Pokemon of the Week DP: Infernape
Sets
Swords Dance Sweeper
- Item Held
- Life Orb / Expert Belt
- Nature
- Jolly (+Speed, -Special Attack)
- Effort Points
- 252 Attack - 252 Speed - 6 HP
- Swords Dance
- Flare Blitz
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge / Thunderpunch
If Infernape manages to pull off a Swords Dance, you have a monster under control. Two STABed attacks with a base power of 120 each are enough to persuade your opponent that their Physical Wall can get easily 2HKOed if it switches in. Flare Blitz and Close Combat are here obviously for their massive power. Stone Edge is prefered to Thunderpunch for hitting Salamence and Gyarados (both of them are OHKOed after a Swords Dance, taking Intimidate into account). Thunderpunch is just a substitute over Stone Edge if you don't like its 80% accuracy and its maximum 8 PP. Life Orb is probably the best item for this set but since recoil damage tends to kill Infernape more often than its opponents do, Expert Belt gets a mention. Expert Belt also gives the needed boost to OHKO Salamence and Gyarados with Stone Edge (after a Swords Dance and Intimidate).
Nasty Plot Sweeper
- Item Held
- Life Orb
- Nature
- Timid (+Speed, -Attack)
- Effort Points
- 252 Special Attack - 252 Speed - 6 HP
- Nasty Plot
- Flamethrower
- Grass Knot
- Hidden Power Ice / Focus Blast
Special Sweeping Infernape here. It does the same job as the set above but with special moves this time. Nasty Plot once, then proceed to clear the field. Grass Knot takes care of all those bulky Water-types that will come to wall you. After a Nasty Plot, Suicune, Swampert, Slowbro, Milotic, Hippowdon and Donphan are OHKOed by a Grass Knot and so is Gyarados if it switches in on Stealth Rock. Hidden Power Ice is far better as it can OHKO the Dragons but Focus Blast is listed here for those who don't feel like breeding to get the perfect Hidden Power. Flare Blitz's absense from this set makes Life Orb the best item choice.
The Showstopper
- Item Held
- Life Orb
- Nature
- Hasty (+Speed, -Defense) / Naive (+Speed, -Special Defense)
- Effort Points
- 252 Special Attack - 232 Speed - 26 Attack
- Nasty Plot
- Flamethrower
- Grass Knot
- Close Combat
The most common set for Infernape and the best way to stop walls is this. Nasty Plot makes most people believe that you've got a Special Infernape and using Close Combat on the switch as they bring their Blissey in is really funny. Nasty Polt boosted Flamethower and Grass Knot can take care of a great deal of defensive Pokémon, namely Suicune, Skarmory, Forretress, Slowbro, Swampert, Hippowdon, etc. As the name suggests, this guy completely ends the show. 232 Speed EPs with a Hasty/Naive Nature allow you to outrun Adamant Dugtrio, assuming max IVs. If 31 IVs in Speed is not the case, take some EPs from Attack. The main problem this set faces is against Salamence so Stealth Rock support is necessary.
CB-Ape
- Item Held
- Choice Band
- Nature
- Jolly (+Speed, -Special Attack)
- Effort Points
- 252 Attack - 252 Speed - 6 HP
- Flare Blitz
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge / Thunderbolt
- U-Turn
Standard Choice Bander. If you are not so good at prediction wars, better leave this set as even one mistake means Infernape is stopped. Flare Blitz, Close Combat and Stone Edge/Thunderpunch are used for the same reasons as in the first set. U-Turn in case you want to hit and switch to a counter. Even though there are many better Choice Banders out there, Infernape can work quite well if you can predict your opponents' switches easily.
Other Possible Options
Mach Punch is always a good option for KOing faster Pokémon like Weavile but they are not likely to stay in anyway. Calm Mind and Bulk Up are alternative forms of setting up but Nasty Plot and Swords Dance are better and faster. Aerial Ace, Shadow Claw, Earthquake and Poison Jab are Infernape's other noteable physical moves but the moves listed in the sets offer better type coverage. Blaze Kick is an alternative over Flare Blitz if you don't like its recoil damage. Same for Fire Blast, it can replace Flamethrower if you want some extra power. Infernape can use Sunny Day + Solarbeam but it has really low Defenses to use it effectively. Fake Out and Slack Off are just worth mentioning but they are not gonna be used much.
Counters
Bulky Water-type Pokémon like Slowbro, Swampert, Suicune, Vaporeon and Milotic can wall the physical sets but all fear Grass Knot. The same can do Ground-types like Donphan and Hippowdon but they fear Grass Knot even more. Salamence and Gyarados can beat an Infernape caught without a super-effective move against them. A Cresselia with a proper EV spread and Psychic can switch in and OHKO Infernape as well.
Jolly Dugtrio can come in after something got KOed, trap and kill Infernape with Earthquake. Choice Scarf Heracross can also OHKO with Stone Edge but if the move fails, Infernape will OHKO it. Timid Gengar starts (regardless of Choice Scarf) can also put Infernape to sleep with Hypnosis or KO it with Psychic.
Infernape fears Thunder Wave too. A Thunder Wave in the early stages of the battle will render it useless and is probably your best bet to ensure that Infernape won't destroy your team later on.
Finally, faster sweepers like Aerodactyl or Pokémon using Dragon Dance/Agility always pose a threat to Infernape and will force you to switch out and lose your boosts unless you want to stay in and get a strong blow by a Stone Edge/Earthquake.
Opinion & Notes
One of the best additions that D/P brought to the OU Metagame, Infernape is a really fearsome Pokémon. Being able to hit with both physical and special moves makes it really unpredictable. What's more, the fact that it can take down a lot of Pokémon that are considered to be counters just after a single attack boost makes it stand out in the OU tier, something that not many Fire-type Pokémon can do. The only problem it faces that makes it inferior to other sweepers is its durability. In this field, Infernape is completely outdone by Metagross, Tyranitar and Gyarados. Still though, Infernape is the best Life Orb user and it can abuse it to a great extent. So, set Stealth Rock with another Pokémon, find a chance to use your stat-boosting move and after that you can rest assured that most of your opponents team won't be able to even move.
Note that Thunderpunch is an egg move.
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Sadetry @ 26/10/2007 at 07:11:44 am
I like inferenape
The best combo i've made is never die mad ape
Item:Leftovers
Nature:clowny
Attacks:Strength,Rock Smash,Cut,Fire Blast
Thanks!
Sadetry the pokefan
Fenix @ 03/11/2007 at 01:22:55 pm
Ok.
I have a custom ape set, that is very similar to the nasty plot/mixed set, but works in a different way.
It is
Infernape @ wide lens - hasty/naive nature - 252 speed EV & 252 sp.atck EV & 6 atck EV
-Fire blast
-Focus blast
-Nasty plot
-U-turn
About how this set works : Almost the same as the nasty plot set mentioned above, but with the ability to hit harder sometimes. Fire blast with wide lens hits for + 90% of times and focus blast hits for like 80-85%.Fire blasts 120 Base power is considerably higher than flamethower, and focus blast will benefit from nasty plot (unlike close combat). After a single nasty plot, many things will be severely dented by his two STAB moves, especially Blissey and Heatran that would otherwise wall standard nasty plot Infernapes (if you are using HP ice of course).
Lacking Grass Knot, this set has some major problems with bulky ground and water pokemon, especially swampert, hippowdon and Donphan. But here's where U-turn come in handy.
Yeah, U-turn doesn't benefit from Nasty plot but it's still better than switching. And it can chunk away some considerable damage from Slowbro and prevent Cresselia from walling you flawlessly after she switched in on your nasty plot. U-turn does like 25-30% damage on milotic, vaporeon, swampert and hippowdon; so you actually hurt them before switching to a pokemon that can absorb Surf/Earthquakes.
The real bane of this set are salamence and Gyarados, that almost always force a switch.
This set is also good for people that plan to use their Grass Knot TM on another pokemon.
I know that this set hasn't the type coverage provided from the standard sets, but I still find it nice and usable in competitve. :P
About Legendarypokemons POTW, I must say it's really good (almost better than any other moveset guide out there).
Suggestion : in your 3rd gen potw, you had some cool info, like the general info on stats and abilities, the egg moves guide and the training grounds (EV guide). Having them back will be cool IMO.
thx
nesser_40@@@ @ 03/11/2007 at 01:55:16 pm
You know,I learned many things w/ the informations you gave.I thank you for writing this!!!
Ninjomewtwo @ 03/11/2007 at 06:57:35 pm
Fenix, your set is quite good but it does have some drawbacks. First, lower accuracy. Second, I don't think it's more powerful than the ones listed. Fire Blast has a base power of 120, 2x with a Nasty Plot = 240. Flamethrower has 95, 2x with Nasty Plot, 1.3x with Life Orb = 247. Third, as you said, bulky Waters wall you forever and to avoid them, you have to switch out and lose your Nasty Plot boost. U-Turn does hit Slowbro and some others for a little damage but Grass Knot does that much better. Fourth, Focus Blast does get the NP boost but what will it hit? Blissey? Close Combat does that better without a boost. Same for Regice and Snorlax, two other Special walls. Fifth, as you said again, you have nothing to hit Gyarados and a thing that becomes more and more famous, Scarfchomp. I can't say anything about Salamence, the set listed has nothing to hit it too.
Anyway, thanks and about your suggestion, we may add these info too.
Aluado @ 08/11/2007 at 11:08:37 pm
Hey, he said that he´d give Wide Lens to Infernape, don´t? So Fire Blast´s accuracy would be higher than 80% and Focus Blast´s would be 77%, so accuracy wouldn´t really be a problem.
Hey, and Infernape needs to fear timid Gengars too. A timid Gengar without Choice Scarf already outruns and OHKOes Infernape.
Ninjomewtwo @ 09/11/2007 at 10:21:39 am
Yes, but still Focus Blast's 77% and Fire Blast's 88% are lower than Flamethrower's and Close Combat's 100%. And with Wide Lens, you sacrifice Life Orb's power.
About Gengar, yes, it outruns Infernape w/o a Scarf, I just said it because when people lead with Gengar it is usually a Choice Scarfed one. But anyway, I'll fix that. (Damn, Blue's Gengar has 31 IVs in Speed, I'll never beat it with Infernape… :P)
Infernape @ 18/11/2007 at 07:29:09 pm
Ninjomew or Blue: What whould you guys suggest when an Infernape is facing a Pokemon, you know, has a 'quick attack' move that can kill Infernape after one Close Combat? Every team these days has some sort of Bullet Punch, Ice Shard, Quick Attack, Vacuum Wave, Mach Punch, etc. So I want to know what Pokemon can is best to stop Infernape counters… Perferably something with Ice Shard, as it can OHKO DDMence, which is the ShowStopper Infernape weakness…
Ninjomewtwo @ 18/11/2007 at 09:22:04 pm
Check the guide about Salamence that Blue wrote and you'll find how to counter Mence there. ;)
Also, Weavile and Aerodactyl with their high speeds can stop Mence if it doesn't DD immediately.
Aresues @ 09/12/2007 at 07:40:07 am
Hiyall.
My Infernape has a few tricks up it's sleeve. I don't bother too much with covering many types, just some of them.
My Infernape has:
Flamethrower
Close Combat/Brick Break
Shadow Claw
Cut
Flamethrower for a reliable STAB
Close Combat for pure power, but Brick Break shatters Light Screen and Reflect, plus it doesn't drop Infernapes already low Defense Stats
Shadow Claw to hit Ghosts and Psychics
Cut for it's HM use, plus as a little fill-inner
TJC @ 21/12/2007 at 04:17:47 am
I hav an InfernapelvX card that i got for my 11th b-day on Nov 26 2007.
ExplorerAce @ 27/12/2007 at 04:44:13 pm
i personally think infernape should have:
-sunny day
-solar beam
-blast burn/ fire blast
-close combat, Focus blast
Nature- Lonely(+Atk, -Dfc) or Mild (+sAtk , -Dfc)
Item- heat rock, wide lens
Sunny day allows solar beam to go off in 1 turn AND it increases the power of fire moves by 50%! You can also use the Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk) if you use focus blast and it holds the wide lens (to increase accuracy.) If you really want to , give it the life orb or wise glasses for more power.
Caitlin @ 29/01/2008 at 01:11:01 am
I think the best moves for infernape are
close combat,fire blast,solar beam,and sword dance.
InfernoRookie @ 31/01/2008 at 05:24:13 pm
I think the sets listed are perfect. They take into concideration every possible angle a trainer can take with infernape. My first custom infernape though, had this moveset.
Infernape @ Focus Sash
Hasty - 252 SPD, 36 SP ATT, 216 ATT
U-Turn
Overheat
Close Combat
Mach Punch
The key here is Focus Sash. Infernape can deal 1HKO attacks, and can out speed quite a few Pokemon. Because it is a speed based pokemon, you can U-turn out fo danger (The usual use of a U-turn). On this set however, U-Turn enables Nape to Switch out to remove the SP ATT reduction from Overheat, and the DEF - SP DEF from CC, while dealing decent or minimal damage at the same time. On faster pokemon, Infernape can hit hard with either Overheat or CC, survive with Focus Sash, and use Mach Punch if necessary, to finish off a weaker pokemon. The EVs work well with the bese power of Overheat (allowing Infernape to KO things), while enabling it to 1HKO a Blissey (for example) without the use of Life Orb.
The Down side to this set however is, its inability to stand up to Gyarados and Salamence (but that is a skill that only the Nasty Plotter and Swords Dance set can boast).
Well, thats my Infernape lol nicknamed Knuckle! lol ^^
Shadow Wolf TJC @ 15/02/2008 at 12:51:23 pm
Hey everybody. Just wanted to give my own opinion on Infernape when used in 3 vs 3 battles, so it may not be ideal for 6 vs 6 battles.
Here's the Infernape that I like to use in 3 vs 3 battles:
Role: Mixed Sweeper
Nature: Hasty or Naive (+Speed, -Defense and Special Defense respectively)
Primarily EV Trained in: Speed, Attack
Held Item: Focus Sash
Moves:
Overheat
Mach Punch
Close Combat
Counter
Basically, I wanted my Infernape to be a mixed sweeper, so that he'd be more capable of dealing with "SkarmBliss" teams. Close Combat would utterly splatter Blissey, while Overheat would roast Skarmbliss. Finally, Counter is for those who would dare try to 1HKO Infernape with physical attacks, including Gyarados, Garchomp, and Swampert.
Unfortunately, this set relies on some assistance from Infernape's other teammates during its 3 vs 3 battles that can preferably switch into the weaknesses that it doesn't cover, such as special type-trumping attacks for example, with little-to-no damage. What you decide to use alongside this Infernape set (if you even want to use it that is) is up to you and your own needs.
Shadow Wolf TJC @ 15/02/2008 at 12:55:33 pm
Whoops! I meant to say that Overheat would roast "Skarmory" instead of "Skarmbliss." My bad. XP
Encon @ 21/02/2008 at 04:11:47 pm
my infernape is my best pokemon in pokemon pearl but its only level 91
its attacks are:
blast burn
close combat
overheat
cut these are my 2nd best pokemon and there attacks:palkia,earthpower,blizzard,spacialrend,dracomet
eor
lucario,closecombat,aura sphere,payback,copycat
luxray,thunder,hyper beam,discharge,thunderbolt
Shadow Wolf TJC @ 26/02/2008 at 08:35:10 pm
I wonder why people like you would sacrifice any sort of diversity such as type coverage (like the movesets that the physical, special, and mixed sweeping Infernape builds shown here use) just to get 2 or more moves of the same type AND that are both either physical or special attacks? For example, Overheat and Blast Burn (two Fire Type special attacks) on the same Pokémon seems like a rather unnecessary decision to use (especially when their power is almost the same), therefore wasting a single move space that could've been used for a different move.
Also, the majority of all HM moves (such as Cut and Strength) are outclassed by many other moves (such as Return), and should almost never be considered for any serious movesets at the very least. Instead, they should usually be reserved for Pokémon that can learn multiple HM moves that aren't meant to see the battlefield. For example, I use a Bibarel that knows Rock Smash, Cut, Strength, and Rock Climb, a Finneon that knows Surf, Waterfall, and Defog, and a Starly that knows Fly for whenever I need to use those HM moves, though I'd never use them for any of my battles against other players online.
Shadow Wolf TJC @ 27/02/2008 at 04:01:02 am
Sorry about my attitude in my previous post, though I still stand firm in thinking that putting more than 1 attack of the same type is a waste of a nice moveslot (unless the attacks have different effects like Mach Punch and Close Combat for example). Your Infernape could do better without either Overheat or Blast Burn, and your Luxray could do better without 2 of those Electric Type special attacks and maybe with an Electric Type physical move (like Spark) in their place.
KeLviN @ 29/02/2008 at 07:24:51 am
what are EPs for?
pls. answer my question…………
Altema @ 24/07/2008 at 07:57:08 am
Infernape is an awesome Pokemon that can destroy some of even the finest walls. I love the movesets you have! =P
infernape @ 24/07/2008 at 01:45:08 pm
BEST MOVESET
shadow claw
flamethrower
brick break
mach punch
infernape @ 24/07/2008 at 02:01:04 pm
BEST MOVESET
shadow claw
flamethrower
brick break
mach punch
shadow claw KOs fighting types,flamethrower KOs grass, steel types and empoleon,brick break KOs rock types and mach punch is for fast rock/ground types E.G.cranidos, ramphardos
ExplorerAce @ 08/08/2008 at 05:49:01 pm
@ KeLviN
EPs stand for effort points and they makes your pokemon stronger.
For every four (4) EPs you get in one stat, that stat increases by one (1).
Your Pokemon recieves EPs by defeating pokemon that give a certain number of EPs. You get the EPs when you recieve EXP Points (however, the game does not tell you that your pokemon has recieved them). So if I battle a Machop, my Beldum will get 1 EP of Attack if i give it the EXP share and does not fight., KO the Machop on its own, or i switch it out to another pokemon.
If you want to learn more, click on the link here.
entmansam @ 24/10/2007 at 06:19:34 pm
infernape is a good set but i am wondering if u could give me move sets for my extra fast sceptile to make him more effective something that would include leaf blade a sweeper or somethig that pawns