Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet will debut on Nov. 18, bringing a slew of new additions to the venerable franchise. Among these latest creatures will surely be more than a few Fire-types. A favorite of fans, the Fire-type Pokémon are among the strongest and most competitive viable Pokémon in the franchise. There are good reason why it's one of the Starter types.
Fire-type Pokémon are not without their flaws, though. No type is perfect, after all. However, it's still one of the overall best in the series, and these memes are the perfect (and hilarious) proof of its undisputed popularity.
Make It Make Sense
Pokémon moves are sometimes confusing. Some moves that make complete sense for a specific Pokémon aren't part of their movepool for some unexplained reason. For instance, Flareon, a pure Fire-type, can't learn Solar Beam, but Natu, a dual Psychic/Flying-type, can.
Many other Fire-types can't learn Fire of Fire-related moves, which has irked Pokémon fans for nine generations. Even more stressful is that random Pokémon can learn these Fire moves, putting the whole type system into question. Redditor TurdBucketPhillipine hits the nail on the head with this meme that could be about many Fire-types, not just Flareon.
Who's Going To Tell Him?
Charmander is not necessarily the best Fire Starter in Pokémon, but it's certainly the most popular. Every Pokémon fan knows that the Charmander line depends on the flame at the tip of its tail to survive. If the flame extinguishes, Charmander dies. The anime even had a rather depressing episode where Ash struggles to maintain Charmander's flame lit during a storm.
A Redditor posted an image of a Charmander with its flame extinguished, presumably from drowning, referring to it as a "baby Dragonite." The truth, of course, is much darker, and the original Redditor knew it. That was the joke, after all. Redditor IMBasAtUserNames77 kept the joke going, but their attempt didn't land quite as well as the original's meme.
Haven't We Seen This Before?
The final forms of the Fire Starter Pokémon are some of the best in the series. However, they are also somewhat controversial because of their perceived lack of variety. Nearly half are Fire/Fighting, and those that aren't are arguably disappointing. No wonder Charizard is everyone's favorite. It's the only one that stands out.
Redditor WildWes91 summarizes the state of Pokémon's Fire Starters with this meme that says everything that needs to be said. Sure these Pokémon are otherwise great. They have inspired designs and are absolute beasts in battle. However, it's undeniable that they aren't necessarily famous for their diversity.
This Is Surprisingly Dark
For obvious reasons, Fire is weak to Water. The Fire-type has three weaknesses, but most Trainers forget about Rock and Ground because Water is so overwhelming in the Pokémon world, and most teams have a default Water-type to Surf.
The anime often shows Fire-types being utterly terrified of any form of water, even droplets. It sounds like a genuinely jarring existence, and this meme perfectly illustrates the struggle. A Redditor posted this heartbreaking depiction of a Charmander's sad life, but the situation could apply to literally every other Fire-type in the franchise.
No Chinese Zodiac Here
Some of the best Fire-type Pokémon are Starters. Despite criticism for their lack of diversity, Fire Starters are still great Pokémon competitively and for an average playthrough. They are also famous for the Chinese Zodiac theory, which claims every Fire Starter draws inspiration from an animal in the Chinese Zodiac.
However, Fuecoco doesn't fit any of the remaining animals: it's not a snake or a goat, much less a horse or an ox. Perhaps upon evolution, but as it currently stands, Fuecoco disproves the theory. Redditor TrueBornLoki924 posted a funny meme poking fun at the theory's believers, some of whom still swear Fuecoco will somehow live to the theory.
NO MORE, PLEASE!
Fire/Fighting is a combination that fans are already tired of and don't want to see anymore. Three of the current Starters' final forms are Fire/Fighting, four counting the supposedly Fire/Dark Incineroar that's literally based on a wrestler and has multiple wrestling-inspired attacks.
Fuecoco, the latest addition to the Fire Starter canon, quickly became a fan favorite. However, everyone is eagerly awaiting to see its final stage, praying it won't be a Fire/Fighting because god knows the franchise already has enough of those. Redditor WildWes91 posted a hilarious meme about the pressure Fuecoco has to live up to fans' expectations. Poor little lizard.
Cyndaquil Is The Original, Thank You Very Much
The Chinese Zodiac theory is so prevalent in the Fire Starters lore that some fans swear by it. However, it has more than a few flaws dating back to Generation II. The Johto region did plenty of things first, and its Fire Starter, Cyndaquil, all but breaks the Chinese Zodiac theory.
Supporters of the theory claim Cyndaquil represents the rat from the Chinese Zodiac. However, there's hardly anything rat-like about Cyndaquil. It looks more like an echidna or a porcupine. Calling it a rat was always a stretch. Redditor Dinamosaurus posted this meme that shines a spotlight on Cyndaquil, the original trendsetter who dared think outside the Chinese Zodiac box.
Not Those Firefighters
Fire/Fighter-type Starters are super common. Generations III, IV, and V all had one, with Generation VII having one that fit the type despite being Fire/Dark. For some reason, Game Freak loves the combo. On the contrary, fans have grown to hate it over the years.
This meme by a since-deleted Reddit account pokes fun at the wordplay between firefighters and Fire/Fighters. It might be a prime example of dad humor, but it's still funny enough to bring out a chuckle from the average Pokémon fan and some casual players.
Dinosaurs For Everyone
Despite all their flaws, Fire-types are among some of the franchise's most beloved and popular choices. Everyone chooses Charmander in Generation I and Chimchar in Generation IV. However, Water Starters are also quite good. All they want is a chance to prove themselves.
Fuecoco is already the star of the Generation IX Starters, but the loveable Quaxly is equally adorable. Alas, players will do what they want, and the prospect of having a Fire-type dinosaur is too good to pass. At least, that's what this meme, posted by a since-deleted account, says, and, honestly, it's not that far from reality.