QC: passion, EonX, Spirit
GP: P Squared, fleurdyleurse
[OVERVIEW]
Hoopa is a potent wallbreaker with a good offensive Psychic / Ghost typing and an enormous movepool. Possessing the highest Special Attack stat in RU, Hoopa is a fearsome Pokemon, with coverage moves such as Hyperspace Hole, Shadow Ball, and Focus Blast. Hoopa's Special Defense paired with its Ghost typing allows it to be an effective spinblocker against the primary Rapid Spin user in the tier, Blastoise. Unfortunately, Hoopa is particular lacking in Speed and Defense and therefore should be switched in very carefully against strong physical attackers. Its typing may be useful offensively, but it makes it 4x weak to Dark- and Ghost-type moves. Pursuit trappers are a challenge for Hoopa, as they have a high chance to OHKO it even if it does not switch out. Furthermore, Hoopa should be wary of Pokemon like Meloetta, as they are known to carry Shadow Ball as coverage.
[SET]
name: All-Out Attacker
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Hyperspace Hole / Psyshock
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Knock Off
item: Life Orb
ability: Magician
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shadow Ball targets opposing Ghost-and Psychic-types. Hyperspace Hole allows Hoopa to bypass Protect, which helps against clerics such as Alomomola and Aromatisse; it targets Fighting- and Poison-types super effectively as well. However, Psyshock can be used over Hyperspace Hole because it hits specially defensive Pokemon, such as Diancie, for more damage. Focus Blast allows Hoopa to hit several Pokemon super effectively, including Dark-, Ice-, Rock-, Normal-, and Steel-types; it is particularly important for hitting Dark-types, which resist Hoopa's Psychic- and Ghost-type STAB moves and can Pursuit trap Hoopa. Knock Off is used to cripple opposing Pokemon by getting rid of their items and particularly is needed for hitting Meloetta hard.
Set Details
========
Special Attack and Speed are maximized because Hoopa is an offensively oriented Pokemon and does not really require any bulk to optimally function. A Life Orb is used to maximize Hoopa's damage output. A Timid nature can be used to outspeed Pokemon like Modest Venusaur and Modest Magneton, but a Modest nature is preferred for the increase in power and still lets Hoopa outspeed threats like Modest Exploud and Jolly Scrafty. Modest and Timid are generally used over Mild and Hasty, as Knock Off still 2HKOes Colbur Berry-lacking variants of Meloetta without the boost, and the extra Defense can be useful to take less damage from physical attacks. However, they can be used to make sure Knock Off's power is not decreased and to increase the chance of 2HKOing Assault Vest Escavalier with the combination of Knock Off and Shadow Ball.
Usage Tips
========
Hoopa is primarily used as a wallbreaker and works well against balance, semi-stall, and stall builds. Thanks to its high Special Defense, Hoopa can usually be switched into Pokemon like Blastoise and Alomomola if they lack Knock Off. It is important to scout for Knock Off on Alomomola, as this can be very threatening to Hoopa, and it is one of the key Pokemon that you can take advantage of with Hyperspace Hole. Try not to reveal Hyperspace Hole until the opposing Wish user is pressured to use Protect, believing that it is safe to stay in to receive the Wish. Hoopa works well with hazard-stacking teams as a spinblocker and particuarly appreciates Spikes and Toxic Spikes support. Furthermore, Hoopa should be not be sent into battle until the opposing Pursuit trapper has fainted. Because of its poor Defense, Hoopa should avoid staying in on strong physical attackers. Finally, try to avoid paralysis, as it heavily cripples Hoopa.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that can help beat Pursuit trappers and Dark-types are extremely helpful partners. Thus, Fighting-types such as Virizion, Hitmonlee, and Gurdurr make for good teammates. Colbur Berry Meloetta can lure in and KO Pursuit trappers while also performing well against faster teams. Nasty Plot + Baton Pass support from Togetic is appreciated, as Hoopa can easily KO its foes when boosted. Hoopa appreciates Spikes support to weaken opposing Pokemon and secure KOs. Pursuit trappers can be helpful in getting rid of Meloetta, which can survive Hoopa's STAB moves easily. Pokemon that appreciate Hoopa's wallbreaking potential and that can clean late-game such as Sneasel, Jolteon, and Fletchinder are extremely helpful. Partners that help in checking common fast physical attackers are appreciated due to Hoopa's lackluster Defense. Finally, Hoopa appreciates Pokemon with Volt Switch, U-turn, and Baton Pass, as it can switch in freely without taking damage; hence, Flygon, Jolteon, and Togetic are good teammates.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Psyshock / Psychic
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Magician
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shadow Ball is a strong STAB move that hits Ghost- and Psychic-types super effectively. Psyshock primarily targets Fighting- and Poison-types and is preferred over Psychic because it secures the OHKO on Virizion. However, Psychic can hit physically defensive Pokemon for much more damage and has a higher Base Power than Psyshock. Focus Blast is used to hit Ice-, Normal-, Rock-, Steel-, and more importantly Dark-types, which resist Hoopa's STAB moves and often can Pursuit trap Hoopa. Trick is used to cripple bulky Pokemon such as Alomomola and Registeel that Choice Scarf Hoopa cannot easily deal with.
Set Details
========
Choice Scarf allows Hoopa to act as a revenge killer, though it can still function as a decent wallbreaker due to its very high Special Attack. Choice Scarf Hoopa's Speed tier allows it to outspeed most Pokemon besides Jolteon, Aerodactyl, Accelgor, and other Choice Scarf users with a higher Speed tier. Special Attack is maximized because this is an offensively oriented set, and maximum Speed is needed to outspeed several threats, such as +1 Scrafty. A Timid nature is essential to outspeed threats like Dugtrio and Sneasel.
Usage Tips
========
Choice Scarf Hoopa should be primarily used as a revenge killer but can be used as wallbreaker due to its high Special Attack. Try to preserve Hoopa until opposing Pursuit trappers have fainted, as they pose a high threat to it. Only Trick Hoopa's Choice Scarf away when your team does not require speed control anymore or when you need to cripple a wall that is hard to break. Try not to switch in on Pokemon that can inflict paralysis, as it will cripple Choice Scarf Hoopa. Do not bring Hoopa in on super effective moves or physical attacks due to its lack of physical bulk. Be wary of Aerodactyl, which naturally outspeeds Choice Scarf Hoopa and can carry Pursuit.
Team Options
========
Choice Scarf Hoopa appreciates Pokemon that can get rid of Dark-types so that it can safely lock itself into a STAB move. For this reason, Fighting-types such as Scrafty, Gurdurr, and Virizion or Fairy-types such as Diancie, Granbull, and Togetic are helpful partners. Pursuit users work with Hoopa because they can get rid of its primary check, Meloetta. Hoopa works well with hazard-stacking Pokemon, as they appreciate a spinblocker. Choice Scarf Hoopa cannot wallbreak as easily as the all-out attacker variant and appreciates support from wallbreakers such as Venusaur and Exploud, which allow it to clean up late-game. Pokemon that can take on physical attackers that threaten Hoopa are also helpful. Hoopa also appreciates VoltTurn Pokemon as well as Baton Pass users because it wants to be able to switch in freely. Run Pokemon that can check Aerodactyl, such as Bronzong and Seismitoad, as it is faster than Choice Scarf Hoopa and can Pursuit trap it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Nasty Plot set can be viable, but Hoopa rarely sees an opportunity to set up due to its typing and low Defense. An offensive Trick Room set with Focus Blast, Hyperspace Hole, and Shadow Ball is an option; however, Hoopa has an awkward Speed tier and therefore has a hard time being effective with Trick Room. Choice Specs can be used for greater damage, although Hoopa generally likes using its coverage freely and thefore prefers an all-out attacker set. Fire Punch can be used over Knock Off, but it only has one target in Escavalier. The last slot can be filled with a multitude of moves over Knock Off, such as Taunt, Destiny Bond, Toxic, Thunder Wave, and Energy Ball, depending on your team's weaknesses. Finally, a Calm Mind set can be used; however, it is outclassed by Calm Mind Meloetta, and a Nasty Plot set is generally more effective.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Pursuit Trappers and Sucker Punch**: Pursuit trappers are the main enemy of Hoopa. Pokemon like Sneasel, Spiritomb, and Drapion can use Pursuit and OHKO Hoopa even if it doesn't switch out. Aerodactyl is a particularly threatening Pursuit trapper, as it can even outspeed Choice Scarf Hoopa. Even a Sucker Punch that isn't STAB-boosted almost always OHKOes Hoopa due to its 4x weakness to it, so it should be wary of Sucker Punch users, such as Emboar, Druddigon, and Dugtrio.
**Strong Physical Attackers**: Due to Hoopa's lackluster Defense, it should switch out against strong physical attackers such as Braviary, Choice Scarf Emboar, and Aerodactyl.
**Paralysis**: Paralysis severely cripples Hoopa, as it heavily relies on its Speed to maximize its effectiveness. Therefore, Hoopa should not stay in on Pokemon that carry Thunder Wave unless it is to KO them.
**Dark-types**: Hoopa has a 4x weakness to Dark, so Dark-type STAB moves easily KO it. Be wary of the fact that many of these Pokemon carry Pursuit and Sucker Punch.
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types should be feared because of Hoopa's 4x weakness to them. While RU lacks many Ghost-types, Pokemon like Rotom and Mega Banette still exist and can threaten Hoopa. Furthermore, many Pokemon, such as Meloetta, run Ghost-type coverage.
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