jump Kick

Moveset
Gunk Shot: Coverage may poison but may miss that ain't good though
Bounce: More coverage and being a annoying bunny/rabbit/hare
Pyro Ball: STAB signature move may miss so that not good
High Jump Kick: Coverage may miss which ain't good and if miss then you take damage which also not good

Answer 20

GIGANTAMAX CINDERACE AG

Cinderace-Gmax (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Libero
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Pyro Ball
- Court Change / Bounce
- High Jump Kick
- Sucker Punch / U-turn

Pyro Ball --> G-Max Fireball
Court Change --> Max Guard / Bounce --> Max Airstream
High Jump Kick --> Max Knuckle
Sucker Punch --> Max Darkness / U-turn --> Max Flutterby

Any suggestions are welcome.
• Pyro Ball strong STAB and has a 10% chance to burn the target. When Gigantamaxed, the move Pyro Ball will turn into "G-Max FireBall" and ignores the targets ability, for example the ability "Bullet Proof" which makes the user immune to some ball and bomb moves, will be ignored by G-Max Fire Ball and the ability bearer of Bullet Proof will take damage it would normally take anyway.
• Court Change swaps all effects (including hazards) on the user's side of the field to the opposing side of the field. This move makes Cinderace a great leading Pokemon by switching the hazards placed by other leads and changing its type as well. When Gigantamaxed, the move Court Change turns into Max Guard and may seem a bit useless now but protecting yourself while changing your type to normal is nice, this can catch others off guard while take less damage from an attack that would have been super effective if you hadn't used Max Guard.
• High Jump Kick strong STAB and good coverage but with life orb and chance to miss the health loss can be BAD but when Gigantamaxed this move turns into Max Knuckle and raises Cinderaces Atk stat which is great.
• Sucker Punch STAB and priority and provides decent coverage and when Gigantamaxed, it turns into Max Darkness and lowers the targets SpD.
• U-Turn STAB and used for pivoting and getting Cinderaces teamates in safely.
• Bounce STAB and turns into Max Airstream giving Cinderace a speed boost after the turn. (suggested by Kiawe)

Comments

Why would you use this in Nat Dex AG, where Mega Rayquaza, Arceus-Ground, Zygarde, etc. are good? Cinderace isn't even ranked in the VR of Nat Dex AG. It's better to use this set in BSS, with Bounce over Court Change as you're really frail for to switch hazards. The Spe boost can be more useful.

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Ok Kiawe, I made some edits but isn't Cinderace Uber like the rest of them? and with the right teamates can't Arceus-Ground, Zygarde, and Mega Rayquaza be delt with?

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@Kiawe ^

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As an offensive Fire-type, you're much better off with Groudon-Primal, which is an easier fit on usual NatDex AG teams by far. Dynamaxing and clicking moves isn't a good option in a tier infested by Pokémon such as Arceus-Ground, Zygarde and Kyogre-Primal, which check it pretty easily, and can OHKO it back in return or cripple it with moves such as Glare. You're also limiting your teambuilding options, as Cinderace is just eating a teamslot which can be filled by something else which provides better overall utility to the team.

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Thank you @Cristal Maybach! (who actually provides better explanations lol) (no hard feelings @Kiawe) but I have one question, you saw my G-Max Charizard set and knew it said National Dex and if Cinderace is not viable in National Dex we all KNOW that Charizard isn't so why didn't you tell me to fix it, I just found this out btw.

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True lol, Charizard isn't good in NatDex AG either. In Gen 8 PU though, it's a great Pokémon and is far better than being used in NDAG. Sadly you wouldn't be able to Dynamax, but even without that you're a pretty devastating force.