Incineroar (SSBU): Difference between revisions

Incineroar draws many comparisons to some of the slowest, hardest-hitting fighters in ''Smash Bros.'' history: it is a super-heavyweight with the sixth-highest [[weight]] (tied with {{SSBU|Charizard}}), the nineteenth-fastest [[falling speed]] (therefore classifying it as a fast-faller), and average [[air acceleration]]. However, it is the slowest character in the game overall, with the lowest [[walk]] and [[dash]] speeds in the base game, the eighth slowest [[air speed]], and the twelfth slowest initial dash speed, making it pale in regards to mobility.

Of note are Incineroar's [[throws]]: despite its average [[grab]], Incineroar is notorious for having one of the best sets of throws in the game. Apart from [[down throw]], all of Incineroar's throw are KO options for any given situation: [[forward throw]] has high base knockback and can KO at high percents; [[back throw]] when performed at the ledge is the strongest throw in the game (rivaling the now second strongest throw, {{SSB4|Ness}}'s back throw in ''Smash 4'') and can KO the lightest fighters exceptionally early, though due to its launch angle and lack of resistance to DI, it can be survived if done mid-stage and technically can be considered inferior to Ness's; [[up throw]] easily KOs with the assistance of high platforms and low top [[blast line]]s; and down throw, being Incineroar's only combo throw, allows it to combo forward smash, Darkest Lariat, or running up smash on fresh stocks, dealing as much as 35% during 1v1s just from two hits.

Incineroar's [[special moves]] complete its moveset with versatile tools. [[Darkest Lariat]] is Incineroar's get-off-me option, possessing fast startup, a long duration, [[transcendent priority]] throughout its hitboxes, [[invincibility]] for its arms, and a strong early hit. Though its power gradually weakens over time, its perks allow it to outprioritize many moves (even weak projectiles) while hitting hard. [[Alolan Whip]] is a unique [[command grab]] that has varying effectiveness based on Incineroar's input: the strongest version (a lariat) KOs extremely early, while the second version (a vertical-launching back body drop) can end stocks easily near the top blast lines.  

However, Incineroar's strong abilities come at a cost. Its aforementioned sluggishness and lack of a projectile make it one of the easiest characters to camp out, giving it similar issues to ''Smash 4'''s {{SSB4|Ganondorf}} in which it has trouble getting close to opponents to begin with. While it has less of an issue breaking out of combos or faring against rushdown tactics due to its frame data and special moves, any sort of [[projectile]] or sufficiently long [[disjoint]]ed range is enough to keep Incineroar at bay in general, since its only options to break through such tactics is Darkest Lariat, Cross Chop and Revenge. Adding to this issue is its limited and linear [[recovery]], which has limited angles and is one of the most unreliable in the game despite the ways it can be mixed up; Cross Chop turns into an inevitable [[self-destruct]] if Incineroar is not directly below the ledge or above stage level, while Alolan Whip grants mediocre distance and has high ending lag. As a result, a semi-spike of sufficient strength is all it takes for Incineroar to be KO'd, and any combo that drags it offstage is usually fatal. Finally, Incineroar's moveset is not perfect despite its strengths, with some attacks having issues like small horizontal hitboxes (up tilt and up aerial), tendency to whiff ([[neutral attack]]'s hits and Cross Chop at certain positions), and variable performance (Darkest Lariat is extremely laggy despite its outproritizing ability, Alolan Whip can fail outright or turn into a different move, and Revenge is completely lost once an attack lands or Incineroar is thrown from a grab, making it possible to waste it entirely).

Incineroar has been buffed by game updates. The most notable one involves its recovery move, [[Cross Chop]], which travels further than before, heavily improving its notoriously weak recovery at certain angles (although lower angles that are not directly below the edge are still almost impossible to recover from). Some of its moves have also been improved by being able to grab ledges faster (up aerial), gaining the ability to [[autocancel]] (down aerial) or dealing more knockback (up smash and up throw), making even more of its moveset hit harder. As a result, Incineroar fares better than it initially did during the game's release.

*{{buff|Up smash deals more knockback.}}

*{{buff|Incineroar can grab ledges faster after using up aerial (frame 58 → 56).}}

*{{buff|Up throw deals more knockback.}}

*{{buff|Cross Chop travels more vertical and horizontal distance.}}

**{{nerf|Cross Crop's increased recovery distance hinders its KO confirm out of down throw as it limits the range from which Incineroar can safely recover back to the stage after using it.}}

*{{bugfix|The glitch that allowed the opponent to lose 2 stocks using Alolan Whip collision glitch with [[Fishing Rod]] in Stamina matches has been fixed.}}

*{{bugfix|A glitch involving [[Alolan Whip]] and {{SSBU|Mii Brawler}}'s [[Counter Throw]] putting a fighter in a state where the game will crash if they are KO'd has been fixed.}}

|neutraldesc=A {{s|wikipedia|knifehand strike}}, followed by a [[wikipedia:Professional wrestling attacks#Knee lift|knee lift]], followed by an uppercut. If the third hit lands, Incineroar will taunt by pointing its finger towards the ground. Unlike many neutral attacks, holding the attack button only causes Incineroar to do a single attack unless it connects. The first hit can [[jab reset]], and appears almost identical to the ''Pokémon'' anime's depiction of {{iw|bulbapedia|Throat Chop}}.

|utiltdesc=An upward arcing headbutt. Has a wide hitbox above Incineroar and grants Incineroar's head [[intangibility]] (frames 6-11), allowing it to fend off aerial approaches. Combos into itself at 0%, or a neutral aerial or up aerial from 25% to 75%. The move has blind spots directly beside Incineroar's legs, meaning it can miss short or prone enemies.

|dtiltdesc=A legsweep. Has impressive combo potential, allowing followups into neutral attack or grab at 0%, up tilt from 18-90%, up smash from 50-69%, forward aerial from 30-145%, back aerial from 40-170%, and up aerial at percentages as high as 210%. Despite only using one leg for the attack, both of Incineroar's legs become intangible during the move (the intangibility for the attacking leg lasts on frames 8-11, while the other leg lasts on frames 9-11).

|fsmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|20}} (clean), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|16}} (close)

|fsmashdesc=An [[wikipedia:Professional wrestling attacks#Enzuigiri|enzuigiri]]. If it lands, Incineroar will gloat with its arms spread out, similarly to its down taunt. It has decent range and has a sweetspot on Incineroar's foot, which deals high shield damage. Extremely damaging and powerful without sacrificing in speed, KOing at 39% from the edge of Final Destination with the foot, but the rest of the leg is underwhelming.

|nairdesc=A [[wikipedia:Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Diving splash|splash]], similar to down smash. Very fast start-up and acts as a [[sex kick]], and also sends at a semi-spike angle. Useful for breaking out of combos. [[Auto cancel]]s from a full hop.

|fairdesc=A {{s|wikipedia|dropkick}}. Deals more damage and knockback if the feet hitbox lands. Starts fast enough to hit opponents if buffered from a short hop. Auto cancels if Incineroar lands before the hitbox appears, allowing it to cancel [[tumbling]]. Sends at a semi-spike angle, and can KO at 110% from the edge of Final Destination.

|bairdesc=A back kick. Like forward aerial, it deals more damage and knockback if the feet hitbox lands. Starts fast enough to hit opponents if buffered from a short hop. KOs at 89% from the edge of Final Destination, and auto cancels from a full hop.

|uairdesc=An upward arcing hook kick, similar to the {{SSBU|Mii Brawler}}'s up aerial. Has a wide arc, covering above Incineroar, but cannot hit opponents directly next to it. Auto cancels from a short hop, allowing it to be spammed. Can juggle into itself, but opponents can react out of it. Generally useful for combo chains.

|dairdesc=A [[wikipedia:Professional wrestling attacks#Double foot stomp|double foot stomp]]. Rather slow start-up, but it is a powerful meteor smash if the feet hitbox lands. The body hitbox sends opponents diagonally.

|grabdesc=Reaches out with both arms.

|bthrowdesc=A {{h2|wikipedia:Suplex|German suplex}}. When used right at the edge, it is potentially even stronger than [[Ness (SSBU)|Ness]]' back throw, being capable of KOing at 90% from the edge of Final Destination. It can even [[OHKO]] the lightest characters at the edge of stages while under the influence of [[Revenge]]. However, further away from the edge Ness' back throw is still stronger, Incineroar has higher knockback until about 120% where after, Ness'back throw becomes stronger due to better knockback growth. The slam affects bystanders, launches them at a lower angle, and KOs even earlier (at 75%).

|uthrowdesc=An {{h2|wikipedia:Backbreaker|Argentine backbreaker rack}} [[wikipedia:Backbreaker#Backbreaker drop|drop]]. Incineroar poses with its arms raised and fists clenched upon completion. Has too much ending lag to combo into anything, but can follow up into an up aerial or [[Cross Chop]] if the opponent does not react in a sufficient amount of time. Like its other throws, it is extremely powerful, KOing at 139% on Final Destination, and KOs significantly earlier with low ceilings.

|dthrowdesc=A {{s|wikipedia|chokeslam}}. Incineroar pumps its fist upon completion. Unlike its other throws, it lacks damage and knockback and works poorly as a combo starter at high percents, due to Incineroar's slow speed. However, it has good combo potential at low percents, with true follow-ups including forward smash or running up smash at 0%, and forward aerial or [[Darkest Lariat]] at medium percents.

|ssdmg=20% (lariat) 12% (back body drop) 4% (failed throw, recoil and damage)

|ssdesc=A [[command grab]] involving Incineroar lunging a short distance forward to grab opponents. Victims are thrown against wrestling ropes that appears after the grab connects. Depending on when the special or attack button is pressed after grabbing an opponent, Incineroar will perform one of three different moves: a [[wikipedia:Professional wrestling attacks#Lariat|lariat]] that launches the opponent the direction Incineroar is facing (input just as the opponent touches Incineroar); a [[wikipedia:Professional wrestling throws#Back body drop|back body drop]] that launches the opponent vertically (input any time after the opponent rebounds); or a failed attempt that causes the victim to crash against Incineroar's head, dealing 4% to both (too early/no input). Upon executing the lariat, Incineroar poses with its arms in the air and its head tilted upwards. The lariat deals 20% and can KO at 72% from the edge of Final Destination, the back body drop deals 12% and can KO at 159% (or earlier with a low ceiling), while the failed version cannot KO at all (outside of extremely situational [[gimp]]s). During the throw, Incineroar is granted [[super armor]], and if the opponent is hit out of the move, Incineroar will shrug towards the screen. Does not cause [[helpless]]ness, which allows Incineroar to use it to extend its recovery.

|usdmg=2.5/3/4/5% (rise), 3.5% (descent), 11% (direct hit) 9% (close explosion), 5.5% (far explosion)

|fsdmg=3% (startup), 2% (initial grab), 7% (hit 1-4)

*Spreads its arms out and wriggles its claws towards the opponent in a mocking fashion.

*'''Up:''' Laughs and raises a {{s|wikipedia|Champion belt}} in the air, then makes a beckoning gesture.

Incineroar was one of the many fighters that fell under [[Dharkon]]'s control upon Galeem's first defeat. It can be found on the southweast path of the Realm of Darkness, where the spirit of Caeda must be beaten to access it.