[OVERVIEW]
Hariyama's low base Speed and access to Fake Out make it a valuable addition to many Trick Room teams. It serves as a good compromise between bulk and offense thanks to its high base HP and access to Guts and Close Combat. Its great coverage also allows it to deal with common metagame threats such as Mega Kangaskhan, Heatran, and Landorus-T. Scrafty is often the preferred option on Trick Room teams thanks to its access to Intimidate and Drain Punch; however, Hariyama is a more offensive alternative to Scrafty that can fulfill its role as a Fake Out user as well as an additional role as a strong Fighting-type. Hariyama also faces competition from Conkeldurr and Machamp, as they make for better offensive Trick Room Fighting-types if Hariyama's Fake Out is unneeded. Ensure that you only use Hariyama on a team with a Trick Room setter, as its low Speed will otherwise leave it unable to function effectively.
[SET]
name: Trick Room Attacker
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Ice Punch / Rock Slide / Wide Guard
item: Assault Vest / Sitrus Berry
ability: Guts / Thick Fat
nature: Brave
evs: 28 HP / 172 Atk / 132 Def / 172 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Fake Out causes a foe to flinch, allowing a partner to set up Trick Room more safely. Close Combat is a high-powered STAB move and one of Hariyama's greatest advantages over Scrafty. Knock Off hits Ghost- and Psychic-types, which are immune to or resist Fighting, and is also able to remove items. It's also worth noting that, as Hariyama is so slow, it can underspeed and KO Aegislash with Knock Off after it has changed to Blade forme. Ice Punch deals super effective damage to Flying-types such as Landorus-T and Mega Salamence. Rock Slide is an alternative coverage option to Ice Punch that helps deal with Fire-types like Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona. Wide Guard is an option when used with Sitrus Berry that defends Hariyama and its partner from spread attacks.
Set Details
========
A Brave nature and 172 Attack EVs are used to KO bulky Mega Kangaskhan with Close Combat. Defensively, the EVs allow Hariyama to survive either a Double-Edge from Jolly Mega Kangaskhan or two Psychics from Modest Cresselia. Assault Vest is used to improve Hariyama's special bulk as much as possible. Sitrus Berry is an alternative if you'd prefer the ability to use a status move, as it also improves longevity. When using Sitrus Berry, an EV spread of 60 HP / 100 Atk / 100 Def / 244 SpD should be used to KO 4 HP Mega Kangaskhan and survive Choice Specs Hydreigon's Draco Meteor. Guts allows Hariyama to function as a status sponge and prevents burns from neutering Hariyama's damage output. Thick Fat is an option to help Hariyama function as a better check to Fire-types and should preferably be used in combination with Rock Slide. 0 Speed IVs are used to allow Hariyama to move as soon as possible under Trick Room.
Usage Tips
========
You should generally use Hariyama in the lead position to gain early momentum with Fake Out, preferably by aiding a partner in setting up Trick Room. Offensively, try to focus more on targets that threaten Hariyama's bulkier partners rather than Hariyama itself, as they are likely to be more valuable in the late-game. Don't be overly concerned about the defense drops from Close Combat, as Hariyama is quite bulky despite them and is likely to have already traded efficiently before they become an issue. They may even help with momentum, as removing Hariyama from the field quickly after it has done its job could make way for a more appropriate sweeper to switch in for free. However, be mindful of instances where Hariyama could be conserved to sponge damage and status later on or to maintain the option of using Fake Out.
Team Options
========
Trick Room setters such as Jellicent, Cresselia, and Gothitelle are mandatory partners in order to set up Trick Room for Hariyama and the rest of its team. Steel-types such as Mega Mawile, Ferrothorn, and Escavalier can deal with Fairies and check Psychic-types, which threaten Hariyama. Bisharp is also notable as a Steel-type, as its Dark typing makes it immune to Psychic and its Defiant ability deters opponents from bringing in Intimidate users, which reduce Hariyama's damage output. Fire-types such as Rotom-H, Heatran, and Mega Camerupt can check Amoonguss, which is otherwise problematic due to its ability to redirect Hariyama's Fighting-type attacks with Rage Powder. These partners also provide resistances to Fairy-type moves. Water-types such as Rotom-W and Gastrodon serve as deterrents to Talonflame by threatening it with super effective STAB moves. Pokemon vulnerable to spread moves such as Abomasnow, Heatran, and Charizard make for good partners, as they appreciate being defended against them by Wide Guard.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Stone Edge is an alternative to Rock Slide that circumvents Wide Guard and KOes bulky variants of Mega Charizard Y. Feint allows Hariyama to break a foe's Protect for a partner, but Hariyama usually prefers being the one going on offense. Helping Hand boosts the power of a partner's attack, but it suffers from the same problem as Feint. Heavy Slam is an option for Fairy-types, as Hariyama is heavy and most Fairy-types are quite light; for example, it can OHKO 252 HP Sylveon, given maximum Attack investment. Poison Jab is a generally inferior option for dealing with Fairies, but it notably hits Azumarill super effectively, whereas Steel-type moves do not. Bullet Punch provides a way of hitting Fairies super effectively with priority, but its power is fairly underwhelming. Protect and Detect are options if you'd prefer Hariyama to have the option to defend itself for a turn, but giving up coverage for either of them is often undesirable. Lastly, Toxic Orb or Flame Orb can be used to activate Guts more reliably, and both help to prevent sleep spread by Pokemon like Amoonguss.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Flying-types**: Flying-types such as Mega Salamence, Talonflame, and Staraptor can OHKO Hariyama with their high-powered STAB moves. Talonflame is especially dangerous, as Gale Wings allows it to move first even under Trick Room.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types such as Sylveon, Mega Gardevoir, and Azumarill resist Close Combat and deal super effective damage to Hariyama. Even for Wide Guard Hariyama, the former two are still problematic, as their access to Psyshock and Psychic means they don't have to rely on Hyper Voice to KO Hariyama.
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types such as Mega Metagross, Cresselia, and Gothitelle are able to deal super effective damage with their STAB moves, and the latter two also resist Close Combat. However, they should all be wary of being hit by Knock Off.
**Intimidate**: Intimidate users such as Mega Salamence, Landorus-T, and Mega Mawile reduce Hariyama's damage output by lowering its Attack.
**Redirection**: Follow Me and Rage Powder users are able to redirect Hariyama's Fighting-type attacks with ease and frequently resist Fighting-type attacks, invest heavily into Defense, and carry Rocky Helmet. Notable examples include Amoonguss, Clefable, and Togekiss.
Hariyama's low base Speed and access to Fake Out make it a valuable addition to many Trick Room teams. It serves as a good compromise between bulk and offense thanks to its high base HP and access to Guts and Close Combat. Its great coverage also allows it to deal with common metagame threats such as Mega Kangaskhan, Heatran, and Landorus-T. Scrafty is often the preferred option on Trick Room teams thanks to its access to Intimidate and Drain Punch; however, Hariyama is a more offensive alternative to Scrafty that can fulfill its role as a Fake Out user as well as an additional role as a strong Fighting-type. Hariyama also faces competition from Conkeldurr and Machamp, as they make for better offensive Trick Room Fighting-types if Hariyama's Fake Out is unneeded. Ensure that you only use Hariyama on a team with a Trick Room setter, as its low Speed will otherwise leave it unable to function effectively.
[SET]
name: Trick Room Attacker
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Ice Punch / Rock Slide / Wide Guard
item: Assault Vest / Sitrus Berry
ability: Guts / Thick Fat
nature: Brave
evs: 28 HP / 172 Atk / 132 Def / 172 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Fake Out causes a foe to flinch, allowing a partner to set up Trick Room more safely. Close Combat is a high-powered STAB move and one of Hariyama's greatest advantages over Scrafty. Knock Off hits Ghost- and Psychic-types, which are immune to or resist Fighting, and is also able to remove items. It's also worth noting that, as Hariyama is so slow, it can underspeed and KO Aegislash with Knock Off after it has changed to Blade forme. Ice Punch deals super effective damage to Flying-types such as Landorus-T and Mega Salamence. Rock Slide is an alternative coverage option to Ice Punch that helps deal with Fire-types like Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona. Wide Guard is an option when used with Sitrus Berry that defends Hariyama and its partner from spread attacks.
Set Details
========
A Brave nature and 172 Attack EVs are used to KO bulky Mega Kangaskhan with Close Combat. Defensively, the EVs allow Hariyama to survive either a Double-Edge from Jolly Mega Kangaskhan or two Psychics from Modest Cresselia. Assault Vest is used to improve Hariyama's special bulk as much as possible. Sitrus Berry is an alternative if you'd prefer the ability to use a status move, as it also improves longevity. When using Sitrus Berry, an EV spread of 60 HP / 100 Atk / 100 Def / 244 SpD should be used to KO 4 HP Mega Kangaskhan and survive Choice Specs Hydreigon's Draco Meteor. Guts allows Hariyama to function as a status sponge and prevents burns from neutering Hariyama's damage output. Thick Fat is an option to help Hariyama function as a better check to Fire-types and should preferably be used in combination with Rock Slide. 0 Speed IVs are used to allow Hariyama to move as soon as possible under Trick Room.
Usage Tips
========
You should generally use Hariyama in the lead position to gain early momentum with Fake Out, preferably by aiding a partner in setting up Trick Room. Offensively, try to focus more on targets that threaten Hariyama's bulkier partners rather than Hariyama itself, as they are likely to be more valuable in the late-game. Don't be overly concerned about the defense drops from Close Combat, as Hariyama is quite bulky despite them and is likely to have already traded efficiently before they become an issue. They may even help with momentum, as removing Hariyama from the field quickly after it has done its job could make way for a more appropriate sweeper to switch in for free. However, be mindful of instances where Hariyama could be conserved to sponge damage and status later on or to maintain the option of using Fake Out.
Team Options
========
Trick Room setters such as Jellicent, Cresselia, and Gothitelle are mandatory partners in order to set up Trick Room for Hariyama and the rest of its team. Steel-types such as Mega Mawile, Ferrothorn, and Escavalier can deal with Fairies and check Psychic-types, which threaten Hariyama. Bisharp is also notable as a Steel-type, as its Dark typing makes it immune to Psychic and its Defiant ability deters opponents from bringing in Intimidate users, which reduce Hariyama's damage output. Fire-types such as Rotom-H, Heatran, and Mega Camerupt can check Amoonguss, which is otherwise problematic due to its ability to redirect Hariyama's Fighting-type attacks with Rage Powder. These partners also provide resistances to Fairy-type moves. Water-types such as Rotom-W and Gastrodon serve as deterrents to Talonflame by threatening it with super effective STAB moves. Pokemon vulnerable to spread moves such as Abomasnow, Heatran, and Charizard make for good partners, as they appreciate being defended against them by Wide Guard.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Stone Edge is an alternative to Rock Slide that circumvents Wide Guard and KOes bulky variants of Mega Charizard Y. Feint allows Hariyama to break a foe's Protect for a partner, but Hariyama usually prefers being the one going on offense. Helping Hand boosts the power of a partner's attack, but it suffers from the same problem as Feint. Heavy Slam is an option for Fairy-types, as Hariyama is heavy and most Fairy-types are quite light; for example, it can OHKO 252 HP Sylveon, given maximum Attack investment. Poison Jab is a generally inferior option for dealing with Fairies, but it notably hits Azumarill super effectively, whereas Steel-type moves do not. Bullet Punch provides a way of hitting Fairies super effectively with priority, but its power is fairly underwhelming. Protect and Detect are options if you'd prefer Hariyama to have the option to defend itself for a turn, but giving up coverage for either of them is often undesirable. Lastly, Toxic Orb or Flame Orb can be used to activate Guts more reliably, and both help to prevent sleep spread by Pokemon like Amoonguss.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Flying-types**: Flying-types such as Mega Salamence, Talonflame, and Staraptor can OHKO Hariyama with their high-powered STAB moves. Talonflame is especially dangerous, as Gale Wings allows it to move first even under Trick Room.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types such as Sylveon, Mega Gardevoir, and Azumarill resist Close Combat and deal super effective damage to Hariyama. Even for Wide Guard Hariyama, the former two are still problematic, as their access to Psyshock and Psychic means they don't have to rely on Hyper Voice to KO Hariyama.
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types such as Mega Metagross, Cresselia, and Gothitelle are able to deal super effective damage with their STAB moves, and the latter two also resist Close Combat. However, they should all be wary of being hit by Knock Off.
**Intimidate**: Intimidate users such as Mega Salamence, Landorus-T, and Mega Mawile reduce Hariyama's damage output by lowering its Attack.
**Redirection**: Follow Me and Rage Powder users are able to redirect Hariyama's Fighting-type attacks with ease and frequently resist Fighting-type attacks, invest heavily into Defense, and carry Rocky Helmet. Notable examples include Amoonguss, Clefable, and Togekiss.
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