name: The Don
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Slack Off
move 4: Toxic
item: Leftovers / Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Sand Stream / Sand Force
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 16 Def / 240 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Hippowdon is National Dex UU's premier check to many of the most prominent offensive threats running around, with it's incredible bulk alongside it's reliable recovery and Ground typing keeping things like Aegislash, Mienshao, Zeraora, and Moltres at bay. It's ability to pivot into almost anything that isn't super effective and keeps it's teammates safe make it nearly an automatic addition onto teams that need a defensive backbone against fast Electrics, Fires and practically most other special threats. It's no slouch on the physical side either, as even though it is running a very high amount of special defense, it can still tank strong hits like Scarf Mienshao's Close Combat, Zygarde's Thousand Arrows and Dragonite's boosted Dual Wingbeat and respond accordingly. With these traits it's no wonder that Hippowdon is able to consistently get Stealth Rock up each game, with most of the common defoggers unable to effectively damage it back, barring Rotom-Wash. The option to run Sand Stream also proves valuable in chipping threats that normally beat Hippowdon, on top of potentially facilitating Dracozolt with Sand Rush. Running Sand Force is also fine, as you may not want to be chipping down some of your teammates that can't recover it off easily or limiting Synthesis recovery. Leftovers provides crucial recovery to help alleviate pressure from repeated hits by letting it waste less turns healing with Slack Off. Heavy Duty Boots enables Hippowdon to Slack Off less due to chip from Spikes, but can be a significant downgrade to Leftovers in certain matchups. Lastly, the 16 extra Defense EVs on this set are used to survive Terrakion's +2 Close Combat from full HP and KO back with Earthquake.
Stemming from Hippowdon's large presence both literally and in the tier, luring it with Toxic or pivoting on it with U-Turn have become very popular strategies in order to combat it. Thus, Toxic immune and contact-punishing partners help immensely, with Cobalion, Scizor, Aegislash, Slowbro-G and Amoonguss being practical to fit onto most teams and can help combat Meteor Beam Nihilego or Dragon Dance Mega Altaria, sweepers that Hippowdon are not able to handle when boosted. Skarmory and Roserade get a special mention as they can form very effective hazard stacking cores with Hippowdon against most defoggers. Covering it's weaknesses is equally important on your team, as Water and Grass type moves are very commonly thrown at Hippowdon. Tangrowth, Salamence and Rotom-W are all common partners for their good bulk and ability to switch into strong Water moves such as Urshifu-R Surging Strikes and Keldeo's Hydro Pump, and Zarude in Salamence's case. Electrics like Rotom-W or Zeraora help keep Skarmory or other Steels from setting up on Hippowdon due to it's passivity, with Zeraora helping the team out by removing the boots that deter Hippowdon's Stealth Rocks while maintaining speed control. Zarude serves as a great partner to Hippo, switching into Scalds and Toxics that Hippowdon might otherwise dislike and nullifying it with Jungle Healing. Laslty, Mamoswine is one threat that preys upon Hippowdons Ice weakness, so checks to it such as Rotom-W, Buzzwole and the previously mentioned Skarmory are valued highly. Any other conceivable partner would appreciate the security it has against Zeraora, Mega Manectric and Moltres, it's Volt Switch immunity, and being able to keep Stealth Rocks up against most defoggers.
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Slack Off
move 4: Toxic / Whirlwind
item: Rocky Helmet / Heavy-Duty Boots / Leftovers
ability: Sand Stream / Sand Force
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 148 Def / 108 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
In contrast to the specially defensive set, this set utilizes Hippowdon's already great natural physical defense and raises it to even greater heights, stopping some of the strongest physical attackers dead in their tracks. The goal of this set is to wear those attackers down, either through use of it's Rocky Helmet, Sand, hazards or potentially all of the above. Hippowdon is able to take boosted Close Combats and Outrages from threats such as Terrakion and Salamence, respectively, even being able to tank some moves boosted by Z crystals, such as Salamence's +1 Supersonic Skystrike or Aegislash's +2 Never-Ending Nightmare. The option of Whirlwind on this set further exacerbates it's ability to wear down the enemy team by forcing the opponent to take undesirable hazard chip, supplemented by Hippowdon's ability to reliably get up Stealth Rock. The 108 SpD EVs on this set are used to tank Mega Manectric's super effective Hidden Power of choice after a Spike.
As it stands currently, many of the threats actually weak to hazards have opted to run Heavy Duty Boots to keep hazard chip at bay. Thus, the use of Knock Off pivots to remove this item benefits this Hippowdon set, with Zeraora, Azelf and Mienshao being some of the best choices out there for their high speed and facilitation of other teammates through U-Turn or Volt Switch. Similar to the Specially Defensive set, this set also benefits from being paired with Steel types, with Celesteela being a particularly good pairing with this set as it doesn't appreciate Knock Offs, something this Hippo set can absorb from the likes of Zeraora and Bisharp. Other more specially defensive pivots also form strong balance cores with this set, with Slowking, Assault Vest Tangrowth and Slowbro-G being strong resists to some of Hippowdon's weaknesses. Rotom-W, Volcanion and Mega Altaria both serve as good potential breakers to benefit Hippowdon and threaten opposing Hippowdon, as their resists prove useful in staving off opposing Water Types while also being able to wear down some of Hippowdon's answers, such as opposing Rotom-W and Scizor. Heal Bell partners to offset status chip are also highly appreciated, with Dragonite and Mega Altaria being prominent users of the move. Removing status enables Hippowdon to consistently wall even Toxic lures and Slack Off much less frequently, reducing it's overall passivity.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ice Fang might seem like an appealing option to hit things weak to it like Salamence, Dragonite and Roserade, but it usually does not do enough to significantly damage these mons due to their bulk and ability to heal.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Waters**: Many waters including Rotom-W, Slowking, and Primarina all take minimal damage from Earthquake and can pressure it with their STAB move of choice, with Primarina potentially being able to Rest off the Toxic. While not as inclined to switch in directly, Urshifu-R, Keldeo, Azumarill and Volcanion all throw out strong water moves that force Hippowdon out.
**Bulky Toxic Immune Pokemon**: Celesteela and Skarmory are two flagship examples, being immune to both Toxic and Earthquake, and are able to set up Leech Seed or Spikes, respectively. Scizor, Hatterene, and Gligar either take minimal damage from Earthquake and set up on Hippowdon, or in Gligars case, is immune to Toxic with Immunity and can do what it wants.
**Grass Types**: Amoonguss, Zarude and Tangrowth all take minimal damage from Earthquake and respond back with either strong Power Whips or Giga Drain. Amoonguss and Zarude in particular are quite threatening as they are immune to Toxic with their typing or Jungle Healing.
**Residual Damage**: Toxic and Spikes are thrown at Hippowdon very commonly, and being forced to Slack Off repeatedly to offset this is not ideal. Even with it's bulk being able to take various Scalds, burns are not ideal and can build up over time.
**Strong Ice Coverage**: Strong Icicle Crashes from Mamoswine or Blizzards from Arctozolt all either significantly damage Hippowodon or scare it out. Z-Conversion Porygon Z commonly runs Ice Beam and can easily 2HKO Hippowdon on the switch.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[MudkipBeans, 498577]]
- Quality checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1]]
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Slack Off
move 4: Toxic
item: Leftovers / Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Sand Stream / Sand Force
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 16 Def / 240 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Hippowdon is National Dex UU's premier check to many of the most prominent offensive threats running around, with it's incredible bulk alongside it's reliable recovery and Ground typing keeping things like Aegislash, Mienshao, Zeraora, and Moltres at bay. It's ability to pivot into almost anything that isn't super effective and keeps it's teammates safe make it nearly an automatic addition onto teams that need a defensive backbone against fast Electrics, Fires and practically most other special threats. It's no slouch on the physical side either, as even though it is running a very high amount of special defense, it can still tank strong hits like Scarf Mienshao's Close Combat, Zygarde's Thousand Arrows and Dragonite's boosted Dual Wingbeat and respond accordingly. With these traits it's no wonder that Hippowdon is able to consistently get Stealth Rock up each game, with most of the common defoggers unable to effectively damage it back, barring Rotom-Wash. The option to run Sand Stream also proves valuable in chipping threats that normally beat Hippowdon, on top of potentially facilitating Dracozolt with Sand Rush. Running Sand Force is also fine, as you may not want to be chipping down some of your teammates that can't recover it off easily or limiting Synthesis recovery. Leftovers provides crucial recovery to help alleviate pressure from repeated hits by letting it waste less turns healing with Slack Off. Heavy Duty Boots enables Hippowdon to Slack Off less due to chip from Spikes, but can be a significant downgrade to Leftovers in certain matchups. Lastly, the 16 extra Defense EVs on this set are used to survive Terrakion's +2 Close Combat from full HP and KO back with Earthquake.
Stemming from Hippowdon's large presence both literally and in the tier, luring it with Toxic or pivoting on it with U-Turn have become very popular strategies in order to combat it. Thus, Toxic immune and contact-punishing partners help immensely, with Cobalion, Scizor, Aegislash, Slowbro-G and Amoonguss being practical to fit onto most teams and can help combat Meteor Beam Nihilego or Dragon Dance Mega Altaria, sweepers that Hippowdon are not able to handle when boosted. Skarmory and Roserade get a special mention as they can form very effective hazard stacking cores with Hippowdon against most defoggers. Covering it's weaknesses is equally important on your team, as Water and Grass type moves are very commonly thrown at Hippowdon. Tangrowth, Salamence and Rotom-W are all common partners for their good bulk and ability to switch into strong Water moves such as Urshifu-R Surging Strikes and Keldeo's Hydro Pump, and Zarude in Salamence's case. Electrics like Rotom-W or Zeraora help keep Skarmory or other Steels from setting up on Hippowdon due to it's passivity, with Zeraora helping the team out by removing the boots that deter Hippowdon's Stealth Rocks while maintaining speed control. Zarude serves as a great partner to Hippo, switching into Scalds and Toxics that Hippowdon might otherwise dislike and nullifying it with Jungle Healing. Laslty, Mamoswine is one threat that preys upon Hippowdons Ice weakness, so checks to it such as Rotom-W, Buzzwole and the previously mentioned Skarmory are valued highly. Any other conceivable partner would appreciate the security it has against Zeraora, Mega Manectric and Moltres, it's Volt Switch immunity, and being able to keep Stealth Rocks up against most defoggers.
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Slack Off
move 4: Toxic / Whirlwind
item: Rocky Helmet / Heavy-Duty Boots / Leftovers
ability: Sand Stream / Sand Force
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 148 Def / 108 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
In contrast to the specially defensive set, this set utilizes Hippowdon's already great natural physical defense and raises it to even greater heights, stopping some of the strongest physical attackers dead in their tracks. The goal of this set is to wear those attackers down, either through use of it's Rocky Helmet, Sand, hazards or potentially all of the above. Hippowdon is able to take boosted Close Combats and Outrages from threats such as Terrakion and Salamence, respectively, even being able to tank some moves boosted by Z crystals, such as Salamence's +1 Supersonic Skystrike or Aegislash's +2 Never-Ending Nightmare. The option of Whirlwind on this set further exacerbates it's ability to wear down the enemy team by forcing the opponent to take undesirable hazard chip, supplemented by Hippowdon's ability to reliably get up Stealth Rock. The 108 SpD EVs on this set are used to tank Mega Manectric's super effective Hidden Power of choice after a Spike.
As it stands currently, many of the threats actually weak to hazards have opted to run Heavy Duty Boots to keep hazard chip at bay. Thus, the use of Knock Off pivots to remove this item benefits this Hippowdon set, with Zeraora, Azelf and Mienshao being some of the best choices out there for their high speed and facilitation of other teammates through U-Turn or Volt Switch. Similar to the Specially Defensive set, this set also benefits from being paired with Steel types, with Celesteela being a particularly good pairing with this set as it doesn't appreciate Knock Offs, something this Hippo set can absorb from the likes of Zeraora and Bisharp. Other more specially defensive pivots also form strong balance cores with this set, with Slowking, Assault Vest Tangrowth and Slowbro-G being strong resists to some of Hippowdon's weaknesses. Rotom-W, Volcanion and Mega Altaria both serve as good potential breakers to benefit Hippowdon and threaten opposing Hippowdon, as their resists prove useful in staving off opposing Water Types while also being able to wear down some of Hippowdon's answers, such as opposing Rotom-W and Scizor. Heal Bell partners to offset status chip are also highly appreciated, with Dragonite and Mega Altaria being prominent users of the move. Removing status enables Hippowdon to consistently wall even Toxic lures and Slack Off much less frequently, reducing it's overall passivity.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ice Fang might seem like an appealing option to hit things weak to it like Salamence, Dragonite and Roserade, but it usually does not do enough to significantly damage these mons due to their bulk and ability to heal.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Waters**: Many waters including Rotom-W, Slowking, and Primarina all take minimal damage from Earthquake and can pressure it with their STAB move of choice, with Primarina potentially being able to Rest off the Toxic. While not as inclined to switch in directly, Urshifu-R, Keldeo, Azumarill and Volcanion all throw out strong water moves that force Hippowdon out.
**Bulky Toxic Immune Pokemon**: Celesteela and Skarmory are two flagship examples, being immune to both Toxic and Earthquake, and are able to set up Leech Seed or Spikes, respectively. Scizor, Hatterene, and Gligar either take minimal damage from Earthquake and set up on Hippowdon, or in Gligars case, is immune to Toxic with Immunity and can do what it wants.
**Grass Types**: Amoonguss, Zarude and Tangrowth all take minimal damage from Earthquake and respond back with either strong Power Whips or Giga Drain. Amoonguss and Zarude in particular are quite threatening as they are immune to Toxic with their typing or Jungle Healing.
**Residual Damage**: Toxic and Spikes are thrown at Hippowdon very commonly, and being forced to Slack Off repeatedly to offset this is not ideal. Even with it's bulk being able to take various Scalds, burns are not ideal and can build up over time.
**Strong Ice Coverage**: Strong Icicle Crashes from Mamoswine or Blizzards from Arctozolt all either significantly damage Hippowodon or scare it out. Z-Conversion Porygon Z commonly runs Ice Beam and can easily 2HKO Hippowdon on the switch.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[MudkipBeans, 498577]]
- Quality checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1]]
Last edited:
