Quality Control 2009 Infernape [0/1]

[ned]

[SET]
Lead (Infernape) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Blaze
Level: 50
EVs: 68 Atk / 188 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Fake Out
- Overheat / Heat Wave
- Close Combat / Endeavor
- Encore / Feint / Taunt

[SET COMMENTS]

Set Details
========
* Infernape is a common lead for offensive teams that need disruption and offensive pressure against Steel-types. Infernape matches up well into lead Metagross and can also delay the opponent's strategy with Fake Out flinching. However, Infernape is very frail and struggles against other common leads including Cresselia and Gengar.

* The choice of moveset depends on team structure. Explosion spam teams prefer powerful Blaze boosted Heat Waves after Focus Sash gets activated, along with 1 HP Endeavors and Feint to prevent an ally's Explosion being wasted into Protect. Otherwise, Overheat is a stronger single-target attack guaranteed to OHKO Metagross without Occa Berry, and Close Combat provides better coverage for foes like Heatran and Snorlax. Encore can seal endgames by locking foes into passive moves like Protect, and an alternative final move is Taunt to prevent Trick Room.

* Focus Sash is Infernape's only viable item and is required to patch up its frailty.

* The Attack investment is enough to reliably 2HKO bulky Snorlax after Sitrus Berry recovery with Close Combat and OHKO offensive Bronzong with Overheat. If Infernape doesn't run Close Combat, then a simple spread of 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe with a Timid nature is preferred.

Teambuilding
=========
* Infernape is a great lead for offensive teams. It pairs well with Azelf and Choice Scarf Metagross which can click Explosion reliably with Feint support and a check against Steel-types. As mentioned above, once Focus Sash is activated Infernape becomes an offensive menace with Blaze-boosted Fire-type attacks and 1 HP Endeavors.

* Infernape can also work as a lead alongside Cresselia or Zapdos to spread Thunder Wave. This strategy is riskier if the Thunder Wave is wasted into a Pokemon with Lum Berry.

* Infernape struggles against priority users like Bullet Punch Metagross and Extreme Speed Togekiss, which can pick it off easily once Focus Sash activates. Dragon-types like Latios and Salamence resist both its STABs and simply 2HKO it. Finally, Cresselia and Gengar defeat it on lead, especially if they're running Icy Wind.

[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ned.353628/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/oopsgtg.567986/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.300/

 

[Radio Free C-Side]

Blue is to highlight, Red is suggested fix.

Copyedit

Lead (Infernape) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Blaze
Level: 50
EVs: 68 Atk / 188 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Fake Out
- Overheat / Heat Wave
- Close Combat / Endeavor
- Encore / Feint / Taunt Drop Taunt

[SET COMMENTS]

Set Details
========
* Infernape is a common lead for offensive teams that need disruption and offensive pressure against Steel-types. Infernape matches up well into lead Metagross and can also delay the opponent's strategy with Fake Out flinching. However, Infernape is very frail and struggles against other common leads including Cresselia and Gengar. Separate into two sentences: one talking about its use of STAB moves to beat common leads in Metagross and Heatran, and one talking about how its disruptive moves like fake out and encore enable the rest of the team.

* The choice of moveset depends on team structure. Explosion spam teams prefer powerful Blaze boosted Heat Waves after Focus Sash gets activated, along with 1 HP Endeavors and Feint to prevent an ally's Explosion being wasted into Protect. Otherwise, Overheat is a stronger single-target attack guaranteed to OHKO Metagross without Occa Berry, and Close Combat provides better coverage for foes like Heatran and Snorlax. Encore can seal endgames by locking foes into passive moves like Protect, and an alternative final move is Taunt to prevent Trick Room. Make its own sentence, and mention both Taunt and U-turn since they both see similar usage. I would also mention how Encore combos with protect, since the opponent is forced to not protect in order to avoid being encore locked.

* Focus Sash is Infernape's only viable item and is required to patch up its frailty. Explain how it combos with explosion spam as well.

* The Attack investment is enough to reliably 2HKO bulky Snorlax after Sitrus Berry recovery with Close Combat and OHKO offensive Bronzong with Overheat. If Infernape doesn't run Close Combat, then a simple spread of 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe with a Timid nature is preferred. Explain why it has to run a speed-boosting nature. (Beating zapdos, garchomp etc)

Teambuilding
=========
* Infernape is a great lead for offensive teams. It pairs well with Azelf and Choice Scarf Metagross which can click Explosion reliably with Feint support and a check against Steel-types. As mentioned above, once Focus Sash is activated Infernape becomes an offensive menace with Blaze-boosted Fire-type attacks and 1 HP Endeavors.

* Infernape can also work as a lead alongside Cresselia or Zapdos to spread Thunder Wave. This strategy is riskier if the Thunder Wave is wasted into a Pokemon with Lum Berry. I think this needs more. Infernape enables a lot of things that are afraid of steel types, I would focus more on that than paraspam.

* Infernape struggles against priority users like Bullet Punch Metagross and Extreme Speed Togekiss, which can pick it off easily once Focus Sash activates. Dragon-types like Latios and Salamence resist both its STABs and simply 2HKO it. Finally, Cresselia and Gengar defeat it on lead, especially if they're running Icy Wind.