Is Reshiram Good?

Yes, Reshiram is a highly situational but devastating Special Wallbreaker in the Scarlet and Violet Uber tier. While its low 0.4% usage rate reflects a crowded metagame, its Turboblaze ability allows its Blue Flare to bypass defensive abilities, making it a lethal nuke when paired with Sun setters.

Reshiram hits like a truck but requires heavy team support to function consistently in modern Ubers.

Rating 7/10 · Tier Uber (SV) · Role : Special Wallbreaker / Niche Sweeper

Strengths

• Turboblaze ignores defensive abilities, ensuring maximum damage output.
• Blue Flare and Draco Meteor provide incredibly high base power STAB options.
• Excellent synergy with Koraidon for Sun-boosted Fire attacks.
• Versatile item pool including Choice Specs, Assault Vest, and Heavy-Duty Boots.

Weaknesses

• Extremely low 0.4% usage in SV Ubers highlights its niche status.
• Mediocre speed tier leaves it outpaced by top metagame threats.
• Vulnerable to common Ground, Rock, and Dragon-type attacks.
• Heavily reliant on prediction if locked into a move via Choice items.

Reshiram currently sits in the Uber tier for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. However, its 0.4% usage rate paints a clear picture: this is not a splashable, top-tier threat. It is a highly specialized tool designed for specific team compositions.

Its primary role is a Special Wallbreaker. The combination of its massive Special Attack stat and the Turboblaze ability makes it incredibly difficult to switch into safely. Turboblaze is the defining trait here, as it actively ignores defensive abilities that would otherwise absorb or mitigate its attacks.

Instead of relying on setup, Reshiram punches holes early to mid-game. By spamming high-base-power moves, it forces the opponent into uncomfortable trades, paving the way for faster teammates to clean up later.

The Choice Specs Nuke

If you want to maximize Reshiram's wallbreaking potential, Choice Specs is the optimal item. This set turns it into a sheer force of nature, capable of 2HKOing even dedicated special walls.

• Blue Flare: The primary STAB. With 130 Base Power and a burn chance, it is highly spammable.
• Draco Meteor: The secondary STAB for nuking Dragon-types and Fire-resistant targets.
• Earth Power: Essential coverage for hitting Rock and opposing Fire-types.
• Shadow Ball / Fusion Flare: Shadow Ball provides neutral coverage against Psychic and Ghost threats, while Fusion Flare offers a 100% accurate Fire alternative when you cannot risk a Blue Flare miss.

Assault Vest & Heavy-Duty Boots Utility

For teams needing more defensive utility, Assault Vest turns Reshiram into a bulky pivot capable of taking special hits from opposing Uber threats. Alternatively, Heavy-Duty Boots is mandatory if your team lacks reliable hazard removal, as taking 25% from Stealth Rock severely limits its lifespan.

If you prefer a sweeping role, running a Choice Scarf or utilizing Flame Charge allows Reshiram to fix its mediocre speed tier, turning it into a late-game cleaner once its checks are weakened.

Reshiram shines brightest when supported by the right teammates. Koraidon is arguably its best partner in the SV Uber tier. Koraidon sets up the Sun, which pushes Blue Flare's damage output to absurd, unwallable levels, while also threatening the special walls that Reshiram hates.

Defensively, Ho-Oh is a phenomenal teammate. Ho-Oh provides crucial pivoting and hazard control, creating safe entry points for Reshiram to start firing off attacks. Hatterene also pairs excellently by bouncing back entry hazards with Magic Bounce and providing Trick Room support if you opt for a slower, bulkier Reshiram build.

Surprisingly, Kyogre and Calyrex-Ice also form strong cores with it. While Kyogre's Rain weakens Fire moves, Kyogre easily dispatches the Ground and Rock-types that threaten Reshiram. In return, Reshiram uses Turboblaze-boosted Earth Power and Dragon Pulse to handle the Water-resistant foes that annoy Kyogre.

Reshiram's 0.4% usage rate is not an accident. Its biggest flaw is its speed tier. In a metagame dominated by hyper-fast threats, Reshiram often finds itself taking a massive hit before it can launch an attack.

It is highly vulnerable to common offensive types in Ubers. Faster Dragon-types will outspeed and OHKO it with their own STAB moves. Furthermore, ubiquitous Ground-type attackers can easily force it out or secure a knockout if Reshiram is not holding an Air Balloon.

Finally, its reliance on specific items creates a catch-22. If you run Choice Specs for damage, you are crippled by Stealth Rock. If you run Heavy-Duty Boots to survive hazards, you miss out on the raw breaking power needed to secure crucial KOs.

Do not draft Reshiram if your team requires a fast, self-sufficient sweeper. It requires too much support—hazard control, speed control, and safe pivoting—to function as a standalone win condition.

If you are playing in a fast-paced hyper offense structure, look elsewhere. You are much better off using Koraidon if you want a dominant Sun abuser, or Miraidon if you need a fast, overwhelming special attacker that requires far less setup to sweep.