[SET]
name: Physically Defensive (Ground)
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Slack Off
move 4: Whirlwind
item: Leftovers
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Summoning sand on switch-in and having an amazing Defense stat, in conjunction with access to utility moves such as Stealth Rock, Slack Off, and Whirlwind, make Hippowdon a great wall for any sand-based Ground-type team. Stealth Rock most notably helps against Flying- and Bug-types nd breaks Focus Sash and Sturdy for Hippowdon's teammates to break through their users more easily. Earthquake deals solid damage and prevents Hippowdon from being completely useless against Taunt users such as Kommo-o. Slack Off in tandem with Leftovers provides reliable recovery for Hippowdon, increasing its longevity throughout the game. Whirlwind phazes setup sweepers such as Mega Scizor and Bulk Up Urshifu-S that try to take advantage of Hippowdon while also forcefully chipping down foes when combined with Stealth Rock. Maximum HP and Defense EVs along with a Impish nature allow Hippowdon to be as physically bulky as possible to deal with physical attackers such as Bisharp, Mega Lopunny, and Excadrill.
Excadrill is Hippowdon's best teammate, greatly beneifts from Hippowdon's sand doubling its speed thanks to Sand Rush. Excadrill can also deal with threats like Kyurem, Tapu Lele, and Tapu Bulu for Hippowdon under sand and get rid of Spikes and Toxic Spikes for it with Rapid Spin. Seismitoad and Gastrodon can freely switch in against any Water-type move directed at Hippowdon, and Seismitoad can deal with Azumarill, while Gastrodon can use Clear Smog to deal with setup sweepers such as Kommo-o that Hippowdon falls short against. Mega Garchomp also appreciates sand set up by Hippowdon which further increases the damage done by its Rock- and Ground-type attacks. Landorus can break through Grass-type teams, deal with Grass-type threats like Ferrothorn and Tapu Bulu and also provide the team with a solid special wallbreaker. It can also set up Gravity, helping against Flying-types like Celesteela and Skarmory. Mega Steelix is a great teammate, as it can switch in against physical attackers that Hippowdon is threatened by, like Tapu Bulu, while also aiding greatly in matchups such as Dragon, Normal, and Fairy. Much like Landorus, Nidoking can act a great special attacker, breaking through Flying-, Water-, and Steel-type teams through its great Sheer Force-boosted coverage options in Flamethrower, Thunderbolt, and Ice Beam. Nidoking can also provide Toxic Spikes support, which helps greatly in matchups like Psychic and Fairy. Mamoswine is a great teammate that can improve the Flying-, Grass-, and Dragon-type matchups while also providing a semi-reliable switch-in against Ice-type attacks directed at Hippowdon thanks to Thick Fat. Gliscor is a great stallbreaker and absorber of status moves directed at Hippowdon, and it can opt to run Defog if necessary, providing a means of hazard control.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ground
--------
Hippowdon can opt to run Eject Button, as it helps bring teammates safely into the field, specifically Excadrill, once sand has been set up. Hippowdon can also choose to run Toxic in lieu of Whirlwind or Stealth Rock, but only if a teammate is running Stealth Rock in the case of the latter. An EV spread of 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SpD can be used to better take special attacks, notably letting Hippowdon withstand a Fire Blast or Solar Beam from Mega Charizard Y from full while avoiding a OHKO and 2HKO, respectively, from Grass Knot and Hidden Power Ice against Tapu Koko.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Hippowdon is easily dealt with by strong Water-type Pokemon like Greninja, Mega Swampert, and Urshifu-R with their super effective STAB moves, while defensive Water-types like Mantine and Gastrodon can threaten it with Scald while Hippowdon fails to do much in return.
**Grass-types**: Not only do Grass-types like Serperior, Tapu Bulu, and Rillaboom resist Earthquake, but they also threaten to KO Hippowdon with their respective Grass-type STAB options. Defensive Grass-types like Mega Venusaur take very little damage from Earthquake and in return deal large amounts of damage with Giga Drain, and Ferrothorn can set up Stealth Rock or Spikes against Hippowdon with ease.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Due to its average Special Defense stat, special attackers like Tapu Lele, Volcarona, and Latios can break through Hippowdon with their strong coverage and STAB moves.
**Weather Setters**: Opposing weather setters like Pelipper and Alolan Ninetales make Hippowdon a less reliable sand setter for its teammates. Pelipper and Alolan Ninetales can also threaten to KO Hippowdon with their super effective STAB Water- and Ice-type moves, respectively.
**Status:** Burn and poison cripple Hippowdon's ability to function as a reliable wall. Toxic puts Hippowdon on a timer, making it more easily dealt with by foes, while burn negates Leftovers recovery and reduces its damage output from Earthquake.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Maple, 473171]]
- Ground analysis by: [[Maple, 473171]]
- Quality checked by: [[Rotten, 491896], [maroon, 305839]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
name: Physically Defensive (Ground)
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Slack Off
move 4: Whirlwind
item: Leftovers
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Summoning sand on switch-in and having an amazing Defense stat, in conjunction with access to utility moves such as Stealth Rock, Slack Off, and Whirlwind, make Hippowdon a great wall for any sand-based Ground-type team. Stealth Rock most notably helps against Flying- and Bug-types nd breaks Focus Sash and Sturdy for Hippowdon's teammates to break through their users more easily. Earthquake deals solid damage and prevents Hippowdon from being completely useless against Taunt users such as Kommo-o. Slack Off in tandem with Leftovers provides reliable recovery for Hippowdon, increasing its longevity throughout the game. Whirlwind phazes setup sweepers such as Mega Scizor and Bulk Up Urshifu-S that try to take advantage of Hippowdon while also forcefully chipping down foes when combined with Stealth Rock. Maximum HP and Defense EVs along with a Impish nature allow Hippowdon to be as physically bulky as possible to deal with physical attackers such as Bisharp, Mega Lopunny, and Excadrill.
Excadrill is Hippowdon's best teammate, greatly beneifts from Hippowdon's sand doubling its speed thanks to Sand Rush. Excadrill can also deal with threats like Kyurem, Tapu Lele, and Tapu Bulu for Hippowdon under sand and get rid of Spikes and Toxic Spikes for it with Rapid Spin. Seismitoad and Gastrodon can freely switch in against any Water-type move directed at Hippowdon, and Seismitoad can deal with Azumarill, while Gastrodon can use Clear Smog to deal with setup sweepers such as Kommo-o that Hippowdon falls short against. Mega Garchomp also appreciates sand set up by Hippowdon which further increases the damage done by its Rock- and Ground-type attacks. Landorus can break through Grass-type teams, deal with Grass-type threats like Ferrothorn and Tapu Bulu and also provide the team with a solid special wallbreaker. It can also set up Gravity, helping against Flying-types like Celesteela and Skarmory. Mega Steelix is a great teammate, as it can switch in against physical attackers that Hippowdon is threatened by, like Tapu Bulu, while also aiding greatly in matchups such as Dragon, Normal, and Fairy. Much like Landorus, Nidoking can act a great special attacker, breaking through Flying-, Water-, and Steel-type teams through its great Sheer Force-boosted coverage options in Flamethrower, Thunderbolt, and Ice Beam. Nidoking can also provide Toxic Spikes support, which helps greatly in matchups like Psychic and Fairy. Mamoswine is a great teammate that can improve the Flying-, Grass-, and Dragon-type matchups while also providing a semi-reliable switch-in against Ice-type attacks directed at Hippowdon thanks to Thick Fat. Gliscor is a great stallbreaker and absorber of status moves directed at Hippowdon, and it can opt to run Defog if necessary, providing a means of hazard control.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ground
--------
Hippowdon can opt to run Eject Button, as it helps bring teammates safely into the field, specifically Excadrill, once sand has been set up. Hippowdon can also choose to run Toxic in lieu of Whirlwind or Stealth Rock, but only if a teammate is running Stealth Rock in the case of the latter. An EV spread of 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SpD can be used to better take special attacks, notably letting Hippowdon withstand a Fire Blast or Solar Beam from Mega Charizard Y from full while avoiding a OHKO and 2HKO, respectively, from Grass Knot and Hidden Power Ice against Tapu Koko.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Hippowdon is easily dealt with by strong Water-type Pokemon like Greninja, Mega Swampert, and Urshifu-R with their super effective STAB moves, while defensive Water-types like Mantine and Gastrodon can threaten it with Scald while Hippowdon fails to do much in return.
**Grass-types**: Not only do Grass-types like Serperior, Tapu Bulu, and Rillaboom resist Earthquake, but they also threaten to KO Hippowdon with their respective Grass-type STAB options. Defensive Grass-types like Mega Venusaur take very little damage from Earthquake and in return deal large amounts of damage with Giga Drain, and Ferrothorn can set up Stealth Rock or Spikes against Hippowdon with ease.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Due to its average Special Defense stat, special attackers like Tapu Lele, Volcarona, and Latios can break through Hippowdon with their strong coverage and STAB moves.
**Weather Setters**: Opposing weather setters like Pelipper and Alolan Ninetales make Hippowdon a less reliable sand setter for its teammates. Pelipper and Alolan Ninetales can also threaten to KO Hippowdon with their super effective STAB Water- and Ice-type moves, respectively.
**Status:** Burn and poison cripple Hippowdon's ability to function as a reliable wall. Toxic puts Hippowdon on a timer, making it more easily dealt with by foes, while burn negates Leftovers recovery and reduces its damage output from Earthquake.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Maple, 473171]]
- Ground analysis by: [[Maple, 473171]]
- Quality checked by: [[Rotten, 491896], [maroon, 305839]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
Last edited:
