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Heat Crash is a reliable way of dealing damage, and because Gouging Fire is so heavy, it will almost always do good damage against most of the metagame. Howl can be used to take advantage of passive playstyles and partially negate Intimidate, and with a Speed Booster Energy, it can support the Kingambit and Ogerpon-W in return. 252 HP and 20 Defense EVs allow you to always live two Wicked Blows from Adamant Urshifu-S, and 164 Speed EVs with a Jolly Nature allow you to and outspeed Adamant Choice Scarf Landorus-T and Chien-Pao once the Booster Energy has been consumed. Tera Grass is a good defensive Tera type for Gouging Fire, as it lets Gouging Fire resist Ground-type moves like Landorus's Earth Power and makes it immune to Spore, which is crucial since Burning Bulwark doesn't Protect Gouging Fire from status moves. Tera Fairy is also a good option as well, as it lets Gouging Fire resist both of Urshifu-S's STAB moves and take neutral damage from the majority of the metagame.

Heat Crash gives Gouging Fire a powerful Fire-type STAB move, reaching its maximum Base Power against common foes like Chien-Pao, Ogerpon, and Gholdengo. Flare Blitz can instead be used for more consistent damage into heavy foes like Iron Hands and Terastallized Raging Bolt at the cost of significant recoil damage. Breaking Swipe allows Gouging Fire to cripple opposing physical attackers, such as Ogerpon and Iron Hands, while dealing sizeable chip damage, particularly against opposing Dragon-types like Raging Bolt and Roaring Moon that resist Heat Crash. Howl enables both Gouging Fire and common physical partners offensively, allowing them to sweep while offsetting the Attack drop from Intimidate. Burning Bulwark can heavily punish physical attackers targeting Gouging Fire with a burn, most notably Fake Out from the likes of Iron Hands and Rillaboom. However, Burning Bulwark doesn't block status moves, so it can be bypassed by foes like Incineroar and Amoonguss with Parting Shot and Spore, respectively. Due to this, Protect is a viable option to mitigate this vulnerability. Booster Energy activates Protosynthesis to give Gouging Fire a vitally important boost to Speed, allowing for it to outspeed the majority of the metagame, most notably Chien-Pao and the Ogerpon formes. The Attack investment allows Protosynthesis to boost Speed while maximizing Gouging Fire's damage output. The remaining EVs are placed in HP. Tera Fairy provides an immunity to Dragon-type moves, namely Draco Meteor from Raging Bolt, Dragon Energy from Regidrago, and Breaking Swipe from both Roaring Moon and opposing Gouging Fire, while also letting Gouging Fire resist Fighting- and Dark-type moves from the likes of Iron Hands, Chien-Pao, and Chi-Yu. Gouging Fire is best utilized as a support piece for physical attackers, using its offensive and defensive support tools to enable them. However, Gouging Fire can lack immediate damage output, particularly against heavy foes that take minimal damage from Heat Crash, so it's important to position partners to maintain strong offensive pressure throughout the game. Gouging Fire is seriously threatened by special attackers, namely Landorus, Raging Bolt, and Glimmora; thus, it greatly appreciates partners that can improve its survivability through damage reduction or healing to help alleviate such pressure. Namely, Grimmsnarl and Alolan Ninetales can set dual screens to reduce the damage of opposing attackers, and Rillaboom and Sinistcha can provide healing with Grassy Surge and Hospitality, respectively. Chien-Pao pairs phenomenally with Gouging Fire, as it can threaten Landorus and Raging Bolt for Gouging Fire while bolstering its damage output with Sword of Ruin. In return, Gouging Fire can threaten the opposing Steel- and Ice-types that resist Chien-Pao's Ice-type STAB moves like Kingambit and Alolan Ninetales while furthering Chien-Pao's offensive presence with Howl. Landorus can threaten Diancie and Incineroar for Gouging Fire, which hits Ice-types like Chien-Pao for Landorus. Dragonite is a powerful recipient of Howl, particularly for boosting the power of Extreme Speed, and Dragonite can pivot into Ground-type moves like Earth Power from Landorus. Ogerpon-W and Rillaboom also greatly benefit from Howl while providing Gouging Fire support in the form of redirection and Fake Out, respectively. In the case of Ogerpon-W, it also threatens common checks to Gouging Fire in Landorus and Glimmora and offers a way to remove Incineroar. Ting-Lu is able to shore up Gouging Fire's weaker special bulk, while Gouging Fire can reduce physical damage through Breaking Swipe and Burning Bulwark, forming a potent duo defensively that can both deal sizeable damage, particularly when amplified by Howl. Gouging Fire greatly threatens Rillaboom, which can be problematic for both Ting-Lu and Ogerpon-W.

152 Speed EVs lets it outrun Darkrai at +1

132 Attack EVs guarantee an OHKO on Landorus at +1, while the Speed EVs ensure a Speed boost from Protosynthesis

Gouging Fire's deadly STAB combination makes it a great user of Choice items and gives it an especially strong role on sun teams as a cleaner and revenge killer! Raging Fury VS. Heat Crash: Gouging Fire's bulk is commendable enough that in a late-game stage, locking it into Raging Fury may make it less vulnerable to revenge kills than Flare Blitz's recoil. Heat Crash fulfills a similar purpose, though heavy threats like Ting-Lu and Ursaluna-B will take very little from it. Dragon Claw VS. Breaking Swipe: Dragon Claw is the most powerful option for a no-drawback Dragon-type STAB move, but Breaking Swipe's Attack drop can open up some support opportunities for Gouging Fire's teammates. Earthquake: Earthquake hits Incineroar and bulky Tera Fire users like Scizor hard, though it can be a risky move to choose with the large number of Ground-immune foes in the metagame. Torkoal: If using this set on a sun team, Torkoal is among the best options for setting up sun for Gouging Fire thanks to its access to Stealth Rock and Yawn, which can soften up foes for a sweep. Choice Scarf Vs. Choice Band: Choice Scarf functions the best outside of sun teams and is able to outspeed major threats like Chien-Pao and Iron Bundle. Choice Band is harder to clean with outside of sun teams, and it can use a specialized EV spread to get a Speed boost in sun. Other Options Double Kick: If using Choice Scarf, Double Kick can be used to OHKO Chien-Pao through its Focus Sash in a surprise revenge kill. It's too weak to be used for much else though. Tera Types Tera Dependency - Low: Since Gouging Fire is focused on cleaning and revenge killing, defensive Terastallization isn't usually an important factor for it. Fire: Tera Fire makes Gouging Fire even more difficult to wall, especially in late-game scenarios. It also gives Gouging Fire a handy Fairy resistance. Fairy: Tera Fairy can turn the tables on other Dragon-types, making it by far the most useful defensive Tera type for this set. Alternate EV Spreads 84 HP / 164 Atk / 4 Def / 4 SpD / 252 Spe with Jolly: This spread gives Gouging Fire a Speed boost with Protosynthesis, allowing potentially easier cleaning with Choice Band sets in sun. The bulk investment allows Gouging Fire to survive Choice Band Tera-boosted Crunch from Adamant Choice Band Chien-Pao.

Gouging Fire's incredible dual STAB coverage and good defensive stats make running a bulky Dragon Dance set a great choice! Breaking Swipe VS. Dragon Claw: Dragon Claw is the more reliable late-game cleaning attack, but Breaking Swipe eases Gouging Fire's setup against physical threats. ** Heat Crash VS. Flare Blitz**: Gouging Fire is heavy enough for Heat Crash to be just as powerful as Flare Blitz against several lightweight targets, such as Flutter Mane and Gholdengo. However, common, heavy foes like Ursaluna-B and Ting-Lu will only take 40 Base Power of damage from it, which can justify Flare Blitz's recoil for some teams. Checking our damage calculator can help decide if Heat Crash or Flare Blitz is better for your team! Tera Types Tera Dependency - Medium: While Gouging Fire's typing isn't bad defensively, its common weaknesses to Ground- and Dragon-type attacks mean Terastallization will greatly increase its setup opportunities. Fairy Tera Fairy is a fantastic defensive choice, fending off Dragon-type attacks that can break through Gouging Fire and making it a great option against Urshifu-S. Water: Tera Water vastly eases the matchup against Urshifu-R, which can bypass Breaking Swipe with Surging Strikes otherwise. It also makes dealing with Chien-Pao easier. Fire: Fire isn't an impressive defensive choice beyond the useful Fairy resistance and losing the Dragon weakness, but the power boost still makes it worth considering. Grass: Tera Grass is awkward against opposing Fire-types and Tera Flying Landorus-T, but the Ground resistance and Spore immunity do give it a niche. EV Spreads Minimum Speed EVs: Gouging Fire's EV spreads are fairly customizable, but usually it's best to have at least 212 Speed EVs with a neutral nature or 116 EVs with a Jolly nature. This ensures that Gouging Fire outspeeds Iron Bundle, Flutter Mane, and Chien-Pao after one use of Dragon Dance. If the rare Dragapult is a special concern, 252 Speed EVs with a neutral nature or 148 Speed EVs with Jolly can be run to outspeed that after Dragon Dance. Physically Defensive Spreads 244 HP / 4 Atk / 44 Def / 4 SpD / 212 Spe Impish: This spread avoids a 2HKO from Timid Flutter Mane's Moonblast and Choice Scarf Urshifu-R's Surging Strikes. 108 HP / 188 Def / 212 Spe Impish: This spread is the second most physically defensive spread possible with the given Speed, sacrificing some special bulk to have about an 85% chance of avoiding a 2HKO from Jolly Choice Band Chien-Pao's Icicle Crash with Leftovers recovery. The HP investment is worth it over making Gouging Fire slightly more physically bulky for some extra cushioning against special attacking threats, such as surviving Choice Specs Gholdengo's Shadow Ball after Stealth Rock damage. Specially Defensive Spreads All of these spreads avoid a 2HKO from Flutter Mane that lack Choice Specs, provided Stealth Rock is off the field. 188 HP / 204 SpD / 116 Spe Jolly or 188 HP / 108 SpD / 212 Spe Careful: These identical spreads usually allow Gouging Fire to survive Blood Moon followed by Vacuum Wave from Modest Ursaluna-B when taking Stealth Rock damage and Leftovers recovery into account. 116 HP / 52 Atk / 4 Def / 220 SpD / 116 Jolly or 116 HP / 52 Atk / 4 Def / 124 SpD / 212 Spe Careful: These identical spreads sacrifice some overall bulk to get an Attack boost from Protosynthesis, which can be helpful against sun teams or when using Booster Energy. 252 HP / 108 SpD / 148 Spe Jolly: This spread gives Gouging Fire a Speed boost with Protosynthesis, which is especially helpful for outspeeding Booster Energy Flutter Mane after a Dragon Dance. Items Leftovers: Leftovers is best for easing Gouging Fire's setup, especially when paired with Breaking Swipe. Booster Energy: Booster Energy can be used with the specialized EV spreads above to boost a specific stat once. Rocky Helmet: When using physically defensive spreads or Breaking Swipe, Rocky Helmet is an effective passive damage dealer against threats like Dragonite and Choice Scarf Urshifu-R. Clear Amulet: Clear Amulet prevents Landorus-T and Incineroar from obstructing Gouging Fire with Intimidate cycling. Heavy-Duty Boots: While not as cripplingly weak to Stealth Rock as something like Volcarona, Heavy-Duty Boots lets Gouging Fire check threats more consistently overall. Covert Cloak: Covert Cloak makes losing to Garganacl far less likely and prevents dreaded flinch scenarios from Chien-Pao and Chi-Yu.

With nearly unresisted coverage and reasonable bulk, Gouging Fire is a fearsome Speed boosting sweeper! Heat Crash VS. Flare Blitz: Heat Crash hits plenty of targets for high power thanks to Gouging Fire's high weight without compromising its bulk like Flare Blitz. However, beware that some heavy targets that sometimes use Tera Fairy like Ting-Lu, Ursaluna-B, and opposing Gouging Fire will take very little from Heat Crash compared to Flare Blitz. Scale Shot and Loaded Dice: Scale Shot with Loaded Dice not only gives Gouging Fire an alternate way to boost its Speed but also provides it with a way to bust through Focus Sash Pokemon after a boost, such as Chien-Pao. Outrage VS. Dragon Claw: Outrage is preferred for maximum late-game sweeping potential, but Dragon Claw is a safer option if you don't always bring good Fairy-type checks like Scizor. Earthquake: Earthquake is a good response to bulky Fire-types like Incineroar and the rare Heatran, and it is the strongest attack against Toxapex. Substitute: Substitute lets Gouging Fire block Yawn from troublesome foes like Swampert and Torkoal and not worry about Thunder Wave from slow, bulky foes like Gholdengo and Porygon2. Booster Energy: If not using Scale Shot, Booster Energy's power or Speed boost is the most useful for late-game sweeping without compromising Gouging Fire's good bulk like Life Orb would. Tera Types Tera Dependency - Medium: Gouging Fire's typing is fine defensively, but the high profile weaknesses to Ground and Dragon mean Terastallizing gives it far more versatile setup opportunities. Fairy: Tera Fairy turns the tables on fearsome Dragon-type attacks from the likes of Latios and Dragonite and is a good defensive typing in general. Fire: Tera Fire gives Gouging Fire plenty of extra power and a useful Fairy resistance against Flutter Mane, even if the irritating Earthquake weakness remains. Water: Tera Water is a godsend against Urshifu-R's Surging Strikes and gives a setup opportunity against Chien-Pao's Icicle Crash as well. Grass: Although it's awkward against several targets like Tera Flying Landorus-T and opposing Gouging Fire, Tera Grass's Earthquake resistance and Spore immunity give it a niche. Alternate EV Spreads 84 HP / 164 Atk / 4 Def / 4 SpD / 252 Spe with Jolly: With this spread, Gouging Fire gets a Speed boost with Protosynthesis, letting it become a competent revenge killer with Booster Energy or have an extra use on sun teams. The defensive investment allows Gouging Fire to survive Tera-boosted Adamant Chien-Pao's Choice Band Crunch