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Incineroar (ガオガエン, Gaogaen, /ɪnˈsɪnərɔːr/ in-SIN-ə-rohr) is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise, introduced in Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, that has since appeared across a wide variety of Pokémon media. It is the final evolution of Litten, the Fire-type starter Pokémon of Sun and Moon, with either the ability 'Blaze' or 'Intimidate'. Categorized as the "Heel Pokémon," Incineroar is known for its aggressive moves based on heel wrestlers. It is a Fire/Dark type.

It appeared prominently in the "Sun & Moon" series of the anime, where both Ash Ketchum and the region's professor both owned a prominent Incineroar of their own. Incineroar was introduced as a playable fighter to the Super Smash Bros. franchise with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as one of the Pokémon series' many representatives.

Incineroar initially received criticism from fans before it was officially revealed as it was assumed to be a dual Fire/Fighting-type Pokémon, a strongly disliked trend among Fire-type starters. However, thanks to its prominent appearances in other media, it has become a popular character among fans.

Concept and characteristics

Incineroar is a bipedal feline creature, sporting a muscular build. He showcases a distinct red-and-black stripe design on his arms, legs, and tail, as well as fur spikes around his head and shoulders. Around his waist is a flaming belt, resembling a championship belt. His different moves and attacks, notably his signature "Darkest Lariat," is based off heel fighters and wrestlers, drawing heavy inspiration from them. The Pokémon itself can be rather violent at times, often ignoring a trainer's orders if it doesn't feel like listening. It will often finish opponents by spewing fire from the flaming belt around his navel after attacking with "ferocious punches" and "furious kicks." It prefers challenging, no-holds-barred battles, and often gets pumped up to battle stronger opponents. However, despite his violent behavior, there appears to be a softer side to the creature. Apparently, Incineroar enjoys the admiration of young Pokémon and children despite his outside demeanor. What's more, the Pokémon prefers a fair fight, and often loses morale when battling a weak or injured Pokémon.

Appearances

In video games

Pokémon game series

Incineroar debuted in Pokémon Sun and Moon, which was released internationally on November 18, 2016 for the Nintendo 3DS. As is the case for most Pokémon evolved from starters, Incineroar is rare except from choosing Litten at the game's beginning and fully training it until its evolution at Level 34. The Pokémon can also be obtained in the same manner in the games' upgraded versions, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, which can then be transferred over to the online storage systems of Pokémon Bank and Pokémon Home to bring the character into the latest installment, Pokémon Sword and Shield. Though very rare, Incineroar has a Shiny variant obtainable in the games that changes the black stripes and areas on his body to white.

Incineroar has been incorporated in spin-off Pokémon games as well. It serves as an event Pokémon in Pokémon Shuffle and is the boss of the Incineroar Grassland / Cave stage in Pokémon Rumble Rush.

Other Nintendo games

Outside of the Pokémon series, Incineroar also appears in Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. series, appearing as the last newcomer for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. He was revealed alongside Ken Masters and Piranha Plant in the Super Smash Bros. Direct on November 1, 2018.

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Incineroar's "moves are inspired by pro wrestling", reflecting the inspiration for its design. Masahiro Sakurai, the game's director, stated that he made the choice to include Incineroar after the release of Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon (after the original early drafts of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate were written), noting that he wanted to make a wrestling character for the game, and that Incineroar was the perfect fit. Decidueye – the evolution of Rowlet, the Grass-type starter Pokémon of Sun and Moon – was originally planned to be featured as a playable character in Ultimate, but was replaced by the Fire-type Incineroar instead.

In the Japanese version of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Incineroar is voiced by Unshō Ishizuka (who also voiced Professor Oak in the Pokémon anime), in one of his final voice-acting appearances before his 2018 death a few months before the release of the game. H.D. Quinn provides the character in the English version.

In the anime

In the Pokémon anime, Incineroar debuted in the 2017 film Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!, under the ownership of Cross. It was used in two battles against Cross's former Charmeleon, which was now under the ownership of Ash; Incineroar emerged victorious in the first battle, but lost in the rematch when Charmeleon evolved into Charizard.

Incineroar is a Pokémon owned by Professor Kukui in the anime and the games. In the anime, Professor Kukui uses it under the alias of the Masked Royal and It developed a rivalry with Ash's Litten. Incineroar would later be owned by Ash Ketchum by the end of the Sun and Moon series by evolving it after defeating Professor Kukui's own Incineroar during the Manalo Conference exhibition match.

Reception

Incineroar initially received criticism from fans before it was officially revealed as it was assumed to be a dual Fire/Fighting-type Pokémon, a strongly disliked trend among Fire-type starters. Dustin Kemp of The Inquisitr called Incineroar's eventual reveal as a Fire/Dark-type a "brilliant trolling maneuver by GameFreak". Allegra Frank of Polygon critiqued Incineroar's design of a "gigantic fighting feline monster" (compared to its pre-evolution Litten) to be "upsetting" and leaving fans "extremely disheartened", but nonetheless praised its Fire/Dark typing as "some good to be found in Incineroar’s official reveal".

References

1. ^ Kemp, Dustin (October 28, 2016). "'Pokemon Sun' and 'Moon' Starter Evolution Reveal: GameFreak Pulls Off the Most Successful Troll in Franchise History". The Inquisitr. Archived from the original on 2016-11-04. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
2. "Incineroar". Pokémon/Nintendo. 2020-02-22.
3. "Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon". Pokémon/Nintendo. 2020-02-22.
4. "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - Official Website". Nintendo/HAL Laboratory, Inc. 2020-02-22.
5. "Smash Bros. Ultimate Adds Ken and Incineroar to the Roster".
6. https://twitter.com/AllSourceGaming/status/1062726902341746691
7. "Sakurai Tells More Details About Smash Ultimate's Development". 2018-12-12.
8. Phillips, Tom (2019-01-20). "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate nearly featured Decidueye instead of Incineroar". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
9. "Incineroar Was Voiced by the Now Deceased Professor Oak Voice Actor". November 2018.
10. "Sakurai on Smash Bros. Ultimate - why Incineroar was chosen and more". NintendoEverything. 2020-02-22.
11. "Pokémon Sun and Moon's newest Pokémon are one-of-a-kind". 2016-10-27.

External links

• Incineroar on Bulbapedia
• Incineroar on Pokemon.com

• Articles to be merged from February 2020
• Pokémon species
• Fictional tigers
• Fictional felids
• Fictional professional wrestlers
• Super Smash Bros. fighters
• Video game characters introduced in 2016
• Video game characters with fire or heat abilities
• Fictional characters who can manipulate darkness or shadows