I've never seen an opposing Infernape do anything relevant, so I have to agree with you on that.
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Infernape
- Thread starter General Tso
- Start date
Infernape's use has been severely diminished this gen with the dragons and ground-types running around. I'm always relieved when I see my opponent using Infernape instead of Blaziken, because if you can deal with the latter Infernape should be a problem due to its weaker stats and lower speed.
The lower Speed is definitely one of the things that kills Infernape. Because it can't outspeed Lati@s nor the genies and only speed ties with the musketeers, it is rightfully passed over in favor to Blaziken, who can outspeed all of those Pokemon after a speed boost.
is iron fist viable at all on this thing? maybe something like with thunderpunch/firepunch/mach punch/swords dance
Even when I used Infernape in a heavily priority reliant role with Iron Fist Mach Punch, it just didn't pull its weight in the new meta, even though it wasn't outclassed by Blaziken. I think that this is another part of the issue - the new meta in general doesn't give it a good enough niche overall, making it an inferior choice to other things.
It's viable, for the reason that it's a better ability than Blaze if you're running at least one punch attack.
Because it's too frail to ever reliably make use of Blaze in the first place.
At least you can use it in UU.
It's outclassed as a Mach Puncher by Roobushin and Breloom, and outclassed at pretty much everything else by Blaziken. Solid UU, possibly BL depending on how strong that tier ends up.
Problem is, Speed Boost Blaziken is now legal and can be used in OU AND Dream World. OU also uses Pokemon with released Dream World abilities, which is why you dont see Shadow Tag Shandera in OU. Yeah, Infernape has serious competition, it's not funny.
NPApe and LeadApe still leave Blaziken gasping for breath as it attempts to match the special sweeping and leading SRer potential of Infernape. It's outclassed in literally every other set, yes, but it absolutely has a niche over Blaziken.
Aside from sandstream leads Leadape is still really soild with Focus Sash. Being able to Fake Out and throw out Blaze boosted Overheats is great and can still be used later if you prevent hazards from coming up. It's really its most viable set atm. That's pretty damn niche as opposed to before though.
Also, it has competition with Kojondo as a Fake Out user.
Fake Out is carried by Regenaturn Mienshao, but that's no reason to not use Blaze Overheats. Miensaho can't do that, can it?!?!!?
True, but HJK still hits hard, and thanks to Regeneration it can keep coming back in throughout the battle.
I think its only really unique niche now is as a mixed SR lead, so probably something along those lines.
So it's reverted to Gen 4 movesets, then? If I remember most Infernapes carried Stealth Rock, Close COmbat, Grass KNot and a special Fire move or Flare Blitz.
Not at all. Infernape's dual 120 BP special STAB, with excellent coverage and the ability to OHKO Blissey after a single turn of setup is something that is very difficult to stop outside of Infernape's frailty, and can never be usurped by Blaziken.
Noooo! I'm just asking, because it seems like after all the creative ideas people are having last Gen's common Nape seems the most popular. I've been swept 4-1 by an NP Nape, so I can attest to its awesomeness.