Infernape Best Moveset
104/104 mixed offenses at 108 Speed on Fire/Fighting with AbilityIron Fist boosting all punch moves by 20%. Held ItemLife Orb with NatureJolly runs physical Fire and Fighting TermStab boosted by Iron Fist. The moveset outspeeds most of the tier and hits from either side. Tera Fighting amplifies Close Combat. C-Tier as a fast mixed attacker.
Fire/Fighting with 108 Attack, 104 Sp. Atk, and 108 Speed in Gen IV (Diamond & Pearl). Mixed sets were impossible to predict. Close Combat or Fire Blast? Both devastated.
Best Moves
Best Build
Infernape best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Close Combat
- U Turn
- Grass Knot
- Fire Blast
Recommended Teammates
Two gens at the top in Gen V (Black & White). Iron Fist boosted Mach Punch priority, and the mixed profile kept opponents guessing every single turn.
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Close Combat
- Overheat
- Mach Punch
- Hidden Power Ice
Recommended Teammates
Dropped in Gen VI (X & Y). Mega Evolutions raised the power ceiling, and 104 Sp. Atk wasn't quite enough against boosted competition.
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Close Combat
- Thunder Punch
- Fire Blast
- Grass Knot
Recommended Teammates
Same level in Gen VII (Sun & Moon). Z-Moves gave it one nuke but the format's speed and bulk were outpacing Infernape's well-rounded but unexceptional stats.
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Close Combat
- Mach Punch
- Flare Blitz
- Thunder Punch
Recommended Teammates
Returned in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet) after missing Sword & Shield. Fell further as newer Fire/Fighting types and faster attackers claimed its slot.
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Close Combat
- Mach Punch
- Drain Punch
- Fire Punch
Recommended Teammates
Infernape Weakness
Infernape is weak to Water, Ground, Flying, and Psychic. It resists 6 types, so it can switch into a lot of moves safely. Infernape leans offensive (base 104 Atk) rather than trying to tank its weaknesses.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Ground, Flying, Psychic |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Grass, Ice, Dark, Steel |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Bug |
What is Infernape Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Infernape
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemLeftovers NatureCalm Moves View Blissey builds →
| ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityProtean ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Infernape View Meowscarada builds →Knock Off21-25% U Turn11-13% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Infernape View Amoonguss builds →Giga Drain11-13% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityDrought ItemHeatrock NatureTimid Moves View Ninetales builds →
| ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityMold Breaker ItemAir Balloon NatureJolly Moves View Tinkaton builds →
| ||
Evolution
The three-stage chain from Chimchar through Monferno ends here at Infernape. Want more? Breed for Chimchar eggs. A massive partner pool available via two egg groups. The evolution from Chimchar pushed Infernape to 534 total stats. Speed saw the largest single gain at +47. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Infernape to get Chimchar eggs easily using 278 partners from the Ground and Humanshape egg groups.
How to Get Infernape
You're catching Chimchar first, not Infernape. Chimchar appears at moderate rates in the encounters below. The step cards map the full 3-stage chain with evolution methods between each stage.
decent spawn rates across 1 locations for Infernape in early-game routes. Scroll the sorted list below and pick whichever spot sits closest to your current route. The rate differences between locations are worth comparing.
Where To Catch Infernape in PLA
The path to Infernape starts with Chimchar at Lv. 10-70 via walking encounters. 3 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch ChimcharDeertrack HeightsLv.10-13GrassRate 15%Ramanas IslandLv.10-13GrassRate 15%
Step 3Infernape ✓Ramanas IslandLv.10-70GrassRate 15%or evolve from Monferno (Step 2)
Can't catch Infernape directly. Start with Chimchar at moderate rates from the locations below, then evolve at level 36. The 3-stage chain from Chimchar to Infernape is where the leveling time goes.
How to Obtain Infernape in BDSP
Chimchar is your first catch on the way to Infernape. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 58-63 across 6 total spots in the chain.
No wild encounters for Infernape. The 3-stage chain runs through Chimchar, which you can catch in the wild from the locations below. Evolve at level 36 once you've got the levels.
Base Stats
Everything pushes toward mixed damage here. Infernape's Speed does the work, Defense pays the price. But you're still getting 3 Attack and Sp. Atk and Speed EVs per KO. Tough to catch, on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.
A tall, hardy Pokémon with a dazzling appearance. It shrouds itself in flame and battles as if engaged in dance—truly a sight to behold.
Infernape Guide
Infernape works as a sweeper with 534 BST behind it. B-Tier on our list: a solid choice for the right team. That 108 base Speed does the heavy lifting.
Blaze is the go-to ability for Infernape. It strengthens fire moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less. Its hidden ability Iron Fist can work in specific setups.
Infernape is a physical attacker with base 104 Attack. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 108 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. Fits the sweeper role.
The core moveset is Close Combat, Mach Punch, Drain Punch, and Firepunch. Close Combat leads at 0% usage. This set covers the sweeper role with a mix of damage and utility.
Game Availability
Debuting in Diamond & Pearl, Infernape appears in 12 games across 7 generations. A reliable presence in a solid number of games, typically found through wild encounters.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DPDebut
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves