Ceruledge, the Fire Blades Pokémon. The fiery blades on its arms burn fiercely with the lingering resentment of a sword wielder who fell before accomplishing their goal. An old set of armor steeped in grudges caused this Pokémon's evolution. Ceruledge cuts its enemies to pieces without mercy.
Overview
One of the Pokémon shown well before the release of Scarlet and Violet, Ceruledge and its counterpart Armarouge quickly garnered attention thanks to their amazing Megaman inspired designs. And Ceruledge holds up well competitively. Base 125 Attack is complemented by an amazing Physical movepool that includes wide neutral coverage, STAB priority in Shadow Sneak and even built in recovery with its amazing signature Bitter Blade move. Factor in a plethora of boosting options in Swords Dance, Bulk Up, and Weak Armor along with a decent defenses and typing that enables the setting up of those move, and Ceruledge makes for a potent setup sweeper.
There are cuts in this ghostly warrior’s armor. While Ghost Fire provides many resistances and immunities, it also provides weaknesses to many common types, which strains teambuilding and ruins otherwise good matchups. Vulnerability to every entry hazard further hurts Ceruledge’s durability as does many factors that ruin its defense such as Weak Armor and Close Combat. Additionally, Ceruledge’s speed is poor for an offensive Pokémon, leaving it prone to be outsped. And while Ceruledge has a tool for every situation, Four Moveslot syndrome hits it hard, preventing Ceruledge from running every move that it would like to. Ceruledge is still an excellent Pokémon, albeit with noticeable flaws that must be managed.
Positives
Base 125 Attack is great, and with boosting options in Swords Dance and Bulk Up, Ceruledge can hit very hard.
Impressive Physical movepool that provides incredible utility. STAB Shadow Sneak and Bitter Blade give invaluable priority and recovery on top of getting perfect neutral coverage with Close Combat.
Decent 75/80/100 defenses coupled with its many resistances and immunities give Ceruledge some bulk, easing pivoting and setup opportunities.
Negatives
Ghost Fire is a double edged sword, providing many weaknesses to common types and all entry hazards.
Weak Armor and Close Combat further bely Ceruledge’s good defenses, reducing its odds over a longer fight.
Middling Speed leaves Ceruledge vulnerable to faster threats and can struggle to find setup opportunities against more offensive teams.
Movesets
Violet Knight
-Swords Dance
-Shadow Sneak
-Bitter Blade
-Close Combat
Ability: Weak Armor
Item: Heavy Duty Boots
EVs and Nature:
252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
This Ceruledge acts as a game ending sweeper once its threats have been removed. Come in on an opponent that can’t hurt you, setup Swords Dance and go for the sweep. Ideally, if you can find a physical attacker that can’t significantly damage you (like Corviknight, Scizor, Fire Breed Tauros, etc.) you can pivot into their resisted physical attacks for an easy Weak Armor boost that turns Ceruledge from dangerous to near impossible to handle. If the Weak Armor boost is too difficult to get, that is fine, Shadow Sneak does a lot in patching up Ceruledge’s speed woes, getting the jump on many dangerous threats such as Flutter Mane, Dragapult, and Gholdengo. Bitter Blade is secondary STAB that provides recovery, allowing Ceruledge to shrug off damage incurred while switching in and setting up and reducing the imperative that Ceruledge must get a knockout. Close Combat rounds out the set. While the defense drop is unfortunate, Ghost-Fire-Fighting has perfect neutral coverage, hitting targets like Greninja, Hydreigon and Roaring Moon who would otherwise be safe switch ins.
Tera Types:
Tera Fighting is recommended, giving Close Combat STAB and turning Ceruledge’s Dark weakness into a resistance. The STAB boost is vital in breaking through walls like Garganacl and Ting-lu who otherwise have the sheer bulk to tank Ceruledge’s boosted STABs. Tera Grass is also worth consideration, giving Immunity to Spore and providing resistances to Water and Ground moves, which can ease setting up. Tera Fire is always a good fallback option. Increasing the power of Bitter Blade never hurts, and removing Ghost and Dark weaknesses in an environment infested with those types never hurts.
EVs and Items:
Standard Sweeper array of Max Attack and Speed is recommended to maximize Ceruledge’s power and get the jump on as many targets as possible to ease setting up. Heavy Duty Boots is recommended so that Ceruledge isn’t eaten alive by Stealth Rocks and Toxic Spikes, but if you are confident in your hazard removal, Focus Sash is good for Guaranteeing a Weak Armor boost against targets Ceruledge otherwise has no business tanking. Moving investment from Speed and Attack to HP and Defense can make it easier to try for a Weak Armor boost, and pairs well with Weakness Policy for an instant and very dangerous boost.
Partners:
Grass types make for great partners, taking out the Bulky Water and Ground types that give Ceruledge no end of trouble and forming a Fire-Grass core. Meowscarada stands out thanks not only to the qualities above, but also Knock Off to provide invaluable Item disruption and U-Turn to easily pivot Ceruledge in. Amoongus also deserves mention, as Spore is great in turning an opponent’s Pokémon into setup fodder.
Rotom-Wash is another excellent partner, not only providing a Water-Fire core, but able to dispatch walls like Dondozo and Garganacl with ease while providing setup opportunities with Will-o-Wisp and pivoting with Volt Switch.
Torkoal -Fire types love Torkoal and Ceruledge is no exception. Sunny Day blunting Water attacks and enabling Solar Blade goes miles in helping Ceruledge out against its usual counters.
Fairy types like Azumarill and Iron Valiant also work well with Ceruledge, taking out troublesome Dark and Dragon types while Ceruledge easily pivots into the Steel, Poison and Fire types that give them trouble.
Other Options:
Taunt -Stop opposing setup sweepers and attempts to stall Ceruledge out.
Bulk Up -An excellent option as Ceruledge’s natural defenses are quite good, even if the acceleration isn’t as dramatic as Swords Dance.
Solar Blade -if running Torkoal, this is fantastic coverage against Ceruledge’s usual counters. Otherwise avoid.
Flame Charge -If you don’t want to rely on Weak Armor, this can patch up Ceruledge’s speed, though at the cost of significant coverage.
Flash Fire -If Weak Armor is more trouble than it is worth, this gives an extra immunity and guarantees protection from Burns even if you Terastalize.
Doubles & VGC Options
Ceruledge has not quite enjoyed the same success as Armarouge in doubles, lacking a spread move like Expanding Force to make it stand out. However, Ceruledge’s own unique traits do give it a niche. Ceruledge’s qualities lend themselves quite well to a bulky sweeper. Bitter Blade keeps Ceruledge healthy while still applying offense. Shadow Sneak’s priority is also invaluable, picking off weakened targets and even maiming Flutter Mane Flash Fire is also far more valuable on a physical sweeper, guaranteeing immunity to Burns even when Terastalized. Ceruledge still has its issues, with its middling speed and numerous weaknesses leaving it prey to many of the most popular Pokémon, but often that threat is mutual and should not be overlooked.
Knight and Squire
-Bulk Up
-Bitter Blade
-Shadow Sneak
-Protect
Ability: Flash Fire
Item: Leftovers
Tera Type: Grass/Steel/Bug
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Adamant Nature
Bulk Up Ceruledge aims for the long game in a doubles battle, accruing several Bulk Ups to become untouchable against a team's physical attackers while pushing horrifying damage as well. Bitter Blade is vital, keeping Ceruledge healthy as it sets up and applies pressure to the opponent as well. Shadow Sneak is a great patch for Ceruledge's speed, allowing it to get the jump on would be counters like Flutter Mane and Gholdengo. Protect rounds out the set, stalling for Leftovers recovery, stalling out opponents beneficial setup, stalling for your own setup, information gathering, the benefits are too good.
Flash Fire is the preferred ability. As we are aiming to outlast, Weak Armor would be counterproductive and Flash Fire pairs well with Ceruledge’s Tera types, maintaining burn immunity and negating the Fire weakness they would have. Tera Grass and Tera Bug both offer invaluable Ground resistances. Tera Grass provides resistance to Water, while Tera Bug doesn’t offer extra weaknesses to Bug and Poison. Tera Steel is as always a good option for the plethora of resistances it provides.
Partners & Options:
Clear Amulet -Protects against Intimidate and Parting Shot, two common tactics to ruin your attack while setting up.
Partners that increase Ceruledge’s durability work great, making it even more maddening to take down. Grimmsnarl and Sableye make excellent partners for setting up Screens. Ting-Lu similarly excels thanks to its Vessel of Ruin ability blunting Special Attacks. Maushold similarly excels with Friend Guard. In turn, Ceruledge provides great pivoting and partners for all of them with its synergistic base typing.
Amoongus turns Ceruledge nigh immortal, spreading Spore and redirecting with Rage Powder while keeping Ceruledge healthy with Pollen Puff.
Countering Ceruledge
Bulky Water types are Ceruledge’s bane, as it very rarely caries Solar Blade, leaving Ceruledge prey to their STABs. Dondozo is a clear standout, able to ignore Ceruledge’s own boosts and boost up its own defenses. While Azumarill and Toxapex are problematic thanks to being able to resist common Fighting coverage.
Garganacl is also problematic thanks to its titanic Defense and Salt Cure, but Tera Fighting Close Combat will hurt.
Otherwise outspeeding and eliminating Ceruledge is not exceptionally difficult, despite its excellent defenses due to its large amount of weaknesses. Great Tusk, Roaring Moon, Garchomp and more all can easily revenge KO Ceruledge while having the general bulk to tank Shadow Sneak. Greninja also works well if it hasn’t changed type or is still Dark.
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game
Gold/Silver/Crystal:
Not in game
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Not in game
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Not in game
Colosseum/XD:
Not in game
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Not in game
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Not in game
Black/White:
Not in game
Black 2/White 2:
Not in game
X/Y:
Not in game
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Not in game
Sun/Moon:
Not in game
Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Not in game
Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Not in game
Sword/Shield:
Not in game
Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl:
Not in game
Legends: Arceus:
Not in game
Scarlet/Violet:
Evolve Charcadet
Tera Raid Battles: 5 Star Raid Battles, 6 Star Raid Battles
Anime Appearences
