[SET]
name: Defensive Pivot
move 1: Sacred Fire
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Defog
move 4: Whirlwind / Protect / Brave Bird
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Regenerator
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 208 Def / 52 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Ho-Oh is one of the most consistent pivots in AG thanks to its solid natural bulk coupled with an expansive utility movepool, strong defensive typing, and amazing ability. Ho-Oh can switch into a plethora of common threats, including Yveltal, Zacian-C, and Eternatus, allowing for movepool scouting and wasting Dynamax turns from threats such as Yveltal and Zygarde-C. Sacred Fire is Ho-Oh's primary means of damage output, notably allowing it to deal heavy damage to opposing Necrozma-DM and Zacian-C while threatening to burn potential switch-ins such as Eternatus and Zekrom, which could otherwise take advantage of it. Great care must be taken, however, to ensure that one's Sacred Fire PP does not get wasted over the course of a battle, especially if the opponent has a Pressure user such as Eternatus, Palkia, or Giratina. Toxic allows Ho-Oh to reliably cripple a significant portion of the metagame, notably putting Yveltal, Palkia lacking Rest, Calyrex-S, and numerous other threats on timers, while also helping to deter potential switch-ins, particularly preventing Kyogre from switching in freely on Ho-Oh. Defog lets Ho-Oh provide invaluable utility to its team, helping to keep the field clear of Spikes and Stealth Rock. It also notably protects Necrozma-DM from Assurance Zacian-C, which is particularly beneficial, as Ho-Oh has a good matchup versus common entry hazard users such as Necrozma-DM and Ferrothorn. Whirlwind is chosen to enable Ho-Oh to deter Pokemon like Xerneas and Dragon Dance Zygarde-C from setting up while also enabling it to be a last-ditch defense against potential runaway sweepers like +1 Calyrex-S. Alternatively, Protect can be used to allow Ho-Oh to more reliably check Yveltal, waste multiple turns of Yveltal's or Xerneas's Dynamax, and scout what move Choice-item users lock into. Brave Bird can also be used to let Ho-Oh chip Eternatus and to potentially boost its Speed under Dynamax. Heavy-Duty Boots is an invaluable item for Ho-Oh, giving it the longevity to switch repeatedly into threats without taking otherwise crippling Stealth Rock damage. Regenerator gives Ho-Oh a source of reliable recovery throughout the match, allowing it to pivot into attacks from a wide variety of potentially threatening attackers with ease. The given EVs with an Impish nature allow Ho-Oh to survive a +2 Thunder from Geomancy Xerneas from full health while also maximizing physical bulk and minimizing Stealth Rock damage if Heavy-Duty Boots is Knocked Off.
Ho-Oh can fit on all manner of balance, bulky offense, and stall teams thanks to its ability to pivot into a significant portion of the metagame's attackers, enabling teammates safer switches. Ho-Oh can also provide invaluable utility as a status absorber, protecting its teammates from potentially crippling status. An especially good teammate for Ho-Oh is the nigh mandatory Necrozma-DM, which greatly appreciates the presence of a secondary Xerneas and Zacian-C check. Ho-Oh should be used with caution around opposing Knock Off Ferrothorn and Necrozma-DM, since the loss of Heavy-Duty Boots severely reduces Ho-Oh's survivability. Additionally, teammates such as Ferrothorn, Blissey, and Eternatus can all pair well with Ho-Oh, since they reliably check Kyogre, which would otherwise threaten Ho-Oh. Notably, Ferrothorn and Eternatus can provide hazard support, which pairs well with Ho-Oh's ability to force switches through Whirlwind. Ho-Oh should not be a team's only check to Yveltal, so teammates such as specially defensive Eternatus and Tyranitar can be useful to have.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Recover can be used in the fourth slot but at a significant opportunity cost, since Ho-Oh already has a reliable form of recovery in Regenerator. The only benefit of using Recover is that Ho-Oh can stay in on Pokemon that can inflict minor chip damage, like some Yveltal sets, for longer periods of time than it might otherwise be able to. Flare Blitz is an alternative strong Fire-type STAB move with more PP than Sacred Fire, but it sacrifices Sacred Fire's high burn chance and reduces Ho-Oh's longevity through recoil. Additionally, Thunder Wave can be used over Toxic to provide support to allow slower teammates like Choice Specs Kyogre to sweep more effectively.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Dragon-types**: Bulky Dragon-types such as defensive Zygarde, Giratina, Eternatus, and Palkia can all switch freely into any of Ho-Oh's moves with impunity threaten to punish it with Toxic or Glare, and eventually force it out while disregarding any status inflicted by Ho-Oh. In addition, some Eternatus sets can carry Meteor Beam, which can remove Ho-Oh. Additionally, Zekrom can use Ho-Oh as setup fodder, forcing it out with the threat of a super effective Bolt Strike and using the turn to set up a Substitute or Dragon Dance.
**Knock Off**: Ho-Oh desperately needs its Heavy-Duty Boots in order to avoid Stealth Rock damage and come in safely, so if a Pokemon such as Necrozma-DM or Yveltal removes its item, Ho-Oh will likely be crippled without a secondary Defog user.
**Kyogre**: Kyogre, especially Rest sets, can seriously threaten Ho-Oh, thanks to its ability to safely absorb status while threatening to OHKO Ho-Oh if it stays in.
**Rock-type Moves**: Before attempting to pivot into foes such as Groudon, Marshadow, Necrozma-DM, and Eternatus, ensure that you scout for Rock-type coverage, like Stone Edge, Rock Tomb, and Meteor Beam.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Geysers, 426798]]
- Quality checked by: [[BaconEatinAssassin, 367227], [Icemaster, 464176]]
- Grammar checked by: [[lotiasite, 302985]]
name: Defensive Pivot
move 1: Sacred Fire
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Defog
move 4: Whirlwind / Protect / Brave Bird
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Regenerator
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 208 Def / 52 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Ho-Oh is one of the most consistent pivots in AG thanks to its solid natural bulk coupled with an expansive utility movepool, strong defensive typing, and amazing ability. Ho-Oh can switch into a plethora of common threats, including Yveltal, Zacian-C, and Eternatus, allowing for movepool scouting and wasting Dynamax turns from threats such as Yveltal and Zygarde-C. Sacred Fire is Ho-Oh's primary means of damage output, notably allowing it to deal heavy damage to opposing Necrozma-DM and Zacian-C while threatening to burn potential switch-ins such as Eternatus and Zekrom, which could otherwise take advantage of it. Great care must be taken, however, to ensure that one's Sacred Fire PP does not get wasted over the course of a battle, especially if the opponent has a Pressure user such as Eternatus, Palkia, or Giratina. Toxic allows Ho-Oh to reliably cripple a significant portion of the metagame, notably putting Yveltal, Palkia lacking Rest, Calyrex-S, and numerous other threats on timers, while also helping to deter potential switch-ins, particularly preventing Kyogre from switching in freely on Ho-Oh. Defog lets Ho-Oh provide invaluable utility to its team, helping to keep the field clear of Spikes and Stealth Rock. It also notably protects Necrozma-DM from Assurance Zacian-C, which is particularly beneficial, as Ho-Oh has a good matchup versus common entry hazard users such as Necrozma-DM and Ferrothorn. Whirlwind is chosen to enable Ho-Oh to deter Pokemon like Xerneas and Dragon Dance Zygarde-C from setting up while also enabling it to be a last-ditch defense against potential runaway sweepers like +1 Calyrex-S. Alternatively, Protect can be used to allow Ho-Oh to more reliably check Yveltal, waste multiple turns of Yveltal's or Xerneas's Dynamax, and scout what move Choice-item users lock into. Brave Bird can also be used to let Ho-Oh chip Eternatus and to potentially boost its Speed under Dynamax. Heavy-Duty Boots is an invaluable item for Ho-Oh, giving it the longevity to switch repeatedly into threats without taking otherwise crippling Stealth Rock damage. Regenerator gives Ho-Oh a source of reliable recovery throughout the match, allowing it to pivot into attacks from a wide variety of potentially threatening attackers with ease. The given EVs with an Impish nature allow Ho-Oh to survive a +2 Thunder from Geomancy Xerneas from full health while also maximizing physical bulk and minimizing Stealth Rock damage if Heavy-Duty Boots is Knocked Off.
Ho-Oh can fit on all manner of balance, bulky offense, and stall teams thanks to its ability to pivot into a significant portion of the metagame's attackers, enabling teammates safer switches. Ho-Oh can also provide invaluable utility as a status absorber, protecting its teammates from potentially crippling status. An especially good teammate for Ho-Oh is the nigh mandatory Necrozma-DM, which greatly appreciates the presence of a secondary Xerneas and Zacian-C check. Ho-Oh should be used with caution around opposing Knock Off Ferrothorn and Necrozma-DM, since the loss of Heavy-Duty Boots severely reduces Ho-Oh's survivability. Additionally, teammates such as Ferrothorn, Blissey, and Eternatus can all pair well with Ho-Oh, since they reliably check Kyogre, which would otherwise threaten Ho-Oh. Notably, Ferrothorn and Eternatus can provide hazard support, which pairs well with Ho-Oh's ability to force switches through Whirlwind. Ho-Oh should not be a team's only check to Yveltal, so teammates such as specially defensive Eternatus and Tyranitar can be useful to have.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Recover can be used in the fourth slot but at a significant opportunity cost, since Ho-Oh already has a reliable form of recovery in Regenerator. The only benefit of using Recover is that Ho-Oh can stay in on Pokemon that can inflict minor chip damage, like some Yveltal sets, for longer periods of time than it might otherwise be able to. Flare Blitz is an alternative strong Fire-type STAB move with more PP than Sacred Fire, but it sacrifices Sacred Fire's high burn chance and reduces Ho-Oh's longevity through recoil. Additionally, Thunder Wave can be used over Toxic to provide support to allow slower teammates like Choice Specs Kyogre to sweep more effectively.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Dragon-types**: Bulky Dragon-types such as defensive Zygarde, Giratina, Eternatus, and Palkia can all switch freely into any of Ho-Oh's moves with impunity threaten to punish it with Toxic or Glare, and eventually force it out while disregarding any status inflicted by Ho-Oh. In addition, some Eternatus sets can carry Meteor Beam, which can remove Ho-Oh. Additionally, Zekrom can use Ho-Oh as setup fodder, forcing it out with the threat of a super effective Bolt Strike and using the turn to set up a Substitute or Dragon Dance.
**Knock Off**: Ho-Oh desperately needs its Heavy-Duty Boots in order to avoid Stealth Rock damage and come in safely, so if a Pokemon such as Necrozma-DM or Yveltal removes its item, Ho-Oh will likely be crippled without a secondary Defog user.
**Kyogre**: Kyogre, especially Rest sets, can seriously threaten Ho-Oh, thanks to its ability to safely absorb status while threatening to OHKO Ho-Oh if it stays in.
**Rock-type Moves**: Before attempting to pivot into foes such as Groudon, Marshadow, Necrozma-DM, and Eternatus, ensure that you scout for Rock-type coverage, like Stone Edge, Rock Tomb, and Meteor Beam.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Geysers, 426798]]
- Quality checked by: [[BaconEatinAssassin, 367227], [Icemaster, 464176]]
- Grammar checked by: [[lotiasite, 302985]]
Last edited:
