Rhyhorn (Analysis)

Rhyhorn



Status: Written, sorry for the delay.
QC Checks: Heysup, Aerrow
GP Checks: Calm Pokemaster, V0x


[Overview]

<p>Rhyhorn is a mixed bag as far as viability is concerned. High Attack, HP, and Defense are very useful, but low Speed and Special Defense really hold Rhyhorn back. Weaknesses to common Fighting- and Water-type moves further compound the issue, and stop Rhyhorn from reaching its full potential. Its typing isn't completely terrible, as it makes Rhyhorn one of the best switch-ins to common Flying-types. Rhyhorn might be notably similar to Geodude, but their movepools make them different from each other, meaning that neither is really outclassed by the other. Overall, Rhyhorn is solid, but isn't a great Little Cup Pokemon.</p>

[SET]
name: Rock Polish
move 1: Rock Polish
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Stone Edge / Rock Blast
move 4: Swords Dance / Megahorn
item: Life Orb / Eviolite
nature: Jolly
evs: 36 HP / 236 Atk / 236 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Rock Polish is a natural move for Rhyhorn to take advantage of, as its Speed doubles to a respectable 24 after one use. This outspeeds every unboosted Pokemon, as well as many Choice Scarf users, in Little Cup. Earthquake and Stone Edge are STAB moves that have amazing neutral coverage, so they are natural choices for moveslots. Rock Blast is an option over Stone Edge for the ability to break Substitutes, but isn't nearly as reliable, as it usually has lower power than Stone Edge. In the last slot, Swords Dance is a good choice, as Rhyhorn needs little extra coverage. Rhyhorn won't always have time to use the move, but it can be very helpful against slower opponents such as Hippopotas. The other option to consider is Megahorn, as it always 2HKOes Slowpoke when Rhyhorn holds a Life Orb, and it can even do so on average with Eviolite.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Rhyhorn makes good use of both Life Orb and Eviolite, and both have their advantages and disadvantages when compared to the other. Life Orb guarantees the 2HKO on Scraggy and Ferroseed with Earthquake, while Eviolite versions manage to gain the 2HKO only sometimes on Scraggy and never against Ferroseed. Life Orb also provides a 2HKO on average on Slowpoke with Earthquake followed by Megahorn, but with Eviolite, that is rarely ever the case. On the other hand, Rhyhorn gains durability with Eviolite, which allows it to usually survive an unboosted Hi Jump Kick from Scraggy. It also grants Rhyhorn the ability to always tank two hits from Ferroseed's Gyro Ball. When holding a Life Orb, Rhyhorn can survive neither of the two scenarios.</p>

<p>Fire Blast is a lesser option in the last slot, with Rhyhorn's HP EVs shifted to Special Attack, as it will likely OHKO Ferroseed with one layer of Spikes if using Life Orb. If using Eviolite, two switch-ins will do the same. Rhyhorn needs help when facing quite a few common opponents, the most important of which are Water-types such as Staryu. Chinchou is a great teammate for Rhyhorn, as it beats most Water-types easily. Grass-types such as Lileep, Cottonee, and Ferroseed pose a massive threat to Rhyhorn, as do Fighting-types such as Mienfoo and Scraggy. Gastly is a solid check to some Fighting-types and Cottonee, so it works well as a teammate. Croagunk is another good option, as it does well against many common Fighting-types while holding its own against Grass-types as well.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Superpower is a nice move that can deal major damage to Ferroseed, Lileep, and Scraggy, but the stat drops can force Rhyhorn to switch out. Crunch has little utility, but could be used as an accurate option to hit Gastly. Curse is an alternative boosting move, but Rhyhorn's many weaknesses and low Special Defense mean that it isn't very effective. Thunder Fang and Fire Fang can increase Rhyhorn's coverage a bit, but Geodude outclasses Rhyhorn here with its access to ThunderPunch and Fire Punch. Aqua Tail is worth some consideration, as it is Rhyhorn's best option against Ground-types. Ground-types aren't too common, howver, so it is a lesser option than the listed moves. Rhyhorn learns Roar, Toxic, and Stealth Rock, but there are better Pokemon at supporting a team.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Water-types such as Staryu work well, as they can take a hit from Rhyhorn and easily KO back. Grass-types, especially special attackers such as Lileep, do the same. Fighting-types with Drain Punch are very useful to stop Rhyhorn, as they can recover much of the HP lost to Rhyhorn's attacks and will usually come out on top. Hippopotas with Roar is usually a good option, though if Rhyhorn already has a Swords Dance in, it will take a large amount of damage in the process.</p>

[Dream World]

<p>Rhyhorn receives Reckless from the Dream World. It's decent if using Double-Edge, but the ability is otherwise completely useless.</p>

Mention jolly nature because it lets you outspeed jolly choice scraf manky,chinchou, houndour, mienfoo and tie with modest choice scarf gastly

sad it still doesn't get head smash:(

double edge is incompatible with reckless. Reckless is 100% useless for now: the only move it can use it with is take down, which is weaker than return.

Reckless is completely unreleased anyway, and although it's likely to be incompatable when it is released, it's fine in there until then since we just don't know.

Rhyorn hits 30 Defense with an eviolite, and could make use of it to run a support set with Stealth Rock, but I'd add it to other options tbh, because most physical attackers are Fighting-types.

Mention fast Scarfers like Mienfoo that can still outspeed Rhyhorn after it uses Rock Polish.

Not much else to it, I'll probably stamp after some other QC members weigh in

Its Def is great but almost all of the physical attackers are either Fighting or Ground. I would keep it with Rock Polish and enough to outspeed Scarf Dour and Mienfoo at the very least.

Heysup said:

Its Def is great but almost all of the physical attackers are either Fighting or Ground. I would keep it with Rock Polish and enough to outspeed Scarf Dour and Mienfoo at the very least.

Click to expand...

It needs max Speed Jolly to outspeed them. 17 Speed with a scarf goes to 25 right?

Yea, it should be Jolly.

Anyway, Megahorn, in my opinion, is much more useful then Superpower (and even Swords Dance, I guess). Without it, Rhyhorn can't even 2HKO Slowpoke, but with it (and even without Life Orb) it does 2HKO Slowpoke. In fact with Life Orb, you can freely throw Earthquakes and then finish Slowpoke off with Megahorn.

Also, this is one of those analyses that should list the differences between Eviolite and Life Orb. What exactly does Rhyhorn survive with Eviolite (and possibly SS)? What KOes does it miss (eg. Ferroseed is 2HKOed by LO but not by Eviolite)?

I will change it to Jolly.

I still feel like I should mention its Defense, as it is too fantastic to ignore. It has terrible weaknesses but it makes for nearly a perfect Taillow and Doduo switch, which is quite useful.

I will take off Superpower and put it in OO, and put Megahorn slashed in the last slot. Swords Dance is still pretty nice at times, so I'd really like it to be there too.

I'll do some calcs on Rhyhorn with Eviolite and LO for common Pokemon and get back to you on that, not a problem.

Mention Fire Blast in AC at the least since Eviolite Rhyhorn will usually OHKO standard Ferroseed after it has switched into Spikes twice, while LO will KO after one switch-in. (This is assuming Jolly and 36 SpA EVs).

I'll mention in AC, sure.

Also, calcs really were quite interesting, I'll mention some of the more interesting results in the analysis now.

Approved.

Sorry for being gone for a couple of days there, I'll write this up tomorrow morning because I am really tired now and last time I wrote when tired it wasn't too good.

This is written, sorry for taking so long.

Deletions
Additions / Corrections
Comments





Excellent job.

GP 1 / 2

Thanks, updated.

nice!! cleared some ambiguous "its" and stuff

add etc


2/2


edit: nice catch Princess of Johto, I've edited it in

I just noticed one small thing in this paragraph:

<p>Fire Blast is a lesser option in the last slot, with Rhyhorn's HP EVs shifted to Special Attack, as it will likely OHKO Ferroseed with one later of Spikes if using Life Orb. If using Eviolite, two switch-ins will do the same. Rhyhorn needs help when facing quite a few common opponents, the most important of which are Water-types such as Staryu. Chinchou is a great teammate for Rhyhorn, as it beats most Water-types easily. Grass-types such as Lileep, Cottonee, and Ferroseed pose a massive threat to Rhyhorn, as do Fighting-types such as Mienfoo and Scraggy. Gastly is a solid check to some Fighting-types and Cottonee, so it works well as a teammate. Croagunk is another good option, as it does well against many common Fighting-types while holding its own against Grass-types as well.</p>

Click to expand...

Shouldn't the bolded word be "layer"?

Thanks to you both, this is done!

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