[OVERVIEW]
Rhyperior is a reliable Stealth Rock setter in RU because it gets many opportunities to set it and has great matchups against Defoggers such as Togekiss, Noivern, and Crobat. Its combination of typing, high physical bulk, and Solid Rock allows it to check many common threats such as Togekiss, Toxtricity, Incineroar, and Darmanitan. Thereby, Rhyperior gets many opportunities to pressure the opposing team with its high Attack stat, strong STAB combination, and coverage moves, since not many teams have a reliable switch-in to it. It can even withstand some super effective hits from Pokemon like Metagross, Cobalion, and Flygon, which makes it sometimes difficult to revenge kill. However, common Grass- and Water-types such as Zarude, Roserade, and Barraskewda easily force the slow Rhyperior out once they safely switch in. Rhyperior has no reliable recovery and is susceptible to every entry hazard, meaning it is easy to wear down. Although Rhyperior offers a lot of role compression and offensive prowess, it faces competition from other Ground- and Rock-types such as Seismitoad, Steelix, and Stakataka, which may have more advantageous typings or higher special bulk that can be more important to a team.
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Megahorn
item: Leftovers
ability: Solid Rock
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 16 Atk / 240 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Megahorn is Rhyperior's best coverage move, since it OHKOes Zarude, 2HKOes Reuniclus, and deals respectable damage to Bronzong and Flygon. Swords Dance can be used instead for a better matchup against bulky Pokemon such as Curse Snorlax, Porygon2, and Gastrodon. The given EV spread gives Rhyperior a better offensive presence while checking special attackers such as Togekiss, Toxtricity, and non-Scald Raikou. Alternatively, a more offensive spread consisting of 76 HP / 180 Atk / 252 SpD with an Adamant nature can let Rhyperior OHKO Nasty Plot Togekiss with Stone Edge. However, this EV spread lowers Rhyperior's ability to check special threats such as Toxtricity and Noivern. 84 EVs can be put into Speed to enable Rhyperior to be faster than Pokemon with uninvested base 50 Speed such as Registeel, Vileplume, and Diancie.
Rhyperior works well on balance and bulky offense teams that appreciate a reliable Stealth Rock setter with offensive presence and the ability to check common threats such as Togekiss, Toxtricity, and Incineroar. Grass-types such as Zarude, Roserade, and Dhelmise check Water- and Ground-types like Seismitoad, Milotic, and opposing Rhyperior as well as Raikou and Xurkitree, which Rhyperior struggles to check due to their super effective coverage moves. Zarude and Roserade are also able to switch into status moves for Rhyperior; the latter also forms a reliable entry hazard-stacking core with Rhyperior. In return, Rhyperior checks Flying- and Fire-types like Crobat, Togekiss, and Darmanitan. Speaking of Flying- and Fire-types, they reliably check Grass-types for Rhyperior. Steel-types such as Cobalion, Metagross, and Durant do the same, and the former two are pleased by Rhyperior taking on the role of the Stealth Rock setter. Klefki deserves a special mention because it forms a reliable entry hazard-stacking core with Rhyperior and takes on strong special attackers. Other special walls such as Assault Vest Reuniclus and Snorlax check special attackers such Gardevoir, Chandelure, and Indeedee. Since Rhyperior is susceptible to every entry hazard, an entry hazard remover such as Dhelmise, Starmie, or Noivern is helpful. A cleric like Sylveon or Togekiss supports Rhyperior with Heal Bell or Wish to make up for its lack of recovery.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Protect scouts for Choice-locked moves and coverage while gaining Leftovers recovery, but it is hard to fit and makes Rhyperior a little bit passive. Toxic can be used instead of Megahorn to punish common switch-ins such as Gastrodon, Milotic, and Dhelmise. Choice Band turns Rhyperior into a fearsome wallbreaker. However, this set loses the ability to check dangerous threats, depends a lot on right predictions, and tends to lose momentum once Rhyperior is locked into a move. Rhyperior can also run a Double Dance set with Swords Dance and Rock Polish to be a strong setup sweeper on hyper offense teams. However, even after Rock Polish, it is still slower than common Choice Scarf users like Gardevoir and Xurkitree.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-type Pokemon and Coverage**: Despite Rhyperior's good bulk and Solid Rock ability, strong Grass-types such as Zarude, Roserade, and Dhelmise easily OHKO it. Rhyperior must also watch out for Grass-type coverage moves from the likes of Xurkitree and Chandelure. However, all of these Pokemon struggle to switch directly into Rhyperior due to its strong attacks.
**Water-type Pokemon and Coverage**: On paper, bulky Water-types such as Gastrodon, Seismitoad, and Milotic are able to switch directly into Rhyperior and can at least 2HKO it. However, Seismitoad is not a reliable switch-in to Rhyperior due to its lack of recovery and it can even lose without Scald. Gastrodon loses to Toxic Rhyperior for the same reason. Nevertheless, Rhyperior dislikes Seismitoad's Knock Off and Gastrodon's Toxic. While offensive Water-types such as Barraskewda, Volcanion, and Sharpedo are not able to switch directly into any Rhyperior set, they OHKO it immediately. Pokemon with a Water-type coverage move such as Scald Raikou can at least 2HKO it.
**Passive Damage**: Rhyperior is easy to wear down over time with damage from entry hazards, status ailments, and attacks from Pokemon such as Toxtricity, Noivern, and Mimikyu.
**Strong Special Attackers**: Some strong special attackers such as Choice Specs Gardevoir, Chandelure, and Necrozma use their powerful STAB moves to threaten Rhyperior out or revenge kill it. However, none can switch directly into Rhyperior.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Sputnik, 475916], [Holy-Darky, 464737]]
- Quality checked by: [[Mac3, 291087], [Expulso, 202058]]
- Grammar checked by: [[CryoGyro, 331519], [deetah, 297659]]
Rhyperior is a reliable Stealth Rock setter in RU because it gets many opportunities to set it and has great matchups against Defoggers such as Togekiss, Noivern, and Crobat. Its combination of typing, high physical bulk, and Solid Rock allows it to check many common threats such as Togekiss, Toxtricity, Incineroar, and Darmanitan. Thereby, Rhyperior gets many opportunities to pressure the opposing team with its high Attack stat, strong STAB combination, and coverage moves, since not many teams have a reliable switch-in to it. It can even withstand some super effective hits from Pokemon like Metagross, Cobalion, and Flygon, which makes it sometimes difficult to revenge kill. However, common Grass- and Water-types such as Zarude, Roserade, and Barraskewda easily force the slow Rhyperior out once they safely switch in. Rhyperior has no reliable recovery and is susceptible to every entry hazard, meaning it is easy to wear down. Although Rhyperior offers a lot of role compression and offensive prowess, it faces competition from other Ground- and Rock-types such as Seismitoad, Steelix, and Stakataka, which may have more advantageous typings or higher special bulk that can be more important to a team.
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Megahorn
item: Leftovers
ability: Solid Rock
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 16 Atk / 240 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Megahorn is Rhyperior's best coverage move, since it OHKOes Zarude, 2HKOes Reuniclus, and deals respectable damage to Bronzong and Flygon. Swords Dance can be used instead for a better matchup against bulky Pokemon such as Curse Snorlax, Porygon2, and Gastrodon. The given EV spread gives Rhyperior a better offensive presence while checking special attackers such as Togekiss, Toxtricity, and non-Scald Raikou. Alternatively, a more offensive spread consisting of 76 HP / 180 Atk / 252 SpD with an Adamant nature can let Rhyperior OHKO Nasty Plot Togekiss with Stone Edge. However, this EV spread lowers Rhyperior's ability to check special threats such as Toxtricity and Noivern. 84 EVs can be put into Speed to enable Rhyperior to be faster than Pokemon with uninvested base 50 Speed such as Registeel, Vileplume, and Diancie.
Rhyperior works well on balance and bulky offense teams that appreciate a reliable Stealth Rock setter with offensive presence and the ability to check common threats such as Togekiss, Toxtricity, and Incineroar. Grass-types such as Zarude, Roserade, and Dhelmise check Water- and Ground-types like Seismitoad, Milotic, and opposing Rhyperior as well as Raikou and Xurkitree, which Rhyperior struggles to check due to their super effective coverage moves. Zarude and Roserade are also able to switch into status moves for Rhyperior; the latter also forms a reliable entry hazard-stacking core with Rhyperior. In return, Rhyperior checks Flying- and Fire-types like Crobat, Togekiss, and Darmanitan. Speaking of Flying- and Fire-types, they reliably check Grass-types for Rhyperior. Steel-types such as Cobalion, Metagross, and Durant do the same, and the former two are pleased by Rhyperior taking on the role of the Stealth Rock setter. Klefki deserves a special mention because it forms a reliable entry hazard-stacking core with Rhyperior and takes on strong special attackers. Other special walls such as Assault Vest Reuniclus and Snorlax check special attackers such Gardevoir, Chandelure, and Indeedee. Since Rhyperior is susceptible to every entry hazard, an entry hazard remover such as Dhelmise, Starmie, or Noivern is helpful. A cleric like Sylveon or Togekiss supports Rhyperior with Heal Bell or Wish to make up for its lack of recovery.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Protect scouts for Choice-locked moves and coverage while gaining Leftovers recovery, but it is hard to fit and makes Rhyperior a little bit passive. Toxic can be used instead of Megahorn to punish common switch-ins such as Gastrodon, Milotic, and Dhelmise. Choice Band turns Rhyperior into a fearsome wallbreaker. However, this set loses the ability to check dangerous threats, depends a lot on right predictions, and tends to lose momentum once Rhyperior is locked into a move. Rhyperior can also run a Double Dance set with Swords Dance and Rock Polish to be a strong setup sweeper on hyper offense teams. However, even after Rock Polish, it is still slower than common Choice Scarf users like Gardevoir and Xurkitree.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-type Pokemon and Coverage**: Despite Rhyperior's good bulk and Solid Rock ability, strong Grass-types such as Zarude, Roserade, and Dhelmise easily OHKO it. Rhyperior must also watch out for Grass-type coverage moves from the likes of Xurkitree and Chandelure. However, all of these Pokemon struggle to switch directly into Rhyperior due to its strong attacks.
**Water-type Pokemon and Coverage**: On paper, bulky Water-types such as Gastrodon, Seismitoad, and Milotic are able to switch directly into Rhyperior and can at least 2HKO it. However, Seismitoad is not a reliable switch-in to Rhyperior due to its lack of recovery and it can even lose without Scald. Gastrodon loses to Toxic Rhyperior for the same reason. Nevertheless, Rhyperior dislikes Seismitoad's Knock Off and Gastrodon's Toxic. While offensive Water-types such as Barraskewda, Volcanion, and Sharpedo are not able to switch directly into any Rhyperior set, they OHKO it immediately. Pokemon with a Water-type coverage move such as Scald Raikou can at least 2HKO it.
**Passive Damage**: Rhyperior is easy to wear down over time with damage from entry hazards, status ailments, and attacks from Pokemon such as Toxtricity, Noivern, and Mimikyu.
**Strong Special Attackers**: Some strong special attackers such as Choice Specs Gardevoir, Chandelure, and Necrozma use their powerful STAB moves to threaten Rhyperior out or revenge kill it. However, none can switch directly into Rhyperior.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Sputnik, 475916], [Holy-Darky, 464737]]
- Quality checked by: [[Mac3, 291087], [Expulso, 202058]]
- Grammar checked by: [[CryoGyro, 331519], [deetah, 297659]]
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