[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 3 onwards
**Price Range**: 14 points
**Overview**: Hydreigon is a solid wallbreaker that can tailor its moveset to check almost any foe, thanks to its amazing coverage movepool and great offensive stats. Its immunity to common Ground-type coverage thanks to Levitate also gives it more opportunities to switch in and deal lasting damage over the course of the match, and it has good utility options to disrupt foes when its teammates cannot do so. Unfortunately, Hydreigon's potential is limited by the fact it's almost always forced to don a Choice Scarf due to its mediocre Speed stat. Its dual STAB combination struggles against Fairy-types, and while it has coverage to deal with them, this is risky especially on Choice Scarf sets, which can be exploited by foes to hinder progress or turn Hydreigon into setup fodder, so it is best used as a complementary offensive piece to support a team.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Revenge Killer**: With a Choice Scarf, Hydreigon can break through weakened foes or act as a solid pivot to keep positive momentum for its teammates.
**Wallbreaker**: Hydreigon can make use of its high Special Attack to punch holes in the opposing team using its strong-Base Power moves. Damage-boosting items such as Choice Specs and Z-Crystals can elevate its wallbreaking power further, weakening even the sturdiest of walls. It can also act as a lure to find a good opportunity to set up with Substitute to better position itself.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Dark Pulse, Crunch, Throat Chop, Draco Meteor, Dragon Pulse, Outrage
**Setup Moves**: Work Up
**Utility Moves**: Taunt, Thunder Wave, Toxic, Roost, U-turn, Substitute, Defog, Roar, Dragon Tail
**Coverage**: Earth Power, Fire Blast, Flamethrower, Surf, Flash Cannon, Hidden Power, Focus Blast, Earthquake, Acrobatics, Stone Edge, Rock Slide, Fire Fang, Ice Fang, Thunder Fang, Aqua Tail, Superpower, Zen Headbutt, Signal Beam
Niche Moves
========
**Belch**: Belch can be used in conjunction with Poisonium Z for a one-time nuclear option to deal with problematic Fairy-types.
**Tailwind**: Hydreigon can use Tailwind in situations where it cannot rely on using a Choice-item to function as a revenge killer, boosting Speed for itself and its teammates.
**Head Smash**: Hydreigon can use Head Smash on Choice Scarf sets specifically to deal massive damage to Tornadus-T.
Common Items
========
**Choice Scarf**: Donning a Choice Scarf allows Hydreigon to gain a boost to its mediocre Speed and function as a potent revenge killer and a reliable pivot.
**Damage-boosting items**: Hydreigon can make use of a Life Orb to fire off strong attacks and punch holes in the opposing team, whereas Expert Belt may be preferred in matchups where it can make use of its great coverage movepool to hit multiple foes for super effective damage. Dragon Fang or Black Glasses may be appreciated to give its strong STAB moves the extra power it needs to muscle through defensive walls, and finally, Choice Specs, albeit risky, can potentially OHKO non-Dragon-resistant foes with Draco Meteor.
**Z-Crystals**: Hydreigon has good options to upgrade its wallbreaking capabilities further with Z-Crystals. For example, Darknium Z and Dragonium Z can be used to upgrade its existing STAB moves further to deal massive damage to foes, Fightinium Z can give it a one-time fully accurate move to deal with opposing Dark-types, and finally, Steelium Z and Poisonium Z can be used to deal heavy damage to Fairy-types that may try to switch in to check it.
Niche Items
========
**Leftovers**: Hydreigon can make use of Leftovers to give it the passive recovery it needs to stay healthy whilst setting up over the course of a match.
**Resistance Berries**: Hydreigon can make use of resistance berries such as the Roseli, Yache, and Haban Berries to flip momentum in its favor, either firing back with a strong attack or cripple the foe with Toxic or Thunder Wave. It can also surprise Fairy-type foes afterwards with Belch.
**Pinch Berries**: If the slow passive recovery of Leftovers is not enough, Hydreigon can use pinch Berries to give it the longevity it needs to break through a foe or two.
**Assault Vest**: If it expects to go up against specially based teams, Hydreigon can make use of an Assault Vest to make it tougher to wear down over the course of a match.
Draft Strategy
========
Hydreigon should be drafted as a supporting offensive teammate instead of your main wincon. It is best able to function as a wallbreaker that can allow its faster teammates to clean up later. It also appreciates additional pivot options that can get it on the field and make its offensive role easier.
**Fairy-resistant Pokemon**: Fairy-types are the bane of Hydreigon's existence, so it requires teammates that can easily switch into their attacks or that can it pivot to in order to maintain momentum. Pokemon such as Nidoking, Celesteela, and Heatran are good examples.
**Entry Hazard Support**: Hydreigon appreciates Pokemon that can set up hazards to allow it to have an easier time to eliminate foes. Pokemon such as Jirachi, Nidoqueen, and Uxie are good examples.
**Faster Teammates**: Hydreigon's Speed is average at best, so it would appreciate faster teammates that it can support to clean up foes such as Tapu Koko, Zeraora, and Tornadus-T.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types in the metagame are commonly met by bulky Fighting-resistant Pokemon. Hydreigon can be a great support to these kinds of Pokemon by weakening them massively and allowing its partners to clean up later. Good examples include Mega Gallade, Mega Medicham, and Infernape.
Checks and Counters
========
**Fairy-types**: Hydreigon is immediately threatened out by Fairy-types, which can also easily switch into its attacks and give them an opportunity to set up. This is especially dangerous if Hydreigon is Choice-locked, since they resist its STAB combination and can easily pivot if it uses Flash Cannon. Pokemon such as Tapu Koko, Mega Mawile, and Tapu Fini are foes it has to be especially wary of.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Despite its great Special Attack stat, Hydreigon can still face trouble against Pokemon such as Primarina, Snorlax, and Alolan Muk, which can take hits well and either set up or recover the damage off.
**Faster Pokemon**: Hydreigon can easily be revenged killed due to its middling Speed stat, and it takes massive damage from faster U-turns, which may make Hyrdeigon's attack not hit its desired target. Pokemon such as Zeraora, Mega Diancie, and common Choice Scarf users like Kartana are potential checks to Hydreigon.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/theuncultured.629845/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/odinrm.613514/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
**Draft Order**: Round 3 onwards
**Price Range**: 14 points
**Overview**: Hydreigon is a solid wallbreaker that can tailor its moveset to check almost any foe, thanks to its amazing coverage movepool and great offensive stats. Its immunity to common Ground-type coverage thanks to Levitate also gives it more opportunities to switch in and deal lasting damage over the course of the match, and it has good utility options to disrupt foes when its teammates cannot do so. Unfortunately, Hydreigon's potential is limited by the fact it's almost always forced to don a Choice Scarf due to its mediocre Speed stat. Its dual STAB combination struggles against Fairy-types, and while it has coverage to deal with them, this is risky especially on Choice Scarf sets, which can be exploited by foes to hinder progress or turn Hydreigon into setup fodder, so it is best used as a complementary offensive piece to support a team.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Revenge Killer**: With a Choice Scarf, Hydreigon can break through weakened foes or act as a solid pivot to keep positive momentum for its teammates.
**Wallbreaker**: Hydreigon can make use of its high Special Attack to punch holes in the opposing team using its strong-Base Power moves. Damage-boosting items such as Choice Specs and Z-Crystals can elevate its wallbreaking power further, weakening even the sturdiest of walls. It can also act as a lure to find a good opportunity to set up with Substitute to better position itself.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Dark Pulse, Crunch, Throat Chop, Draco Meteor, Dragon Pulse, Outrage
**Setup Moves**: Work Up
**Utility Moves**: Taunt, Thunder Wave, Toxic, Roost, U-turn, Substitute, Defog, Roar, Dragon Tail
**Coverage**: Earth Power, Fire Blast, Flamethrower, Surf, Flash Cannon, Hidden Power, Focus Blast, Earthquake, Acrobatics, Stone Edge, Rock Slide, Fire Fang, Ice Fang, Thunder Fang, Aqua Tail, Superpower, Zen Headbutt, Signal Beam
Niche Moves
========
**Belch**: Belch can be used in conjunction with Poisonium Z for a one-time nuclear option to deal with problematic Fairy-types.
**Tailwind**: Hydreigon can use Tailwind in situations where it cannot rely on using a Choice-item to function as a revenge killer, boosting Speed for itself and its teammates.
**Head Smash**: Hydreigon can use Head Smash on Choice Scarf sets specifically to deal massive damage to Tornadus-T.
Common Items
========
**Choice Scarf**: Donning a Choice Scarf allows Hydreigon to gain a boost to its mediocre Speed and function as a potent revenge killer and a reliable pivot.
**Damage-boosting items**: Hydreigon can make use of a Life Orb to fire off strong attacks and punch holes in the opposing team, whereas Expert Belt may be preferred in matchups where it can make use of its great coverage movepool to hit multiple foes for super effective damage. Dragon Fang or Black Glasses may be appreciated to give its strong STAB moves the extra power it needs to muscle through defensive walls, and finally, Choice Specs, albeit risky, can potentially OHKO non-Dragon-resistant foes with Draco Meteor.
**Z-Crystals**: Hydreigon has good options to upgrade its wallbreaking capabilities further with Z-Crystals. For example, Darknium Z and Dragonium Z can be used to upgrade its existing STAB moves further to deal massive damage to foes, Fightinium Z can give it a one-time fully accurate move to deal with opposing Dark-types, and finally, Steelium Z and Poisonium Z can be used to deal heavy damage to Fairy-types that may try to switch in to check it.
Niche Items
========
**Leftovers**: Hydreigon can make use of Leftovers to give it the passive recovery it needs to stay healthy whilst setting up over the course of a match.
**Resistance Berries**: Hydreigon can make use of resistance berries such as the Roseli, Yache, and Haban Berries to flip momentum in its favor, either firing back with a strong attack or cripple the foe with Toxic or Thunder Wave. It can also surprise Fairy-type foes afterwards with Belch.
**Pinch Berries**: If the slow passive recovery of Leftovers is not enough, Hydreigon can use pinch Berries to give it the longevity it needs to break through a foe or two.
**Assault Vest**: If it expects to go up against specially based teams, Hydreigon can make use of an Assault Vest to make it tougher to wear down over the course of a match.
Draft Strategy
========
Hydreigon should be drafted as a supporting offensive teammate instead of your main wincon. It is best able to function as a wallbreaker that can allow its faster teammates to clean up later. It also appreciates additional pivot options that can get it on the field and make its offensive role easier.
**Fairy-resistant Pokemon**: Fairy-types are the bane of Hydreigon's existence, so it requires teammates that can easily switch into their attacks or that can it pivot to in order to maintain momentum. Pokemon such as Nidoking, Celesteela, and Heatran are good examples.
**Entry Hazard Support**: Hydreigon appreciates Pokemon that can set up hazards to allow it to have an easier time to eliminate foes. Pokemon such as Jirachi, Nidoqueen, and Uxie are good examples.
**Faster Teammates**: Hydreigon's Speed is average at best, so it would appreciate faster teammates that it can support to clean up foes such as Tapu Koko, Zeraora, and Tornadus-T.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types in the metagame are commonly met by bulky Fighting-resistant Pokemon. Hydreigon can be a great support to these kinds of Pokemon by weakening them massively and allowing its partners to clean up later. Good examples include Mega Gallade, Mega Medicham, and Infernape.
Checks and Counters
========
**Fairy-types**: Hydreigon is immediately threatened out by Fairy-types, which can also easily switch into its attacks and give them an opportunity to set up. This is especially dangerous if Hydreigon is Choice-locked, since they resist its STAB combination and can easily pivot if it uses Flash Cannon. Pokemon such as Tapu Koko, Mega Mawile, and Tapu Fini are foes it has to be especially wary of.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Despite its great Special Attack stat, Hydreigon can still face trouble against Pokemon such as Primarina, Snorlax, and Alolan Muk, which can take hits well and either set up or recover the damage off.
**Faster Pokemon**: Hydreigon can easily be revenged killed due to its middling Speed stat, and it takes massive damage from faster U-turns, which may make Hyrdeigon's attack not hit its desired target. Pokemon such as Zeraora, Mega Diancie, and common Choice Scarf users like Kartana are potential checks to Hydreigon.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/theuncultured.629845/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/odinrm.613514/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
Last edited:
