QC: Zarif / scpinion / iVid
GP: Rare Poison / The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
Hippowdon features as one of the best Ground-type walls, with great 108 / 118 / 72 defenses and reliable recovery in Slack Off. Hippowdon's unique access to Sand Stream makes it a mandatory member of any sand team, as it is necessary to reliably activate Excadrill's Sand Rush. Furthermore, Sand Stream is a big help against opposing teams that take advantage of other weather such as rain, which are naturally difficult to defeat. With its great bulk, Hippowdon can often supply great utility for the team as a Stealth Rock user and a phazer with Whirlwind. Unfortunately, it is easily worn down by special attackers and cannot actually beat the other weather setters in Mega Charizard Y and Politoed. Taunt also makes it almost useless, as its Earthquake is not particularly powerful and cannot even hit some Taunt users such as Gyarados. Its incredibly low Speed, even for a wall, can make setting Stealth Rock very difficult in the face of offensive or Taunt-using leads such as Breloom and Mew. Due to its usual lack of status moves, it can be easily beaten by most other defensive Pokemon that do carry Toxic, such as Chansey and Zapdos.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Slack Off
move 4: Whirlwind
item: Leftovers / Eject Button
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock is necessary on every team, and Hippowdon is one of the best users on Ground teams due to its amazing defenses. Earthquake is Hippowdon's strongest attack and deals respectable damage off its base 112 Attack, preventing Hippowdon from being complete Taunt fodder. Slack Off is used for improving Hippowdon's longevity, allowing it to serve as a wall throughout a battle. Whirlwind serves to phaze sweepers that might try to set up on Hippowdon and can allow it to shuffle the opposing team into the Stealth Rock it sets.
Set Details
========
Maximum EV investment in HP and Defense and an Impish nature make Hippowdon as physically defensive as possible, allowing it to switch into physical attackers with great ease. The Sand Stream ability is used to activate Excadrill's Sand Rush while also giving Ground teams a way of trying to combat other weather. Leftovers is the preferred item to give Hippowdon extra recovery alongside Slack Off. Offensively, Eject Button is another good option to allow Hippowdon to jump straight to a teammate such as Mega Garchomp or Excadrill after setting sand, but it can only be used once and can even sometimes be detrimental. Rocky Helmet is a defensive item that deals chip damage to contact attackers, but it and Eject Button are generally not as useful as the passive recovery that Leftovers provides.
Usage Tips
========
Hippowdon should try to set up and keep Stealth Rock on the opposing side of the field to support the team with its damage. Hippowdon's use of Sand Stream and Stealth Rock puts a lot of pressure on Pokemon that use Focus Sash, and it should try to take advantage of this fact, as the likes of Breloom and suicide leads such as Deoxys-S can be difficult to play around otherwise. Throughout the match, Hippowdon should pivot in and out to set sand for Excadrill as often as possible. It's especially good at pivoting into physical attackers and forcing them out, allowing it to have free turns to set Stealth Rock or double switch into Excadrill or another teammate safely. On the other hand, Hippowdon should generally avoid special attackers, as it has a hard time taking their hits. Specifically, try to avoid ending up facing against opposing weather setters, as both Mega Charizard Y and Politoed beat it heads up. Instead, double switch to an appropriate answer to force them out and allow Hippowdon to reset sand later. If using Eject Button, try to bring Hippowdon in on an attack, as both it and the turn can be wasted if it's is hit while already in play. Slack Off should be used liberally, as keeping Hippowdon's health high is important for allowing it to switch in often to set sand. Because of how important its health is for walling and safely using its utility, Hippowdon hates taking burns and Toxic poison and should avoid them at all costs. Hippowdon should try to switch into setup sweepers as they are attempting to boost in order to phaze them, as, while it does have good bulk, it cannot take many boosted attacks.
Team Options
========
Hippowdon provides mandatory support to Excadrill, as its Sand Rush ability requires sand to be active. While Hippowdon doesn't particularly need Excadrill's support, Excadrill can easily break through the walls that it cannot touch and can Rapid Spin away entry hazards that make it harder for Hippowdon to wall foes. Gastrodon is a fantastic teammate due to its Storm Drain ability, making it capable of switching into Water-type attacks that threaten Hippowdon. This allows physically defensive Gastrodon to be a counter to foes such as Keldeo. Specially defensive Gastrodon is also a great teammate for soaking up the special attacks that Hippowdon cannot take. Seismitoad is an alternative Water-immune teammate with a more offensive focus, capable of using a Choice Specs-boosted Sludge Wave to take out many of the Grass-types that threaten Hippowdon, but it lacks recovery options and is easily worn down. As an offensive option, Mamoswine can help take out Grass-type Pokemon, although it cannot switch into them, and also greatly appreciates the Stealth Rock support that Hippowdon provides, allowing it to net KOs on targets such as Breloom with Ice Shard after minimal chip damage. Mega Garchomp's Sand Force allows it to also take advantage of the sand that Hippowdon sets; notably, it puts Chansey into 2HKO range of Earthquake. Landorus is another powerful wallbreaker that is a great teammate for Hippowdon because its damage with Earth Power allows it to break through slow and bulky Water teams that Hippowdon is fearful of, and its access to Sludge Wave makes it a very good check to many Grass-types. It can also use Gravity, which can allow it to take out airborne Pokemon such as Skarmory and Zapdos that try to Defog away Hippowdon's Stealth Rock.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Stone Edge allows Hippowdon to take out Flying-type threats such as Mega Pinsir and Mega Charizard Y while also hitting Zapdos and Volcarona. Rock Slide is a weaker, but more accurate, alternative for hitting specifically Mega Charizard Y. Hippowdon can run an alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 140 Def / 116 SpD to always avoid the OHKO from Mega Charizard Y's Fire Blast or Solar Beam in the sun, allowing Hippowdon to reliably hit back with Stone Edge. As the primary physical wall of the team, Hippowdon generally uses the standard spread better, though. Instead of Whirlwind, Toxic can help Hippowdon chip away at opposing walls while also threatening some setup sweepers, but it also leaves Hippowdon vulnerable to Substitute users such as Mega Gyarados.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Hippowdon is incapable of doing much to Water-types that can easily break it such as Kingdra, Keldeo, and Manaphy.
**Taunt**: Taunt from stallbreakers such as Mew and Sableye will shut down Hippowdon and force it out. Offensively, Mega Gyarados is an especially threatening user of Taunt, as it prevents Hippowdon from being able to phaze it and can freely set up due to Hippowdon's lack of substantial damage output. Some leads such as Custap Berry Skarmory and Aerodactyl can prevent Hippowdon from setting up its own entry hazards with their use of Taunt.
**Opposing Weather Setters**: Politoed and Mega Charizard Y are both huge threats to Hippowdon. When Charizard Mega Evolves, it overrides the sand with its sun, allowing it to use Solar Beam to deal massive damage. Politoed can also switch into Hippowdon to activate its Eject Button on an Earthquake to bounce to a Swift Swim user, which will force Hippowdon out.
**Grass-types**: Hippowdon is vulnerable to Grass-type attackers, including Breloom and Serperior, that can not only switch into it but can deal significant damage to it as well. Defensive Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur and Ferrothorn take very little damage from Hippowdon and can easily take advantage of it or force it out.
**Status**: As a wall, Hippowdon needs to keep its health high, which burns and Toxic poison prevent. Specifically, burns will make Hippowdon even weaker than it already is, and Toxic poison will prevent Hippowdon from walling almost anything reliably in the long run.
GP: Rare Poison / The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
Hippowdon features as one of the best Ground-type walls, with great 108 / 118 / 72 defenses and reliable recovery in Slack Off. Hippowdon's unique access to Sand Stream makes it a mandatory member of any sand team, as it is necessary to reliably activate Excadrill's Sand Rush. Furthermore, Sand Stream is a big help against opposing teams that take advantage of other weather such as rain, which are naturally difficult to defeat. With its great bulk, Hippowdon can often supply great utility for the team as a Stealth Rock user and a phazer with Whirlwind. Unfortunately, it is easily worn down by special attackers and cannot actually beat the other weather setters in Mega Charizard Y and Politoed. Taunt also makes it almost useless, as its Earthquake is not particularly powerful and cannot even hit some Taunt users such as Gyarados. Its incredibly low Speed, even for a wall, can make setting Stealth Rock very difficult in the face of offensive or Taunt-using leads such as Breloom and Mew. Due to its usual lack of status moves, it can be easily beaten by most other defensive Pokemon that do carry Toxic, such as Chansey and Zapdos.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Slack Off
move 4: Whirlwind
item: Leftovers / Eject Button
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock is necessary on every team, and Hippowdon is one of the best users on Ground teams due to its amazing defenses. Earthquake is Hippowdon's strongest attack and deals respectable damage off its base 112 Attack, preventing Hippowdon from being complete Taunt fodder. Slack Off is used for improving Hippowdon's longevity, allowing it to serve as a wall throughout a battle. Whirlwind serves to phaze sweepers that might try to set up on Hippowdon and can allow it to shuffle the opposing team into the Stealth Rock it sets.
Set Details
========
Maximum EV investment in HP and Defense and an Impish nature make Hippowdon as physically defensive as possible, allowing it to switch into physical attackers with great ease. The Sand Stream ability is used to activate Excadrill's Sand Rush while also giving Ground teams a way of trying to combat other weather. Leftovers is the preferred item to give Hippowdon extra recovery alongside Slack Off. Offensively, Eject Button is another good option to allow Hippowdon to jump straight to a teammate such as Mega Garchomp or Excadrill after setting sand, but it can only be used once and can even sometimes be detrimental. Rocky Helmet is a defensive item that deals chip damage to contact attackers, but it and Eject Button are generally not as useful as the passive recovery that Leftovers provides.
Usage Tips
========
Hippowdon should try to set up and keep Stealth Rock on the opposing side of the field to support the team with its damage. Hippowdon's use of Sand Stream and Stealth Rock puts a lot of pressure on Pokemon that use Focus Sash, and it should try to take advantage of this fact, as the likes of Breloom and suicide leads such as Deoxys-S can be difficult to play around otherwise. Throughout the match, Hippowdon should pivot in and out to set sand for Excadrill as often as possible. It's especially good at pivoting into physical attackers and forcing them out, allowing it to have free turns to set Stealth Rock or double switch into Excadrill or another teammate safely. On the other hand, Hippowdon should generally avoid special attackers, as it has a hard time taking their hits. Specifically, try to avoid ending up facing against opposing weather setters, as both Mega Charizard Y and Politoed beat it heads up. Instead, double switch to an appropriate answer to force them out and allow Hippowdon to reset sand later. If using Eject Button, try to bring Hippowdon in on an attack, as both it and the turn can be wasted if it's is hit while already in play. Slack Off should be used liberally, as keeping Hippowdon's health high is important for allowing it to switch in often to set sand. Because of how important its health is for walling and safely using its utility, Hippowdon hates taking burns and Toxic poison and should avoid them at all costs. Hippowdon should try to switch into setup sweepers as they are attempting to boost in order to phaze them, as, while it does have good bulk, it cannot take many boosted attacks.
Team Options
========
Hippowdon provides mandatory support to Excadrill, as its Sand Rush ability requires sand to be active. While Hippowdon doesn't particularly need Excadrill's support, Excadrill can easily break through the walls that it cannot touch and can Rapid Spin away entry hazards that make it harder for Hippowdon to wall foes. Gastrodon is a fantastic teammate due to its Storm Drain ability, making it capable of switching into Water-type attacks that threaten Hippowdon. This allows physically defensive Gastrodon to be a counter to foes such as Keldeo. Specially defensive Gastrodon is also a great teammate for soaking up the special attacks that Hippowdon cannot take. Seismitoad is an alternative Water-immune teammate with a more offensive focus, capable of using a Choice Specs-boosted Sludge Wave to take out many of the Grass-types that threaten Hippowdon, but it lacks recovery options and is easily worn down. As an offensive option, Mamoswine can help take out Grass-type Pokemon, although it cannot switch into them, and also greatly appreciates the Stealth Rock support that Hippowdon provides, allowing it to net KOs on targets such as Breloom with Ice Shard after minimal chip damage. Mega Garchomp's Sand Force allows it to also take advantage of the sand that Hippowdon sets; notably, it puts Chansey into 2HKO range of Earthquake. Landorus is another powerful wallbreaker that is a great teammate for Hippowdon because its damage with Earth Power allows it to break through slow and bulky Water teams that Hippowdon is fearful of, and its access to Sludge Wave makes it a very good check to many Grass-types. It can also use Gravity, which can allow it to take out airborne Pokemon such as Skarmory and Zapdos that try to Defog away Hippowdon's Stealth Rock.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Stone Edge allows Hippowdon to take out Flying-type threats such as Mega Pinsir and Mega Charizard Y while also hitting Zapdos and Volcarona. Rock Slide is a weaker, but more accurate, alternative for hitting specifically Mega Charizard Y. Hippowdon can run an alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 140 Def / 116 SpD to always avoid the OHKO from Mega Charizard Y's Fire Blast or Solar Beam in the sun, allowing Hippowdon to reliably hit back with Stone Edge. As the primary physical wall of the team, Hippowdon generally uses the standard spread better, though. Instead of Whirlwind, Toxic can help Hippowdon chip away at opposing walls while also threatening some setup sweepers, but it also leaves Hippowdon vulnerable to Substitute users such as Mega Gyarados.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Hippowdon is incapable of doing much to Water-types that can easily break it such as Kingdra, Keldeo, and Manaphy.
**Taunt**: Taunt from stallbreakers such as Mew and Sableye will shut down Hippowdon and force it out. Offensively, Mega Gyarados is an especially threatening user of Taunt, as it prevents Hippowdon from being able to phaze it and can freely set up due to Hippowdon's lack of substantial damage output. Some leads such as Custap Berry Skarmory and Aerodactyl can prevent Hippowdon from setting up its own entry hazards with their use of Taunt.
**Opposing Weather Setters**: Politoed and Mega Charizard Y are both huge threats to Hippowdon. When Charizard Mega Evolves, it overrides the sand with its sun, allowing it to use Solar Beam to deal massive damage. Politoed can also switch into Hippowdon to activate its Eject Button on an Earthquake to bounce to a Swift Swim user, which will force Hippowdon out.
**Grass-types**: Hippowdon is vulnerable to Grass-type attackers, including Breloom and Serperior, that can not only switch into it but can deal significant damage to it as well. Defensive Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur and Ferrothorn take very little damage from Hippowdon and can easily take advantage of it or force it out.
**Status**: As a wall, Hippowdon needs to keep its health high, which burns and Toxic poison prevent. Specifically, burns will make Hippowdon even weaker than it already is, and Toxic poison will prevent Hippowdon from walling almost anything reliably in the long run.
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