Incineroar Character Guide for Smash Ultimate

Character overview

Incineroar is a slow but explosive grappler who punishes panic habits with command-grab mindgames and high damage.

Difficulty level

Beginner-friendly

Playstyle identity

Walk opponents toward corner, threaten command grab, and cash out with devastating close-range punishes.

Strengths

• Huge reward from close openings
• Revenge amplifies punish value
• Strong ledge kill pressure

Weaknesses

• Poor mobility in neutral
• Can be kited heavily
• Recovery is exploitable and linear

Best beginner gameplan

• Use grounded patience to enter safely
• Condition shield then mix grab and strike
• Maintain corner pressure for stock closes

Neutral strategy

• Walk-shield to claim space without dashing recklessly
• Use low-commit pokes to force reactions
• Avoid obvious side-B attempts

Advantage state

• At ledge, threaten both command grab and anti-jump
• Punish panic with high-reward aerials
• Keep pressure simple and repeatable

Disadvantage state

• Do not mash revenge under pressure
• Mix landing timings and drift
• Prioritize stage reset over reversals

Recovery tips

• Vary up-B timing and drift
• Recover low to avoid easy intercepts
• Save jump for final route mix

Common beginner mistakes

• Spamming side-B in neutral
• Fishing revenge at unsafe moments
• Predictable recoveries

Key moves

• Alolan Whip: command-grab threat
• Revenge: punish amplifier
• Nair: close pressure
• Back air: kill option

Out of shield options

• Up-B out of shield punish
• Nair out of shield in scramble
• Shield grab if pressure lands too close

Basic combos

• Down throw into aerial pressure
• Nair starter into corner carry
• Revenge hit into simple finisher

Kill confirms

• Back air at ledge
• Command-grab reads
• Up smash anti-air punish

Matchup considerations

• Against zoners, patience is mandatory
• Against rushdown, punish overextensions hard
• Against heavies, leverage command-grab pressure

Practical gameplay advice

• Incineroar wins by forcing fear at close range
• Do not rush neutral entries
• Use revenge as read, not reflex

Training priorities

• Entry timing drills
• Command-grab mix practice
• Recovery survival reps

Related guides

• What is neutral
• How to keep advantage
• Landing safely
• Best training mode drills