[OVERVIEW]
name: Life Orb Attacker
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Tailwind / Earth Power / Fire Blast
move 4: Protect
item: Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Other Options
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**Fairy-type Pokemon**:
- It has an extremely powerful STAB attack in Draco Meteor that can heavily dent, if not outright KO, many opposing Pokemon.
- Its coverage allows it to check a variety of Pokemon that could otherwise wall it.
- Access to Tailwind allows Hydreigon to support its team and itself.
- Hydreigon has decent natural bulk that allows it to tank several neutral and resisted attacks before being KOed.
- Its immunities to the common Ground- and Psychic-type attacks gives Hydreigon many opportunities to switch in. It is also good for scaring your opponent into not choice locking into moves of those types, as it often gives Hydreigon a free attack.
- The Psychic-type immunity is especially helpful because it can force your opponent to not lock Choice Scarf Tapu Lele into Psychic.
- Dragon-Type gives Hydreigon many resistances to common attacking types.
- However, its Dark- and Dragon-type combination leaves it extremely vulnerable to the common Fairy-type attacks, such as Tapu Lele's Moonblast, and Tapu Koko's Dazzling Gleam.
- It's in a middling speed tier because it's too fast for Trick Room, but needs support from either Tailwind or a Choice Scarf to make the most of its speed.
- It's primary STAB attack forces it to switch out often.
name: Life Orb Attacker
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Tailwind / Earth Power / Fire Blast
move 4: Protect
item: Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Draco Meteor
- Draco Meteor is a powerful STAB attack that can OHKO many Pokemon in the tier. It has good neutral coverage against many common Pokemon, only being resisted by Steel-types and ineffective against Fairy-types.
- Dark Pulse
- Dark Pulse is a strong secondary STAB attack that deals solid damage if unresisted, as well as being good for chip damage and for picking off weakened foes. It does not lower Special Attack after use, so it does not force Hydreigon to immediately switch.
- Tailwind
- Allows Hydreigon to outspeed and OHKO fast, threatening Pokemon that it would otherwise lose to, such as Mega-Salamence and Shaymin-Sky. It is a good form of speed control for the rest of the team as well, and it can allow Hydreigon's teammates to deal with many of its checks much more easily.
- Earth Power
- Earth Power hits grounded Steel-types, most notably Heatran, for super effective damage. It has perfect accuracy, but its lack in power can cause Hydreigon to miss some OHKOes or 2HKOes at times..
- Fire Blast
- At the cost of hitting Heatran, Fire Blast hits all other Steel-types, as well as bulky Grass-types, for super effective damage. Notable threats in this category are Celesteela, which is also immune to Earth Power, Ferrothorn, and Tapu Bulu, which would otherwise wall Hydreigon. Fire Blast is stronger than Earth Power, but the inaccuracy can lead to losses in a pinch.
- Protect
- Protect allows Hydreigon to avoid taking damage for a turn. It lets Hydreigon's partner handle an opposing Pokemon that could otherwise KO it. Protect is also useful for scouting out the opponent's Pokemon for strong unexpected coverage, such as Ice- or Fighting-type attacks.
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- 252 EVs in Special Attack and Speed allows Hydreigon to hit as hard and as fast as possible.
- A Timid nature is used to maximize Hydreigon's speed stat, widening its window to fire off powerful Draco Meteors that can KO opponents before they move.
- It also lets Hydreigon outspeed neutral natured base 100s, such as Charizard and Kangaskhan.
- Life Orb is the item of choice because it boosts the power of Hydreigon's attacks without forcing a switch every time Hydreigon needs to use a different move.
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- If a Draco Meteor does more than 66% damage to its target, use it again. Even after the Special Attack drop, it will KO.
- Bulky teams struggle against Hydreigon due to its own power and bulk. They have trouble taking it down without focusing on it while it can easily use Draco Meteor to deal massive damage in return.
- Trick Room teams struggle against Hydreigon because of its power, and because many common Trick Room setters are weak to Dark Pulse.
- Despite its natural bulk, only switch it in on weak, resisted hits. Between Life Orb recoil and chip damage, Hydreigon will be worn down quickly.
- Hydreigon makes an excellent pivot due to its Ground- and Psychic-type immunities. It can switch into common Choice Scarf users such as Landorous-T or Tapu Lele locked into Earthquake or Psychic, respectively. A healthy Hydreigon can even scare your opponent into not using those moves in fear of giving Hydreigon a free switch in.
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- Offensive Steel-type beat the very common Fairy-types in the tier that would otherwise beat Hydreigon.
- Ghost-, Psychic-, and Fairy-types help alleviate Hydreigon's Fighting-type weakness.
- Aegislash makes an excellence ally for Hydreigon. They have near flawless offensive and defensive synergy. Aegislash's Wide Guard supports Hydreigon through blocking spread moves, such as Dazzling Gleam and Rock Slide. Hydreigon, in return, can use its high power to weaken foes that otherwise could deal with Aegislash.
- Redirectors, such as Jirachi, can help Hydreigon get a free turn or switch-in.
- Priority and Fake Out support can help Hydreigon net KOes that it would narrowly miss otherwise.
- Speed control, such as Tailwind and Icy Wind, are good to help Hydreigon get checks that rely on their speed to beat it.
Other Options
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- Roost can be used in the coverage slot to restore Hydreigon's HP and augment its natural bulk.
- A Choice Scarf can be used to boost Hydreigon's speed without support to help it beat threats such as Mega-Salamence. If this route is chosen, use both coverage moves, replacing Protect.
- Thunder Wave can be run in the coverage slot to cripple opposing Pokemon for the remainder of the match. This is especially strong against Pokemon that rely on their speed to be effective, such as Shaymin-Sky, Salamence, and Tapu Lele.
- Flash Cannon is a coverage option to hit the Fairy-types that would otherwise laugh at whatever Hydreigon can do. This role, however, is usually better left to another team member.
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**Fairy-type Pokemon**:
- Fairy-type attacks deal 4x normal damage against Hydreigon, and Pokemon of that type are immune to it's strongest attack.
- Tapu Lele is a powerful Fairy-type attacker whose Moonblast can easily OHKO Hydreigon, and Hydreigon cannot do much in return. Choice Scarf variants are even scarier as they move first, negating any chance Hydreigon has to even deal damage.
- Tapu Koko is another Fairy-type attacker that resists both of Hydreigon's STABs and can OHKO with Dazzling Gleam. Hydreigon's Earth Power can OHKO it, but Hydreigon is outsped and gets taken out first.
- Diancie is a strong Trick Room setter that is safe from Hydreigon, outside of Earth Power. Diancie does not take much damage from most of Hydreigon's attacks, and can set up Trick Room in return. Its Moonblast is an OHKO.
- Although Hydreigon's primary STAB OHKOes nearly all Dragon-types in the tier, it gets KOed easily in return.
- Due to its middling speed tier, most opposing Dragon-types, such as Salamence, both Mega- and non Mega-, will move first to get the KO.
- Hydreigon relies on moving first to fire off its powerful Draco Meteors. Any Pokemon that moves before it has a chance to stop it.
- Despite its natural bulk, repeated chip damage, such as Shaymin-Sky's Air Slash or Landorous-Therean's Rock Slide, can and will wear Hydreigon down over the course of the match, especially since Hydreigon typically uses a Life Orb.
- Opposing speed control such as Thunder Wave, Tailwind, and Icy Wind expands on the list of Pokemon that threaten Hydreigon.
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