A complete guide to Fake Out in competitive Pokémon Champions doubles — who uses it, how it creates momentum, and how to play around it.
Fake Out is one of the most influential moves in competitive doubles. Understanding why it's so powerful — and how to play around it — is essential for anyone competing in Pokémon Champions.
Fake Out has priority +3 (same as Quick Attack) and always causes the target to flinch on the first turn a Pokémon enters battle. Flinching wastes the target's action for that entire turn — effectively giving your side a free move.
The core use of Fake Out is creating a 'Fake Out + KO' set play: one Pokémon uses Fake Out to lock down a threat while the partner attacks it (or a different target). The flinched Pokémon can't respond until next turn — by which point it may be KO'd.
Incineroar pairs Fake Out with Intimidate — entering the field drops both opposing Pokémon's Attack by one stage AND locks down one of them with a flinch. This gives your team a massive tempo advantage on turn 1.
When you see an opposing Incineroar, your options are: lead with a Ghost-type (immune), lead with a Protect user (safe pivot), or use the Fake Out turn to set up (Trick Room, Tailwind, Swords Dance) since the Fake Out can only target one of your Pokémon.
💡 Tip: Incineroar can only Fake Out one Pokémon per entry. If you lead Protect + Trick Room setter, you can safely set TR on the same turn Incineroar uses Fake Out.
Urshifu's Unseen Fist ability makes its contact moves bypass Protect — but Fake Out is blocked by Protect, not Unseen Fist. Urshifu itself doesn't learn Fake Out, but pairing Urshifu with an Incineroar that uses Fake Out to clear the way for Surging Strikes is a devastating combo.
What does Fake Out do in Pokémon?
Fake Out is a Normal-type priority move (+3 priority) that only works on the first turn a Pokémon enters the field. It always flinches the target, wasting their turn.
What Pokémon use Fake Out in Pokémon Champions?
Incineroar is the premier Fake Out user due to Intimidate synergy. Ambipom, Persian, and Lopunny also learn Fake Out.
How do you counter Fake Out?
Inner Focus ability prevents flinching. Pokémon with Ghost typing are immune to Normal-type moves including Fake Out. Protect also blocks Fake Out.
Related Pokémon