Nov 26, 2016, 04:49 PM
Next in the Pokedex we have Incineroar, the second starter, the fire starter, the Houndoom clone, except it's not. Incineroar is more bulky and focuses more on physical attacking than special. This is obvious due to its base 115 attack stat and access to Flare Blitz, the strongest physical fire move, as well as Darkest Lariat, the strongest Dark type move which is also Incineroar's signature move (and no, Knock Off doesn't count because the opponent has to be holding an item for it to do 97 damage).
Making a team around Incineroar proved to be even more challenging than Decidueye. I went through several scrap teams and with the trial and error process I've made the team complete. Pokemon tested were
This team went from starting out as a basic Sticky Web team to Sand team to what we have now, a balanced team
![[Image: incineroar.png]](https://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/bw/incineroar.png)
![[Image: alakazam-mega.png]](https://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/bw/alakazam-mega.png)
Firstly, I decided that I wanted to run Mega Alakazam alongside Incineroar due to how they make a good offensive duo. Incineroar possesses the Dark/Fire typing which means that it takes Dark and Ghost moves easily and takes hits from Bug attacks neutrally while in reverse, Alakazam, though not being able to protect Incineroar from Fighting types as well as Water, Ground and Rock, can do significant damage to these typings if prior damage is dealt. Incineroar also takes on the Steel, Ghost, Psychic and specially defensive walls which Alakazam can't be effective against. This core still struggles with Mandibuzz though
![[Image: skarmory.png]](https://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/bw/skarmory.png)
I needed a form of hazard support and out of all the setters, Skarmory synergized with what I have the best. Its typing and defenses allow it to take a mirand of special attacks that aren't fire or electric and its immunity to Ground is good for Incineroar
![[Image: kommoo.png]](https://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/bw/kommoo.png)
![[Image: tapufini.png]](https://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/bw/tapufini.png)
Now there are a couple things I wanted to achieve here. Firstly, I needed a defogger as well as a fast attacker. Secondly I want to make a Dragon/Steel/Fairy core to synergize with Skarmory and give the team a more connected feel. Lastly, I needed a Pokemon to create a Dark/Psychic/Fighting offensive core as well. These two pokemon, Kommo-o and Tapu Fini, fit all those roles perfectly
![[Image: roserade-f.png]](https://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/bw/roserade-f.png)
To finish the team, I pretty much make a Fire/Water/Grass core with Tapu Fini, Incineroar and Roserade. Roserade fit the team due to its ability in Technician which allows it to do significant damage to Celesteela with Hidden Power Fire as well as absorb Leech Seed from it. Not to mention Roserade has access to spikes which allows me to hazard stack if necessary though it isn't preferred in most situations due to Defog cancelling it out and making me waste my turns
Importable:
Incineroar is rocking the Assault Vest simply because it was the most effective set after testing it. Due to it's typing, it switches into special attacks easily and can retaliate against most foes with Darkest Lariat and Flare Blitz. These two moves were chosen because they are Incineroar's strongest STAB options. Earthquake is to hit everything that resists the dual STAB combination and to also hit Tentacruel, Toxapex and Salazzle a bit harder. For my last move I currently have Leech Life but I'm planning to change it to something else. Not sure what yet because Incineroar is very limited in extending its coverage
Mega-Alakazam is running Psyshock simply put "I had an encounter with a Blissey and because of it have become paranoid". Before I had Psychic but I learned from my mistakes very promptly. Shadow Ball and Focus Blast achieves maximum type coverage and Calm Mind is to boost Alakazam's special attack and defense a bit more to net KOs easier
Skarmory is running a basic SpDef set with Rocks, Brave Bird (best STAB), Roost (longevity) and Whirlwind (phazing). SpDef over physical defense mainly because Skarmory doesn't really need to check any physical attackers in this metagame in contrast to the amount of special ones present
Kommo-o's set achieves maximum coverage possible and choice scarf is chosen to make it more of a late game cleaner as well as to outspeed Pheromosa and OHKO it with Flamethrower
I explained Tapu Fini's set already in the teambuilder as well as Roserade's
Once again, thank you so much for reading this to the end and don't be afraid to drop a comment below
Making a team around Incineroar proved to be even more challenging than Decidueye. I went through several scrap teams and with the trial and error process I've made the team complete. Pokemon tested were
- Dhelmise
- Gastrodon
- Stoutland
- Gigalith
- Lilligant
This team went from starting out as a basic Sticky Web team to Sand team to what we have now, a balanced team
Team Building Process
Firstly, I decided that I wanted to run Mega Alakazam alongside Incineroar due to how they make a good offensive duo. Incineroar possesses the Dark/Fire typing which means that it takes Dark and Ghost moves easily and takes hits from Bug attacks neutrally while in reverse, Alakazam, though not being able to protect Incineroar from Fighting types as well as Water, Ground and Rock, can do significant damage to these typings if prior damage is dealt. Incineroar also takes on the Steel, Ghost, Psychic and specially defensive walls which Alakazam can't be effective against. This core still struggles with Mandibuzz though
I needed a form of hazard support and out of all the setters, Skarmory synergized with what I have the best. Its typing and defenses allow it to take a mirand of special attacks that aren't fire or electric and its immunity to Ground is good for Incineroar
Now there are a couple things I wanted to achieve here. Firstly, I needed a defogger as well as a fast attacker. Secondly I want to make a Dragon/Steel/Fairy core to synergize with Skarmory and give the team a more connected feel. Lastly, I needed a Pokemon to create a Dark/Psychic/Fighting offensive core as well. These two pokemon, Kommo-o and Tapu Fini, fit all those roles perfectly
To finish the team, I pretty much make a Fire/Water/Grass core with Tapu Fini, Incineroar and Roserade. Roserade fit the team due to its ability in Technician which allows it to do significant damage to Celesteela with Hidden Power Fire as well as absorb Leech Seed from it. Not to mention Roserade has access to spikes which allows me to hazard stack if necessary though it isn't preferred in most situations due to Defog cancelling it out and making me waste my turns
THE TEAM
Importable:
Incineroar is rocking the Assault Vest simply because it was the most effective set after testing it. Due to it's typing, it switches into special attacks easily and can retaliate against most foes with Darkest Lariat and Flare Blitz. These two moves were chosen because they are Incineroar's strongest STAB options. Earthquake is to hit everything that resists the dual STAB combination and to also hit Tentacruel, Toxapex and Salazzle a bit harder. For my last move I currently have Leech Life but I'm planning to change it to something else. Not sure what yet because Incineroar is very limited in extending its coverage
Mega-Alakazam is running Psyshock simply put "I had an encounter with a Blissey and because of it have become paranoid". Before I had Psychic but I learned from my mistakes very promptly. Shadow Ball and Focus Blast achieves maximum type coverage and Calm Mind is to boost Alakazam's special attack and defense a bit more to net KOs easier
Skarmory is running a basic SpDef set with Rocks, Brave Bird (best STAB), Roost (longevity) and Whirlwind (phazing). SpDef over physical defense mainly because Skarmory doesn't really need to check any physical attackers in this metagame in contrast to the amount of special ones present
Kommo-o's set achieves maximum coverage possible and choice scarf is chosen to make it more of a late game cleaner as well as to outspeed Pheromosa and OHKO it with Flamethrower
I explained Tapu Fini's set already in the teambuilder as well as Roserade's
Once again, thank you so much for reading this to the end and don't be afraid to drop a comment below
