[OVERVIEW]
Sky-high attack with strong STAB moves and a decent support ability in Lightningrod allow Rhyperior to deal tons of damage to common metagame threats such as Mega Diancie, Heatran, and Bisharp, as well as protect its teammates from Thunder Wave and Electric-type attacks. Access to a plethora of good coverage moves in addition to two STAB moves with great neutral coverage also allows Rhyperior to take advantage of its high Attack and Trick Room with its power. A Speed stat of 40 makes Rhyperior an asset to Trick Room teams or teams needing a check to Trick Room, as it underspeeds common Trick Room threats like Aegislash, although it is still undersped by other threats such as Amoonguss and Ferrothorn and its low Speed leaves it susceptible to attacks and burns when Trick Room is not set. Rhyperior is also held back by its low Special Defense stat, which leaves it weak against many special attackers, especially Water- and Grass-types like Keldeo, Venusaur, and Rotom-W. Aside from this, Rhyperior faces direct competition from Rhydon as a Lightningrod user, which is bulkier while holding an Eviolite and thus able to support its teammates more consistently. Rhyperior is a better pick over Rhydon for teams that need something with offensive presence, and it is also able to hold a wider range of items.
[SET]
name: All-Out Attacker
move 1: Earthquake / Drill Run
move 2: Stone Edge / Rock Slide
move 3: Ice Punch / Hammer Arm / Substitute
move 4: Protect
item: Life Orb
ability: Lightningrod
nature: Brave
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Earthquake is Rhyperior's primary STAB move and has the perks of hitting both opponents, although it also targets Rhyperior's ally. Drill Run works well for getting around teams that use Wide Guard to protect from Earthquake and is also useful on teams with few Ground-type immunities. Stone Edge is a strong secondary STAB option for single-target attacking and hits Flying-types that avoid Earthquake like Thundurus for super effective damage. Rock Slide is another option for Rock-type STAB that hits both opponents and has a decent chance to cause the foe to flinch when Trick Room is up. Rock Slide is usually preferable to Stone Edge when running Drill Run in order to maintain access to a move with spread damage. Ice Punch is primarily for Landorus-T, which is KOed even after Intimidate. Hammer Arm is also an option to do more damage to Mega Kangaskhan and Ferrothorn. Substitute is another good option for Rhyperior, allowing it to avoid burns or to survive any one hit and retaliate. If neither extra coverage nor Substitute is optimal for Rhyperior's team, it can run dual STAB moves in Rock Slide and Stone Edge or Earthquake and Drill Run, leaving it more flexible with one of its attacking types.
Set Details
========
Lightningrod allows Rhyperior to protect its teammates from any Electric-type moves, providing them useful turns of setup or time to attack. The listed EVs and nature allow Rhyperior to hit as hard as possible with the most bulk possible. A Brave nature is chosen over Adamant for Rhyperior to be more effective under Trick Room, either its own or against opposing Trick Room teams. 0 Speed EVs further improve Rhyperior's effectiveness under Trick Room. Life Orb allows Rhyperior to hit harder, granting it OHKOs against threats like Landorus-T with Ice Punch.
Usage Tips
========
Rhyperior's main goal is to take advantage of Trick Room turns by doing lots of damage to the opposing team. If not being used on a Trick Room team, Rhyperior performs similarly due to its reliance on speed control, although it is not completely restricted to being effective during turns with Trick Room set. In this case, Rhyperior's main draw is in Lightningrod, and it should switch in to protect an ally from Electric-type attacks and Thunder Wave, or cleanly after a teammate falls so as to avoid taking too much damage. If Rhyperior is being used with a teammate that has an Electric-type move, either switch Rhyperior out so that its teammate can attack normally or be sure not to use the Electric-type move, as it will be redirected. Avoid letting Rhyperior take too much damage or trying to use it too much outside of Trick Room, as it will get worn down to the point where it can't be nearly as effective, especially when combined with Life Orb recoil. Be careful with Ground-type STAB moves against Aegislash, as Earthquake is blocked by Wide Guard and Drill Run makes contact, meaning that King's Shield will drop Rhyperior's Attack by two stages. If Rhyperior has Substitute, set one up on a predicted Protect, switch, or slower status move to allow it to still be effective outside Trick Room. However, don't be reckless when setting up a Substitute, as the damage taken in addition to Life Orb damage can whittle Rhyperior down quickly. Avoid Intimidate users and getting hit by Will-O-Wisp, as either will hinder its effectiveness. If running Substitute, setting one up can block both Will-O-Wisp and Intimidate. If Rhyperior is at -1 or -2 Attack due to Intimidate, try to switch it out so that it can be more effective later on in the match. Rhyperior works well either in the mid-game as a wallbreaker or in the endgame as a cleaner, depending on the opponent's team.
Team Options
========
Trick Room setters like Cresselia, Jellicent, and Gourgeist-XL help Rhyperior fix its Speed issue, and Rhyperior in turn takes care of Aegislash and Bisharp, common threats to these Trick Room setters and others. Any Pokemon that work well on Trick Room but need Heatran removed, like Aegislash, Amoonguss, and Ferrothorn, appreciate Rhyperior's presence. Amoonguss and Ferrothorn get a special mention for beating the bulky Water-types that plague Rhyperior. All of those are also good examples of something to soak up Water- and Grass-type attacks, which is necessary to support Rhyperior. Rhyperior works well with Trick Room attackers that struggle with Steel-types and need them removed, like Hoopa-U, Azumarill, and Mega Abomasnow. Azumarill stands out in this category, as Rhyperior provides it safety against Electric-type attacks, allowing Azumarill to set up more easily. Redirectors allow Rhyperior some peace of mind when attacking, among which Amoonguss stands out since it takes Grass- and Water-type attacks quite well. Ground-immune Pokemon of some sort are required to be able to take full advantage of Earthquake; some good choices include the aforementioned Cresselia as well as Talonflame or Mega Charizard Y to beat Grass-types. Defiant or Competitive users like Bisharp and Milotic can discourage Intimidate, thus preventing Rhyperior from having its offenses neutered. Rhyperior checks Talonflame really well, so partners that appreciate its removal like Venusaur and Keldeo work well with Rhyperior on their side. Similarly, Rhyperior checks Thundurus and other Thunder Wave users by preventing them from spreading status. Thus, any quicker Pokemon that need to avoid paralysis like Blaziken and Quiver Dance Volcarona work well as partners.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Megahorn allows Rhyperior to hit Latios, Hydreigon, and Cresselia for more than any other move, but its other coverage options tend to be more useful. Fire Punch can work if Rhyperior's team really struggles with Ferrothorn, as it hits Ferrothorn harder than any other move. Rock Blast can be an option to hit Substitute users and Pokemon equipped with a Focus Sash, but Stone Edge usually does more damage as a single-target Rock-type move and Rock Slide is more accurate. Weakness Policy can be an option, as +2 Rhyperior does crazy amounts of damage, and Rhyperior can afford to take even some super effective physical attacks with its high defense. Life Orb, however, provides more consistent damage output. Solid Rock can be used over Lightningrod to provide Rhyperior with some more bulk, but it should only really be considered on full Trick Room teams that don't mind paralysis and can thus afford to lose the Electric-type redirection. Also, if the team in question is in need of a bulkier version of Lightningrod Rhyperior, using Rhydon is typically preferable to using Solid Rock Rhyperior. Rhyperior can run an Adamant nature with an EV spread of 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe on teams with Tailwind, as it prevents Thunder Wave and outspeeds positive-natured base 110 Speed Pokemon and below with the Tailwind boost, but using that spread prevents Rhyperior from capitalizing on its high defensive stats.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Typing Advantage**: Water-type and Grass-type Pokemon like Keldeo, Ludicolo, and Amoonguss have STAB moves that are 4x effective against Rhyperior. Fighting- and Ground-type attackers like Landorus-T, Scrafty, and Conkeldurr also hit Rhyperior for lots of damage and resist its Rock-type STAB moves.
**Intimidate and Burns**: As with all physical attackers, Intimidate and Will-O-Wisp will prevent Rhyperior from pressuring the opponent as effectively. Common Intimidate users include Landorus-T and Gyarados, while Will-O-Wisp users include Gengar and Rotom formes.
**Strong Special Attackers**: Rhyperior's low Special Defense stat leaves it susceptible to strong special attackers, with even neutral attacks doing lots of damage. Some examples include Sylveon, Mega Gardevoir, and Hydreigon.
**Speed**: If Trick Room is not set, Rhyperior will get outsped by the majority of the metagame, and although it's bulky, Rhyperior is easily broken down by faster attacks. Other threats to its success include Pokemon that underspeed Rhyperior under Trick Room like Amoonguss, Ferrothorn, and Mega Abomasnow.
Sky-high attack with strong STAB moves and a decent support ability in Lightningrod allow Rhyperior to deal tons of damage to common metagame threats such as Mega Diancie, Heatran, and Bisharp, as well as protect its teammates from Thunder Wave and Electric-type attacks. Access to a plethora of good coverage moves in addition to two STAB moves with great neutral coverage also allows Rhyperior to take advantage of its high Attack and Trick Room with its power. A Speed stat of 40 makes Rhyperior an asset to Trick Room teams or teams needing a check to Trick Room, as it underspeeds common Trick Room threats like Aegislash, although it is still undersped by other threats such as Amoonguss and Ferrothorn and its low Speed leaves it susceptible to attacks and burns when Trick Room is not set. Rhyperior is also held back by its low Special Defense stat, which leaves it weak against many special attackers, especially Water- and Grass-types like Keldeo, Venusaur, and Rotom-W. Aside from this, Rhyperior faces direct competition from Rhydon as a Lightningrod user, which is bulkier while holding an Eviolite and thus able to support its teammates more consistently. Rhyperior is a better pick over Rhydon for teams that need something with offensive presence, and it is also able to hold a wider range of items.
[SET]
name: All-Out Attacker
move 1: Earthquake / Drill Run
move 2: Stone Edge / Rock Slide
move 3: Ice Punch / Hammer Arm / Substitute
move 4: Protect
item: Life Orb
ability: Lightningrod
nature: Brave
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Earthquake is Rhyperior's primary STAB move and has the perks of hitting both opponents, although it also targets Rhyperior's ally. Drill Run works well for getting around teams that use Wide Guard to protect from Earthquake and is also useful on teams with few Ground-type immunities. Stone Edge is a strong secondary STAB option for single-target attacking and hits Flying-types that avoid Earthquake like Thundurus for super effective damage. Rock Slide is another option for Rock-type STAB that hits both opponents and has a decent chance to cause the foe to flinch when Trick Room is up. Rock Slide is usually preferable to Stone Edge when running Drill Run in order to maintain access to a move with spread damage. Ice Punch is primarily for Landorus-T, which is KOed even after Intimidate. Hammer Arm is also an option to do more damage to Mega Kangaskhan and Ferrothorn. Substitute is another good option for Rhyperior, allowing it to avoid burns or to survive any one hit and retaliate. If neither extra coverage nor Substitute is optimal for Rhyperior's team, it can run dual STAB moves in Rock Slide and Stone Edge or Earthquake and Drill Run, leaving it more flexible with one of its attacking types.
Set Details
========
Lightningrod allows Rhyperior to protect its teammates from any Electric-type moves, providing them useful turns of setup or time to attack. The listed EVs and nature allow Rhyperior to hit as hard as possible with the most bulk possible. A Brave nature is chosen over Adamant for Rhyperior to be more effective under Trick Room, either its own or against opposing Trick Room teams. 0 Speed EVs further improve Rhyperior's effectiveness under Trick Room. Life Orb allows Rhyperior to hit harder, granting it OHKOs against threats like Landorus-T with Ice Punch.
Usage Tips
========
Rhyperior's main goal is to take advantage of Trick Room turns by doing lots of damage to the opposing team. If not being used on a Trick Room team, Rhyperior performs similarly due to its reliance on speed control, although it is not completely restricted to being effective during turns with Trick Room set. In this case, Rhyperior's main draw is in Lightningrod, and it should switch in to protect an ally from Electric-type attacks and Thunder Wave, or cleanly after a teammate falls so as to avoid taking too much damage. If Rhyperior is being used with a teammate that has an Electric-type move, either switch Rhyperior out so that its teammate can attack normally or be sure not to use the Electric-type move, as it will be redirected. Avoid letting Rhyperior take too much damage or trying to use it too much outside of Trick Room, as it will get worn down to the point where it can't be nearly as effective, especially when combined with Life Orb recoil. Be careful with Ground-type STAB moves against Aegislash, as Earthquake is blocked by Wide Guard and Drill Run makes contact, meaning that King's Shield will drop Rhyperior's Attack by two stages. If Rhyperior has Substitute, set one up on a predicted Protect, switch, or slower status move to allow it to still be effective outside Trick Room. However, don't be reckless when setting up a Substitute, as the damage taken in addition to Life Orb damage can whittle Rhyperior down quickly. Avoid Intimidate users and getting hit by Will-O-Wisp, as either will hinder its effectiveness. If running Substitute, setting one up can block both Will-O-Wisp and Intimidate. If Rhyperior is at -1 or -2 Attack due to Intimidate, try to switch it out so that it can be more effective later on in the match. Rhyperior works well either in the mid-game as a wallbreaker or in the endgame as a cleaner, depending on the opponent's team.
Team Options
========
Trick Room setters like Cresselia, Jellicent, and Gourgeist-XL help Rhyperior fix its Speed issue, and Rhyperior in turn takes care of Aegislash and Bisharp, common threats to these Trick Room setters and others. Any Pokemon that work well on Trick Room but need Heatran removed, like Aegislash, Amoonguss, and Ferrothorn, appreciate Rhyperior's presence. Amoonguss and Ferrothorn get a special mention for beating the bulky Water-types that plague Rhyperior. All of those are also good examples of something to soak up Water- and Grass-type attacks, which is necessary to support Rhyperior. Rhyperior works well with Trick Room attackers that struggle with Steel-types and need them removed, like Hoopa-U, Azumarill, and Mega Abomasnow. Azumarill stands out in this category, as Rhyperior provides it safety against Electric-type attacks, allowing Azumarill to set up more easily. Redirectors allow Rhyperior some peace of mind when attacking, among which Amoonguss stands out since it takes Grass- and Water-type attacks quite well. Ground-immune Pokemon of some sort are required to be able to take full advantage of Earthquake; some good choices include the aforementioned Cresselia as well as Talonflame or Mega Charizard Y to beat Grass-types. Defiant or Competitive users like Bisharp and Milotic can discourage Intimidate, thus preventing Rhyperior from having its offenses neutered. Rhyperior checks Talonflame really well, so partners that appreciate its removal like Venusaur and Keldeo work well with Rhyperior on their side. Similarly, Rhyperior checks Thundurus and other Thunder Wave users by preventing them from spreading status. Thus, any quicker Pokemon that need to avoid paralysis like Blaziken and Quiver Dance Volcarona work well as partners.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Megahorn allows Rhyperior to hit Latios, Hydreigon, and Cresselia for more than any other move, but its other coverage options tend to be more useful. Fire Punch can work if Rhyperior's team really struggles with Ferrothorn, as it hits Ferrothorn harder than any other move. Rock Blast can be an option to hit Substitute users and Pokemon equipped with a Focus Sash, but Stone Edge usually does more damage as a single-target Rock-type move and Rock Slide is more accurate. Weakness Policy can be an option, as +2 Rhyperior does crazy amounts of damage, and Rhyperior can afford to take even some super effective physical attacks with its high defense. Life Orb, however, provides more consistent damage output. Solid Rock can be used over Lightningrod to provide Rhyperior with some more bulk, but it should only really be considered on full Trick Room teams that don't mind paralysis and can thus afford to lose the Electric-type redirection. Also, if the team in question is in need of a bulkier version of Lightningrod Rhyperior, using Rhydon is typically preferable to using Solid Rock Rhyperior. Rhyperior can run an Adamant nature with an EV spread of 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe on teams with Tailwind, as it prevents Thunder Wave and outspeeds positive-natured base 110 Speed Pokemon and below with the Tailwind boost, but using that spread prevents Rhyperior from capitalizing on its high defensive stats.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Typing Advantage**: Water-type and Grass-type Pokemon like Keldeo, Ludicolo, and Amoonguss have STAB moves that are 4x effective against Rhyperior. Fighting- and Ground-type attackers like Landorus-T, Scrafty, and Conkeldurr also hit Rhyperior for lots of damage and resist its Rock-type STAB moves.
**Intimidate and Burns**: As with all physical attackers, Intimidate and Will-O-Wisp will prevent Rhyperior from pressuring the opponent as effectively. Common Intimidate users include Landorus-T and Gyarados, while Will-O-Wisp users include Gengar and Rotom formes.
**Strong Special Attackers**: Rhyperior's low Special Defense stat leaves it susceptible to strong special attackers, with even neutral attacks doing lots of damage. Some examples include Sylveon, Mega Gardevoir, and Hydreigon.
**Speed**: If Trick Room is not set, Rhyperior will get outsped by the majority of the metagame, and although it's bulky, Rhyperior is easily broken down by faster attacks. Other threats to its success include Pokemon that underspeed Rhyperior under Trick Room like Amoonguss, Ferrothorn, and Mega Abomasnow.
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