[SET]
name: Defensive Pivot
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: Parting Shot
move 4: Taunt / Will-O-Wisp / Toxic
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Intimidate
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 196 SpD / 60 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Incineroar acts as a bulky pivot that utilizes its good defensive stats and typing. Its great ability in Intimidate in conjunction with its decent defenses allows for Incineroar to switch into such pokemon as Aegislash and Dragapult efficiently. Investing 60 EVs into speed allows it to outspeed uninvested Corviknight, while the rest of Incineroar's EVs go into Special Defense, making it a stronger Ghost check. Heavy-Duty Boots allow for it to avoid hazard damage and pivot more safely. Parting Shot is a very strong pivoting option, making switches into corresponding offensive teammates easier and more efficient for aggressive play. Taunt, Will-O-Wisp, and Toxic are all strong utility moves in the final slot. The former allows for it to disarm hazard setters/removers and generally passive Pokemon like Clefable and Toxapex, which more offensive teams appreciate; the second allows for Incineroar to more directly punish offensive switchins that it invites and cripple them with a burn, like Kommo-O, Tyranitar, and Terrakion; and lastly, the latter allows for it to cripple defensive switchins such as Mandibuzz, Hippowdon, or bulky Waters.
Incineroar's biggest drawbacks come in the prevalence of Keldeo, Terrakion, and Excadrill, as well as its lack of any kind of recovery. As such, Incineroar necessitates careful play, efficient teammates, and Wish support to efficiently capitalize its role as a pivot. Clefable, for instance, can safely pass Wishes to Incineroar and appreciates its ability to threaten the common Aegislash, while Clefable checks Kommo-o in turn. Bulky waters like Seismitoad are also good teammates, as they can check the aforementioned Pokemon that threaten Incineroar offensively. Additionally, its typing also invites Pokemon such as Tyranitar, Hippowdon, Clefable, and Terrakion, allowing for it to use Parting Shot to switch into an appropriate teammate. Teammates that capitalize well on this are offensive powerhouses like Terrakion and Excadrill that appreciate safer set up and switch-in opportunities. Excadrill particularly finds Incineroar's ability to threaten Ferrothorn and Corviknight valuable, and synergizes well with it offensively. Although, its ability to safely pivot into Choice Specs Kyurem's Ice Beam and Rotom-H's Overheat is a valuable asset for ally Ferrothorn and Corviknight, and better enables their defensive utilities while providing Incineroar good switch-ins against offensive threats like Excadrill. Even though pivoting into a predicted Earth Power is risky for the Incineroar player, Corviknight and Ferrothorn both are able to handle the move and punish opposing Kyurem accordingly.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Ausma, 360720]]
- Quality checked by: [[Ruft, 295110], [username2, userid2]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1]]
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