[SET]
Nasty Plot (Speed) (Hydrapple) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Regenerator
Tera Type: Steel / Ground
EVs: 244 HP / 208 Def / 56 Spe OR 244 HP / 208 SpA / 56 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Fickle Beam / Draco Meteor
- Giga Drain / Leaf Storm
- Earth Power
[SET COMMENTS]
Hydrapple is an absolute menace in the Speed slot thanks to great all-around stats that allow it to not only consistently set up with Nasty Plot, but also soft check bigger threats such as Ogerpon-W and Eternatus. Fickle Beam is a slightly more consistent Dragon-type STAB move that has the capability to hit extremely hard, especially after a Nasty Plot boost, while Draco Meteor gives more initial power but is less consistent over a long period. Giga Drain allows Hydrapple to keep itself healthier in longer matchups, while Leaf Storm allows for more immediate damage at the cost of forcing Hydrapple out a lot more often. Earth Power is Hydrapple's best coverage move, as it nails Poison- and Steel-types such as Clodsire, Galarian Slowking, Necrozma-DM, and Gholdengo. Tera Steel lets Hydrapple check opposing Dragon- and Fairy-types like Eternatus and Arceus-Fairy while making it immune to Toxic from Clodsire and flipping its 4x Ice-type weakness to a resistance, which can aid with the 1v1 against Kyurem-W, while Tera Ground allows Hydrapple to gain STAB on Earth Power as well as dampening its Ice weakness. The given EV spread aims to maximize Hydrapple's bulk to help it check the likes of Ogerpon and Great Tusk while also optimizing its Speed from multiple different donations. 56 Speed EVs and a Timid nature lets it outspeed Landorus-T and uninvested base 90 Pokemon with base 90 Speed; Timid Kyogre, Kyurem-W, and their receivers with base 120 Speed; and finally, base 110s like the Ogerpon formes and Latios with a base 138 Speed donation. With base 138 Speed specifically, the latter EV spread is more efficient, as Hydrapple will outspeed Ogerpon and can therefore be more of an initial threat.
Hydrapple fits best on offense teams that tend to be a bit bulkier, so gods such as Arceus-Ghost and Zacian-C not only donate a fantastic Speed stat but also pair well with Hydrapple, as the former can pressure opposing Steel-types, while the latter can pressure opposing Dragon-types. While Hydrapple can sweep, entry hazards from the likes of Hisuian Samurott and Ting-Lu help Hydrapple have an easier time sweeping by softening up its checks. On that note, Knock Off users such as the aforementioned Hisuian Samurott and Clefable can rid foes of their Heavy-Duty Boots to allow the chip damage from the hazards to stick.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/kenn.604741/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pannu.517892/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dragonphoenix333.608218/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
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