[US/UM] NU Incineroar Moveset

[Kris]

Incineroar
Type: /
Stats: HP: 95 | ATK: 115 | DEF: 90 | SP.ATK: 80 | SP.DEF: 90 | SPEED: 60
Ability: Blaze / Intimidate (unreleased)

Incineroar got a bunch of new toys to play with thanks to the inclusion of Tutor Moves in Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. Of these, the notably best ones were Fire Punch, Drain Punch, Thunder Punch, Iron Head and Knock Off. It's terrible speed and Landorus' pressure in OU means it will never be viable in OU, and Starmie and Mega Blastoise in UU, but it can still be played well in NU as it directly counters Cryogonal, Alolan Sandslash and Froslass, for example. Incineroar has access to the strongest Dark type move in the game with Darkest Lariat, which with Incinium Z becomes Malicious Moonsault. It's Defenses are fairly average at 90 each, able to effectively have a slot for Bulk Up, and now it has better coverage thanks to Move Tutors.

Set

Incineroar @ Incinium Z  
Ability: Blaze  
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD  
Adamant Nature  
- Darkest Lariat  
- Bulk Up  
- Fire Punch 
- Drain Punch / Thunder Punch

EV Spread is fairly standard, an Adamant Nature is needed to use Incineroar's Attack stat to it's best potential. There is no reason whatsoever to run Crunch over Darkest Lariat, unless you're banking on the Defense drop, which really isn't worth wasting a slot for. Malicious Moonsault is a 180 BP Dark type move, and when unboosted, is needed to OHKO Max Defense Jellicent. Bulk Up comes in very handy, after a +1 or +2 Incineroar's sweeping potential is amazing, also boosting it's Defense along the way. At +1 Defense, it surives Jolly 252 Atk Virizion's Z-Stone Edge and OHKOes it in return with Fire Punch. Fire Punch is now Incineroar's most reliable STAB Fire Move. Flare Blitz doing residual recoil really hurt it's usage, and Fire Fang isn't as useful due to a lower power. With a +1 Fire Punch can tear through almost anything that doesn't resist it or is a Physical wall. Drain Punch is more reliable than Thunder Punch, as everything Thunder Punch counters, Vaporeon and Jellicent for example, are OHKOed by a boosted Malicious Moonsault. Drain Punch hits Guzzlord and opposing Incineroar super effectively and heals your HP in return allowing Incineroar to potentially survive longer.

Damage Calculations
Offensive:

252+ Atk Incineroar Malicious Moonsault vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Slowbro: 398-470 (101 - 119.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Possible damage amounts: (398, 404, 408, 414, 416, 422, 426, 432, 438, 440, 446, 450, 456, 458, 464, 470)

+1 252+ Atk Incineroar Drain Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Guzzlord: 410-484 (69.8 - 82.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Possible damage amounts: (410, 416, 420, 424, 430, 434, 440, 444, 450, 454, 458, 464, 468, 474, 478, 484)

252+ Atk Incineroar Fire Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Virizion: 324-384 (100.3 - 118.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Possible damage amounts: (324, 330, 332, 336, 338, 344, 348, 350, 356, 360, 362, 366, 372, 374, 378, 384)

+1 252+ Atk Incineroar Malicious Moonsault vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Vaporeon: 435-513 (93.7 - 110.5%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO
Possible damage amounts: (435, 441, 445, 450, 456, 460, 466, 471, 477, 481, 486, 492, 496, 502, 507, 513)

Defensive:

252 Atk Life Orb Lycanroc Stone Edge vs. +1 252 HP / 0 Def Incineroar: 283-338 (71.8 - 85.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Possible damage amounts: (283, 289, 291, 296, 299, 304, 307, 312, 312, 315, 320, 322, 328, 330, 335, 338)

252 Atk Virizion Close Combat vs. +1 252 HP / 0 Def Incineroar: 222-264 (56.3 - 67%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Possible damage amounts: (222, 224, 228, 230, 234, 236, 240, 240, 242, 246, 248, 252, 254, 258, 260, 264)

0 SpA Vaporeon Scald vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Incineroar: 204-242 (51.7 - 61.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Possible damage amounts: (204, 206, 210, 212, 216, 216, 218, 222, 224, 228, 228, 230, 234, 236, 240, 242)

252+ SpA Choice Specs Guzzlord Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Incineroar: 312-367 (79.1 - 93.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Possible damage amounts: (312, 315, 319, 322, 327, 330, 333, 337, 340, 345, 348, 352, 355, 360, 363, 367)

252 SpA Omastar Surf vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Incineroar: 294-348 (74.6 - 88.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Possible damage amounts: (294, 296, 300, 306, 308, 312, 314, 318, 320, 326, 330, 332, 336, 338, 342, 348)

252 Atk Reckless Hitmonlee High Jump Kick vs. +2 252 HP / 0 Def Incineroar: 264-312 (67 - 79.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Possible damage amounts: (264, 266, 270, 272, 276, 278, 282, 284, 288, 290, 294, 296, 300, 302, 306, 312)

Checks & Counters

Clawitzer's Mega Launcher boosted Scald almost always tears right through Incineroar due to there being no Sp.Def investment in this set, (the 4 Sp.D doesn't really change much in this outcome anyway)

Gallade, Hitmonlee, Kingler, Seismitoad and Omastar can outspeed Incineroar, and even if it suvives, if it's non boosted it cant take out most of these threats.

Pokemon with Fake Out, notably Ambipom, can disrupt setup potential for Incineroar. In the case of Hitmonchan, it can then KO Incineroar with Drain Punch.

Bibarel is undeniably the strongest counter to Incineroar. Holding a Focus Sash, it can +4 Attack in one turn thanks to Simple, and then it has Speed control thanks to Aqua Jet. 

Team Options

Vaporeon is the best partner for Incineroar with it's niche in having Water Absorb. It's access to Wish is important to keeping Incineroar alive.

Eelektross's Levitate allows it to bypass Ground weakness, allowing it to easily switch in for Incineroar. Also able to deal with Water Type threats due to it's Electric typing.

Shuckle as a Trap setter is a pretty solid option, also able to set Sticky Webs to give Incineroar some Speed control over opponents. 

Other Options

Fake Out can go in the filler slot to stop opposing setup mons, i.e. Shuckle. Also you can run Swords Dance for better power coverage, but missing out on a defense boost may be a bad decision. Earthquake and Iron Head can also be considered for more coverage.