Max Malicious Moonsault

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

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.

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. Before the grab, anyone touching Incineroar will take mild damage and hitstun. 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. This can only hit 1 opponent. 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, the finisher will also launch opponents who were nearby when the main opponent was grabbed.

If this misses while Incineroar is on the ground, it'll slap its knee in frustration.

Instructional quote

Move List

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.

Origin

Incineroar using Malicious Moonsault in Pokémon Sun and Moon.

A Pokémon battle taking place in the Battle Dome in Pokémon Sun and Moon; this place is likely the inspiration for Incineroar's Final Smash.

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).

The boxing ring where the cinematic occurs is likely a reference to the Battle Royal Dome located in the game's Akala Island. Players can participate against three other opponents in Battle Royals that are located in a boxing ring, similar to the setting of Max Malicious Moonsault; the last trainer to remain standing is the winner of the Battle Royal

Gallery

• 

  Max Malicious Moonsault as shown by the Move List in Ultimate.

• 

  The unique variant of Boxing Ring that appears, with an alternate symbol in the center.

Names in other languages

Language	Name
Japanese	ハイパーダーククラッシャー改, Hyper Dark Crusher Modified
English	Max Malicious Moonsault
French	Dark Body Press X
German	Hyper Dark Crusher X
Spanish	Hiperplancha Oscura X
Italian	Iperschianto delle Tenebre X
Chinese (Simplified)	极恶飞跃粉碎击 (改)
Chinese (Traditional)	極惡飛躍粉碎擊 (改)
Korean	뉴 하이퍼다크크러셔, New Hyper Dark Crusher
Dutch	Supervurige Moonsault
Russian	Злодейский Мунсолт Плюс

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, 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, in Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!.
• Max Malicious Moonsault's cinematic occurs in a modified version of Boxing Ring, making it the only Final Smash to involve another stage. Instead of either a Punch-Out!! or Smash symbol, a generic "impact/collision" symbol appears in the center.
• Strangely, when Incineroar performs the dropkick, its feet are briefly shown to have claws on the ends of them. While these claws also appear in its forward smash, up, and back aerials, they have never been seen in its official artwork, or its official appearances in Pokémon.
• If Incineroar uses the Final Smash on Duck Hunt, the duck will appear standing on the dog's back in a T pose while the dog has regular animations relating to the attack.
  • During the dive, Incineroar clips through the duck.

Incineroar's special moves

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