Gouging Fire, the Paradox Pokémon. There are scant few reports of this creature being sighted. One short video shows it rampaging and spouting pillars of flame. It resembles an eerie Pokémon once shown in a paranormal magazine. That Pokémon was said to be an Entei regenerated from a fossil.

Overview

Gouging Fire stands out from the other Paradox Beasts, not for the searing offense that its contemporaries would have you expect, but for its amazing defensive prowess. 105/121/93 defenses are fantastic and with Morning Sun, Gouging Fire can take repeated attacks and come out on top. That is not to say Gouging Fire’s offenses are lacking; Fire Dragon is incredible offensively with only Heatran, Azumarill, Primarina and Diancie resisting both. Add potent boosting in Dragon Dance and Protosynthesis and Gouging Fire is as fierce offensively as it is defensively. This blend of offense and defense makes Gouging Fire incredibly flexible, enabling it to act as wallbreaker, glue or boosting sweeper depending on one’s needs, allowing Gouging Fire to slot on many teams.

Gouging Fire does not excel at everything. Its Base 91 Speed falls short of many threats before boosting, and even after boosting can fall barely short of threats like max Speed Dragapult, to say nothing of other boosted threats. While Gouging Fire is a Dragon type that isn’t weak to Ice and Fairy, greatly easing teambuilding, Fire Dragon’s numerous failings do cut into its bulk. Lacking key resistances to Ice, Fairy and Water that you would expect of Gouging Fire’s base types leaves it leaning more on its bulk than its typing to tank attacks, while Stealth Rocks and Spikes eat Gouging Fire alive. Common weakness to Ground certainly does not help matters either. While this ancient aegis may be cracked, Gouging Fire is still an aegis whose flaming might has more than earned itself the same accolades as its brethren.
Positives
Base 105/121/93 defenses coupled with Morning Sun make Gouging Fire impressively sturdy.
Base 115 Attack is potent, and coupled Dragon Dance and Protosynthesis, Gouging Fire can output some impressive damage very quickly.
Fire Dragon is impressive offensively and Gouging Fire has the coverage to threaten the very few that resists both.

Negatives
Fire Dragon is far less impressive defensively between few resistances, weakness to Ground, and exposure to all entry hazards really cut into Gouging Fire’s defensive capabilities.
Base 91 Speed leaves Gouging Fire exposed to many faster attackers. .

Movesets

Searing Saurus

-Dragon Dance
-Flare Blitz
-Earthquake
-Morning Sun
Ability: Protosynthesis
Item: Heavy Duty Boots
EVs and Nature:
252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe Adamant Nature

Gouging Fire's iconic Dragon Dance set brings its offensive potential to the forefront. Thanks to Gouging Fire's insane bulk and nigh immunity to Fire and Grass attacks give it plenty of opportunities to setup a Dragon Dance. Once Dragon Dance drops, Gouging Fire becomes much more difficult to handle. Flare Blitz is a brutally strong STAB that reliably knocks out anything nonresistant in two attacks, bar overly bulky Pokémon like Great Tusk, Landorus-Therian and Pecharunt, and even they need significant physical investment to reliably survive. Earthquake is preferred for coverage, obliterating Heatran, Garganacl, Tyranitar, Raging Bolt and opposing Gouging Fire while doing neutral damage to most Pokémon that resist Gouging Fire's namesake STAB. Morning Sun seems odd on an offensive set, but in reality it does so much in keeping Gouging Fire healthy, preventing it from being worn down through Flare Blitz recoil and shaking off damage incurred while setting up. This not only wards off revenge killing attempts by faster attackers, but greatly facilitates Gouging Fire getting multiple Dragon Dances and becoming truly unmanageable.

Tera Types:
Gouging Fire isn't beholden to Terastalization to perform its duties, though pivoting arounds its common Ground and Dragon weaknesses can make the difference between successful setup or being KO'd on the spot. Tera Ground is an impressive offensive/defensive option for this set, not only boosting Earthquake inline with Flare Blitz for power but offering a valuable Rock resistance and Thunder Wave immunity on top of removing its other weaknesses, while its while Grass types not named Rillaboom will struggle to exploit Gouging Fire's new Grass weakness, though it does worsen Gouging Fire's issues with Water types. Tera Fairy is a reasonable alternative, turning Gouging Fire's Fairy weakness on its head while being a good defensive type in general. Even more so in more inclusive formats with monsters like Koraidon and Miraidon running amuck. Tera Grass is also worth mentioning for it providing a resistance to Earthquake and coverage option for Dondozo.

EVs and Items:
As an offensive set, Max Attack and Max Speed are recommended to get the most out of Dragon Dance, though the debate between Adamant and Jolly nature is fierce. With Adamant Nature, Gouging Fire speed ties with Dragapult after a Dragon Dance, which is a horrible Pokémon to speed tie with given Dragapult's ability to exploit Gouging Fire's Dragon weakness. Conversely, dropping Adamant to Jolly causes Gouging Fire to miss out on a lot of 2HKOs after a Dragon Dance, like Gliscor, offensive Great Tusk, and Skeledirge after Stealth Rock to name a few. Heavy Duty Boots is highly recommended as an item. Gouging Fire's famed defense is far less impressive if it loses a fourth of its health switching in from Stealth Rocks, or over a third with Stealth Rocks + a layer of Spikes, forcing Gouging Fire to Terastalize or heal early. If hazards aren't a concern, options expand rather dramatically. Booster Energy gives an impressive one-time Attack Boost, which in conjunction with Dragon Dance can pull off stunts like nearly OHKOing Gliscor with Flare Blitz, as well as Primarina and Dragapult with Earthquake, 2HKOing physically defensive Ting-Lu, etc. If running Scale Shot, Loaded Dice becomes mandatory to make the STAB viable, while Sitrus Berry and Leftovers can be used for one time burst healing or to compensate on sets not running Morning Sun.

Partners:
Gouging Fire loves Sun teams for the insane power they enable. Getting a Sun and Protosynthesis boost on Gouging Fire's Fire STAB leads to absurd tales of power after a Dragon Dance like OHKOing Ursaluna and Urshifu-Rapid after chip damage, 2HKOing Moltres, solidly OHKOing Gliscor, etc. Sun teams in turn like Gouging Fire for its Dragon STAB, which ravages many Dragon types oft called upon to endure the Grass and Fire STABs common on such teams. As such, sun setters like Torkoal, Groudon and Koraidon all work well in enabling Gouging Fire.
Unsurprisingly, Grass and Water types work well with Gouging Fire, forming a Grass Fire Water core. Gouging Fire's struggles against Ground and Water types make Grass types a natural pick. Wellspring Ogerpon stands heads and shoulders above the competition thanks to its ability to utterly no-sell Water types like Dondozo and hit most Ground types regardless of subtype and Horn Leech gives it respectable longevity to do so again and again while creating setup opportunities for Gouging Fire with Encore.
Allies that answer gaps in Gouging Fire's coverage are necessary for hit to sweep successfully. Raging Bolt does well into most Gouging Fire checks, including the universal Dondozo, the Pelipper and Moltres who handle Fire Ground coverage, as well as Primarina and Azumarill who handle Fire Dragon coverage all the while being a natural fit on Sun teams. Fire + Earthquake Gouging Fire also appreciates allies like Thunderbolt/Power Gem Flutter Mane, and Specs Dragapult who can cover these threats. Pure STAB Gouging Fire needs a solid Heatran answer, whether it be direct like Great Tusk, or a Grass type/Gholdengo lure with a super effective Tera.

Other Options:
Heat Crash is a great alternative to Flare Blitz, lacking the recoil that bites so deeply into Gouging Fire's durability and thanks to Gouging Fire's great weight, often the same power as Flare Blitz. If running in formats with many restricted (and often heavy) Pokémon running around, Flare Blitz is more recommended for the consistency against such targets, while Heat Crash is preferred in most other situations, though the recoil from Flare Blitz can alone be enough to prefer Heat Crash.
Dragon Claw is Gouging Fire's most reliable Dragon STAB, which has absurd coverage with Gouging Fire's Fire STAB but its lack of power against non-Dragon types is noticeable. Scale Shot requires to run Loaded Dice, but makes Gouging Fire much harder to revenge KO outside of priority.
Breaking Swipe is weak, but helps turn most physical checks into setup fodder and easily accrue multiple Dragon Dances.
Outrage has absurd power, but requires opposing Fairy types to be removed (and Terastalization to be expended) to not be punished.

Primordial Pressure Pyre

-Raging Fury
-Outrage
-Flare Blitz
-Earthquake
Ability: Protosynthesis
Item: Choice Band
EVs and Nature:
88 HP / 168 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature

Choice Band Gouging Fire throws out all flexibility for pure punishing power to break walls. Ideally used in this sun, this set gets a pseudo–Dragon Dance boost from Protosynthesis and Choice Band, allowing Gouging Fire to apply pressure immediately without the need for setup. Raging Fury and Outrage are the same move in different clothes, apply huge STAB damage, especially Raging Fury given the Sun, while the drawback is negligible given this is a Banded set and you can’t switch moves. Raging Fury is particularly brutal given that outside of Heatran, Gargnacl, Dondozo, and Walking Wake nothing can really switch in safely, leaving opponents in a rough spot. Outrage is ideal for the late game or if you are certain your opponent doesn’t have any Fairy types in the wing, offering impressive neutral damage against any non Steel types, who are unlikely to switch in in fear of Gouging Fire’s other STAB. Flare Blitz is great when you don’t want to be locked into performing Raging Fury, though the HP cost adds up quickly. Earthquake is mainly for Heatran, one of the few Pokémon that rebuffs both moves, as even Primarina and Azumarill are 2HKO’d by Banded Gouging Fire’s Fire STABs in the Sun.

Tera Types:
Tera Types: This set is all about power, and offensive Teras are largely preferred as a result. Tera Fire is obvious, stacking boosts for truly ridiculous results like dealing minimum 70% to Zamazenta Hero, 80% to Azumarill, OHKOing Max HP Great Tusk, Roaring Moon, etc. Resistances start to mean nothing in the face of Gouging Fire’s power, requiring quadruple resistance, Flash Fire, or absurd physical bulk. Other Tera’s to handle Fire resists are also worth mention, making it so when Gouging Fire does click Raging Fury there is nothing left to take the blow. Tera Grass is great for destroying both Water types like Dondozo and Rock types like Gargnacl, while Tera Electric and Ground are more targeted, but don’t offer a hindering sun Boosted Fire weakness.

EVs and Items:
Max Speed is a given to outspeed as many targets as possible so Banded Gouging Fire can outspeed as many targets as possible. 168 Attack EVs are necessary to give Gouging Fire as much Attack as possible while still being lower than its Speed so it gets that all important Speed Protosynthesis Boost, allowing Choice Band Gouging Fire to emulate Dragon Dance with no setup. Though if you want Gouging Fire to focus on Wallbreaking, going all in on Attack and Speed investment is also viable, allowing Gouging Fire to 2HKO Dondozo while in the Sun with Outrage or its Tera Fire boosted Fire STABs and allow it to function somewhat out of Sun. This set revolves around the Choice Band, so there is little flexibility for items.

Partners:
As much as Dragon Dance Gouging Fire benefits from Sun, Choice Band Gouging Fire needs it to excel, losing much of its power when not in its treasured Sun. As such Sun setters like Torkoal are mandatory for this set to function.

Doubles and VGC Options

Gouging Fire’s immense bulk and good power translate well to Doubles having it excel as an offensive support Pokémon that is difficult to remove. Gouging Fire has a vibrant support pool from the damage blunting in Breaking Swipe and Snarl to the damage boosting in Howl. What truly stands out is its signature Burning Bulwark, a Protect variant that burns direct and thus physical attackers, hindering them for the rest of the match. Which makes it a shame that Gouging Fire finds itself in such a hostile environment, with Urshifu shattering Burning Bulwark with no repercussions and ignore Breaking Swipe, and Incineroar as a wholly superior supporting Fire type thanks to its passive Intimidate and turn denying Fake Out. Burning Bulwark not blocking status moves is a notable crack in its shield allowing Spore, Encore, and Taunt to shutdown or hinder Gouging Fire. It is not just Incineroar and Urshifu that give Gouging Fire problems, negative matchups into popular Pokémon like Raging Bolt, Miraidon, Urasaluna Bloodmoon, Pelipper and Landorus make justifying Gouging Fire difficult, even when considering its ability to shutdown most physical attackers wins just as many games.

Aegis Ablaze

-Howl
-Breaking Swipe
-Burning Bulwark
-Heat Crash
Ability: Protosynthesis
Item: Booster Energy
Tera Type: Fire
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 52 Atk / 204 Spe
Jolly Nature

Gouging Fire's famed doubles offensive support set, this set enables overwhelming physical offense through Howl, turning both Gouging Fire and its ally into a threat and counter Intimidate spam. Breaking Swipe offers both utility and physical damage mitigation, turning any fight with it into a grind game where Gouging Fire and its team is favored to come out on top. Burning Bulwark is Protect with a contact Burn rider, thus offering not only much of the same utility Protect is valued for, but completely ruining physical attackers and making it that much easier for Gouging Fire to setup Howl. Heat Crash is Gouging Fire's power move, obliterating anything weak to it and chunking most neutral targets.

Max HP is recommended to get the most out of Gouging Fire's staying power. The Speed investment goes hand in hand with Booster Energy, helping Gouging Fire overcome the fact Breaking Swipe is active, allowing it to move before most physical attackers and thus preemptively blunting their damage. Between the Speed investment, and Protosynthesis, Gouging Fire can outspeed even Calyrex Shadow Rider and thus the entire unboosted meta game. Everything else goes into attack for Gouging Fire to deal as much damage as possible and get the most out of Howl. Tera Fire is recommended, not only buffing Heat Crash, but restoring Gouging Fire's resistances to Ice and Fairy, greatly improving matchups against Ice Rider and Flutter Mane. Tera Fairy is a good alternative, preventing Raging Bolt and Miraidon from obliterating Gouging Fire with their STABs while giving resistance to Urshifu-Single’s STABs.

Preferred Partners:
Groudon is the preferred legendary for Gouging Fire, its sun activating both Protosynthesis and boosting Gouging Fire’s Fire STAB, as opposed to Koraidon whose coverage tends to be wholly redundant with Gouging Fire. Groudon adores the support Gouging Fire gives in turn, allowing it to stick around longer and boosting Groudon’s offense to new and exciting heights. Pair with popular Sun abusers like Flutter Mane (for other Dragons and Shadow Rider), and Walking Wake (for Incineroar) for maximum effect. Chien-Pao is an old partner in crime with Gouging Fire for good reason, as the Howl Support from Gouging Fire in tandem with Chien-Pao’s Sword of Ruin enables a vicious physical spam playstyle and Chien-Pao checking most opposing dragons is just icing on the cake.

Other Options:
Flare Blitz is more consistent than Heat Crash, reaching a OHKOs on Chien-Pao, a 2HKO on Calyrex-Ice Rider and a 3HKO on Zamazenta Crowned, though in the vast majority of situations, Heat Crash is almost or just as strong without the recoil. Snarl blunts Special Attackers, amazing for blunting brutal special attacks, allowing Gouging Fire to survive Mystic Water Kyogre Water Spout, turn Calyrex-Shadow Rider's Astral Barrage and Shadow Ball into a 3HKO at best, defang Specs Terapagos, and more.

Countering Gouging Fire

Gouging Fire’s fierce offense and fantastic defense both present significant obstacles to overcome. In checking Gouging Fire’s offense, Fire resistant physical tanks are by far the best way to go. Dondozo is unsurprisingly king at this, able to out boost Gouging Fire with Curse, and outlast Gouging Fire with Rest. However, Dondozo isn’t infallible and can be overwhelmed by Attack Booster Banded Outrage and loses hard to Breaking Swipe Dragon Dance Gouging Fire who can waste all its Curse and Rest PP and leave Dondozo unable to perform its duties.

Other checks are dependent on gaps in Gouging Fire’s coverage. Gouging Fire running only STAB attacks find Heatran an impossible foe, given that Heatran can trap with Magma Storm and crush Gouging Fire with Earth Power. Gargnacl, Azumarill and Primarina also become difficult foes, though they must be wary of being overwhelmed by Sun Boosted Protosynthesis Fire STAB. Skeledirge is a hard wall as well for STAB Gouging Fire not running Outrage, able to outlast with Slack Off, though Sun Boosted Loaded Dice Scale Shot can be problematic as well. Gouging Fire running Fire STAB and Ground coverage struggles against Fire resistant Flying types. Dragonite is notable, able to threaten with its own Dragon STAB and Earthquake, while Pelipper is fantastic for ruining Gouging Fire’s offense and recovery with its Drizzle, even moreso in Doubles where Wide Guard can block Breaking Swipe.

Defensively the best way cracking Gouging Fire’s shield is entry hazards. Stealth Rock and Spikes eat into Gouging Fire’s HP shockingly quickly and can force it to use Morning Sun or be overwhelmed. Speaking of Morning Sun, non Sun weathers can greatly reduce Gouging Fire’s healing as well as prevent it from exploiting Sun Boosts to its Fire STAB. Tyranitar is great at taking advantage of a weakened Gouging Fire, ruining its power and durability with its Sand and threatening back with its own Rock STAB, though Tyranitar can’t stomach any move plus a boosted Earthquake.

Gouging Fire’s defense may be great, but common weaknesses do bely its great defenses. Naturally faster boosted attackers like Speed Booster Energy Iron Treads, Speed Booster Energy Walking Wake, and Scarf Landorus-Therian can all outspeed Gouging Fire after a boost. If Gouging Fire is Adamant, Dragapult speed ties, while Speed Booster Great Tusk can also outspeed Gouging Fire.

Anime Appearences

Gouging Fire has yet to make any appearances in the anime # -English Episode Name- -Jp. Episode Name- Pics