Aerrow
hunter
Hippopotas
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[Overview]
<p>As weather plays a dominant role in the Little Cup metagame, weather-starters like Hippopotas are extremely important, as they are able to both set up the field for a teammate to sweep and shut down an opponent's sweep. Being the only Pokemon in Little Cup to automatically start sandstorm, Hippopotas plays a crucial role in the metagame, balancing other forms of weather while simultaneously assisting Pokemon like Drilbur in sweeping. Aside from providing sandstorm support, Hippopotas is also capable of many other things such as providing Stealth Rock support as well as becoming a notable defensive threat by utilizing moves such as Toxic, Protect, Slack Off and Roar.</p>
[SET]
name: Lead
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Roar / Crunch
move 4: Rock Slide / Protect / Slack Off
nature: Impish
item: Evolite / Leftovers
evs: 212 HP / 36 Atk / 212 Def / 36 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Just like in Generation 4, Hippopotas will continue to be a "Staple Lead" for any Little Cup team revolving around strategies, offensive or defensive, associated with the effects of sandstorm. Hippopotas, is also able to provide Stealth Rock support, thus making a more useful lead. Earthquake is used mainly because it provides Hippopotas with a strong and reliable STAB attack, while Crunch and/or Rock Slide can be used for coverage reasons. However, aside from these attacking options, there are a couple of other moves that also work nicely on this set: Roar can be used to deal with troublesome match-ups or simply to scout the opponent's team and deal a bit of residual damage; Protect can be used against Fake out leads and can be used to gain some Leftovers recovery while also dishing out a bit of Sandstorm damage; and Slack off can be used to increase Hippopotas's longevity in a battle.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>An Impish Nature combined with the given EVs maximizes Hippopotas's defensive prowess while also supplementing its rather average offensive power. An Evolite is recommended on this particular set as it helps Hippopotas to survive for a much longer period of time in a battle, to restart sandstorm or lay down Stealth Rock. Leftovers can be used alternatively for similar reasons, although Leftovers will only be useful in the majority of scenarios if you have opted not to use Slack Off on the set. Lastly, Roar is an exceptional move which can be used on the set to deal with unfavorable match-ups and/or in conjunction with additional entry hazards provided by Pokemon like Ferroseed.</p>
<p>Being the only Pokemon in Little Cup which can start sandstorm automatically, Hippopotas can be a valuable asset to many sandstorm-orientated sweepers, one of the more notable ones being Drilbur. Also, as it is able to provide Stealth Rock support, non-sandstorm sweepers like Totodile and Dratini, which need Stealth Rock support to get certain KOs and eliminate focus sashes, are also great teammates for the baby sand-hippo. Also, packing Pokemon on your team which can handle Pokemon like Chinchou and Mantyke would go a long way in keeping Hippopotas healthy throughout a battle as the aforementioned Pokemon can easily take down Hippopotas with their STAB, super effective attacks, hitting Hippopotas's lackluster Special Defense.</p>
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Toxic
move 2: Slack Off
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Stealth Rock / Protect / Roar
nature: Impish
item: Evolite
evs: 212 HP / 36 Atk / 212 Def / 36 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Unlike the last set (which look very similar to this one), the Defensive set attempts to use Hippopotas's physical bulk to try and "stall-out" opponents through a combination of Toxic and Slack Off, slowly wearing them down as the turns of a battle progress. Earthquake is used mainly on this set as an attacking option as it helps Hippopotas to defeat Pokemon already weakened without having to stall them out with Slack Off. Stealth Rock gives this set a supporting aspect as in addition to helping Hippopotas weaken opponents' Pokemon, it also assists Hippopotas's teammates when they are attempting a sweep. However, Protect can be used to enhance the stalling strategy associated with this set, while Roar can be used in conjunction with entry hazard support to rack up damage additional damage.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EV Spread and Nature used here maximize Hippopotas's defensive capabilities while also slightly increasing Hippopotas's power output. An Evolite is highly recommended as it increases the hippo Pokemon's durability and longevity in a battle, making it more effective in slowly wearing down an opponent. Pokemon like Ferroseed make excellent partners for Hippopotas as the entry hazards they are able to provide are invaluable, hastening the process of stalling an opponent’s Pokemon out. Also, as with the Lead set, Pokemon like Chinchou and Mantyke are huge problems for Hippopotas as they are able to land STAB, super effective attacks on Hippopotas's weaker defensive side. However, it should be noted that this set is a lot harder to take down as it is significantly more defensively inclined than the Lead set.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>If necessary, the EVs can be invested more into Special Defense, although even with maximum Special Defense, Hippopotas will still have trouble with the likes of Mantyke and Chinchou. Aside from the recommended sets, Hippopotas doesn't have many other options, offensively or defensively orientated: a Curse set can be used but is not recommended as even with boosts from Curse, Hippopotas's Special Defense remains static, meaning the Pokemon will still be easily exploited by Special Attackers. Similarly, a Stockpile set can be run although it is not recommended for similar reasoning. A Choice Band set can be used to some success but due to Hippopotas's meager offensive-stats, Choice Band Hippopotas will almost always find itself being outclassed. In terms of other moves Hippopotas can use, Ice Fang can be used to better deal with Gligar, a common switch-in to Hippopotas, while Superpower can be used to deal with Ferroseed, expecting to set up a couple of free layers of entry hazards on Hippopotas.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Pokemon such as Chinchou and Mantyke, which can super effectively hit Hippopotas on its weaker defensive side with their STAB attacks, are the biggest threats Hippopotas has to deal with in the Little Cup metagame, as if the aforementioned are able to get in on anything but a super effective attack, Hippopotas will be forced to switch or fall to an OHKO. While also being a great teammate for Hippopotas, Gligar is also one of its worst nightmares as not only does it benefit from the permanent sandstorm Hippopotas brings, but it can also set up without fear of any of Hippopotas's moves (except Roar) due to its massive base Defense stat. Lastly, Pokemon like Snover and Vulpix which can alter the weather prove to be challenges for Hippopotas; although Vulpix must be wary of switching into a super effective Earthquake, Snover doesn’t fear Hippopotas in the slightest and can easily dispatch of Hippopotas through either of its super effective STABs.</p>
[Overview]
name: Lead
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Roar / Crunch
move 4: Rock Slide / Protect / Slack Off
nature: Impish
item: Evolution Stone / Leftovers
evs: 212 HP / 36 Atk / 212 Def / 36 SpD
Set Comments
name: Defensive
move 1: Toxic
move 2: Slack Off
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Stealth Rock / Protect / Roar
nature: Impish
item: Evolution Stone
evs: 212 HP / 36 Atk / 212 Def / 36 SpD
Set Comments
- With generation 5 bringing strong little cup sweepers like Moguryuu which is heavily dependent on Sandstorm to pull of a sweep, Hippopotas will probably be seeing a lot more usage as its the only Pokemon in LC which can provide permanent Sandstorm and as battlers start to use Pokemon like Moguryuu
- Though Hippopotas can provide Sandstorm support, it can also provide the always valuable Stealth Rock support which will remain a very useful asset in the increasingly offensively-orientated Little Cup metagame
name: Lead
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Roar / Crunch
move 4: Rock Slide / Protect / Slack Off
nature: Impish
item: Evolution Stone / Leftovers
evs: 212 HP / 36 Atk / 212 Def / 36 SpD
Set Comments
- Just like in Generation 4, Hippopotas will be quite useful as lead on Little Cup teams revolving around strategies associated with the effects of Sandstorm
- Hippopotas can also provide Stealth Rock support making it thus more effective as a lead due to the additional support it gives
- The remaining move slots are mainly used as offensive options, allowing Hippopotas to retaliate against strong foes
- Earthquake provides a strong, reliable STAB move while both Crunch Rock Slide are used for coverage reasoning as they strike Pokemon who are resistant or immune to Earthquake
- Roar can be used to deal with troublesome match-ups or simply to scout the opponent's team / deal a bit of residual damage
- Protect can be used over Rock Slide as it helps against Fake Out lead, stopping their initial attack while simultaneously breaking their Focus Sash through Sandstorm damage
- Slack Off can be used for an obvious reason – to lengthen Hippopotas’ longevity in a battle
- The nature combined with the EVs given maximize Hippopotas’ defensive prowess while also magnifying it rather average offensive power
- Evolution Stone is recommended on the set as it help Hippopotas survive for a longer amount in the battle (also increases durability), while Leftovers can be used alternatively to slightly increase Hippopotas’ longevity in the battle by restoring a steady amount of HP every turn
- Roar is an exceptional move that can be used on the set for reasons associating with utility; Roar can works great with other entry hazards which can be provided by Pokemon like Tesshiido or even when you are faced with an unwanted match-up
- Hippopotas, being the only Pokemon in LC that can start permanent Sandstorm, can be a valuable asset to many sweepers, the most notable one being Moguryuu
- It can also be used as a simple Stealth Rock lead which is also needed for powerful sweepers like Totodile and Dratini, to get useful KOs
- Any Pokemon packing a super effective special move will alms always be guaranteed the OHKO on Hippopotas as unlike it defense stat, its special defenses stat is lackluster and quite frankly, mediocre
- Chinchou and Mantyke are both excellent examples of plausible counters as they can easily take down Hippopotas with their STAB attacks; although both must watch out in switching into a super effective attack – Earthquake for Chinchou and Rock Slide for Mantyke
name: Defensive
move 1: Toxic
move 2: Slack Off
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Stealth Rock / Protect / Roar
nature: Impish
item: Evolution Stone
evs: 212 HP / 36 Atk / 212 Def / 36 SpD
Set Comments
- Hippopotas ca effectively utilize a toxic stall set due to its immense amount of bulk
- Toxic and Slack Off are staples on this set as the are pretty much the basis or centre of the entire strategy involving Toxic Stall, which is used to slowly wear down opposing Pokemon
- Earthquake is used as an attacking option to hit Steel-types who would otherwise wall this set
- Stealth Rock can be used for utility although protect can be used to rack up more damage on the opposing Pokemon every other turn; Roar can be used for similar forms of utility
- The nature combined with the EVs given maximize Hippopotas’ defensive prowess while also magnifying it rather average offensive power
- An evolution stone is given to maximize Hippopotas’ durability and defensive prowess, making It this more effective at doing its job of Toxic Stalling
- Roar can be used with entry hazards supposedly provided by the likes of Tesshiido to rack up larger amount of damage every passing turn
- See Teammates and Counters for the lead set as they basically apply here as well although in this case, Hippopotas will be harder to take down due to it being much more defensively orientated
- All the teammates mentioned in the Lead set
- Pokemon who receive the Special Defense boost from Sandstorm (Rock-types) usually make some of the best partners to Hippopotas as it make setting up much easier for them
- Also, Pokemon that have the sand Veil ability, notably Gligar also benefit from the permanent Sandstorm weather status as it makes setting up much easier for them while also, inducing a bit of hax at uncertain times in a battle
- EVs can have a larger concentration in SpD if necessary
- Other than a Lead, Hippopotas doesn’t have many other options, offensively or defensively
- A Curse set can be used but is not recommended to the low level of viability, similarly a Stockpile set can be used but again, this is not recommended to the abundance of Water and Ice type attack in LC; Choice Band falls into the same category
- In terms of optional moves, Ice Fang can be used on a set to help retaliate against Hippopotas’ common switch ins, such as Gligar which take 4X damage from an Ice-type attack
- Superpower can be used to better deal with Tesshiido
- All the counters mentioned in the Lead set
- Gligar makes an excellent counter as not only does it benefit from the Sandstorm Hippopotas brings, it can also simply set up in Hippopotas’ face while taking miniscule amounts of damage due to its high defense stat
- Pokemon like Snover who can change the weather effect also prove to be threats to Hippopotas; Snover individually, can easily launch massive amounts of damage with either of its super effective STABs