Incineroar (Smash Plus)

Incineroar is a playable character in Super Smash Brothers Plus for the Nintendo Switch Plus. Representing the Pokemon universe, Incineroar is listed as Fighter #42 in Smash's modified numbering system and is classified as a Heavyweight fighter. He is hidden at the start of the game, but can be unlocked through random encounters in Versus Mode, scoring at least 10 KO's in a single match on the Pokemon Stadium or Pokemon Stadium 2 stages, or by defeating classic mode with Greninja.
Incineroar has undergone a few significant changes in the transition from Smash Ultimate to Smash Plus. While he is still classified as a Heavyweight fighter (and ranks near the top of that category), he has far better mobility now thanks to improved ground speed. While the aerial game still leaves much to be desired, he can at least escape tough situations and isn't a punching bag for faster characters to beat up on. Moveset wise his Darkest Lariat move has been replaced by a move called Brutal Swing, which has more initial power but lacks the lingering hitbox of the former. Cross Chop has also been improved to allow for more versatility as either an attack or as a straight recovery move. The tradeoff for this improved mobility is a slight decrease in overall power, which enhances the endlag problem on many of Incineroar's attacks as well. Incineroar has a high learning curve, but those who can master his power moves and superior grappling ability will surprise many other players. Incineroar has two normal jumps and no additional movement options.
==Moveset==
===Basic Attacks===
*Neutral Jab- Incineroar performs a three hit attack consisting of a chop, followed by a knee lift and then a rising elbow strike to knock foes away.
*Side Tilt- Incineroar performs a knifehand thrust with his paw, similar to a Throat Chop move. It has great KO power for a tilt attack.
*Up Tilt- Incineroar hits an upward arcing headbutt. It has a wide hitbox, but can miss smaller opponents if they are right up close to Incineroar.
*Down Tilt- Incineroar hits a legsweep attack directly in front of himself. Probably his best combo setup move
*Dash Attack- Incineroar performs a running knee strike. If it hits clean it is powerful, but has a very bad late attack sourspot.
*Grab & Pummel- Incineroar grabs with both arms with impressive range. He pummels with a powerful headbutt.
*Forward Throw- Incineroar performs a Giant Swing, slinging the opponent forward and damaging any bystanders nearby with collateral damage.
*Back Throw- Incineroar performs a German style suplex with the opponent, slamming them behind himself and knocking them away.
*Up Throw- Incineroar loads the opponent onto his shoulders, jumps into the air and then performs an over the shoulders backbreaker on them, knocking them away afterwards.
*Down Throw- Incineroar grabs the opponent by the throat and then chokeslams them to the floor, popping them up for further combos at lower percentages.
*Neutral Air- Incineroar performs a big splash, maintaining a lingering hitbox throughout the duration of the move.
*Forward Air- Incineroar hits a dropkick directly in front of himself that comes out fast but has a very small window before it sourspots.
*Back Air- Incineroar hits a back elbow smash directly behind himself, moving himself slightly backwards in the process.
*Up Air- Incineroar swings his hands over his head in an arcing hammer blow directly above himself. Comes out very quickly, but does very weak damage overall.
*Down Air- Incineroar hits a double foot stomp that can meteor if it connects right as it begins.
===Smash Attacks===
*Side Smash- Incineroar hits a jumping enziguri kick directly in front of himself. The move has a sweetspot right on the edge of his foot, however the sourspot takes precedence over it, and the move has terrible endlag.
*Up Smash- Incineroar performs an upward double axehandle hit. Essentially a more powerful version of his Up Air, the move is the quickest of Incineroar's Smash Attacks and has the higher damage output, but is comparatively weak in terms of knockback.
*Down Smash- Incineroar jumps in the air and then splashes down on the ground, creating a small shockwave around himself. The shockwave only does flinching damage, and the splash does more knockback than damage. It also has the worst endlag of all Incineroar's attacks if it misses.
===Special Moves===
*Neutral Special: Brutal Swing- Pressing the special button will cause Incineroar to perform a close range discus clothesline, where he turns 360 degrees and hits anything around him. However, holding the special button will charge the attack, and releasing the full charge will cause Incineroar to spin around 5 times in total, while also creating a small red aura around him as he spins. The aura does non-knockback damage, sucking in foes to the attack for launching. The attack is strongest on Incineroar's actual arm during the first and second rotations. Has a lot more endlag when fully charged if it misses.
*Side Special: Alolan Whip- Incineroar lunges forward a short distance. If he catches an opponent, he will initiate a command grab and whip them into a set of ring ropes that appears behind them. On the rebound, players can press a button to fling the opponent with a back body drop or (if they time the button press right as the opponent connects with Incineroar) a more damaging lariat. If no button is press, then the opponent will collide with Incineroar and both will take damage.
*Up Special: Cross Chop- Incineroar will jump high into the air, a flame trail following him as he rises. In default mode, this rise will be straight up, but can be angled either forwards or backwards depending on controller input. At any point during the ascent, the player can press the special button again, causing Incineroar to pause briefly before descending with an explosive tackle attack at a forwards downward angle. However, if Incineroar reaches the apex of the ascent without the special button being pressed, then Incineroar will enter freefall. This allows the move to be used for either recovery or attack at the player's discretion, reducing self-destructs.
*Down Special: Revenge- Incineroar sticks out his chest in defiance of his opponents. If hit with an attack, then Incineroar will only absorb a small amount of the damage and emit a small burst of flame as a counterattack. However, Incineroar will also begin glowing red, and his next attack that connects will be significantly powered up. These power ups can also stack (to a limit) if multiple moves are blocked, and the buff won't be lost if used against a shielded opponent. This means Incineroar's attacks, if buffed, can be some of the most powerful in the game. The buff will last until an attack connects, but it will fade over 50 seconds, and it will disappear if Incineroar takes too much damage over time. It disappears entirely if Incineroar is grabbed and thrown.
*Final Smash: Max Malicious Moonsault- Incineroar lunges forward similar to an Alolan Whip. The first opponent grabbed will be sent to a cutscene inside a wrestling ring, as Incineroar beats down the opponents with several moves, before finishing with a diving headbutt that causes an explosion, sending them flying as the FS ends. The explosion also duplicates on stage, and can damage bystanders not caught up in the Final Smash.
===Miscellaneous===
*Entry Animation- Incineroar emerges from a Pokeball, confidently strutting about while smirking.
*Idle Animation 1- Incineroar strikes a flexing pose before resuming his normal stance.
*Idle Animation 2- Incineroar holds his hand in the air and waggles his fingers, as if calling for a wrestling test of strength.
*Side Taunt- Incineroar pounds his chest with his fist and points to the sky in a taunting manner.
*Up Taunt- Incineroar raises his fist high, the flame belt around his waist slightly igniting temporarily.
*Down Taunt- Incineroar gets down on one knee and holds his arms out in a pose, taunting for the crowd.
*Victory Animation 1- Incineroar roars as his flame belt ignites, before throwing a punch at the camera while grinning.
*Victory Animation 2- Incineroar laughs triumphantly, holding a championship belt above his head before finishing on a pose.
*Victory Animation 3- Incineroar performs two slashes with its paws, before getting on its knees and posing while roaring.
==How to Unlock==
Incineroar can be unlocked any of the following ways:
*Playing Versus Matches until he randomly shows up as a "Challenger Approaching" fight. Defeat him to unlock him.
*Defeat Classic Mode with Greninja on starting difficulty 3.0 or higher.
*Score at least 10 KO's on either the Pokemon Stadium or Pokemon Stadium 2 stages in a single match. Doing this will give you a 33.3% chance of unlocking either Greninja, Incineroar or Rillaboom. This increases to a 50% chance if one of Greninja or Rillaboom is unlocked, and 100% if both are unlocked.
*Unlock him in the Finale of World of Light by defeating him.
*Pay 1,000 gold in a shop, where he can randomly show up (though rarely.)
Category:Super Smash Bros. Characters
Category:Super Smash Bros. (series)
Category:Smash Plus Characters