[SET]
Ho-Oh @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Regenerator
Tera Type: Ground / Flying
EVs: 104 HP / 252 Atk / 152 Spe or 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Sacred Fire
- Brave Bird
- Earthquake / Substitute
- Recover
[SET COMMENTS]
Earthquake pressures Miraidon, one of Ho-Oh's most common switch-ins, and gives it a way to hit Tera Fire users like Necrozma-DM, Koraidon, and Calyrex-I. Substitute is an option to take advantage of Gliscor and gives Ho-Oh a chance to freely throw off its powerful STAB attacks. Tera Ground synergizes with Earthquake and makes Ho-Oh a reliable check to Miraidon by guaranteeing the KO with an Adamant nature. Tera Flying powers up Brave Bird, letting it 2HKO opposing defensive Ho-Oh. 152 Speed EVs allow Ho-Oh to outspeed max Speed neutral nature Necrozma-DM. An alternate EV spread with max Speed and a Jolly nature allows Ho-Oh to get the jump on defensive Arceus formes, giving it the ability to 2HKO them with Tera Flying.
Koraidon is an excellent partner for pivoting in Ho-Oh and setting sun, while Ho-Oh pressures opposing Ho-Oh, Arceus-Fairy, and can help break through Gliscor and Kyogre. Since this Ho-Oh has far less bulk than a defensive Ho-Oh, it appreciates secondary Koraidon checks such as Kyogre and Arceus-Fairy, both of which can Thunder Wave Eternatus, opposing Arceus formes, and Ho-Oh Kyogre is also a solid partner for helping check Calyrex-I, which this Ho-Oh cannot check well. Although it does not enjoy eating sun-boosted Sacred Fires, Miraidon can pivot into Ho-Oh and force it out. As such, partners such as Ting-Lu, Gliscor, and Arceus-Ground pair well with Ho-Oh. In particular, Ting-Lu and Gliscor can set Spikes for Ho-Oh, letting it pressure Arceus-Water more easily. Arceus-Water and Kyogre are fantastic partners for taking advantage of the Tera Fires that Ho-Oh forces from Necrozma-DM, Arceus, and Calyrex-Ice, while helping check Koraidon. Ho-Oh can also Terastallize Ground and lure Miraidon for them.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Flame Charge is an option on offensive Ho-Oh and prevents Zacian-C, Miraidon, and fast Arceus-formes from revenging it, but this option is generally not preferred compared to the utility of Recover, Earthquake, and Substitute.
Checks and Counters
====
**Miraidon**: Miraidon resists both of Ho-Oh's STABs and can use it as a chance to setup or throw off powerful STAB attacks. However, it has to watch out for Earthquake, and Heavy-Duty Boots variants are checked by Tera Grass and Tera Ground Ho-Oh.
**Water-types**: Arceus-Water can pivot into Ho-Oh forever, threaten it out with Judgment, and has access to recovery moves that lets it switch into Ho-Oh throughout a game. Kyogre can pivot into Ho-Oh's Sacred Fires and force it out, but must be wary of Brave Bird. However, Arceus-Water must be wary of Sacred Fire burns in conjunction with entry hazards limiting how easily it can enter the field against Ho-Oh. Dondozo is a niche Pokemon found on stall structures able to pivot into Ho-Oh and outlast it with Rest and its natural bulk. All of the aforementioned Pokemon must be cautious of Max Speed Jolly natured Ho-Oh, which can outspeed and threaten to 2HKO the former two, and 3HKO the latter with Tera Flying.
**Arceus-Ground**: Arceus-Ground can pivot into Ho-Oh if it has physical Defense investment. Furthermore, its access to reliable recovery, along with a strong Rock-type attack in Power Gem or Stone Edge, means that Ho-Oh cannot freely enter in on it without scouting the coverage move. However, Sacred Fire burns and hazards can make it much more difficult for Arceus-Ground to pivot into it.
**Knock Off Users**: Ho-Oh must be wary of switching into Pokemon who have access to Knock Off, such as Necrozma-DM and Gliscor. However, if Stealth Rock is not on the field or able to be removed easily, then Ho-Oh can freely pivot into Knock Off users. Additionally, Ho-Oh can get past the issue of Stealth Rock by Terastallizing into another type.
**Rock-type Coverage**: Ho-Oh must watch out for Rock-type coverage specifically aimed for it. This includes Power Gem Flutter Mane, Rock Slide and Rock Tomb Groudon and Landorus-T. Eternatus, Lunala, and Necrozma-DW can slot Meteor Beam in order to lure Ho-Oh as well.
**Giratina-A**: Giratina-A's massive physical bulk lets it pivot into any of Ho-Oh's attacks and Defog or Rest on it freely.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/taka.595062/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lasen.273339/
[QC checker 2's profile link]
Grammar checked by:
[GP checker's profile link]
Ho-Oh @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Regenerator
Tera Type: Ground / Flying
EVs: 104 HP / 252 Atk / 152 Spe or 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Sacred Fire
- Brave Bird
- Earthquake / Substitute
- Recover
[SET COMMENTS]
Earthquake pressures Miraidon, one of Ho-Oh's most common switch-ins, and gives it a way to hit Tera Fire users like Necrozma-DM, Koraidon, and Calyrex-I. Substitute is an option to take advantage of Gliscor and gives Ho-Oh a chance to freely throw off its powerful STAB attacks. Tera Ground synergizes with Earthquake and makes Ho-Oh a reliable check to Miraidon by guaranteeing the KO with an Adamant nature. Tera Flying powers up Brave Bird, letting it 2HKO opposing defensive Ho-Oh. 152 Speed EVs allow Ho-Oh to outspeed max Speed neutral nature Necrozma-DM. An alternate EV spread with max Speed and a Jolly nature allows Ho-Oh to get the jump on defensive Arceus formes, giving it the ability to 2HKO them with Tera Flying.
Koraidon is an excellent partner for pivoting in Ho-Oh and setting sun, while Ho-Oh pressures opposing Ho-Oh, Arceus-Fairy, and can help break through Gliscor and Kyogre. Since this Ho-Oh has far less bulk than a defensive Ho-Oh, it appreciates secondary Koraidon checks such as Kyogre and Arceus-Fairy, both of which can Thunder Wave Eternatus, opposing Arceus formes, and Ho-Oh Kyogre is also a solid partner for helping check Calyrex-I, which this Ho-Oh cannot check well. Although it does not enjoy eating sun-boosted Sacred Fires, Miraidon can pivot into Ho-Oh and force it out. As such, partners such as Ting-Lu, Gliscor, and Arceus-Ground pair well with Ho-Oh. In particular, Ting-Lu and Gliscor can set Spikes for Ho-Oh, letting it pressure Arceus-Water more easily. Arceus-Water and Kyogre are fantastic partners for taking advantage of the Tera Fires that Ho-Oh forces from Necrozma-DM, Arceus, and Calyrex-Ice, while helping check Koraidon. Ho-Oh can also Terastallize Ground and lure Miraidon for them.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Flame Charge is an option on offensive Ho-Oh and prevents Zacian-C, Miraidon, and fast Arceus-formes from revenging it, but this option is generally not preferred compared to the utility of Recover, Earthquake, and Substitute.
Checks and Counters
====
**Miraidon**: Miraidon resists both of Ho-Oh's STABs and can use it as a chance to setup or throw off powerful STAB attacks. However, it has to watch out for Earthquake, and Heavy-Duty Boots variants are checked by Tera Grass and Tera Ground Ho-Oh.
**Water-types**: Arceus-Water can pivot into Ho-Oh forever, threaten it out with Judgment, and has access to recovery moves that lets it switch into Ho-Oh throughout a game. Kyogre can pivot into Ho-Oh's Sacred Fires and force it out, but must be wary of Brave Bird. However, Arceus-Water must be wary of Sacred Fire burns in conjunction with entry hazards limiting how easily it can enter the field against Ho-Oh. Dondozo is a niche Pokemon found on stall structures able to pivot into Ho-Oh and outlast it with Rest and its natural bulk. All of the aforementioned Pokemon must be cautious of Max Speed Jolly natured Ho-Oh, which can outspeed and threaten to 2HKO the former two, and 3HKO the latter with Tera Flying.
**Arceus-Ground**: Arceus-Ground can pivot into Ho-Oh if it has physical Defense investment. Furthermore, its access to reliable recovery, along with a strong Rock-type attack in Power Gem or Stone Edge, means that Ho-Oh cannot freely enter in on it without scouting the coverage move. However, Sacred Fire burns and hazards can make it much more difficult for Arceus-Ground to pivot into it.
**Knock Off Users**: Ho-Oh must be wary of switching into Pokemon who have access to Knock Off, such as Necrozma-DM and Gliscor. However, if Stealth Rock is not on the field or able to be removed easily, then Ho-Oh can freely pivot into Knock Off users. Additionally, Ho-Oh can get past the issue of Stealth Rock by Terastallizing into another type.
**Rock-type Coverage**: Ho-Oh must watch out for Rock-type coverage specifically aimed for it. This includes Power Gem Flutter Mane, Rock Slide and Rock Tomb Groudon and Landorus-T. Eternatus, Lunala, and Necrozma-DW can slot Meteor Beam in order to lure Ho-Oh as well.
**Giratina-A**: Giratina-A's massive physical bulk lets it pivot into any of Ho-Oh's attacks and Defog or Rest on it freely.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/taka.595062/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lasen.273339/
[QC checker 2's profile link]
Grammar checked by:
[GP checker's profile link]
Last edited:
