[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 5 onwards
**Price Range**: 10-12 points
**Overview**: Hydrapple is a strong defensive tank with good mixed bulk, an amazing ability in Regenerator, and solid Special Attack that allows it to not be passive against its foes. In certain scenarios, it can also utilize Sticky Hold to act as a Knock Off absorber for its teammates at the cost of making it more vulnerable to chip damage. However, Hydrapple severely lacks in utility options and has a bad defensive typing that gives it several notable weaknesses as well as a crippling weakness to Ice.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Defensive Tank**: Hydrapple can consistently switch into and check Pokemon that aren't carrying strong super effective moves against it while healing off the damage with Recover and Regenerator. Its high Special Attack, combined with high Base Power moves and access to a phazing move in Dragon Tail, also allows it to avoid being setup bait for opposing sweepers, though it has to watch out for common coverage moves that are able to hit it for large damage.
**Setup Wallbreaker**: Hydrapple can use Nasty Plot alongside its strong STAB moves to act as a wallbreaker, utilizing its natural bulk to avoid OHKOs while striking back for big damage. Alternatively, it can run Curse to take advantage of Body Press while making itself harder to KO; however, this comes with the downside of having to utilize its much lower Attack in comparison to special attacking sets.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Fickle Beam, Draco Meteor, Energy Ball, Giga Drain, Leaf Storm, Grass Knot, Power Whip
**Setup Moves**: Nasty Plot, Curse
**Utility Moves**: Recover, Dragon Tail, Yawn, Infestation
**Coverage**: Earth Power, Hydro Pump, Pollen Puff, Body Press, Earthquake, Gyro Ball
Niche Moves
========
**Syrup Bomb**: Syrup Bomb can be used as a way to cripple Speed-boosting setup Pokemon or just as a form of speed control, making it easier for Hydrapple's teammates to offensively check opposing threats.
**Dragon Breath / Body Slam**: These moves can be used as a way to try and spread paralysis on opposing Pokemon. Dragon Breath hits harder due to STAB and coming off Hydrapple's higher Special Attack, while Body Slam can be used as an alternative to hit Fairy-type Pokemon.
**Sucker Punch**: Sucker Punch can be used to help deal with weakened attackers or as a coverage option for Curse sets.
Common Items
========
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: As Hydrapple wants to switch in multiple times throughout the game, Heavy-Duty Boots gives it more longevity and helps maximize recovery from Regenerator.
**Assault Vest**: Assault Vest is used to make Hydrapple into a very bulky special tank, allowing it to safely check many strong special attackers. However, running Assault Vest requires entry hazard removalfrom its teammates.
Niche Items
========
**Leftovers**: In matchups with few opposing entry hazards in play, Leftovers can be run to give Hydrapple extra longevity throughout the match.
**Resistance Berries**: Hydrapple can utilize resistance Berries alongside its good bulk and offensive options to lure and eliminate opposing threats, being especially effective against opposing Dragon-type Pokemon as well as Water-type Pokemon that frequently have Ice-type coverage.
**Rocky Helmet**: Rocky Helmet can be used to punish a large variety of physical attackers that use contact moves, as well as in combination with Sticky Hold to punish Knock Off users.
**Eject Button**: Hydrapple's good bulk and Regenerator let it use Eject Button as a one-time way to pivot into another teammate, allowing it to regain momentum safely.
**Red Card**: Red Card can be used as a one-time check to dangerous attackers, especially those reliant on consumable items such as Booster Energy, due to Hydrapple's bulk enabling it to survive at least one hit.
Tera
========
Hydrapple normally should not be one of your first choices for a Tera Captain, as higher-tier Pokemon should be chosen first, but it greatly benefits from being your secondary Tera Captain. In the event it has Tera, your main choices should be Tera types that give it a better defensive profile, as its original typing can be quite bad. Good Tera types include Tera Fairy, Steel, and Water, with the choice depending on which specific threats you need it to check. An offensive Tera type such as Tera Fire or Electric can also be used to give Hydrapple coverage for certain Pokemon that would normally be able to wall it.
Draft Strategy
========
Hydrapple can act as a good defensive tank that can check both physical and special attackers for your draft and act as a phazer to check setup sweepers or assist entry hazard-stacking drafts. Its lack of other utility options and notable weaknesses to Ice, Bug, and Fairy mean that it should be chosen only if your draft is able to cover for these flaws.
**Steel-type Pokemon**: Steel-type Pokemon cover all of Hydrapple's weaknesses, while Hydrapple itself resists Ground and is neutral to Fire and Fighting, forming an effective defensive core. Pokemon such as Scizor, Metagross, and Empoleon can work well alongside it, as they also provide some form of utility to the draft to compensate for Hydrapple's lack of utility options.
**Entry Hazard Removal**: Hydrapple can be highly vulnerable to entry hazards if it's not running Heavy-Duty Boots or if its item is removed, so having Pokemon such as Great Tusk, Iron Treads, and Corviknight that can reliably remove hazards is very helpful to assist Hydrapple in staying healthy.
**Fast Pokemon**: Due to its very low base Speed, make sure to draft faster Pokemon to partner with Hydrapple, as it does not enjoy dealing with strong wallbreakers with Attack- or Special Attack-boosting natures such as Iron Valiant, Weavile, and Latios. Having fast Pokemon allows you to prevent such Pokemon from running Attack-boosting natures unpunished.
**Entry Hazard Support**: Having teammates that can reliably set entry hazards such as Hisuian Samurott, Ting-Lu, and Gliscor is greatly helpful to get chip damage on the Pokemon Hydrapple checks, making it easier for it to reliably deal with them and punishing repeated switches. Hydrapple can also utilize Dragon Tail to get more value out of entry hazards by forcing switches. Gholdengo deserves special mention here, as, though it is not able to set entry hazards itself, it ensures that your hazards will not be removed and has great defensive synergy with Hydrapple.
Checks and Counters
========
**Ice-type Pokemon and Coverage Moves**: Hydrapple has a crippling weakness to Ice, making it extremely vulnerable to Ice-type attackers such as Weavile and Kyurem, as well as Pokemon that can carry strong Ice-type coverage such as Greninja and Darkrai.
**Strong Wallbreakers**: While Hydrapple has great mixed bulk, it lacks many notable resistances and has weaknesses commonly covered by many strong wallbreakers. This allows Pokemon such as Ogerpon-W, Keldeo, and Manaphy to break past it with coverage moves if they predict correctly or are allowed to set up. Other wallbreakers with strong neutral STAB moves, such as Urshifu-R and Ursaluna-B, can also break past it when assisted with Choice items or if allowed to set up.
**Strong U-turn Users**: Being weak to U-turn is very detrimental to Hydrapple, as it is forced to take massive damage from U-turn or switch out manually, giving up momentum in the process.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/vmnunes.613460/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scionicle.599989/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
**Draft Order**: Round 5 onwards
**Price Range**: 10-12 points
**Overview**: Hydrapple is a strong defensive tank with good mixed bulk, an amazing ability in Regenerator, and solid Special Attack that allows it to not be passive against its foes. In certain scenarios, it can also utilize Sticky Hold to act as a Knock Off absorber for its teammates at the cost of making it more vulnerable to chip damage. However, Hydrapple severely lacks in utility options and has a bad defensive typing that gives it several notable weaknesses as well as a crippling weakness to Ice.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Defensive Tank**: Hydrapple can consistently switch into and check Pokemon that aren't carrying strong super effective moves against it while healing off the damage with Recover and Regenerator. Its high Special Attack, combined with high Base Power moves and access to a phazing move in Dragon Tail, also allows it to avoid being setup bait for opposing sweepers, though it has to watch out for common coverage moves that are able to hit it for large damage.
**Setup Wallbreaker**: Hydrapple can use Nasty Plot alongside its strong STAB moves to act as a wallbreaker, utilizing its natural bulk to avoid OHKOs while striking back for big damage. Alternatively, it can run Curse to take advantage of Body Press while making itself harder to KO; however, this comes with the downside of having to utilize its much lower Attack in comparison to special attacking sets.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Fickle Beam, Draco Meteor, Energy Ball, Giga Drain, Leaf Storm, Grass Knot, Power Whip
**Setup Moves**: Nasty Plot, Curse
**Utility Moves**: Recover, Dragon Tail, Yawn, Infestation
**Coverage**: Earth Power, Hydro Pump, Pollen Puff, Body Press, Earthquake, Gyro Ball
Niche Moves
========
**Syrup Bomb**: Syrup Bomb can be used as a way to cripple Speed-boosting setup Pokemon or just as a form of speed control, making it easier for Hydrapple's teammates to offensively check opposing threats.
**Dragon Breath / Body Slam**: These moves can be used as a way to try and spread paralysis on opposing Pokemon. Dragon Breath hits harder due to STAB and coming off Hydrapple's higher Special Attack, while Body Slam can be used as an alternative to hit Fairy-type Pokemon.
**Sucker Punch**: Sucker Punch can be used to help deal with weakened attackers or as a coverage option for Curse sets.
Common Items
========
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: As Hydrapple wants to switch in multiple times throughout the game, Heavy-Duty Boots gives it more longevity and helps maximize recovery from Regenerator.
**Assault Vest**: Assault Vest is used to make Hydrapple into a very bulky special tank, allowing it to safely check many strong special attackers. However, running Assault Vest requires entry hazard removalfrom its teammates.
Niche Items
========
**Leftovers**: In matchups with few opposing entry hazards in play, Leftovers can be run to give Hydrapple extra longevity throughout the match.
**Resistance Berries**: Hydrapple can utilize resistance Berries alongside its good bulk and offensive options to lure and eliminate opposing threats, being especially effective against opposing Dragon-type Pokemon as well as Water-type Pokemon that frequently have Ice-type coverage.
**Rocky Helmet**: Rocky Helmet can be used to punish a large variety of physical attackers that use contact moves, as well as in combination with Sticky Hold to punish Knock Off users.
**Eject Button**: Hydrapple's good bulk and Regenerator let it use Eject Button as a one-time way to pivot into another teammate, allowing it to regain momentum safely.
**Red Card**: Red Card can be used as a one-time check to dangerous attackers, especially those reliant on consumable items such as Booster Energy, due to Hydrapple's bulk enabling it to survive at least one hit.
Tera
========
Hydrapple normally should not be one of your first choices for a Tera Captain, as higher-tier Pokemon should be chosen first, but it greatly benefits from being your secondary Tera Captain. In the event it has Tera, your main choices should be Tera types that give it a better defensive profile, as its original typing can be quite bad. Good Tera types include Tera Fairy, Steel, and Water, with the choice depending on which specific threats you need it to check. An offensive Tera type such as Tera Fire or Electric can also be used to give Hydrapple coverage for certain Pokemon that would normally be able to wall it.
Draft Strategy
========
Hydrapple can act as a good defensive tank that can check both physical and special attackers for your draft and act as a phazer to check setup sweepers or assist entry hazard-stacking drafts. Its lack of other utility options and notable weaknesses to Ice, Bug, and Fairy mean that it should be chosen only if your draft is able to cover for these flaws.
**Steel-type Pokemon**: Steel-type Pokemon cover all of Hydrapple's weaknesses, while Hydrapple itself resists Ground and is neutral to Fire and Fighting, forming an effective defensive core. Pokemon such as Scizor, Metagross, and Empoleon can work well alongside it, as they also provide some form of utility to the draft to compensate for Hydrapple's lack of utility options.
**Entry Hazard Removal**: Hydrapple can be highly vulnerable to entry hazards if it's not running Heavy-Duty Boots or if its item is removed, so having Pokemon such as Great Tusk, Iron Treads, and Corviknight that can reliably remove hazards is very helpful to assist Hydrapple in staying healthy.
**Fast Pokemon**: Due to its very low base Speed, make sure to draft faster Pokemon to partner with Hydrapple, as it does not enjoy dealing with strong wallbreakers with Attack- or Special Attack-boosting natures such as Iron Valiant, Weavile, and Latios. Having fast Pokemon allows you to prevent such Pokemon from running Attack-boosting natures unpunished.
**Entry Hazard Support**: Having teammates that can reliably set entry hazards such as Hisuian Samurott, Ting-Lu, and Gliscor is greatly helpful to get chip damage on the Pokemon Hydrapple checks, making it easier for it to reliably deal with them and punishing repeated switches. Hydrapple can also utilize Dragon Tail to get more value out of entry hazards by forcing switches. Gholdengo deserves special mention here, as, though it is not able to set entry hazards itself, it ensures that your hazards will not be removed and has great defensive synergy with Hydrapple.
Checks and Counters
========
**Ice-type Pokemon and Coverage Moves**: Hydrapple has a crippling weakness to Ice, making it extremely vulnerable to Ice-type attackers such as Weavile and Kyurem, as well as Pokemon that can carry strong Ice-type coverage such as Greninja and Darkrai.
**Strong Wallbreakers**: While Hydrapple has great mixed bulk, it lacks many notable resistances and has weaknesses commonly covered by many strong wallbreakers. This allows Pokemon such as Ogerpon-W, Keldeo, and Manaphy to break past it with coverage moves if they predict correctly or are allowed to set up. Other wallbreakers with strong neutral STAB moves, such as Urshifu-R and Ursaluna-B, can also break past it when assisted with Choice items or if allowed to set up.
**Strong U-turn Users**: Being weak to U-turn is very detrimental to Hydrapple, as it is forced to take massive damage from U-turn or switch out manually, giving up momentum in the process.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/vmnunes.613460/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scionicle.599989/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
Last edited:
