Statistics
|
Min- |
Min |
Max |
Max+ |
| HP |
100
|
- |
341 |
404 |
- |
| Atk |
125
|
257 |
286 |
349 |
383 |
| Def |
52
|
126 |
140 |
203 |
223 |
| SpA |
105
|
221 |
246 |
309 |
339 |
| SpD |
52
|
126 |
140 |
203 |
223 |
| Spe |
71
|
160 |
178 |
241 |
265 |
The combination of STAB Sucker Punch, base 125 Attack, and Choice Band (or Life Orb) is a deadly way to attack and to finish your opponents off. STAB Drill Peck can OHKO incoming Heracross and Breloom, and does massive damage to Machamp. Superpower is for Steel-types, such as Heatran and Magnezone, who resist Sucker Punch and Drill Peck, and it is your best attack against both Tyranitar and Blissey.
The final move simply comes down to preference. Pursuit can be useful for playing mind games with your enemy. Your opponent might attempt to switch out to prevent Sucker Punch from damaging them and instead be caught off-guard and forced to take a hit. Night Slash makes prediction easier by allowing Honchkrow to attack with a powerful Dark STAB without the requirement of the opponent using a damaging attack.
Insomnia is preferred on this set because Honchkrow has a hard time switching in with his mediocre defenses. He does, however, boast two immunities and can absorb an incoming Hypnosis, so switching in isn't a major problem. Adamant or Jolly is again a matter of preference, this time as to whether you want more power or if you want enough Speed to outrun neutral natured base 80 Speed Pokemon. Life Orb is a fine option if you prefer to prevent being locked into an attack at the cost of 10% of health per turn.
Honchkrow also boasts base 105 Special Attack and can effectively make use of Choice Specs. Not only that, but it has an advantage over other special sweepers in that its Superpower can 2HKO Blissey, normally the bane of Choice Specs sets. Hidden Power Flying is STAB and does decent damage against the usual Fighting-types. Sucker Punch allows Honchkrow to finish off certain Pokemon that are weaker in health and faster than Honchkrow. Hidden Power Rock is mainly another filler, but it deals decent damage to Zapdos, Gyarados, Salamence, and Dragonite who dare switch in. Either ability is fine here: Insomnia gives you an easier time switching in, though Super Luck might look a bit more appealing on this set as the critical hit rate can help compensate for his not-spectacular Special Attack stat (compared to his base Attack). Mild or Hasty are the preferred natures as they hinder neither Superpower nor Sucker Punch, and the Speed boost is more than welcome.
Honchkrow's 71 base Speed is rather mediocre in comparison to his other stats — and if low speed is the affliction, then Choice Scarf is the cure. Night Slash alongside Super Luck works wonders on this set, since Honchkrow will have a 25% chance of scoring a critical hit with each attack, and a 43.75% chance of scoring at least one critical hit out of two attacks. Drill Peck can put massive damage on Heracross - now slower than Honchkrow unless it is holding a Scarf of its own. Superpower decimates Blissey once again and Heat Wave cooks the usual Steel-types not named Heatran (who loses to Superpower anyway). The Speed EVs beat Modest Heatran carrying a Choice Scarf and will outpace Timid Alakazam.
This set is an interesting twist on the normal Honchkrow which abuses his high Attack and Special Attack stats to become a powerful wall breaker. Especially with Stealth Rock supporting this set, Honchkrow tears through stall teams, or really any team that cannot outspeed it. Superpower is what really allows Honchkrow to shine as a wall breaker, dealing massive damage to or OHKOing Blissey, Heatran, Tyranitar, and Snorlax, who otherwise wall this set.
You must tread carefully when you Nasty Plot, however, as even medium-strength attack can put a huge dent into Honchkrow, despite his good HP stat. It could use some support from other Pokemon ranging from Thunder Wave to passing a simple Substitute or Agility, and Rapid Spin is always appreciated by a Pokemon which is weak to Stealth Rock.
Honchkrow also makes a good lead, as Sucker Punch and Pursuit allow you to play mind games with your opponent. Heat Wave can damage the usual Roserade, Metagross, and Bronzong leads, and Superpower completes the set by easily OHKOing any Tyranitar not holding a Chople Berry or a Focus Sash. Insomnia is a huge boon to the set, since Hypnosis, Sleep Powder, and Spore are all common moves among leads. 236 Speed EVs give Honchkrow 260 Speed to outrun neutral natured base 80 speed foes, and a small jump to 244 will allow Honchkrow to beat Gyarados as well.
Other Options
Psychic works on the Specs set, but Hidden Power Flying and the usual moves outclass it against what it would be used for normally. Hidden Power Electric maims Gyarados and does decent damage to bulky Waters; Hidden Power Grass dominates Swampert and still hits other bulky waters for the same damage as Electric; and Ice will destroy the usual Dragons. Icy Wind can work well if you can predict a switch, as the Speed drop will often allow Honchkrow to attack first next turn - certainly not a joke coming from base 125 Attack. Honchkrow can also Perish Trap, but keep in mind that Roost and Substitute are almost necessary to help Honchkrow survive, so attacking is pretty much out of the question. Mirror Move can bounce back random Earthquakes and attempt to hurt opponents like Tyranitar that lack a Choice item and don't switch out. Honchkrow also has Thunder Wave, Taunt, and Screech; however, it struggles to find the right time to use them. And it does have the ability to create 101 HP Substitutes, but the Ice-weakness makes it a shaky option when considering that few Pokemon use Seismic Toss and Night Shade besides Blissey.
EVs
A good EV spread is absolutely vital to success with Honchkrow. 252 Atk / 48 SpA / 212 Spe for the Choice Scarf is the best for Honchkrow, allowing him to outpace Timid Alakazam and anything slower. If you want you can drop a little more Speed to outpace Timid Azelf if you feel that Heat Wave needs a little more of a boost. The Nasty Plot set should simply use max Special Attack and Speed regardless of having Superpower, since it will not cause Honchkrow to miss any one- or two-hit-KOs. 236 Speed EVs with a positive nature are enough to outrun neutral nature base 80 speed Pokemon, and a small increase to 244 EVs will allow Honchkrow to outrun Adamant Gyarados as well.
Opinion
Honchkrow is a much-needed fourth generation upgrade from its pre-evolution Murkrow. With access to moves such as Sucker Punch, Heat Wave, and Superpower in tow, Honchkrow has found a reason to be a threatening sweeper when given the chance. STAB Sucker Punch really cannot be ignored, as it is a brutal punishment for anything looking to take advantage of Honchkrow's poor defenses. However, it's not all good news; its low Speed, weakness to Stealth Rock, and frail defenses are some of the biggest hindrances to the Big Boss Pokemon. Still, Honchkrow carries immunities to Psychic and Ground, and Insomnia gives him a way to switch in to intercept Hypnosis or Sleep Powder. Honchkrow definitely requires some prediction, but when used well it can single-handedly win games.
Counters
Honchkrow's biggest counters are those Pokemon faster than it, since it can't take anything but weak resisted hits. Also, the mass use of priority moves in the Overused environment make it difficult for Honchkrow to sweep effectively. Bulky Steel-types tend to do well against Honchkrow, but must tread wisely to avoid a Superpower or Heat Wave. Skarmory is probably the best counter to a purely physical Honchkrow, sporting massive physical defense and resistances to both of Honchkrow's STABs. Blissey does a fair job walling the Choice Specs set but fears Superpower taking her down if she's lower than 60% of health, factoring the most physically bulky Blissey possible (714 HP / 130 Def). The mixed sets are more difficult to wall, as a foolish switch-in or wrong prediction could cost you dearly. The Nasty Plot set is incredibly difficult to counter if you have nothing faster than Honchkrow. Many walls are OHKO'd after a single Nasty Plot, and those that are not, such as Regice, Snorlax, and Blissey, fear Superpower.
