Flare Boost
Gen VThis Pokémon has 1.5× its Special Attack when burned.
Flare Boost in Battle
Flare Boost increases the Pokemon's Special Attack by 1.5x while it is burned. Unlike most Pokemon, which suffer a physical Attack reduction from burns, a Pokemon with Flare Boost benefits from the burn status, turning a normally detrimental condition into a powerful offensive advantage.
The boost applies only to Special Attack, not physical Attack, so the burn's normal Attack reduction still applies to physical moves. This makes Flare Boost users purely special attackers in practice. The 1.5x Special Attack boost combined with the burn's residual damage (1/16 max HP per turn) creates a risk-reward dynamic where the Pokemon hits harder but gradually loses HP.
Flare Boost is found on Drifloon and Drifblim, the Ghost/Flying-type balloon Pokemon. Drifblim can deliberately activate Flare Boost by holding a Flame Orb, guaranteeing the burn on the first turn. With its respectable Special Attack boosted by 50%, Drifblim becomes a significant offensive threat, though the burn damage limits its longevity.