Fire
Hah! You better have Burn Heal if you think you’re ready to become a Fire Gym Leader! With explosive support options and multiple Supporter based Energy accelerators, there is a lot to love about Fire type Pokémon in Gym leader Challenge! It’s always fascinating to see cards from the Black and White era team up with Pokémon from the Sword and Shield block. That’s one of my favorite things about the Fire deck and about Gym Leader Challenge in general: at any point in the game you may have cards in play that span 10 years of the Pokémon TCG working together to form a cohesive Strategy!
Support Pokémon
Alright now, full disclosure, one of the reasons I love Fire so much is that I’ve been playing since Emboar and Delphox were in Standard format. Inferno Fandango! Get it!? It’s like the Fire version of Rain Dance! Emboar is also one of my favorite Pokemon Cards ever, specifically the Legendary Treasures print with the flavor text, “It can throw a fire punch by setting its fists on fire with its fiery chin. It cares deeply about its friends.” If you don’t think that’s cool, then becoming a Fire Gym Leader might not be for you. Delphox also has one of the best draw Abilities ever printed on a non Rule Box Pokemon in the form of Mystical Fire, which allows you to fill your hand to six once a turn. Combined with Magcargo, you can stack your deck and draw into exactly what you need when you need it!
Attackers
Nobody gets the party started like Volcanion from Unbroken Bonds. Flare Starter, which can accelerate three Fire from the deck to your Pokémon if it’s your first turn going second, is the best way to kick off any game with Fire, which probably warrants choosing to go second. With Brigette and Sonia in deck its not uncommon to get a big turn one play with Volcanion! Ho-Oh from Celebrations is probably the front-runner for most reliable Fire type attacker, and another great way to kick off the game since it can do 50 snipe for just two Energy or 120 damage for three. My favorite Fire type attacker, however, is definitely Heatmor. If I’m playing Fire, I’m going full-greed and trying to load six Energy onto Heatmor so that I can unlock the absolutely insane 180 snipe effect of Exciting Flame. With so many options, there really is no wrong way to build a Fire type deck. It’s definitely one of the types with the most options, so pick your favorite Fire Type Pokémon and get building!
Deck Lists
Turbo Heatmor
With all the best Fire support Pokémon packed into one deck, you’re sure to get set up at a blazing speed! Once Emboar hits the field, you’ll be using Inferno Fandango to load up Heatmor turn after turn. If you are able to set up Emboar, Delphox, and Magcargo at the same time, you’ll feel absolutely unstoppable! With plenty of ways to recover Pokémon, you’ll have no trouble recycling Heatmor and Ho-Oh throughout the game. If need be, Delphox also works as an excellent finisher with its Blaze Ball attack!
****** Pokémon Trading Card Game Deck List ******
##Pokémon – 13
* 1 Fennekin FLI 15
* 1 Heatmor FST 41
* 1 Ho-Oh CEL 1
* 1 Salandit DRM 13
* 1 Slugma CEC 26
* 1 Tepig BST 23
* 1 Volcanion UNB 25
* 1 Braixen XY 25
* 1 Magcargo CES 24
* 1 Pignite CEC 32
* 1 Salazzle UNB 31
* 1 Delphox XY 26
* 1 Emboar LTR 27
##Trainer Cards – 34
* 1 Escape Rope BST 125
* 1 Professor’s Research BRS 147
* 1 Heavy Ball BKT 140
* 1 Ball Guy SHF 57
* 1 Colress PLS 118
* 1 Teammates PRC 141
* 1 Training Court RCL 169
* 1 Ordinary Rod SSH 171
* 1 N FCO 105
* 1 Timer Ball SUM 134
* 1 Gloria BRS 141
* 1 Blacksmith FLF 88
* 1 Sonia RCL 167
* 1 Giant Hearth UNM 197
* 1 Welder UNB 189
* 1 Professor’s Letter BKT 146
* 1 Guzma BUS 115
* 1 Quick Ball FST 237
* 1 Evosoda XY 116
* 1 Rare Candy SSH 180
* 1 Fighting Fury Belt BKP 99
* 1 Level Ball BST 129
* 1 Fire Crystal UNB 173
* 1 Ultra Ball BRS 150
* 1 Tate & Liza CES 148
* 1 Cynthia UPR 119
* 1 Boss’s Orders BRS 132
* 1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
* 1 Float Stone BKT 137
* 1 Nest Ball SUM 123
* 1 Evolution Incense SSH 163
* 1 VS Seeker PHF 109
* 1 Revive EVO 85
* 1 Superior Energy Retrieval PLF 103
##Energy – 13
* 1 Double Colorless Energy SUM 136
* 12 Fire Energy Energy 2
Total Cards – 60
****** Deck List Generated by the Pokémon TCG Online www.pokemon.com/TCGO ******
Blaziken/Cinderace
This list forgoes Emboar and instead focuses on accelerating Fire Energy from the discard pile with Blaziken, Cinderace, and Arcanine. Salazzle‘s Roast Reveal has perfect synergy with this strategy since it discards Fire Energy and draws you cards.
****** Pokémon Trading Card Game Deck List ******
##Pokémon – 15
* 1 Entei CEC 28
* 1 Growlithe FST 32
* 1 Ho-Oh CEL 1
* 1 Salandit BST 27
* 1 Scorbunny SSH 31
* 1 Slugma CES 23
* 1 Torchic DAA 22
* 1 Volcanion UNB 25
* 1 Arcanine UNB 22
* 1 Combusken DAA 23
* 1 Magcargo CES 24
* 1 Raboot CRE 27
* 1 Salazzle UNB 31
* 1 Blaziken DRM 6
* 1 Cinderace SSH 34
##Trainer Cards – 34
* 1 Escape Rope BST 125
* 1 Professor’s Research BRS 147
* 1 Ball Guy SHF 57
* 1 Colress PLS 118
* 1 Magma Basin BRS 144
* 1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
* 1 Avery CRE 130
* 1 Teammates PRC 141
* 1 N FCO 105
* 1 Timer Ball SUM 134
* 1 Gloria BRS 141
* 1 Blacksmith FLF 88
* 1 Giant Hearth UNM 197
* 1 Welder UNB 189
* 1 Guzma BUS 115
* 1 Quick Ball FST 237
* 1 Evosoda XY 116
* 1 Rare Candy SSH 180
* 1 Muscle Band XY 121
* 1 Raihan EVS 152
* 1 Cynthia & Caitlin CEC 189
* 1 Fighting Fury Belt BKP 99
* 1 Air Balloon SSH 156
* 1 Level Ball BST 129
* 1 Fire Crystal UNB 173
* 1 Ultra Ball BRS 150
* 1 Boss’s Orders BRS 132
* 1 Field Blower GRI 125
* 1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
* 1 Float Stone BKT 137
* 1 Marnie SSH 169
* 1 Nest Ball SUM 123
* 1 Evolution Incense SSH 163
* 1 VS Seeker PHF 109
##Energy – 11
* 1 Counter Energy CIN 100
* 10 Fire Energy Energy 2
Total Cards – 60
****** Deck List Generated by the Pokémon TCG Online www.pokemon.com/TCGO ******
Fire Mill
Fire is one of the most potent Mill decks in Gym Leader Challenge! Unlike pure control strategies, this list pressures the opponent’s deck count directly with Moltres (TEU)‘s Top Burner and Centiskorch (SSH)‘s Hundred Foot Flames attacks. With Pyroar‘s Flare Command Ability, gusting and trapping unsuspecting targets while you mill is a total breeze! To recover resources from the discard pile, all you need is Heatmor (BUS)‘s Odor Sleuth attack and a little bit of luck!
****** Pokémon Trading Card Game Deck List ******
##Pokémon – 14
* 1 Fennekin FCO 10
* 1 Braixen FCO 12
* 1 Delphox XY 26
* 1 Heatmor BUS 24
* 1 Litleo CEC 36
* 1 Pyroar PHF 12
* 1 Moltres TEU 19
* 1 Oricorio GRI 14
* 1 Salandit BST 27
* 1 Salazzle UNB 31
* 1 Sizzlipede SSH 38
* 1 Centiskorch SSH 39
* 1 Slugma CES 23
* 1 Magcargo CES 24
##Trainer Cards – 35
* 1 Lusamine CIN 96
* 1 Steven’s Resolve CES 145
* 1 Peonia CRE 149
* 1 Pokémon Communication TEU 152
* 1 Robo Substitute Team Flare Gear PHF 102
* 1 Pal Pad SSH 172
* 1 Ordinary Rod SSH 171
* 1 N FCO 105
* 1 Gloria BRS 141
* 1 Lt. Surge’s Strategy HIF 60
* 1 Giant Hearth UNM 197
* 1 Welder UNB 189
* 1 Guzma BUS 115
* 1 Reset Stamp UNM 206
* 1 Team Rocket’s Handiwork FCO 112
* 1 Quick Ball SSH 179
* 1 Big Charm SSH 158
* 1 Galar Mine RCL 160
* 1 Bruno BST 121
* 1 Cynthia & Caitlin CEC 189
* 1 Boss’s Orders SHF 58
* 1 Level Ball BST 129
* 1 Fire Crystal UNB 173
* 1 Scoop Up Net RCL 165
* 1 Lillie’s Poké Doll CEC 197
* 1 Counter Catcher CIN 91
* 1 Cynthia UPR 119
* 1 Professor’s Research SSH 178
* 1 Float Stone PLF 99
* 1 Field Blower GRI 125
* 1 Marnie SSH 169
* 1 Nest Ball SUM 123
* 1 VS Seeker PHF 109
* 1 Echoing Horn CRE 136
* 1 Delinquent BKP 98
##Energy – 11
* 1 Burning Energy BKT 151
* 10 Fire Energy Energy 2
Total Cards – 60
****** Deck List Generated by the Pokémon TCG Online www.pokemon.com/TCGO ******
Infernape/Charizard
A fun spin on Fire with unique attackers, this deck churns out big attacks with the self-sufficient Charizard‘s Continuous Blaze Ball. Charizard discards energy, eventually powering up a huge Flare Up from Infernape (STS)!
****** Pokémon Trading Card Game Deck List ******
##Pokémon – 12
* 1 Castform Sunny Form CRE 22
* 1 Charmander VIV 23
* 1 Chimchar BRS 24
* 1 Heatmor RCL 34
* 1 Ho-Oh CEL 1
* 1 Salandit BST 27
* 1 Volcanion UNB 25
* 1 Charmeleon VIV 24
* 1 Monferno PLS 16
* 1 Salazzle UNB 31
* 1 Charizard TEU 14
* 1 Infernape STS 20
##Trainer Cards – 34
* 1 Escape Rope BST 125
* 1 Professor’s Research BRS 147
* 1 Colress PLS 118
* 1 Magma Basin BRS 144
* 1 Rare Candy SSH 180
* 1 Energy Retrieval SSH 160
* 1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
* 1 Teammates PRC 141
* 1 Ordinary Rod SSH 171
* 1 N FCO 105
* 1 Gloria BRS 141
* 1 Blacksmith FLF 88
* 1 Scorched Earth FCO 110
* 1 Giant Hearth UNM 197
* 1 Welder UNB 189
* 1 Professor’s Letter BKT 146
* 1 Guzma BUS 115
* 1 Quick Ball FST 237
* 1 Evosoda XY 116
* 1 Muscle Band XY 121
* 1 Raihan EVS 152
* 1 Level Ball BST 129
* 1 Fire Crystal UNB 173
* 1 Ultra Ball BRS 150
* 1 Tate & Liza CES 148
* 1 Cynthia UPR 119
* 1 Green’s Exploration UNB 175
* 1 Boss’s Orders BRS 132
* 1 Field Blower GRI 125
* 1 Float Stone BKT 137
* 1 Marnie SSH 169
* 1 Nest Ball SUM 123
* 1 Evolution Incense SSH 163
* 1 VS Seeker PHF 109
##Energy – 14
* 14 Fire Energy Energy 2
Total Cards – 60
****** Deck List Generated by the Pokémon TCG Online www.pokemon.com/TCGO ******
Energy Efficient Attackers
Most Fire attackers are energy hungry, but this build focuses on dishing out quick and energy efficient attacks without relying too heavily on accelerating extra energy into play. While Cinderace is your big hitter, Incineroar (UNB) buffs the damage of your low-cost Pokémon like Houndoom (LOT) and Moltres.
****** Pokémon Trading Card Game Deck List ******
##Pokémon – 14
* 1 Entei CEC 28
* 1 Houndour LOT 45
* 1 Litten UNB 27
* 1 Moltres BRS 21
* 1 Oricorio GRI 14
* 1 Salandit DRM 13
* 1 Scorbunny SSH 31
* 1 Volcanion UNB 25
* 1 Houndoom LOT 46
* 1 Raboot SSH 32
* 1 Salazzle UNB 31
* 1 Torracat UNB 28
* 1 Cinderace SSH 34
* 1 Incineroar UNB 29
##Trainer Cards – 36
* 1 Escape Rope BST 125
* 1 Ball Guy SHF 57
* 1 Colress PLS 118
* 1 Magma Basin BRS 144
* 1 Trainers’ Mail ROS 92
* 1 Town Map BKT 150
* 1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
* 1 Training Court RCL 169
* 1 Gloria BRS 141
* 1 Blacksmith FLF 88
* 1 Professor’s Letter BKT 146
* 1 Super Rod BKT 149
* 1 Welder UNB 189
* 1 Guzma BUS 115
* 1 Quick Ball FST 237
* 1 Rare Candy SSH 180
* 1 Muscle Band XY 121
* 1 Raihan EVS 152
* 1 Roxanne ASR 150
* 1 Zisu ASR 159
* 1 Fighting Fury Belt BKP 99
* 1 Level Ball BST 129
* 1 Scoop Up Net RCL 165
* 1 Ultra Ball BRS 150
* 1 Tate & Liza CES 148
* 1 Mallow GRI 127
* 1 Cynthia UPR 119
* 1 Green’s Exploration UNB 175
* 1 Boss’s Orders BRS 132
* 1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
* 1 Field Blower GRI 125
* 1 Float Stone BKT 137
* 1 Trekking Shoes ASR 156
* 1 Nest Ball SUM 123
* 1 Evolution Incense SSH 163
* 1 VS Seeker PHF 109
##Energy – 10
* 10 Fire Energy Energy 2
Total Cards – 60
****** Deck List Generated by the Pokémon TCG Online www.pokemon.com/TCGO ******