Kingambit
VGC Guide
Kingambit is VGC’s most threatening late-game sweeper: Supreme Overlord boosts Attack +10% per fainted ally up to +50%, and Defiant converts Incineroar’s Intimidate into a free +2 Attack boost. With 135 base Attack amplified by Supreme Overlord stacking, Kingambit’s effective Attack exceeds 200 at full stacks. Kowtow Cleave never misses, making defensive answers nearly impossible.
Supreme Overlord: Converting Fainted Allies into Power
Supreme Overlord checks the number of fainted allies when Kingambit enters battle, boosting Attack by 10% per fainted ally up to +50% at five fainted allies. Base 135 Attack at +50% reaches effective 202.5 — approaching Restricted Legendary attack levels. Defiant raises Attack by two stages when lowered, meaning Incineroar’s Intimidate actually triggers a net +2 Attack boost rather than -1, creating a unique counter-Intimidate advantage.
Kowtow Cleave: Never-Miss Dark STAB
Kowtow Cleave is a Dark physical move with 100% accuracy that never misses, ignoring evasion boosts. With Supreme Overlord stacking significantly, Kowtow Cleave output becomes nearly impossible to wall. Sucker Punch priority allows Kingambit to revenge-kill low-HP targets before they can retaliate. Iron Head provides Steel STAB to handle Fairy-types that are immune to Dark STAB.
EV Spreads
Team Partners
Incineroar’s Intimidate triggers Kingambit’s Defiant, converting -1 Attack into a net +2 boost. This is one of VGC’s most iconic synergy combinations — opponents using Incineroar actively strengthen Kingambit, creating a catch-22 that opponents struggle to play around.
Cresselia’s exceptional bulk makes it a reliable Trick Room setter, ensuring Kingambit acts first despite low Speed. Lunar Dance can revive a fainted ally to maintain Supreme Overlord stacks, while Cresselia holds Trick Room to extend the sweep window.
Porygon2’s Eviolite bulk provides a highly durable second Trick Room setter. Download auto-boosts the better offensive stat; combined with Kingambit’s Supreme Overlord, the team maintains consistent late-game Trick Room control through multiple turns.
Farigiraf’s Armor Tail prevents Fake Out interference during Trick Room setup, allowing safe switch-in for Kingambit. Armor Tail + Trick Room reliable setup makes the Supreme Overlord sweep sequence significantly more consistent and predictable.
How to Counter Kingambit
Dark/Steel dual typing creates a 4× Fighting weakness. Close Combat or Drain Punch can OHKO even a fully stacked Supreme Overlord Kingambit. With Fighting-type Pokémon in the opponent’s team, sending out Kingambit before Supreme Overlord stacks are safe is extremely risky.
Supreme Overlord depends on fainted allies. Managing your own KO count — keeping Pokémon alive longer or pivoting rather than being knocked out — limits Kingambit’s stacking. Alternatively, KOing Kingambit early before stacks accumulate entirely removes the threat.
Fairy-types are fully immune to Kowtow Cleave and Sucker Punch, safely switching into Kingambit’s primary STAB. However, Kingambit typically carries Iron Head specifically to cover this Fairy immunity — identify the moveset before committing a Fairy-type switch-in.
Steel typing’s Fire and Ground weaknesses mean Koraidon’s sun-boosted Fire attacks or Garchomp’s Earthquake can threaten Kingambit. Outside Trick Room, high-Speed Fire/Ground coverage can KO Kingambit before it acts, preventing the Supreme Overlord burst.