[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Grass Knot / Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Vacuum Wave / Close Combat
item: Passho Berry / Lum Berry / Life Orb
ability: Blaze
nature: Timid / Naive
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Infernape is perhaps the best Nasty Plot user in OU, as it has excellent coverage and Nasty Plot boosts its Special Attack stat sky high. Fire Blast OHKOes some Infernape checks such as physically defensive Zapdos, Nidoqueen, and physically defensive Hippowdon at +2. With Blaze, it has terrifying power, OHKOing frailer Fire-resistant foes and very bulky Pokemon such as defensive Starmie after Stealth Rock, Flygon, specially defensive Hippowdon, and Clefable most of the time. With Nasty Plot, Grass Knot OHKOes most Water-types and Ground-types after Stealth Rock such as offensive Gyarados, offensive Suicune, Starmie, and Swampert. However, another choice is Hidden Power Ice, as it is Infernape's best option against Latias and Dragonite, 2HKOing the former and OHKOing the latter through Yache Berry after Stealth Rock. Despite being weak, Vacuum Wave provides a priority attack, OHKOing Lucario, Choice Scarf Tyranitar, and Magneton after Stealth Rock. Infernape could instead opt for Close Combat to OHKO Clefable, Blissey, and Tyranitar without boosting.
Set Details
========
If Infernape doesn't have Close Combat, the simple listed EV spread works best. With Close Combat, an EV spread of 144 Atk / 172 SpA / 192 Spe with a Naive nature is recommended, as Infernape will OHKO specially defensive Clefable and outspeed Flygon, Zapdos, and Jirachi. A Passho Berry maximizes Infernape's offensive potential, as it can survive weaker Water-type moves and either set up if its faster, or OHKO faster Water-types like Starmie in return with Grass Knot. Lum Berry is another option, as Infernape despises paralysis and poison while also letting it switch into Breloom's Spore. It also lets it set up on walls such as Clefable, Blissey, and Jirachi trying to paralyze it. Alternatively, Life Orb can make Infernape's Nasty Plot-boosted attacks even more powerful. Running Life Orb also alleviates the need to invest in Attack to KO Clefable if running Close Combat. Infernape finds it quite hard to set up Nasty Plot without Passho Berry or Lum Berry, however.
Usage Tips
========
Infernape's frailty means that it must time Nasty Plot carefully, as it will only get one or two opportunities to use it. Infernape's ability to consistently force switches gives it good opportunities to use Nasty Plot. Without Hidden Power Ice, it cannot beat Latias, meaning it should be dealt with before Infernape comes out. Both Nasty Plot and Passho Berry are often unexpected from Infernape, so leverage this to break through teams once Latias is sufficiently weakened or KOed. Manage Infernape's health carefully, as +2 Fire Blast in Blaze range is ridiculously strong and can even 2HKO defensive Latias.
Team Options
========
This Infernape best fits on hyper offensive teams, as common sweepers can consistently weaken Latias and enjoy how Infernape can break through Water-types. Dragon Dance Gyarados, especially with Outrage, is a fantastic choice to lure in and OHKO defensive Latias; with a Wacan Berry, it can heavily damage Choice Scarf users such as Latias, Flygon, and Lucario that can revenge kill Infernape. Alternatively, Swords Dance Scizor with Pursuit can trap and KO Latias, and it can handle Gengar with Bullet Punch. Other sweepers such as Dragon Dance Tyranitar and Dragon Dance Dragonite are also good partners, as they appreciate Infernape potentially luring in and KOing Choice Scarf Lucario and Water-types. In return, Tyranitar can answer Latias, and Dragonite can potentially KO Choice Scarf revenge killers with a boosted Extreme Speed. Other Tyranitar sets such as Choice Scarf can Pursuit trap Latias, Starmie, Gengar, and Rotom-A for Infernape. Infernape also enjoys entry hazards not being up, so it enjoys Taunt leads such as Aerodactyl, Azelf, Froslass, and Gallade, or other leads that incapacitate Stealth Rock users such as Choice Scarf or Focus Sash Breloom, Choice Scarf Roserade, and Smeargle. Other offensive Pokemon common on hyper offensive teams such as Metagross, offensive Empoleon, mixed Jirachi, and Lucario can help Infernape sweep. All of these are Steel-types that can deal with Latias and enjoy Infernape potentially luring in and KOing Water-types: Metagross can either KO Latias with Explosion or Meteor Mash or set up Agility to attempt a sweep, while Empoleon and Lucario form potent offensive cores with Infernape. Mixed Jirachi sets appreciate Infernape breaking through walls so it can sweep.
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Grass Knot / Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Vacuum Wave / Close Combat
item: Passho Berry / Lum Berry / Life Orb
ability: Blaze
nature: Timid / Naive
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Infernape is perhaps the best Nasty Plot user in OU, as it has excellent coverage and Nasty Plot boosts its Special Attack stat sky high. Fire Blast OHKOes some Infernape checks such as physically defensive Zapdos, Nidoqueen, and physically defensive Hippowdon at +2. With Blaze, it has terrifying power, OHKOing frailer Fire-resistant foes and very bulky Pokemon such as defensive Starmie after Stealth Rock, Flygon, specially defensive Hippowdon, and Clefable most of the time. With Nasty Plot, Grass Knot OHKOes most Water-types and Ground-types after Stealth Rock such as offensive Gyarados, offensive Suicune, Starmie, and Swampert. However, another choice is Hidden Power Ice, as it is Infernape's best option against Latias and Dragonite, 2HKOing the former and OHKOing the latter through Yache Berry after Stealth Rock. Despite being weak, Vacuum Wave provides a priority attack, OHKOing Lucario, Choice Scarf Tyranitar, and Magneton after Stealth Rock. Infernape could instead opt for Close Combat to OHKO Clefable, Blissey, and Tyranitar without boosting.
Set Details
========
If Infernape doesn't have Close Combat, the simple listed EV spread works best. With Close Combat, an EV spread of 144 Atk / 172 SpA / 192 Spe with a Naive nature is recommended, as Infernape will OHKO specially defensive Clefable and outspeed Flygon, Zapdos, and Jirachi. A Passho Berry maximizes Infernape's offensive potential, as it can survive weaker Water-type moves and either set up if its faster, or OHKO faster Water-types like Starmie in return with Grass Knot. Lum Berry is another option, as Infernape despises paralysis and poison while also letting it switch into Breloom's Spore. It also lets it set up on walls such as Clefable, Blissey, and Jirachi trying to paralyze it. Alternatively, Life Orb can make Infernape's Nasty Plot-boosted attacks even more powerful. Running Life Orb also alleviates the need to invest in Attack to KO Clefable if running Close Combat. Infernape finds it quite hard to set up Nasty Plot without Passho Berry or Lum Berry, however.
Usage Tips
========
Infernape's frailty means that it must time Nasty Plot carefully, as it will only get one or two opportunities to use it. Infernape's ability to consistently force switches gives it good opportunities to use Nasty Plot. Without Hidden Power Ice, it cannot beat Latias, meaning it should be dealt with before Infernape comes out. Both Nasty Plot and Passho Berry are often unexpected from Infernape, so leverage this to break through teams once Latias is sufficiently weakened or KOed. Manage Infernape's health carefully, as +2 Fire Blast in Blaze range is ridiculously strong and can even 2HKO defensive Latias.
Team Options
========
This Infernape best fits on hyper offensive teams, as common sweepers can consistently weaken Latias and enjoy how Infernape can break through Water-types. Dragon Dance Gyarados, especially with Outrage, is a fantastic choice to lure in and OHKO defensive Latias; with a Wacan Berry, it can heavily damage Choice Scarf users such as Latias, Flygon, and Lucario that can revenge kill Infernape. Alternatively, Swords Dance Scizor with Pursuit can trap and KO Latias, and it can handle Gengar with Bullet Punch. Other sweepers such as Dragon Dance Tyranitar and Dragon Dance Dragonite are also good partners, as they appreciate Infernape potentially luring in and KOing Choice Scarf Lucario and Water-types. In return, Tyranitar can answer Latias, and Dragonite can potentially KO Choice Scarf revenge killers with a boosted Extreme Speed. Other Tyranitar sets such as Choice Scarf can Pursuit trap Latias, Starmie, Gengar, and Rotom-A for Infernape. Infernape also enjoys entry hazards not being up, so it enjoys Taunt leads such as Aerodactyl, Azelf, Froslass, and Gallade, or other leads that incapacitate Stealth Rock users such as Choice Scarf or Focus Sash Breloom, Choice Scarf Roserade, and Smeargle. Other offensive Pokemon common on hyper offensive teams such as Metagross, offensive Empoleon, mixed Jirachi, and Lucario can help Infernape sweep. All of these are Steel-types that can deal with Latias and enjoy Infernape potentially luring in and KOing Water-types: Metagross can either KO Latias with Explosion or Meteor Mash or set up Agility to attempt a sweep, while Empoleon and Lucario form potent offensive cores with Infernape. Mixed Jirachi sets appreciate Infernape breaking through walls so it can sweep.
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