Infernape

Fighting

Infernape is Fighting's premier suicide lead, able to get up Stealth Rock effectively before going down, often either crippling or taking out a foe on the way. Thanks to its Fire typing, Infernape can be a huge help against Steel teams, which are surprisingly annoying to deal with at times. A combination of Fire Blast and Close Combat can at least 2HKO entire Steel teams. Thanks to its access to Taunt and its good Speed, Infernape can at least tie with Galvantula, which gives it a chance to Taunt it before Sticky Web can be set to cripple the team, as Fighting teams lack reliable entry hazard removal. With access to Endeavor and priority, Infernape can effectively trade at worst one-for-one in most circumstances, which solidifies its niche on the team as a very reliable suicide lead instead of a Steel counter. Unfortunately, Infernape faces competition from Cobalion, which is a far more reliable Stealth Rock setter in most cases for Fighting teams, as it brings better bulk and a Steel typing that makes it a switch-in for Psychic-, Dragon-, and Fairy-type attacks. In contrast, Infernape's Fire typing is almost never useful defensively, as even if it can take one Fairy-type attack, it has no way to hit back hard. Infernape also has little use outside of being a lead, as its poor bulk is irredeemable and even its offensive stats are rather unimpressive.

Fire

Infernape's fantastic Speed tier and high-Base Power STAB moves allow it to excel as a revenge killer when equipped with a Choice Scarf, notably revenge killing big threats to Fire teams in Terrakion and Choice Scarf Nihilego. Infernape can also perform well as a wallbreaker with a Choice Band, thanks to its expansive physical movepool, which allows it to nail typical Fire-type switch-ins like Toxapex and Mantine with super effective coverage. Its typing is also quite helpful, allowing Infernape to ease Fire's matchup against Rock, Dark, and Normal teams, alongside giving it a neutrality to Stealth Rock. Unfortunately, Infernape is hampered by its pitiful defenses, which, in tandem with its weaknesses to common attacking types like Water and Ground, prevent it from defensively providing for Fire at all. Infernape can also struggle to break past Pokemon that often prove troublesome to Fire, such as Azumarill, Tapu Fini, Landorus-T, and Dragonite, and it thus needs to be played with caution. Its general reliance on Choice items can also hinder it, since being locked into a move makes it easy to be countered. Lastly, Infernape's Speed, while not bad, still leaves it outsped and heavily threatened by common threats in Greninja, Latios, and Choice Scarf Excadrill if it isn't holding a Choice Scarf itself.