[Pros]
<ul>
<li>Is an extremely powerful special attacker. </li>
<li>Acts as a great wallbreaker, and due to wide coverage it can be hard to play around.</li>
<li>It has a very solid movepool.</li>
</ul>
[Cons]
<ul>
<li>With the introduction of Fairy-types it no longer can spam Draco Meteors, loses almost perfect coverage, and has to rely on gimmicky moves to get past some of them.</li>
<li>Is a bit slow for a sweeper, and it has a decent amount of weaknesses which can make it less effective.</li>
</ul>
[Set Recommendations]
<p>Hydreigon @ Life Orb<br />
Ability: Levitate<br />
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd <br />
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)<br />
- Dark Pulse<br />
- Draco Meteor<br />
- Flash Cannon<br />
- Roost / Focus Blast / Fire Blast</p>
<p>Although the introduction of Fairy-types may seem like a extermination of Dragon-types like Hydreigon, it still poses a very large threat due to its powerful Special Attack and great coverage. Dark-type attacks received a huge buff this generation, gaining a neutral hit on Steel-types. This makes Hydreigon much more able to spam one of its most solid STAB special attacks, Dark Pulse. Paired with Draco Meteor, these two attacks get very solid coverage, and both compliment each other very well. Sadly, Fairy-types resists both of these STABs and put Hydreigon into a corner, limiting its ability to use these attacks as freely as it wants. Luckily, Hydreigon has a way to make sure Fairy-types are limited to the amount they can switch in safely. Flash Cannon, although not very strong, can punish Fairy-types on the switch, and combined with Stealth Rock can lower how easily they can switch in. Thanks to Hydreigon's solid power, Flash Cannon is turned into a viable option. The last slot can be occupied by a majority of moves. Roost heals Hydreigon, and with the amount of switches it causes, it shouldn't be too hard to find an opportunity. Focus Blast is useful to hit Assault Vest Tyranitar, which otherwise puts a full stop to this set. Focus Blast has shaky accuracy, however, and cannot OHKO said Tyranitar, putting Hydreigon in danger of taking severe damage from Stone Edge. Fire Blast can be placed in the final slot for coverage against Ferrothorn, Mawile, and a stronger way to make sure Steel-types die quicker. </p>
<p>Hydreigon causes many switches, and thus should be used with Stealth Rock or additional entry hazards. Stealth Rock itself is very important to ensure 2HKOs on Fairy-types with Flash Cannon and bulkier Steel-types with Dark Pulse. Hydreigon gives incredible offensive momentum to any team it is on by racking up damage and is thus is a very beneficial partner to late-game setup sweepers. Swords Dance Scizor and Aegislash are perfect examples, as they both can handle Fairy-Types and have great synergy with Hydreigon offensively and defensively.
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Specially based bulky Fairy-types like Florges, Togekiss, and Sylveon can tank anything Hydreigon throws at it aside from a Flash Cannon, which does not 2HKO unless Stealth Rock is present, which can be negated by a Protect or Rapid Spinner. Dedicated special walls like Chansey have a field day with Hydreigon and can come in without any worry of being taken out unless they are at very low HP. The same can be said about Assault Vest Tyranitar, but it must be careful of Focus Blast. Due to Hydreigon's so-so defensive typing, faster Dragon-, Fighting-, and Ice-types can all check it very well. Hydreigon is also weak to common priority moves bar Aqua Jet, and can be taken out handily by a Mach Punch of Ice Shard and takes a good chunk from a Bullet Punch.</p>
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