Competitive & Weather Archetype
Pokemon Sun Team Builder: Drought, Protosynthesis & Synergy
Sun is one of the most explosive offensive engines in Pokémon, boosting Fire-type damage by 50%, enabling 1-turn Solar Beam and Solar Blade, doubling Chlorophyll speed, and activating Ancient Paradox Protosynthesis abilities for free. Here is how to construct a balanced Sun team without over-stacking Fire weaknesses.
Want to test a tournament-ready Sun squad? Load our balanced Gen 9 Regulation H Sun team directly into the interactive type coverage board.
Open Sun Team in Builder →The 4 Core Pillars of a Modern Sun Team
A frequent mistake when building a Sun team is filling all six slots with Fire-type Pokémon. While harsh sunlight boosts Fire moves by 1.5×, over-stacking Fire types invites catastrophic losses to opposing Ground, Rock, and Rain teams. Championship-level VGC and competitive Singles teams built on the Pokemon Team Builder structure their party across four distinct roles:
| Role | Primary Job | Top Meta Picks |
|---|---|---|
| The Drought Setter | Activates harsh sunlight automatically on entry; provides slow pivoting or devastating spread damage. | Torkoal, Ninetales, Koraidon (Restricted) |
| Protosynthesis Sweeper | Receives an automatic 30% stat boost (or 50% Speed boost) in sun without needing Booster Energy. | Flutter Mane, Great Tusk, Gouging Fire, Roaring Moon |
| The Chlorophyll Speed Abuser | Doubles Speed in sun; fires off 1-turn Solar Blade / Solar Beam and applies sleep pressure with Sleep Powder. | Hisuian Lilligant, Venusaur, Scovillain |
| Defensive Glue & Weather Pivot | Resists Rock and Ground attacks; disrupts opposing setups via Fake Out and Parting Shot. | Incineroar, Rillaboom, Raging Bolt, Walking Wake |
Standard Sun vs. Hybrid "Sunroom" Modes
When selecting your six team members, decide which sun playstyle best fits your battle format:
- Hyper-Offensive Sun: Leverages maximum speed. Pairs Drought setters with Chlorophyll sweepers (Hisuian Lilligant using Victory Dance + Solar Blade) and fast Protosynthesis attackers (Choice Specs Flutter Mane) to wipe out opposing teams before they can set up.
- Sunroom (Sun + Trick Room Hybrid): One of the most versatile dual-mode strategies in competitive Pokémon. Torkoal's base 20 Speed makes it one of the slowest and most lethal Trick Room attackers in the game with full-HP sun-boosted Eruption. When facing faster Tailwind teams, you set Trick Room; against slow bulky teams, you bring your fast Chlorophyll mode.
Solving Defensive Liabilities: Ground, Rock & Water
Sun teams naturally solve their Water vulnerability because harsh sunlight cuts incoming Water-type damage in half. However, relying on multiple Fire types leaves your defensive type tally vulnerable to Ground (Earthquake, Earth Power) and Rock (Rock Slide):
To patch these vulnerabilities on the MonTeams type board:
- Hisuian Lilligant (Grass/Fighting): Outspeeds the entire unboosted metagame in sun, threatening opposing Water, Ground, and Rock Pokémon with instantaneous STAB Solar Blade and Close Combat.
- Great Tusk (Ground/Fighting): Absorbs Rock Slide and physical Ground hits with ease, while sun boosts its Attack or Defense via Protosynthesis.
- Raging Bolt (Electric/Dragon): Resists Water and Electric moves while threatening opposing Rain setters (Pelipper, Kyogre) with powerful sun-boosted attacks and priority Thunderclap.
Sample Gen 9 Sun Squad (Ready to Import)
Below is a balanced, tournament-ready Regulation H / Gen 9 Sun Team build featuring both explosive sweepers and reliable defensive pivots:
Torkoal @ Charcoal / Heat Rock
Ability: Drought
Level: 50
Tera Type: Fire / Grass
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature (0 Spe IVs)
- Eruption
- Heat Wave
- Solar Beam
- Protect
Flutter Mane @ Choice Specs / Focus Sash
Ability: Protosynthesis
Level: 50
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Moonblast
- Shadow Ball
- Dazzling Gleam
- Mystical Fire
Great Tusk @ Booster Energy / Assault Vest
Ability: Protosynthesis
Level: 50
Tera Type: Steel / Ice
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Headlong Rush
- Close Combat
- Ice Spinner
- Knock Off
Lilligant-Hisui @ Focus Sash / Wide Lens
Ability: Chlorophyll
Level: 50
Tera Type: Ghost / Stellar
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Solar Blade
- Close Combat
- Victory Dance / After You
- Sleep Powder / Protect
Incineroar @ Safety Goggles / Sitrus Berry
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 HP / 156 Def / 100 SpD
Careful Nature
- Fake Out
- Knock Off
- Parting Shot
- Flare Blitz
Raging Bolt @ Assault Vest / Leftovers
Ability: Protosynthesis
Level: 50
Tera Type: Fairy / Electric
EVs: 244 HP / 252 SpA / 12 Spe
Modest Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Thunderclap
- Dragon Pulse
- Volt Switch / SnarlInspect this Sun squad's defensive tally: Open all six Pokémon in the MonTeams builder to review defensive resistances and offensive STAB coverage.
Inspect Sun Squad Weaknesses →Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Protosynthesis so powerful on a Sun team?
Protosynthesis activates automatically under harsh sunlight, providing a 30% boost to the user's highest stat (or a 50% boost to Speed) without consuming the held item slot. This allows Paradox Pokémon like Flutter Mane and Great Tusk to hold damage-multiplying items like Choice Specs or defensive items like Assault Vest while still enjoying the stat boost.
How do Sun teams win weather wars against Rain or Sand?
Because Torkoal is slower than Pelipper and Tyranitar, Drought will naturally activate second and override opposing weather on turn one. In mid-game weather wars, use slow pivoting with Incineroar's Parting Shot or manual Sunny Day on support Pokémon to reclaim sun control.
Can you use a Sun team in story game playthroughs?
Yes! In games like Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald (Groudon, Ninetales, Shiftry) or Pokémon Scarlet/Violet (Torkoal, Scovillain, Arcanine, Great Tusk), Sun teams overpower story gyms and Elite Four battles with boosted Fire STAB and instant Solar Beams.