[OVERVIEW]
Hoopa-U is one of the most fearsome wallbreakers of the STABmons metagame. Its ridiculous offensive stats and powerful STAB attacks allow it to 2HKO almost every relevant Pokemon. It also has access to an extremely powerful Sucker Punch, which allows it to revenge kill a plethora of offensive threats. Its high Special Defense stat lets it tank powerful hits from attackers such as Latios, Thundurus, and Gengar, and its access to Pursuit allows it to remove these Pokemon for the rest of the match. However, Hoopa-U is held back by its awful Defense stat, which renders it highly vulnerable to priority moves, including the common Fake Out + Extreme Speed. Its Speed stat is also fairly mediocre, making it overly dependent on Sucker Punch to threaten faster Pokemon. Finally, it suffers from a bad defensive typing that gives it little opportunities to switch in and leaves it weak to common attacking types in Fairy and Bug.
[SET]
name: Physical Wallbreaker
move 1: Hyperspace Fury
move 2: Sucker Punch
move 3: Drain Punch
move 4: Gunk Shot / Psycho Boost
item: Life Orb
ability: Magician
nature: Jolly / Hasty
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hyperspace Fury is Hoopa-U's primary STAB attack. It doesn't make contact, allowing Hoopa-U to avoid damage from Rocky Helmet, Iron Barbs, and Rough Skin; it also breaks through protection moves such as King's Shield. Sucker Punch is a very strong priority move that picks off naturally faster attackers such as Thundurus, Latios, and Aerodactyl, as well as Choice Scarf users such as Magnezone and Heatran. Drain Punch provides excellent coverage by hitting Dark-types such as Bisharp and Tyranitar, as well as allowing Hoopa-U to recover a small amount of health. Gunk Shot allows Hoopa-U to threaten Fairy-types such as Clefable and Togekiss as well as hit Mandibuzz for decent damage. Alternatively, Psycho Boost destroys physical walls such as Hippowdon, Landorus-T, and Rotom-W. Fire Punch can be used in the last slot to hit Klefki and Mega Scizor.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed EVs make Hoopa-U as fast and strong as possible. 29 HP IVs are used to minimize Life Orb recoil. A Jolly nature allows Hoopa-U to Speed tie with other base 80 Speed Pokemon as well as outspeed Timid Heatran. An Adamant nature is generally unncecessary, as Hoopa-U's Attack is already very strong. 4 Special Attack EVs and a Hasty nature should be used with Psycho Boost. Life Orb boosts Hoopa-U's power and allows it to switch moves, giving it the possibility to use Sucker Punch effectively.
Usage Tips
========
Hoopa-U should be brought in safely with the use of a pivoting move or after a teammate has fainted, as it is exceptionally physically frail. However, it can switch directly into some special attackers such as Thundurus and Gengar if it does not need to be kept healthy. Hoopa-U should use its powerful STAB attacks early- or mid-game to break down opposing walls, but it can also revenge kill effectively with its powerful Sucker Punch; however, it is important to be wary of the foe taking advantage of this to set up a Substitute or switch out. Don't recklessly spam Hoopa-U's STAB moves against teams with a Pursuit trapper, as they can easily remove it for the rest of the match. Hoopa-U also needs to switch out of priority moves such as the common Fake Out + Extreme Speed, as it cannot tank these attacks.
Team Options
========
Entry hazards from setters such as Spikes Garchomp and Stealth Rock Terrakion wear down opposing teams and limit the number of Pokemon that can check Hoopa-U. Steel-types such as Klefki and Skarmory handle opposing Fairy-types, and these two can also set up Spikes. Sticky Web support from Bug-types such as Mega Scizor and Forretress allows Hoopa-U to outspeed threats such as Choice Scarf Tyranitar. Fighting-types such as Mega Lopunny and Keldeo take advantage of the Pursuit trappers that Hoopa-U hates. Special attackers that struggle to break through common walls, such as Tornadus-T, appreciate Hoopa-U's wallbreaking ability. Reliable and powerful setup sweepers such as Mega Lopunny and Mega Scizor enjoy Hoopa-U's ability to break through the walls that they cannot, and in return, they perform well against fast offensive teams. Volt Switch, U-turn, and Parting Shot users such as Rotom-W, Landorus-T, and Sableye give Hoopa-U opportunities to switch in. These Pokemon can also deal with physical attackers, especially Fake Out + Extreme Speed users, that threaten Hoopa-U.
[SET]
name: Special Wallbreaker
move 1: Dark Pulse
move 2: Psystrike
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Psycho Boost / Sucker Punch
item: Life Orb
ability: Magician
nature: Timid / Hasty
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Dark Pulse hits physically defensive walls such as Landorus-T, Skarmory, and Mega Slowbro. Psystrike hits specially defensive walls such as Chansey, deals heavy damage to Fairy-types, and hits Mega Venusaur hard. Focus Blast rounds out Hoopa-U's coverage by hitting Dark-types such as Tyranitar and Bisharp and Steel-types such as Ferrothorn extremely hard. Psycho Boost improves Hoopa-U's matchup against bulkyier teams, as it OHKOes physical walls such as Landorus-T and Rotom-W. Alternatively, Sucker Punch allows Hoopa-U to revenge kill faster Pokemon such as Latios and Jirachi. Running Nasty Plot in the last slot allows Hoopa-U to run over bulky teams, but it generally prefers the ability to OHKO walls without a boost or revenge kill faster Pokemon.
Set Details
========
252 Speed EVs and a Timid nature make Hoopa-U as fast as possible so that it can outspeed threats such as Timid Heatran. Maximum Special Attack EVs increase Hoopa-U's power. If Sucker Punch is used, Hoopa-U should use an EV spread of 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe with a Hasty nature. Life Orb boosts Hoopa-U's power without locking it into one move. 29 HP IVs minimize Life Orb recoil.
Usage Tips
========
Hoopa-U should be used to break down walls early- or mid-game. Bring it in with the use of a pivoting move, after a teammate has fainted, or into special attackers such as Thundurus and Latias. However, it cannot switch into any physical attacks, as it is very physically frail. Make use of the unexpected nature of this set, as opponents usually expect a physically-oriented set. Be careful around opposing Dark-types, as they can switch in on a Dark- or Psychic-type attack and proceed to threaten Hoopa-U with Sucker Punch and Pursuit. Furthermore, Hoopa-U is easily taken advantage of once Psycho Boost has dropped its Special Attack. Make use of Sucker Punch's surprise factor to KO opposing revenge killers.
Team Options
========
This set has an excellent matchup against defensive teams, so setup sweepers generally appreciate Hoopa-U's wallbreaking ability; in particular, physical sweepers such as Shift Gear Mega Scizor and Swords Dance Excadrill enjoy Skarmory, Rotom-W, and bulky Ground-types such as Landorus-T and Hippowdon being KOed. Garchomp and Landorus-T handle priority users and can set up Stealth Rock to wear down Hoopa-U's switch-ins, especially Mandibuzz. Rotom-W and Sableye handle Fake Out + Extreme Speed users and give Hoopa-U opportunities to come in with Volt Switch and Parting Shot, respectively. Sticky Web users such as Mega Scizor are also capable of slowing down the opposing team, which gives Hoopa-U an enormous advantage. Fighting-types such as Keldeo and Terrakion appreciate Hoopa-U threatening Psychic-types and have a good matchup against the Dark-types that threaten Hoopa-U.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Hyperspace Fury
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Psychic / Gunk Shot
move 4: Lunar Dance / Pursuit
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Magician
nature: Hasty / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hyperspace Fury is Hoopa-U's main STAB attack, hitting extremely hard and ignoring protection moves such as King's Shield. Drain Punch hits Dark-types such as Tyranitar and Bisharp and allows Hoopa-U to recover some health. Psychic allows Hoopa-U to revenge kill Pokemon that resist Dark such as Keldeo and Mega Diancie as well as 2HKO Mega Venusaur and Amoonguss. Gunk Shot can be used instead to hit Fairy-types, allowing Hoopa-U to revenge kill Mega Gardevoir with ease. Lunar Dance allows Hoopa-U to revive a weakened teammate. Pursuit traps threats that try to switch out of Hyperspace Fury such as Latios, Gengar, and Meloetta. Trick and Switcheroo give Hoopa-U the ability to cripple bulky Pokemon such as Porygon2 and Ferrothorn, but Hoopa-U often prefers hitting them hard instead. Running Parting Shot in the last slot allows Hoopa-U to pivot, but it struggles to fit the move onto its set.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed EVs and a Hasty nature make Hoopa-U as fast as possible. Maximum Attack EVs increase Hoopa-U's general power, and the remaining EVs slightly boost the power of Psychic. If Gunk Shot is used, Hoopa-U should run an EV spread of 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe and a Jolly nature. Choice Scarf boosts Hoopa-U's Speed, allowing it to outspeed fast threats such as Mega Manectric, Aerodactyl, and Choice Scarf Heatran.
Usage Tips
========
Bring Hoopa-U in safely with a pivoting move or after a teammate has fainted, and use it to revenge kill or Pursuit trap threats. Be wary of Hyperspace Fury's Defense drops, as they leave Hoopa-U easily revenge killed or Pursuit trapped itself. Switch out of priority moves such as Fake Out + Extreme Speed, as Hoopa-U is extremely physically frail. Work towards weakening Hoopa-U's checks and counters so that it can sweep late-game. Alternatively, use Lunar Dance to heal up a weakened setup sweeper so it can finish off the opposing team late-game.
Team Options
========
Entry hazard support from setters such as Stealth Rock Landorus-T and Spikes Skarmory wears down the opposing team quickly. Mega Scizor can freely set up on physical attackers such as Pursuit Tyranitar, and it appreciates being given a second chance thanks to Lunar Dance. Fighting-types such as Keldeo and Terrakion can take advantage of Pursuit trappers and appreciate Hoopa-U's ability to Pursuit trap Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Latios and Gengar. Normal-types such as Ursaring enjoy Hoopa-U's ability to reliably Pursuit trap Gengar. U-turn, Volt Switch, and Parting Shot users such as Landorus-T, Rotom-W, and Sableye give Hoopa-U opportunities to switch in. These Pokemon can also deal with the physical attackers that threaten Hoopa-U.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Substitute can be used to take advantage of the many switches that Hoopa-U forces; however, running Leftovers over Life Orb then becomes a requirement to preserve Hoopa-U's longevity, and this cuts into its power notably. Taunt can be used to prevent bulky Pokemon from recovering, using status moves, or setting up entry hazards, but it limits Hoopa-U's coverage. Hidden Power Ice reliably OHKOes Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Gliscor, something that the Choice Scarf set struggles to do otherwise. Memento can be used over Lunar Dance to grant a teammate setup opportunities, but reviving a weakened setup sweeper is often more useful. Parting Shot can be used on the wallbreaker sets, as Hoopa-U's Speed stat is low enough to bring in its teammates safely; however, Hoopa-U has to give up valuable coverage to run it. Night Daze can be used over Dark Pulse on all sets. It hits slightly harder and can drop the foe's accuracy, but Dark Pulse's higher reliability and helpful flinch chance are generally preferred. A specially-oriented Choice Scarf set can be used, but it is generally worse than the regular Choice Scarf set because it is weaker and has inferior coverage. Assault Vest gives up the power of Life Orb, but it allows Hoopa-U to have an easier time Pursuit trapping special attackers such as Latios, Thundurus, and Gengar.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Priority Users**: Hoopa-U is easily revenge killed by all physical priority attacks because of its terrible Defense stat. In particular, Fake Out + Extreme Speed users such as Mega Lopunny and Ursaring and Sucker Punch users such as Bisharp, Weavile, and Tyranitar have an easy time because of their high Base Power attacks. Other priority users to watch out for include Water Shuriken Azumarill, Mach Punch Terrakion, and Bullet Punch Scizor.
**Dark-types**: Bisharp, Weavile, and Tyranitar can Pursuit trap Hoopa-U, especially when it is locked into one of its STAB moves, and they can also threaten faster variants of Hoopa-U with Sucker Punch. Mega Sableye can tank one of Hoopa-U's Dark-types STAB attacks and threaten it with Knock Off or Foul Play. Mandibuzz avoids the 2HKO from all attacks except for Life Orb-boosted Gunk Shot and Focus Blast, both of which have unreliable accuracy. It can then threaten Hoopa-U with Knock Off or Foul Play.
**Fast Physical Attackers**: Fast physical attackers such as Aerodactyl, Landorus-T, and Tornadus-T can easily revenge kill Hoopa-U. Mega Beedrill is especially notable for its ability to outspeed and revenge kill Choice Scarf Hoopa-U. However, many of these Pokemon can be picked off by Sucker Punch once they are at low health.
**Fairy-types**: Fast Fairy-types such as Mega Diancie and Mega Gardevoir can outspeed and OHKO non-Choice Scarf Hoopa-U. Azumarill and Clefable fear Gunk Shot but can tank a STAB attack and KO Hoopa-U in return. Klefki can capably switch into any attack except for Fire Punch and proceed to cripple Hoopa-U with Thunder Wave or KO it with Moonblast.
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