[OVERVIEW]
Hydreigon is a dangerous Pokemon in the UU tier thanks to its high Special Attack, respectable Speed tier, amazing STAB combination, and diverse movepool. It's very versatile, with sets ranging from an effective Choice Scarf revenge killer to a devastating Nasty Plot wallbreaker. Hydreigon's typing and ability are quite useful for checking Pokemon such as Swampert and Chandelure. However, it has weaknesses to a lot of common types, limiting the number of times it can switch in. Aegislash and Lycanroc-D can threaten it with Close Combat, and common Fighting-types such as Conkeldurr and Cobalion can revenge kill Hydreigon and use it as an opportunity to wallbreak. Pokemon like Zarude and Mandibuzz will wear it down with U-turn. Hydreigon struggles to break through Fairy-types—particularly Primarina and Azumarill, as they take neutral damage from Flash Cannon. It has four-moveslot syndrome—Flash Cannon is needed for Fairy-types but Flamethrower is needed for Celesteela—and it is completely walled by Chansey even after multiple Nasty Plot boosts. Despite its decent Speed, Hydreigon is outsped by many Pokemon such as Jirachi, Thundurus-T, and Salamence.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Dark Pulse
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Fire Blast / Defog / Roost
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Hydreigon is a fantastic Choice Scarf user capable of revenge killing threats like Zygarde-10% and Dragon Dance Gyarados. U-turn is mandatory to escape switch-ins like Chansey and Primarina. The last moveslot is very flexible. Fire Blast is an option to revenge kill Tapu Bulu and more easily break through Steel-types like Excadrill, Skarmory, and Celesteela. Defog creates role compression if required, while Roost can provide some longevity to answer Rotom-W and Swampert throughout a match. Roost can be very useful if you let Hydreigon take Knock Off in a matchup where it doesn't require Choice Scarf.
Choice Scarf Hydreigon fits best on bulky offense teams that require its Speed and offensive presence to keep threats like Azelf and Thundurus-T in check. Checks to Fairy-types are mandatory. Tentacruel and Amoonguss can check Azumarill and Primarina, while Steel-types like Jirachi and Aegislash can help check other Fairy-types like Hatterene and Togekiss. Aegislash can also wear down special walls like Mandibuzz with Toxic and remove Chansey with Close Combat. Nidoking and Tapu Bulu are powerful wallbreakers that Hydreigon can bring in safely with U-turn, allowing them to remove its checks such as Primarina and Mandibuzz. Azelf can form a pivot core with Hydreigon to get it in safely against Pokemon such as Slowking and Aegislash. Entry hazard support from Skarmory and Excadrill can help Hydreigon OHKO Pokemon like Tapu Bulu and Gyarados. Skarmory can also check Dragon Dance Salamence, a setup sweeper Hydreigon is unable to outspeed and revenge kill. Entry hazard removal from Excadrill and Tentacruel is appreciated due to Hydreigon's frequent pivoting. Tentacruel can also wear down Celesteela with Knock Off and punish its Leech Seed thanks to Liquid Ooze.
[SET]
name: Three Attacks
move 1: Dark Pulse
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: Flamethrower / Flash Cannon
move 4: Roost
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Flamethrower breaks through Tapu Bulu and pressures Celesteela, Amoonguss, and Tangrowth. Fire Blast is an option to 2HKO Celesteela and Assault Vest Tangrowth; however, they can be 2HKOed by Flamethrower after Stealth Rock. Flash Cannon can be used to break through Fairy-types like Tapu Bulu, Diancie, and Togekiss while neutrally hitting Azumarill and Primarina. However, it doesn't do much damage to bulky variants of Primarina. Roost offsets Life Orb recoil and lets Hydreigon use its defensive typing to check foes like Aegislash and Krookodile. Life Orb provides the needed damage boost to get through Pokemon like Amoonguss and Celesteela. Leftovers is an alternative that offsets Stealth Rock damage and potential burns from Pokemon like Slowking and Rotom-W.
Hydreigon fits best on bulky offense and balance teams that value its wallbreaking power, useful typing, and decent Speed. Hydreigon's greatest hurdles are Fairy-types such as Primarina, Togekiss, and Azumarill, so partners capable of removing them like Thundurus-T, Nihilego, and Nidoking are appreciated. Thundurus-T can also break through Chansey, Nihilego and Nidoking can provide Stealth Rock support, and Nihilego is an emergency check to Galarian Moltres, which sets up on Hydreigon. In return, Hydreigon can pressure Slowking for Nihilego and Nidoking. Jirachi is a phenomenal partner, switching into most Fairy-types and safely providing Hydreigon opportunities to wallbreak against Pokemon like Aegislash, Rotom-W, and Swampert with U-turn. Moltres and Slowking can check Excadrill, which ignores Hydreigon's Levitate, and Fighting-types like Cobalion and Conkeldurr. Slowking can also provide Future Sight to help wear down the Fairy-types that switch into Hydreigon. Conkeldurr is a great partner for Hydreigon, as it can break through their shared checks in Fairy-types and remove Chansey. In return, Hydreigon can pressure physical walls such as Slowking and Amoonguss.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Draco Meteor
move 4: Roost / Flash Cannon
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Nasty Plot makes Hydreigon a dangerous wallbreaker; after a boost, it can OHKO Pokemon like Mandibuzz and Amoonguss with Draco Meteor and 2HKO Celesteela with Dark Pulse. Hydreigon should set up against Pokemon it can force out such as Slowking and Rotom-W. Roost alongside Leftovers lets Hydreigon find multiple opportunities to wallbreak. Flash Cannon is an option that breaks through Fairy-types like Togekiss and Tapu Bulu while hitting Primarina and Azumarill for neutral damage. With Life Orb, +2 Flash Cannon can OHKO Togekiss. However, keep in mind that Life Orb will force Hydreigon to use Roost more often and quickly wear down sets lacking Roost.
Nasty Plot Hydreigon can fit on a wide range of offense and balance styles. Entry hazard support from partners like Excadrill, Nihilego, and Jirachi can wear down foes like Azumarill and Tangrowth into KO range of its boosted attacks. These setters also help pressure and switch into Fairy-types like Hatterene and Primarina. Jirachi can also provide Healing Wish support for sets lacking Roost. Ribombee can provide Sticky Web to let Hydreigon beat revenge killers like Lycanroc-D and Jirachi. However, other fast Pokemon like Salamence and Thundurus-T are immune to Sticky Web, so offensive partners like Mamoswine and Lycanroc-D are useful to keep them in check. These partners also remove specially defensive walls like Chansey. Hydreigon can struggle to find setup opportunities, so pivots such as Moltres and Swampert can give it chances against Pokemon like Rotom-W and Slowking. Fighting-type checks such as Primarina, Amoonguss, and the aforementioned Moltres are necessary, as Conkeldurr and Cobalion can easily revenge kill Hydreigon. Late-game cleaners like Excadrill and Azelf appreciate Hydreigon breaking through defensive Pokemon such as Slowking, Celesteela, and Tangrowth.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hydreigon has a variety of options in the third moveslot of its three attacks set. Defog can be used if entry hazard removal is required. Taunt shuts down Chansey, prevents Primarina from using Rest, and heavily disrupts stall teams. U-turn can generate momentum on challenging Pokemon like Mandibuzz and Primarina. Thunder Wave cripples switch-ins like Nihilego and Azumarill. After paralyzing and weakening the former, Hydreigon can try beating it with Dark Pulse flinches. Choice Specs gives Hydreigon the immediate power necessary to 2HKO Amoonguss with Dark Pulse and possibly 2HKO Mandibuzz with Draco Meteor. However, it still struggles to get past the likes of Primarina and requires more prediction to be effective. Belch is an option with Nasty Plot alongside Sitrus Berry or the combination of Substitute + Salac Berry, OHKOing Primarina and Azumarill after a boost. Superpower can be used to break past Chansey, but it requires a decent amount of chip damage to 2HKO with Life Orb.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types such as Primarina and Azumarill aren't threatened by Hydreigon and can OHKO it back. Other Fairy-types like Tapu Bulu, Diancie, and Hatterene can defensively check Hydreigon; however, they must beware boosted Flash Cannon.
**Fighting-types**: Cobalion and Keldeo are faster than non-Choice Scarf Hydreigon and OHKO it with their STAB attacks. Conkeldurr is slower than Hydreigon but forces it out with Guts-boosted Mach Punch.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Chansey can wall Hydreigon even after a Nasty Plot boost and proceeds to cripple it with Toxic or use Teleport to bring in a dangerous revenge killer. Mandibuzz is capable of switching into non-Nasty Plot Hydreigon fairly comfortably; however, it will be forced to use Roost after taking Life Orb Draco Meteor if it wants to switch into Hydreigon again. Nihilego has the bulk to switch into Hydreigon several times and force it out.
**Faster Pokemon and Priority Users**: Thundurus-T and Salamence are faster than Hydreigon and threaten to KO it; however, they must be wary of Choice Scarf variants. Lycanroc-D and Zygarde-10% also outspeed Hydreigon and have priority moves, making them less susceptible to Choice Scarf Hydreigon. Mamoswine can revenge kill Hydreigon with Ice Shard.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Twilight, 344575]]
- Quality checked by: [[Monky25, 515132], [Mystras Leoxses, 530118], [Hilomilo, 313384]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [CryoGyro, 331519]]
Hydreigon is a dangerous Pokemon in the UU tier thanks to its high Special Attack, respectable Speed tier, amazing STAB combination, and diverse movepool. It's very versatile, with sets ranging from an effective Choice Scarf revenge killer to a devastating Nasty Plot wallbreaker. Hydreigon's typing and ability are quite useful for checking Pokemon such as Swampert and Chandelure. However, it has weaknesses to a lot of common types, limiting the number of times it can switch in. Aegislash and Lycanroc-D can threaten it with Close Combat, and common Fighting-types such as Conkeldurr and Cobalion can revenge kill Hydreigon and use it as an opportunity to wallbreak. Pokemon like Zarude and Mandibuzz will wear it down with U-turn. Hydreigon struggles to break through Fairy-types—particularly Primarina and Azumarill, as they take neutral damage from Flash Cannon. It has four-moveslot syndrome—Flash Cannon is needed for Fairy-types but Flamethrower is needed for Celesteela—and it is completely walled by Chansey even after multiple Nasty Plot boosts. Despite its decent Speed, Hydreigon is outsped by many Pokemon such as Jirachi, Thundurus-T, and Salamence.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Dark Pulse
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Fire Blast / Defog / Roost
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Hydreigon is a fantastic Choice Scarf user capable of revenge killing threats like Zygarde-10% and Dragon Dance Gyarados. U-turn is mandatory to escape switch-ins like Chansey and Primarina. The last moveslot is very flexible. Fire Blast is an option to revenge kill Tapu Bulu and more easily break through Steel-types like Excadrill, Skarmory, and Celesteela. Defog creates role compression if required, while Roost can provide some longevity to answer Rotom-W and Swampert throughout a match. Roost can be very useful if you let Hydreigon take Knock Off in a matchup where it doesn't require Choice Scarf.
Choice Scarf Hydreigon fits best on bulky offense teams that require its Speed and offensive presence to keep threats like Azelf and Thundurus-T in check. Checks to Fairy-types are mandatory. Tentacruel and Amoonguss can check Azumarill and Primarina, while Steel-types like Jirachi and Aegislash can help check other Fairy-types like Hatterene and Togekiss. Aegislash can also wear down special walls like Mandibuzz with Toxic and remove Chansey with Close Combat. Nidoking and Tapu Bulu are powerful wallbreakers that Hydreigon can bring in safely with U-turn, allowing them to remove its checks such as Primarina and Mandibuzz. Azelf can form a pivot core with Hydreigon to get it in safely against Pokemon such as Slowking and Aegislash. Entry hazard support from Skarmory and Excadrill can help Hydreigon OHKO Pokemon like Tapu Bulu and Gyarados. Skarmory can also check Dragon Dance Salamence, a setup sweeper Hydreigon is unable to outspeed and revenge kill. Entry hazard removal from Excadrill and Tentacruel is appreciated due to Hydreigon's frequent pivoting. Tentacruel can also wear down Celesteela with Knock Off and punish its Leech Seed thanks to Liquid Ooze.
[SET]
name: Three Attacks
move 1: Dark Pulse
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: Flamethrower / Flash Cannon
move 4: Roost
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Flamethrower breaks through Tapu Bulu and pressures Celesteela, Amoonguss, and Tangrowth. Fire Blast is an option to 2HKO Celesteela and Assault Vest Tangrowth; however, they can be 2HKOed by Flamethrower after Stealth Rock. Flash Cannon can be used to break through Fairy-types like Tapu Bulu, Diancie, and Togekiss while neutrally hitting Azumarill and Primarina. However, it doesn't do much damage to bulky variants of Primarina. Roost offsets Life Orb recoil and lets Hydreigon use its defensive typing to check foes like Aegislash and Krookodile. Life Orb provides the needed damage boost to get through Pokemon like Amoonguss and Celesteela. Leftovers is an alternative that offsets Stealth Rock damage and potential burns from Pokemon like Slowking and Rotom-W.
Hydreigon fits best on bulky offense and balance teams that value its wallbreaking power, useful typing, and decent Speed. Hydreigon's greatest hurdles are Fairy-types such as Primarina, Togekiss, and Azumarill, so partners capable of removing them like Thundurus-T, Nihilego, and Nidoking are appreciated. Thundurus-T can also break through Chansey, Nihilego and Nidoking can provide Stealth Rock support, and Nihilego is an emergency check to Galarian Moltres, which sets up on Hydreigon. In return, Hydreigon can pressure Slowking for Nihilego and Nidoking. Jirachi is a phenomenal partner, switching into most Fairy-types and safely providing Hydreigon opportunities to wallbreak against Pokemon like Aegislash, Rotom-W, and Swampert with U-turn. Moltres and Slowking can check Excadrill, which ignores Hydreigon's Levitate, and Fighting-types like Cobalion and Conkeldurr. Slowking can also provide Future Sight to help wear down the Fairy-types that switch into Hydreigon. Conkeldurr is a great partner for Hydreigon, as it can break through their shared checks in Fairy-types and remove Chansey. In return, Hydreigon can pressure physical walls such as Slowking and Amoonguss.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Draco Meteor
move 4: Roost / Flash Cannon
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Nasty Plot makes Hydreigon a dangerous wallbreaker; after a boost, it can OHKO Pokemon like Mandibuzz and Amoonguss with Draco Meteor and 2HKO Celesteela with Dark Pulse. Hydreigon should set up against Pokemon it can force out such as Slowking and Rotom-W. Roost alongside Leftovers lets Hydreigon find multiple opportunities to wallbreak. Flash Cannon is an option that breaks through Fairy-types like Togekiss and Tapu Bulu while hitting Primarina and Azumarill for neutral damage. With Life Orb, +2 Flash Cannon can OHKO Togekiss. However, keep in mind that Life Orb will force Hydreigon to use Roost more often and quickly wear down sets lacking Roost.
Nasty Plot Hydreigon can fit on a wide range of offense and balance styles. Entry hazard support from partners like Excadrill, Nihilego, and Jirachi can wear down foes like Azumarill and Tangrowth into KO range of its boosted attacks. These setters also help pressure and switch into Fairy-types like Hatterene and Primarina. Jirachi can also provide Healing Wish support for sets lacking Roost. Ribombee can provide Sticky Web to let Hydreigon beat revenge killers like Lycanroc-D and Jirachi. However, other fast Pokemon like Salamence and Thundurus-T are immune to Sticky Web, so offensive partners like Mamoswine and Lycanroc-D are useful to keep them in check. These partners also remove specially defensive walls like Chansey. Hydreigon can struggle to find setup opportunities, so pivots such as Moltres and Swampert can give it chances against Pokemon like Rotom-W and Slowking. Fighting-type checks such as Primarina, Amoonguss, and the aforementioned Moltres are necessary, as Conkeldurr and Cobalion can easily revenge kill Hydreigon. Late-game cleaners like Excadrill and Azelf appreciate Hydreigon breaking through defensive Pokemon such as Slowking, Celesteela, and Tangrowth.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hydreigon has a variety of options in the third moveslot of its three attacks set. Defog can be used if entry hazard removal is required. Taunt shuts down Chansey, prevents Primarina from using Rest, and heavily disrupts stall teams. U-turn can generate momentum on challenging Pokemon like Mandibuzz and Primarina. Thunder Wave cripples switch-ins like Nihilego and Azumarill. After paralyzing and weakening the former, Hydreigon can try beating it with Dark Pulse flinches. Choice Specs gives Hydreigon the immediate power necessary to 2HKO Amoonguss with Dark Pulse and possibly 2HKO Mandibuzz with Draco Meteor. However, it still struggles to get past the likes of Primarina and requires more prediction to be effective. Belch is an option with Nasty Plot alongside Sitrus Berry or the combination of Substitute + Salac Berry, OHKOing Primarina and Azumarill after a boost. Superpower can be used to break past Chansey, but it requires a decent amount of chip damage to 2HKO with Life Orb.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types such as Primarina and Azumarill aren't threatened by Hydreigon and can OHKO it back. Other Fairy-types like Tapu Bulu, Diancie, and Hatterene can defensively check Hydreigon; however, they must beware boosted Flash Cannon.
**Fighting-types**: Cobalion and Keldeo are faster than non-Choice Scarf Hydreigon and OHKO it with their STAB attacks. Conkeldurr is slower than Hydreigon but forces it out with Guts-boosted Mach Punch.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Chansey can wall Hydreigon even after a Nasty Plot boost and proceeds to cripple it with Toxic or use Teleport to bring in a dangerous revenge killer. Mandibuzz is capable of switching into non-Nasty Plot Hydreigon fairly comfortably; however, it will be forced to use Roost after taking Life Orb Draco Meteor if it wants to switch into Hydreigon again. Nihilego has the bulk to switch into Hydreigon several times and force it out.
**Faster Pokemon and Priority Users**: Thundurus-T and Salamence are faster than Hydreigon and threaten to KO it; however, they must be wary of Choice Scarf variants. Lycanroc-D and Zygarde-10% also outspeed Hydreigon and have priority moves, making them less susceptible to Choice Scarf Hydreigon. Mamoswine can revenge kill Hydreigon with Ice Shard.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Twilight, 344575]]
- Quality checked by: [[Monky25, 515132], [Mystras Leoxses, 530118], [Hilomilo, 313384]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [CryoGyro, 331519]]
Last edited:
