Overview
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Meet Rhyperior. With a 140 base attack base 140 Attack and a good offensive movepool, Rhyperior it is a powerful attacker. Not only that, but Rhyperior's 115 / 130 defenses and Solid Rock make it a bulky physical tank. All this comes at a cost, however. Rhyperior's poor Special Defense as well as a its poor defensive typing are easily exploited by common Pokemon such as Rotom-Wash, Mega Charizard-Y (remove dash), and Grass-types (add dash). It is very susceptible prone to the common Intimidate and burns, which hinder its attacking potential. Lastly, its poor Speed means it needs Trick Room support in order to function.
Bulky Attacker
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name: Bulky Attacker
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rock Slide / Stone Edge
move 3: Ice Punch / Stone Edge
move 4: Protect
ability: Solid Rock
item: Life Orb / Sitrus Berry
evs: 252 HP/ 252 Atk /4 SpD
nature: Brave
ivs: 0 Spe
Moves
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Earthquake is Rhyperior’s most powerful STAB and spread move, dealing the equivalent of with an effective 292 Base Power of damage after Life Orb. Rock Slide is its secondary STAB and spread move, does not affect its teammates, and can hit Flying- (dash), Ice- (dash), and Grass-types (dash), and Levitate users harder than Earthquake. It is also has a 30% flinch chance. Stone Edge is a viable option which allows Rhyperior to hit a single target much more harder than it would with Rock Slide to a single target, while avoiding Wide Guard. Ice Punch can cover Dragon, Grass, and Ground types Dragon-, Grass-, and Ground-types and should be used with Life Orb in order to OHKO Landorus-T at -1. Protect is a great utility move which at the same time increases Rhyperior's its longevity out of Trick Room.
Set Details
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Sitrus Berry allows Rhyperior to last longer, and avoids the 2HKOes from attacks such as Heatran's Earth Power and Mega Gardevoir's Hyper Voice. Life Orb boosts Rhyperior's Attack greatly, but can wear it down quickly. Maximum HP and Attack allow Rhyperior to be bulky while doing as much damage as possible, while 0 Speed EVs and a Brave nature make Rhyperior as fast as possible in Trick Room.
Usage Tips
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Rhyperior's main goal should be to take advantage of Trick Room and deal heavy damage with its powerful STABs and spread moves. However, exert caution must be exerted (passive voice), as it tends to be worn down easily if left outside of Trick Room, due to its poor Speed. Thus, (comma) Rhyperior and its Trick Room partner(s?) should be preserved until it intends to sweep. Next, Intimidate and Wide Guard users should be weakened or eliminated if possible, as they can stop Rhyperior’s Trick Room rampage cold, (remove comma) by cutting down Rhyperior’s Attack and preventing it from using its spread moves.
Team Options
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When building a team with Rhyperior in it, a A Trick Room user is mandatory, as it Rhyperior finds itself outclassed by other bulky Pokemon without it. Flying-types and Pokemon with Levitate Pokemon are necessary partners as well, as without it, Rhyperior finds it very hard to they are immune to Rhyperior's Earthquake. Cresselia is a great choice;, as besides being a bulky Trick Room setter, it is immune to Earthquake and can boost Rhyperior’s attacks with Helping Hand. It can also take down Hitmontop and Landorus-T, two Pokemon that can stop Rhyperior with Intimidate, with Psyshock and Ice Beam, respectively. Next, Grass-types are good options, as they provide synergy with Rhyperior by soaking up Grass- (dash) and Water-type (dash) moves that Rhyperior hates. Gourgeist and Trevenant are Trick Room setters that fall into this category, while Ammoonguss can redirect attacks away from Rhyperior with Rage Powder. Feint users such as Hitmontop and Mega Pinsir synergize well with Rhyperior, (comma) as they break through Wide Guard and hit Pokemon trying to Protect stall Trick Room turns. Pokemon with the abilities Defiant and Competitive, such as Bisharp and Milotic, capitalize on Intimidate users trying to lower Rhyperior's Attack.
Other Options
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Lightningrod can be used to attract redirect Electric-type attacks away from its teammates, but forces Rhyperior to sacrifices the bulk that Solid Rock gives. Megahorn can hit Cresselia and Grass Types, that Grass-types, which would otherwise be able to switch into Rhyperior. Drill Run can be used, as it bypasses Wide Guard, hits harder than Earthquake on a single target, and does not affect Rhyperior's your teammates. Substitute is an option to avoid burns as well as take advantage of Protects that would otherwise stall out Trick Room turns. A Swords Dance set can be run to boost its Rhyperior's Attack and aid it in sweeping. A Rock Polish set can be run to bypass its poor Speed without the aid of Trick Room; however, this will require significant Speed investment to make it worthwhile, detracting from Rhyperior's bulk. Stealth Rock can be used to cut down the longetivity of Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y, Talonflame, Rotom-Heat, Pinsir, and Volcarona. Rindo Berry and Passho Berry weaken Grass and Water type Grass- and Water-type attacks that would normally KO, allowing Rhyperior to 2HKO most Grass and Water Types Grass- and Water-types back. Lum Berry allows Rhyperior to avoid burns and other statuses once. Assault Vest sacrifices the utility of Protect, but boosts Rhyperior's its poor Special Defense to decent levels. It should be used alongside with Sandstorm or Light Screen, as in conjunction with Assault Vest, Rhyperior can live to allow Rhyperior to survive many super effective special attacks. Weakness Policy takes advantages of Rhyperior’s many weaknesses and bulk with Solid Rock.
Checks & Counters
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**Speed Control**: Without Trick Room, Rhyperior will be easily worn down and KOed. Thus, cutting off Trick Room support by means of Taunt or Spore will weaken Rhyperior.
**Intimidate and Burns (remove space)**: Rhyperior, as a physical attacker, does not like the physical drop of Attack drop from Intimidate and will thus usually be forced to switch out. Hitmontop and Landorus-T are good examples of this users of Intimidate and can switch into Rhyperior's STAB attacks easily. Scrafty also has better bulk than Hitmontop, and does not have the defense drop from Close Combat.
**Utility Moves (remove space) **: Wide Guard prevents Rhyperior from using its two STAB spread moves, Rock Slide and Earthquake, but Rhyperior can bypass this by running Stone Edge, (remove comma) or Ice Punch. Good examples of Wide Guard users include Aegislash and Hitmontop, who which both both resist Stone Edge and can Wide Guard.
**Offensive Typing Advantage**: Bulky Grass-types (dash) such as Ammoonguss, Gourgeist, Mega Venusaur, and Ferrothorn can switch into Rhyperior and KO with Grass-type STAB grass moves. Breloom is not as bulky, but it resists Rhyperior’s STAB moves and can Bullet Seed or Spore it. Rotom-Wash in particular can switch into Earthquake due to Levitate, take a Stone Edge, (comma) and OHKO Rhyperior with Hydro Pump. Checking Rhyperior is much easier. Its x4x weaknesses to Water and Grass are easily exploited by Pokemon such as Mega Charizard-Y (remove dash) and Shaymin-Sky, which who can OHKO with Solarbeam and Seed Flare, (comma) respectively, although they must avoid a Rock Slide. Water-types (dash) such as Politoed and Ludicolo can knock Rhyperior out with their Water-type (does ludicolo not KO with its grass stab?) STAB moves.