[OVERVIEW]
Hydreigon is a great special attacker, hitting harder than the new hotness Dragapult, and packing a wide array of coverage moves. With one of the highest base Sp Atk stats in the game, and a decent base Speed, his stats make him a good choice to close out matches. As a Dmax target, both of it's STAB Max moves (Wyrmwind & Darkness) are excellent; Wyrmwind hits incredibly hard and helps control physically offensive mons, while Darkness can lower Sp Def, making them easier to clean up. Hydreigon's weaknesses do include some of the most common types in the meta (Fairy & Dragon), and can easily be OHKO if deployed into an unfavorable matchup.
[SET]
Name: All-Out Offense
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Fire Blast / Flamethrower
move 4: Protect
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Sp Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
========
Draco Meteor and Dark Pulse are the primary STAB moves, both hitting very hard both as base moves and as Max moves. Fire Blast is great coverage against popular Steel types, as well as mons with 4x Fire weaknesses like Ferrothorn and Durant. It also provides a stronger Max Flare than Flamethrower, though if you're worried about accuracy or plan on leading with other mons, you can easily use Flamethrower instead. While it is more accurate, Fire Blast is a guaranteed OHKO against bulkier mons like Excadrill and Vanilluxe while Flamethrower is less so (93.8% against Excadrill, 56.3% against Vanilluxe). Lastly, Protect is always a safe bet on attackers, especially when facing down against Fairy types.
In regards to EVs, we use the standard special sweeper spread, maximizing offensive power and speed. The remaining 4 EVs in HP provide a nice little bump to our overall health, which can come in handy with our item. With 125 base Sp Atk, Hydreigon doesn't need help in the offense department. Timid provides a much needed speed boost to help it strike first in more matchups. In regards to items, Life Orb is a solid choice if you're using Hydreigon to clean up after your lead mons, and easily can pack enough power to KO almost anything it has an advantage move for.
Usage Tips
========
Hydreigon can serve as a very nice DMax choice depending on the matchup, with some excellent Max Moves at its disposal. Max Wyrmwind hits for a ton of damage, while also lowering the Atk of the opponent's field, increasing your survivability. Max Darkness lowers Sp Def, which is a good choice as your last Max move, making whatever is left on the field easier to knock out with your non-max attacks. This is also helpfully against mons that love to use Max Quake to raise their Sp Def or with high Sp Def in general (Mudsdale, Snorlax). Max Flare provides some incidental weather control, along with the general benefits of sun. Additionally, don't be afraid to use Max Guard. While Hydreigon wants to be attacking almost every turn, if you're facing a Max mon who could potentially KO even through a standard Protect (ex Weakness Policy Togekiss/Conkeldurr, Fairy-types in general), Max Guard will save you while your partner can either neutralize the threat, or stall out any unfavorable conditions (Trick Room, Tailwind, opponent DMax).
Team Options
========
Hydreigon wants to be with teams that have strong speed control & support. He's a huge attacker, but needs to be attacking first to score KO's before an opponent can knock him out or set-up their plan. TW setters that can ensure Hydreigon has the speed needed to attack first (Whimsicott, Braviary, Corviknight). Whimsicott in particular is a very solid partner, as Prankster allows it to get TW off almost all the time, allowing Hydreigon to hit first in practically any matchup. Taunt can also be used in mitigating an opponent's TW or Trick Room plan, both of which are bad news. Other Prankster mons also work very well with Hydreigon, offering support and protection. T-Wave & Fake Out on Grimmsnarl can break Sashes on targets and cripple potential Hydreigon counters. It can also set up screens to shield Hydreigon from damage, saving it from certain OHKO moves. For example, a proc'd WP Conkeldurr with Guts & a burn using Drain Punch on a Dmax Hydreigon deals at least 144% damage. After Reflect and a Max Wyrmwind, that drops to at most 85.7% damage, making it a guaranteed 2HKO. Similarly, a proc'd WP Modest Togekiss with 252 Sp Atk EVs using Dazzling Gleam on Dmax Hydreigon deals 136-161% damage. Light Screen drops that to 91.3-108% damage, which is a 50% guaranteed OHKO.
Hydreigon also works well with Follow Me users who draw lethal attacks. Togekiss in particular is an excellent choice, as it's got great bulk and it's Fairy typing allows it to tank attacks from almost every one of Hydreigon's weaknesses. To break it down, Togekiss is immune to Dragons, 1/4 resistant to Bug & Fighting type, and neutral to Fairy. Keep in mind that Dazzling Gleam hits both sides of the field, so you can't use Follow Me to take that hit.
Lastly, teams that run heavy physical cores and need a special sweeper to break through walls would enjoy Hydreigon as a wall-breaker. Sand teams in particular could be a very good choice, as the main offensive core is entirely physical based.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hydreigon can learn Taunt, which can be useful against TR and other set-up teams if you get Speed Control to act before your opponent (TW from your Whimsicott into Hydreigon Taunt). Hydreigon also learns Nasty Plot this gen, letting it get +2 to it's already huge Sp Atk. If you can set up for a turn to get it off and protect it(Follow Me to draw attacks), Hydreigon can swing for massive damage, essentially letting you fire a Draco Meteor with no drop in your following attacks. If you have solid Fire-type coverage on your team already, Hydreigon can learn a variety of other special moves, including Surf/Hydro Pump, Focus Blast, and Flash Cannon depending on what you need.
If you're concerned about overall speed, Choice Scarf can make Hydreigon a very fast threat. Replace Protect with U-Turn, and change the 4 HP EVs to either defense stat, and Hydreigon becomes a powerful and speedy threat/lead. This lets you outspeed a un-scarfed Dragapult with a +Spe nature. Just keep in mind that if you Dynamax, you only have the Speed boost on your first Max Turn, and won't have it on the other two.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy types**: Whimsicott, Togekiss, Mimikyu, Sylveon. All of these mons can OHKO non-Dmax Hydreigon with any Fairy attack. Whimsicott and Togekiss in particular are rough counters; Whimsicott can set the TW to either KO you on it's next turn, or have its partner do it before you can act, while Togekiss can either redirect all your attacks to it, letting it's bulk absorb the damage while its partner knocks you out, or just tank whatever you throw at it and KO you itself.
**Dragapult**: it's faster than Hydreigon unless you're scarfed, and if it's running a physical set, it hits just as hard as you can. However, Hydreigon does have 2 STAB coverage moves against it, so if you can gain speed advantage or can Dmax while at full, you can survive and KO it before it can be an issue.
**Residual Damage**: sand, burns, & leech seed will chip away at your health, and paired with the damage from Life Orb, means you're taking a lot of extra damage every turn. This is why Hydreigon is a better closer, as it can wait out weather until it's needed.
**Opposing Speed Control**: if your opponent gets to set TW or TR, Hydreigon will probably not survive for long. Most of these teams run Fairy types, with both having access to some Fighting-type coverage as well. Whimsicott as mentioned can get TW off before anything save Fake Out or a Prankster T-Wave, also Corviknight eat multiple Fire Blasts while healing itself. It may also be running the Bulk-Up/Body Press build, which is a problem. Common Trick Room setters include Mimikyu, Dusclops, and Hatterene, and these teams also tend to run Fairies. Lastly, status effects from mons like Raichu, Chlorophyll Vileplume, or Butterfree can cripple Hydreigon and make it an easy target.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[asdfjkl, 156154]]
- Quality checked by: [[MajorBowman, 188164]]
Hydreigon is a great special attacker, hitting harder than the new hotness Dragapult, and packing a wide array of coverage moves. With one of the highest base Sp Atk stats in the game, and a decent base Speed, his stats make him a good choice to close out matches. As a Dmax target, both of it's STAB Max moves (Wyrmwind & Darkness) are excellent; Wyrmwind hits incredibly hard and helps control physically offensive mons, while Darkness can lower Sp Def, making them easier to clean up. Hydreigon's weaknesses do include some of the most common types in the meta (Fairy & Dragon), and can easily be OHKO if deployed into an unfavorable matchup.
[SET]
Name: All-Out Offense
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Fire Blast / Flamethrower
move 4: Protect
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Sp Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
========
Draco Meteor and Dark Pulse are the primary STAB moves, both hitting very hard both as base moves and as Max moves. Fire Blast is great coverage against popular Steel types, as well as mons with 4x Fire weaknesses like Ferrothorn and Durant. It also provides a stronger Max Flare than Flamethrower, though if you're worried about accuracy or plan on leading with other mons, you can easily use Flamethrower instead. While it is more accurate, Fire Blast is a guaranteed OHKO against bulkier mons like Excadrill and Vanilluxe while Flamethrower is less so (93.8% against Excadrill, 56.3% against Vanilluxe). Lastly, Protect is always a safe bet on attackers, especially when facing down against Fairy types.
In regards to EVs, we use the standard special sweeper spread, maximizing offensive power and speed. The remaining 4 EVs in HP provide a nice little bump to our overall health, which can come in handy with our item. With 125 base Sp Atk, Hydreigon doesn't need help in the offense department. Timid provides a much needed speed boost to help it strike first in more matchups. In regards to items, Life Orb is a solid choice if you're using Hydreigon to clean up after your lead mons, and easily can pack enough power to KO almost anything it has an advantage move for.
Usage Tips
========
Hydreigon can serve as a very nice DMax choice depending on the matchup, with some excellent Max Moves at its disposal. Max Wyrmwind hits for a ton of damage, while also lowering the Atk of the opponent's field, increasing your survivability. Max Darkness lowers Sp Def, which is a good choice as your last Max move, making whatever is left on the field easier to knock out with your non-max attacks. This is also helpfully against mons that love to use Max Quake to raise their Sp Def or with high Sp Def in general (Mudsdale, Snorlax). Max Flare provides some incidental weather control, along with the general benefits of sun. Additionally, don't be afraid to use Max Guard. While Hydreigon wants to be attacking almost every turn, if you're facing a Max mon who could potentially KO even through a standard Protect (ex Weakness Policy Togekiss/Conkeldurr, Fairy-types in general), Max Guard will save you while your partner can either neutralize the threat, or stall out any unfavorable conditions (Trick Room, Tailwind, opponent DMax).
Team Options
========
Hydreigon wants to be with teams that have strong speed control & support. He's a huge attacker, but needs to be attacking first to score KO's before an opponent can knock him out or set-up their plan. TW setters that can ensure Hydreigon has the speed needed to attack first (Whimsicott, Braviary, Corviknight). Whimsicott in particular is a very solid partner, as Prankster allows it to get TW off almost all the time, allowing Hydreigon to hit first in practically any matchup. Taunt can also be used in mitigating an opponent's TW or Trick Room plan, both of which are bad news. Other Prankster mons also work very well with Hydreigon, offering support and protection. T-Wave & Fake Out on Grimmsnarl can break Sashes on targets and cripple potential Hydreigon counters. It can also set up screens to shield Hydreigon from damage, saving it from certain OHKO moves. For example, a proc'd WP Conkeldurr with Guts & a burn using Drain Punch on a Dmax Hydreigon deals at least 144% damage. After Reflect and a Max Wyrmwind, that drops to at most 85.7% damage, making it a guaranteed 2HKO. Similarly, a proc'd WP Modest Togekiss with 252 Sp Atk EVs using Dazzling Gleam on Dmax Hydreigon deals 136-161% damage. Light Screen drops that to 91.3-108% damage, which is a 50% guaranteed OHKO.
Hydreigon also works well with Follow Me users who draw lethal attacks. Togekiss in particular is an excellent choice, as it's got great bulk and it's Fairy typing allows it to tank attacks from almost every one of Hydreigon's weaknesses. To break it down, Togekiss is immune to Dragons, 1/4 resistant to Bug & Fighting type, and neutral to Fairy. Keep in mind that Dazzling Gleam hits both sides of the field, so you can't use Follow Me to take that hit.
Lastly, teams that run heavy physical cores and need a special sweeper to break through walls would enjoy Hydreigon as a wall-breaker. Sand teams in particular could be a very good choice, as the main offensive core is entirely physical based.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hydreigon can learn Taunt, which can be useful against TR and other set-up teams if you get Speed Control to act before your opponent (TW from your Whimsicott into Hydreigon Taunt). Hydreigon also learns Nasty Plot this gen, letting it get +2 to it's already huge Sp Atk. If you can set up for a turn to get it off and protect it(Follow Me to draw attacks), Hydreigon can swing for massive damage, essentially letting you fire a Draco Meteor with no drop in your following attacks. If you have solid Fire-type coverage on your team already, Hydreigon can learn a variety of other special moves, including Surf/Hydro Pump, Focus Blast, and Flash Cannon depending on what you need.
If you're concerned about overall speed, Choice Scarf can make Hydreigon a very fast threat. Replace Protect with U-Turn, and change the 4 HP EVs to either defense stat, and Hydreigon becomes a powerful and speedy threat/lead. This lets you outspeed a un-scarfed Dragapult with a +Spe nature. Just keep in mind that if you Dynamax, you only have the Speed boost on your first Max Turn, and won't have it on the other two.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy types**: Whimsicott, Togekiss, Mimikyu, Sylveon. All of these mons can OHKO non-Dmax Hydreigon with any Fairy attack. Whimsicott and Togekiss in particular are rough counters; Whimsicott can set the TW to either KO you on it's next turn, or have its partner do it before you can act, while Togekiss can either redirect all your attacks to it, letting it's bulk absorb the damage while its partner knocks you out, or just tank whatever you throw at it and KO you itself.
**Dragapult**: it's faster than Hydreigon unless you're scarfed, and if it's running a physical set, it hits just as hard as you can. However, Hydreigon does have 2 STAB coverage moves against it, so if you can gain speed advantage or can Dmax while at full, you can survive and KO it before it can be an issue.
**Residual Damage**: sand, burns, & leech seed will chip away at your health, and paired with the damage from Life Orb, means you're taking a lot of extra damage every turn. This is why Hydreigon is a better closer, as it can wait out weather until it's needed.
**Opposing Speed Control**: if your opponent gets to set TW or TR, Hydreigon will probably not survive for long. Most of these teams run Fairy types, with both having access to some Fighting-type coverage as well. Whimsicott as mentioned can get TW off before anything save Fake Out or a Prankster T-Wave, also Corviknight eat multiple Fire Blasts while healing itself. It may also be running the Bulk-Up/Body Press build, which is a problem. Common Trick Room setters include Mimikyu, Dusclops, and Hatterene, and these teams also tend to run Fairies. Lastly, status effects from mons like Raichu, Chlorophyll Vileplume, or Butterfree can cripple Hydreigon and make it an easy target.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[asdfjkl, 156154]]
- Quality checked by: [[MajorBowman, 188164]]
Last edited: