Supreme Overlord is the signature ability of Kingambit. For each Pokémon on Kingambit’s team that has fainted, Kingambit’s Attack stat increases by 10%. With 5 fainted allies, that’s a +50% Attack boost — permanent, and without using any moves to get there.
Why late-game Kingambit is terrifying
Most setup sweepers need to spend a turn using Swords DanceSwords DancemoveA Normal-type move that sharply raises Attack by two stages — doubling it in one turn.Click to read more → or another boosting move before they become threats. Kingambit’s Supreme Overlord bonus accumulates automatically as the game progresses.
In a typical doubles game, several Pokémon faint between turns 3 and 8. By mid-game, a Kingambit coming onto the field often already has +20% or +30% Attack from Supreme Overlord. Stack a Swords Dance (+2 Attack stages, doubling Attack) on top of that, and the numbers become absurd — Kowtow CleaveKowtow CleavemoveKingambit's signature move — a Dark-type physical attack that never misses.Click to read more → and Iron Head hit harder than most teams can withstand.
Stacking with Swords Dance
The math compounds:
- Base Kingambit (no boosts, no allies fainted): strong, not overwhelming.
- +50% from Supreme Overlord (5 allies fainted): 1.5× base Attack.
- +2 from Swords Dance (one turn): 2× Attack.
- Both active: 3× effective Attack before STABSTABmechanicSame-Type Attack Bonus: a move deals ×1.5 damage when its type matches one of the user's types.Click to read more →, type, or item bonuses.
Iron Head at this power level, with a 30% flinch chance, is nearly impossible to survive without a type resistance or a dedicated counter.
Creating the conditions
Supreme Overlord creates a counterintuitive incentive: Kingambit teams benefit from their own Pokémon fainting. This is why Kingambit is often held in the back. IncineroarIncineroarpokemonThe most-used Pokémon in Reg M-A. Defines doubles tempo with Fake Out, Intimidate on every switch, and Parting Shot pivots.Click to read more → and other support Pokémon absorb early hits, and Kingambit enters late as a powered-up cleaner.
Opponents who understand Supreme Overlord try to never let it reach its maximum stack — bringing Kingambit in early with a KO, or using spread moves to pressure its partners into survival.
In Regulation M-A
Kingambit is the top-usage physical sweeper in the format. Its archetype revolves entirely around keeping it safe in the back, letting allies trade, and sweeping with a combination of Supreme Overlord and Swords Dance late.