[OVERVIEW]
Hypno fits best on defensively oriented and balanced teams as a special wall that can provide Wish and Thunder Wave utility to teammates. Hypno faces competition from Grumpig, which is faster, can perform more roles, and has access to Thick Fat, though Hypno has access to a recovery move in Wish, which allows it to stay healthy and support teammates. Hypno also has other niches in its typing, which allows it to check Pokemon such as Nasty Plot Raichu, Rain Dance Poliwrath, and Simipour, and Insomnia, which allows Hypno to switch in against troublesome special attackers for defensive teams, such as Victreebel. Using Hypno over Lickilicky as a Wish passer also makes room for oother Normal-types in the team, as the Fighting-type weakness doesn't stack. Regardless, Hypno's mediocre Speed, poor offensive presence, and competition from Grumpig and Lickilicky, which can perform offensive sets better, make it situational and restrict its role to utility, so it is far from a premier choice on most teams.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Wish
move 2: Protect
move 3: Thunder Wave / Toxic
move 4: Seismic Toss
item: Leftovers
ability: Insomnia
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Wish is Hypno's main and only viable method of recovery and comes in handy as a utility tool to support teammates. Protect is used to scout coverage moves from foes, get free turns of Leftovers recovery, stall weather turns, and receive Wish safely, though it can be taken advantage of by setup sweepers. Thunder Wave is used to slow down foes and aid teammates in setting up or sweeping; the move works best on slow-paced teams. Toxic is also a good option to wear down and stall opposing walls and sweepers, putting a timer on them and forcing them to switch. Seismic Toss is the best option as an attack to hit common switch-ins to Hypno that resist or are immune to its STAB move, such as Psychic-, Steel-, and Dark-types. Psychic can be used instead and can come in handy to hit Fighting- and Poison-types even without investment in Special Attack.
Set Details
========
252 EVs in HP and Special Defense along with a Calm nature let Hypno tank most special attacks with ease and help it to stay alive as long as possible. Insomnia is situational but gives Hypno a good niche over other special walls such as Grumpig and Lickilicky, as it makes Hypno a good counter to troublesome Pokemon for defensively oriented teams, such as Victreebel. Leftovers gives Hypno passive recovery.
Usage Tips
========
Hypno should be used as a utility support Pokemon, thanks to its access to moves such as Wish, Thunder Wave, and Toxic, which often come in handy to support teammates. Thunder Wave and Toxic are better used early-game to cripple foes from the start and net more setup chances for teammates or to open holes for a late-game sweep. Hypno should be switched in on special attackers, as its high Special Defense along with its bulk investment allows it to tank special attacks with ease, and it can cripple most specially offensive threats with its utility movepool. Protect should be used to scout coverage moves, gain free turns of Leftovers recovery, stall weather turns, and receive Wish reliably, though it should not be abused against setup sweepers, as they can make use of it by setting up. Hypno should be wary of Pokemon that carry status moves and coverage moves such as Knock Off, as they can cripple it and limit its potential as a special wall. Hypno should be careful about Wish passing, as it has to be at high health before switching out to be sure that it can keep checking special attackers. Hypno can also check and switch in on troublesome sweepers that rely on sleep-inducing moves, such as Victreebel.
Team Options
========
Hypno has to be used on defensively oriented teams, as its poor offensive presence and lack of ways to keep momentum make it unviable on offensive playstyles. Hypno also fits particularly well on slow-paced teams that can make use of the Wish and Thunder Wave support it provides. Entry hazard control provided by Rapid Spin and Defog users such as Armaldo and Pelipper is appreciated, as Hypno is susceptible to Toxic Spikes, which cripples its longevity and limits its opportunities to switch in. Pokemon that can absorb Toxic Spikes, such as Roselia, are also good partners. Fighting-types such as Poliwrath and Machoke can deal with Steel-types such as Probopass and Pursuit trappers such as Pawniard, which trouble Hypno, while Hypno can check Psychic-types such as Grumpig and Kadabra and can cripple walls and revenge killers for them. Poliwrath also makes for a great Knock Off absorber. Dark-types such as Mightyena can take on Ghost-types such as Misdreavus, which wall Hypno, and directly OHKO them with a STAB move; others such as Pawniard can also Pursuit trap Ghost-types but should still be wary about Will-O-Wisp and coverage moves such as Hidden Power Fighting.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Foul Play can be an option to allow Hypno to threaten physical attackers, especially setup sweepers that usually find themselves setting up on Hypno, but it's rather unsafe and situational and has bad coverage against common Hypno switch-ins. Baton Pass is useful to keep momentum for Hypno's team and to create free turns and setup opportunities for teammates on forced enemy switches, but this makes Hypno lose an utility move. Hypno can also run a Belly Drum set, which can catch unprepared teams off-guard. Hypno can run a physically defensive spread, which allows it to be a decent check to physical attackers such as Jumpluff and find more opportunities to cripple them with Thunder Wave or Toxic. Taunt can come in handy against slower walls such as Lickilicky and entry hazard setters such as Roselia. Hypnosis is a risky move, but having a foe put to sleep can be useful in many situations, and teammates can take advantage of free turns by setting up or opening holes in the enemy team, though Thunder Wave or Toxic is often the better move to opt for, as they provide better utility and are less risky.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: Pawniard can reliably switch in on Hypno most of the time, as it is immune to both Psychic and Toxic, and it can also block Hypno from Wish passing by Pursuit trapping it or directly OHKOing it with Knock Off. Mightyena can OHKO Hypno with Crunch and get an Attack boost from it thanks to Moxie, though it is susceptible to both Thunder Wave and Toxic.
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types such as Misdreavus, Drifblim, and Dusknoir can wall or trouble Hypno, as they are immune to Seismic Toss and have reliable ways to limit its utility or KO it with ease. For example, Misdreavus can Taunt Hypno and then use it as a setup fodder. Drifblim can use Substitute to avoid status moves or set up on Hypno with Calm Mind and recover health with Rest. Dusknoir can OHKO Hypno with its STAB move or Pursuit trap it.
**Strong Physical Attackers**: Strong physical attackers, such as Ursaring and Torterra, can tank a few hits and can hit back hard because of Hypno's mediocre Defense. Ursaring can also take advantage of Thunder Wave and Toxic thanks to Quick Feet or Guts and OHKO Hypno with STAB Facade or Crunch. Torterra can also set up on Hypno, as it is immune to Thunder Wave, or it can retaliate with a STAB Earthquake.
**Taunt Users**: Taunt users such as Grumpig and Misdreavus outspeed Hypno and can Taunt it, cutting off its sources of utility, thereby forcing it to switch. However, most of them can get crippled by Toxic and Thunder Wave if caught on the switch, which can be annoying, as most of them lack reliable recovery.
**Residual Damage**: Hypno doesn't lack recovery, but it is still susceptible to entry hazards, especially Toxic Spikes, and status. This is worsened if Hypno has to switch into the field several times to check special attackers, as they can cripple it, limiting its opportunities to switch in and making it waste turns using Wish, which can be taken advantage of by setup sweepers or by just switching to a favorable matchup.
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