[COMPLETED]Hydreigon

[sidakarya]

Apparently, some people are trying out a Focus Energy + Scope Lens set, which grants a 100% crit-hit rate when set up. This is essentially a +1 boost, but with the added effect, that Draco Meteor has no side effects due to critical hits bypassing them and freely spammable. It looks similar to the Life Orb set, but with Focus Energy as the centre of the set.

Hydreigon @ Scope Lens
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Focus Energy
- Dark Pulse
- Draco Meteor
- Flash Cannon / Focus Blast

Notably, a guaranteed critical-hit Flash Cannon turns 3HKO's on the usual fairy counters to 2HKO's (and possibly a OHKO on Togekiss after rocks). It also has a chance to OHKO Assault Vest Tyranitar with Focus Blast, guaranteed after rocks.

The problem with this set is that you need to set up this boost, and most of the fairy counters can just switch in, survive the Flash Cannon and OHKO. There's also noticeable lack of power before boosting and Life Orb hits almost as hard anyway. This is probably just a gimmick set (Kingdra probably is better suited for crit abuse imo) but thought I would give this a mention.

 

[Shiruba]

Assault Vest Hydreigon snip

Can someone reputable test this idea more thoroughly? Having something that's decently bulky with resistances to both ghost and dark are rarer than ever these days, so that alone is cool in giving some merit. 92/90/90 is definitely not too shabby, especially since it's got lots of attacking options to fill its slots. Most of its sets don't even really put Roost on them. Tyranitar's pretty much the only bulkier dark type that's not uber, and dreigon has some neat advantages over him, like not bringing up weather [perhaps you're running a different one], being immune to ground moves + spikes/sticky web instead of being weak to them, being only 2x weak to fighting, eating Rotom-W's main moves for breakfast, being faster, etc.

 

[Nauris]

Can someone reputable test this idea more thoroughly? Having something that's decently bulky with resistances to both ghost and dark are rarer than ever these days, so that alone is cool in giving some merit. 92/90/90 is definitely not too shabby, especially since it's got lots of attacking options to fill its slots. Most of its sets don't even really put Roost on them. Tyranitar's pretty much the only bulkier dark type that's not uber, and dreigon has some neat advantages over him, like not bringing up weather [perhaps you're running a different one], being immune to ground moves + spikes/sticky web instead of being weak to them, being only 2x weak to fighting, eating Rotom-W's main moves for breakfast, being faster, etc.

So I'm not reputable? Well anyway, it would be nice if someone else could test it, and potentially find better EV spread for it. I don't know the speed tiers and such that well...

 

[McGrrr]

Can someone reputable test this idea more thoroughly? Having something that's decently bulky with resistances to both ghost and dark are rarer than ever these days, so that alone is cool in giving some merit. 92/90/90 is definitely not too shabby, especially since it's got lots of attacking options to fill its slots. Most of its sets don't even really put Roost on them. Tyranitar's pretty much the only bulkier dark type that's not uber, and dreigon has some neat advantages over him, like not bringing up weather [perhaps you're running a different one], being immune to ground moves + spikes/sticky web instead of being weak to them, being only 2x weak to fighting, eating Rotom-W's main moves for breakfast, being faster, etc.

It's just not viable. Consider the most common special attackers:

| 2 | Greninja | 28.54731% | 83383 | 26.799% | 65873 | 26.943% |
| 4 | Gengar | 20.89680% | 64808 | 20.829% | 48280 | 19.747% |
| 10 | Goodra | 12.69665% | 37345 | 12.003% | 28246 | 11.553% |
| 12 | Rotom-Wash | 11.93938% | 28213 | 9.068% | 24346 | 9.958% |
| 14 | Noivern | 10.81764% | 30940 | 9.944% | 23842 | 9.752% |
| 15 | Alakazam | 9.98199% | 33909 | 10.898% | 24153 | 9.879% |
| 18 | Lucario | 9.40824% | 30116 | 9.679% | 22794 | 9.323% |
| 20 | Charizard | 9.03738% | 32760 | 10.529% | 26556 | 10.862% |
| 24 | Sylveon | 8.18109% | 28316 | 9.101% | 20800 | 8.508% |
| 26 | Galvantula | 7.28694% | 18422 | 5.921% | 16972 | 6.942% |
| 28 | Togekiss | 7.02792% | 18666 | 5.999% | 14308 | 5.852% |
| 29 | Volcarona | 7.02354% | 21180 | 6.807% | 16160 | 6.610% |
| 30 | Florges | 6.64256% | 19499 | 6.267% | 14528 | 5.942% |
| 32 | Starmie | 5.93586% | 17432 | 5.603% | 12934 | 5.290% |
| 33 | Espeon | 5.83902% | 18554 | 5.963% | 13971 | 5.714% |

Except for Rotom (which Hydreigon doesn't care about, with or without Assault Vest), all of the above have a super effective option against Hydreigon (Dark typing is really unhelpful), and it lacks the monstrous special defense boasted by Goodra to shrug this off.

 

[Nauris]

It's just not viable. Consider the most common special attackers:

| 2 | Greninja | 28.54731% | 83383 | 26.799% | 65873 | 26.943% |
| 4 | Gengar | 20.89680% | 64808 | 20.829% | 48280 | 19.747% |
| 10 | Goodra | 12.69665% | 37345 | 12.003% | 28246 | 11.553% |
| 12 | Rotom-Wash | 11.93938% | 28213 | 9.068% | 24346 | 9.958% |
| 14 | Noivern | 10.81764% | 30940 | 9.944% | 23842 | 9.752% |
| 15 | Alakazam | 9.98199% | 33909 | 10.898% | 24153 | 9.879% |
| 18 | Lucario | 9.40824% | 30116 | 9.679% | 22794 | 9.323% |
| 20 | Charizard | 9.03738% | 32760 | 10.529% | 26556 | 10.862% |
| 24 | Sylveon | 8.18109% | 28316 | 9.101% | 20800 | 8.508% |
| 26 | Galvantula | 7.28694% | 18422 | 5.921% | 16972 | 6.942% |
| 28 | Togekiss | 7.02792% | 18666 | 5.999% | 14308 | 5.852% |
| 29 | Volcarona | 7.02354% | 21180 | 6.807% | 16160 | 6.610% |
| 30 | Florges | 6.64256% | 19499 | 6.267% | 14528 | 5.942% |
| 32 | Starmie | 5.93586% | 17432 | 5.603% | 12934 | 5.290% |
| 33 | Espeon | 5.83902% | 18554 | 5.963% | 13971 | 5.714% |

Except for Rotom (which Hydreigon doesn't care about, with or without Assault Vest), all of the above have a super effective option against Hydreigon (Dark typing is really unhelpful), and it lacks the monstrous special defense boasted by Goodra to shrug this off.

I can add some calcs
252+ SpA Choice Specs Lucario Aura Sphere vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Hydreigon: 288-342 (88.6 - 105.2%)
252 SpA Mega Gengar Focus Blast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Hydreigon: 234-276 (72 - 84.9%)
252 SpA Life Orb Protean Greninja Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Hydreigon: 242-283 (74.4 - 87%)
252+ SpA Goodra Draco Meteor vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Hydreigon: 302-356 (92.9 - 109.5%)
252+ SpA Adaptability Mega Lucario Aura Sphere vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Hydreigon: 296-352 (91 - 108.3%)
252 SpA Choice Specs Noivern Draco Meteor vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Hydreigon: 378-446 (116.3 - 137.2%)
252+ SpA Mega Charizard Y Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Hydreigon in Sun: 126-148 (38.7 - 45.5%)
252+ SpA Mega Charizard Y Focus Blast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Hydreigon: 244-288 (75 - 88.6%)
252+ SpA Sylveon Moonblast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Hydreigon: 444-528 (136.6 - 162.4%)
0 SpA Sylveon Moonblast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Hydreigon: 328-388 (100.9 - 119.3%)
252 SpA Galvantula Bug Buzz vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Hydreigon: 176-210 (54.1 - 64.6%)
252 SpA Life Orb Galvantula Bug Buzz vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Hydreigon: 229-273 (70.4 - 84%)
252+ SpA Togekiss Dazzling Gleam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Hydreigon: 400-472 (123 - 145.2%)
252+ SpA Life Orb Volcarona Bug Buzz vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Hydreigon: 315-374 (96.9 - 115%)
252+ SpA Florges Moonblast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Hydreigon: 448-532 (137.8 - 163.6%)
252 SpA Life Orb Starmie Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Hydreigon: 156-185 (48 - 56.9%)
252 SpA Life Orb Starmie Dazzling Gleam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Hydreigon: 281-333 (86.4 - 102.4%
252 SpA Life Orb Espeon Dazzling Gleam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Hydreigon: 333-395 (102.4 - 121.5%)
252 SpA Espeon Dazzling Gleam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Hydreigon: 256-304 (78.7 - 93.5%)

Some of the OHKO'es can be prevented with changing EV spread slightly, and some of these aren't very common (LO espeon), It can potentially win some battles, due to barely avoiding KO, but most of the times has be close to full health. It has it's weaknesses, but It also has very good resists. Your Opponent will have hard time to OHKO 0/0 Assault Vest Hydreigon without Specs STAB SE Moves or STAB Fairy type moves, if you have good rapid spin/defog support.

 

[Lycanvore]

Hydreigon @ Scope Lens
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Focus Energy
- Dark Pulse
- Draco Meteor
- Flash Cannon / Focus Blast

I was assaulted on PO by a Kingdra that was passed a focus energy. I would really like to try this set with Hydreigon now.

 

[Cold Fusion]

Apparently, some people are trying out a Focus Energy + Scope Lens set, which grants a 100% crit-hit rate when set up. This is essentially a +1 boost, but with the added effect, that Draco Meteor has no side effects due to critical hits bypassing them and freely spammable. It looks similar to the Life Orb set, but with Focus Energy as the centre of the set.

Hydreigon @ Scope Lens
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Focus Energy
- Dark Pulse
- Draco Meteor
- Flash Cannon / Focus Blast

Notably, a guaranteed critical-hit Flash Cannon turns 3HKO's on the usual fairy counters to 2HKO's (and possibly a OHKO on Togekiss after rocks). It also has a chance to OHKO Assault Vest Tyranitar with Focus Blast, guaranteed after rocks.

The problem with this set is that you need to set up this boost, and most of the fairy counters can just switch in, survive the Flash Cannon and OHKO. There's also noticeable lack of power before boosting and Life Orb hits almost as hard anyway. This is probably just a gimmick set (Kingdra probably is better suited for crit abuse imo) but thought I would give this a mention.

Here is a battle I had with the focus energy set:

http://pokemonshowdown.com/replay/oubeta-66523530

Yeah my opponent could probably have played better. But this set is a very interesting idea.

 

[volcanicangel]

I've been testing this set on Showdown quite a bit lately, and it seems to be very effective. It's a stall-breaker set that I came up with to stop certain annoyances.
<p>Hydreigon @ Leftovers<br />
Ability: Levitate<br />
EVs: 80 HP/ 252 SAtk / 176 Spd <br />
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)<br />
- Dark Pulse<br />
- Taunt<br />
- Roost<br />
- Flash Cannon/Focus Blast/Toxic</p>
The last slot is mainly just filler; flash cannon for fairy switch-ins, focus miss for T-tar, toxic for a more defensive team. The first three slots are pretty much necessary, as we all know that steel no longer resists dark.
The EVs maximize Dark Pulse's damage output, while being able to out speed max speed, jolly Excadrill, but you can change them to out speed whatever you want. The rest get thrown into HP for bulk.

 

[Stalwart Shark]

Apparently, some people are trying out a Focus Energy + Scope Lens set, which grants a 100% crit-hit rate when set up. This is essentially a +1 boost, but with the added effect, that Draco Meteor has no side effects due to critical hits bypassing them and freely spammable. It looks similar to the Life Orb set, but with Focus Energy as the centre of the set.

Hydreigon @ Scope Lens
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Focus Energy
- Dark Pulse
- Draco Meteor
- Flash Cannon / Focus Blast

Notably, a guaranteed critical-hit Flash Cannon turns 3HKO's on the usual fairy counters to 2HKO's (and possibly a OHKO on Togekiss after rocks). It also has a chance to OHKO Assault Vest Tyranitar with Focus Blast, guaranteed after rocks.

The problem with this set is that you need to set up this boost, and most of the fairy counters can just switch in, survive the Flash Cannon and OHKO. There's also noticeable lack of power before boosting and Life Orb hits almost as hard anyway. This is probably just a gimmick set (Kingdra probably is better suited for crit abuse imo) but thought I would give this a mention.

I have to agree that this set is more or less a gimmick. It looks decent on paper, but it's hard to set up in practice. I was using this set for a while until recently and I just didn't find many opportunities to set up a Focus Energy, and I wasn't doing enough damage without one. This set has some potential, but due to its slight lack of speed at base 98 and lack of power without a boost, it just doesn't come through often enough. Ignoring the attack drops is certainly nice, but Kingdra tends to do this better with Sniper and less weaknesses.

 

[bassactiv]

Hydreigon (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 220 SDef / 36 SAtk
Calm Nature
- Dragon Pulse
- Dark Pulse
- Taunt
- Roost

^I just used this set for quite a while now on PS and it works incredibly well. Almost everyone gets surprised by this set and I benefit from this quite a lot. It TOTALLY walls some special attackers and cripples other walls with Taunt and Roost stalling. I know it's rather gimmick, but I think it's worth trying, especially after testing it out on simulator.

 

[Cold Fusion]

I have to agree that this set is more or less a gimmick. It looks decent on paper, but it's hard to set up in practice. I was using this set for a while until recently and I just didn't find many opportunities to set up a Focus Energy, and I wasn't doing enough damage without one. This set has some potential, but due to its slight lack of speed at base 98 and lack of power without a boost, it just doesn't come through often enough. Ignoring the attack drops is certainly nice, but Kingdra tends to do this better with Sniper and less weaknesses.

Care to explain the EV's? And which special attackers does this wall?

 

[Stalwart Shark]

Care to explain the EV's? And which special attackers does this wall?

I used a simple 252 SpAtk/252 Spd with Timid at first. I
tried Modest too but I wasn't impressed. The set isn't supposed to wall anything. It's supposed to break down walls.
Personally, I much prefer the mixed set, but without Superpower it's not as effective. I'll try it again when Pokebank comes out.

 

[Cold Fusion]

I used a simple 252 SpAtk/252 Spd with Timid at first. I
tried Modest too but I wasn't impressed. The set isn't supposed to wall anything. It's supposed to break down walls.
Personally, I much prefer the mixed set, but without Superpower it's not as effective. I'll try it again when Pokebank comes out.

Crap, that bit about walling stuff was directed at bassactiv, not you. It was just a quoting failure on my part.

 

[Stalwart Shark]

[quote/]"Cold Fusion, post: 5052598, member: 93932"]Crap, that bit about walling stuff was directed at bassactiv, not you. It was just a quoting failure on my part.[/quote]
No worries.
I would also be interested to see what that set walls.

 

[bassactiv]

Well, that EV spread is basically just for some basic sp. defense, and enough special attack to actually hit something with decent damage. Most importantly, it OHKOs Starmie and Gengar with Dark Pulse, and that's what I want. About walling - it can take basically any hit that's not super-effective against it and then recover itself with Roost, because most of the time it doesn't even take enough damage to have less than half after one attack. Also, it completely cripples Ferrothorn with Taunt (especially those variants without Gyro Ball) beacause it cannot do anything do that Hydreigon. So it is also pretty good idea to run Kangaskhan alongside that Hydreigon, because it provites her very good support. I also recommend to run something that can take a fairy-type move, because it is Hydreigon's biggest weakness (well, it still once survived Florges' uninvested Moonblast, so...).
Finally, with it's 98 bs it doesn't need really any investments in that stat other than obvious 31 IVs, because it can outspeed most of the defensive Pokemon, that later on get crippled by a Taunt anyway. I hope you get my explanation, and decide to run one of these in your teams :)
Cheers.

 

[TikiShades]

Is a Mixed set no longer viable?

Hydreigon @ Choice Scarf/Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Rash/Mild Nature
- Dark Pulse
- Draco Meteor
- Fire Blast/Flash Cannon/Focus Blast
- U-Turn

Other than Nasty Plot Togekiss (and maybe SD Mawile-M), I don't think any of the Fairy types are using boosting moves, so just switching out on them shouldn't cause that big of a hassle for you. I really liked U-Turn on him because Hydreigon fits so well into hyper offensive teams with the strongest unboosted Draco Meteors in the game. He's a good check for Alakazam, as he can come in on a Psychic move, then either scare him off with a Dark Pulse or hit-and-run with U-Turn on whatever they switch into. Then again, I've been away from the meta for a while, so maybe I've misjudged the power level of the current OU. Any thoughts?

 

[aVocado]

A Choice Specs set is very viable in the current metagame, I've been using it with great success for a long time now.

Hydreigon @ Choice Specs
Modest
252 SpA / 4 HP / 252 Spe
- Dark Pulse
- Draco Meteor
- Fire Blast
- Earth Power / Focus Blast

Flash Cannon can be slapped in there I guess, but the entire point of this set is a spammable Dark Pulse. Draco Meteor OHKOs a lot of threats; most notably Dragonite through Multiscale, all variants of Gyarados, physical Hippowdon, etc. It's hard walled by some fairies (especially Togekiss) but Flash Cannon be used to do heavy damage on the switch, although I never used it personally. Earth Power OHKOs all Heatran, while Focus Blast OHKOs 252/252+ SpD Ttar, and still does a lot of damage on Heatran (around 70-80%, not sure). Fire Blast is coverage against some steel types, most notably Mega Mawile and Ferrothorn, although the latter is 2HKO'd by Dark Pulse, assuming it has no SpD investment.

The only downside is being outsped by Jolly Excadrill.