[OVERVIEW]
Rhydon's typing and raw power make it a major threat in the RBY Ubers metagame. Sporting the most powerful unboosted physical attack in the generation without a downside in its Earthquake, which 3HKOes tier titans Mewtwo, Mew, and Snorlax and 2HKOes Chansey, Rhydon is incredible at threatening paralyzed teams and is very difficult to switch into. Rhydon has the option to run Rock Slide to supplement this, granting it perfect coverage. It's no slouch defensively either: its typing awards it an Electric immunity, and ergo the ability to wall Zapdos, Jolteon, Gengar, the rare Electrode, and Mewtwo running Thunderbolt as its only attack. Rhydon is also unaffected by Thunder Wave, making it much harder to paralyze reliably. In addition, its Normal resistance means it can take Explosions for other team members and take minimal damage and force recharge turns from Hyper Beam. Rhydon's outstanding HP stat gifts it with Substitutes that can survive a Seismic Toss from Chansey, further improving its matchup against it, and its gigantic Defense lets it Rest stall Mew sets that carries Body Slam as their only attacking move and gives it a solid matchup against Submission Mewtwo.
Unfortunately, Rhydon is held back by the fact it necessitates paralysis support to function effectively, as its abysmal Speed leaves it outpaced by all viable Pokemon in the metagame except for Slowbro and Snorlax. This, by extension, means it despises being paralyzed itself; though it's immune to Thunder Wave, it can still be threatened with Stun Spore and Body Slam. These traits, alongside Rhydon's poor special bulk and weaknesses to common attacking types in the metagame, mean it will have trouble in most one-on-one matchups if paralysis support is not provided. Rhydon only has Rest for recovery, which forces it into passivity for two turns and invites in Pokemon to switch in and apply pressure on it or set up. Lastly, Rhydon cannot run all the moves it wants to, having to choose between two of Substitute, Leer, Rock Slide, and Rest.
Rhydon competes with Golem for a team slot, whose niche over it is a mighty Explosion—a worthwhile tool in Ubers, thanks to it preventing slower Pokemon from recovering and giving opportunities for teammates to switch in. This isn't the only advantage it has to offer; it has a slightly higher Speed stat while being able to 2HKO Rhydon with Earthquake, giving it the edge in a one-on-one matchup. However, it lacks Rhydon's remarkable Attack stat, rendering it incapable of reaching the damage ranges it can, and it cannot create Substitutes with more than 100HP, making it worse against Seismic Toss Chansey. Moreover, Golem's worse physical bulk and lack of access to Leer make it inferior against Mew sets carrying only Normal-type moves. Because of these problems, Rhydon is the superior choice on many competitive teams.
[SET]
name: Standard
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Body Slam
move 3: Substitute / Leer / Rock Slide
move 4: Rest / Substitute
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Earthquake deals massive damage to anything that doesn't resist it. Body Slam lets Rhydon fish for valuable paralysis on switch-ins that are not Normal-type, including Exeggutor and Mewtwo. Substitute is preferable in the third moveslot as it exhibits a great deal of utility over the other moves. Firstly, it allows Rhydon to scout for switch-ins. It can then take advantage of the free turn to pressure the foe with Earthquake or attempt to paralyze it with Body Slam. Caution is advised when doing this, however; if they are healthy, certain Pokemon like Exeggutor, Lapras, and Cloyster can switch into Rhydon as it sets up Substitute and prevent it from accomplishing anything by using Sleep Powder, Sing, or Clamp respectively. Rhydon's gargantuan HP and Defense grants its Substitutes the ability to always survive a Seismic Toss from Chansey and a +6 Body Slam from Mew 79.5% of the time. Furthermore, it gives Rhydon the option to fish for full paralysis against Mewtwo, potentially giving the former an opening to break past it, and at minimum wasting Mewtwo's PP. Leer or Tail Whip is an alternative to Substitute to let Rhydon dismantle Reflect users like Mew and Snorlax. It also gives Rhydon a way to remain threatening in the event it gets paralyzed, as if the foe is paralyzed itself, their Speed penalty will be reapplied and Rhydon will be faster after using it. Rock Slide OHKOes Jynx and Articuno, 2HKOes Lapras and Dragonite, 3HKOes Cloyster, and hits Exeggutor for more damage than Body Slam, vastly improving Rhydon's ability to threaten most of these Pokemon. It isn't mandatory, though—these Pokemon are rare save for Exeggutor, so Rock Slide is often less useful than Rhydon's other moves. Rest heals Rhydon to full HP and wipes off its paralysis, thus restoring its Speed once it switches out. This allows it to stonewall Mew carrying only Body Slam and helps it against Submission Mewtwo, but it should not see much use outside of these matchups—Mewtwo is far more likely to run moves that are a significant threat to Rhydon like Psychic or Ice Beam, and can use its Rest as an opportunity to come in.
Rhydon works best in the late-game, when faster Pokemon on the opposing team are paralyzed. Once this support is provided, it can switch in on Pokemon that cannot do much to it, like Electric-types, Gengar, and Mew carrying only Normal-type moves. After Rhydon is first revealed, however, this can be quite predictable, and the opponent will be less willing to keep these Pokemon in and risk giving it free turns. Rhydon can also switch into a predicted Hyper Beam or Explosion, and force a recharge turn in the event of the former, though it needs to be careful; Pokemon that carry these are often capable of dealing significant damage to it with their other moves. Finally, Rhydon can switch in on Thunder Wave or recovery moves like Soft-Boiled or especially Rest, as a foe using the latter will be left unable to threaten it for two turns. Substitute should only be used when it is worth it; Rhydon has no way to recover outside of Rest, and the HP reduction from using it can put it range for metagame threats to KO it after it is broken. For example, after using Substitute once at full HP, Rhydon is in KO range of Mewtwo's unboosted Ice Beam.
Running paralysis inducers alongside Rhydon is wise given its poor Speed. Starmie and Chansey are excellent teammate options, as they take little damage from Ice, Psychic, and Water-type moves, and possess the coverage to help against Pokemon that can trouble Rhydon, like Exeggutor and Slowbro. Exeggutor is another decent choice that packs Sleep Powder, useful resistances to Ground and Grass, and Explosion to give Rhydon another opportunity to come in. Rhydon helps these Pokemon in return by stonewalling Zapdos and breaking through paralyzed Chansey, Mew, and Mewtwo. Though Tauros only has the unreliable Body Slam for paralysis support, it boasts a great Speed stat, perfect coverage, and a considerable critical hit rate, and it tends to draw in and pressure Pokemon that cause difficulties for Rhydon. Slowbro has an identical typing to Starmie, and is more effective at luring in Mewtwo and enemy Starmie to paralyze them. In addition, it appreciates Rhydon's ability to wall Electric moves and take the Explosions that it attracts. Zapdos is effective against Water-types and Exeggutor and stops Mew carrying only Earthquake in its tracks, while Rhydon keeps Jolteon at bay for it. However, it should be noted that Slowbro and Zapdos are not ideal partners for Rhydon overall; to use them, one would have to either drop Snorlax or Chansey, which are often considered nigh mandatory on an RBY Ubers team, or run an unconventional lead. Additionally, both Rhydon and Slowbro are very slow.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Unfortunately, Rhydon has extremely few other usable moves to its name, and they are difficult to fit on a moveset. Fire Blast is an arguable option thanks to its 30.1% burn chance, which gives Rhydon the ability to cripple Exeggutor and Mew on the switch. While Mew is able to use Swords Dance to remove the Attack penalty, boosting moves from Rhydon's teammates, such as Amnesia from Mewtwo, will force the drop back on it, keeping its physical attacks ineffective for the rest of the game. Fire Blast is niche at best overall, though, as it is inconsistent, relies on its surprise factor to be successful, and carries the risk of burning Mewtwo, which has disastrous consequences. Stomp's flinch chance can come in handy against paralyzed foes, as they will only have a 52.4% chance to move. Even with Rhydon's mammoth Attack stat, however, it's incredibly weak. Finally, although it's gimmicky, Counter can be used to punish usage of Explosion by the opponent. To do this, Rhydon must come in immediately afterward, and force out the foe on the turn it uses Counter. If done successfully, this can result in a free KO.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Exeggutor**: Exeggutor possesses solid bulk and a rare resistance to Ground-type moves alongside a neutrality to Rock, making it one of the best Rhydon switch-ins in the game. Once it's on the field, it can threaten Rhydon with paralysis or sleep—even if Rhydon is behind a Substitute—or deal major damage with Psychic. Rhydon can only 5HKO it in return with Body Slam or 4HKO with Rock Slide. That being said, it can threaten paralysis on Exeggutor with the former, preventing it from being able to reliably check Rhydon later on. Exeggutor can use Rest to wipe off any damage and status it takes to remain a relevant check throughout the game, though this is rare in Ubers.
**Ice-type Pokemon**: Articuno, Lapras, and Cloyster all outspeed Rhydon and OHKO it reliably with their powerful STAB Blizzards except for Cloyster, which still manages to do so a third of the time. Lapras can carry Sing, which bypasses Rhydon's Substitute and lets it try for a sleep on a switch-in, while Cloyster comes with Clamp, which destroys Rhydon's Substitute and prevents it from moving on the same turn. Rock Slide is a worry for these Pokemon—especially Articuno—but if Rhydon lacks it, they all make good switch-ins, though they do not like being paralyzed by Body Slam. Jynx is another Pokemon that outspeeds and usually OHKOes Rhydon with Blizzard, but it's very difficult for it to switch in as it is OHKOed by Rock Slide and can be crippled by Body Slam paralysis.
**Dragonite**: Dragonite is unaffected by Earthquake, and can either use Surf and Blizzard to OHKO and 2HKO Rhydon respectively. Rhydon can switch out, but it isn't content with doing so, as Dragonite can use the predicted switch as an opportunity to set up Agility and start whittling down Rhydon's team without retaliation via Wrap. Rhydon has no viable way to reliably cripple Dragonite as it sets up, as Rock Slide only 2HKOes it and Body Slam only has a 30.1% chance to paralyze it. In particular, Dragonite makes a competent check to Rhydon sets lacking Rock Slide, as Body Slam will only 5HKO it. Rhydon does have space to threaten or mitigate Dragonite thanks to its Normal resistance—it can switch into Hyper Beam, forcing a recharge turn and letting it either deal major damage to it or potentially cripple it with Body Slam paralysis, and it can switch into and out of Wrap to stall out its PP.
**Tauros**: Tauros carries a staggering 21.47% critical hit chance, as well as coverage moves in Blizzard and Earthquake that 2HKO and 3HKO Rhydon respectively, but Rhydon does significant damage to it with its own Earthquake, which it has no way to heal off, so it is limited as an answer.
**Paralysis**: Although Rhydon is difficult to paralyze reliably thanks to its Thunder Wave immunity, it can no longer outspeed paralyzed Pokemon after it is paralyzed itself, and it has to use Rest to get its Speed back, making it completely passive for two turns. If Rhydon is carrying Leer or Tail Whip, it can outspeed faster paralyzed Pokemon after a stat drop, giving it another option, but remaining unparalysed is still preferable by far. Rhydon can be paralyzed by Stun Spore from Exeggutor or Victreebel or Body Slams from Pokemon like Mew or Snorlax.
**Starmie**: Most of the time, Rhydon will only 3HKO Starmie with Earthquake, which threatens it with an OHKO from Surf or a 2HKO from Blizzard and has a huge critical hit rate backing the latter up. Combined with its access to Recover, it might seem like an appealing switch-in; however, being paralyzed by Body Slam when entering the field makes it a much worse answer to Rhydon overall as it is then outsped.
**Slowbro**: Slowbro's Surf OHKOes Rhydon, and it can paralyze a Pokemon on a predicted switch, but it's outsped and 3HKOed by its Earthquake more often than not. In addition, it relies on Rest for recovery, giving Rhydon an opportunity to switch in and win the matchup.
**Victreebel**: Victreebel's Razor Leaf is guaranteed to OHKO Rhydon, and it has fearsome status moves in its arsenal to cripple whatever it switches out to, as well as Wrap to let it pivot to a teammate for free. However, Rhydon has a significant chance to 2HKO Victreebel with Earthquake, or cripple it with Body Slam paralysis, making it a risky switch-in.
**Sandslash and Golem**: Both of these Pokemon outspeed Rhydon and 2HKO it with their Earthquakes. Sandslash has some room to switch in, as Rhydon can only 3HKO it in return. That being said, it doesn't appreciate taking damage, as doing so could jeopardize its sweep. Golem has much more difficulty finding a time to come in, as its Ground weakness means Rhydon will 2HKO it.
**Reflect users**: Snorlax is capable of 3HKOing Rhydon with Earthquake, and it walls Rhydon fairly reliably after it sets up Reflect. Snorlax can also paralyze Rhydon with Body Slam, forcing it to Rest to regain its Speed. Being outsped is a major problem for it, though; Rhydon 3HKOes it with its own Earthquake until it sets up. Another issue is that Rhydon can run Leer or Tail Whip, which can negate Snorlax's Defense boost while it is sleeping. Even if it doesn't, Rhydon can potentially break through it if it gets a single critical hit, which it has a large number of chances to fish for. Zapdos cannot threaten Rhydon directly, but it can stall it out with Reflect and Rest in the unlikely event it is running them as long as Rhydon isn't carrying Rock Slide, Leer, or Tail Whip. Snorlax and Zapdos both depend on Rest to be able to continue stalling Rhydon, so they risk luring in offensive threats like Mewtwo when they use it, which can force them out and nullify their Reflect boost in the process, or make use of the free turns to set up.
**Mew**: Mew has multiple effective moves against Rhydon at its disposal, 3HKOing it with Earthquake and Psychic or 2HKOing it with the rare Ice Beam. It very frequently runs Swords Dance too, allowing it to 2HKO with Earthquake at +2 or OHKO it half the time at +4. Mew also has Soft-Boiled access to remove any damage it takes in the process, and Reflect to significantly reduce the effectiveness of Rhydon's attacking moves. However, it's not an ideal check; Rhydon can 3HKO Mew with Earthquake, and is able to threaten it much more effectively if it is paralyzed.
**Mewtwo**: Mewtwo outpaces Rhydon and 2HKOes it with Psychic and Ice Beam while Rhydon can only 3HKO back with Earthquake, and will be running Recover to heal off any damage it takes most of the time. Moreover, it packs Amnesia and a superb critical hit rate of 25.39%, so Rhydon is at risk even if it as at full HP. On the other hand, Rhydon can try to paralyze Mewtwo on the switch with Body Slam, making it easier for it and other physical attackers to pressure it. Afterwards, it can use Substitute to fish for a full paralysis turn and then apply pressure with Earthquake if it succeeds.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Mikon, 535276]]
- Quality checked by: [[Oiseau Bleu, 431020], [Enigami, 233818]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
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