Gigantamax Cinderace Movesets & Competitive Sets

Cinderace is an effective revenge killer when sporting a Focus Sash, allowing it to Counter against physical Dynamax threats, as well as get an extra opportunity to attack through surviving solo hits at 1 HP. Sucker Punch can be used right after Counter KOs a physical Dynamax attacker in order to chip revenge killers when brought down to 1 HP. High Jump Kick can be considered over Counter or Sucker Punch in order to improve the matchup against Porygon2 and Tyranitar, reducing the passiveness of sashed Cinderace. For the last slot, Gunk Shot and Iron Head allow Cinderace to effectively check Fairy-types like Tapu Fini or Mimikyu, but can also be used for Counter if both Sucker Punch and High Jump Kick are opted for.

Focus Sash Cinderace makes for a powerful general attacker and great lead, starting most games off with a bang. High Jump Kick is Cinderace's strongest attack outside of Dynamax. Counter and Focus Sash allow Cinderace to trade KOs with physical threats such as Zacian-C, Urshifu-S, and Landorus-T, potentially removing them from the game immediately. Sucker Punch provides powerful priority, picking off weakened targets such as Calyrex-S. Gunk Shot provides valuable coverage against Xerneas and Tapu Fini. Iron Head still hits Xerneas supper effectively, but it sacrifices damage against Tapu Fini for the chance to cause foes to flinch so that Cinderace can then KO them.

High Jump Kick is required on a Choice-locked set, being Cinderace's most effective high-damage move. U-turn is always needed for Choice Item Cinderace, allowing it to pivot out of bad matchups and scouting opposing Pokemon without committing to a Choice lock. Pyro Ball is an effective coverage complement, and allows access to Gmax Fireball when Dynamaxed. For the last slot, either Gunk Shot or Iron Head can be used, dramatically improving Cinderace's matchup against the likes of Tapu Fini. Alternatively, although Sucker Punch faces awkwardness with the Choice lock, it can still be considered to improve the matchup against Dragapult and for revenge killing.

Gigantamax Libero Cinderace serves as a fast multi-faceted wallbreaker and sweeper with access to a plethora of powerful STAB coverage options. Pyro Ball, High Jump Kick, and Bounce are all required when Dynamaxed to help Cinderace become incredibly difficult to handle via immense damage output and boosting Attack and Speed while Dynamaxed For the fourth slot, Sucker Punch gives Cinderace access to powerful priority, allowing it to check many variants of Dragapult, while Zen Headbutt gives Cinderace the ability to hit Toxapex well while also potentially setting up Psychic Terrain to avoid getting revenge killed by priority attacks. Iron Head and Gunk shot are options to make Cinderace an effective Fairy-type check. Life Orb is the standard item of choice, giving Cinderace immense damage output, and is often worth the small recoil damage, as it allows Cinderace to OHKO much of the metagame. Assault Vest improves Cinderace’s matchup against special attackers, and takes advantage of the fact it only uses attacking options.

Choice Scarf Cinderace can use its fantastic Speed to be a great pivot and terrifying revenge killer. Thanks to Cinderace's very high natural Speed, Choice Scarf lets it prevent Ditto from reverse sweeping after copying fast foes like bulky Zacian-C. High Jump Kick is Cinderace's strongest attack outside of Dynamax. Gunk Shot provides valuable coverage against Fairy-types, namely Xerneas and Tapu Fini. Iron Head provides more accurate coverage on Xerneas and a potentially useful flinch chance to bring foes into KO range, but it sacrifices a lot of damage. While Sucker Punch may seem odd on a Choice Scarf set, the coverage against Calyrex-S is extremely valuable, especially against Choice Scarf variants and certain other Speed-boosted Pokemon, which outspeed even Choice Scarf Cinderace.

With its great Attack, Speed, and Libero, Cinderace finds itself in a commanding position in the BSS metagame. Pyro Ball becomes G-Max Fireball under Gigantamax, a 160-Base Power attack that also nullifies abilities like Mimikyu's Disguise and Heatran's Flash Fire. Bounce gives Cinderace access to Max Airstream, which makes it a very potent sweeper, having nearly unmatched Speed alongside its colorful movepool and Libero. Sucker Punch may seem odd on a set revolving around Max Airstream, but it can be useful in situations where Cinderace doesn't have a boost, such as revenge killing. Giga Impact provides Cinderace with an obscenely powerful Max Strike, which is useful for both its wide neutral coverage and the Speed drop, which lets it maintain the Speed advantage in Dynamax battles against Zapdos without relying on Max Airstream. Max Strike is also Cinderace's strongest option against Quagsire. Gunk Shot grants valuable coverage against Fairy-types such as Xerneas and Tapu Fini. Iron Head still covers Xerneas while giving Cinderace access to Max Steelspike for Defense boosts. Items Life Orb elevates Cinderace's damage output even further, making it extremely difficult to wall. Assault Vest grants Cinderace some extra survivability, potentially allowing it to get a crucial second hit off against Pokemon like Zapdos.