Infernape (Ubers analysis)*

Fireburn · Jan 31, 2010

http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/infernape

Wrote everything from scratch.
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[Overview]
Although Infernape may seem to be outclassed by other Uber attackers, it certainly has several key advantages. Infernape’s unique Speed stat and offenses combined with its large movepool allow it to become a deadly wall-breaker in the Ubers environment. Although it may not be as powerful as other wall-breakers, such as Rayquaza, Palkia, and Dialga, it still has a number of qualities that many Uber Pokemon would kill for. This includes an immunity to Will-o-Wisp, access to STAB Close Combat which allows it to destroy Blissey without being forced to use Outrage, and U-turn for potent scouting. Infernape can be a real force in the Uber tier if played right and it should definitely be accounted for when making your team.

[SET]
name: Ubers Physical Mix
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Fire Blast / Overheat
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Stone Edge
item: Life Orb
nature: Naive
evs: 252 Atk / 46 SpA / 212 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Infernape's high Speed stat, large movepool, and decent offenses turn it into one of the most threatening mixed attackers and wall-breakers in the Uber tier. Once in, the flaming monkey will swiftly deliver a 2HKO to even the toughest of Uber walls, except Giratina.

The set’s play style is simple – get Infernape in on a Pokémon whom it can scare out or on a weak resisted attack and proceed to let loose. Close Combat is Infernape's main attack, and while one might think that it may be ineffective in Ubers with so many Psychic-types running around, it still absolutely mauls quite a few Pokemon. Blissey, Dialga, Tyranitar, and Heatran are all OHKOed, while Palkia, Garchomp, and Kyogre are all 2HKOed. Fire Blast KOes all Groudon after they have switched into Close Combat once, burns most Steel-types to a crisp, and 2HKOes Mewtwo. With Stealth Rock support, Lugia is KOed by a combination of Fire Blast and Stone Edge. Overheat is also a viable option. It almost always OHKOes Mewtwo if the sun is shining, and it will also OHKO Lugia after Stealth Rock damage provided Blaze is activated. Speaking of Blaze, with it activated, Infernape's Fire Blast/Overheat attacks will become quite deadly - the latter is so strong that it 2HKOes Naive Giratina-O after Stealth Rock damage! U-turn allows Infernape to scout the opposing team while also doing massive damage to the many Psychic-types, like Latias and Latios, who may want to switch in on Infernape. Stone Edge OHKOes Rayquaza and Ho-Oh without question, as well as also 2HKOing Lugia after Stealth Rock damage, just in case the weather is not favorable.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
This set has massive problems with Giratina, Giratina-O, Latias, and Latios. All three resist both of Infernape’s STAB moves, do not take much from its other attacks, and can retaliate with their STAB Dragon-type moves. However, Latios and Latias must be wary of U-turn, which deals significant damage and also allows the Infernape user to bring in a counter for free. Also, note that slower variants of Latias are outsped, preventing them from effectively checking Infernape. Mewtwo is faster than Infernape and has a powerful Thunder with which to 2HKO Infernape. Physically defensive Kyogre can also come in on anything, bar Close Combat, and drown Infernape with Surf. Rayquaza also resists both of Infernape’s STAB moves and has ExtremeSpeed to pick it off. Finally, any Choice Scarf user, such as Dialga, Palkia, and Garchomp, is extremely threatening to Infernape, as it can easily KO the flaming monkey before it gets a chance to react. Choice Scarf Dialga is an excellent answer to Giratina, Giratina-O, Rayquaza, Latios, Latias, and Mewtwo, although Dialga must watch out for potential Aura Spheres that might be aimed at Infernape), as it outspeeds and OHKOes all of them with Draco Meteor. Latias counters Kyogre very well, thanks to her superb bulk and powerful Thunder; she can also deal with both formes of Giratina if she has enough health. Scizor has U-turn and Bullet Punch to easily pick off Latios, Latias, Mewtwo, and Rayquaza locked into Outrage. Groudon provides sunlight to power up Fire Blast and it deals with most Rayquaza and Choice Scarf Garchomp very well with its high Defense stat. Wobbuffet’s Shadow Tag ability and access to Counter and Mirror Coat allow it to trap and KO Choice Scarf users, as well as some Latios, Latias, and Mewtwo, quite easily.

Infernape is rather hard to switch in because he is very frail. Wobbuffet is a good Pokemon to pair with Infernape since the blue blob can Encore stat boosting and status moves, which are rendered useless by Safeguard, to help Infernape get in safely. Using something like Latias that attracts moves like Pursuit can also help Infernape get a free switch in. Getting it in on something it can scare out, such as Blissey, a Choice-user locked into a move Infernape resists, Forretress, Skarmory, Bronzong, or Tyranitar can also help. Infernape's good Speed and formidable offensive might means that he is a good choice to send out after one of your other teammates falls in battle.

[SET]
name: Ubers Choice Band
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Shadow Claw / Stone Edge
item: Choice Band
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 6 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
The use of Choice Band eliminates Life Orb recoil while still allowing Infernape to pose a huge offensive threat. The main draw of this set is Flare Blitz, which when coupled with the sunlight, can 2HKO almost everything in Ubers. Although the recoil will quickly KO Infernape, this set is more designed to be a hole puncher than a sweeper.

Provided the weather is sunny and Stealth Rock is up, Infernape can OHKO Ho-Oh and 2HKO Lugia, most Giratina-O, Latias, Rayquaza, Latios, Impish Groudon, and Garchomp with Flare Blitz, despite the fact that most of those Pokemon resist Fire-type attacks! Flare Blitz will also OHKO any Steel-type Pokemon not named Heatran. Should Blaze be activated, Infernape's Flare Blitz can even 2HKO Palkia! Close Combat allows Infernape to OHKO Palkia after a layer of Stealth Rock and Spikes have been put down, and it 2HKOes even physically defensive variants of Kyogre. It also gives Infernape a back up sweeping attack in case the weather is not in its favor. U-turn allows Infernape to scout for counters, and it also deals enormous damage to Mewtwo, Latios, Latias, and Darkrai. Shadow Claw allows Infernape to 2HKO Giratina-O after Stealth Rock damage just in case the weather is not sunny. Stone Edge is also a worthwhile option to always OHKO Rayquaza and Ho-Oh. It also always 2HKOes Lugia after Stealth Rock damage.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
Groudon is highly recommended for use alongside this set because it provides the sunlight that makes Flare Blitz so deadly. Groudon can also help Infernape by paralyzing things such as Latias and Latios, allowing Infernape to 2HKO with its STAB moves before they can Recover off the damage or OHKO Infernape. Groudon can also set up Stealth Rock, which is absolutely required for this set for Infernape to grab the KOes mentioned previously.

Giratina is the only Pokemon that can switch in on this set without any fear at all. Its huge HP means that Infernape will wear itself down quickly with recoil damage, and Shadow Claw only 5HKOes Giratina factoring in Leftovers. For this reason, packing a reliable Giratina counter is highly encouraged. Bulk Up Dialga is a good partner for Choice Band Infernape, as Giratina cannot do anything to it at all while Dialga can Bulk Up as much as it wants, Rest off Giratina's burns, and eventually KO Giratina with its powerful Outrage. Infernape can also help out Dialga by weakening Groudon. Flare Blitz will often do so much damage to Groudon that, at the cost of sacrificing Infernape, it will be left too weak to fight off Dialga. Aside from this, the same partners from the previous set also work well with this one.

Unlike the other Infernape sets, Wobbuffet can be a serious problem, as it can switch into a Choiced Close Combat, Stone Edge, or Flare Blitz in the rain and threaten to KO Infernape with Counter. Unfortunately, because Wobbuffet has no true counters due to Shadow Tag, the best thing you can do is attempt to lure in Wobbuffet with mixed attackers that bluff a Choice Scarf, or use Close Combat sparingly early in the game.

[SET]
name: Ubers LeadApe
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Fire Blast / Overheat
move 4: Close Combat
item: Focus Sash
nature: Naive
evs: 252 Atk / 46 SpA / 212 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Infernape’s good Speed allows it to set up Stealth Rock quickly and reliably against nearly every lead while also being able to cause some damage later in the game, making it a good choice of lead for an offensive team.

Stealth Rock is Infernape’s best support move, and it is highly beneficial to Infernape’s teammates, helping them to secure more KOs. U-turn allows Infernape to scout the opponent’s team while breaking Deoxys-S’s or Deoxys-A’s Focus Sash, allowing you to go to a priority user or a faster Pokemon to finish them off. It is highly recommended to have either priority or a Choice Scarf user along with this Infernape to minimize the layers of entry hazards Deoxys-S or Deoxys-A is able to put down, lest your team be hacked apart by the combined damage from Stealth Rock and Spikes. Close Combat destroys Dialga and allows Infernape to 2HKO Kyogre leads, thanks to its Focus Sash protecting it from Surf. You lose to Choice Scarf Kyogre leads, however, as they are faster. Fire Blast destroys Scizor, Forretress, and Metagross leads, while 2HKOing Groudon. Overheat is also option if one wants the extra power for taking on threats, such as specially defensive Groudon. The EVs are the same as the previous set, since they allow Infernape to get the KOs on the necessary leads.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
Infernape will lose to Darkrai leads due to Dark Void, so carrying a sleep absorber on your team is recommended. Sleep Talk Kyogre is a good choice, since it also beats Ho-Oh, who will wall this Infernape set due to the lack of Stone Edge. Kyogre's rain will not hurt Infernape, as Fire Blast, which is negatively affected during rain, will still KO most of the targets it needs to. Having a priority user is also recommended to finish off leads who Infernape will U-turn out of, such as Mewtwo and Deoxys formes. Scizor is a particularly good choice, since it can also beat Choice Scarf Shaymin-S leads, whom Infernape loses to if Shaymin-S flinches it with Air Slash; Scizor can also Pursuit Mewtwo and Deoxys formes, should they switch out. Rayquaza benefits from the Stealth Rock laid down by Infernape, and it also has a strong priority move in ExtremeSpeed.

[SET]
name: Ubers Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Shadow Claw / Flare Blitz
item: Life Orb
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 6 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Although somewhat tricky to set up, Infernape can become a viciously powerful offensive threat after just one Swords Dance, capable of OHKOing or 2HKOing everything in Ubers.

Close Combat is the primary attack of this set, and will absolutely devastate any Pokémon who does not resist it, OHKOing foes such as Dialga, Palkia, Kyogre, Scizor, and many others. Stone Edge covers most Flying-types whom Infernape is likely to face. After a Swords Dance, Ho-Oh and Rayquaza are both OHKOed, as is Lugia after Stealth Rock damage. Shadow Claw grants Infernape perfect coverage and is the best option against Latias, Latios and Giratina(-O). It also 2HKOes Giratina and Giratina-O after a Swords Dance, although the former will require Stealth Rock damage. Flare Blitz can be used over Shadow Claw if one has sunlight support from Groudon. In said sunlight, Flare Blitz will still 2HKO Latias, Latios, and Giratina-O, and it also OHKOes even defensive Mewtwo, something Shadow Claw can't always manage. However, the primary use of Flare Blitz is to OHKO Groudon after a Swords Dance, meaning it can no longer stop Infernape from sweeping.

As for EVs, max Attack and Speed EVs are necessary for maximum sweeping potential. Jolly is preferred to Adamant, as the latter does not get any special KOs and Infernape really needs to outspeed as many things as it can, as it cannot take many hits. Life Orb gives Infernape a much needed power boost.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
Swords Dance Infernape’s main issues are defensive Groudon, any faster Pokemon, and actually setting up. Wobbuffet is by far the best teammate for Swords Dance Infernape, since it can trap and kill most Groudon and Choice Scarf users while using Encore to give Infernape much needed opportunities to set up. Using Psychic-type Pokemon to bait Pursuit from Pokemon such as Tyranitar and Scizor is a good idea to help Infernape set up as well. Other than that, the same teammates from the Physical Mix Infernape set work very well with this one. Kyogre may seem like an odd partner for Infernape at first glance, but with Thunder Wave, it can cripple Latios, Latias, and Palkia switch-ins, thus allowing Infernape to break past them when it sets up later. If Infernape is not using Flare Blitz, Drizzle can actually help Infernape by letting it set up on Choiced Fire-type attacks.

[Optional Changes]
Infernape is quite frail, so you’ll always want to capitalize on its Speed and offenses. You will always want at least 212 Speed EVs with a boosting nature to outspeed the standard Timid Lugia and Latias. From there, just maximize your offenses however you see fit, although emphasizing Attack is recommended since most Ubers have lower Defense, thus maximizing Infernape’s damage output.

Infernape’s best move options are listed in its sets already. Infernape can utilize Nasty Plot along with Fire Blast, Focus Blast, and Grass Knot or Hidden Power Ice to become a special attacking threat, but the lower accuracy of the STAB moves and the generally higher Special Defense of Uber Pokemon makes this a less effective choice than a more physically inclined set. Taunt can have some use on the lead set to stop support Pokemon, such as Groudon and Dialga, from setting up Stealth Rock. Mach Punch is an option on the Swords Dance set if one feels that they need a priority move to pick off faster threats after set up, though the only targets it is useful against are Choice Scarf Dialga and Darkrai. Fake Out is usable on the lead set to allow Infernape to KO Deoxys-S with Fake Out + Fire Blast without needing another teammate to do it, but this will force Infernape to sacrifice Stealth Rock or one of it's other attacks. The best move to put it over is most likely U-turn if you feel like you really need it.

[Team Options]
Infernape needs Stealth Rock and Spikes support to help it get crucial KOs. Groudon is a reliable user of Stealth Rock, and also provides sunlight support for Infernape. Dialga can also lay down Stealth Rock and check Giratina - Infernape’s best counter - extremely well. Deoxys-S and Deoxys-A are fast and can use Taunt to shut down slower leads, and they are the best users of Spikes if you need them, as Infernape is primarily offensive and therefore should be on an offensive team. As such, using Skarmory or Forretress would be counter-productive for battle momentum.

Infernape will usually have trouble getting past Giratina, most faster Pokemon, and physically defensive Kyogre. Such Pokemon can either take a hit or two from Infernape and KO it back, will outspeed and KO Infernape before it can move, or both. Latias resists most of Infernape’s weaknesses and it can take on Giratina, most Giratina-O, most Mewtwo, and Kyogre with relative ease thanks to her excellent bulk and powerful STAB Dragon Pulse. Latios is less bulky than his sister, Latias, but otherwise can fulfill the same role. Scizor handles Mewtwo, Latias and Latios, thanks to U-turn and Bullet Punch, and it has the advantage of being able to come in on powerful Dragon-type strikes that are likely to be thrown at Infernape. However, be wary that they can destroy Scizor with Flamethrower or Thunder, respectively. Tyranitar is notable for being able to Pursuit Latias, Latios, and Giratina-O to their deaths, making it a great teammate despite Infernape disliking the sandstorm. Choice Scarf Palkia actually provides a solid counter, or at least a good check, to most of the above threats as it is faster and it has a myriad of powerful attacks to destroy the counters listed above. Dialga is a near perfect counter for Giratina, and it also beats Giratina-O as well with a suitable EV investment and STAB Draco Meteor. Groudon can easily handle most Rayquaza sets as well as Choice Scarf Garchomp thanks to its high Defense stat and powerful Dragon Claw, and it also gives Infernape much appreciated support via sunlight. Wobbuffet is an excellent solution to Choice Scarf Pokemon as well as Latios and any Mewtwo variants lacking Taunt as it can trap them using Shadow Tag and then kill them off with Counter and/or Mirror Coat.

[Counters]
Giratina and Giratina-O resist or are immune to both of Infernape’s STAB moves, and they both have powerful STAB Dragon-type attacks with which to dispatch the flaming monkey. However, neither Giratina nor Giratina-O will enjoy a boosted Shadow Claw from the Swords Dance set, and minimum HP Giratina-O is 2HKOed by a Choice Banded Shadow Claw after taking Stealth Rock damage. Latios and Latias also resist both of Infernape’s STABs, are faster, and have powerful Dragon-type STAB moves to dispose of it. However, they risk getting badly injured by U-turn or Shadow Claw. Rayquaza can come in on any of Infernape’s attacks, barring Stone Edge, and has a powerful ExtremeSpeed to pick off a mildly weakened Infernape. However, be aware that Rayquaza can only switch into Close Combat once if Stealth Rock is up. In the absence of Stealth Rock, Ho-Oh stops Infernape cold if it does not have Stone Edge. Kyogre who run a ton of HP and Defense EVs can also stop Infernape, but Close Combat will still do a lot of damage. Wobbuffet can pick off Choice Band Infernape locked into Close Combat, Stone Edge, or Flare Blitz in rain.

Any Pokemon faster than Infernape, such as Darkrai, Mewtwo, Shaymin-S, and Pokemon with a Choice Scarf such as Dialga, Palkia, and Garchomp, can stop it handily. However, keep in mind that Infernape can deal a lot of damage to them so be careful when switching them in.

tangramman · Jan 31, 2010

Changes in Blue.
Comments in Red.

Infernape’s unique speed and offenses combined with its large movepool allow it to become a deadly wall-breaker in the Ubers environment. Although it may not be as powerful as other wall-breakers such as Rayquaza, Palkia, and Dialga, Infernape’s immunity to burns, access to STAB Close Combat to destroy Blissey, Seemed to be a run-on sentence and U-turn to scout enemy teams are qualities that many Uber Pokemon would kill for.

There was an extra space at the beginning here Infernape has the speed and offenses to become a fast, powerful wall-breaker. Fire Blast wrecks Groudon and Lugia, who are both 2HKOed after Stealth Rock damage Great Wall set takes 32.45% and considering that some Lugia are faster, it can just Roost/Recover off damage, as well as melting most Steel-types. U-turn deals heavy damage to Mewtwo, Latios, and Latias and offers scouting abilities. Stone Edge OHKOes Rayquaza SE cannot OHKO on its own; SR is needed, although there is a 7.69% chance of survival against the Dragon Dancer set, Ho-Oh, and 2HKOes Lugia after Stealth Rock damage.

Infernape’s high Speed stat, large movepool, and decent offenses allow it to become a strong mixed attacker and wall-breaker in the Uber environment. While at first glance it may seem outclassed by the likes of Dialga, Palkia, and Rayquaza, Infernape’s access to U-turn, STAB Close Combat to KO Blissey without forcing itself to be locked in Outrage, and burn immunity are qualities that many Ubers wish they had. You basically just repeated the overview, but I'm sure you're aware

Lugia and Mewtwo are also 2HKOed by Fire Blast, factoring in sunlight and Stealth Rock damage for the former You should mention this in the earlier comment on 2HKOing Lugia.

Close Combat pounds Dialga into dust while also 2HKOing the standard Thunder Wave Kyogre lead Assuming you SR first, you'll be 2HKOed and OHKOed with a Lum; I'd just switch out, but I suppose it's the battler's call.

Close Combat destroys Dialga and allows Infernape to 2HKO Kyogre leads thanks to its Focus Sash protecting it from Surf (You lose to Choice Scarf Kyogre leads, however, as they are faster). If parantheses happens to end a sentence, a period is not used, with it being placed after all is said; from what I understand at least Fire Blast destroys Scizor, Forretress, and Metagross leads while 2HKOing Groudon.

The last two moves are dedicated to taking out things that resist Close Combat: Stone Edge OHKOes Lugia (after Stealth Rock damage), Rayquaza, and Ho-Oh, while Shadow Claw OHKOes Latias, deals massive damage to Mewtwo +2 Shadow Claw OHKOes Taunt + Calm Mind Mewtwo, and 2HKOes Giratina Great Wall has a 53.45% chance of surviving and Giratina-O.

It also 2HKOes Giratina and Giratina-O after a Swords Dance, although the former will require Stealth Rock damage Refer to earlier comment. In said sunlight, Flare Blitz will still 2HKO Latias, Latios, and Giratina-O, and it also does more damage to Mewtwo than Shadow Claw You mentioned Mewtwo is OHKOed by Sun-boosted, Swords Dance Flare Blitz; 'more damage' is an understatement <_<.

You will always want at least 212 Speed EVs with a boosting nature to outspeed the standard Timid Lugia and Latias.

Stealth Rock and Spikes are the ideal ones to use in this case. Groudon is a reliable user of Stealth Rock that also provides sunlight support for Infernape Omitted comma as well. Deoxys-S or Deoxys-A are fast and can use Taunt to shut down slower leads, and they are the best users of Spikes if you need them; using Skarmory or Forretress would be counter-productive for battle momentum. Tried to be more concise and succinct

Infernape will usually have trouble getting past Giratina, Giratina-O, Latios, Rayquaza, Added comma Mewtwo, most Pokemon with a Choice Scarf such as Dialga, Palkia, and Garchomp, and physically defensive Kyogre. Latias resists most of Infernape’s weaknesses and it can take on Giratina, most Giratina-O, most Mewtwo, and Kyogre with relative ease thanks to her excellent bulk and powerful STAB Dragon Pulse. 'Some' seemed lackadaisical; 'most' sounds better, although you might want to find a better word Wobbuffet is an excellent solution to Choice Scarf Pokemon as well as Latios and some That word again >_> Mewtwo variants as it can trap them using Shadow Tag and then kill them off with Counter or Omitted 'and/' Mirror Coat.

Scizor, Dialga, Groudon, and Latias are particularly good choices as the four can help stop Infernape’s counters, support it with entry hazards, or both, which was already mentioned previously.

Deoxys-E is almost always a suicide lead that will usually be dead by the time Infernape shows its face, so you really don’t need an extra teammate for it. Scizor and Kyogre (if you don’t mind the rain) are both good options to take out Darkrai.

However, they risk getting badly injured by U-turn or Shadow Claw unless they are running Max Speed. Rayquaza has a powerful Extremespeed I believe ExtremeSpeed is written like so to pick off Infernape, and it too can come in on any of Infernape’s attacks barring Stone Edge. Kyogre that run a ton of HP and Defense EVs can also stop Infernape, but Close Combat will still do a lot of damage.

Anything faster than Infernape, such as Darkrai, Mewtwo, Shaymin-S, and Pokemon with a Choice Scarf such as Dialga, Palkia, and Garchomp, can stop it handily.

Hope I helped.

Fireburn · Feb 1, 2010

tangramman said:
Changes in Blue.
Comments in Red.

Infernape’s unique speed and offenses combined with its large movepool allow it to become a deadly wall-breaker in the Ubers environment. Although it may not be as powerful as other wall-breakers such as Rayquaza, Palkia, and Dialga, Infernape’s immunity to burns, access to STAB Close Combat to destroy Blissey, Seemed to be a run-on sentence and U-turn to scout enemy teams are qualities that many Uber Pokemon would kill for.

Fixed.

There was an extra space at the beginning here Infernape has the speed and offenses to become a fast, powerful wall-breaker. Fire Blast wrecks Groudon and Lugia, who are both 2HKOed after Stealth Rock damage Great Wall set takes 32.45% and considering that some Lugia are faster, it can just Roost/Recover off damage, as well as melting most Steel-types. U-turn deals heavy damage to Mewtwo, Latios, and Latias and offers scouting abilities. Stone Edge OHKOes Rayquaza SE cannot OHKO on its own; SR is needed, although there is a 7.69% chance of survival against the Dragon Dancer set, Ho-Oh, and 2HKOes Lugia after Stealth Rock damage.

Not sure if you factored in sunlight for Lugia and Groudon...should add that.

Infernape’s high Speed stat, large movepool, and decent offenses allow it to become a strong mixed attacker and wall-breaker in the Uber environment. While at first glance it may seem outclassed by the likes of Dialga, Palkia, and Rayquaza, Infernape’s access to U-turn, STAB Close Combat to KO Blissey without forcing itself to be locked in Outrage, and burn immunity are qualities that many Ubers wish they had. You basically just repeated the overview, but I'm sure you're aware

I know this.

Lugia and Mewtwo are also 2HKOed by Fire Blast, factoring in sunlight and Stealth Rock damage for the former You should mention this in the earlier comment on 2HKOing Lugia.

I think its better here since that paragraph is organized better by telling which moves do what. Moving it seems out of place.

Close Combat pounds Dialga into dust while also 2HKOing the standard Thunder Wave Kyogre lead Assuming you SR first, you'll be 2HKOed and OHKOed with a Lum; I'd just switch out, but I suppose it's the battler's call.

Your choice on what to do here.

Close Combat destroys Dialga and allows Infernape to 2HKO Kyogre leads thanks to its Focus Sash protecting it from Surf (You lose to Choice Scarf Kyogre leads, however, as they are faster). If parantheses happens to end a sentence, a period is not used, with it being placed after all is said; from what I understand at least Fire Blast destroys Scizor, Forretress, and Metagross leads while 2HKOing Groudon.

Fixed.

The last two moves are dedicated to taking out things that resist Close Combat: Stone Edge OHKOes Lugia (after Stealth Rock damage), Rayquaza, and Ho-Oh, while Shadow Claw OHKOes Latias, deals massive damage to Mewtwo +2 Shadow Claw OHKOes Taunt + Calm Mind Mewtwo, and 2HKOes Giratina Great Wall has a 53.45% chance of surviving and Giratina-O.

Ok, thanks.

It also 2HKOes Giratina and Giratina-O after a Swords Dance, although the former will require Stealth Rock damage Refer to earlier comment. In said sunlight, Flare Blitz will still 2HKO Latias, Latios, and Giratina-O, and it also does more damage to Mewtwo than Shadow Claw You mentioned Mewtwo is OHKOed by Sun-boosted, Swords Dance Flare Blitz; 'more damage' is an understatement <_<.

You will always want at least 212 Speed EVs with a boosting nature to outspeed the standard Timid Lugia and Latias.

Stealth Rock and Spikes are the ideal ones to use in this case. Groudon is a reliable user of Stealth Rock that also provides sunlight support for Infernape Omitted comma as well. Deoxys-S or Deoxys-A are fast and can use Taunt to shut down slower leads, and they are the best users of Spikes if you need them; using Skarmory or Forretress would be counter-productive for battle momentum. Tried to be more concise and succinct

Infernape will usually have trouble getting past Giratina, Giratina-O, Latios, Rayquaza, Added comma Mewtwo, most Pokemon with a Choice Scarf such as Dialga, Palkia, and Garchomp, and physically defensive Kyogre. Latias resists most of Infernape’s weaknesses and it can take on Giratina, most Giratina-O, most Mewtwo, and Kyogre with relative ease thanks to her excellent bulk and powerful STAB Dragon Pulse. 'Some' seemed lackadaisical; 'most' sounds better, although you might want to find a better word Wobbuffet is an excellent solution to Choice Scarf Pokemon as well as Latios and some That word again >_> Mewtwo variants as it can trap them using Shadow Tag and then kill them off with Counter or Omitted 'and/' Mirror Coat.

Scizor, Dialga, Groudon, and Latias are particularly good choices as the four can help stop Infernape’s counters, support it with entry hazards, or both, which was already mentioned previously.

Deoxys-E is almost always a suicide lead that will usually be dead by the time Infernape shows its face, so you really don’t need an extra teammate for it. Scizor and Kyogre (if you don’t mind the rain) are both good options to take out Darkrai.

However, they risk getting badly injured by U-turn or Shadow Claw unless they are running Max Speed. Rayquaza has a powerful Extremespeed I believe ExtremeSpeed is written like so to pick off Infernape, and it too can come in on any of Infernape’s attacks barring Stone Edge. Kyogre that run a ton of HP and Defense EVs can also stop Infernape, but Close Combat will still do a lot of damage.

Anything faster than Infernape, such as Darkrai, Mewtwo, Shaymin-S, and Pokemon with a Choice Scarf such as Dialga, Palkia, and Garchomp, can stop it handily.

Hope I helped.

Your insight was helpful, thanks. ^_^

Bilaterus · Feb 1, 2010

Changes in Bold, Removals in red. Take what is needed.

I think that you might have too much in the Set Comments. Perhaps move some of it into the additional comments?

Fireburn said:
______________________________________________________________________________

[Overview]
Although Infernape may seem to be outclassed by other Uber attackers, it certainly has several key advantages. Infernape’s unique Speed stat and offenses combined with its large movepool allow it to become a deadly wall-breaker in the Ubers environment. Although it may not be as powerful as other wall-breakers such as Rayquaza, Palkia, and Dialga, Infernape’s immunity to burns, access to STAB Close Combat to destroy Blissey without being forced to use Outrage and thus being vulnerable to being revenge killed, and U-turn to scout enemy teams are qualities that many Uber Pokemon would kill for. Infernape can be a real force in the Uber tier if played right and it should not be underestimated.

[SET]
name: Ubers Physical Mix
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Stone Edge
item: Life Orb
nature: Naive
evs: 252 Atk / 46 SpA / 212 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Infernape’s high Speed stat, large movepool, and decent offenses allow it to become a strong mixed attacker and wall-breaker in the Uber environment. While at first glance it may seem outclassed by the likes of Dialga, Palkia, and Rayquaza, Infernape’s access to U-turn, STAB Close Combat to KO Blissey without forcing itself to be locked in Outrage, and burn immunity are qualities that many Ubers wish they had.(A lot of this is in the overview)

The set’s play style is simple – get Infernape in on something it can scare out or on a weak resisted attack and proceed to let loose. Close Combat is Infernape’s main attack, and while one might think that it may be ineffective in Ubers with so many Psychic-types running around, it still absolutely mauls quite a few Pokemon, such as Blissey, Dialga, Tyranitar, and Heatran (who are all OHKOed) as well as Palkia, Garchomp, and Kyogre (all 2HKOed). Fire Blast OHKOes all Groudon after they have switched into Close Combat once and it also burns most Steel-types to a crisp. Lugia and Mewtwo are also 2HKOed by Fire Blast, factoring in sunlight and Stealth Rock damage for the former. U-turn allows Infernape to scout the opposing team while also doing massive damage to the many Psychics like Latias and Latios that may want to switch in on Infernape. Stone Edge OHKOes Rayquaza and Ho-Oh without question as well as also 2HKOing Lugia after Stealth Rock damage, just in case the weather is not favorable.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
This set has massive problems with Giratina, Giratina-O, and Latios. All three resist both of Infernape’s STAB moves, do not take much from its other attacks (except for U-turn against Latios), and have powerful STAB Dragon-type moves to smash Infernape with. Mewtwo is faster than Infernape and has a powerful Thunder with which to 2HKO Infernape with. Physically defensive Kyogre can also come in on anything bar Close Combat and drown Infernape with Surf. Rayquaza also resists both of Infernape’s STAB moves and has Extremespeed to pick it off. Finally, any Choice Scarf user such as Dialga, Palkia, and Garchomp are extremely threatening to Infernape as they can easily KO the flaming monkey before it gets a chance to react. Choice Scarf Dialga is an excellent answer to Giratina, Giratina-O, Rayquaza, Latios, and Mewtwo, as it is faster than all of them and has STAB Draco Meteor to destroy them all with. Latias counters Kyogre very well thanks to her superb bulk and powerful Thunder, and she can also deal with both formes of Giratina, with enough health. Scizor has U-turn and Bullet Punch to easily pick off Latios, Mewtwo, and Rayquaza locked into Outrage. Groudon provides sunlight to power up Fire Blast and it deals with most Rayquaza and Choice Scarf Garchomp very well with its high Defense stat. Wobbuffet’s Shadow Tag ability and access to Counter and Mirror Coat allow it to trap and KO Choice Scarf users as well as some Latios and Mewtwo quite easily.

[SET]
name: Ubers LeadApe
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Close Combat
item: Focus Sash / Lum Berry
nature: Naive
evs: 252 Atk / 46 SpA / 212 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Infernape’s good Speed allows it to set-up Stealth Rock quickly and reliably against nearly every lead while being able to cause some damage later in the game, making it a good choice of lead for an offensive team.

Stealth Rock is Infernape’s best support move, and it is highly beneficial to Infernape’s teammates, helping them to secure more KOs. U-turn allows Infernape to scout the opponent’s team while breaking Deoxys-S’s and Deoxys-A’s Focus Sashes, allowing you to go to a priority user or a faster Pokemon, such as one with Choice Scarf, to finish Deoxys off. It is highly recommended to have either priority or a Choice Scarf user along with this Infernape to minimize the layers of entry hazards Deoxys-S or Deoxys-A is able to put down, lest your team be hacked apart by combined damage from Stealth Rock and Spikes. Close Combat destroys Dialga and allows Infernape to 2HKO Kyogre leads thanks to its Focus Sash protecting it from Surf. (You lose to Choice Scarf Kyogre leads, however, as they are faster.) Fire Blast destroys Scizor, Forretress, and Metagross leads while 2HKOing Groudon. Focus Sash is preferred to help Infernape survive attacks from Dialga and Groudon, but Lum Berry allows Infernape to beat Darkrai by shrugging off Dark Void and OHKOing with Close Combat. The EVs are the same as the previous set, since they allows Infernape to get the KOs on the necessary leads.

(Pretty sure "KOs" is the noun)
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
Infernape will lose to Darkrai leads if it does not have Lum Berry thanks to Dark Void, so having a status absorber on your team is recommended. Kyogre is a good choice, since it also beats Ho-Oh, who will wall this Infernape set due to the lack of Stone Edge. Although Kyogre’s rain will lower the power of Fire Blast, it is only for a few specific targets that will be OHKOed or 2HKOed anyway despite the rain. Having a priority user is also recommended to finish off leads that Infernape will U-turn out of, such as Mewtwo and Deoxys. Scizor is a particularly good choice since it can also beat Choice Scarf Shaymin-S leads, which Infernape loses to if it is flinched by Air Slash, and it can also Pursuit Mewtwo and Deoxys should they switch out. Rayquaza appreciates the Stealth Rock laid down by Infernape, and it also has a strong priority move in Extremespeed. If it needs to, Rayquaza can also switch in on a Water Spout from a Choice Scarf Kyogre lead.

[SET]
name: Ubers Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Shadow Claw / Flare Blitz
item: Life Orb
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 6 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Although somewhat tricky to set-up, Infernape can become a viciously powerful offensive threat after just one Swords Dance, capable of OHKOing or 2HKOing everything in Ubers.

Close Combat is the primary attack of this set, and it will absolutely devastate anything that does not resist it, OHKOing foes such as Dialga, Palkia, Kyogre, Scizor, and many others. Stone Edge covers most Flying-types that Infernape is likely to face. Lugia is always OHKOed by Stone Edge after Stealth Rock damage, while Ho-Oh and Rayquaza are always OHKOed as well. Shadow Claw rounds out the set nicely, giving Infernape perfect coverage while tearing Mewtwo, Latias, and Latios to shreds. It also 2HKOes Giratina and Giratina-O after a Swords Dance, although the former will require Stealth Rock damage. Flare Blitz can be used over Shadow Claw if one has sunlight support from Groudon. In said sunlight, Flare Blitz will still 2HKO Latias, Latios, and Giratina-O, and it also OHKOes even defensive Mewtwo, something Shadow Claw can't always manage. However, the primary use of Flare Blitz is to OHKO Groudon after a Swords Dance, meaning it can no longer stop Infernape from sweeping.

As for EVs, Max Attack and Speed is necessary for maximum sweeping potential. Jolly is preferred to Adamant, as the latter does not get any special KOs and Infernape really needs to outspeed as many things as it can, as it cannot take many hits. Life Orb gives Infernape a much needed power boost.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
Swords Dance Infernape’s main issues are defensive Groudon, any faster Pokemon, and actually setting up. Wobbuffet is by far the best teammate for Swords Dance Infernape, since it can trap and kill Groudon and Pokemon with Choice Scarf as well as giving Infernape a much needed opportunity to set up thanks to Encore. Using Psychic-type Pokemon to bait Pursuit from Pokemon such as Tyranitar and Scizor is a good idea to help Infernape set-up as well. Other than that, the same teammates from the Physical Mix Infernape set work very well with this one.

[Optional Changes]
Infernape is quite frail, so you’ll always want to capitalize on its Speed and offenses. You will always want at least 212 Speed EVs with a boosting nature to outspeed the standard Timid Lugia and Latias. From there, just maximize your offenses however you see fit, although emphasizing Attack is recommended since most Ubers have lower Defense, thus maximizing Infernape’s damage output.

Infernape’s best move options are listed in its sets already. Infernape can utilize Nasty Plot along with Fire Blast, Focus Blast, and Grass Knot or Hidden Power Ice to become a special attacking threat, but the lower accuracy of the STAB moves and the generally higher Special Defense of Uber Pokemon makes this a less effective choice than a more physically inclined set. Taunt can have some use on the lead set to stop Pokemon such as Groudon and Dialga from setting up Stealth Rock. Mach Punch is an option on the Swords Dance set if one feels that they need a priority move to pick off faster threats after set up, though the only targets it is useful against are Choice Scarf Dialga and Darkrai.

[Team Options]
Infernape really needs entry hazard support to help it get crucial KOs. Stealth Rock and Spikes are the ideal ones to use in this case. Groudon is a reliable user of Stealth Rock that also provides sunlight support for Infernape as well. Dialga can also lay down Stealth Rock and check Giratina, Infernape’s best counter, extremely well. Deoxys-S or Deoxys-A are fast and can use Taunt to shut down slower leads, and they are the best users of Spikes if you need them, as Infernape is primarily offensive and therefore should be on an offensive team. As such, using Skarmory or Forretress would be counter-productive for battle momentum.

Infernape will usually have trouble getting past Giratina, most faster Pokemon, and physically defensive Kyogre. Such Pokemon can either take a hit or two from Infernape and KO it back, will outspeed and KO Infernape before it can move, or both. Latias resists most of Infernape’s weaknesses and it can take on Giratina, most Giratina-O, most Mewtwo, and Kyogre with relative ease thanks to her excellent bulk and powerful STAB Dragon Pulse. Latios is less bulky than his sister Latias but otherwise can fulfill the same role. Scizor easily handles Mewtwo and Latios thanks to U-turn and Bullet Punch, and it has the advantage of being able to come in on powerful Dragon-type strikes that are likely to be thrown at Infernape. Choice Scarf Palkia actually provides a solid counter, or at least a good check, to most of the above threats as it is faster and it has a myriad of powerful attacks to destroy the counters listed above. Dialga is a near perfect Giratina counter, which is by far Infernape’s biggest enemy, and it also beats Giratina-O as well with a suitable EV investment and STAB Draco Meteor. Groudon can easily handle most Rayquaza sets as well as Choice Scarf Garchomp thanks to its high Defense stat and powerful Dragon Claw, and it also gives Infernape much appreciated support via sunlight. Wobbuffet is an excellent solution to Choice Scarf Pokemon as well as Latios and any Mewtwo variants lacking Taunt as it can trap them using Shadow Tag and then kill them off with Counter and/or Mirror Coat.

Infernape’s defenses are paper-thin, and any decently powered attack will most likely OHKO or 2HKO it, so pairing Infernape with bulky Pokemon is a good idea, especially ones that can take Water-, Ground-, Flying-, and powerful Dragon-type moves. Scizor, Dialga, Groudon, and Latias are particularly good choices as the four can help stop Infernape’s counters and/or support it with entry hazards, or both, which was already mentioned previously.

Infernape’s greatest foes – Latios, Rayquaza, Giratina, Giratina-O, Mewtwo, physically defensive Kyogre, and Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Dialga, Palkia, and Garchomp – are usually paired with Wobbuffet, Darkrai, Scizor, Groudon, Deoxys-E, and each other. Infernape can U-turn away from Wobbuffet’s grasp and it does not fear Scizor and Groudon. Deoxys-E is almost always a suicide lead that will usually be dead by the time Infernape shows its face, so you really don’t need an extra teammate for it. Darkrai is problematic because it is faster than Infernape and it has Dark Void, rendering Infernape useless. Scizor and Kyogre (if you don’t mind the rain) are both good options to take out Darkrai.

[Counters]
Giratina and Giratina-O resist or are immune to both of Infernape’s STAB moves, and they both have powerful STAB Dragon-type attacks to dispatch the flaming monkey with. However, neither Giratina nor Giratina-O will enjoy a boosted Shadow Claw from the Swords Dance set. Latios and Latias also resist both of Infernape’s STABs, are faster, and have powerful Dragon-type STAB moves to dispose of it. However, they risk getting badly injured by U-turn or Shadow Claw unless they are running Max Speed. Rayquaza has a powerful Extremespeed to pick off Infernape, and it too can come in on any of Infernape’s attacks barring Stone Edge. Ho-Oh stops Infernape cold if it does not have Stone Edge. Kyogre that run a ton of HP and Defense EVs can also stop Infernape, but Close Combat will still do a lot of damage.

Anything faster than Infernape, such as Darkrai, Mewtwo, Shaymin-S, and Pokemon with a Choice Scarf such as Dialga, Palkia, and Garchomp, can stop it handily.

Purple Wobbuffet · Feb 3, 2010

Changes in bold.
Explainations in (bold parentheses.)
Things to be removed in "quotes."

Fireburn said:
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/infernape

Wrote everything from scratch.
______________________________________________________________________________

[Overview]
Although Infernape may seem to be outclassed by other Uber attackers, it certainly has several key advantages. Infernape’s unique 100+ Speed stat and offenses combined with its large movepool allow it to become a deadly wall-breaker in the Ubers environment. Although it may not be as powerful as other wall-breakers such as Rayquaza, Palkia, and Dialga, Infernape’s immunity to burns, access to STAB Close Combat to destroy Blissey without being forced to use Outrage, and U-turn to scout enemy teams are qualities that many Uber Pokemon would kill for. Infernape can be a real force in the Uber tier if played right, (FANBOYS rule) and it should not be underestimated.

[SET]
name: Ubers Physical Mix
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Stone Edge
item: Life Orb
nature: Naive
evs: 252 Atk / 46 SpA / 212 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Infernape’s high Speed stat, large movepool, and decent offenses allow it to become a strong mixed attacker and wall-breaker in the Uber environment. While at first glance it may seem outclassed by the likes of Dialga, Palkia, and Rayquaza, Infernape’s access to U-turn, STAB Close Combat to KO Blissey without forcing itself to be locked in Outrage, and burn immunity are qualities that many Ubers wish they had.

The set’s play style is simple – get Infernape in on something it can scare out or on a weak resisted attack and proceed to let loose. Close Combat is Infernape’s main attack, and while one might think that it may be ineffective in Ubers with so many Psychic-types running around, it still absolutely mauls quite a few Pokemon, such as Blissey, Dialga, Tyranitar, and Heatran (who are all OHKOed) as well as Palkia, Garchomp, and Kyogre (all 2HKOed). Fire Blast OHKOes all Groudon after they have switched into Close Combat once and it also burns most Steel-types to a crisp. Lugia and Mewtwo are also 2HKOed by Fire Blast, factoring in sunlight and Stealth Rock damage for the former. U-turn allows Infernape to scout the opposing team, while also doing massive damage to the many Psychics like Latias and Latios that may want to switch in on Infernape. Stone Edge OHKOes Rayquaza and Ho-Oh without question as well as also 2HKOing Lugia after Stealth Rock damage, just in case the weather is not favorable.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
This set has massive problems with Giratina, Giratina-O, and Latios. All three resist both of Infernape’s STAB moves, do not take much from its other attacks (except for U-turn against Latios), and have powerful STAB Dragon-type moves to smash Infernape with. Mewtwo is faster than Infernape and has a powerful Thunder with which to 2HKO Infernape with. Physically defensive Kyogre can also come in on anything bar Close Combat and drown Infernape with Surf. Rayquaza also resists both of Infernape’s STAB moves and has Extremespeed to pick it off. Finally, any Choice Scarf user such as Dialga, Palkia, and Garchomp are extremely threatening to Infernape, as they can easily KO the flaming monkey before it gets a chance to react. Choice Scarf Dialga is an excellent answer to Giratina, Giratina-O, Rayquaza, Latios, and Mewtwo, as it is faster than all of them and has STAB Draco Meteor to destroy them all with. Latias counters Kyogre very well thanks to her superb bulk and powerful Thunder, and she can also deal with both formes of Giratina, provided she has "with" enough health. Scizor has U-turn and Bullet Punch to easily pick off Latios, Mewtwo, and Rayquaza locked into Outrage. Groudon provides sunlight to power up Fire Blast and it deals with most Rayquaza and Choice Scarf Garchomp very well with its high Defense stat. Wobbuffet’s Shadow Tag ability and access to Counter and Mirror Coat allow it to trap and KO Choice Scarf users as well as some Latios and Mewtwo quite easily.

[SET]
name: Ubers LeadApe
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Close Combat
item: Focus Sash / Lum Berry
nature: Naive
evs: 252 Atk / 46 SpA / 212 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Infernape’s good Speed allows it to set-up Stealth Rock quickly and reliably against nearly every lead while being able to cause some damage later in the game, making it a good choice of lead for an offensive team.

Stealth Rock is Infernape’s best support move, and it is highly beneficial to Infernape’s teammates, helping them to secure more KOs. U-turn allows Infernape to scout the opponent’s team while breaking Deoxys-S’s and Deoxys-A’s Focus Sashes, allowing you to go to a priority user or a faster Pokemon, such as one with a Choice Scarf, to finish Deoxys off. It is highly recommended to have either priority or a Choice Scarf user along with this Infernape, so you "to" minimize the layers of entry hazards Deoxys-S or Deoxys-A is able to put down, lest your team be hacked apart by combined damage from Stealth Rock and Spikes. Close Combat destroys Dialga and allows Infernape to 2HKO Kyogre leads thanks to its Focus Sash protecting it from Surf. (You lose to Choice Scarf Kyogre leads, however, as they are faster.) Fire Blast destroys Scizor, Forretress, and Metagross leads while 2HKOing Groudon. Focus Sash is preferred to help Infernape survive attacks from Dialga and Groudon, but Lum Berry allows Infernape to beat Darkrai by shrugging off Dark Void and OHKOing with Close Combat. The EVs are the same as the previous set, since they allows Infernape to get the KOs on the necessary leads.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
Infernape will lose to Darkrai leads if it does not have Lum Berry thanks to Dark Void, so having a status absorber on your team is recommended. Kyogre is a good choice, since it also beats Ho-Oh, who will wall this Infernape set due to the lack of Stone Edge. Although Kyogre’s rain will lower the power of Fire Blast, it is only for a few specific targets that will be OHKOed or 2HKOed anyway despite the rain. Having a priority user is also recommended to finish off leads that Infernape will U-turn out of, such as Mewtwo and Deoxys. Scizor is a particularly good choice since it can also beat Choice Scarf Shaymin-S leads, which Infernape loses to if it is flinched by Air Slash, and it can also Pursuit Mewtwo and Deoxys should they switch out. Rayquaza appreciates the Stealth Rock laid down by Infernape, and it also has a strong priority move in Extremespeed. If it needs to, Rayquaza can also switch in on a Water Spout from a Choice Scarf Kyogre lead.

[SET]
name: Ubers Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Shadow Claw / Flare Blitz
item: Life Orb
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 6 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Although somewhat tricky to set-up, Infernape can become a viciously powerful offensive threat after just one Swords Dance, capable of OHKOing or 2HKOing everything in Ubers.

Close Combat is the primary attack of this set, and it will absolutely devastate anything that does not resist it, OHKOing foes such as Dialga, Palkia, Kyogre, Scizor, and many others. Stone Edge covers most Flying-types that Infernape is likely to face. Lugia is always OHKOed by Stone Edge after Stealth Rock damage, while Ho-Oh and Rayquaza are always OHKOed as well. Shadow Claw rounds out the set nicely, giving Infernape perfect coverage while tearing Mewtwo, Latias, and Latios to shreds. It also 2HKOes Giratina and Giratina-O after a Swords Dance, although the former will require Stealth Rock damage. Flare Blitz can be used over Shadow Claw if one has sunlight support from Groudon. In said sunlight, Flare Blitz will still 2HKO Latias, Latios, and Giratina-O, and it also OHKOes even defensive Mewtwo, something Shadow Claw can't always manage. However, the primary use of Flare Blitz is to OHKO Groudon after a Swords Dance, meaning it can no longer stop Infernape from sweeping.

As for EVs, Max Attack and Speed is necessary for maximum sweeping potential. Jolly is preferred to Adamant, as the latter does not get any special KOs and Infernape really needs to outspeed as many things as it can, as it cannot take many hits. Life Orb gives Infernape a much needed power boost.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
Swords Dance Infernape’s main issues are defensive Groudon, any faster Pokemon, and actually setting up. Wobbuffet is by far the best teammate for Swords Dance Infernape, since it can trap and kill Groudon and Pokemon with Choice Scarf as well as giving Infernape a much needed opportunity to set up thanks to Encore. Using Psychic-type Pokemon to bait Pursuit from Pokemon such as Tyranitar and Scizor is a good idea to help Infernape set-up as well. Other than that, the same teammates from the Physical Mix Infernape set work very well with this one.

[Optional Changes]
Infernape is quite frail, so you’ll always want to capitalize on its Speed and offenses. You will always want at least 212 Speed EVs with a boosting nature to outspeed the standard Timid Lugia and Latias. From there, just maximize your offenses however you see fit, although emphasizing Attack is recommended since most Ubers have lower Defense, thus maximizing Infernape’s damage output.

Infernape’s best move options are listed in its sets already. Infernape can utilize Nasty Plot along with Fire Blast, Focus Blast, and Grass Knot or Hidden Power Ice to become a special attacking threat, but the lower accuracy of the STAB moves and the generally higher Special Defense of Uber Pokemon makes this a less effective choice than a more physically inclined set. Taunt can have some use on the lead set to stop Pokemon such as Groudon and Dialga from setting up Stealth Rock. Mach Punch is an option on the Swords Dance set if one feels that they need a priority move to pick off faster threats after set up, though the only targets it is useful against are Choice Scarf Dialga and Darkrai.

[Team Options]
Infernape really needs entry hazard support to help it get crucial KOs. Stealth Rock and Spikes are the ideal ones to use in this case. Groudon is a reliable user of Stealth Rock that also provides sunlight support for Infernape as well. Dialga can also lay down Stealth Rock and check Giratina, Infernape’s best counter, extremely well. Deoxys-S or Deoxys-A are fast and can use Taunt to shut down slower leads, and they are the best users of Spikes if you need them, as Infernape is primarily offensive and therefore should be on an offensive team. As such, using Skarmory or Forretress would be counter-productive for battle momentum.

Infernape will usually have trouble getting past Giratina, most faster Pokemon, and physically defensive Kyogre. Such Pokemon can either take a hit or two from Infernape and KO it back, will outspeed and KO Infernape before it can move, or both. Latias resists most of Infernape’s weaknesses and it can take on Giratina, most Giratina-O, most Mewtwo, and Kyogre with relative ease thanks to her excellent bulk and powerful STAB Dragon Pulse. Latios is less bulky than his sister Latias but otherwise can fulfill the same role. Scizor easily handles Mewtwo and Latios thanks to U-turn and Bullet Punch, and it has the advantage of being able to come in on powerful Dragon-type strikes that are likely to be thrown at Infernape. Choice Scarf Palkia actually provides a solid counter, or at least a good check, to most of the above threats as it is faster and it has a myriad of powerful attacks to destroy the counters listed above. Dialga is a near perfect Giratina counter, which is by far Infernape’s biggest enemy, and it also beats Giratina-O as well with a suitable EV investment and STAB Draco Meteor. Groudon can easily handle most Rayquaza sets as well as Choice Scarf Garchomp thanks to its high Defense stat and powerful Dragon Claw, and it also gives Infernape much appreciated support via sunlight. Wobbuffet is an excellent solution to Choice Scarf Pokemon as well as Latios and any Mewtwo variants lacking Taunt as it can trap them using Shadow Tag and then kill them off with Counter and/or Mirror Coat.

Infernape’s defenses are paper-thin, and any decently powered attack will most likely OHKO or 2HKO it, so pairing Infernape with bulky Pokemon is a good idea, especially ones that can take Water-, Ground-, Flying-, and powerful Dragon-type moves. Scizor, Dialga, Groudon, and Latias are particularly good choices as the four can help stop Infernape’s counters and/or support it with entry hazards, or both, which was already mentioned previously.

Infernape’s greatest foes – Latios, Rayquaza, Giratina, Giratina-O, Mewtwo, physically defensive Kyogre, and Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Dialga, Palkia, and Garchomp – are usually paired with Wobbuffet, Darkrai, Scizor, Groudon, Deoxys-E, and each other. Infernape can U-turn away from Wobbuffet’s grasp and it does not fear Scizor and Groudon. Deoxys-E is almost always a suicide lead that will usually be dead by the time Infernape shows its face, so you really don’t need an extra teammate for it. Darkrai is problematic because it is faster than Infernape and it has Dark Void, rendering Infernape useless. Scizor and Kyogre (if you don’t mind the rain) are both good options to take out Darkrai.

[Counters]
Giratina and Giratina-O resist or are immune to both of Infernape’s STAB moves, and they both have powerful STAB Dragon-type attacks to dispatch the flaming monkey with. However, neither Giratina nor Giratina-O will enjoy a boosted Shadow Claw from the Swords Dance set. Latios and Latias also resist both of Infernape’s STABs, are faster, and have powerful Dragon-type STAB moves to dispose of it. However, they risk getting badly injured by U-turn or Shadow Claw unless they are running Max Speed. Rayquaza has a powerful Extremespeed to pick off Infernape, and it too can come in on any of Infernape’s attacks barring Stone Edge. Ho-Oh stops Infernape cold if it does not have Stone Edge. Kyogre that run a ton of HP and Defense EVs can also stop Infernape, but Close Combat will still do a lot of damage.

Anything faster than Infernape, such as Darkrai, Mewtwo, Shaymin-S, and Pokemon with a Choice Scarf such as Dialga, Palkia, and Garchomp, can stop it handily.

Darkmalice · Feb 3, 2010

Wouldn't Overheat be a better option than Fire Blast? I take it that you'll primarily be using Close Combat, so the SpA drop wouldn't be that significant, as you'll be using your Fire attack only once. The primary use of Fire Blast is for Groudon. 252 HP / 224 SpD Careful Groudon can survive the combo of CC + FB even after SR support, whilst Overheat guarantees the KO assuming it hits (and Overheat > Fire Blast in accuracy).

Fireburn · Feb 3, 2010

Fire Blast is superior on the Physical Mixed set because the more consistent damage lets you take on Lugia more reliably, but it does have some merit on the lead set, so I'll slash it in.

bojangles · Feb 14, 2010

Fireburn said:
[Overview]
Although Infernape may seem to be outclassed by other Uber attackers, it certainly has several key advantages. Infernape’s unique Speed stat and offenses combined with its large movepool allow it to become a deadly wall-breaker in the Ubers environment. Although it may not be as powerful as other wall-breakers, such as Rayquaza, Palkia, and Dialga, Infernape’s immunity to burns, access to STAB Close Combat to destroy Blissey without being forced to use Outrage[/COLOR], and U-turn with which to scout enemy teams are qualities for which many Uber Pokemon would kill. Infernape can be a real force in the Uber tier if played right and it should not be underestimated [maybe end this a bit differently, the 'don't underestimate' thing is sort of trite].

[SET]
name: Ubers Physical Mix
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Stone Edge
item: Life Orb
nature: Naive
evs: 252 Atk / 46 SpA / 212 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Infernape’s high Speed stat, large movepool, and decent offenses allow it to become a strong mixed attacker and wall-breaker in the Uber environment [did you c/p this from above?]. While at first glance it may seem outclassed by the likes of Dialga, Palkia, and Rayquaza, Infernape’s access to U-turn, STAB Close Combat to KO Blissey without forcing itself to be locked in Outrage, and burn immunity are qualities that many Ubers wish they had [this seems familiar too...].

The set’s play style is simple – get Infernape in on a Pokémon whom it can scare out or on a weak resisted attack and proceed to let loose. Close Combat is Infernape’s main attack, and while one might think that it may be ineffective in Ubers with so many Psychic-types running around, it still absolutely mauls quite a few Pokemon, such as Blissey, Dialga, Tyranitar, and Heatran (who are all OHKOed), as well as Palkia, Garchomp, and Kyogre (all 2HKOed). Fire Blast OHKOes all Groudon after they have switched into Close Combat once and it also burns most Steel-types to a crisp [which steel-types survive, you said 'most']. Lugia and Mewtwo are also 2HKOed by Fire Blast, factoring in sunlight and Stealth Rock damage for the former. U-turn allows Infernape to scout the opposing team while also doing massive damage to the many Psychic-types, like Latias and Latios, who may want to switch in on Infernape. Stone Edge OHKOes Rayquaza and Ho-Oh without question, as well as also 2HKOing Lugia after Stealth Rock damage, just in case the weather is not favorable.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
This set has massive problems with Giratina, Giratina-O, and Latios. All three resist both of Infernape’s STAB moves, do not take much from its other attacks (except for U-turn against Latios), and have powerful STAB Dragon-type moves with which to smash Infernape. Mewtwo is faster than Infernape and has a powerful Thunder with which to 2HKO Infernape [removed "with", improper grammar and redundant with 'with which'.]. Physically defensive Kyogre can also come in on anything, bar Close Combat, and drown Infernape with Surf. Rayquaza also resists both of Infernape’s STAB moves and has ExtremeSpeed to pick it off. Finally, any Choice Scarf user, such as Dialga, Palkia, and Garchomp, is [user is singular] extremely threatening to Infernape, as it can easily KO the flaming monkey before it gets a chance to react. Choice Scarf Dialga is an excellent answer to Giratina, Giratina-O, Rayquaza, Latios, and Mewtwo, as it is faster than all of them and has STAB Draco Meteor with which to destroy them all. Latias counters Kyogre very well, thanks to her superb bulk and powerful Thunder, and she can also deal with both formes of Giratina if she has enough health. Scizor has U-turn and Bullet Punch to easily pick off Latios, Mewtwo, and Rayquaza locked into Outrage. Groudon provides sunlight to power up Fire Blast and it deals with most Rayquaza and Choice Scarf Garchomp very well with its high Defense stat. Wobbuffet’s Shadow Tag ability and access to Counter and Mirror Coat allow it to trap and KO Choice Scarf users, as well as some Latios and Mewtwo, quite easily.

[SET]
name: Ubers LeadApe
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Fire Blast / Overheat
move 4: Close Combat
item: Focus Sash / Lum Berry
nature: Naive
evs: 252 Atk / 46 SpA / 212 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Infernape’s good Speed allows it to set-up Stealth Rock quickly and reliably against nearly every lead while also being able to cause some damage later in the game, making it a good choice of lead for an offensive team.

Stealth Rock is Infernape’s best support move, and it is highly beneficial to Infernape’s teammates, helping them to secure more KOs. U-turn allows Infernape to scout the opponent’s team while breaking Deoxys-S’s or Deoxys-A’s Focus Sash, allowing you to go to a priority user or a faster Pokemon, such as one with a Choice Scarf, to finish Deoxys off. It is highly recommended to have either priority or a Choice Scarf user along with this Infernape to minimize the layers of entry hazards Deoxys-S or Deoxys-A is able to put down, lest your team be hacked apart by the combined damage from Stealth Rock and Spikes. Close Combat destroys Dialga and allows Infernape to 2HKO Kyogre leads, thanks to its Focus Sash protecting it from Surf. (You lose to Choice Scarf Kyogre leads, however, as they are faster.) Fire Blast destroys Scizor, Forretress, and Metagross leads while 2HKOing Groudon. Overheat is also option if one wants the extra power for taking on threats, such as specially defensive Groudons. Focus Sash is preferred to help Infernape survive attacks from Dialga and Groudon, but Lum Berry allows Infernape to beat Darkrai by shrugging off Dark Void and OHKOing with Close Combat. The EVs are the same as the previous set, since they allows Infernape to get the KOs on the necessary leads.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
Infernape will lose to Darkrai leads if it does not have Lum Berry thanks to Dark Void, so having a status absorber on your team is recommended. Kyogre is a good choice, since it also beats Ho-Oh, who will wall this Infernape set due to the lack of Stone Edge. Although Kyogre’s rain will lower the power of Fire Blast, it is only for a few specific targets that will be OHKOed or 2HKOed anyway despite the rain [this sentence doesn't make much sense, so you should reword it. I'm not exactly sure what you're saying.]. Having a priority user is also recommended to finish off leads out of whom Infernape will U-turn, such as Mewtwo and Deoxys formes. Scizor is a particularly good choice, since it can also beat Choice Scarf Shaymin-S leads, whom Infernape loses to if Shaymin-S flinches it with [passive voice] Air Slash, and Scizor [various antecedents getting confusing] can also Pursuit Mewtwo and Deoxys formes, should they switch out. Rayquaza appreciates the Stealth Rock laid down by Infernape, and it also has a strong priority move in ExtremeSpeed. If it needs to, Rayquaza can also switch in on a Water Spout from a Choice Scarf Kyogre lead.

[SET]
name: Ubers Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Shadow Claw / Flare Blitz
item: Life Orb
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 6 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Although somewhat tricky to set up, Infernape can become a viciously powerful offensive threat after just one Swords Dance, capable of OHKOing or 2HKOing everything in Ubers.

Close Combat is the primary attack of this set, and it will absolutely devastate any Pokémon who does not resist it, OHKOing foes such as Dialga, Palkia, Kyogre, Scizor, and many others. Stone Edge covers most Flying-types whom Infernape is likely to face. Stone Edge always OHKOes [passive voice] Lugia after Stealth Rock damage, as well as always OHKOing Ho-Oh and Rayquaza in addition. Shadow Claw rounds out the set nicely, giving Infernape perfect coverage while tearing Mewtwo, Latias, and Latios to shreds. It also 2HKOes Giratina and Giratina-O after a Swords Dance, although the former will require Stealth Rock damage. Flare Blitz can be used over Shadow Claw if one has sunlight support from Groudon. In said sunlight, Flare Blitz will still 2HKO Latias, Latios, and Giratina-O, and it also OHKOes even defensive Mewtwo, something Shadow Claw can't always manage. However, the primary use of Flare Blitz is to OHKO Groudon after a Swords Dance, meaning it can no longer stop Infernape from sweeping.

As for EVs, Max Attack and Speed EVs are necessary for maximum sweeping potential. Jolly is preferred to Adamant, as the latter does not get any special KOs and Infernape really needs to outspeed as many things as it can, as it cannot take many hits. Life Orb gives Infernape a much needed power boost.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
Swords Dance Infernape’s main issues are defensive Groudon, any faster Pokemon, and actually setting up. Wobbuffet is by far the best teammate for Swords Dance Infernape, since it can trap and kill Groudon and Pokemon with Choice Scarf as well as giving Infernape a much needed opportunity to set up thanks to Encore. Using Psychic-type Pokemon to bait Pursuit from Pokemon such as Tyranitar and Scizor is a good idea to help Infernape set-up as well. Other than that, the same teammates from the Physical Mix Infernape set work very well with this one.

[Optional Changes]
Infernape is quite frail, so you’ll always want to capitalize on its Speed and offenses. You will always want at least 212 Speed EVs with a boosting nature to outspeed the standard Timid Lugia and Latias. From there, just maximize your offenses however you see fit, although emphasizing Attack is recommended since most Ubers have lower Defense, thus maximizing Infernape’s damage output.

Infernape’s best move options are listed in its sets already. Infernape can utilize Nasty Plot along with Fire Blast, Focus Blast, and Grass Knot or Hidden Power Ice to become a special attacking threat, but the lower accuracy of the STAB moves and the generally higher Special Defense of Uber Pokemon makes this a less effective choice than a more physically inclined set. Taunt can have some use on the lead set to stop support Pokemon, such as Groudon and Dialga, from setting up Stealth Rock. Mach Punch is an option on the Swords Dance set if one feels that they need a priority move to pick off faster threats after set up, though the only targets it is useful against are Choice Scarf Dialga and Darkrai.

[Team Options]
Infernape really needs entry hazard support to help it get crucial KOs. Stealth Rock and Spikes are the ideal ones to use in this case. Groudon is a reliable user of Stealth Rock that also provides sunlight support for Infernape as well. Dialga can also lay down Stealth Rock and check Giratina, Infernape’s best counter, extremely well. Deoxys-S or Deoxys-A are fast and can use Taunt to shut down slower leads, and they are the best users of Spikes if you need them, as Infernape is primarily offensive and therefore should be on an offensive team. As such, using Skarmory or Forretress would be counter-productive for battle momentum.

Infernape will usually have trouble getting past Giratina, most faster Pokemon, and physically defensive Kyogre. Such Pokemon can either take a hit or two from Infernape and KO it back, will outspeed and KO Infernape before it can move, or both. Latias resists most of Infernape’s weaknesses and it can take on Giratina, most Giratina-O, most Mewtwo, and Kyogre with relative ease thanks to her excellent bulk and powerful STAB Dragon Pulse. Latios is less bulky than his sister, Latias, but otherwise can fulfill the same role. Scizor easily handles Mewtwo and Latios, thanks to U-turn and Bullet Punch, and it has the advantage of being able to come in on powerful Dragon-type strikes that are likely to be thrown at Infernape. Choice Scarf Palkia actually provides a solid counter, or at least a good check, to most of the above threats as it is faster and it has a myriad of powerful attacks to destroy the counters listed above. Dialga is a near perfect counter for Giratina, who is by far Infernape’s biggest enemy, and it also beats Giratina-O as well with a suitable EV investment and STAB Draco Meteor. Groudon can easily handle most Rayquaza sets as well as Choice Scarf Garchomp thanks to its high Defense stat and powerful Dragon Claw, and it also gives Infernape much appreciated support via sunlight. Wobbuffet is an excellent solution to Choice Scarf Pokemon as well as Latios and any Mewtwo variants lacking Taunt as it can trap them using Shadow Tag and then kill them off with Counter and/or Mirror Coat.

Infernape’s defenses are paper-thin, and any decently powered attack will most likely OHKO or 2HKO it, so pairing Infernape with bulky Pokemon is a good idea, especially ones who can take Water-, Ground-, Flying-, and powerful Dragon-type moves. Scizor, Dialga, Groudon, and Latias are particularly good choices, as the four can help stop Infernape’s counters and/or support it with entry hazards, or both, which was already mentioned previously.

Infernape’s greatest foes – Latios, Rayquaza, Giratina, Giratina-O, Mewtwo, physically defensive Kyogre, and Choice Scarf Pokemon, such as Dialga, Palkia, and Garchomp – are usually paired with Wobbuffet, Darkrai, Scizor, Groudon, Deoxys-E, and each other. Infernape can U-turn away from Wobbuffet’s grasp and it does not fear Scizor and Groudon. Deoxys-E is almost always a suicide lead who will usually be dead by the time Infernape shows its face, so you really don’t need an extra teammate for it. Darkrai is problematic because it is faster than Infernape and it has Dark Void, rendering Infernape useless. Scizor and Kyogre [you mean CM Rest talk Kyogre, because not all sets are great against Darkrai] (if you don’t mind the rain) are both good options to take out Darkrai.

[Counters]
Giratina and Giratina-O resist or are immune to both of Infernape’s STAB moves, and they both have powerful STAB Dragon-type attacks with which to dispatch the flaming monkey [removed "with"]. However, neither Giratina nor Giratina-O will enjoy a boosted Shadow Claw from the Swords Dance set. Latios and Latias also resist both of Infernape’s STABs, are faster, and have powerful Dragon-type STAB moves to dispose of it. However, they risk getting badly injured by U-turn or Shadow Claw unless they are running max Speed. Rayquaza has a powerful ExtremeSpeed to pick off Infernape, and it too can come in on any of Infernape’s attacks, barring Stone Edge. Ho-Oh stops Infernape cold if it does not have Stone Edge. Kyogre that run a ton of HP and Defense EVs can also stop Infernape, but Close Combat will still do a lot of damage.

Anything faster than Infernape, such as Darkrai, Mewtwo, Shaymin-S, and Pokemon with a Choice Scarf such as Dialga, Palkia, and Garchomp, can stop it handily.

Nice job Fireburn, comments in brackets. It seemed like you reused some sentences in the beginning, so you should mix it up a bit.

Fireburn · Feb 15, 2010

Thanks a bundle bojangles, those changes really were great. :D

Desolate · Apr 30, 2010

Hi. Correction citations are in red. The original block of quoted text will be posted first; the second block of quoted text will contain corrections in the aforementioned citation. I do this to provide coherence in contrasting the corrections.

Original:

Although Infernape may seem to be outclassed by other Uber attackers, it certainly has several key advantages. Infernape’s unique Speed stat and offenses combined with its large movepool allow it to become a deadly wall-breaker in the Ubers environment. Although it may not be as powerful as other wall-breakers, such as Rayquaza, Palkia, and Dialga, Infernape’s immunity to burns, access to STAB Close Combat to destroy Blissey without being forced to use Outrage, and U-turn with which to scout enemy teams are qualities for which many Uber Pokemon would kill. Infernape can be a real force in the Uber tier if played right and it should definitely be accounted for when making your team.

Revised:

Although Infernape may seem to be outclassed by other Uber attackers, it certainly has several key advantages. Infernape’s unique Speed stat and offenses combined with its large movepool allow it to become a deadly wall-breaker in the Ubers environment. Although it may not be as powerful as other wall-breakers, such as Rayquaza, Palkia, and Dialga; Infernape’s immunity to burns, access to STAB Close Combat to destroy Blissey without being forced to use Outrage, and U-turn to scout enemy teams are qualities for which many Uber Pokemon would kill. Infernape can be a real force in the Uber tier if played right, and it should definitely be accounted for when making your team.

1. Replaced a comma, with a semicolon, in the beginning to avoid confusion. The comma emulates that you are still listing "wall-breakers".

2. Removed "with which" near the end of the sentence in regards to "U-turn". My reasoning was that it seemed to be a semi-awkward sentence.

3. Added a comma in the final sentence. This was to break the sentence "in half", and highlighted the importance of "and it should definitely be accounted for when making your team" from the first section of the sentence. This was to provide a run-off sentence.

I hope these corrections helped a bit. I will provided more corrections as I see them.

Edit: Posted more corrections. The citation is the same as above.

Infernape’s high Speed stat, large movepool, and decent offenses turns it into one of the most threatening mixed attackers and wall-breakers in the Uber tier. Once in, the flaming monkey will swiftly deliver a 2HKO to even the toughest of Uber walls.

The set’s play style is simple – get Infernape in on a Pokémon whom it can scare out or on a weak resisted attack and proceed to let loose. Close Combat is Infernape’s main attack, and while one might think that it may be ineffective in Ubers with so many Psychic-types running around, it still absolutely mauls quite a few Pokemon, such as Blissey, Dialga, Tyranitar, and Heatran (who are all OHKOed). As well as Palkia, Garchomp, and Kyogre (who are all 2HKOed). Fire Blast OHKOes all Groudon after they have switched into Close Combat once and it also burns most Steel-types to a crisp. Lugia and Mewtwo are also 2HKOed by Fire Blast, factoring in sunlight and Stealth Rock damage for the former. U-turn allows Infernape to scout the opposing team while also doing massive damage to the many Psychic-types, like Latias and Latios, who may want to switch in on Infernape. Stone Edge OHKOes Rayquaza and Ho-Oh without question, as well as also 2HKOing Lugia after Stealth Rock damage, just in case the weather is not favorable.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
This set has massive problems with Giratina, Giratina-O, and Latios; all three resist both of Infernape’s STAB moves, do not take much from its other attacks (except for U-turn against Latios), and have powerful STAB Dragon-type moves with which to smash Infernape. Mewtwo is faster than Infernape and has a powerful Thunder with which to 2HKO Infernape. Physically defensive Kyogre can also come in on anything, bar Close Combat, and drown Infernape with Surf. Rayquaza also resists both of Infernape’s STAB moves and has ExtremeSpeed to pick it off. Finally, any Choice Scarf user, such as Dialga, Palkia, and Garchomp, is extremely threatening to Infernape, as it can easily KO the flaming monkey before it gets a chance to react. Choice Scarf Dialga is an excellent answer to Giratina, Giratina-O, Rayquaza, Latios, and Mewtwo, as it is faster than all of them and has STAB Draco Meteor with which to destroy them all. Latias counters Kyogre very well, thanks to her superb bulk and powerful Thunder. She can also deal with both formes of Giratina if she has enough health. Scizor has U-turn and Bullet Punch to easily pick off Latios, Mewtwo, and Rayquaza if they're locked into Outrage. Groudon provides sunlight to power up Fire Blast, and it deals with most Rayquaza and Choice Scarf Garchomp very well with its high Defense stat. Wobbuffet’s Shadow Tag ability and access to Counter and Mirror Coat allow it to trap and KO Choice Scarf users, as well as some Latios and Mewtwo, quite easily.

[SET]
name: Ubers LeadApe
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Fire Blast / Overheat
move 4: Close Combat
item: Focus Sash / Lum Berry
nature: Naive
evs: 252 Atk / 46 SpA / 212 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Infernape’s good Speed allows it to set-up Stealth Rock quickly and reliably against nearly every lead while also being able to cause some damage later in the game, making it a good choice for a lead of an offensive team.

1. Mostly, I tried to improve the flow of the article, so it is easier to read. Other parts were modified to make it grammatically correct, in compliance with my previous edits.

Snorlaxe · May 1, 2010

Just so you know, the reasons I added the semicolons in the Overview in place of commas is because when you elaborate on something a lot in a list of three, you use semicolons instead of commas.

Fireburn said:
[Overview]
Although Infernape may seem to be outclassed by other Uber attackers, it certainly has several key advantages. Infernape’s unique Speed stat and offenses combined with its large movepool allow it to become a deadly wall-breaker in the Ubers environment. Although it may not be as powerful as other wall-breakers, such as Rayquaza, Palkia, and Dialga, Infernape’s immunity to burns; access to STAB Close Combat to destroy Blissey without being forced to use Outrage; and U-turn with which to scout enemy teams are qualities for which many Uber Pokemon would kill. Infernape can be a real force in the Uber tier if played right and it should definitely be accounted for when making your team.

[SET]
name: Ubers Physical Mix
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Stone Edge
item: Life Orb
nature: Naive
evs: 252 Atk / 46 SpA / 212 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Infernape’s high Speed stat, large movepool, and decent offenses turn it into one of the most threatening mixed attackers and wall-breakers in the Uber tier. Once in, the flaming monkey will swiftly deliver a 2HKO to even the toughest of Uber walls.

The set’s play style is simple – get Infernape in on a Pokémon whom it can scare out or on a weak resisted attack and proceed to let loose. Close Combat is Infernape’s main attack, and while one might think that it may be ineffective in Ubers with so many Psychic-types running around, it still absolutely mauls quite a few Pokemon, such as Blissey, Dialga, Tyranitar, and Heatran (who are all OHKOed), as well as Palkia, Garchomp, and Kyogre (all 2HKOed). Fire Blast OHKOes all Groudon after they have switched into Close Combat once, and it also burns most Steel-types to a crisp. Lugia and Mewtwo are also 2HKOed by Fire Blast, factoring in sunlight and Stealth Rock damage for the former. U-turn allows Infernape to scout the opposing team while also doing massive damage to the many Psychic-types, like Latias and Latios, who may want to switch in on Infernape. Stone Edge OHKOes Rayquaza and Ho-Oh without question, as well as also 2HKOing Lugia after Stealth Rock damage, just in case the weather is not favorable.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
This set has massive problems with Giratina, Giratina-O, and Latios. All three resist both of Infernape’s STAB moves, do not take much from its other attacks (except for U-turn against Latios), and have powerful STAB Dragon-type moves with which to smash Infernape. Mewtwo is faster than Infernape and has a powerful Thunder with which to 2HKO Infernape. Physically defensive Kyogre can also come in on anything, bar Close Combat, and drown Infernape with Surf. Rayquaza also resists both of Infernape’s STAB moves and has ExtremeSpeed to pick it off. Finally, any Choice Scarf user, such as Dialga, Palkia, and Garchomp, is extremely threatening to Infernape, as it can easily KO the flaming monkey before it gets a chance to react. Choice Scarf Dialga is an excellent answer to Giratina, Giratina-O, Rayquaza, Latios, and Mewtwo, as it is faster than all of them and has STAB Draco Meteor with which to destroy them all. Latias counters Kyogre very well, thanks to her superb bulk and powerful Thunder; she can also deal with both formes of Giratina if she has enough health. Scizor has U-turn and Bullet Punch to easily pick off Latios, Mewtwo, and Rayquaza locked into Outrage. Groudon provides sunlight to power up Fire Blast and it deals with most Rayquaza and Choice Scarf Garchomp very well with its high Defense stat. Wobbuffet’s Shadow Tag ability and access to Counter and Mirror Coat allow it to trap and KO Choice Scarf users, as well as some Latios and Mewtwo, quite easily.

[SET]
name: Ubers LeadApe
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Fire Blast / Overheat
move 4: Close Combat
item: Focus Sash / Lum Berry
nature: Naive
evs: 252 Atk / 46 SpA / 212 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Infernape’s good Speed allows it to set up Stealth Rock quickly and reliably against nearly every lead while also being able to cause some damage later in the game, making it a good choice of lead for an offensive team.

Stealth Rock is Infernape’s best support move, and it is highly beneficial to Infernape’s teammates, helping them to secure more KOs. U-turn allows Infernape to scout the opponent’s team while breaking Deoxys-S’s or Deoxys-A’s Focus Sash, allowing you to go to a priority user or a faster Pokemon, such as one with a Choice Scarf, to finish Deoxys off. It is highly recommended to have either priority or a Choice Scarf user along with this Infernape to minimize the layers of entry hazards Deoxys-S or Deoxys-A is able to put down, lest your team be hacked apart by the combined damage from Stealth Rock and Spikes. Close Combat destroys Dialga and allows Infernape to 2HKO Kyogre leads, thanks to its Focus Sash protecting it from Surf. (You lose to Choice Scarf Kyogre leads, however, as they are faster.) Fire Blast destroys Scizor, Forretress, and Metagross leads, while 2HKOing Groudon. Overheat is also option if one wants the extra power for taking on threats, such as specially defensive Groudon. Focus Sash is preferred to help Infernape survive attacks from Dialga and Groudon, but Lum Berry allows Infernape to beat Darkrai by shrugging off Dark Void and OHKOing with Close Combat. The EVs are the same as the previous set, since they allow Infernape to get the KOs on the necessary leads.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
Infernape will lose to Darkrai leads if they do not have Lum Berry thanks to Dark Void, so having a status absorber on your team is recommended. Kyogre is a good choice, since it also beats Ho-Oh, who will wall this Infernape set due to the lack of Stone Edge. Kyogre's rain will not hurt Infernape, as Fire Blast, which is negatively affected during rain, will still KO most of the targets it needs to. Having a priority user is also recommended to finish off leads who Infernape will U-turn out of, such as Mewtwo and Deoxys formes. Scizor is a particularly good choice, since it can also beat Choice Scarf Shaymin-S leads, whom Infernape loses to if Shaymin-S flinches it with Air Slash; Scizor can also Pursuit Mewtwo and Deoxys formes, should they switch out. Rayquaza appreciates the Stealth Rock laid down by Infernape, and it also has a strong priority move in ExtremeSpeed. If it needs to, Rayquaza can also switch in on a Water Spout from a Choice Scarf Kyogre lead.

[SET]
name: Ubers Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Shadow Claw / Flare Blitz
item: Life Orb
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 6 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Although somewhat tricky to set up, Infernape can become a viciously powerful offensive threat after just one Swords Dance, capable of OHKOing or 2HKOing everything in Ubers.

Close Combat is the primary attack of this set, and it will absolutely devastate any Pokémon who does not resist it, OHKOing foes such as Dialga, Palkia, Kyogre, Scizor, and many others. Stone Edge covers most Flying-types whom Infernape is likely to face. Stone Edge always OHKOes Lugia after Stealth Rock damage, as well as always OHKOing Ho-Oh and Rayquaza in addition. Shadow Claw rounds out the set nicely, giving Infernape perfect coverage while tearing Mewtwo, Latias, and Latios to shreds. It also 2HKOes Giratina and Giratina-O after a Swords Dance, although the former will require Stealth Rock damage. Flare Blitz can be used over Shadow Claw if one has sunlight support from Groudon. In said sunlight, Flare Blitz will still 2HKO Latias, Latios, and Giratina-O, and it also OHKOes even defensive Mewtwo, something Shadow Claw can't always manage. However, the primary use of Flare Blitz is to OHKO Groudon after a Swords Dance, meaning it can no longer stop Infernape from sweeping.

As for EVs, max Attack and Speed EVs are necessary for maximum sweeping potential. Jolly is preferred to Adamant, as the latter does not get any special KOs and Infernape really needs to outspeed as many things as it can, as it cannot take many hits. Life Orb gives Infernape a much needed power boost.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
Swords Dance Infernape’s main issues are defensive Groudon, any faster Pokemon, and actually setting up. Wobbuffet is by far the best teammate for Swords Dance Infernape, since it can trap and kill Groudon and Pokemon with Choice Scarf as well as give Infernape a much needed opportunity to set up thanks to Encore. Using Psychic-type Pokemon to bait Pursuit from Pokemon such as Tyranitar and Scizor is a good idea to help Infernape set up as well. Other than that, the same teammates from the Physical Mix Infernape set work very well with this one.

[Optional Changes]
Infernape is quite frail, so you’ll always want to capitalize on its Speed and offenses. You will always want at least 212 Speed EVs with a boosting nature to outspeed the standard Timid Lugia and Latias. From there, just maximize your offenses however you see fit, although emphasizing Attack is recommended since most Ubers have lower Defense, thus maximizing Infernape’s damage output.

Infernape’s best move options are listed in its sets already. Infernape can utilize Nasty Plot along with Fire Blast, Focus Blast, and Grass Knot or Hidden Power Ice to become a special attacking threat, but the lower accuracy of the STAB moves and the generally higher Special Defense of Uber Pokemon makes this a less effective choice than a more physically inclined set. Taunt can have some use on the lead set to stop support Pokemon, such as Groudon and Dialga, from setting up Stealth Rock. Mach Punch is an option on the Swords Dance set if one feels that they need a priority move to pick off faster threats after set up, though the only targets it is useful against are Choice Scarf Dialga and Darkrai.

[Team Options]
Infernape really needs entry hazard support to help it get crucial KOs. Stealth Rock and Spikes are the ideal ones to use in this case. Groudon is a reliable user of Stealth Rock, and also provides sunlight support for Infernape. Dialga can also lay down Stealth Rock and check Giratina, Infernape’s best counter, extremely well. Deoxys-S and Deoxys-A are fast and can use Taunt to shut down slower leads, and they are the best users of Spikes if you need them, as Infernape is primarily offensive and therefore should be on an offensive team. As such, using Skarmory or Forretress would be counter-productive for battle momentum.

Infernape will usually have trouble getting past Giratina, most faster Pokemon, and physically defensive Kyogre. Such Pokemon can either take a hit or two from Infernape and KO it back, will outspeed and KO Infernape before it can move, or both. Latias resists most of Infernape’s weaknesses and it can take on Giratina, most Giratina-O, most Mewtwo, and Kyogre with relative ease thanks to her excellent bulk and powerful STAB Dragon Pulse. Latios is less bulky than his sister, Latias, but otherwise can fulfill the same role. Scizor easily handles Mewtwo and Latios, thanks to U-turn and Bullet Punch, and it has the advantage of being able to come in on powerful Dragon-type strikes that are likely to be thrown at Infernape. Choice Scarf Palkia actually provides a solid counter, or at least a good check, to most of the above threats as it is faster and it has a myriad of powerful attacks to destroy the counters listed above. Dialga is a near perfect counter for Giratina, [removed because you already mentioned about a billion times how Giratine counters Infernape] and it also beats Giratina-O as well with a suitable EV investment and STAB Draco Meteor. Groudon can easily handle most Rayquaza sets as well as Choice Scarf Garchomp thanks to its high Defense stat and powerful Dragon Claw, and it also gives Infernape much appreciated support via sunlight. Wobbuffet is an excellent solution to Choice Scarf Pokemon as well as Latios and any Mewtwo variants lacking Taunt as it can trap them using Shadow Tag and then kill them off with Counter and/or Mirror Coat.

Infernape’s defenses are paper-thin, and any decently powered attack will most likely OHKO or 2HKO it, so pairing Infernape with bulky Pokemon is a good idea, especially ones who can take Water-, Ground-, Flying-, and powerful Dragon-type moves. Scizor, Dialga, Groudon, and Latias are particularly good choices, as the four can help stop Infernape’s counters and/or support it with entry hazards, or both. [removed because it was redundant]

Infernape’s greatest foes – Latios, Rayquaza, Giratina, Giratina-O, Mewtwo, physically defensive Kyogre, and Choice Scarf Pokemon, such as Dialga, Palkia, and Garchomp – are usually paired with Wobbuffet, Darkrai, Scizor, Groudon, Deoxys-E, and each other. Infernape can U-turn away from Wobbuffet’s grasp and it does not fear Scizor and Groudon. Deoxys-E is almost always a suicide lead who will usually be dead by the time Infernape shows its face, so you really don’t need an extra teammate for it. Darkrai is problematic because it is faster than Infernape and it has Dark Void, rendering Infernape useless. Scizor and bulky Rest + Sleep Talk (if you don’t mind the rain) are both good options to take out Darkrai.

[Counters]
Giratina and Giratina-O resist or are immune to both of Infernape’s STAB moves, and they both have powerful STAB Dragon-type attacks with which to dispatch the flaming monkey. However, neither Giratina nor Giratina-O will enjoy a boosted Shadow Claw from the Swords Dance set. Latios and Latias also resist both of Infernape’s STABs, are faster, and have powerful Dragon-type STAB moves to dispose of it. However, they risk getting badly injured by U-turn or Shadow Claw unless they are running max Speed. Rayquaza has a powerful ExtremeSpeed to pick off Infernape, and it too can come in on any of Infernape’s attacks, barring Stone Edge. Ho-Oh stops Infernape cold if it does not have Stone Edge. Kyogre who run a ton of HP and Defense EVs can also stop Infernape, but Close Combat will still do a lot of damage.

Any Pokemon faster than Infernape, such as Darkrai, Mewtwo, Shaymin-S, and Pokemon with a Choice Scarf such as Dialga, Palkia, and Garchomp, can stop it handily.

The prose was already quite nice, so most of my edits were grammatical. Good job on this! :)

bojangles · May 18, 2010

QC Changes:

1. Talk about how frail Infernape is and how to switch it in properly (Wobbuffet?).
2. Add Latias as a problem for the Ubers Physical Mix.
3. Watch out for Mewtwo's Aura Sphere when partnering Infernape with Scarf Dialga.
4. Slash in Overheat on the Physical Mix because it almost always OHKOes Mewtwo in the sun.
5. Remove partner paragraph.
6. Mention that Blaze Overheat OHKOes Lugia after SR.
7. Get rid of Lum Berry on LeadApe.
8. Test an Endeavor lead.
9. Add Fake Out to OO.
10. Make more mentions about Blaze (Overheat does 59.6-70.1% to Naive Giratina-O).
11. Mention Flare Blitz (calcs).
12. Retest CB set.

Theorymon · May 18, 2010

To add to what bojangles said, you should mention that if you have Stealth Rock up, Naive Giratina-O will actually get KOed on a second switch into a Life Orb Overheat. me and Jibaku are also pretty skeptical of the Swords Dance set, since it's hard as hell to set up.

Fireburn · May 21, 2010

Did most of the QC changes.

I have retested CB Ape with Theorymon's set in the thread (CC/Flare Blitz/U-turn/Shadow Claw) and have found it effective. I think it will be eventually added.

I have done more playing around with the SD set and am undecided about it thus far. I will keep testing.

IronGross · May 29, 2010

While Infernape is a force in OU, I doubt it's effective in Ubers...Fire and Fighting are resisted by Dragon and Psychic respectively, and beeing a Fire-type in a Kyogre-dominated metagame isn't very good...one could ask why Weavile is used? Well, the Uber metagame is centered around very specific attacking types, and Weavile gets STAB on two of them; but Fire in Ubers?

Fireburn · May 29, 2010

Infernape is used more for it's Powerful STAB Close Combat and its good Speed. The Fire STAB is nice and allows Infernape to crush Steels which Weavile will struggle against, but its not like Infernape will completely suck without it. (And Groudon is always there to provide power to Fire-type attacks!) Kyogre isn't exactly the hardest thing to lure and kill, and Infernape's coverage moves give him plenty of ways to bash Dragon- and Psychic-types. He is also immune to burns, unlike Weavile, and U-turn is always an excellent thing to have in Ubers for scouting.

IronGross · May 30, 2010

But if most Psychics drop Psychic as it's resisted by Psychic, why use a Fighting-type?

Fireburn · May 30, 2010

Fighting also hits the ever present Dark and Steel types for SE damage. Most Psychic-types have more worthwhile options. (Lati@s has Dragon STAB, Mewtwo and Deoxys have their powerful coverage moves (Thunder is only 15 BP points less than STAB Psychic...)). They really don't need a Psychic attack since their other move choices are far superior. Infernape Fighting-STAB is good for smashing Steel and Dark types AND it isn't affected by weather.

EDIT- CB set added after retesting. One more set to test and then this will be complete.

Theorymon · Jun 1, 2010

I got a few final nitpicks

-In the first set, you mention that Infernape can smash through any wall, but it sure as hell isn't getting past Giratina. - Added

-You should mention Wobbuffet as an issue for the Choice Band set. If you are locked into Close Combat, Stone Edge, or Flare Blitz in the rain, its going to maul Infernape. - Added in counters section

-Mention Flare Blitz's use as a suicidal attack on the Choice Band set when in Blaze range. Infernape can actually deal over 50% to even Palkia in the sun! the only thing that walls that in Ubers is Kyogre (due the the rain), Heatran, and Giratina. - Added, kinda.

-In a similar manner, mention the same thing about Flare Blitz on the Swords Dance set.

-In the Swords Dance set, you should mention Thunder Wave Kyogre as a teammate. It can lure in Choice Scarf Palkia, Latias, and Latios. With any of thoes 3 paralyzed, Infernape will have a much easier time sweeping. - Added

-Mention stuff that lures in Scizor and Forretress for Swords Dance Infernape, so you can double switch to Infernape when you predict their switch-in. Scizor is especially a good choice since it can U-turn Forretress switch-ins.

-While you mention that Rayquaza can beat Infernape in the counters section, note that Rayquaza can only switch into Close Combat once if Stealth Rock is up, as the second switch in will KO it. - Added

-Mention in the counters section that while a lot of the faster Pokemon can only revenge kill Infernape, as they will take a massive amount of damage from several of Infernape's moves - Added.

Jibaku · Jun 2, 2010

Uploaded!!

Infernape (Ubers analysis)*

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Bilaterus

Purple Wobbuffet

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Banned deucer.

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