Blaziken

Blaziken, The Blaze Pokémon. It can clear a 30-story building in a leap. Its fiery punches scorch its foes. Flames spout from its wrists, enveloping its knuckles. Its punches scorch its foes. It learns martial arts that use punches and kicks. Every several years, its old feathers burn off, and new, supple feathers grow back in their place. The stronger the foe, the more intensely its wrists burn.

Overview

Completely outclassed by Infernape, but that by no means makes Blaziken bad. To be honest, it makes it better. Because of Infernape's spot in OU, Blaziken is more or less forced to be UU, which is a place it really shines. Blaziken has a great movepool, especially on the special side. It has great offensive stats, acceptable Speed with a way of boosting it, and is a great offensive UU Pokémon in general.

Ability

Blaze: boosts Fire moves in a pinch. Doesn't get too much use, but when you are at low health, spam those Fire moves.

Move Sets

Chicken little on steroids

- Agility
- Superpower
- Fire Blast
- Hidden Power [Electric]
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 200 Atk / 252 SAtk / 56 Spd
Rash Nature (+SAtk, -SDef)

Blaziken's main drawback was its average Speed, which obviously puts a huge dent in its ability to sweep. However, when boosted with Agility, Blaziken becomes a king of beatdown. Superpower is Blaziken's most powerful fighting move, and it needs it to break down special sponges. Fire Blast is as good as you would expect, especially on top of a potential Blaze boost. Hidden Power [Electric] helps take out bulky waters and Moltres, both of which would wall you pretty well.

King of the Fighting Chicken

- Superpower
- Flare Blitz
- Stone Edge
- ThunderPunch
Item Attached: Choice Band / Choice Scarf
Ability: Blaze
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)

Superpower coming from a base 120 Attack STAB boosted Choice Band boosted karate bird hurts. A lot. Obviously the Attack and Defence decreases suck, but that's why you switch. Flare Blitz is scary strong, and because of Stealth Rock and recoil from Flare Blitz, you may well get into Blaze range for one or two more attacks. Stone Edge ruins Moltres and other Flying types, with ThunderPunch covering bulky Waters.

ReversalKen

- Endure / Substitute
- Swords Dance / Agility
- Reversal
- Blaze Kick
Item Attached: Salac Berry / Liechi Berry
Ability: Blaze
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk) / Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)

Not nearly as effective as it was in 3rd gen, it can still pull a surprise sweep in D/P/Pt. Endure or Substitute both work for getting to 1 HP, but Endure tends to be the safer option of getting that low, whereas Substitute allows for more boosts. Swords Dance brings Blaziken's Attack up to huge levels, although you could use Agility if you wanted. Reversal is the main move of the set. It has 200 base attack as well as STAB when at 1 HP, so it really packs a punch. Blaze Kick is a great secondary move, especially as it works off of Blaze.
Use Salac Berry if you are running Swords Dance, and use Liechi Berry if you are using Agility.

Fashion Hen

- Superpower
- Fire Blast
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- ThunderPunch
Item Attached: Choice Scarf
Ability: Blaze
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 84 Atk / 184 Def / 240 Spd
Rash Nature (+SAtk, -SDef)

A great revenge killer thanks to its awesome offensive stats. Superpower breaks down common special sponges in UU. Fire Blast is the king of fire moves and really does hit hard, especially if you get Blaze activated. Hidden Power [Ice] handles Altaria which would otherwise wall you into the ground, and ThunderPunch helps with Moltres and water types.

EVs and Nature:

Chicken little on steroids
The Speed allows Blaziken to outrun neutral base 90s after an Agility. The Special Attack is obvious, and the Attack is leftover but is great for boosting Superpower. You can run more Speed if you want, but 56 is the minimum required.

King of the Fighting Chicken
No point in running anything except for max offence here.

ReversalKen
Again, max offence, although you want to make sure your HP is not a multiple of 4 if you are using Substitute.

Fashion Hen
The Speed allows you to outrun positive max Speed 125s. The Attack is a OHKO on Chansey and Clefable, with the Special Attack being leftover but very necessary.

Other Options

Choice Specs, Baton Pass, Brave Bird, Flamethrower, Sunny Day, Vacuum Wave
Choice Specs gives Blaziken a huge power boost, but with only unreliable low PP special moves to use, it really isn't worth it.
Blaziken would be a much better passer if it had better Speed. Sadly, it doesn't, but a Baton Pass set is still viable thanks to the boosts it can pass on.
Brave Bird is a powerful move, but it really isn't too useful. The recoil sucks and it doesn't get STAB.
Flamethrower is an alternative to Fire Blast, if you want a weaker but more reliable move.
Sunny Day can be used on its own set with Sunny Day, Fire Blast, Solarbeam and Superpower, but it'd be fairly tough to pull off well.
Vacuum Wave is a great priority move and the only one Blaziken has access to. It bypasses its Speed so it is really useful in that aspect.

Countering Blaziken

Altaria is an incredible counter for Blaziken as it resists both of its STABs and has only Stone Edge and Hidden Power [Ice] to fear. Moltres is another great switch in, but Stealth Rock really stops it from being an effective counter. Bulky Waters like Milotic, Slowbro and Slowking can switch into 90% of Blaziken's moves. Because of Blaziken's sucky defences, anything that outspeeds and has a super effective move can revenge kill Blaziken easily enough. Despite having amazing offensive stats, Blaziken is fairly predictable, making it fairly easy to switch into if you use something fairly bulky that resists Blaziken's STAB moves. Fairly.

Locations in Games

Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald

Evolve Combusken

Colosseum/XD

Trade from RSE

Fire Red/Leaf Green

Trade from RSE

Diamond/Pearl/Platinum

Trade from RSEHGSS

HeartGold/SoulSilver

Evolve Combusken

Animé Appearences

Blaziken has had a few Animé Appearences. First, Harrison used on during his Johto League campaign. After that, most of its appearances were cameos until May's Combusken evolved

Episode 267: Pop Goes The Sneasel!
Episode 273: Playing with Fire
Episode 274: Johto Photo Finish
Episode 279: There's No Place Like Hoenn
Destiny Deoxys
Episode 402: Like A Meowth To Flame
Episode 465: Gathering the Gang of Four
Episode 467: Once More With Reeling
Episode 468: Home is Where the Start Is
Episode 544: A Full Course Tag Battle
Episode 642: Last Call, First Round!