[SET]
Physically Defensive (Hippowdon) @ Leftovers / Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Sand Stream / Sand Force
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Slack Off
- Toxic / Whirlwind
[SET COMMENTS]
With great typing and bulk, Physically Defensive Hippowdon is an effective blanket check on balance teams to many of the tiers most threatening physical attackers, such as Mega Tyranitar, Excadrill, and Iron Hands. Earthquake is a strong STAB move that threatens many of the foes Hippowdon is tasked with handling, like Victini and Zeraora, and pairs nicely with Toxic to force in options like Tangrowth and Rotom-W and cripple them. Alternatively, Whirlwind is an option to help phaze sweepers like Bulk Up Galarian Zapdos as well as force in entry hazard weak foes like Enamorus. Leftovers is the preferred item on Hippowdon, as its recovery allows Hippowdon to preserve recovery PP and turns. On teams without entry hazard removal, Heavy-Duty Boots is optimal to prevent Hippowdon from being worn down quickly. 8 Attack EVs allow Hippowdon to guarantee the OHKO on Excadrill with Earthquake. Sand Stream is the preferred ability on Hippowdon to chip the opposing team as well as potentially set sand for teammates like Excadrill, but Sand Force can be used on bulkier teams that dislike the chip on allies like Chansey. Physically Defensive Hippowdon can support attackers like Latios and Thundurus-T, as they enjoy pivoting and Hippowdon provides hazard support to weaken checks like Celesteela and Mega Venusaur as well as a defensive backbone to fall back on against Pokemon like Excadrill and Tyranitar. In return, they can help check the Water- and Grass-types that threaten Hippowdon, like Tapu Fini and Hydrapple. Celesteela is a notable teammate for Hippowdon, as it can handle the Grass-types Hippowdon dislikes while Hippowdon can handle Fire- and Electric-types like Victini and Zeraora for it. Hippowdon also finds it difficult to handle special attackers like Keldeo and Enamorus, so defensive options like Slowking and Chansey are important alongside it, and Hippowdon can check threats like Excadrill or Bisharp in return. Hippowdon also appreciates support from Fighting-resistant Pokemon such as Clefable and Mega Latias, as Choice Band Galarian Zapdos and Choice Band Iron Hands are able to brute force past Hippowdon's bulk.
[SET]
Mixed Wall (Hippowdon) @ Leftovers / Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Sand Stream / Sand Force
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Slack Off
- Toxic
[SET COMMENTS]
While specially defensive Hippowdon is generally outclassed by Ting-Lu, it is an option for teams looking for an entry hazard setter that can pressure defoggers like Rotom-W and Salamence while also checking Iron Moth while healthy. With Special Defense investment, Hippowdon becomes able to handle weaker special attackers such as Choice Scarf Enamorus and Aegislash as well as weak physical attackers like Zeraora. Earthquake serves as Hippowdon's way to threaten the foes it switches into, while Toxic is often used to pressure common switch-ins, like Rotom-W and Salamence. Leftovers is generally preferred to ensure Hippowdon can sponge both physical and special attacks better, but Heavy-Duty Boots can be used on teams lacking entry hazard removal. 8 Attack EVs allow Hippowdon to guarantee the OHKO on Excadrill. Specially defensive Hippowdon is only seen as a sand setter on balance sand teams, which appreciate its longevity and ability to pressure defoggers like Rotom-W and Salamence. Given Hippowdon's lacking special bulk even after heavy investment, strong neutral or super effective hits like Mega Latios's Luster Purge or Rotom-W's Hydro Pump can still threaten Hippowdon. Therefore, backup special walls like Chansey and Assault Vest Tangrowth are recommended, and Hippowdon can help check threats like Zeraora and Iron Moth for them in return. Options that can handle strong physical attackers like Mega Tyranitar and Z-Move Excadrill that threaten Mixed Wall Hippowdon, like Clefable and Skarmory are recommended, the latter of which can form a hazard stack core with Hippowdon. In return, Hippowdon can check threats like Aegislash and Victini for them. Partners like Excadrill and Keldeo also appreciate Hippowdon luring in Rotom-W and Salamence and crippling them with Toxic to allow them to wallbreak later in the game.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/danbear02.589016/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/runo.568189/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pubo.535121/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/red-fintans.637479/
Physically Defensive (Hippowdon) @ Leftovers / Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Sand Stream / Sand Force
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Slack Off
- Toxic / Whirlwind
[SET COMMENTS]
With great typing and bulk, Physically Defensive Hippowdon is an effective blanket check on balance teams to many of the tiers most threatening physical attackers, such as Mega Tyranitar, Excadrill, and Iron Hands. Earthquake is a strong STAB move that threatens many of the foes Hippowdon is tasked with handling, like Victini and Zeraora, and pairs nicely with Toxic to force in options like Tangrowth and Rotom-W and cripple them. Alternatively, Whirlwind is an option to help phaze sweepers like Bulk Up Galarian Zapdos as well as force in entry hazard weak foes like Enamorus. Leftovers is the preferred item on Hippowdon, as its recovery allows Hippowdon to preserve recovery PP and turns. On teams without entry hazard removal, Heavy-Duty Boots is optimal to prevent Hippowdon from being worn down quickly. 8 Attack EVs allow Hippowdon to guarantee the OHKO on Excadrill with Earthquake. Sand Stream is the preferred ability on Hippowdon to chip the opposing team as well as potentially set sand for teammates like Excadrill, but Sand Force can be used on bulkier teams that dislike the chip on allies like Chansey. Physically Defensive Hippowdon can support attackers like Latios and Thundurus-T, as they enjoy pivoting and Hippowdon provides hazard support to weaken checks like Celesteela and Mega Venusaur as well as a defensive backbone to fall back on against Pokemon like Excadrill and Tyranitar. In return, they can help check the Water- and Grass-types that threaten Hippowdon, like Tapu Fini and Hydrapple. Celesteela is a notable teammate for Hippowdon, as it can handle the Grass-types Hippowdon dislikes while Hippowdon can handle Fire- and Electric-types like Victini and Zeraora for it. Hippowdon also finds it difficult to handle special attackers like Keldeo and Enamorus, so defensive options like Slowking and Chansey are important alongside it, and Hippowdon can check threats like Excadrill or Bisharp in return. Hippowdon also appreciates support from Fighting-resistant Pokemon such as Clefable and Mega Latias, as Choice Band Galarian Zapdos and Choice Band Iron Hands are able to brute force past Hippowdon's bulk.
[SET]
Mixed Wall (Hippowdon) @ Leftovers / Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Sand Stream / Sand Force
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Slack Off
- Toxic
[SET COMMENTS]
While specially defensive Hippowdon is generally outclassed by Ting-Lu, it is an option for teams looking for an entry hazard setter that can pressure defoggers like Rotom-W and Salamence while also checking Iron Moth while healthy. With Special Defense investment, Hippowdon becomes able to handle weaker special attackers such as Choice Scarf Enamorus and Aegislash as well as weak physical attackers like Zeraora. Earthquake serves as Hippowdon's way to threaten the foes it switches into, while Toxic is often used to pressure common switch-ins, like Rotom-W and Salamence. Leftovers is generally preferred to ensure Hippowdon can sponge both physical and special attacks better, but Heavy-Duty Boots can be used on teams lacking entry hazard removal. 8 Attack EVs allow Hippowdon to guarantee the OHKO on Excadrill. Specially defensive Hippowdon is only seen as a sand setter on balance sand teams, which appreciate its longevity and ability to pressure defoggers like Rotom-W and Salamence. Given Hippowdon's lacking special bulk even after heavy investment, strong neutral or super effective hits like Mega Latios's Luster Purge or Rotom-W's Hydro Pump can still threaten Hippowdon. Therefore, backup special walls like Chansey and Assault Vest Tangrowth are recommended, and Hippowdon can help check threats like Zeraora and Iron Moth for them in return. Options that can handle strong physical attackers like Mega Tyranitar and Z-Move Excadrill that threaten Mixed Wall Hippowdon, like Clefable and Skarmory are recommended, the latter of which can form a hazard stack core with Hippowdon. In return, Hippowdon can check threats like Aegislash and Victini for them. Partners like Excadrill and Keldeo also appreciate Hippowdon luring in Rotom-W and Salamence and crippling them with Toxic to allow them to wallbreak later in the game.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/danbear02.589016/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/runo.568189/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pubo.535121/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/red-fintans.637479/
Last edited by a moderator:
: fixed tag
