[SET]
Hippowdon @ Eject Button / Leftovers
Name: Defensive
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Impish / Careful Nature
- Earthquake / Body Press
- Slack Off
- Stealth Rock
- Whirlwind
[SET COMMENTS]
Being one of the two preeminent sand setters in the metagame, Hippowdon finds itself a near-staple on numerous Ground-type teams, able to fit just about anywhere thanks to its superb physical bulk. Eject Button helps Hippowdon escape unfavorable matchups and powerful attacks, allowing it to safely bring in teammates like Choice Band Excadrillto pressure the opposition. Alternatively, Hippowdon can run Leftovers instead to better preserve its HP in tandem with Slack Off, ensuring it can stay on the field longer against non-lethal physical attackers such as Meowscarada, Weavile, and Ogerpon-W. Earthquake is Hippowdon’s main form of STAB, decimating annoying Fire-type threats like non–Air Balloon Heatran, Mega Charizard X, and Cinderace, while also hitting Steel-, Rock-, and Poison-type foes such as non–Air Balloon Gholdengo, Iron Boulder, and Alolan Muk. Body Press, on the other hand, safely checks Ogerpon-C, Blissey, and Meowscarada more effectively. Stealth Rock provides valuable chip damage against Ice-types like SubRoost Kyurem, Articuno, and Alolan Ninetales, hindering their ability to repeatedly set up once they enter the field and granting Excadrill, Landorus, and Mega Garchomp a more threatening presence. Whirlwind is an excellent utility move that lets Hippowdon rack up chip damage on numerous opposing foes, making it a reliable obstacle for setup sweepers such as Ceruledge, Gliscor, and Volcarona before they can overwhelm it in retaliation. The distribution of 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD of the EVs can permit Hippowdon to better stomach hits from special attackers like Mega Venusar and Choice Specs Latios. Choice Band Excadrill thrives in sandstorms set by Hippowdon, and thanks to its ability Sand Rush, its boosted Speed helps it effectively check threats like Mega Diancie, Tapu Lele, and Ferrothorn which the specially frail Hippowdon would rather avoid. Mamoswine serves as an excellent Ice-type move absorber that can threaten to OHKO Assault Vest Tornadus-T and Gliscor with Icicle Crash, while Thick Fat allows it to stomach hits from both Kyuremand Weavile and retaliate with Superpower. Great Tusk can also handle the aforementioned Ice-types and functions as either a wallbreaker to remove Archaludon or an offensive spinner to keep Spikes and Stealth Rock off the field for its teammates. Clodsire is another great partner for Hippowdon thanks to its solid special bulk and ability to spread poison with Toxic, wearing foes down and providing valuable support for the team. However, Clodsire’s physical frailty means it too must rely on teammates to cover its weaknesses in order to fully capitalize on its utility. Gastrodon can absorb Water-type attacks from Greninja, Keldeo, and Mega Swampert with Storm Drain, granting it a Special Attack boost to better threaten Grass-types like Meowscarada with Ice Beam, while also providing an Electric-type immunity. Mega Swampert offers similar utility, minus the Storm Drain perks, but can also set hazards and pivot allies in safely with Flip Turn. Gliscor provides a valuable Grass-type neutrality and utility with Spikes and Swords Dance, allowing it to threaten foes like Ferrothorn while remaining durable through Poison Heal from its Toxic Orb. Landorus is another powerful attacker that can ground otherwise airborne foes with Gravity, such as Celesteela, Air Balloon Gholdengo, and Corviknight, and destroy them with its STAB moves. Finally, Garchomp and its Mega Evolution both thrive in sand, as their ability to function as both physical and special attackers enables them to decimate walls of either kind, including Hisuian Goodra, Imposter Ditto, and Mega Venusaur.
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/kamenalliterator.655366/
Quality Checked by:
Grammar Checked by:
Hippowdon @ Eject Button / Leftovers
Name: Defensive
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Impish / Careful Nature
- Earthquake / Body Press
- Slack Off
- Stealth Rock
- Whirlwind
[SET COMMENTS]
Being one of the two preeminent sand setters in the metagame, Hippowdon finds itself a near-staple on numerous Ground-type teams, able to fit just about anywhere thanks to its superb physical bulk. Eject Button helps Hippowdon escape unfavorable matchups and powerful attacks, allowing it to safely bring in teammates like Choice Band Excadrillto pressure the opposition. Alternatively, Hippowdon can run Leftovers instead to better preserve its HP in tandem with Slack Off, ensuring it can stay on the field longer against non-lethal physical attackers such as Meowscarada, Weavile, and Ogerpon-W. Earthquake is Hippowdon’s main form of STAB, decimating annoying Fire-type threats like non–Air Balloon Heatran, Mega Charizard X, and Cinderace, while also hitting Steel-, Rock-, and Poison-type foes such as non–Air Balloon Gholdengo, Iron Boulder, and Alolan Muk. Body Press, on the other hand, safely checks Ogerpon-C, Blissey, and Meowscarada more effectively. Stealth Rock provides valuable chip damage against Ice-types like SubRoost Kyurem, Articuno, and Alolan Ninetales, hindering their ability to repeatedly set up once they enter the field and granting Excadrill, Landorus, and Mega Garchomp a more threatening presence. Whirlwind is an excellent utility move that lets Hippowdon rack up chip damage on numerous opposing foes, making it a reliable obstacle for setup sweepers such as Ceruledge, Gliscor, and Volcarona before they can overwhelm it in retaliation. The distribution of 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD of the EVs can permit Hippowdon to better stomach hits from special attackers like Mega Venusar and Choice Specs Latios. Choice Band Excadrill thrives in sandstorms set by Hippowdon, and thanks to its ability Sand Rush, its boosted Speed helps it effectively check threats like Mega Diancie, Tapu Lele, and Ferrothorn which the specially frail Hippowdon would rather avoid. Mamoswine serves as an excellent Ice-type move absorber that can threaten to OHKO Assault Vest Tornadus-T and Gliscor with Icicle Crash, while Thick Fat allows it to stomach hits from both Kyuremand Weavile and retaliate with Superpower. Great Tusk can also handle the aforementioned Ice-types and functions as either a wallbreaker to remove Archaludon or an offensive spinner to keep Spikes and Stealth Rock off the field for its teammates. Clodsire is another great partner for Hippowdon thanks to its solid special bulk and ability to spread poison with Toxic, wearing foes down and providing valuable support for the team. However, Clodsire’s physical frailty means it too must rely on teammates to cover its weaknesses in order to fully capitalize on its utility. Gastrodon can absorb Water-type attacks from Greninja, Keldeo, and Mega Swampert with Storm Drain, granting it a Special Attack boost to better threaten Grass-types like Meowscarada with Ice Beam, while also providing an Electric-type immunity. Mega Swampert offers similar utility, minus the Storm Drain perks, but can also set hazards and pivot allies in safely with Flip Turn. Gliscor provides a valuable Grass-type neutrality and utility with Spikes and Swords Dance, allowing it to threaten foes like Ferrothorn while remaining durable through Poison Heal from its Toxic Orb. Landorus is another powerful attacker that can ground otherwise airborne foes with Gravity, such as Celesteela, Air Balloon Gholdengo, and Corviknight, and destroy them with its STAB moves. Finally, Garchomp and its Mega Evolution both thrive in sand, as their ability to function as both physical and special attackers enables them to decimate walls of either kind, including Hisuian Goodra, Imposter Ditto, and Mega Venusaur.
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/kamenalliterator.655366/
Quality Checked by:
Grammar Checked by:
Last edited:
