Dual Screens Boosting Sweeper
Zoul (Haxorus) @ Lum Berry
Trait: Mold Breaker
Shiny: Yes
Evs:
126 HP / 252 Atk / 132 Spe
Adamant Nature
-Dragon Dance
-Earthquake
-Outrage
-
Taunt
This is the classic Dragon Dance Haxorus set best used under Dual Screens/Memento teams. With Reflect up, Haxorus has no trouble nabbing an easy Dragon Dance boost and can tank a weaker HP Ice to get up that second boost and start wreaking havoc. There is no pokemon more dangerous under dual screens (with potential memento support) than Haxorus. Mold Breaker gives it impeccable coverage with Earthquake and Outrage, resisted only by Skarmory. Lum Berry can be used as a buffer for status which is commonly used to check setup sweepers, or to remove confusion after 2-3 Outrages. Unlike most physical boosters, Haxorus has no trouble against phazers like Skarmory due to Taunt, which allows it to easily boost and 2HKO the metal bird and continue its sweep. Taunt also allows Haxorus to prevent repeated status moves or a variety of other threats to nab that second Dragon Dance and proceed to sweep the opponent's team. An alternate spread of 220 Spd EVs can be used to outspeed Jolly Dragonite and Mamoswine, but this is usually not worth the loss in bulk, as both will likely be using priority to handle Haxorus, 252 Spd Jolly Dragonite is very rare, and Haxorus will likely have a DD boost before either switch in. 122 Speed EVs can be used to outspeed scarf Keldeo after two boosts, but just 10 more Speed EVs allow Haxorus to outrun positive natured base 70 Spd pokemon before any boost and Scarf Latios after two boosts so it is recommended.
- 1. What is thought to "counter" this pokemon?
- 2. Is there anyway to bypass this pokemon's so-called "counters?
- 3. What moves are seldom used on this pokemon, but have the most upside?
- 4. What niches can this pokemon potentially fill in the current metagame?
- 5. What opposing pokemon does this pokemon do well against?
- 6. How can this pokemon benefit it's teammates?
1. Skarmory is the only hard counter to Haxorus as it resists STABs and can phaze/Roost on any of Haxorus' moves, including a +2 Fighting Gem Superpower if Rocks aren't up. Haxorus is usually kept in check by powerful priority attacks which harm it considerably considering its mediocre 76 HP stat, and also forced out even after a Dragon Dance boost by faster scarfers which threaten to KO or severely dent OU's only pure Dragon type, which usually succumbs to a powerful hit + LO recoil + SR within one-two turns.
2. Skarmory is very annoying for most physical sweepers, as it takes nothing and survives even boosted physical attacks while threatening to Whirlwind or Roost. Haxorus can Taunt Skarmory rendering 3/4 of its moves useless. With 126 HP EVs and Haxorus' decent 90 Def stat, it can easily take five-six Brave Birds from Skarmory and proceed to boost in Skarmory's face. Furthermore, this Haxorus is meant to be run on a Dual Screens team to patch up its passable bulk to the point where it can easily grab a boost (two if the opponent isn't switching in a serious threat or if Haxorus has Memento support) and proceed to sweep the opposing team. A Lum berry allows Haxorus to avoid status from Pokemon it 2HKOs (if Taunt is risky) and also continue sweeping after three turns of Outrage. Even worse, this Haxorus can't be LO stalled. Stealth Rocks or Spikes allow Haxorus to 2HKO Ferrothorn and Skarmory at +2, especially with just a little prior damage.
252 Atk Life Orb Mamoswine Ice Shard vs. 126 HP / 0 Def Haxorus through Reflect: 94-110 (29.01 - 33.95%) -- 1.66% chance to 3HKO (this is the strongest priority Haxorus will have to take)
252 Atk Terrakion Close Combat vs. 126 HP / 0 Def Haxorus through Reflect: 106-126 (32.71 - 38.88%) -- 99.66% chance to 3HKO (scarf Terrakion fails to crack even 40%, allowing Haxorus to easily boost a second time)
3. Taunt is rarely seen on Haxorus. (less than 10% of Haxorus run it, less than 4% of teams run Haxorus) Taunt allows Haxorus to turn dismantle slower teams and bulky walls hoping to status Haxorus or phaze into Taunt bait, and huge on the Dragon Dance set as standard DD Haxorus never gets two boosts without support. Haxorus doesn't need a third coverage move due to Outrage + EQ, and Mold breaker to handle Bronzong (and other pokemon with levitate without getting locked into Outrage). Moldbreaker renders Multiscale and many other abilities besides Levitate irrelevant, though it's mostly used to hit Levitating pokemon with EQ. It does negate Magic Bounce, allowing Haxorus to taunt Espeon or Xatu, but this is usually unnecessary.
4. Haxorus is one of the best pokemon on Dual Screens teams due to Mold Breaker EQ, its incredible attack stat, its pure Dragon typing affording it no 4x weaknesses and excellent SE coverage against all Dragons which threaten it, and the general frailty and weakness of Ice-type (the only other type that threatens Haxorus) attackers being exacerbated by Haxorus' brute power and his physical bulk under screens + memento. Haxorus can outspeed and KO/2HKO the entire metagame after two boosts. Taunt allows Haxorus to continue boosting against opposing physical walls which are not lured but rather
forced to switch in due to Haxorus' jaw-dropping power and coverage with Mold Breaker. This allows Haxorus to punch massive holes in the opposing team, setting up for a Salamence/Dragonite/Scizor sweep if it fails to sweep itself.
5. Haxorus does well against anything and everything, especially its supposed counters under screens. Often, Mamoswine will be forced to sit out while Haxorus breaks through its team until Reflect is down, by which point too much damage has been done. Haxorus excels against bulky pokemon that rely on status/recovery/phazing, as few switch in expecting Taunt.
6. This Haxorus is meant to be run on a Dual Screens team. Stealth Rocks allow it to 2HKO Skarmory and Forretress at +2, but Memento is generally much more appreciated, as it brings down opposing pokemon down to -4 Atk, -4 SAtk against a fresh Haxorus. As such, Uxie makes a wonderful partner, providing Dual Screens, Memento, and Stealth Rock. Rotom-W, an uncommon user of Dual Screens can even bring in Haxorus for free with Volt Switch, though it lacks Memento. Rotom-W also helps check Rain and resists Ice Shard/Bullet Punch. Latios can set up Dual Screens (though it has difficulty setting up both) and Memento as Ttar switches in to bring in Haxorus easily. This Haxorus hates priority from CB Scizor, CBnite, and Ice Shard Mamoswine, though it can easily tank two hits under reflect, or one with its invested bulk. Every physical threat benefits from Haxorus on the team. SD Scizor makes a great sweeping partner for Haxorus, resisting Extremespeed and Bullet Punch, while taking advantage of weakened physical walls.
edit: I just realized that someone could post scarf haxorus as its not on the analysis with superpower/dual chop/EQ, niche enough in that it can 2hko zam/break sub, and better physical coverage at the cost of less bulk, etc
