#0146 · Kanto · Generation 1 · legendary

Moltres

Flame Pokémon · Fire/Flying-type

Moltres is a Fire/Flying-type Pokémon, the Flame Pokémon, number 146 (#0146) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 1 and comes from the Kanto region. It is 2 m tall and weighs 60 kg.

Moltres is the Flame Pokémon, the fire member of Kanto's legendary birds, whose arrival the Pokédex says signals the coming of spring. When it is hurt it is said to heal itself by dipping into a volcano's magma.

How to pronounce Moltres

Moltres is pronounced MOHL-treez. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Moltres said out loud:

In Japanese it is ファイヤー (Fire).

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Moltres is 2 m tall and 60 kg. Bulbapedia describes a large yellow bird with a long, flowing crest and a billowing tail made of reddish flames, and wings shrouded in fire. The Pokédex says every flap of its wings makes a dazzling flash of flames that can turn the night sky red.

Behaviour

The Shield Pokédex says stories tell of Moltres lighting the way for people lost in the mountains with its blazing wings. The Gold Pokédex adds that it scatters embers with every flap, a thrilling sight.

Habitat

The Crystal Pokédex says it migrates from the south, and its habitat category is Rare.

Powers

Moltres has the Ability Pressure, with Flame Body hidden. It learns Ember, Incinerate, Heat Wave and Overheat for fire, Wing Attack and Air Slash for the sky, and the heavy Sky Attack. Base Special Attack 125 makes it a strong special attacker. Galarian Moltres, from The Crown Tundra, is a Dark and Flying type with the Ability Berserk. A magenta, flame-like energy streams from it, and Bulbapedia says its Fiery Wrath, a move only it can learn, attacks the mind and leaves foes deeply tired.

Name origin

Moltres combines 'molten' with the Spanish tres ('three'), as the third Kanto bird, and 'molt' may play a part too. The Japanese name is Fire (ファイヤー), literally 'fire'.

Design inspiration

Moltres seems to draw on fire-bird legends such as the phoenix, Slavic firebird tales and the Bennu, and may recall the Chinese Vermilion Bird, guardian of the south and a symbol of fire. Bulbapedia also suggests a heron for its body shape and a cormorant for the Galarian form. These are fan readings.

In the games

Moltres waits on Victory Road in Red, Blue and Yellow and at Mt. Ember in FireRed and LeafGreen, a legendary bird players have chased since Generation I. In Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team it guards Mt. Blaze. In Scarlet and Violet it arrives by trade or Pokémon HOME, and The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero lets you find it in the Asado Desert after a Snack from Snacksworth. It is unobtainable in Legends: Z-A.

In the anime

Moltres debuted in 'All Fired Up!', blazing in to defeat Team Rocket when they tried to steal the Moltres Flame at the Indigo Plateau Conference's opening ceremony. In 'A Legendary Photo Op!', one resting in a crater attacks Ash's group until Ash and his newly evolved Talonflame show they mean no harm.

Fun facts

• Bill Giese, who helped name many Generation I Pokémon, suggested the English names of all three legendary birds, according to Bulbapedia.
• In Generations I, III and VII a Cinnabar Gym Trainer says Blaine turned to Fire types after he saw a Moltres.
• Moltres closes the Coastal Kalos Pokédex as its final entry.
• Ken Sugimori's original Japanese Blue artwork showed Moltres with red nails and wings made entirely of fire.

Sources: Bulbapedia: Moltres (Pokémon) · Serebii: Moltres (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)

Base stats

• HP: 90
• Attack: 100
• Defense: 90
• Sp. Atk: 125
• Sp. Def: 85
• Speed: 90

Moltres’s base stat total is 580. Its highest stat is Sp. Atk.

Type matchups

What is Moltres weak to?

Moltres takes extra damage from Rock (4×), Water (2×), Electric (2×) moves.

It resists Grass (¼×), Bug (¼×), Fire (½×), Fighting (½×), Steel (½×), Fairy (½×).

It is immune to Ground moves.

Evolution

Moltres does not evolve, and it does not evolve from any other Pokémon.

Forms

• Galarian Moltres (Galarian form): Dark/Flying-type, base stat total 580 (HP 90, Attack 85, Defense 90, Sp. Atk 100, Sp. Def 125, Speed 90). Ability: Berserk.

Abilities

• Pressure: Increases the PP cost of moves targetting the Pokémon by one.
• Flame Body (hidden ability): Has a 30% chance of burning attacking Pokémon on contact.

Moves

Moves Moltres learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet

TM moves (41)

Moltres can learn 41 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: Take Down, Agility, Protect, Acrobatics, Fire Spin, Facade, Aerial Ace, Swift, Flame Charge, Air Cutter, Endure, Sunny Day, Rain Dance, Sandstorm, U-turn, Air Slash, Sleep Talk, Rest, Fly, Substitute, Will-O-Wisp, Tailwind, Heat Wave, Flamethrower, Helping Hand, Fire Blast, Giga Impact, Overheat, Hurricane, Hyper Beam, Brave Bird, Flare Blitz, Solar Beam, Tera Blast, Roar, Weather Ball, Burning Jealousy, Dual Wingbeat, Double-Edge, Temper Flare, Scorching Sands.

Breeding & training

• Gender: genderless.
• Egg groups: Undiscovered.
• Egg cycles: 80 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 10,240).
• Catch rate: 3 out of 255.
• Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 35.
• Growth rate: Slow (1,250,000 experience points to reach level 100).
• Defeating it gives 3 Sp. Atk effort values.
• Base experience yield: 261.

Pokédex entries

There are stories of this Pokémon using its radiant, flame-cloaked wings to light up paths for those lost in the mountains. (Shield)

It's one of the legendary bird Pokémon. When Moltres flaps its flaming wings, they glimmer with a dazzling red glow. (Sword)

A legendary bird Pokémon. As it flaps its flaming wings, even the night sky will turn red. (Yellow, Let’s Go, Pikachu!, Let’s Go, Eevee!)

Moltres is a legendary bird Pokémon that has the ability to control fire. If this Pokémon is injured, it is said to dip its body in the molten magma of a volcano to burn and heal itself. (Ruby, Sapphire, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire)

One of the legendary bird Pokémon. It is said that its appearance indicates the coming of spring. (Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Black, White, Black 2, White 2, Y)

It is said to be the legendary bird Pokémon of fire. Every flap of its wings creates a dazzling flare of flames. (LeafGreen, X)

Names around the world

Trivia

• Tallest Fire type in Gen 1: 2 m.
• Highest HP among Fire types in Gen 1: 90, shared with 1 other.
• Highest Defense among Fire types in Gen 1: 90.
• Highest Sp. Atk among Fire types in Gen 1: 125.
• Highest base stat total among Fire types in Gen 1: 580.
• Highest Sp. Atk among Flying types in Gen 1: 125, shared with 1 other.
• Taller than 87% of all Pokémon (2 m).
• Heavier than 71% of all Pokémon (60 kg).
• Base stat total 580, ranked #69 of 1,025.
• Its best stat is Sp. Atk, ranked #52 of 1,025.
• One of 6 Pokémon that are both Fire and Flying.
• One of 88 yellow Pokémon.
• Number 146 of 151 Pokémon introduced in Generation 1 (Kanto).
• Can learn 50 different moves in Scarlet / Violet.
• Catch rate 3: about 0.4% per Poké Ball at full health.
• Has 1 alternate form.
• Appears in 12 distinct Pokédex entries.

Sources and fact-checking

• Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: PokéAPI open game data.
• Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Moltres (Pokémon), Serebii: Moltres (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (MOHL-treez): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.

Last checked: 19 October 2026. Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.

Explore

Fire-type Pokémon · Flying-type Pokémon · Fire/Flying weaknesses and matchups · Moltres vs Articuno · Moltres vs Zapdos · Moltres vs Charizard · Kanto region guide · Pressure ability · Flame Body ability · Compare Moltres · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves

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Gen 1 Fire-type Pokémon · Gen 1 Flying-type Pokémon · Gen 1 Pokémon list · Yellow Pokémon list · No Eggs Discovered egg group · Pokémon that start with M · Bird Pokémon

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