Hawlucha #701
Type: Fighting/Flying
Base Stats: 78 / 92 / 75 / 74 / 63 / 118
Abilities: Unburden / Limber / Mold Breaker (HA)
Notable Moves (STAB in Italic):
High Jump Kick
Swords Dance
Substitute
Flying Press
Acrobatics
Sky Attack
U-turn
Taunt
Stone Edge
Poison Jab
Fire Punch
Thunder Punch
Drain Punch
X-Scissor
Bulk Up
Baton Pass
Hone Claws
Encore
Fling
Hawlucha is a new Gen VI Pokemon and has resided in the Borderline tier for most of its time as a Pokemon. In the XY meta, it was a difficult Pokemon to use in OU because of the prevalence of Talonflame and Aegislash, but since Aegislash's ban, it has gained viability and proved to be a dangerous sweeper with Unburden.
Its STAB moves give near perfect coverage, with Thundurus, Zapdos, and Doublade being the only Pokemon to resist the combo in OU. Its speed is quite excellent, though it is a bit lacking in power and bulk. Thankfully, its STAB moves have very high base power and Hawlucha has access to Swords Dance and other boosting moves to boost its power. While Hawlucha has made its claim to fame in OU with its Substitute + Swords Dance Unburden set, its movepool, speed and typing give it plenty of potential for support roles and other sweeping roles as well. While Hawlucha can still be difficult to use well, the reward it gives is often great. Plus it's a really cool-looking bird.
Sets
Sub Swords Dance
Hawlucha @ Sitrus Berry / Liechi Berry
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 12 HP / 252 Atk / 12 Def / 232 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- High Jump Kick
- Acrobatics
SubSD Hawlucha is easily its scariest set. Substitute gives Hawlucha many setup opportunities on status users and Pokemon that are locked into/only have moves that Hawlucha is immune to or resists. Such Pokemon include Landorus-Therian, Gliscor, Ferrothorn and Chansey. Substitute allows helps to activate Unburden with the Sitrus Berry, as with the 12 HP EVs, it takes only two Subs to activate it. Substitute can also protect Hawlucha from priority if played smartly. High Jump Kick is very powerful and breaks through walls that do not resist it, while Acrobatics is the more reliable STAB move used for cleaning.
Checks and counters to this set include Thundurus, Zapdos, Talonflame, Doublade, (Mega) Slowbro, Quagsire and Unaware Clefable. Doublade and Mega Slowbro cannot be beaten by any reliable means, but the former is thankfully uncommon. Thundurus faints to a +2 High Jump Kick and Zapdos, Talonflame and regular Bro can be defeated if Hawlucha has set up both a Substitute and a Swords Dance. Quag and Clefable must have taken enough prior damage to be 2HKOed by Acrobatics. Like with any other late-game cleaner, Hawlucha must have its counters removed or weakened before it starts a sweep, especially since Unburden only activates once per battle.
The 12 HP EVs give Hawlucha an HP stat of 300, meaning that 2 Substitutes will guarantee for it to be at half health and its Sitrus Berry will be activated. 232 Speed EVs allow it to outspeed all base 115s pre-Unburden, allowing it to set up on as many threats as possible. A set of 44 HP / 252 Atk / 12 Def / 200 Spe, outspeeds up to Thundurus and gives Hawlucha a tad more bulk. Drain Punch can be used over HJK for longevity and accuracy, but the extra power of HJK is usually preferred. Liechi Berry can be used for even more power, though it takes one more Substitute to activate the berry.
Other Options
Besides SubSD, Hawlucha can also use a Power Herb SD set with Sky Attack to quickly activate Unburden. SubSD is usually better, however to protect from status and priority and more easily set up. Limber and Mold Breaker Swords Dance sets are also viable thanks to Hawlucha's natural speed. Aside from offensive sweeping roles, Hawlucha can also support. It can act as a lead with U-turn and Mold Breaker Taunt, Baton Pass boosts or Substitutes, and provide setup opportunities with Encore. Hawlucha is surprisingly versatile. Don't be afraid of being creative!
Type: Fighting/Flying
Base Stats: 78 / 92 / 75 / 74 / 63 / 118
Abilities: Unburden / Limber / Mold Breaker (HA)
Notable Moves (STAB in Italic):
High Jump Kick
Swords Dance
Substitute
Flying Press
Acrobatics
Sky Attack
U-turn
Taunt
Stone Edge
Poison Jab
Fire Punch
Thunder Punch
Drain Punch
X-Scissor
Bulk Up
Baton Pass
Hone Claws
Encore
Fling
Hawlucha is a new Gen VI Pokemon and has resided in the Borderline tier for most of its time as a Pokemon. In the XY meta, it was a difficult Pokemon to use in OU because of the prevalence of Talonflame and Aegislash, but since Aegislash's ban, it has gained viability and proved to be a dangerous sweeper with Unburden.
Its STAB moves give near perfect coverage, with Thundurus, Zapdos, and Doublade being the only Pokemon to resist the combo in OU. Its speed is quite excellent, though it is a bit lacking in power and bulk. Thankfully, its STAB moves have very high base power and Hawlucha has access to Swords Dance and other boosting moves to boost its power. While Hawlucha has made its claim to fame in OU with its Substitute + Swords Dance Unburden set, its movepool, speed and typing give it plenty of potential for support roles and other sweeping roles as well. While Hawlucha can still be difficult to use well, the reward it gives is often great. Plus it's a really cool-looking bird.
Sets
Sub Swords Dance
Hawlucha @ Sitrus Berry / Liechi Berry
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 12 HP / 252 Atk / 12 Def / 232 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- High Jump Kick
- Acrobatics
SubSD Hawlucha is easily its scariest set. Substitute gives Hawlucha many setup opportunities on status users and Pokemon that are locked into/only have moves that Hawlucha is immune to or resists. Such Pokemon include Landorus-Therian, Gliscor, Ferrothorn and Chansey. Substitute allows helps to activate Unburden with the Sitrus Berry, as with the 12 HP EVs, it takes only two Subs to activate it. Substitute can also protect Hawlucha from priority if played smartly. High Jump Kick is very powerful and breaks through walls that do not resist it, while Acrobatics is the more reliable STAB move used for cleaning.
Checks and counters to this set include Thundurus, Zapdos, Talonflame, Doublade, (Mega) Slowbro, Quagsire and Unaware Clefable. Doublade and Mega Slowbro cannot be beaten by any reliable means, but the former is thankfully uncommon. Thundurus faints to a +2 High Jump Kick and Zapdos, Talonflame and regular Bro can be defeated if Hawlucha has set up both a Substitute and a Swords Dance. Quag and Clefable must have taken enough prior damage to be 2HKOed by Acrobatics. Like with any other late-game cleaner, Hawlucha must have its counters removed or weakened before it starts a sweep, especially since Unburden only activates once per battle.
The 12 HP EVs give Hawlucha an HP stat of 300, meaning that 2 Substitutes will guarantee for it to be at half health and its Sitrus Berry will be activated. 232 Speed EVs allow it to outspeed all base 115s pre-Unburden, allowing it to set up on as many threats as possible. A set of 44 HP / 252 Atk / 12 Def / 200 Spe, outspeeds up to Thundurus and gives Hawlucha a tad more bulk. Drain Punch can be used over HJK for longevity and accuracy, but the extra power of HJK is usually preferred. Liechi Berry can be used for even more power, though it takes one more Substitute to activate the berry.
Other Options
Besides SubSD, Hawlucha can also use a Power Herb SD set with Sky Attack to quickly activate Unburden. SubSD is usually better, however to protect from status and priority and more easily set up. Limber and Mold Breaker Swords Dance sets are also viable thanks to Hawlucha's natural speed. Aside from offensive sweeping roles, Hawlucha can also support. It can act as a lead with U-turn and Mold Breaker Taunt, Baton Pass boosts or Substitutes, and provide setup opportunities with Encore. Hawlucha is surprisingly versatile. Don't be afraid of being creative!
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