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With many status conditions to choose from, battlefield tacticians have plenty of options when it comes to afflicting foes in Pokemon Sword & Shield. From the earliest days of the Pokemon franchise, Burns have been a great method for locking down physically powerful threats.
This is due to the drop in the damage physical moves do when unleashed by a burned pokemon, however, Burns also chip away at the afflicted's HP every turn, not unlike what the Poison status condition does to targets. However, since Burns have changed a fair bit since they were introduced in the Generation 1 games, players can sometimes get mixed up when remembering the finer details of what Burns do besides the main factors mentioned above. As such, it is recommended to brush up on how this status condition works in the current generation, such as in Pokemon Sword & Shield.
Burns Throughout The Generations Of The Main Series Pokemon Games
Burns In Generation 1 Pokemon Games
During each of their turns, a burned pokemon will lose 1/16th of its HP, however, this damage over time will not activate if the burned pokemon knocks out their opponent. The Attack drop that occurs on burned pokemon will literally cut the afflicted pokemon's Attack stat in half for the duration that it is burned. Fire-type pokemon in this generation cannot be burned by Fire-type moves, however, they can still be burned by other methods, such as with moves of other types, like the Normal-type Tri Attack.
Burns In Generation 2 Pokemon Games
Burns work very similarly to how they did in Generation 1, but with the inconsistent damage issues being fixed. The biggest change, in addition to Burns getting a new animation, is that this status condition now takes away 1/8th of the max HP from afflicted pokemon instead of 1/16th of their HP every turn.
Burns In Generation 3 Pokemon Games
As opposed to before where Burns cut a pokemon's Attack stat in half, Burns will now only cut the damage done by physical attacks in half when they are used by a burned pokemon.
Burns In Generation 4 Pokemon Games
The ability Guts now ignores the physical damage reduction caused by Burns and can now make full use of its innate functionality. Furthermore, Fire-type pokemon can no longer be burned by any means.
Burns In Generation 5 Pokemon Games
In the past generations, the physical move (or Attack stat) drop caused by Burns also affected the damage pokemon do when they hit themselves while confused. This has been changed in Generation 5 so that confusion self-hits will deal full damage.
Burns In Generation 6 Pokemon Games
When the Normal-type move Facade was introduced in Generation 3, it was affected by the negative physical move damage modifier caused by Burns, despite being designed to capitalize on its user being afflicted by a status condition. However, in Generation 6, this flaw was finally remedied so that Facade does not suffer a damage penalty if its user is burned.
Burns In Generation 7 Pokemon Games
In a strange twist, the amount of damage over time that Burns do has been reduced from 1/8th of the target's max HP back down to 1/16th of their max HP, like how it was in the Generation 1 games.
Burns In Generation 8 Pokemon Games
Burns remain the same in the Generation 8 games as they appeared in the Generation 7 titles.
Moves, Abilities, & Items That Can Cause Burns In The Main Series Pokemon Games
List Of Moves That Can Cause Burns In The Main Series Pokemon Games
Move Name | Probability Of Causing Burns | Description |
Beak Blast | 100% | Enemies only get burned if they hit the user of Beak Blast with a contact move on the turn it is used |
Burning Jealousy | 100% | Only applies a burn if the target has boosted stats |
Fling | 100% | Only applies a burn if the user is holding the Flame Orb item |
Inferno | 100% | A damage-dealing special move |
Psycho Shift | 100% | Only applies a burn to the target if the user is burned |
Sizzly Slide | 100% | A signature move of Eevee |
Will-O-Wisp | 100% | A regular status move |
Sacred Fire | 50% | A damage-dealing physical move |
Ice Burn | 30% | A damage-dealing special move |
Lava Plume | 30% | A damage-dealing special move |
Scald | 30% | A damage-dealing special move |
Scorching Sands | 30% | A damage-dealing special move |
Searing Shot | 30% | A damage-dealing special move |
Secret Power | 30% | Only can apply a burn to the target if the battle is taking place in a volcanic area (only possible in Generations 6 & 7) |
Steam Eruption | 30% | A damage-dealing special move |
Blue Flare | 20% | A damage-dealing special move |
Blaze Kick | 10% | A damage-dealing physical move |
Ember | 10% | A damage-dealing special move |
Fire Blast | 10% | A damage-dealing special move (the chance to burn was 30% in Generation 1) |
Fire Fang | 10% | A damage-dealing physical move |
Fire Punch | 10% | A damage-dealing physical move |
Flame Wheel | 10% | A damage-dealing special move |
Flamethrower | 10% | A damage-dealing special move |
Flare Blitz | 10% | A damage-dealing physical move |
Heat Wave | 10% | A damage-dealing special move |
Pyro Ball | 10% | A damage-dealing physical move |
Tri Attack | 6.67% | A damage-dealing special move |
Abilities That Can Cause Burns In The Main Series Pokemon Games
So far, the only ability that can potentially cause a burn in the Pokemon main-series games is Flame Body. When an opponent makes contact with a pokemon possessing Flame Body, there is a 30% chance that the attacker will be burned.
Items That Can Cause Burns In The Main Series Pokemon Games
Flame Orb is the only way that a pokemon can be burned via an item, however, its effect only targets the pokemon holding it and not the opponent (unless the holder of the Flame Orb uses the Dark-type move Fling).
