Pokémon Hawlucha

[Ruft]

Hawlucha

Base Stats: 78 HP | 92 Atk | 75 Def | 74 SpA | 63 SpD | 118 Spe

Abilities: Limber | Unburden | Mold Breaker (H)

All Moves

Level Up Moves:
- [01] Tackle
- [01] Hone Claws
- [04] Wing Attack
- [08] Detect
- [12] Aerial Ace
- [16] Encore
- [20] Feather Dance
- [24] Submission
- [28] Bounce
- [32] Taunt
- [36] Roost
- [40] Swords Dance
- [44] Flying Press
- [48] High Jump Kick
- [52] Endeavor
- [56] Sky Attack
TMs:
- [TM00] Mega Punch
- [TM01] Mega Kick
- [TM03] Fire Punch
- [TM05] Thunder Punch
- [TM06] Fly
- [TM09] Giga Impact
- [TM15] Dig
- [TM21] Rest
- [TM22] Rock Slide
- [TM24] Snore
- [TM25] Protect
- [TM30] Steel Wing
- [TM31] Attract
- [TM33] Rain Dance
- [TM34] Sunny Day
- [TM39] Facade
- [TM40] Swift
- [TM41] Helping Hand
- [TM42] Revenge
- [TM43] Brick Break
- [TM48] Rock Tomb
- [TM52] Bounce
- [TM56] U-turn
- [TM57] Payback
- [TM58] Assurance
- [TM59] Fling
- [TM63] Drain Punch
- [TM75] Low Sweep
- [TM76] Round
- [TM78] Acrobatics
- [TM79] Retaliate
- [TM94] False Swipe
TRs:
- [TR00] Swords Dance
- [TR07] Low Kick
- [TR12] Agility
- [TR20] Substitute
- [TR21] Reversal
- [TR26] Endure
- [TR27] Sleep Talk
- [TR29] Baton Pass
- [TR30] Encore
- [TR37] Taunt
- [TR39] Superpower
- [TR48] Bulk Up
- [TR53] Close Combat
- [TR57] Poison Jab
- [TR60] X-Scissor
- [TR64] Focus Blast
- [TR66] Brave Bird
- [TR69] Zen Headbutt
- [TR74] Iron Head
- [TR75] Stone Edge
- [TR77] Grass Knot
- [TR83] Ally Switch
- [TR85] Work Up
- [TR95] Throat Chop
- [TR99] Body Press
Egg Moves:
- Entrainment
- Quick Guard
- Feint
- Defog
- Mean Look
- Cross Chop

Notable Moves

- Close Combat / High Jump Kick / Drain Punch (Max Knuckle raises the user's Attack by 1 stage.)
- Brave Bird / Acrobatics / Sky Attack (Max Airstream raises the user's Speed by 1 stage.)
- Thunder Punch (Max Lightning turns the terrain into Electric Terrain for 5 turns.)
- Zen Headbutt (Max Mindstorm turns the terrain into Psychic Terrain for 5 turns.)
- Stone Edge (Max Rockfall summons a sandstorm lasting 5 turns.)
- Poison Jab (Max Ooze raises the user's Special Attack by 1 stage.)
- Iron Head (Max Steelspike raises the user's Defense by 1 stage.)
- Throat Chop (Max Darkness lowers the target's Special Defense by 1 stage.)
- Dig (Max Quake raises the user's Special Defense by 1 stage.)
- Endeavor (Max Strike lowers the target's Speed by 1 stage.)
- Swords Dance
- Roost
- Substitute
- Taunt
- Defog
- Endure
- Reversal

Pros

- Has a good offensive typing that is unresisted by any singular type and threatens common Steel- and Grass-types.
- Its solid Speed stat coupled with Unburden and Max Airstream allows it to outspeeds many fast threats.
- Has a wide movepool which gives it a lot of coverage options.
- After Unburden has activated it is one of the very few sweepers that cannot be revenge killed/reverse swept by Ditto as the latter does not copy the boost in Speed Unburden provides.
- Makes great use of Max Moves as explained later.

Cons

- Mediocre Attack means it has to rely on Attack boosts from Swords Dance or Max Knuckle to break through certain Pokémon.
- Low defensive stats and bad defensive typing mean it can't take many hits, though the Dynamax health boost and terrain seed boost can patch this up.
- It is vulnerable to status conditions, especially burn.
- 4MSS forces it to choose between coverage and longevity.

Dynamaxing Potential

Hawlucha makes very good use of Dynamax and is one of the most potent users of it.

- The health boost patches up its bad bulk.
- Both its STAB moves, Max Knuckle and Max Airstream, boost its most relevant stats, Attack and Speed respectively. This makes Hawlucha a terrifying sweeper capable of snowballing through teams. Max Airstream is also very powerful and capable of hurting many Pokémon.
- Max Lightning (from Thunder Punch) and Max Mindstorm (from Zen Headbutt) set Electric and Psychic Terrain respectively, which make it consume held terrain seeds to boost its defenses and activate Unburden. Both of these moves also hurt Toxapex which can be a headache to Hawlucha otherwise.
- Unlike most other Dynamax abusers, Ditto is not an answer as it does not copy the Speed boost Unburden provides.

Potential Movesets

Close Combat, Brave Bird and Swords Dance are used on most sets. Close Combat is used over High Jump Kick as it is more reliable and does not suffer from the use of Protect. Brave Bird is generally used over Acrobatics as its BP while Dynamaxed is higher, but Acrobatics is an option to avoid recoil outside of Dynamax. Swords Dance boosts its Attack before Dynamaxing and can be used as Max Guard in a pinch.

There are multiple viable sets as there are multiple means to activate Unburden.

Self-sufficient
Hawlucha @ Electric Seed
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Brave Bird
- Swords Dance
- Thunder Punch

I believe this to be Hawlucha's best set. Thunder Punch provides useful coverage and sets Electric Terrain when Dynamaxed, making it consume its Electric Seed which boosts its Defense and activates Unburden. Besides hitting Toxapex, Thunder Punch also nails Gyarados and Corviknight among other Water- and Flying-types.

Support-reliant
Hawlucha @ Psychic Seed / Misty Seed / Electric Seed / Grassy Seed
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Brave Bird / Acrobatics
- Swords Dance
- Roost / Substitute

This set relies on other Pokémon to set terrain for it, be it from a Surge ability or a Max Move. In the latter case, if Hawlucha is not planned to be your Dynamax user, Acrobatics can be used over Brave Bird as it doesn't make Hawlucha suffer from recoil, but generally you'll want to keep Dynamaxing as an option. Brave Bird can also be safer in the sense that it doesn't require its held item to be consumed. This set opens up a moveslot to run Roost to keep itself healthy or Substitute to protect itself from status conditions, both providing more setup opportunities.

As the (non-Dynamax) terrain setters aren't as viable as they used to be, there are a couple of additional options that Hawlucha can use to activate Unburden that don't involve terrain.

White Herb
Hawlucha @ White Herb
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Brave Bird / Acrobatics
- Swords Dance
- Roost / Substitute

A White Herb can be used to restore Hawlucha's lowered defenses from Close Combat and activate Unburden.

Power Herb
Hawlucha @ Power Herb
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Sky Attack
- Swords Dance
- Roost / Substitute

A Power Herb can be used to allow Hawlucha to utilize a one-turn Sky Attack and activate Unburden. Max Airstream also remains a one-turn attack. The downside of this set is that it can only use its Flying STAB once outside of Dynamax.

Sitrus Berry
Hawlucha @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 12 HP / 244 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- Brave Bird / Acrobatics

This set allows Hawlucha to consume its Sitrus Berry after two uses of Substitute, activating Unburden and protecting itself from status.

 

[Ema Skye]

I've been pairing this with Scarf Indeedee to set Psychic Terrain. With no need to spend a max turn boosting via Max Mindstorm, you can just go ham via Max Knuckle.

 

[Yak Attack]

Hawlucha @ Focus Sash
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Acrobatics
- Swords Dance
- Thunder Punch

I like sending this in after getting rid of hazards and/or Hail, SDing once against an expected OKHO, and proceeding to net a few KOs in return. With its Flying typing, all it has to worry about as far as entry hazards are Stealth Rock and, in the future, G-Max Steelsurge.

 

[PokePoindexter]

We are the politicians, and Hawlucha is the bank that bails us out. It's unreal how insane Hawlucha is this generation. I forgot to save a replay, but I was down 4 Pokemon against someone in a match the other day, and this set proceeded to wipe out his entire team once I sent it out (without even Dynamaxing it, for that matter):
Hawlucha @ White Herb
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Acrobatics
- Thunder Punch
- U-turn

 

[woobowiz]

The following set depends on whether or not Body Press + Defense buffs is affected by Unaware, if it isn't then it's pretty nice.

Buff Birb
Hawlucha @ Salac Berry
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Body Press
- Acrobatics
- Bulk Up
- Endure

Spam Bulk Up until you are in danger of dying, then use Endure. Get +X Atk +X Def and +2 Spe. Meme Sweep.

 

[Pabloaram]

A good offensive check to him is Toxtricity.. resist both STAB and OHKO in return with Overdrive/Volt Switch
Toxtri (Toxtricity) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Punk Rock
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Boomburst
- Overdrive
- Volt Switch
- Sludge Wave

i use this set in my volturn team and i never have problem with hawlucha

 

[DrPumpkinz]

Two of the new toys Hawlucha got this gen are Endure and Reversal, so sets like this are now possible:

Hawlucha
@ Liechi Berry
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Endure
- Reversal
- Acrobatics
- Filler

Just watch out for priority.

 

[ShadesOfSolomon]

A good offensive check to him is Toxtricity.. resist both STAB and OHKO in return with Overdrive/Volt Switch
Toxtri (Toxtricity) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Punk Rock
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Boomburst
- Overdrive
- Volt Switch
- Sludge Wave

i use this set in my volturn team and i never have problem with hawlucha

With your EVs, a max attack Adamant Hawlucha clean OHKOs at +2 after rocks. You'll need points in defense or HP if you want to check Lucha.

 

[Siggu]

Hawlucha got multiple large buffs this generation. While it lost the Tapus as reliable partners for a free Seed consumption, it got:
- Close Combat to no longer worry about High Jump Kick misses or Ghost-types switching in.
- Brave Bird to run a stronger Flying STAB. Recoil is annoying, though.
- Dynamax to set up its own terrain and not bother by any partner Tapu.

The Max Lightning set is likely to be the better one IMO.

 

[Pabloaram]

With your EVs, a max attack Adamant Hawlucha clean OHKOs at +2 after rocks. You'll need points in defense or HP if you want to check Lucha.

after rocks... without this they never kill because of the strange typing of Toxtricity and only kill if they use hjk because cc have 30% only

 

[Zukrad]

Hawlucha is super good this gen, probably not as broken as I thought it would be day 1, but definitively stronger than in SM

Hawlucha @ Psychic Seed
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Acrobatics
- Swords Dance
- Substitute

This is the main set I have been working with, paired with Specs Male Indeede. I have been experimenting with Fire Punch instead of sub to have a way to hit Corv/Aegi, but Sub transforms Corsola-G from a counter to a set up opportunity

after rocks... without this they never kill because of the strange typing of Toxtricity and only kill if they use hjk because cc have 30% only

Very simple counterplay, don't start setting up when the obvious check is at full health. Many Pokémon can take a hit from Hawlucha, even after a Swords Dance, which is why you don't send Hawlucha as a lead and start setting up. You set up rocks, youset up spikes, you bait in Hawlucha's checks a chip them enough to put them at kill range etc. Not everything boils down to "me can take hit at full health in best case scenario, me win"

 

[Zé Capáu]

I'm taking notes of things that can possibly check/counter Hawlucha, despite some of these might have a hard time once Hawlucha sets up SD:

- Toxtricity resists anything that Hawlucha carries (like said above by Pabloaram), only fearing the rare Zen Headbutt.
- Unburden Max-Drifblim can survive an unboosted yet D-Max'd Thunder Punch (having at least 100 EVs on Def) and OHKO back with a D-Max'd Thunder (aswell as it gets the Electric Seed boost after taking/doing the Max Lightning).
- Max-Chandelure can survive an unboosted Max-Airstream from a D-Max'd Brave Bird and 99.1% OHKO it back with Max-Mindstorm from Psychic.
- Runerigus will ruin Max-Lightning sets and cripple it with Will-o-Wisp.
- Rotom-W can OHKO with a fully invested Volt Switch, but +1 Close Combat will leave a huge dent (as said and corrected by DrPumpkinz).
- Aegislash can check most of what it carries. Same for Corviknight bar the Thunder Punch.
- Prankster + Trick holding a Lagging Tail will ruin any Unburden-focused sets and making it vulnerable to almost everything that isn't both offensively mediocre and slow. I wonder how it works if done with a Flame Orb or Choice Specs.
- Unaware users ignore Hawlucha's stat boots. Clefable can even strike back with Moonblast without fearing it. Quagsire is immune to Thunder Punch and can threathen it back with Ice Punch.

Any other checks/counters worth mentioning? Aswell any of these checks/counters that could possibly go wrong and end up sinking like Titanic?

 

[DrPumpkinz]

- Toxtricity resists anything that Hawlucha carries (like said above by DrPumpkinz).

It seems you mixed up me and Pabloaram. In any case, Hawlucha does technically have the option of running Zen Headbutt. Also,

Rotom-W will even benefit from it and KO it back.

Rotom doesn't benefit from Electric Terrain because of Levitate, and needs investment to OHKO with Volt Switch. It also takes heavy damage from +1 Close Combat, even when fully invested.

 

[Zé Capáu]

It seems you mixed up me and Pabloaram. In any case, Hawlucha does technically have the option of running Zen Headbutt. Also,

Rotom doesn't benefit from Electric Terrain because of Levitate, and needs investment to OHKO with Volt Switch. It also takes heavy damage from +1 Close Combat, even when fully invested.

Oops, my bad about the mix up. Didn't realize that Levitate ignores terrains, tho.

But can't Rotom-W carry Thunderbolt, or does it have issues at finding a slot?

 

[DrPumpkinz]

Oops, my bad about the mix up. Didn't realize that Levitate ignores terrains, tho.

But can't Rotom-W carry Thunderbolt, or does it have issues at finding a slot?

It can carry Tbolt, but it doesn't sound ideal. Though since it lost Defog, I guess it isn't giving up as much by running it. You also still need some investment to guarantee the OHKO, especially once Hawlucha starts dropping Speed EVs for bulk.

0 SpA Rotom-Wash Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Hawlucha: 294-348 (98.9 - 117.1%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO

It's also worth noting that even a fully invested Tbolt won't OHKO a Dynamaxed Hawlucha, and waiting until after the Dynamax is over is risky because Lucha will have likely accrued more Attack boosts from Max Knuckle.

 

[Pabloaram]

Hawlucha is a "hard" mon to stop, but he need the coverage to break some of his cheeck.. he suffer the 4slot syndrome because he need STAB + SD to make dmg...

 

[onatolentino]

A good offensive check to him is Toxtricity.. resist both STAB and OHKO in return with Overdrive/Volt Switch
Toxtri (Toxtricity) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Punk Rock
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Boomburst
- Overdrive
- Volt Switch
- Sludge Wave

i use this set in my volturn team and i never have problem with hawlucha

What the 0 Atk IVs does in this case?

 

[Ruft]

What the 0 Atk IVs does in this case?

Pokémon lacking physical attacks are generally always run with 0 Atk IVs to minimize confusion self-hurt and Foul Play damage.

 

[onatolentino]

Pokémon lacking physical attacks are generally always run with 0 Atk IVs to minimize confusion self-hurt and Foul Play damage.

Thanks for the info! Didn't knew that.

 

[Zukrad]

I'm taking notes of things that can possibly check/counter Hawlucha, despite some of these might have a hard time once Hawlucha sets up SD:

- Toxtricity resists anything that Hawlucha carries (like said above by Pabloaram), only fearing the rare Zen Headbutt.
- Unburden Max-Drifblim can survive an unboosted yet D-Max'd Thunder Punch (having at least 100 EVs on Def) and OHKO back with a D-Max'd Thunder (aswell as it gets the Electric Seed boost after taking/doing the Max Lightning).
- Max-Chandelure can survive an unboosted Max-Airstream from a D-Max'd Brave Bird and 99.1% OHKO it back with Max-Mindstorm from Psychic.
- Runerigus will ruin Max-Lightning sets and cripple it with Will-o-Wisp.
- Rotom-W can OHKO with a fully invested Volt Switch, but +1 Close Combat will leave a huge dent (as said and corrected by DrPumpkinz).
- Aegislash can check most of what it carries. Same for Corviknight bar the Thunder Punch.
- Prankster + Trick holding a Lagging Tail will ruin any Unburden-focused sets and making it vulnerable to almost everything that isn't both offensively mediocre and slow. I wonder how it works if done with a Flame Orb or Choice Specs.
- Unaware users ignore Hawlucha's stat boots. Clefable can even strike back with Moonblast without fearing it. Quagsire is immune to Thunder Punch and can threathen it back with Ice Punch.

Any other checks/counters worth mentioning? Aswell any of these checks/counters that could possibly go wrong and end up sinking like Titanic?

Galarian Corsola is annoying to deal with if you are giving away substitute for coverage or self sufficiency, Corsola can wisp and Strenght Sap Hawlucha, while surviving even boosted hits. If you do get a sub up however, Corsola can't do anything

Cursola with Perish body puts the Perish status in Hawlucha and kills it in 3 turns, which is a bit too much time for a fully set up Haewlucha, but a method is a method

Barraskewda has no hope of ever tanking any of Hawluchas attacks well, but no even a Jolly Hawlcuha can outspeed a Barraskewda on rain while being able to kill Hawlucha easily or even set up on it. If Barraskewda is on the field, Hawlucha has to wait for the rain or Barraskewda to go away before even considering setting up. I'm pretty sure that a +3 Lucha can outspeed a Barraskewda under rain, but I haven't made the calcs

Mimikyu and Eiscue deal with Hawlucha with obvious methods

A bit contrived but the Cofagrigus/Runegirus + Ditto combo is a death sentence. The former deletes Unburden from Lucha, Ditto comes in, copies and then can dynamax reverse sweep ignoring its own Choice item. It seems too niche but I see these two way more often than I expected

 

[FalcoRCM]

I'm taking notes of things that can possibly check/counter Hawlucha, despite some of these might have a hard time once Hawlucha sets up SD:

- Toxtricity resists anything that Hawlucha carries (like said above by Pabloaram), only fearing the rare Zen Headbutt.
- Unburden Max-Drifblim can survive an unboosted yet D-Max'd Thunder Punch (having at least 100 EVs on Def) and OHKO back with a D-Max'd Thunder (aswell as it gets the Electric Seed boost after taking/doing the Max Lightning).
- Max-Chandelure can survive an unboosted Max-Airstream from a D-Max'd Brave Bird and 99.1% OHKO it back with Max-Mindstorm from Psychic.
- Runerigus will ruin Max-Lightning sets and cripple it with Will-o-Wisp.
- Rotom-W can OHKO with a fully invested Volt Switch, but +1 Close Combat will leave a huge dent (as said and corrected by DrPumpkinz).
- Aegislash can check most of what it carries. Same for Corviknight bar the Thunder Punch.
- Prankster + Trick holding a Lagging Tail will ruin any Unburden-focused sets and making it vulnerable to almost everything that isn't both offensively mediocre and slow. I wonder how it works if done with a Flame Orb or Choice Specs.
- Unaware users ignore Hawlucha's stat boots. Clefable can even strike back with Moonblast without fearing it. Quagsire is immune to Thunder Punch and can threathen it back with Ice Punch.

Any other checks/counters worth mentioning? Aswell any of these checks/counters that could possibly go wrong and end up sinking like Titanic?

Pyukumuku's current set using spite can deal with sub variants that quagsire struggles with while not falling over to random power whips that people are splashing on gyarados and other mons. I think scald + earthquake is much more common and useful on quagsire anyway.

Of course random mold breaker sets absolutely decimate unaware pokemon. Wouldn't be surprised if it were to make a rise as a wall breaker because there's not many things that can stand in the way of +2 hawlucha with mold breaker on stall outside of corsola.

Hawlucha @ Leftovers/ Life Orb
Adamant Nature
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- Brave Bird

Double stab has nearly perfect neutral coverage in current OU buckling just to the aegislash line, sub protects it from burns and swords dance obviously gives it sweeping power.

Sub up on something like corsola and watch the world burn.

Definitely wont be its standard set, but I think it has the potential to be a great wall breaker and my personal stall team would have no answer beyond hazing with pex.

 

[Pabloaram]

Pyukumuku's current set using spite can deal with sub variants that quagsire struggles with while not falling over to random power whips that people are splashing on gyarados and other mons. I think scald + earthquake is much more common and useful on quagsire anyway.

Of course random mold breaker sets absolutely decimate unaware pokemon. Wouldn't be surprised if it were to make a rise as a wall breaker because there's not many things that can stand in the way of +2 hawlucha with mold breaker on stall outside of corsola.

Hawlucha @ Leftovers/ Life Orb
Adamant Nature
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- Brave Bird

Double stab has nearly perfect neutral coverage in current OU buckling just to the aegislash line, sub protects it from burns and swords dance obviously gives it sweeping power.

Sub up on something like corsola and watch the world burn.

Definitely wont be its standard set, but I think it has the potential to be a great wall breaker and my personal stall team would have no answer beyond hazing with pex.

You will need help with corviknight.. is hard to break and he can retaliate with Brave Bird

 

[kinkkumestari]

You can run throat chop on hawlucha to counter toxtricity

 

[Pabloaram]

You can run throat chop on hawlucha to counter toxtricity

this is why Toxtricity work like a check.. Thoart Chop and Zen Heabutt are option agains Toxtri but is really rare to see.. Manly Haw use Thunder Punch, another attack resisted by Toxtri

 

[Why Not Wynat?]

Personally I think Indeedee (F) is a great partner for Hawlucha this gen as it can set up Light Screen and Reflect while setting up a Psychic terrain, and also use Aromatherapy for support. Hawlucha then can come Swords Dance safely then Dynamax and clean up with Brave Bird, Close Combat and I use Zen Headbutt because of Psychic terrain boost but I feel there may be a better moves. (Thunder Punch, Stone Edge etc)