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Hippopotas (qc 1/3)

Twix

Twix

jicama
is a Contributor Alumnus
QC: Megazard / ? / ?
GP: ? / ?

[OVERVIEW]

  • Hippopotas finds its niche from its ability, Sand Stream, which allows it to support Pokemon such as Stoutland.
  • Hippopotas has a solid support movepool including Whirlwind, Stealth Rock, Slack Off, and Yawn.
  • Hippopotas is able to Whirlwind foes such as Duosion and Clefairy, granted they can't have too many boosts set up, as well as other setup sweepers.
  • However, Knock Off can be very detrimental when used on Hippopotas as it relies on its item to support its team for a longer period at a time.
  • Due to Hippopotas's low Special Defense and the fact that most times it won't be using Eviolite, it's vulnerable to most Special Attacks.

[SET]
name: Sand Support
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Slack Off
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Whirlwind
item: Smooth Rock
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

  • Stealth Rock wears down foes as they switch in, and works well with sand in this aspect.
  • Slack Off grants Hippopotas reliable recovery, and can help it heal off damage from a foe.
  • Earthquake is for chip damage on a foe, and to prevent Hippopotas from being complete Taunt bait.
  • Whirlwind allows Hippopotas to rack up more damage with its entry hazards or to switch out a setup sweeper.

Set Details
========

  • Smooth Rock assists Hippopotas's niche by allowing it to support its teammates through Sand Stream for a longer period.
  • Hippopotas has maximum HP and Defensive EVs paired with an Impish nature to sponge physical hits as well as it can.
  • Sand Stream is the only ability Hippopotas should use as it can help support its teammates such as Stoutland, as well as weaken foes and break Focus Sash and Sturdy.

Usage Tips
========

  • Throughout the match, Hippopotas should be kept healthy so it can summon sand whenever needed to help support its team.
  • However, sacrificing Hippopotas late-game can be useful as you probably won't need to set sand again, and offers an opportunity for Stoutland to clean.
  • Switch out Hippopotas as soon as possible so it doesn't have much chance to be weakened or taken out, and so its teammates have more time to utilize its sand.
  • Stealth Rock should be used to cripple foes as they switch in.
  • Earthquake should only be used against weakened foes and frail Pokemon.
  • Vullaby and Probopass work well with Hippopotas as they can switch to it via a slow U-turn and Volt Switch, respectively, and get Hippopotas onto the field without taking any unnecessary damage.

Team Options
========

  • Stoutland is the primary partner for Hippopotas as its Sand Rush activates by virtue of Hippopotas's Sand Stream, and makes it a fast wallbreaker.
  • Probopass, Solrock, and other Rock-type Pokemon appreciate Hippopotas's sand as well, as they get a 1.5x boost to their Special Defense.
  • Grass-types such as Roselia, Tanglea, and Jumpluff can take Water- and Grass-type moves for Hippopotas, although they have to be wary of Ice-type moves. Roselia in particular can form an entry hazard core with Hippopotas using Spikes, while Jumpluff can switch to it using U-turn.
  • Water-types such as Politoed, Pelipper, and Relicanth can take on opposing Water- and Ice-types for Hippopotas although they share a weakness to Grass, bar Pelipper.
  • Raichu, Zebstrika, Rotom-F, and other Electric-types can hit the Water- and Flying-types Hippopotas struggles with super-effectively.
  • Misdreavus and other Ghost-types can spinblock, preventing Hippopotas's hazards from being removed via Rapid Spin.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

  • Hippopotas can run a Specially Defensive spread, although it can't take many Special hits well even with this change.
  • Hippopotas can also run a mixed defensive set, consisting of the EVs 248 HP / 128 Def / 132 SpD, with an Impish nature, which allows it to avoid the 2HKO by Focus Sash Kadabra's Psychic, Choice Band Dodrio's Return or Brave Bird, and Life Orb Rapidash's Flare Blitz.
  • Yawn can be used to put foes to sleep, although Hippopotas doesn't really have the moveslot for it.
  • Eviolite can be used for more bulk, although it limits sand's longevity. Eviolite can also be used on non-sand teams, paired with Sand Force.
  • Toxic can be used for residual damage, although it has the same issue as Yawn.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Tanglea, Roselia, and Sawsbuck can take any hit from Hippopotas and retaliate with their Grass-type STABs. Roselia can also use Hippopotas for Spikes fodder.

**Water-types**: Water-types such as Politoed, Floatzel, Simipour, and Swanna can take out Hippopotas with their STAB moves. Swanna can also remove Hippopotas's entry hazards.

**Ice-types**: Rotom-F, Vanilluxe, and other Ice-types can hit and OHKO Hippopotas with their Ice-type moves. Rotom-F can set up a Substitute against Hippopotas.

**Flying-types**: Jumpluff, Swanna, Pelipper, and other Flying-types are immune to Hippopotas's Earthquake, and in the case of Swanna and Pelipper, can remove its entry hazards, as well as being able to hit it super-effectively.

**Residual Damage**: Even though Hippopotas has access to Slack Off, it can often be weakened due to entry hazards and status, making it susceptible to being taken out due to its passable defensive stats.

**Opposing Weather**: While rare, when faced with opposing weather, Hippopotas's weather support can be neutralized when the opposing weather is set up.
 
Last edited:
not qc

Moves
========
-give examples for sweepers that hippo can whirlwind out

Team Options
========
-mention rock-types that benefit from sand by gaining a spdef boost
-mention electric types that can take on flying- and water-types that hippo has trouble with

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
-mention that hippo can run a mixed defensive set out of sand to check stuff like zeb and metang

Checks and Counters
===================
-twix you seriously dont have flying types here..
 
  • Whirlwind for setup sweepers, Slack Off for recovery
why does this bullet exist

The only other issue I have is that this should only be used on sand teams, but TO says clerics like defensive lickilicky somehow belong on the same team
Also put slow pivots in UT, I know that's been misused a lot in PU analyses but I find it crucial for things like vullaby to make shifting from stout to hippo and vice versa a lot easier on sand
1/3
 
Remove the Flying-types mention in C&C as Pelipper and Swanna can go in Water-types and Jumpluff can go in Grass-types.

83pn8vD.gif
2/3.
 
I'm sorry but I really have to disagree with this. Even if those specific Flying-types can fit in other categories, simply being a Flying-types lets you be a notable check or counter to hippopotas, and they go alongside other Flying-types like Dodrio and Chatot. You could certainly mention one of those two or have a little crossover, but there's no reason to remove Flying-types from a Pokemon with mono-Ground coverage.
 
Well he can keep the Flying-types mention and specify like Chatot and Dodrio like you said, I could just say to use other examples, but I get what you mean by keeping Flying-types.
 
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