[OVERVIEW]
Rhyperior stands out as a great Ground-type thanks to its bulk and ability while also being a terrific setup sweeper. Rhyperior excellent bulk allows it to handle powerful attackers such as Flygon, Incineroar, and Toxtricity. Furthermore, Rhyperior access to great coverage moves allows it to threaten Pokemon like Tsareena and Altaria that remove its hazards. Swords Dance allows Rhyperior to breakthrough common walls like Vaporeon, Bronzong, and Wo-Chien. However, Rhyperior awful Special Defensive can struggle to switch in repeated into Pokemon like Munkidori and Chandelure that it was supposed to check. Additionally, Rhyperior typing makes it harder to check common Pokemon like Barraskeda, Breloom, and Drednaw forcing Rhyperior to used up its Tera. Rhyperior can struggle to consistently setup due to its low Speed making it easily revenge killed by foes like Chandelure, Basculegion-M, and Raikou.
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Ice Punch / Stone Edge
move 4: Temper Flare / Swords Dance
item: Leftovers
ability: Solid Rock
nature: Adamant / Careful
evs: 252 HP / 16 Atk / 240 SpD or 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
tera type: Dragon / Water / Fairy
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Ice Punch allows Rhyperior to threaten Pokemon like Flygon, Gligar, and Altaria that are immune to its Earthquake. Alternatively, Stone Edge can be used for having another powerful STAB attack and putting some pressure on foes like Flamigo and Decidueye. Temper Flare gives Rhyperior the ability to threaten Grass-types like Tsareena and Amoonguss while allowing it to hit Bronzong. Swords Dance allows Rhyperior to breakthrough walls like Scrafty and Vaporeon. Rhyperior can run a fully specially defensive EV spread allowing it to better handle foes such as Munkidori and Chandelure but it can opt to drop some Special Defense to invest in 88 Speed EVs allowing Rhyperior to outspeed Diancie. Tera Dragon grants Rhyperior the ability to better handle wallbreakers like Chandelure, Barraskewda, Decidueye, and Basculegion-M. Tera Water gives Rhyperior to handle foes like Basculegion-M and Swampert, but maintains its weakness to Grass-types and grants Rhyperior a Electric-type weakness. Tera Fairy allows Rhyperior to better handle common Pokemon such as Flygon, Scrafty, Incineroar, and Flamigo.
Special wallbreakers like Choice Specs Chandelure, Goodra, and Raikou can put some major pressure on Rhyperior. So it best partners with walls like Incineroar, Scrafty, and Wo-Chien to handle them. Rhyperior greatly appreciates physical walls like Galarian Slowbro, Bellibolt, Cramorant, and Amoonguss since they can check Pokemon like Flygon, Barraskewda, and Breloom. Rhyperior enjoys having Pokemon like Toxicroak and Breloom to handle Water-types like Vaporeon and Swampert. Grass-resistance like Kilowattrel, Munkidori, and Flamigo can help Rhyperior deal with Grass-types like Amoonguss and Tsareena. Rhyperior greatly synergize with Wish passers like Vaporeon and Sylveon allowing it to consistently handle Pokemon like Toxtricity, Incineroar, and Flygon.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Ice Punch / Stone Edge
move 4: Temper Flare
item: Leftovers / Custap Berry
ability: Solid Rock
nature: Adamant
evs: 168 HP / 252 Atk / 88 Spe OR 128 HP / 176 Atk / 240 Spe
tera type: Dragon / Water / Fairy
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Swords Dance grants Rhyperior to take advantage and threaten many walls like Wo-Chien, Vaporeon, and Galarion Slowbro. Ice Punch can hit Ground immunity’s like Altaria and Gligar while Stone Edge can 2HKO foes like Vaporeon and Amoonguss after a boost. Temper Flare can threaten Grass-types such as Tsareena and Breloom while maintaining the ability to hit Bronzong. Leftovers gives Rhyperior useful recovery while Custap Berry can revenge killed faster foes like Flamigo, Munkidori, and Flygon when it reaches low health. A bulky EV spread of 168 HP / 252 Atk / 88 Spe lets Rhyperior to better tank attacks from Flygon and Toxtricity while allowing it to outpace foes like Diancie and Bulk Up Scrafty. An offensive EV spread of 128 HP / 176 Atk / 240 Spe allows it to OHKO Bronzong with a +2 Temper Flare after Stealth Rock damage and outspeed bulky walls like Vaporeon and Sylveon. Alternatively, Rhyperior can run an EV spread of 240 HP / 16 Atk / 252 Spe lets it outpace foes like Wo-Chien and Diancie while allowing Rhyperior better tank attacks from wallbreakers such as Munkidori, Flamigo, and Incineroar. Tera Dragon get rid of its weaknesses allowing Rhyperior to better tank Pokemon like Chandelure, Barraskewda, and Breloom. Alternatively, Tera Water can let it better handle foes like Alolan Ninetales and Diancie while Tera Fairy offers it a better matchup into threats like Flamigo, Incineroar, and Flygon.
Rhyperior partners with teammates like Toxtricity, Flamigo, and Chandelure since they can overwhelm walls like Wo-Chien, Swampert, and Scrafty. Pokemon like Toxicroak, Breloom, and Tsareena appreciates Rhyperior ability to check foes like Kilowattrel and Arcanine. In return, they can handle Water-types like Vaporeon and Swampert. For Balance teams Rhyperior partners with special walls like Wo-Chien, Swampert, and Incineroar to handle special attackers such as Inteleon, Chandelure, and Tornadus. Physical tanks like Galarian Slowbro, Altaria, and Bellibolt can help Rhyperior better handling physical wallbreakers like Breloom, Barraskeda, and Swords Dance Scyther. Rhyperior pairs with other setup sweepers such as Bulk Up Paldean Tauros-W, Calm Mind Chandelure, and Swords Dance Overqwil to put major pressure on walls like Vaporeon and Gligar.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Convert Clock lets Rhyperior to ignore status attempts from Munkidori's Toxic Chain and Overqwil's Barb Barrage. Rhyperior can run an Assault Vest with an EV spread of 52 HP / 252 Atk / 204 Spe pair with an Adamant nature allows it to outspeed foes like Vaporeon and Diancie. However, Rhyperior prefers to run Leftovers for extra recovery. Loaded Dice pair with Rock Blast gives Rhyperior a stronger STAB attack can potentially 2HKO walls like Amoonguss and Vaporeon after a Swords Dance boost. Weaknesses Policy with Rock Polish gives Rhyperior both an instant Attack and Speed boost while letting it outpace foes like Wo-Chien and Amoonguss, but it’s very niche. Megahorn allows it to hit Grass- and Psychic-types like Tsareena, Breloom, and Uxie. Alternatively, Dragon Tail allows Rhyperior to phaze out setup sweepers like Flygon, Drednaw, and Scrafty. Substitute can be used on Swords Dance sets allowing Rhyperior to freely setup against walls like Bronzong, Altaria, and Gligar.
Checks and Counters
====
**Water-types**: Vaporeon, Tera Water Galarian Slowbro, and Swampert can tank Rhyperior's attacks with the former two can threaten it with status while Swampert is able to freely setup its entire hazards. However, they must be cautious about directly switching into a +2 Earthquake on Swords Dance sets. Offensive Water-types like Barraskeda and Drednaw can put major pressure on Rhyperior with their attacks, but both of them don’t enjoy switching into Rhyperior's STAB attacks.
**Special Attackers**: Munkidori, Chandelure, and Sylveon can put a lot of pressure on Rhyperior with their STAB attacks with all of them being able to threaten Rhyperior with set up. However, none of them enjoyed switching into its attacks. Other Pokemon like Raikou, Alolan Ninetales, and Goodra can revenge killed it with their attacks, but none of them enjoyed switching against into Rhyperior's STAB attacks.
**Fighting-types**: Flamigo, Toxicroak, Infernape, and Paldean Tauros-W can threaten Rhyperior with their Fighting-type attacks while Infernape is able to KO it on Choice Specs sets. However, none of them enjoy switching into Rhyperior's attacks. Scrafty and Breloom can use it as setup fodder while being able to gain recovery back, but both of them must be cautious about switching into Rhyperior's Earthquake and Ice punch, respectively.
**Grass-types and Grass-type Coverage**: Amoonguss, Tsareena, and Wo-Chien can tank Rhyperior's attacks with the former threatening it with Poison while the latter two can remove Rhyperior's Leftovers with Knock Off. However, all of them must be wary about switching into its coverage attacks. Pokémon like Chandelure and Cinccino can threaten Rhyperior thanks to their access of Bullet Seed and Energy Ball, respectively.
**Ground-types**: Flygon and Gligar are immune to its Earthquake allowing them to setup their entire hazards with Flygon being able to setup a Dragon Dance, but both of them get threaten by Rhyperior's Ice Punch.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pika134.609709/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
Rhyperior stands out as a great Ground-type thanks to its bulk and ability while also being a terrific setup sweeper. Rhyperior excellent bulk allows it to handle powerful attackers such as Flygon, Incineroar, and Toxtricity. Furthermore, Rhyperior access to great coverage moves allows it to threaten Pokemon like Tsareena and Altaria that remove its hazards. Swords Dance allows Rhyperior to breakthrough common walls like Vaporeon, Bronzong, and Wo-Chien. However, Rhyperior awful Special Defensive can struggle to switch in repeated into Pokemon like Munkidori and Chandelure that it was supposed to check. Additionally, Rhyperior typing makes it harder to check common Pokemon like Barraskeda, Breloom, and Drednaw forcing Rhyperior to used up its Tera. Rhyperior can struggle to consistently setup due to its low Speed making it easily revenge killed by foes like Chandelure, Basculegion-M, and Raikou.
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Ice Punch / Stone Edge
move 4: Temper Flare / Swords Dance
item: Leftovers
ability: Solid Rock
nature: Adamant / Careful
evs: 252 HP / 16 Atk / 240 SpD or 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
tera type: Dragon / Water / Fairy
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Ice Punch allows Rhyperior to threaten Pokemon like Flygon, Gligar, and Altaria that are immune to its Earthquake. Alternatively, Stone Edge can be used for having another powerful STAB attack and putting some pressure on foes like Flamigo and Decidueye. Temper Flare gives Rhyperior the ability to threaten Grass-types like Tsareena and Amoonguss while allowing it to hit Bronzong. Swords Dance allows Rhyperior to breakthrough walls like Scrafty and Vaporeon. Rhyperior can run a fully specially defensive EV spread allowing it to better handle foes such as Munkidori and Chandelure but it can opt to drop some Special Defense to invest in 88 Speed EVs allowing Rhyperior to outspeed Diancie. Tera Dragon grants Rhyperior the ability to better handle wallbreakers like Chandelure, Barraskewda, Decidueye, and Basculegion-M. Tera Water gives Rhyperior to handle foes like Basculegion-M and Swampert, but maintains its weakness to Grass-types and grants Rhyperior a Electric-type weakness. Tera Fairy allows Rhyperior to better handle common Pokemon such as Flygon, Scrafty, Incineroar, and Flamigo.
Special wallbreakers like Choice Specs Chandelure, Goodra, and Raikou can put some major pressure on Rhyperior. So it best partners with walls like Incineroar, Scrafty, and Wo-Chien to handle them. Rhyperior greatly appreciates physical walls like Galarian Slowbro, Bellibolt, Cramorant, and Amoonguss since they can check Pokemon like Flygon, Barraskewda, and Breloom. Rhyperior enjoys having Pokemon like Toxicroak and Breloom to handle Water-types like Vaporeon and Swampert. Grass-resistance like Kilowattrel, Munkidori, and Flamigo can help Rhyperior deal with Grass-types like Amoonguss and Tsareena. Rhyperior greatly synergize with Wish passers like Vaporeon and Sylveon allowing it to consistently handle Pokemon like Toxtricity, Incineroar, and Flygon.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Ice Punch / Stone Edge
move 4: Temper Flare
item: Leftovers / Custap Berry
ability: Solid Rock
nature: Adamant
evs: 168 HP / 252 Atk / 88 Spe OR 128 HP / 176 Atk / 240 Spe
tera type: Dragon / Water / Fairy
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Swords Dance grants Rhyperior to take advantage and threaten many walls like Wo-Chien, Vaporeon, and Galarion Slowbro. Ice Punch can hit Ground immunity’s like Altaria and Gligar while Stone Edge can 2HKO foes like Vaporeon and Amoonguss after a boost. Temper Flare can threaten Grass-types such as Tsareena and Breloom while maintaining the ability to hit Bronzong. Leftovers gives Rhyperior useful recovery while Custap Berry can revenge killed faster foes like Flamigo, Munkidori, and Flygon when it reaches low health. A bulky EV spread of 168 HP / 252 Atk / 88 Spe lets Rhyperior to better tank attacks from Flygon and Toxtricity while allowing it to outpace foes like Diancie and Bulk Up Scrafty. An offensive EV spread of 128 HP / 176 Atk / 240 Spe allows it to OHKO Bronzong with a +2 Temper Flare after Stealth Rock damage and outspeed bulky walls like Vaporeon and Sylveon. Alternatively, Rhyperior can run an EV spread of 240 HP / 16 Atk / 252 Spe lets it outpace foes like Wo-Chien and Diancie while allowing Rhyperior better tank attacks from wallbreakers such as Munkidori, Flamigo, and Incineroar. Tera Dragon get rid of its weaknesses allowing Rhyperior to better tank Pokemon like Chandelure, Barraskewda, and Breloom. Alternatively, Tera Water can let it better handle foes like Alolan Ninetales and Diancie while Tera Fairy offers it a better matchup into threats like Flamigo, Incineroar, and Flygon.
Rhyperior partners with teammates like Toxtricity, Flamigo, and Chandelure since they can overwhelm walls like Wo-Chien, Swampert, and Scrafty. Pokemon like Toxicroak, Breloom, and Tsareena appreciates Rhyperior ability to check foes like Kilowattrel and Arcanine. In return, they can handle Water-types like Vaporeon and Swampert. For Balance teams Rhyperior partners with special walls like Wo-Chien, Swampert, and Incineroar to handle special attackers such as Inteleon, Chandelure, and Tornadus. Physical tanks like Galarian Slowbro, Altaria, and Bellibolt can help Rhyperior better handling physical wallbreakers like Breloom, Barraskeda, and Swords Dance Scyther. Rhyperior pairs with other setup sweepers such as Bulk Up Paldean Tauros-W, Calm Mind Chandelure, and Swords Dance Overqwil to put major pressure on walls like Vaporeon and Gligar.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Convert Clock lets Rhyperior to ignore status attempts from Munkidori's Toxic Chain and Overqwil's Barb Barrage. Rhyperior can run an Assault Vest with an EV spread of 52 HP / 252 Atk / 204 Spe pair with an Adamant nature allows it to outspeed foes like Vaporeon and Diancie. However, Rhyperior prefers to run Leftovers for extra recovery. Loaded Dice pair with Rock Blast gives Rhyperior a stronger STAB attack can potentially 2HKO walls like Amoonguss and Vaporeon after a Swords Dance boost. Weaknesses Policy with Rock Polish gives Rhyperior both an instant Attack and Speed boost while letting it outpace foes like Wo-Chien and Amoonguss, but it’s very niche. Megahorn allows it to hit Grass- and Psychic-types like Tsareena, Breloom, and Uxie. Alternatively, Dragon Tail allows Rhyperior to phaze out setup sweepers like Flygon, Drednaw, and Scrafty. Substitute can be used on Swords Dance sets allowing Rhyperior to freely setup against walls like Bronzong, Altaria, and Gligar.
Checks and Counters
====
**Water-types**: Vaporeon, Tera Water Galarian Slowbro, and Swampert can tank Rhyperior's attacks with the former two can threaten it with status while Swampert is able to freely setup its entire hazards. However, they must be cautious about directly switching into a +2 Earthquake on Swords Dance sets. Offensive Water-types like Barraskeda and Drednaw can put major pressure on Rhyperior with their attacks, but both of them don’t enjoy switching into Rhyperior's STAB attacks.
**Special Attackers**: Munkidori, Chandelure, and Sylveon can put a lot of pressure on Rhyperior with their STAB attacks with all of them being able to threaten Rhyperior with set up. However, none of them enjoyed switching into its attacks. Other Pokemon like Raikou, Alolan Ninetales, and Goodra can revenge killed it with their attacks, but none of them enjoyed switching against into Rhyperior's STAB attacks.
**Fighting-types**: Flamigo, Toxicroak, Infernape, and Paldean Tauros-W can threaten Rhyperior with their Fighting-type attacks while Infernape is able to KO it on Choice Specs sets. However, none of them enjoy switching into Rhyperior's attacks. Scrafty and Breloom can use it as setup fodder while being able to gain recovery back, but both of them must be cautious about switching into Rhyperior's Earthquake and Ice punch, respectively.
**Grass-types and Grass-type Coverage**: Amoonguss, Tsareena, and Wo-Chien can tank Rhyperior's attacks with the former threatening it with Poison while the latter two can remove Rhyperior's Leftovers with Knock Off. However, all of them must be wary about switching into its coverage attacks. Pokémon like Chandelure and Cinccino can threaten Rhyperior thanks to their access of Bullet Seed and Energy Ball, respectively.
**Ground-types**: Flygon and Gligar are immune to its Earthquake allowing them to setup their entire hazards with Flygon being able to setup a Dragon Dance, but both of them get threaten by Rhyperior's Ice Punch.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pika134.609709/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
Last edited:
