Moves

Protect guarantees Torchic at least one free turn of Speed Boost, after which it will be able to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame. Fire Blast is a powerful attack that provides more consistent damage output than Torchic's other STAB attacks. Hidden Power Grass is Torchic's most useful coverage move, heavily damaging many common Pokemon resistant to Fire Blast such as Onix and Staryu. Substitute can be run in the last moveslot to allow Torchic to capitalize on the switches it forces and avoid getting revenge killed by Sucker Punch users. Alternatively, Torchic can run both Overheat and Fire Blast, using Overheat to break past bulky Pokemon such as Vullaby and Fire Blast to clean late-game. This is usually suboptimal when Firium Z is run, however, as Inferno Overdrive can instead be used to break past bulky Pokemon. Defog is also an option in the final moveslot, though Torchic's Stealth Rock weakness and frailty make it an inconsistent user of the move.

Set Details

The given EV spread maximizes Torchic's offensive presence and allows it to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame after one turn of Speed Boost, making it very difficult to revenge kill without priority users. Life Orb consistently boosts Torchic's damage output, allowing Fire Blast to at least 2HKO most of what it hits neutrally. Alternatively, Firium Z gives Torchic the ability to break past one especially bulky Pokemon and avoid the chip damage incurred by Life Orb, but it noticeably lowers Torchic's overall damage output. 0 HP IVs keep Torchic's HP at 19, ensuring that Life Orb only deals 1 HP of recoil each turn. If Firium Z is run, there is no need to lower Torchic's IVs.

Usage Tips

Ideally, Torchic should be brought into the game after its defensive checks, such as Ponyta and Mareanie, and strong priority users have been eliminated. Torchic can also come in earlier in the match to wear down its checks but must be wary of taking residual damage from Stealth Rock and Life Orb due to its susceptibility to priority attacks. Protect should usually be used on the first turn out against a faster foe to take advantage of Speed Boost. However, bear in mind that this is predictable and foes can take advantage of this free turn by using Substitute or switching to a check. If possible, Torchic should use Substitute against a Pokemon that it forces out, such as Foongus, to make it difficult to revenge kill using priority moves. Either Inferno Overdrive or a Life Orb-boosted Overheat should be preserved until necessary to break past especially bulky foes, such as bulky Vullaby and Timburr. Torchic should not be switched directly into attacks due to its frailty but should instead be brought in after an ally has fainted or through use of a slow pivot.

Team Options

Stealth Rock users are incredibly valuable partners for Torchic for the chip damage on Pokemon that Torchic struggles to break past otherwise, especially Ponyta. Ferroseed is one such user with especially good type synergy, but Onix and Pawniard also fill this role well. Knock Off users, such as Mienfoo and Vullaby, can remove Eviolite from bulky foes, greatly aiding Torchic's sweep. Pokemon that can handle opposing Fire-types are a necessity, since Torchic struggles to break past these foes. Diglett is notable due to its ability to trap and remove Pokemon such as Ponyta and Mareanie, though its lack of defensive utility can make it difficult to fit onto the same team as Torchic. Onix and Staryu can also fairly reliably check Fire-types. Similarly, Pokemon that can check Water-types, such as Snivy and the aforementioned Ferroseed, are important partners for Torchic. Entry hazard removal is critical when using Torchic due to its Stealth Rock weakness. Rapid Spin users such as Staryu are best in this role because they don't clear Stealth Rock from the opponent's side, though Defog users such as Vullaby can fit some teams better. Bulky pivots, such as Mienfoo and Vullaby, can help bring Torchic into the match with minimal damage. Finally, it is worth noting that due to Torchic's lack of defensive presence, its use often will require teammates that can check a variety of offensive Pokemon in one team slot.