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Meru · Dec 30th, 2012, 7:18:02 PM

[Overview]

- Transition to BW2 makes Sandstorm teams more in need of a durable weather inducer.
- Combined with increased Dugtrio usage, causes Tyranitar to fall out of favor.
- Only weather starter with reliable recovery.
- Physically bulkiest Pokemon in the entire OU tier.
- Low SpDef compounded with weakness to common special types such as Grass, Water, and Ice.
- Lack of offense; Taunt/Hazard bait.
- Competition from Donphan, Garchomp, and Landorus-T

[SET]
name: Mixed Wall
move 1: Slack Off
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Stealth Rock
move 4: Whirlwind / Ice Fang
item: Leftovers
ability: Sand Stream / Sand Force
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]

- SpDef investment allows Hippowdon to counter prominent non-boosting special attackers that can't strike with a strong STAB.
- One of the best CM Jirachi counters in the game.
- Still has enough physical bulk to counter boosting threats such as Toxicroak, Dragonite.
- Gives it an easier time switching into Defensive Politoed and Ninetales, giving fierce competition in the weather war.
- Strong STAB EQ punishes many pokemon for staying in.
- With Whirlwind, boosters such as Latias and Volcarona cannot use him as set up bait.
- Ice Fang doesn't counter any special threats beyond dragons, but does dissuade switch-ins such as Breloom, Celebi, Gliscor, and the Landorus formes. It also allows Hippowdon to break Air Balloons.
- Sand Force can be used on Rain, Sun, and Hail teams.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

- Calcs for LO Jolteon, LO Gengar, Specs Magnezone, Air Balloon Heatran, Sash Alakazam without Grass Knot, LO Mixmence, +1 Lum DDMence, BU and LO Toxicroak, +1 Latias, +1 Volcarona with and without Giga Drain.
- Needs teammates to handle boosted Water, Ice, and Grass attacks. Can't take Specs Draco Meteors.
- Can't handle boosted physical attacks, so a dedicated wall is needed.
- Needs support in eliminating Xatu if setting up Stealth Rock.
- Likes entry hazards to damage when shuffling with Whirlwind.
- With an affinity for entry hazards, a good ghost is needed. Jellicent has good synergy.

[SET]
name: Physical Wall
move 1: Slack Off
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Stealth Rock
move 4: Ice Fang / Whirlwind
item: Leftovers
ability: Sand Stream / Sand Force
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 244 Def / 12 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]

- Same set as before, but Hippowdon's excellent HP and Defense allow it to serve as a great physical wall.
- Ice Fang is slashed over Whirlwind as it's necessary to beat many physical threats that he counters, such as Garchomp and Dragonite.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

- Unlike other set, less of a need for another physical wall.
- Needs special wall. Synergizes well with SpD Ferrothorn as it can take the Water-, Grass-, and Ice-type attacks aimed at Hippowdon and set up Spikes that amplify Hippowdon's phazing. In return, Ferrothorn lures out Fighting-types such as Terrakion and Lucario, which Hippowdon effortlessly walls.
- Rotom-W helps to take on Gyarados and Mamoswine, two of the few physical threats Hippowdon cannot stand up to.
- Rain and Breloom counter also needed. Amoonguss can fend off Breloom as well as the powerful rain threats that Hippowdon can't switch into.
- Sand Force can be used on Rain, Sun, and Hail teams.

[Other Options]

- Offensive Sand Force is overshadowed by Landorus-T and Garchomp, who give much more utility as Offensive Ground-type pivots, and Donphan, who has more utility.
- Rock Slide or Stone Edge can be used to give EdgeQuake coverage and to nail Volcarona, although phazing it usually suffices.

[Checks and Counters]

- Rotom-W, Keldeo, strong Water/Grass/Ice attacks in general.
- Mixed attackers that can catch it off-guard.
- Trick.
- Susceptible to random burns and toxics, as well as accumulated damage from Spikes.
- Espeon and Xatu, although Espeon can't take EQs.
- Taunt.
- Bulky Hazard set up bait from the likes of Deoxys-D, Ferrothorn, Forretress, and Skarmory.

NOTES TO READERS
- Eliminated the Sand Force set. I don't think it's viable, but I am open to arguments otherwise.
- Made more mention of BW2's introduction of Landorus-T, as it occupies some portion of a niche that Hippowdon could've used.
- Want to make more acknowledgment of Stoutland but not sure how. Suggestions would be nice.

Dec 30th, 2012, 7:18:02 PM	#1
Meru Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 600	Hippowdon (BW2 Revamp) [QC 2/3] [Overview] - Transition to BW2 makes Sandstorm teams more in need of a durable weather inducer. - Combined with increased Dugtrio usage, causes Tyranitar to fall out of favor. - Only weather starter with reliable recovery. - Physically bulkiest Pokemon in the entire OU tier. - Low SpDef compounded with weakness to common special types such as Grass, Water, and Ice. - Lack of offense; Taunt/Hazard bait. - Competition from Donphan, Garchomp, and Landorus-T [SET] name: Mixed Wall move 1: Slack Off move 2: Earthquake move 3: Stealth Rock move 4: Whirlwind / Ice Fang item: Leftovers ability: Sand Stream / Sand Force nature: Careful evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD [SET COMMENTS] - SpDef investment allows Hippowdon to counter prominent non-boosting special attackers that can't strike with a strong STAB. - One of the best CM Jirachi counters in the game. - Still has enough physical bulk to counter boosting threats such as Toxicroak, Dragonite. - Gives it an easier time switching into Defensive Politoed and Ninetales, giving fierce competition in the weather war. - Strong STAB EQ punishes many pokemon for staying in. - With Whirlwind, boosters such as Latias and Volcarona cannot use him as set up bait. - Ice Fang doesn't counter any special threats beyond dragons, but does dissuade switch-ins such as Breloom, Celebi, Gliscor, and the Landorus formes. It also allows Hippowdon to break Air Balloons. - Sand Force can be used on Rain, Sun, and Hail teams. [ADDITIONAL COMMENTS] - Calcs for LO Jolteon, LO Gengar, Specs Magnezone, Air Balloon Heatran, Sash Alakazam without Grass Knot, LO Mixmence, +1 Lum DDMence, BU and LO Toxicroak, +1 Latias, +1 Volcarona with and without Giga Drain. - Needs teammates to handle boosted Water, Ice, and Grass attacks. Can't take Specs Draco Meteors. - Can't handle boosted physical attacks, so a dedicated wall is needed. - Needs support in eliminating Xatu if setting up Stealth Rock. - Likes entry hazards to damage when shuffling with Whirlwind. - With an affinity for entry hazards, a good ghost is needed. Jellicent has good synergy. [SET] name: Physical Wall move 1: Slack Off move 2: Earthquake move 3: Stealth Rock move 4: Ice Fang / Whirlwind item: Leftovers ability: Sand Stream / Sand Force nature: Impish evs: 252 HP / 244 Def / 12 SpD [SET COMMENTS] - Same set as before, but Hippowdon's excellent HP and Defense allow it to serve as a great physical wall. - Ice Fang is slashed over Whirlwind as it's necessary to beat many physical threats that he counters, such as Garchomp and Dragonite. [ADDITIONAL COMMENTS] - Unlike other set, less of a need for another physical wall. - Needs special wall. Synergizes well with SpD Ferrothorn as it can take the Water-, Grass-, and Ice-type attacks aimed at Hippowdon and set up Spikes that amplify Hippowdon's phazing. In return, Ferrothorn lures out Fighting-types such as Terrakion and Lucario, which Hippowdon effortlessly walls. - Rotom-W helps to take on Gyarados and Mamoswine, two of the few physical threats Hippowdon cannot stand up to. - Rain and Breloom counter also needed. Amoonguss can fend off Breloom as well as the powerful rain threats that Hippowdon can't switch into. - Sand Force can be used on Rain, Sun, and Hail teams. [Other Options] - Offensive Sand Force is overshadowed by Landorus-T and Garchomp, who give much more utility as Offensive Ground-type pivots, and Donphan, who has more utility. - Rock Slide or Stone Edge can be used to give EdgeQuake coverage and to nail Volcarona, although phazing it usually suffices. [Checks and Counters] - Rotom-W, Keldeo, strong Water/Grass/Ice attacks in general. - Mixed attackers that can catch it off-guard. - Trick. - Susceptible to random burns and toxics, as well as accumulated damage from Spikes. - Espeon and Xatu, although Espeon can't take EQs. - Taunt. - Bulky Hazard set up bait from the likes of Deoxys-D, Ferrothorn, Forretress, and Skarmory. NOTES TO READERS - Eliminated the Sand Force set. I don't think it's viable, but I am open to arguments otherwise. - Made more mention of BW2's introduction of Landorus-T, as it occupies some portion of a niche that Hippowdon could've used. - Want to make more acknowledgment of Stoutland but not sure how. Suggestions would be nice. __________________ In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one and only truth. Last edited by Meru; Jan 20th, 2013 at 1:41:57 PM.