Cinderace is the most popular starter in Galar for a reason. If you take a look at both casual Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield storyline playthroughs and intense competitive battles, the flame bunny is a top contender.
This Fire-type striker dominates thanks to its Speed, Attack, and the borderline OP Libero ability. However, even Messi cannot carry a team alone forever.Â
Despite Cinderace’s strength, it isn’t invincible. Some Pokemon can wall it, while others outspeed it. Late-game battles aren’t forgiving to compositions with poor synergy either, so that’s why you need a solid team.
In this guide, I’ll show you the best possible Pokemon team built around Cinderace.
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Best Team With Cinderace
Cinderace: Starter/Physical Sweeper
Cinderace works best as a physical sweeper. With its high attack and speed stats, it is a fearsome offensive threat.
Since we want to build the best team around it, we need to assess its strengths and weaknesses.
Strengths:
- Impressive physical offense and speed.
- Wide movepool.
- Can break even bulky cores.
- Libero makes every move STAB.
Weaknesses:
- Bulky Water and Rock types.
- Priority attacks.
- Intimidate users.
- Status moves.
The goal of this best team is simple. Remove Cinderace’s weaknesses and create openings so it can easily sweep.
This lineup focuses on type coverage, balanced offense and defense, and easy progression through gyms, story battles, and post-game content. But don’t get me wrong, this can be a decent competitive lineup as well.
Corviknight: Physical Wall and Hazard Control
Corviknight might be every player’s first capture. I mean, Rookidee is available literally on the first route. But it can definitely stick with you and serve as a trusted companion throughout your journey.
Its Steel/Flying dual typing makes it awesome on both offensive and defensive ends. It’s also amazing when fighting in Dynamax form.
But on this team, Corviknight will serve as the reliable backbone: a hard tank who can take hits and soak up physical damage. Flying types are also super useful in this generation thanks to their special immunities.
STAB flying and steel moves are a no-brainer for the playthrough. But you can also give it utility and supporting moves, such as Defog, Roost, and U-turn.
Corviknight is also your primary answer to entry hazards, which is extremely important for protecting Cinderace from chip damage.
Wash Rotom: Best Partner for Cinderace
Wash Rotom is hands down the single most effective partner for Cinderace. It directly answers the biggest threats to Fire types, including Water, Rock, and Ground Pokemon.
With its Electric/Water typing and Levitate, Wash Rotom can switch in like a Giga Chad on attacks that force our starter out.
Give it Hydro Pump to pressure bulky targets and Volt Switch to keep momentum flowing and bring Cinderace or another attacker back in safely. Will-O-Wisp cripples physical attackers and makes it easier for your team to survive longer fights.
The only challenge is obtaining one. Rotom can be found on the Lake of Outrage in a patch of grass, and you also need a Rotom Catalog to make it transform into Wash Rotom.
If you find it too challenging and want a more accessible water type, you can go with Gyarados. Magikarp can be caught as early as Route 2.
Overall, Rotom fits better with Cinderace and is definitely worth the slot on your team.
Grimsnarl: Bulky Physical Attacker and Utility
Grimsnarl is a Pokemon that can fit into almost any team in Sword and Shield. With its strong attack stats and diverse move pool, it can be an amazing physical attacker that also brings disruptive utility to the table.
Its Dark/Fairy typing is one of the best combinations in the game, giving it excellent offensive coverage and key resistances.Â
Spirit Break is especially valuable in the story because it hits hard while also lowering the target’s Special Attack.
Grimsnarl can brawl it out with potential threats to Cinderace and cripple them with Spirit Break and Thunder Wave, so our bunny can have an easier time once it switches in.
You can get Impidimp from Glimwood Tangle, and it evolves into Grimsnarl at level 42. Its raw power, awesome typing, and utility make Grimsnarl one of the most picked-up Pokemon in this generation.
Excadrill – Wallbreaker and Rocks Setter
Excadrill provides both offensive power, hazard setting, and removal. Ground/Steel typing gives the team an Electric immunity and strong answers to Fairy types.Â
Most importantly, Excadrill sets Stealth Rock, which is vital for wearing down opposing teams over time. You can also give it Rapid Spin so it can clear out any hazards set by your opponent.
Earthquake and Iron Head are its bread and butter, which hit extremely hard, especially against slower or weakened opponents. Thank you, Grimsnarl!
Its high base attack and STAB Earthquake let it tear through bulky Steel, Rock, and Poison types that normally stall teams. But what really pushes Excadrill into wall-breaker territory and top-tier offensive threat is its coverage.
With access to moves like Rock Slide, X-Scissor, and Brick Break, it can punish common defensive cores. You can pick up a Drillbur at the Galar Mine, and it will evolve into Excadrill at level 39.
Dragapult: Late Game Special Sweeper
Raw speed and damage. That alone makes Dragapult one of the strongest Pokemon in the entire game. Its Dragon/Ghost combination lets it pressure almost every major fight in your playthrough, from late gyms to the Champion battle.
Dragapult outspeeds nearly everything and cleans up weakened teams with ease. Dragapult also complements Cinderace perfectly. Cinderace melts Steel, Ice, and Grass types, while Dragapult counters Psychic, Ghost, and Dragon threats.
Cinderace is a physical attacker, and Dragapult is your special sweeper. Now that’s a terrifying duo to see in the late game.
The only downside is Dragapult’s availability. Its pre-evolved forms can be obtained in the Lake of Outrage.
Drakloak appears in the overworld, while Dreepy is found in random grass encounters. But once you add it to your team and finally evolve it, you’re basically unstoppable.
Conclusion
Building the best team around Cinderace in Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield, or any Pokemon for that matter, is all about supporting its strengths and covering its flaws.
Cinderace brings impressive speed, attack, and sweeping potential but is hindered by walls, hazards, and counter types.
With Corviknight anchoring the team, Wash Rotom as the pivot, Grimsnarl disrupting opponents, Excadrill breaking walls and setting hazards, and the Dragapult-Cinderace duo cleaning late-game fights, this lineup stays strong from early routes to the Champion battle.
You can even try this team in competitive battles if you want. For more guides like these, make sure you bookmark Pokemoncoders and check our latest articles.
