Max Malicious Moonsault

Max Malicious Moonsault
Incineroar using Max Malicious Moonsault on Ken.
User	Incineroar
Universe	Pokémon
Article on Bulbapedia	Malicious Moonsault (move)

“	Incineroar grabs an opponent while engulfed in flames. It then repeatedly attacks the foe before slamming them back into a ring. Only one fighter can be grabbed, but the final blast deals damage to anyone nearby.	”
—Description from Ultimate's Move List

Max Malicious Moonsault (ハイパーダーククラッシャー改, Hyper Dark Crusher Modified) is Incineroar's Final Smash in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Overview

Incineroar dropkicking Fox during Max Malicious Moonsault.

Upon activating, Incinium Z will briefly flash on the screen before Incineroar rushes forward to grab an opponent. If it connects, Incineroar will Irish whip its opponent into a wrestling ring and assault them with an uppercut, a dropkick and another uppercut before hitting them with a diving battering ram, the latter of which causes a giant explosion upon landing on the wrestling ring. According to Masahiro Sakurai, Max Malicious Moonsault is even faster and fiercer than the Z-Move it is based on. While the move can only connect on a single opponent, its explosion will damage anyone caught in the blast radius after the cutscene has ended.

Origin

Incineroar using Malicious Moonsault in Pokémon Sun and Moon.

Z-Moves are a mechanic introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon. They are an exceptionally powerful variant of the move they are based on. To use a Z-Move, a Pokémon must be holding the Z-Crystal corresponding to the type of intended move, and their trainer must have a Z-Ring or Z-Power Ring.

Although any Pokémon is capable of using Z-Moves, a select group of Pokémon have signature Z-Moves. Malicious Moonsault is a Dark-type Z-Move exclusive to Incineroar, which acts as a powered-up version of its signature move, Darkest Lariat. Upon activation, Incineroar summons a wrestling ring underneath the target. It then charges toward the ring, leaps onto one of its top turnbuckles, uses its flame belt to engulf itself in flames, and then performs a 450° splash that generates a massive explosion to engulf the ring. Its base power is 180, although its damage output is doubled if the target has used Minimize. Like other Z-Moves, however, it has only 1 Power Point (PP).

Gallery

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  Max Malicious Moonsault as shown by a Skill Preview in Ultimate.

Trivia

• Contrary to its English name, Max Malicious Moonsault does not involve a moonsault whatsoever. Rather, it concludes with a diving battering ram. This also applies to the Z-Move it is based on, which is a 450° splash.
• Although Incineroar is able to use a Z-Move by itself in Smash, much like Mimikyu, only Marshadow has ever been shown capable of using a Z-Move on its own without a trainer with a Z-Ring and a Z-Crystal to use it.
• Max Malicious Moonsault, as well as Mimikyu's Let's Snuggle Forever, in Ultimate, was the last time Z-Moves were seen before their removal in Pokémon Sword and Shield.

Incineroar's special moves

Neutral special	Darkest Lariat
Side special	Alolan Whip
Up special	Cross Chop
Down special	Revenge
Final Smash	Max Malicious Moonsault