qc: p2 / Poek97 / Hootie
gp: Eien
[OVERVIEW]
* Hoopa-U is an insanely good wallbreaker with absurd offensive stats that allow it to OHKO or 2HKO nearly the entire metagame.
* This, combined with its powerful Dark- and Psychic-type STAB and vast movepool, makes Hoopa-U incredibly lethal.
* Its good Special Defense lets it tank most non-super effective special attacks, such as Life Orb Latios's Draco Meteor or Life Orb Tapu Koko's Thunderbolt, at least once.
* Its terrible Defense leaves it easily OHKOed or 2HKOed by most physical attackers in the OU metagame while also making it susceptible to trapping via Pursuit or Arena Trap.
* Hoopa-U's mediocre Speed leaves it easily revenge killed by faster threats.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Dark Pulse
move 2: Psyshock
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Thunderbolt / Trick
item: Choice Specs
ability: Magician
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Dark Pulse is an exceptionally powerful STAB move, blowing through almost anything that doesn't resist it due to Hoopa-U's immense power.
* Psyshock hits special walls for great damage and 2HKOes Chansey while securing neutral coverage against Fairy-types and super effective coverage against Fighting-types, both of which can sometimes shake off a Dark Pulse.
* Focus Blast rounds Hoopa-U's coverage off, KOing almost all Dark- and Steel-types.
* Thunderbolt is coverage useful for 2HKOing Mandibuzz without the risk of missing Focus Blast, OHKOing Azumarill, and avoiding mind games with Gyarados that can choose to Mega Evolve or not to potentially take any of Hoopa-U's other moves with proper prediction.
* Trick has great utility, as it is capable of potentially crippling whatever switches into Hoopa-U without the need of extensive prediction.
* Hyperspace Hole is an option to punish Protect users that try to scout what move Hoopa-U will use and also to bypass Substitutes from pokemon such as Buzzwole, but it is generally not the best choice due to its situational nature.
Set Details
========
* 252 Special Attack EVs maximize Hoopa-U's wallbreaking potential and work in tandem with Choice Specs to make it absolutely devastating.
* 252 Speed EVs with a Timid nature help Hoopa-U stay in a decent speed tier and outspeed key threats like Volcanion and Tapu Bulu.
* Magician is Hoopa-U's only available ability but does not have much use.
Usage Tips
========
* Bring Hoopa-U in on a free switch, like after one of your Pokemon has fainted or by slow Volt Switch or U-turn.
* It has decent enough special bulk to eat most neutral special attacks, but don't overestimate it.
* Its low physical bulk means you should never bring it in on physical attackers, as most will either take a massive chunk out of its HP or simply KO it.
* Predict what will attempt to switch into it and choose the appropriate coverage move to KO that Pokemon.
Team Options
========
* Pokemon that use Volt Swtich and U-turn make for good teammates, as they can bring Hoopa-U in safely.
* Pheromosa and Genesect are stellar examples of partners that put in a ridiculous amount of work against offensive teams and can U-turn as their checks come in to allow Hoopa-U a free switch in to demolish them.
* Other pivots such as Landorus-T, Rotom-W, and Tornadus-T are also good examples of Pokemon to pair with Hoopa-U, maximizing its switch-in opportunities.
* Choice Band Terrakion is a great partner because it packsquite a punch, and uses Justified to take advantage of the Pursuit trappers that give Hoopa-U so much trouble, and puts a solid dent in anything that attempts to come in on it.
* Rocky Helmet users that can punish U-turn spam like Landorus-T and Garchomp make for fantastic partners, as do other Pokemon that can easily switch into U-turn and common U-turn users by merit of their typing and bulk such as Celesteela and Zapdos.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Hyperspace Fury
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Gunk Shot
move 4: Zen Headbutt / Fire Punch / Knock Off / Trick
item: Choice Band
ability: Magician
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Hyperspace Fury is an exceptionally spammable, powerful Dark-type STAB move that breaks through Protect to discourage scouting.
* Drain Punch hits the Dark-types such as Tyranitar that can eat a Hyperspace Fury and gives Hoopa-U some recovery as an added bonus.
* Gunk Shot does massive damage to Pokemon that don't resist it and also OHKOes the tier's Fairy-types such as Tapu Fini, Tapu Bulu, and Clefable.
* Zen Headbutt removes Fighting-types such as Buzzwole.
* Fire Punch is able to OHKO the likes of Mega Scizor and reliably 2HKO Skarmory, Buzzwole, and Magearna.
* Knock Off is an option for the last slot that has added utility of removing items from switch-ins without having to predict what is coming in.
* Trick is another option for crippling switch-ins with little prediction involved.
Set Details
========
* 252 Attack EVs with Choice Band maximizes Hoopa-U's breaking power.
* 252 Speed EVs with a Jolly Nature allows Hoopa-U to outspeed everything below base 80 Speed which is exceptionally useful for outspeeding the likes of Buzzwole and Tapu Bulu in order to OHKO them with the appropriate move.
* Magician is used because it is Hoopa-U's only available ability, but it rarely comes into effect.
Usage Tips
========
* Hyperspace Fury is easy to spam without thinking, but the Defense drops need to be taken into account, as they will make Hoopa-U more vulnerable to Pursuit trapping.
* While Hoopa-U has above average special bulk, its physical bulk is abysmal, and it should almost always be brought in on a free switch from U-turn, Volt Switch, or one of your Pokemon fainting.
* Try to predict what will be sent out to take on Hoopa-U and pick a move accordingly. Mastering prediction helps to maximize Hoopa-U's effectiveness.
Team Options
========
* Momentum generators are Hoopa-U's best friend.
* Two of the best Pokemon to fill that role are Genesect and Pheromosa, which can bring it in with U-turn to take advantage of their checks like Mantine, Toxapex, and Alolan Marowak.
* Landorus-T, Rotom-W, and Tornadus-T are three other great pivots to pair with Hoopa-U that are capable of luring in many of the passive Pokemon that Hoopa-U feasts on.
* Choice Band Terrakion is another interesting partner, as it can take advantage of the Pursuit trappers that attempt to trap Hoopa-U.
* U-turn switch-ins like Rocky Helmet Landorus-T, Rocky Helmet Garchomp, Heatran, and Zapdos are good starts to a solid defensive backbone to support Hoopa-U.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Hyperspace Fury
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Gunk Shot
move 4: Drain Punch
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Magician
nature: Hasty
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Hyperspace Fury is extremely powerful even without a Choice Band boost and is Hoopa-U's go-to move for revenge killing, and its capability to bypass Protect and Substitute is very useful in this role.
* Psychic is the secondary STAB move of choice to smack Fighting-types like Buzzwole, Keldeo, and Terrakion and Pokemon with low Special Defense such as Landorus-T and Kartana.
* Hidden Power Ice is an alternative option to do significantly more damage than Psychic does to the likes of Garchomp and Landorus-T.
* Gunk Shot is great for removing threats like Clefable, Tapu Fini, Tapu Bulu, and Tapu Koko.
* Drain Punch can revenge KO many of the Dark-types that resist Hoopa-U's STAB moves like Weavile, Tyranitar, and Hydreigon.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Attack investment makes Hoopa-U's physical moves, which make up the majority of this set, as strong as possible.
* Even without much investment, special moves such as Psychic still hit respectably hard.
* Maximum Speed investment with a Choice Scarf and Hasty nature allows Hoopa-U to revenge kill a multitude of fast threats, such as Tapu Koko, Weavile, and Greninja.
* Hasty nature is preferred over Naive to allow Hoopa-U to utilize its respectable Special Defense.
Usage Tips
========
* Hoopa-U should be brought in after a Pokemon on your team faints to revenge kill the opponent's Pokemon.
* Due to the lack of Choice Specs or Choice Band, this set lacks the sheer wallbreaking power of other sets.
* A Hasty nature makes Hoopa-U even more vulnerable to Pursuit, meaning it should be exceptionally careful.
* Do not overestimate Hoopa-U's Speed. Even with Choice Scarf equipped, it still cannot outspeed most set-up Dragon Dance users, certain extremely fast Pokemon like Mega Alakazam, and most other Choice Scarf users.
Team Options
========
* This set is quite independent and is mainly a standalone revenge killer.
* That being said, it appreciates U-turn switch-ins like Rocky Helmet Landorus-T, defensive Garchomp, Zapdos, and Alolan Marowak.
* In addition, pivots like Genesect, Pheromosa, Tornadus-T, Rotom-W, and Landorus-T are never bad options to give Hoopa-U as many chances to come in as possible.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Z-Snatch provides Hoopa-U with a way of drastically increasing its Speed and outspeeding many of its common revenge killers. Unfortunately, it is still susceptible to Choice Scarf Pheromosa and lacks the power of Choice Specs and Choice Band as well as the ability to run four attacking moves, limiting its potential.
* Trick Room is another option somewhat similar to Z-Snatch, but it can prove difficult to set up; it only lasts a few turns; and Hoopa-U is relatively quick for a Trick Room user, leaving it outslowed by the likes of Ferrothorn, Amoonguss, Clefable, and Magearna without Speed investment.
* Life Orb gives Hoopa-U the flexibility to change moves and eases prediction but wears it down very quickly.
* Nasty Plot can boost Hoopa-U's already unreal Special Attack even further, but Hoopa-U is still relatively easily revenge killed, and it struggles to find opportunities to set up.
* Substitute is an option to sidestep the prediction required to maximize Hoopa-U's value but prevents it from running Choice items, wears it down extremely fast when used with a Life Orb, and also limits its coverage options.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Trapping**: Dugtrio, the only viable Arena Trap user in OU, and Pursuit trappers such as Tyranitar and Weavile cannot stop Hoopa-U from securing a KO, but they can trap and KO it due to its abysmal Defense.
**U-turn**: U-turn users, such as Pheromosa, Genesect, Choice Scarf Landorus-T, Tornadus-T, and Mega Scizor, can easily gain momentum by forcing Hoopa-U to switch out or outright OHKO it.
**Faster Pokemon**: Hoopa-U's physical frailty means most faster Pokemon with physical moves can OHKO it without fear of having to stomach one of Hoopa-U's powerful moves.
**Priority**: Hoopa-U's low Defense means it must be careful to avoid priority from the likes of Bisharp and Breloom.
**Mandibuzz**: Mandibuzz has the bulk to switch into anything Hoopa-U can throw at it barring Choice Specs-boosted Focus Blast, Choice Band-boosted Gunk Shot, and Thunderbolt.
**Magearna**: Assault Vest Magearna can survive two Focus Blasts from Choice Specs Hoopa-U but is vulnerable to Fire Punch and lacks reliable means of recovery, preventing it from being a consistent switch-in.
**Alolan Muk**: Assault Vest Alolan Muk can tank two Focus Blasts from Choice Specs Hoopa-U most of the time but is quickly worn down and is usually 2HKOed by Choice Band Hoopa-U's Drain Punch.
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