[OVERVIEW]
Incineroar's typing, decent mixed bulk, and access to Intimidate makes it a resilient pivot that is capable of checking threats such as Chandelure, Zarude, Reuniclus, Darmanitan, and Alolan Marowak. It also has access to some very useful utility moves, as Knock Off is great for removing assorted Leftovers and Heavy-Duty Boots from targets such as Seismitoad, Noivern, and Togekiss, while Toxic can catch and wear down threats such as Gastrodon, Diancie, and opposing Incineroar. However, Incineroar has no recovery to speak of. This is somewhat mitigated by Heavy-Duty Boots removing entry hazard damage from the equation, but this does make Incineroar very vulnerable to Knock Off, (AC) and moves like Toxic are also a problem. Incineroar's typing is overall quite good, but it does leave it with annoying weaknesses to Water, Ground, and Fighting, which can leave it vulnerable to threats such as Sharpedo, Rhyperior, Cobalion, and Mienshao.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Overheat
move 3: Toxic
move 4: U-turn / Parting Shot
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Intimidate
nature: Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 20 Atk / 236 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Overheat is preferred over Flare Blitz due to it hitting targets such as Cobalion, Steelix, Metagross, and Doublade harder while also not chipping Incineroar with each use. Toxic can catch threats such as Gastrodon, Diancie, Rhyperior, and Volcanion. Incineroar is quite effective at spreading Toxic, as most Steel- and Poison-types in the tier do not want to switch into Incineroar due to the threat of Overheat or Knock Off. U-turn, on the other hand, pivots and applies chip damage to foes. Parting Shot weakens foes instead, giving a bit more safety to frail attackers, such as Mienshao, Toxtricity, and Durant, and setup sweepers, such as Cloyster, Mimikyu, and Barbaracle. U-turn's inability to be blocked by Clear Body and Magic Bounce from Registeel, Metagross, Diancie, and Xatu, and the fact that most Rocky Helmet users in the tier don't want to switch into Incineroar, makes it the preferred option, however. A Sassy nature is preferred, as Incineroar is pretty slow already and it doesn't want to weaken either of its main attacks, while a specially defensive spread improves Incineroar's matchup against threats such as Chandelure, Salazzle, and Roserade. 20 Attack EVs ensure that Knock Off OHKOes Chandelure. A more physically defensive spread can be used to check Zarude better, but Incineroar gets chipped by U-turn pretty heavily, it requires support against Zarude either way, and it is often needed to check special attackers.
Incineroar properly switching into Chandelure and being a great buffer against most of the tier's Fire-types is appreciated by many of the tier's Grass-types. These include Zarude, Roserade, Dhelmise, and Vileplume, all of which can check Water-types such as Sharpedo, Seismitoad, and Suicune while also helping one's team pivot around Barraskewda. They also check Ground-types such as Rhyperior. The latter three also provide a resistance to Fighting, which can prove very useful against threats such as Cobalion and Mienshao. Incineroar really wants to keep its Heavy-Duty Boots, so one should bring teammates to absorb a potential Knock Off; Galarian Weezing and Rocky Helmet Cobalion can work out in this regard. Psychic-type teammates, such as Reuniclus and Gardevior, appreciate Incineroar pivoting into dangerous Dark- and Ghost-types, such as Zarude, Chandelure, and Mimikyu. Incineroar's ability to weaken foes with Parting Shot is appreciated by frailer offensive teammates, such as Xurkitree, Gardevior, and Golurk. This can also be used to give setup sweepers, such as Cloyster, Barbaracle, Lucario, and Raikou, setup opportunities.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Incineroar can run a Swords Dance set to become a threatening wallbreaker, especially against defensive teams, but it is pretty easy to revenge kill. A set utilizing Bulk Up, Power Trip, Flame Charge, and Drain Punch with a Weakness Policy can be used on dual screens hyper offense as a devastating wincon. Various weakness Berries can be utilized to let Incineroar lure in specific threats; notably, Chople Berry can be used for Cobalion, while Shuca Berry can give more buffer against Alolan Marowak and Metagross. Losing Heavy-Duty Boots is hugely detrimental, however, and puts a ton of pressure on your team's hazard control.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Defensive Water-types, such as Seismitoad, Gastrodon, and Suicune, (AC) can all threaten Incineroar; Seismitoad can use Knock Off to remove its Heavy-Duty Boots, Gastrodon can spread Toxic onto it, and all can hit it with any STAB move. Suicune is also capable of setting up on Incineroar, but it must be careful not to switch directly into Knock Off. Offensive Water-types, such as Sharpedo, Barraskewda, and Kingdra, are also threatening, although the frailty of the former two in particular means they must be very cautious about switching in.
**Rock-types**: Rhyperior and Diancie take Incineroar's STAB moves quite well, and both can use it as an opportunity to set up Stealth Rock or fire off an attack. Neither really wants to take Knock Off or Toxic, however. Barbaracle is also capable of forcing Incineroar out, therefore using it as an opportunity to set up.
**Fighting-types and Fighting-type coverage**: Cobalion, Mienshao, Heracross, and Lucario all outrun and force out Incineroar with the threat of their STAB moves, although none of them can switch in reliably. Additionally, Pokemon that Incineroar can usually pivot into, such as Zarude and Reuniclus, can viably run Fighting-type coverage, therefore dealing huge damage after luring it in.
**Knock Off**: Incineroar is heavily reliant on its Heavy-Duty Boots to stay healthy and check what it needs to throughout a match, so Knock Off from threats such as Seismitoad, Reuniclus, Salazzle, and opposing Incineroar is hugely detrimental to it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Sputnik, 475916]]
- Quality checked by: [[Expulso, 202058], [phantom, 180300]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [username2, userid2]]
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