What is a good moveset for Infernape? (page 3)

Question

Share your best competitive movesets for Infernape on this thread! Movesets for its pre-evolutions Chimchar and Monferno can also be posted here.

Check the submission guidelines before posting! Only competitive movesets with all relevant details (item, nature, exact EVs, ability, moves) and a solid explanation will be accepted.

Infernape Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

There's no supporting fire monkey?lemme fix that. Reminder this is for doubles!

Infernape @ choice band
Ability: iron fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Jolly nature
- switcheroo
- stealth rock / thunder punch / fire punch
- swords dance
- drain punch

Choice band and switcheroo can completely mess up a defensive Pokemon
I would go stealth rock if I didn't have a Pokemon to set up rocks but if you have a Pokemon to set up rocks you can go for stab fire punch which now is a 90 bp move with a chance to burn or you could go with thunder punch to deal with it's weaknesses if you do go with rocks then it would be better to pair infernape with a Pokemon to deal with ghosts
Swords dance for attack boost for a potential sweep
And at last drain punch is good stab option for dealing damage and also to recover
I feel like infernape is better option for being a support option than being an offensive option because it being a mixed attacker it's offense stats are low compared to other options currently in the game

Comments

I don think its a good idea to have Stealth Rock on a Choice Band user, even one with Switcheroo, for below reasons. 1.If you use Stealth Rock before using Switcheroo then you are locked into a non attacking move and give your opponent a free turn while you switch out.
2. If your plan is to use Switcheroo then Stealth Rock, it is not easy to get 2 free turns with a fragile mon like Infernape, especially in doubles.
3. You also dont have a Fire type STAB move and are helpless against opponents that resist Drain Punch. This makes you a really ineffective sweeper because your sweep gets stopped by any fighting resist.
I think you should just run Fire Punch or Flare Blitz instead of Stealth Rock. You can just put Stealth Rock on a different mon that can afford to fit it into its moveset.
Also consider running Close Combat over Drain Punch for higher immediate damage.