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[SET]
Stealth Rock (Hippowdon) @ Sitrus Berry / Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
SPs: 32 HP / 32 Def / 2 SpD or 32 HP / 5 Def / 29 SpD
Impish / Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Yawn
- Slack Off / Whirlwind
[SET COMMENTS]
* With impressive bulk, a great defensive typing, and a useful ability that wears foes down, Hippowdon is the premier setter of Stealth Rock!
* **Yawn**: Yawn is the secret ingredient to Hippowdon's success, punishing sweepers that lack Lum Berry such as Mega Scizor and working well with Stealth Rock to rack up even more residual damage with switches.
* **Slack Off versus Whirlwind**: Slack Off would normally be a given on such a defensive Pokemon, but Hippowdon can justify going without it to cause even more Stealth Rock damage with Whirlwind. Whirlwind also punishes Pokemon that may run Lum Berry to set up on Hippowdon, such as Garchomp and Mimikyu.
Other Options
========
* **Rock Tomb**: Not only does Rock Tomb provide utility in Speed reduction against common Ground-type switch-ins like Gyarados, but it also ensures that Hippowdon isn't totally walled by Flying-types.
* **Protect**: Protect pairs well with Yawn and Leftovers, potentially letting Hippowdon incapacitate switch-ins that can otherwise threaten to seriously harm it such as Meowscarada and Hydreigon while also providing a small serving of free recovery.
* **Fissure**: When your back is up against a wall, Fissure could potentially flip matchups by OHKOing switch-ins Hippowdon has no bussiness beating, such as Mega Meganium. However, its low reliability makes it hard to fit in compared to Whirlwind.
Items
========
* **Sitrus Berry**: Sitrus Berry's quick burst of recovery usually fits Hippowdon the best, giving it a chance to let loose a Yawn more easily. It also helps specially defensive variants deal with White Herb Archaludon.
* **Leftovers**: If Sitrus Berry is held by another teammate, Leftovers's slower recovery still benefits Hippowdon, especially variants that run Slack Off.
* **Mental Herb**: If both Sitrus Berry and Leftovers are needed on other teammates, Mental Herb can be justified for letting Hippowdon set up Stealth Rock even when hit by Taunt.
SP Spreads
=========
* **32 HP / 32 Def / 2 SpD with Impish**: Maximizing Hippowdon's tanky Defense stat gives it the best chance of stopping powerful physical sweepers like Garchomp late-game with Yawn or Whirlwind.
* **32 HP / 5 Def / 29 SpD with Careful**: This specially defensive spread lets Hippowdon survive Primarina's Mystic Water-boosted Sparking Aria.
* **32 HP / 10 Def / 24 SpD with Careful**: This spread should be paired with Sitrus Berry, as it allows Hippowdon to avoid a 2HKO from White Herb Archaludon's Draco Meteor while also surviving Garchomp's +2 Outrage after Stealth Rock damage.
* **32 HP / 2 Def / 32 SpD with Careful**: Maximizing Hippowdon's Special Defense gives it a good shot of avoiding an OHKO from Modest Mega Charizard Y's Overheat in the sun.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/theorymon.29010/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/derpysux.528485/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
Last edited:
