Volcarona is a fringe setup sweeper with high offensive stats and decent coverage; however, it is weak without boosts, requires dedicated support to set up, is prone to opposing speed control, and is walled by a number of common threats, such as Jellicent and Heatran. Furthermore, Volcarona's typing leaves it extremely vulnerable to rain, Excadrill in sand, and Stealth Rock, making it often more trouble than is worth.

Quiver Dance is Volcarona's main niche, as even a single boost amplifies its already notable offensive stats to great heights, puts its Speed tier above Adamant Choice Scarf Landorus-T's, and lets it survive Dragon Gem Latios's Draco Meteor. Heat Wave hits much of the metagame for neutral damage and OHKOes common Steel-types such as Excadrill, Scizor, and Genesect. It is especially fearsome at +1, where it can OHKO Metagross and 2HKO bulky neutral foes such as Thundurus and Landorus-T. Bug Buzz is Volcarona's best way of hitting foes that resist or shrug off Fire-type attacks: it OHKOes Latios and 2HKOes Cresselia, Tyranitar, and Gothitelle.

Lum Berry grants a one-time insurance and a setup opportunity against Thundurus's Thunder Wave and Amoonguss's Spore, both of which stop Volcarona from sweeping. Bug Gem guarantees an OHKO on Cresselia, Gothitelle, and Tyranitar with +1 Bug Buzz, as well as granting it an additional single-target nuke option.

Volcarona thrives late-game once its checks are wittled down or removed, but setup opportunities are more limited due to Stealth Rock. Because Volcarona often has to take Stealth Rock damage, it favors setup opportunities against harmless foes such as Cresselia and Ferrothorn or in situations where a teammate can guarantee Volcarona's safety, such as with Fake Out or Rage Powder.

Amoonguss is a natural teammate for Volcarona, as it can redirect moves that would cripple Volcarona such as Thunder Wave and Genesect's Extreme Speed, and, more importantly, keeps it from being statused by Thundurus and opposing Amoonguss. Dark- and Electric-types such as Tyranitar and Thundurus beat Jellicent, which resists both of Volcarona's STAB attacks, with Tyranitar also disrupting rain and matching up well into Heatran. Bisharp beats Jellicent, and Defiant deters the common Stealth Rock setter Landorus-T from coming onto the field. Defiant Thundurus is able to do the same, with Superpower also beating Heatran. Water- and Fighting-types such as Jellicent and Conkeldurr also beat Heatran, which is as good as immune to Volcarona's attacks. Scrafty and Hitmontop provide Volcarona with Intimidate and Fake Out support to weaken Tyranitar and Excadrill and generate free setup turns for Volcarona, with the latter answering rain and Rock Slide with Wide Guard, and it sometimes runs Rapid Spin to remove Stealth Rock. Volcarona is also commonly paired with powerful wallbreakers such as Dragon Gem Latios and Choice Band Kyurem-B, as they punch holes in teams for it to clean up later.