So can we please see Emboar the hell out of D rank now?
Emboar honestly never deserved to be kicked as low as D in the 1st place, but in the current meta I can't accept it being there any longer.
Many of the reasons Emboar needs to rise are very similar to Infernape.
The pokemon which Emboar synergies fantastically with in Psychic types are extremely dominant atm and many have been moving up. There are currently 18 Psychic types from B+ to S on the viability rankings. Emboar benefits greatly from this as not only does it have great synergy with them, due to its ability to counter or check Pursuit trappers like Bisharp, Weavile (which is on the rise) and Scarf T-tar, as well as other Dark, Steel and Bug types. Emboar is also rather decent against Psychic types, with LO Sucker Punch being able to OHKO many offensive Psychics, and many defensive Psychics can be out sped and killed by Flare Blitz.
Emboar also has an extremely underrated amount of versatility. When Emboar 1st got Reckless, it was mainly judged on its choice sets, which are not nearly its most viable or best sets. Non choiced Emboar is very versatile. LO is probably Emboar's best set, giving it crazy power, a very powerful Sucker Punch, and the ability to switch moves. Just to give people an idea of how powerful Sucker Punch is;
252+ Atk Life Orb Emboar Sucker Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Shaymin: 120-142 (35.1 - 41.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252+ Atk Technician Mega Scizor Bullet Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Shaymin: 120-142 (35.1 - 41.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
Yeah its not as reliable, but it is as strong as 252+ Mega Scizor's STAB Technician Bullet Punch.
Between Dual STABs, and the possibility of Grass Knot, Wild Charge or Head Smash, there isn't a single pokemon in OU the can guarantee a safe switch in. So when you combine the fact that any pokemon in OU can be 2HKOed, and Emboar has strong priority to beat common revenge killers like Latios and Gengar, Emboar can be really hard to play around once it is in safely.
The Sub F-Punch set is another extremely strong Emboar set. The combination of Leftovers, Sub and only 1 recoil move make this set the most sustainable by far, and really strong on balance builds. The set is also the most independent Emboar set, and can Stall break to an extent.
Either choice set is extremely strong on HO, they lack longativity but when used correctly will consistently nab at least 2 kills.
Other viable sets include Flame Plate, Flame Charge, and PuP. Also if your anything like my friend, AV is useable because you can invest fully in SpD, as Reckless Flare Blitz OHKOs most offensive Special Attackers even with 0 investment.
To give an idea of some of the pokemon that Emboar can Check or Counter, there is;
Mega Houndoom, Mega Sableye, Mega Absol, Bisharp, Weavile, Scarf T-Tar, Mega Scizor, Volcarona (without HP Ground), Heatran (without Earth Power), Ferrothorn, Jirachi (Almost no sets run ZH), Mega Venusaur (Defensive), Celebi (Many don't run Psychic STAB), Breloom, Chesnaught, Amoonguss, and Serperior (if Emboar is scarfed).
It may not be the longest list ever, but when you consider how much pain Emboar can dish out once its in, the list is pretty solid.
And of course, like anything that hits as hard as Emboar, the list expands substantially when you consider 1v1 situations.
Given that every time Emboar is brought up people mention Victini, I just wanna write a paragraph in advance as to how Emboar is similar to Victini, but not outclassed.
Emboar and Victini are similar in that they are both Fire type Wall Breakers. They can both run a large variety of similar sets like Scarf, Band, Sub, LO, Special Lure, etc. Both have similar damage output. And both have crippling side effect on their most powerful STABs.
Emboar isn't outclassed by Victini because; Emboar's secondary Fighting typing is superior in the current metagame and gives it a much more powerful secondary STAB. However initially less bulky and slower, after just 1 V-Create, Emboar becomes bulkier and faster than Victini, so can stay in longer. Emboar is neutral to SR. Emboar isn't pursuit trapped, killed by stray Knock Offs, or revenged by Sucker Punch. Emboar matches up far better vs Dark and Bug types. Emboar has access to powerful priority in Sucker Punch. And Emboar has access to extremely powerful Rock coverage in Head Smash.
As for a power comparison:
252+ Atk Choice Band Victini V-create vs. 252 HP / 104+ Def Mew: 331-390 (81.9 - 96.5%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252+ Atk Choice Band Reckless Emboar Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 104+ Def Mew: 306-360 (75.7 - 89.1%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
Emboar is only slightly weaker.
252+ Atk Choice Band Victini Bolt Strike vs. 252 HP / 104+ Def Mew: 159-188 (39.3 - 46.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Choice Band Reckless Emboar Wild Charge vs. 252 HP / 104+ Def Mew: 153-180 (37.8 - 44.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
Again only ever so slightly weaker.
252+ Atk Choice Band Victini Zen Headbutt vs. 252 HP / 104+ Def Mew: 73-87 (18 - 21.5%) -- possible 7HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Choice Band Emboar Superpower vs. 252 HP / 104+ Def Mew: 127-150 (31.4 - 37.1%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Leftovers recovery
Emboar's secondary STAB is incredibly more powerful than Victini's
So yeah, Emboar and Victini are very similar in a lot of ways, but Emboar is almost on par Victini in most roles and has its fair share of advantages over Victini. But of course Emboar's biggest advantage over Victini is its typing, which is very good in the current meta for all the same reasons Infernape is on the rise.
(Yes I understand that Victini has many advantages over Emboar too, but Emboar has enough to weigh them out and more than justify Emboar's usage, as if secondary typing wasn't big enough the way the meta is shaping).
Outside of the Sub F-Punch set, Emboar often requires a bit of support, but it doesn't need anything substantial, and it is well worth the support. Anything along the lines of Paralysis, Volt-Turn or Healing Wish, will almost always get Emboar an extra KO. Its not mandatory, but you would be silly not to use something like Volt-Turn on balance, or Paralysis on HO when it is so easy to work in and makes Emboar so much more threatening.
With all this said, I think Emboar is easily worthy of a rise as high as C+, along side things like Staraptor, Rhyperior and Heracross.
tl;dr Emboar should have never been in D rank and needs a rise for many of the same reasons as Infernape. Most notably its typing making it a great check to many Dark, Bug and Steels types, giving it great synergy with the plethora of Psychic types. Emboar also matches up well vs many Psychics with Sucker Punch. Emboar's best sets (non-choiced) were largely unexplored and underrated during the 'hype' period when Emboar first got Reckless (Choiced sets are still great on HO). Victini doesn't outclass Emboar. Emboar to C+.
