Moltres's Overwhelming Offensive Advantage
This matchup is a textbook example of a type mismatch. As a Fire/Flying-type, Moltres deals quadruple damage to Venusaur, a Grass/Poison-type, with both of its primary attack types. A single hit from a powerful move like Flamethrower or Hurricane, boosted by Moltres's high Special Attack stat, is almost always enough to secure a one-hit knockout.
Furthermore, Moltres typically has a higher base Speed stat, allowing it to strike first and prevent Venusaur from setting up any defensive or status-based strategies. For the legendary bird, this fight is as straightforward as it gets: attack with its strongest STAB move and claim victory.
- Moltres possesses a massive 4x super-effective advantage against Venusaur with both its Fire and Flying STAB moves.
- Venusaur's best strategy relies on its bulk and status moves like Sleep Powder, but overcoming the type disadvantage is extremely difficult.
- With superior Speed and Special Attack, Moltres is overwhelmingly favored to win in a direct one-on-one confrontation.
- Pokémon
- Moltres
- Type
- Fire, Flying
- Total stats
- 580
- Pokémon
- Venusaur
- Type
- Grass, Poison
- Total stats
- 525
| Pokémon | Type | Total stats |
|---|---|---|
| Moltres | Fire, Flying | 580 |
| Venusaur | Grass, Poison | 525 |
COMPARATOR
Side-by-Side Stats
TYPE EFFECTIVENESS
Can Venusaur's Tenacity Turn the Tide?
While the odds are stacked against it, Venusaur is not without options, though they are slim. Its respectable defensive stats might allow it to survive a non-STAB attack, but it cannot withstand a direct Fire or Flying assault. Its best hope lies in out-speeding Moltres, perhaps through a Chlorophyll ability boost in harsh sunlight, and landing a status move like Sleep Powder. This would incapacitate Moltres, giving Venusaur a window to attack with Sludge Bomb, its most effective move in this scenario.
However, setting up harsh sunlight is risky, as it also boosts the power of Moltres's Fire-type attacks. Ultimately, while Venusaur is a formidable Pokémon in many battles, its dual typing creates a crippling vulnerability against Moltres that is nearly impossible to overcome.
See the full stat breakdown, move lists, and abilities for Moltres and Venusaur side-by-side with our Pokémon Comparator tool.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Moltres's best move against Venusaur?
Any Fire-type or Flying-type special attack would be devastating. A move like Flamethrower, Fire Blast, or Hurricane would exploit Venusaur's 4x weakness and, combined with Moltres's high Special Attack, would almost certainly result in a one-hit KO.
Could Mega Venusaur stand a better chance?
Yes, significantly. Mega Venusaur gains the Thick Fat ability, which halves the damage taken from Fire-type moves. This reduces the 4x super-effective damage from Fire attacks to a more manageable 2x. While still at a disadvantage against Flying-type moves, its massively increased defensive stats would give it a much higher chance of surviving a hit and retaliating.