Infernape, the final form of Sinnoh’s Fire-type starter Chimchar, is one of the best attackers available inPokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl.Though it has its disadvantages, it is widely popular among players for its sheer offensive power. Attacks that match each of its dual Fire/Fighting typings can deal super-effective damage to a wide range of opponents.
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Like mostPokemon, though, Infernape isn’t without its flaws. It’s fast and strong, but not quite as sturdy asEmpoleon or Torterra. Luckily, with the abundance of held items available inBrilliant DiamondandShining Pearl,players can compensate for this. The right item can either increase Infernape’s resiliance, or boost its attack power so high that foes can’t even touch it.
7Muscle Band
Infernape’s base Attackand Special Attack are equal, but most of its moves are physical rather than special. To play to Infernape’s strength in this area, try giving it the Muscle Band, whichincreases the power of the holder’s physical attacks by 10%.
Players can obtain the Muscle Band at the Battle Tower, which becomes accessible in the post-game. It can be purchased for 48 Battle Points (BP) which are earned by competing in Battle Tower matches.
6Scope Lens
Infernape is perhaps the most offensively powerfulof the Sinnoh starters, and this item only increases its attacking strength. When held, itraises the user’s Critical Hit ratio chance by one stage.Critical hits deal 1.5x damage, giving Infernape an even better chance of knocking out opponents in one hit.
Like the Muscle Band, this item can be purchased at the Battle Tower for 48 BP. However, for players who want to save their points, talk to an old lady in the PokeMart in the Fight Area. She will give the player a Scope Lens for free, and offer a brief explanation of what it does.
5King’s Rock
If Infernape doesn’t manage totake down its opponent in one move, the right item can still potentially prevent the opposing Pokemon from retaliating. That’s where the King’s Rock comes in handy.When the holder of this item inflicts damage, the target has a 10% chance to flinch.
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King’s Rocks can be found by catching a wild Poliwhirl, who have a small chance to be holding this item. Players can encounter this Pokemon while fishing or surfing on Route 225. They also appear in the Grand Underground (namely, Fountainspring Caves and Grassland Caves) once the player has obtained the National Dex. When searching for a King’s Rock, a Pokemon with the move Thief comes in handy, as it allows the player to swipe the target’s held item.
4Charcoal
Therearen’t many Fire-types in Sinnoh, and that’s why so many players choose Chimchar as their starter. Fire-type attacks are powerful and have great offensive coverage, and the Charcoal held itemmakes them 50% stronger.With it, Infernape becomes a menace to any opponent, not just those who are weak to Fire-type moves.
Players canfind Charcoal on Route 227, in the area of Sinnoh only accessible during the post-game. Alternatively, Torkoal and Vulpix both have a 5% chance to be holding Charcoal when caught. For players who don’t want to wait until the post-game to pick up this item, there is one lying on the ground in aSandsear Cave hideaway in the western portion of the Grand Underground.
3Black Belt
The Fighting-type is tied with Ground for having the greatest number of types that are weak to its attacks: Normal, Rock, Dark, Steel, and Ice. This means that Infernape’sFighting-type movesare some of its greatest assets, especially since there are gyms in Sinnoh dedicated to Rock, Steel, and Ice. With that in mind, the Black Belt is a great held item for Infernape, as itpowers up these attack by 20%.
Players can obtain the Black Belt on Route 221. On this route is a house with an old man inside; every day, this man will call out a number between 1 and 100. If the player shows him a Pokemon whose level matches this number, he will reward them with an item. The first item he gives as a reward is the Black Belt.
2Passho Berry
As a Fire-Fighting type, Infernape has a couple weaknesses that can pose a threat to it in battle, but perhaps the most dangerous is Water-type attacks. Water-type Pokemon are by far the most common, comprising around 16% of all Pokemon. The Passho Berry, when held by a Pokemon, willhalve the damage it takes from asuper-effective Water-type attack.In dire circumstances, this can help Infernape tank an otherwise fatal Waterfall or Surf.
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The Passho Berry is one of the rarer Berries in Sinnoh, but it’s not too hard to find. The Berry Woman in Pastoria City gives out one damage-reducing Berry to the player per day; talk to her enough times, and players will get one eventually. Once obtained, plant and water the Passho Berry to build up a hefty supply.
1Leftovers
Though Infernape is a great attacker, it hasthe lowest base HPof the fully-evolved Sinnoh starters. Constantly healing it after taking hits can be tedious and detract from the battle, so a held item that heals continuously is a perfect choice for this Pokemon. The Leftovers, when held, willrestore 1/16 of the user’s maximum HP at the end of each turn.
Players can find a serving of Leftovers on Victory Road, as they battle their way to face the Pokemon League. There is also one in the Grand Underground’s Glacial Cavern, which can be found by accessing the Underground in or near Snowpoint City.
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