Pokemon Champions Bug Supercharges Incineroar, Breaking Competitive Balance
Pokemon Champions’ competitive scene is always moving, with each new addition of Pokémon and abilities reshaping what teams can realistically run. Even so, there’s one constant you can usually count on: Incineroar shows up in enough matches that it starts to feel like part of the format’s weather.
Incineroar has long been a staple in competitive play, but not primarily because it hits hardest. Its real value comes from how aggressively it supports its teammates. Moves built around pivoting and control—especially switch-out options like Parting Shot—help shape the pacing of fights. It also brings Fake Out to the table, a move that frequently functions like a near-free opener whenever Incineroar is able to act immediately after switching in on turn one.
A Parting Shot Bug Has Made Incineroar Even Scarier
Incineroar was already a major presence in Pokemon Champions, but a newly spotted bug appears to push it even further toward “must-pick” territory. The issue was demonstrated by a player identified as DaWoblefet, showing how Parting Shot can behave in a way it normally shouldn’t.
Parting Shot is designed to reduce a target Pokémon’s Attack and Special Attack before the user retreats, forcing you to bring in something else from your bench. The glitch being exploited revolves around the idea that, after using Parting Shot, the Incineroar user may be able to re-enter again immediately—so long as you wait out the relevant timer. In practice, the setup described is straightforward: have three Pokémon available on your team, then when Incineroar uses Parting Shot, swap the other Pokémon out as needed so you can regain Incineroar right after the pivot window.
Abilities can be the difference between a Pokémon that’s merely strong and one that becomes a metagame cornerstone. Here’s a look at the standout abilities in the games.
That potential for repeated re-entry matters because it doesn’t just keep Incineroar’s utility online—it can also “refresh” Fake Out repeatedly. On top of that, if the Incineroar in question has Intimidate, the strategy can stack reductions to the opponent’s Attack stats multiple times in a row. The result is described as extremely overpowered and, in the words of the original concern, essentially busted enough to qualify as cheating.
Because the interaction is almost certainly unintended, players are advised not to run it if they’re concerned about consequences—Nintendo or Game Freak enforcement is explicitly mentioned as a risk for anyone using the exploit.
