[OVERVIEW]
Hippowdon is a potent mixed wall in UU thanks to its amazing bulk, solid typing, and reliable recovery. Its naturally high Defense allows it to invest in Special Defense to check Salamence and Thundurus-T while still answering physical attackers like Excadrill, Zygarde-10%, and Cobalion. Hippowdon is a great Stealth Rock setter due to matching up well against common entry hazard removers like Salamence, Mandibuzz, Excadrill, and Tentacruel and easily setting Stealth Rock against Pokemon it walls like Excadrill, Cobalion, and Nihilego without Grass Knot. Utility options, like Toxic to cripple Tangrowth and Rotom-W and Whirlwind to keep setup sweepers like Scizor from setting up on it, limit Hippowdon's passivity. However, Hippowdon is still quite passive, relying on Toxic to cripple the common Grass- and Water-types that beat it; even then, threats like Zarude and RestTalk Primarina don't mind it. Certain setup sweepers like Bulky Swords Dance Scizor and Autotomize Celesteela can use Hippowdon as a free entry point, as well as setup fodder if it forgoes Whirlwind, which usually happens due to Toxic being very difficult to drop. Even Pokemon Hippowdon should check, like Nihilego, Thundurus-T, Rotom-H, and Moltres, can get around it by using coverage moves like Grass Knot or crippling it with Toxic.
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Slack Off
item: Leftovers / Rocky Helmet
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 8 Atk / 32 Def / 216 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Earthquake hits threats like Nihilego, Nidoqueen, Raikou, and Excadrill hard. Hippowdon's naturally high Attack also prevents Amoonguss from switching in for free, especially with additional sand damage and Stealth Rock, wearing it down despite Regenerator. Toxic cripples switch-ins like Slowking, Rotom-W, and Tangrowth. It also makes Hippowdon less passive against wallbreakers like Thundurus-T and Hydreigon and lets it beat Defoggers like Salamence and Rotom-W. Whirlwind is an option to phaze setup sweepers like Swords Dance Scizor and Autotomize Celesteela, but Toxic crippling so many answers to Hippowdon makes it too good to pass up most of the time. However, Whirlwind and Toxic can be run together if Hippowdon is used alongside another Stealth Rock setter like Nihilego. Slack Off gives Hippowdon reliable recovery to consistently handle threats like Salamence, Thundurus-T, and Zygarde-10%. Sand Stream helps chip down threats like Chansey and Thundurus-T, though Sand Force can be used if sand damage is detrimental to Hippowdon's team. Leftovers gives Hippowdon passive recovery and lets it spend fewer turns using Slack Off, while Rocky Helmet chips down threats like Cobalion, Scizor, and Diggersby. Rocky Helmet also lets Hippowdon counter lead Excadrill by preventing it from using Rapid Spin, allowing itself to set Stealth Rock. The given EV spread alongside an Impish nature lets Hippowdon OHKO Excadrill with Earthquake, avoid the 2HKO from Zygarde-10%'s Outrage if it has Leftovers, and better check special attackers like Salamence and Thundurus-T. If running Rocky Helmet, 112 Defense EVs are needed to avoid the 2HKO from Outrage.
Hippowdon best fits on bulky offense, balance, and stall teams that appreciate a reliable Stealth Rock setter that is also a sustainable wall. Skarmory forms a great entry hazard-stacking core with Hippowdon, providing Spikes to complement its Stealth Rock while also beating Zarude, Mamoswine, and Scizor; in return, it appreciates Hippowdon beating Defoggers it loses to like Salamence. Nihilego makes a solid partner due to it beating Autotomize Celesteela and serving as a potent Stealth Rock setter, allowing Hippowdon to run both Toxic and Whirlwind. Grass-types like Tangrowth and Amoonguss check Water-types like Keldeo, Primarina, and Azumarill for Hippowdon, with the latter also handling opposing Tangrowth. Zarude can counter Rotom-W and Slowking and switch into a predicted Grass Knot from Thundurus-T. Entry hazard removers like Mandibuzz and Tentacruel remove Spikes, which wear down Hippowdon. Mandibuzz also acts as a secondary check to Zygarde-10% and can discourage Swords Dance Scizor from boosting with the threat of Foul Play. Moltres and Salamence like Hippowdon's entry hazards and sand chip damage wearing down Slowking, and they remove Scizor, Skarmory, and Zarude for it in return. On stall teams, Umbreon can be used to increase Hippowdon's longevity with Wish and answer Mamoswine and Gyarados, while Articuno can remove status with Heal Bell.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hippowdon can run a Curse set, but the presence of common Water- and Grass-types keeps this set from succeeding. Ice Fang can hit Salamence and Thundurus-T without Hippowdon relying on Toxic, while Fire Fang threatens Scizor. However, these moves fail to provide the utility Toxic provides. Heavy-Duty Boots can be used on teams without entry hazard removal to stop Spikes from wearing down Hippowdon, but it typically gets hit by Knock Off from switching into threats like Nihilego and Thundurus-T.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types and Grass-type Coverage**: Zarude completely walls Hippowdon, ignoring Toxic thanks to Jungle Healing and threatening to KO it. Tangrowth and Tapu Bulu hate Toxic but can threaten Hippowdon with heavy damage. Grass-type coverage on Nihilego, Thundurus-T, and Azelf means Hippowdon must scout their movesets before switching in.
**Water-types**: Offensive Water-types like Keldeo, Azumarill, and Starmie deal massive damage to Hippowdon with their attacks. Rotom-W, Slowking, and RestTalk Primarina can switch into Hippowdon well, though the former two hate Toxic.
**Status Moves**: Hippowdon gets worn down more easily if crippled by Toxic, with many common threats like Chansey and Swampert carrying this move. Even Pokemon Hippowdon is supposed to check like Moltres, Rotom-H, and Zygarde-10% can fit Toxic to cripple it.
**Toxic-immune Setup Sweepers**: Sweepers like Autotomize Celesteela, Calm Mind Reuniclus, Iron Defense Skarmory, and Swords Dance Scizor use Hippowdon as setup fodder unless it fits Whirlwind, exploiting its low damage output and their immunities to Toxic.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Monky25, 515132]]
- Quality checked by: [[Mystras, Leoxses, 530118], [Lily, 481709], [Estarossa, 461329]]
- Grammar checked by: [[DC, 449990], [Finland, 517429]]
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