[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 5 onwards
**Price Range**: 13-14 points
**Overview**: Infernape is a fast, versatile Pokemon that supplements a draft's offensive options. Infernape is a solid offensive Pokemon due to its coverage, amazing offensive STAB types, good Speed tier, and priority options. It also can provide utility and serve as a fast pivot to bring in its teammates. However, Infernape suffers strongly from four-moveslot syndrome, which limits its potential. Infernape is also frail, leaving it vulnerable to faster, stronger attackers. Further, Infernape's offensive stats are pretty average, making it overly reliant on team support, setup, or damage-boosting items. This makes it better suited as a supplementary offensive option.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Revenge Killer**: When equipped with a Choice Scarf, Infernape can utilize its amazing Speed tier, powerful STAB moves, and wide array of coverage moves to revenge kill opposing threats. It can also do this on non-Choice Scarf sets, thanks to its access to priority moves like Mach Punch and Vacuum Wave.
**Wallbreaker**: When equipped with a damage-boosting item like Choice Band, Choice Specs, or Life Orb, Infernape can be an effective wallbreaker with the ability to hit both physically and specially with powerful STAB moves and coverage options.
**Setup Sweeper**: Access to both physical and special setup moves in Swords Dance and Nasty Plot allows Infernape to be a scary setup sweeper. It also has the option to run a bulkier setup set, thanks to Bulk Up and Calm Mind. These sets are further complemented by priority moves in Mach Punch and Vacuum Wave, enabling Infernape to pick off faster threats or opposing Pokemon with priority of their own.
**Sacrificial Lead**: Infernape can set up Stealth Rock to help support the team. Access to Taunt also allows it to prevent opposing entry hazards from being set. Endeavor is usually run on this set along with a Focus Sash to allow Infernape to bring an opposing Pokemon to 1 HP.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Close Combat, Drain Punch, Fire Punch, Flare Blitz, Mach Punch, Aura Sphere, Fire Blast, Flamethrower, Focus Blast, Overheat, Vacuum Wave
**Setup Moves**: Swords Dance, Nasty Plot, Calm Mind, Bulk Up, Flame Charge, Agility
**Utility Moves**: Knock Off, U-turn, Stealth Rock, Will-O-Wisp, Taunt, Encore, Switcheroo, Slack Off
**Coverage**: Earthquake, Grass Knot, Gunk Shot, Rock Slide, Scorching Sands, Stone Edge, Thunder Punch, Zen Headbutt
Niche Moves
========
**Raging Fury**: This is used as an alternative to Flare Blitz to avoid recoil damage.
**Fling**: Infernape can hold a Big Nugget to have a 130 Base Power Dark-type move to hit bulky Psychic- and Ghost-types.
**Endure**: Infernape can run Endure in conjunction with a Salac Berry to boost its Speed. This is usually run on setup sets that are not able to fit a priority move or Flame Charge. This also has the benefit of activating Blaze to further boost Infernape's damage output. A Custap Berry can also be used with Endure to get an Endeavor off or to deal damage to a faster opposing Pokemon.
**Upper Hand**: Infernape can run Upper Hand to deal with opposing priority attacks, like Jet Punch from Palafin.
**Endeavor**: This is used on sacrificial lead sets to severely chip an opposing Pokemon.
Common Items
========
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf allows Infernape to revenge kill faster Pokemon or slower ones at +1 Speed. A physical set is usually preferred when running Choice Scarf, thanks to Infernape having powerful and reliable STAB moves in Flare Blitz and Close Combat.
**Damage-boosting Items**: Infernape makes excellent use of several damage-boosting items. It can equip Choice Band to deal maximum damage on physical sets and Choice Specs on special sets. Life Orb is used to deal maximum damage while still being able to switch up moves. Expert Belt is preferred when Infernape is able to hit most of the opposing team super effectively. Further, Infernape can also make use of Charcoal and Black Belt to boost the power of its STAB moves.
**Focus Sash**: Focus Sash is used on the sacrificial lead set to allow Infernape to survive any hit as it sets up Stealth Rock. Once the Focus Sash is consumed, Infernape can then use Endeavor to bring an opposing Pokemon down to 1 HP.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Infernape is rather frail and vulnerable to every form of entry hazard, which cuts into its longevity. Heavy-Duty Boots prevents hazards from weakening Infernape.
Niche Items
========
**Resistance Berries**: In a pinch, resistance Berries such as Shuca Berry and Passho Berry can allow Infernape to unexpectedly survive an attack, gaining an extra turn to set up or damage a foe.
**Weakness Policy**: Weakness Policy can be used in conjunction with Calm Mind or Bulk Up on a bulkier set to allow Infernape to beat its checks more easily. It can also be run with Sunny Day, which weakens super effective Water-type attacks and makes them activate Weakness Policy.
**Rocky Helmet**: Infernape's typing does well defensively into Bug-, Dark-, and Ice-type attacks. Thus, Rocky Helmet can be used to switch in and punish Pokemon that run resisted moves like Knock Off, U-turn, and Ice Spinner. Additionally, Infernape has access to Will-O-Wisp and a reliable recovery move in Slack Off, making it an excellent defensive response to Pokemon like Weavile and Scizor.
**Salac Berry**: Salac Berry can be used with Endure to give Infernape a Speed boost. This is usually run on special setup sets where a boost in Speed is preferred over Vacuum Wave. Thanks to Blaze, the activation of a Salac Berry also boosts Infernape's Fire-type attacks.
**Power Herb**: Power Herb allows the charging turn of Solar Beam to be skipped, giving Infernape a powerful option to deal with opposing Water-types like Slowking and Rotom-W attempting to check it.
**Clear Amulet**: Clear Amulet can be used in niche scenarios to prevent Pokemon with Intimidate like Landorus-T and Qwilfish from dropping Infernape's Attack.
**Protective Pads / Punching Glove**: Protective Pads can be useful to avoid contact against Rocky Helmet users or Pokemon with Static. This allows Infernape to pivot freely without being punished. Punching Glove is preferred if Infernape is running punching moves like Drain Punch and Thunder Punch.
Tera
========
Infernape should not be drafted with the intention of making it a Tera Captain, as there is a wide array of more effective higher-tiered Tera Captains. An excellent offensive typing with powerful STAB moves and amazing coverage options enables Infernape to be threatening without needing to be a Tera Captain. However, if chosen to be a Tera Captain, Infernape can utilize Tera Fire or Tera Fighting to further boost the damage from its STAB moves. Additionally, it can use Tera Grass to deal with Water- and Ground-types or Tera Steel to remove its weakness to Psychic- and Flying-types.
Draft Strategy
========
Infernape works best as a supporting offensive piece in a draft; it should not be the primary offensive option on a draft. Infernape is able to support its teammates in a variety of ways, thanks to its offensive versatility. It is a reliable Choice Scarf user, an excellent pivoting option, and a potent wallbreaker both physically and specially.
**Entry Hazards**: Even though it has access to Stealth Rock, Infernape appreciates entry hazard support from Pokemon like Great Tusk and Hisuian Samurott to get crucial chip damage on Pokemon to enable Infernape to revenge kill them more easily. It also appreciates strong hazard removal, as it is vulnerable to entry hazards, which severely cut down on how often it can switch in.
**Strong Offensive Pokemon**: Infernape works best when paired with offensive behemoths like Latios, Darkrai, and Ogerpon-W, which appreciate the pivoting and revenge killing options provided by it.
**Faster Pokemon**: While Infernape has a solid Speed tier, it is still vulnerable to faster Choice Scarf users. Having faster teammates like Greninja and Meowscarada also enables Infernape to make the most of its versatility rather than being reduced to a revenge killer.
**Pivot Options**: As Infernape is quite frail and struggles to switch in safely, pairing it with Pokemon that have access to slow pivoting moves like Rotom-W, Galarian Slowking, and Scizor is recommended. This forms a potent VoltTurn core and enables Infernape to hit the field safely.
Checks and Counters
========
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types like Rotom-W, Slowbro, and Swampert can take a hit from Infernape and threaten to OHKO it with their STAB moves. They have to be wary of coverage moves, though.
**Bulky Flying-types**: Bulky Flying-types like Zapdos, Dragonite, and Salamence can switch into Infernape and heal any damage with Roost. However, getting their Heavy-Duty Boots removed by Knock Off will limit their longevity if entry hazards are up, and they also have to be cautious of Stone Edge.
**Faster Pokemon**: Faster Pokemon like Latios and Iron Valiant can outspeed Infernape and OHKO it. It can also easily get revenge killed by Choice Scarf users, especially if it is not holding a Choice Scarf itself.
**Priority Moves**: Infernape is weak to Water-type priority moves like Jet Punch from Palafin and Aqua Jet from Quaquaval. Infernape's fraility and vulnerability to every form of entry hazard also leaves it prone to being knocked out by strong, neutral priority moves like Extreme Speed from Dragonite and Vacuum Wave from Iron Valiant. Infernape does have the option to run Upper Hand to force mind games but struggles to find room to run it.
**Residual Damage**: Due to Life Orb and Flare Blitz's recoil alongside Infernape's susceptibility to every form of entry hazard, it often struggles to maintain longevity throughout a match.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/professor-shuckle.530941/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno6377.527276/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hacker.387847/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
**Draft Order**: Round 5 onwards
**Price Range**: 13-14 points
**Overview**: Infernape is a fast, versatile Pokemon that supplements a draft's offensive options. Infernape is a solid offensive Pokemon due to its coverage, amazing offensive STAB types, good Speed tier, and priority options. It also can provide utility and serve as a fast pivot to bring in its teammates. However, Infernape suffers strongly from four-moveslot syndrome, which limits its potential. Infernape is also frail, leaving it vulnerable to faster, stronger attackers. Further, Infernape's offensive stats are pretty average, making it overly reliant on team support, setup, or damage-boosting items. This makes it better suited as a supplementary offensive option.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Revenge Killer**: When equipped with a Choice Scarf, Infernape can utilize its amazing Speed tier, powerful STAB moves, and wide array of coverage moves to revenge kill opposing threats. It can also do this on non-Choice Scarf sets, thanks to its access to priority moves like Mach Punch and Vacuum Wave.
**Wallbreaker**: When equipped with a damage-boosting item like Choice Band, Choice Specs, or Life Orb, Infernape can be an effective wallbreaker with the ability to hit both physically and specially with powerful STAB moves and coverage options.
**Setup Sweeper**: Access to both physical and special setup moves in Swords Dance and Nasty Plot allows Infernape to be a scary setup sweeper. It also has the option to run a bulkier setup set, thanks to Bulk Up and Calm Mind. These sets are further complemented by priority moves in Mach Punch and Vacuum Wave, enabling Infernape to pick off faster threats or opposing Pokemon with priority of their own.
**Sacrificial Lead**: Infernape can set up Stealth Rock to help support the team. Access to Taunt also allows it to prevent opposing entry hazards from being set. Endeavor is usually run on this set along with a Focus Sash to allow Infernape to bring an opposing Pokemon to 1 HP.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Close Combat, Drain Punch, Fire Punch, Flare Blitz, Mach Punch, Aura Sphere, Fire Blast, Flamethrower, Focus Blast, Overheat, Vacuum Wave
**Setup Moves**: Swords Dance, Nasty Plot, Calm Mind, Bulk Up, Flame Charge, Agility
**Utility Moves**: Knock Off, U-turn, Stealth Rock, Will-O-Wisp, Taunt, Encore, Switcheroo, Slack Off
**Coverage**: Earthquake, Grass Knot, Gunk Shot, Rock Slide, Scorching Sands, Stone Edge, Thunder Punch, Zen Headbutt
Niche Moves
========
**Raging Fury**: This is used as an alternative to Flare Blitz to avoid recoil damage.
**Fling**: Infernape can hold a Big Nugget to have a 130 Base Power Dark-type move to hit bulky Psychic- and Ghost-types.
**Endure**: Infernape can run Endure in conjunction with a Salac Berry to boost its Speed. This is usually run on setup sets that are not able to fit a priority move or Flame Charge. This also has the benefit of activating Blaze to further boost Infernape's damage output. A Custap Berry can also be used with Endure to get an Endeavor off or to deal damage to a faster opposing Pokemon.
**Upper Hand**: Infernape can run Upper Hand to deal with opposing priority attacks, like Jet Punch from Palafin.
**Endeavor**: This is used on sacrificial lead sets to severely chip an opposing Pokemon.
Common Items
========
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf allows Infernape to revenge kill faster Pokemon or slower ones at +1 Speed. A physical set is usually preferred when running Choice Scarf, thanks to Infernape having powerful and reliable STAB moves in Flare Blitz and Close Combat.
**Damage-boosting Items**: Infernape makes excellent use of several damage-boosting items. It can equip Choice Band to deal maximum damage on physical sets and Choice Specs on special sets. Life Orb is used to deal maximum damage while still being able to switch up moves. Expert Belt is preferred when Infernape is able to hit most of the opposing team super effectively. Further, Infernape can also make use of Charcoal and Black Belt to boost the power of its STAB moves.
**Focus Sash**: Focus Sash is used on the sacrificial lead set to allow Infernape to survive any hit as it sets up Stealth Rock. Once the Focus Sash is consumed, Infernape can then use Endeavor to bring an opposing Pokemon down to 1 HP.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Infernape is rather frail and vulnerable to every form of entry hazard, which cuts into its longevity. Heavy-Duty Boots prevents hazards from weakening Infernape.
Niche Items
========
**Resistance Berries**: In a pinch, resistance Berries such as Shuca Berry and Passho Berry can allow Infernape to unexpectedly survive an attack, gaining an extra turn to set up or damage a foe.
**Weakness Policy**: Weakness Policy can be used in conjunction with Calm Mind or Bulk Up on a bulkier set to allow Infernape to beat its checks more easily. It can also be run with Sunny Day, which weakens super effective Water-type attacks and makes them activate Weakness Policy.
**Rocky Helmet**: Infernape's typing does well defensively into Bug-, Dark-, and Ice-type attacks. Thus, Rocky Helmet can be used to switch in and punish Pokemon that run resisted moves like Knock Off, U-turn, and Ice Spinner. Additionally, Infernape has access to Will-O-Wisp and a reliable recovery move in Slack Off, making it an excellent defensive response to Pokemon like Weavile and Scizor.
**Salac Berry**: Salac Berry can be used with Endure to give Infernape a Speed boost. This is usually run on special setup sets where a boost in Speed is preferred over Vacuum Wave. Thanks to Blaze, the activation of a Salac Berry also boosts Infernape's Fire-type attacks.
**Power Herb**: Power Herb allows the charging turn of Solar Beam to be skipped, giving Infernape a powerful option to deal with opposing Water-types like Slowking and Rotom-W attempting to check it.
**Clear Amulet**: Clear Amulet can be used in niche scenarios to prevent Pokemon with Intimidate like Landorus-T and Qwilfish from dropping Infernape's Attack.
**Protective Pads / Punching Glove**: Protective Pads can be useful to avoid contact against Rocky Helmet users or Pokemon with Static. This allows Infernape to pivot freely without being punished. Punching Glove is preferred if Infernape is running punching moves like Drain Punch and Thunder Punch.
Tera
========
Infernape should not be drafted with the intention of making it a Tera Captain, as there is a wide array of more effective higher-tiered Tera Captains. An excellent offensive typing with powerful STAB moves and amazing coverage options enables Infernape to be threatening without needing to be a Tera Captain. However, if chosen to be a Tera Captain, Infernape can utilize Tera Fire or Tera Fighting to further boost the damage from its STAB moves. Additionally, it can use Tera Grass to deal with Water- and Ground-types or Tera Steel to remove its weakness to Psychic- and Flying-types.
Draft Strategy
========
Infernape works best as a supporting offensive piece in a draft; it should not be the primary offensive option on a draft. Infernape is able to support its teammates in a variety of ways, thanks to its offensive versatility. It is a reliable Choice Scarf user, an excellent pivoting option, and a potent wallbreaker both physically and specially.
**Entry Hazards**: Even though it has access to Stealth Rock, Infernape appreciates entry hazard support from Pokemon like Great Tusk and Hisuian Samurott to get crucial chip damage on Pokemon to enable Infernape to revenge kill them more easily. It also appreciates strong hazard removal, as it is vulnerable to entry hazards, which severely cut down on how often it can switch in.
**Strong Offensive Pokemon**: Infernape works best when paired with offensive behemoths like Latios, Darkrai, and Ogerpon-W, which appreciate the pivoting and revenge killing options provided by it.
**Faster Pokemon**: While Infernape has a solid Speed tier, it is still vulnerable to faster Choice Scarf users. Having faster teammates like Greninja and Meowscarada also enables Infernape to make the most of its versatility rather than being reduced to a revenge killer.
**Pivot Options**: As Infernape is quite frail and struggles to switch in safely, pairing it with Pokemon that have access to slow pivoting moves like Rotom-W, Galarian Slowking, and Scizor is recommended. This forms a potent VoltTurn core and enables Infernape to hit the field safely.
Checks and Counters
========
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types like Rotom-W, Slowbro, and Swampert can take a hit from Infernape and threaten to OHKO it with their STAB moves. They have to be wary of coverage moves, though.
**Bulky Flying-types**: Bulky Flying-types like Zapdos, Dragonite, and Salamence can switch into Infernape and heal any damage with Roost. However, getting their Heavy-Duty Boots removed by Knock Off will limit their longevity if entry hazards are up, and they also have to be cautious of Stone Edge.
**Faster Pokemon**: Faster Pokemon like Latios and Iron Valiant can outspeed Infernape and OHKO it. It can also easily get revenge killed by Choice Scarf users, especially if it is not holding a Choice Scarf itself.
**Priority Moves**: Infernape is weak to Water-type priority moves like Jet Punch from Palafin and Aqua Jet from Quaquaval. Infernape's fraility and vulnerability to every form of entry hazard also leaves it prone to being knocked out by strong, neutral priority moves like Extreme Speed from Dragonite and Vacuum Wave from Iron Valiant. Infernape does have the option to run Upper Hand to force mind games but struggles to find room to run it.
**Residual Damage**: Due to Life Orb and Flare Blitz's recoil alongside Infernape's susceptibility to every form of entry hazard, it often struggles to maintain longevity throughout a match.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/professor-shuckle.530941/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno6377.527276/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hacker.387847/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
Last edited:
