[OVERVIEW]
<p>With a fantastic movepool, wonderful mixed attacking stats, and nice 92 HP / 90 Def / 90 SpD
base defensive stats defenses, Hydreigon is a Pokemon to watch out for. It can switch in easily using its good defenses and Levitate, and then
proceed to punch holes in the opponent's team. However, Hydreigon is severly hampered by its odd 98 base Speed, which leaves it outsped by
an entire a host of Pokemon. Dark / Dragon is not
exactly a great defensive typing either, as the Dark typing gives Hydreigon unwanted weaknesses to Fighting- and Bug-type attacks. Still, underestimate Hydreigon at your own peril, as it can easily plough through entire teams if given even the slightest chance to do so.</p>
[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Draco Meteor / Dragon Pulse
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Taunt
move 4: U-turn / Surf
item: Life Orb
nature: Modest
ability: Levitate
EV's: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With Taunt, U-turn, and a powerful Draco Meteor coming from 125 base Special Attack, Hydreigon can function as an effective stallbreaker. STAB Draco Meteor, coming from 384 Special Attack, can significantly dent
even special walls
like such as Chansey, Blissey and Jellicent. However,
due to the resulting two-stage Special Attack drop, Hydreigon will more often than not be forced to switch after using
Draco Meteor once. For this reason, Dragon Pulse can be used instead of Draco Meteor as a safer, albeit much weaker, option. Taunt is a must on this set, as it shuts down walls
like such as Blissey and Ferrothorn, and helps
to break through stall in general.</p>
<p>Fire Blast roasts Steel-type Pokemon like Nattorei and Skarmory who think they can take Hydreigon's STAB Dragon-type attacks, providing good neutral coverage along with Hydreigon's Dragon-type attack of choice. For the last move, there are two options. U-turn allows you to maintain offensive pressure and deal heavy damage to Reuniclus, Celebi, and other Psychic-type Pokemon. On the other hand, Surf hits Heatran, who would otherwise wall this set.
hard.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>252 EVs are invested in Speed, giving Hydreigon 295 Speed. When using a Timid nature instead of a Modest nature, Haxorus is the only other Pokemon of note who is outsped. A Modest nature
thus gives Hydreigon more power without much loss in reliabilty. Since U-turn is meant primarily for scouting, the Attack drop from using a Modest nature
does not cause any issues isn't a problem. 252 EVs are put in Special Attack, maximising the power of Hydreigon's special attacks. The remaining 4 EVs are invested in HP.</p>
<p>Even though Blissey walls this set and can wear down Hydreigon with Seismic Toss, Taunt prevents it from healing any damage taken. This will allow a teammate to eliminate Blissey easily. Dark Pulse is another STAB move that Hydreigon can put to good use. It hits Pokemon like Jellicent, Reuniclus and Latios hard. However, finding a moveslot for it is difficult, as Hydreigon is hard-pressed for moveslots as it is.</p>
<p>Hydreigon
will find it tough to cannot take on Heatran if it does not carry Surf. For this reason, Pokemon such as Starmie or Blaziken can be used along with Hydreigon. Blaziken, in addition to taking care of Heatran, can also eliminate Chansey and Blissey with its powerful STAB Fighting-type attacks. Starmie can
also permanently cripple the aforementioned special walls with Trick.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Dragon Pulse
move 3: Flamethrower
move 4: Surf / U-turn
item: Choice Specs
nature: Modest
ability: Levitate
EV's: 64 HP / 252 SpA / 192 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Hydreigon is also an excellent Choice Specs user. This set aims to hit as hard as possible with Hydreigon's huge 125 base Special Attack [/s]which is[/s]
, further boosted by Choice Specs. Draco Meteor and Dragon Pulse allow Hydreigon hit very hard while also maintaining
reliability Reliability was spelled incorrectly. Also, Draco Meteor does not maintain reliability, which your sentence implies. Flamethrower decimates Steel-type walls
like such as Nattorei and Skarmory.</p>
<p>Once again, there are two options for the last moveslot. Surf deals massive damage to Heatran, who will otherwise wall this set
or even and possibly gain a Flash Fire boost by switching into a predicted Flamethrower. On the other hand, U-turn maintains offensive pressure, and also hurts Blissey. Both moves can be run on the same set, but this is not advised, as it requires the removal of either Draco Meteor or Dragon Pulse.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The 64 HP EVs help Hydreigon take Mach Punch from Adamant Roobushin, along with other strong priority attacks. 192 Speed EVs give Hydreigon 280 Speed, enabling it to outspeed Pokemon with a base Speed of 90 and a neutral nature. 252 Special Attack EVs and a Modest nature
, in conjunction with Choice Specs
, give Hydreigon a huge 576 Special Attack. However, if you wish to outspeed Jolly Haxorus and tie with other Hydreigon, run a Timid nature and 252 Speed EVs.</p>
<p>Choice Specs Hydreigon punches holes in the opponent's team, allowing a fast sweeper such as Starmie to clean up the remains. However, you need to need to eliminate Blissey
and Chansey to let this set
function to its reach maximum potential. Taunt Thundurus is an excellent choice, as it can 2HKO Blissey with Hammer Arm
, preventing and prevent recovery with Taunt.</p>
<p>Dark Pulse is an option over Surf and U-Turn, if only for the STAB you gain for it. It also hits
Jellicent, Dusclops and
Reuniclus hard super-effectively. Earthquake or Earth Power can also be used instead of Surf, but its only purpose is to hit
both Heatran and Empoleon for super effective damage
in addition to Heatran. Surf is generally the better option, as it offers better coverage overall.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Fire Blast / Flamethrower
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Focus Blast
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Timid
ability: Levitate
EV's: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With a Choice Scarf, Hydreigon can function as an effective revenge killer; abusing its great movepool. Draco Meteor is your primary STAB move, and
coming off base 125 Special Attack- will
severely (spelling) dent
if not or OHKO a large number of Pokemon. Fire Blast has excellent coverage, finishing off any Steel-type Pokemon who
switch in to wall Hydreigon's STAB Dragon- or Dark-type moves.</p>
<p>U-turn allows Hydreigon to switch out and scout any switch-ins. Focus Blast is used in the last slot to let Hydreigon hit Heatran, Tyranitar, Porygon2 and Empoleon
hard super-effectively. Without Focus Blast, Hydreigon will struggle to damage the aforementioned Pokemon significantly since its other attacks are not boosted by its hold item. For this reason, Focus Blast is preferred to Surf.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>252 EVs are invested both in Speed and Special Attack, while the remaining 4 EVs are put in HP. A Timid nature helps Hydreigon outspeed Jolly Choice Scarf Haxorus, along with Adamant Choice Scarf Garchomp. Since U-turn is meant mainly for scouting purposes, the Attack drop from using a Timid nature is not an issue. Using either a Hasty or a Naive nature will lower Hydreigon's defenses, and is thus not advised.</p>
<p>Dragon Pulse can be used to have a reliable STAB option, instead of having to rely on Draco Meteor as your only Dragon-type STAB attack. A moveslot for the same can be created by dropping U-turn, but keep in mind that you will lose the ability to scout switch-ins and maintain offensive pressure, which is important on just about any Pokemon with a Choice Scarf. Special walls like Blissey and Jellicent will wall this set cold. A stallbreaker such as Thundurus will
thus make a great teammate for Hydreigon, as it can deal with the aforementioned walls with a combination of Taunt and either Hammer Arm or Thunderbolt.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>A Ghost-type Pokemon
would help helps Hydreigon immensely by taking the Fighting- and Bug-type attacks that Hydreigon is weak to. As such, Jellicent is an excellent choice since it has excellent defensive synergy with Hydreigon. It can cripple opposing sweepers with Will-O-Wisp or Toxic, and also soften up Pokemon with Surf, Shadow Ball or Ice Beam to help Hydreigon net KOes. Eviolite Dusclops is another good option. It has excellent mixed defensive stats, and can wear down
both sweepers and walls
alike with Night Shade, Toxic and Pain Split.</p>
<p>Hydreigon also appreciates team support to help it outspeed faster foes. This can either be
in the form of from Baton Passing Speed boosts through Ninjask, or through Thunder Wave support from bulky support Pokemon like Blissey, Jirachi and Ferrothorn.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>Hydreigon
also has the defenses to run a bulky support set consisting of Thunder Wave, Dragon Tail, Taunt, and Substitute with defensive EVs, but it would be a
sheer waste of its offensive potential. However, such a set would work
out well with entry hazard support.</p>
<p>Charge Beam is an option to boost your Special Attack and attempt a sweep, but its inaccuracy can cause issues. Moreover, the SpA boost is not a guaranteed one. Hydreigon can also run a mixed set
as it has a with its usable base 105 Attack and a good
mixed movepool to go with its high base 125 Special Attack. A mixed set consisting of Outrage, Draco Meteor, Fire Blast, and Crunch / U-turn
might work out works well on paper. However, the given sets pretty much cover Hydreigon's offensive capabilities perfectly
.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Hydreigon's counters are
far and few between few and far between, as with its good defensive stats it can take just about any
neutral hit and retaliate with a strong attack. However, its weakness to common Fighting-type attacks and low Speed will ultimately be its bane.</p>
<p>Conkeldurr with a 252 HP / 252 SpD EV spread can take any attack which Hydreigon's throws at it barring a Choice Specs Draco Meteor, and KO Hydreigon with a combination of Drain Punch and Mach Punch. Speedy
Fighting-type Pokemon such as Infernape, Keldeo
(Keldeo is an unreleased event pokemon, should it be listed here?), and Terrakion can exploit Hydreigon's average Speed and KO it with their powerful STAB attacks. However, these Pokemon have to be careful when they switch into Hydreigon, since they will take massive damage from Draco Meteor.</p>
<p>
FewPokemon
that can actually wall Hydreigon
are few in number. Heatran walls Hydreigon with its Fire / Steel typing unless it carries Surf, and can 2HKO
it Hydreigon with Dragon Pulse. Special walls such as Chansey and Jellicent can easily wall the Choice sets, and wear down Hydreigon with Seismic Toss and Ice Beam respectively.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Hydreigon gets no ability through the Dream World.</p>
