Moltres holds a strong place in the metagame thanks to its unique defensive profile, letting it check dangerous threats like Great Tusk, Mega Charizard Y, and Volcarona, and its good natural bulk lets it help out versus threats such as Gholdengo. U-turn allows Moltres to retain momentum for its team; this is important, as it can be somewhat passive into threats such as Heatran, Alomomola, and Toxapex on its own depending on its moveset, and it often relies on giving its teammates free switches to revenge kill or force out foes. Hurricane gives Moltres a strong STAB move that threatens Zamazenta, Volcarona, and Great Tusk. Toxic allows Moltres to cripple potential switch-ins like Mega Charizard Y, Mega Tyranitar, Ting-Lu, and Alomomola. Scorching Sands allows Moltres to appreciably threaten Heatran while also allowing it to potentially spread burns against foes such as Toxapex. Defog is a possibility in this moveslot if the team needs entry hazard removal and cannot fit it elsewhere, but Moltres is a poor defogger overall, as it doesn't reliably beat many of the tier's entry hazard setters, it is very weak to Knock Off, and Defog takes up a valuable moveslot. Roost allows Moltres to stay healthy throughout the match. A physically defensive EV spread allows Moltres to better check Great Tusk, Melmetal, and Zamazenta, whereas a specially defensive spread allows it to better check Mega Charizard Y, Gholdengo, and Volcarona. Flame Body helps Moltres punish contact moves from Melmetal, Mega Lopunny, and Kingambit with a potential burn. Heavy-Duty Boots is mandatory thanks to Moltres's extreme weakness to Stealth Rock, which severely impacts its ability to function as a pivot.

Moltres fits well on bulky offense and balance teams thanks to its solid defensive profile and ability to retain momentum with U-turn. A Knock Off absorber is an important teammate, as Moltres loses a significant amount of its efficacy without Heavy-Duty Boots. Teammates such as Gliscor, Mega Scizor, and Great Tusk are good choices as a result. Moltres also pairs well with Dragon-types such as Dragonite, Mega Latios, and Kommo-o, which can shore up Moltres's weakness to common Water-types such as Ogerpon-W, Urshifu-R, and Mega Swampert, as well as helping it check Mega Charizard Y, while they appreciate Moltres checking Fairy-types like Iron Valiant. In a similar vein, Moltres benefits from Ground-types such as Great Tusk, Landorus-T, and Ting-Lu, as they can check Rock- and Electric-types such as Mega Tyranitar and Raging Bolt, while Moltres can check Grass-types such as Rillaboom, Serperior, and Kartana in return. Moltres is a good pivot thanks to its ability to take a hit from and force out common Pokemon like Landorus-T, Mega Charizard Y, and Great Tusk, so frail wallbreakers, such as Mega Medicham, Weavile, and Ogerpon-W, that appreciate getting free switch-in opportunities are good teammates.