Is Moltres viable in Gen 9 National Dex?

Moltres is ranked #41 in Gen 9 National Dex with 4.61% usage according to Smogon Apr 2026 - Jun 2026 data.

What beats Moltres in Gen 9 National Dex?

The best counter for Moltres in Gen 9 National Dex is Diancie-Mega with a 94.4% win rate when they meet. Based on Smogon's Apr 2026 - Jun 2026 usage data, the top Pokémon that beat Moltres include Diancie-Mega, Ogerpon-Wellspring, Heatran, Raging Bolt, Garchomp.

What is the best counter for Moltres in Gen 9 National Dex?

Diancie-Mega is the best counter for Moltres in Gen 9 National Dex, KOing or forcing it out in 94.4% of their encounters.

Moltres counters

Gen 9 National Dex · Sorted by reliability score · Smogon · Apr 2026 - Jun 2026

#0146 Moltres

FireFlying

USAGE 4.6% #41

ABILITYFlame Body

BASE STATS

HP 90

ATK 100

DEF 90

SPA 125

SPD 85

SPE 90

BST580

TYPE MATCHUPS

4×

Rock

2×

WaterElectric

½×

FireFightingSteelFairy

¼×

GrassBug

0×

Ground

Moves

Roost 92.3% Flamethrower 84.2% U-turn 62.0% Defog 52.0% Hurricane 19.4% Brave Bird 19.0% Toxic 16.3% Mystical Fire 11.3%

Items

Heavy-Duty Boots 92.5% Choice Specs 7.1% Life Orb 0.2% Leftovers 0.1% Rocky Helmet 0.1% Eject Button 0.0% Assault Vest 0.0% Firium Z 0.0%

Abilities

Flame Body98.8%Pressure1.2%

Common Teammates

Ogerpon-Wellspring18.6%

Garchomp15.5%

Browse Gen 9 National Dex teams using Moltres →

Teams using Ogerpon-Wellspring 86% Teams using Heatran 81% Teams using Raging Bolt 79% Teams using Garchomp 79% Teams using Dragonite 76%

Checks & Counters

Reliability ranks observed matchups; KO rate is how often the checker knocked out or forced out the target. “Checker faints” reports the checker's own observed death rate. Categories use matchup reliability plus offensive and defensive base stats.

How to read this table

Use encounter count to judge sample size. A high-reliability check with a modest KO rate can still be useful when it consistently forces switches or limits the target.

# Checker Encounters Reliability KO Rate

Diancie-Mega

RockFairy OFFENSIVE CHECK

26.806

94.4% checker faints 4.46%

DAMAGE CALC

0- Atk Diancie-Mega Diamond Storm vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Moltres: 640-756 (166.6 - 196.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Diancie-Mega counters →

Ogerpon-Wellspring

GrassWater OFFENSIVE CHECK

75.321

85.8% checker faints 5.57%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Wellspring Mask Ogerpon-Wellspring Ivy Cudgel vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Moltres: 444-524 (115.6 - 136.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Ogerpon-Wellspring counters → Teams with Ogerpon-Wellspring →

Heatran

FireSteel OFFENSIVE CHECK

44.317

80.8% checker faints 8.21%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Heatran Eruption (150 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Moltres: 108-127 (28.1 - 33%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

View Heatran counters → Teams with Heatran →

Raging Bolt

ElectricDragon OFFENSIVE CHECK

101.606

79.1% checker faints 6.88%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Choice Specs Raging Bolt Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Moltres: 404-476 (105.2 - 123.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Raging Bolt counters → Teams with Raging Bolt →

Garchomp

DragonGround OFFENSIVE CHECK

62.659

78.6% checker faints 7.30%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Garchomp Outrage vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Moltres: 235-277 (61.1 - 72.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Garchomp counters → Teams with Garchomp →

Dragonite

DragonFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK

67.995

75.5% checker faints 7.35%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Dragonite Outrage vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Moltres: 241-285 (62.7 - 74.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Dragonite counters → Teams with Dragonite →

Kyurem

DragonIce OFFENSIVE CHECK

65.603

74.7% checker faints 7.53%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Kyurem Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Moltres: 129-153 (33.5 - 39.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Kyurem counters → Teams with Kyurem →

Gliscor

GroundFlying DEFENSIVE COUNTER

193.692

68.9% checker faints 5.70%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Moltres Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gliscor: 166-196 (46.8 - 55.3%) -- 71.1% chance to 2HKO

View Gliscor counters → Teams with Gliscor →

Toxapex

PoisonWater DEFENSIVE COUNTER

103.102

68.8% checker faints 7.56%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Moltres Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Toxapex: 109-129 (35.8 - 42.4%) -- 88.7% chance to 3HKO after Black Sludge recovery

View Toxapex counters → Teams with Toxapex →

Terapagos

Normal DEFENSIVE COUNTER

94.523

66.5% checker faints 8.24%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Moltres Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Terapagos: 153-181 (39.8 - 47.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Terapagos counters → Teams with Terapagos →

Tapu Lele

PsychicFairy OFFENSIVE CHECK

62.909

61.8% checker faints 8.60%

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ SpA Tapu Lele Future Sight vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Moltres in Psychic Terrain: 225-265 (58.5 - 69%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Tapu Lele counters → Teams with Tapu Lele →

Ting-Lu

DarkGround DEFENSIVE COUNTER

25.69

61.4% checker faints 9.61%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Moltres Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Vessel of Ruin Ting-Lu: 120-142 (23.3 - 27.6%) -- possible 5HKO

View Ting-Lu counters → Teams with Ting-Lu →

Tornadus-Therian

Flying OFFENSIVE CHECK

21.02

59.7% checker faints 10.70%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Tornadus-Therian Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Moltres: 141-166 (36.7 - 43.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Tornadus-Therian counters → Teams with Tornadus-Therian →

Zamazenta

Fighting OFFENSIVE CHECK

148.414

59.6% checker faints 6.81%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Zamazenta Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Moltres: 496-584 (129.1 - 152%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Zamazenta counters → Teams with Zamazenta →

Zapdos

ElectricFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK

38.91

58.0% checker faints 7.91%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Moltres: 254-300 (66.1 - 78.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Zapdos counters → Teams with Zapdos →

Hatterene

PsychicFairy SOFT CHECK

22.967

53.6% checker faints 10.41%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Hatterene Psychic Noise vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Moltres: 112-133 (29.1 - 34.6%) -- 7.6% chance to 3HKO

View Hatterene counters → Teams with Hatterene →

Urshifu-Rapid-Strike

FightingWater SOFT CHECK

27.219

51.3% checker faints 9.58%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Urshifu-Rapid-Strike Surging Strikes (3 hits) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Moltres on a critical hit: 456-540 (118.7 - 140.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Urshifu-Rapid-Strike counters → Teams with Urshifu-Rapid-Strike →

Charizard-Mega-Y

FireFlying SOFT CHECK

90.989

50.8% checker faints 8.83%

DAMAGE CALCSun

252+ SpA Charizard-Mega-Y Ancient Power vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Moltres: 272-320 (70.8 - 83.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Charizard-Mega-Y counters →

Venusaur-Mega

GrassPoison SOFT CHECK

107.308

48.0% checker faints 8.17%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Venusaur-Mega Sludge Bomb vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Moltres: 124-147 (32.2 - 38.2%) -- 97.2% chance to 3HKO

View Venusaur-Mega counters →

Volcarona

BugFire SOFT CHECK

36.306

47.2% checker faints 8.29%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Volcarona Psychic vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Moltres: 89-105 (23.1 - 27.3%) -- 60.9% chance to 4HKO

View Volcarona counters → Teams with Volcarona →

Iron Valiant

FairyFighting SOFT CHECK

72.14

44.7% checker faints 10.06%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Iron Valiant Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Moltres: 127-150 (33 - 39%) -- 99.9% chance to 3HKO

View Iron Valiant counters → Teams with Iron Valiant →

Landorus-Therian

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK

121.047

39.3% checker faints 7.56%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Landorus-Therian Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Moltres: 568-672 (147.9 - 175%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Landorus-Therian counters → Teams with Landorus-Therian →

Gholdengo

SteelGhost SOFT CHECK

161.298

33.8% checker faints 6.35%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Gholdengo Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Moltres: 118-139 (30.7 - 36.1%) -- 51.5% chance to 3HKO

View Gholdengo counters → Teams with Gholdengo →

Kingambit

DarkSteel SOFT CHECK

102.123

33.7% checker faints 6.52%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Black Glasses Kingambit Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Moltres: 237-279 (61.7 - 72.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Kingambit counters → Teams with Kingambit →

Great Tusk

GroundFighting SOFT CHECK

146.02

31.9% checker faints 6.44%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Great Tusk Head Smash vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Moltres: 792-932 (206.2 - 242.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Great Tusk counters → Teams with Great Tusk →

Alomomola

Water SOFT CHECK

209.501

31.9% checker faints 5.48%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Alomomola Flip Turn vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Moltres: 164-194 (42.7 - 50.5%) -- 1.6% chance to 2HKO

View Alomomola counters → Teams with Alomomola →

Melmetal

Steel SOFT CHECK

69.879

25.6% checker faints 7.31%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Punching Glove Iron Fist Melmetal Thunder Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Moltres: 278-328 (72.3 - 85.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Melmetal counters →

Iron Treads

GroundSteel SOFT CHECK

81.031

19.2% checker faints 6.04%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Iron Treads Rock Tomb vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Moltres: 284-336 (73.9 - 87.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Iron Treads counters → Teams with Iron Treads →

Scizor-Mega

BugSteel SOFT CHECK

122.423

13.1% checker faints 5.17%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Scizor-Mega Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Moltres: 141-167 (36.7 - 43.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Scizor-Mega counters →

Corviknight

FlyingSteel SOFT CHECK

123.015

7.1% checker faints 3.52%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Corviknight Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Moltres: 180-213 (46.8 - 55.4%) -- 72.7% chance to 2HKO

View Corviknight counters → Teams with Corviknight →

Ranked #41 with 4.61% usage. Sorted by reliability score.