🔥 Incineroar VGC Guide: Why It's S-Tier in Pokémon Champions

Why Incineroar dominates Pokémon Champions: Intimidate, Fake Out, Parting Shot, and how to build, partner, and play around the most-used Pokémon in the format.

Incineroar has been the most-used Pokémon in competitive doubles for years, and Pokémon Champions is no different. In pre-Champions Showdown ladder data, it sits at ~48% usage — nearly 1 in every 2 top teams run one. Understanding why, and how to use it optimally, is essential knowledge for any Pokémon Champions player.

What Makes Incineroar So Good?

Incineroar provides three distinct forms of support on a single team slot:

• Intimidate: Drops both opposing Pokémon's Attack by one stage on entry. Re-entering via Parting Shot refreshes this, creating repeated -2 Attack stacks against physical threats.
• Fake Out: Priority flinch that wastes an opponent's turn on entry. The classic Fake Out + partner attack creates a free KO setup.
• Parting Shot: Drops both Attack and Special Attack by one stage, then Incineroar switches out. This refreshes Intimidate on the next entry AND removes Incineroar from danger.

Standard Incineroar Set

• Item: Sitrus Berry — 75% of M-C builds, with Rocky Helmet and Leftovers splitting most of the rest
• Ability: Intimidate
• Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
• EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD — bulky attacker spread
• Moves: Fake Out / Parting Shot or Darkest Lariat / Flare Blitz / Protect

Best Partners for Incineroar

Incineroar pairs well with virtually any Pokémon, which is part of why it's so splashable. Top synergies:

• Whimsicott: Incineroar provides Fake Out safety for Whimsicott to set Tailwind without risk
• Sneasler: Intimidate blunts the physical attackers that trade with Sneasler, and two Fake Outs between the pair can shut an opposing lead out of the first turn entirely
• Rillaboom: Fake Out into priority Grassy Glide is one of the most reliable KO combos in the format
• Torkoal: Intimidate provides physical bulk support that the slow Torkoal desperately needs

Playing Against Incineroar

When facing Incineroar, your options are:

• Lead with a Ghost-type: Fake Out is Normal-type and can't touch Ghost-types. Gengar, Dragapult, Sinistcha and Basculegion are immune.
• Lead a Protect user: Blocking Fake Out with Protect wastes Incineroar's entry turn.
• Clear Body: Prevents stat drops from abilities like Intimidate. Mega Aggron has Clear Body. Note: Mega Steelix changes to Sand Force on Mega Evolution, so it does not benefit from this.
• Target it first: Incineroar's Water, Ground and Fighting weaknesses mean a well-timed Wave Crash, Earthquake or Close Combat can KO it before it Parting Shots out.