Project Victim of the Week


Volcarona @ Passho Berry
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Fire Blast
- Bug Buzz
- Hidden Power Ground

Volcarona beats the Dragon/Fairy/Steel and Dark/Psychic/Fighting cores that Hydreigon gets used in, and can beat Screech Dugtrio after a Quiver Dance. Volcarona can check Hydreigon by ohkoing with Bug Buzz, or use it to set up a Quiver Dance. On the off chance that Hydreigon is at +0 and not locked into a coverage move, +1 SpD Volcarona survives Modest Specs Draco.

What's special about Volcarona is that its presence will make your opponent think twice about ever netting a KO with Hydreigon at all, unless they happen to be packing a reliable Volcarona answer in the back. And also that it doesn't get removed by Dugtrio. Why are people posting things that get removed by Dugtrio?
 
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Ano sora e (Altaria-Mega) @ Altarianite
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 248 HP / 136 Def / 96 SpD / 28 Spe
Impish Nature
- Return
- Dragon Dance
- Roost
- Heal Bell / Earthquake

Status: Check

You might say "How can a physically defensive Mega Altaria check a specially offensive Hydreigon?". Even with Stealth Rock support, unless Hydreigon clicks Flash Cannon, the Blue Bird discourages Draco Meteor spam, survives three hits from the other attacks and outspeeds Modest sets after a Dragon Dance.

Against Altaria:
252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Flash Cannon vs. 248 HP / 96 SpD Mega Altaria: 244-288 (69.1 - 81.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Dark Pulse vs. 248 HP / 96 SpD Mega Altaria: 91-108 (25.7 - 30.5%) -- 11.3% chance to 3HKO after Stealth Rock

Against Hydreigon:
0 Atk Pixilate Mega Altaria Return vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Hydreigon: 676-804 (208 - 247.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
 
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CHECK

Porygon2 @ Eviolite
Ability: Trace
EVs: 252 HP / 100 Def / 156 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Recover
- Toxic / Thunder Wave
Porygon2 is undeniably one of the best checks to the powerhouse which is Specs Hydreigon, as it can easily take any attack beside Draco Meteor which, with this spread, is never gonna 2HKO it even after SR damage.
252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 156+ SpD Eviolite Porygon2: 184-217 (49.1 - 58%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock

-2 252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 156+ SpD Eviolite Porygon2: 93-109 (24.8 - 29.1%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Stealth Rock


252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 156+ SpD Eviolite Porygon2: 114-135 (30.4 - 36%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock
 
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Martin

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Latios @ Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Psychic
- Surf
- Sleep Talk / Trick / Hidden Power Fire

Can't switch in on it for obvious reasons (weak to both STABs), but it can revenge kill it with STAB Draco. Choice Specs makes it a bitch to switch in on, and it is very much a case of exchanging nukes in this matchup, but what makes this one as good as it is comes from the fact that it not only is able to OHKO Hydreigon, but it is also capable of severely denting whatever comes out after it gets forced out, meaning that the Latios player gets a better deal than simply killing the Hydreigon.
 
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Lol does this thing even has counters.

Name: Cobalion
Status: Check

Cobalion @ Leftovers
Ability: Justified
EVs: 144 HP / 112 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Volt Switch
- Iron Head
- Taunt / Stealth Rock

Cobalion resists Hydreigon's dual STAB (although switching into Draco Meteor is not recommended as it takes about 70%) and can gain an Attack boost from Dark Pulse. It can then outspeed and OHKO the Hydra with Close Combat. However, Cobalion should watch out for Fire Blast, which OHKOes.

252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Fire Blast vs. 140 HP / 0 SpD Cobalion: 502-592 (140.2 - 165.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Draco Meteor vs. 140 HP / 0 SpD Cobalion: 222-262 (62 - 73.1%) -- 13.3% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Dark Pulse vs. 140 HP / 0 SpD Cobalion: 137-162 (38.2 - 45.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
112 Atk Cobalion Close Combat vs. 0 HP / 0- Def Hydreigon: 324-384 (99.6 - 118.1%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO
 
Actually, almost anything that outspeeds and has access to a Dragon, Fighting or a Fairy type move kills.
Especially Mega Beedrill ohkos with ease.
Also Mega Lopunny ohkos with High Jump Kick.
Garchomp can kill with Dragon claw and also outspeeds Hydrei. He cant take a hit, however.
Any Fairy type can come in, especially if scarfed or mega Gardevoir max spe. Mega Alakazam ohkos with dazzling gleam.
Defensively Empoleon walls Hydrei if its not running earth power, and can deal brute damage with Ice Beam.
Also, when its locked into d pulse you can easily switch in any fairy. If lock into F cannon Heatran ftw.
Etc etc.
Also Conkledurr ohkos with mach punch if max attack Iron Fist so thats more or less the best check.
 

Gardevoir @ Gardevoirite
Ability: Trace
EVs: 16 HP / 8 Def / 232 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hyper Voice
- Psyshock
- Focus Blast
- Will-o-Wisp / Taunt / Calm Mind

Role: Check

Mega Gardevoir is naturally faster than Hydreigon, is immune to Draco Meteor, and is able to survive one Flash Cannon from the Timid set after rocks and has a 75% chance of surviving it from the Modest set after rocks. I don't think I have to tell you what Pixilate Hyper Voice does in return. Wouldn't recommend switching Gardevoir in on anything other than Draco Meteor, but still a viable option for revenge killing.

252 SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Flash Cannon vs. 16 HP / 0 SpD Mega Gardevoir: 196-232 (69.7 - 82.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Flash Cannon vs. 16 HP / 0 SpD Mega Gardevoir: 216-256 (76.8 - 91.1%) -- 25% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

232 SpA Pixilate Mega Gardevoir Hyper Voice vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Hydreigon: 984-1164 (302.7 - 358.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
 
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SketchUp

Don't let your memes be dreams
Counter

Umbreon @ Leftovers
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Wish
- Protect
- Foul Play
- Pursuit / Toxic

Umbreon is a pretty bad pokemon but I think it has a niche and it isn't the pile of garbage many people say it is. It's a counter because Hydreigon can't 2HKO it with the Draco Meteor drop and Hydreigon only has 4 chances to crit Umbreon because of Protect (+/- 23% chance). Porygon2 is also a counter for the same reason but instead of Protect to guard yourself from crits you have Ice Beam + TWave so you do more than 15% damage.

252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Umbreon: 204-241 (51.7 - 61.1%) -- 96.1% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
-2 252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Umbreon: 102-121 (25.8 - 30.7%) -- 4.3% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

0 Atk Umbreon Foul Play vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Hydreigon: 53-63 (16.3 - 19.3%) -- possible 6HKO
 
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MANNAT

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Check
upload_2016-10-2_23-23-43.png

Azumarill @ Choice Band
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 172 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Play Rough
- Waterfall
- Aqua Jet
- Superpower

Azumarill is a really solid check to Specs Hydreigon, avoiding the 2HKO from all of its moves, except for the 10% of the time that Modest Hydreigon hits you with a Specs Flash Cannon upon switch in with a max roll, but Azumarill can respond back by OHKOing Hydreigon with both Play Rough and Superpower (for cases where there's like a Ferrothorn or Empoleon you wanna hit upon switch in).

upload_2016-10-2_23-23-43.png

Counter
Azumarill @ Assault Vest
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Play Rough
- Waterfall
- Aqua Jet
- Superpower

AV Azu is dong, but if you need a counter for Hydreigon, AV Azu is an interesting one that can eat hits for days from Hydra and take little damage while retaining the OHKO back with Play Rough and doing over 75% to Hydra with Superpower in select situations. Obviously this isn't great vs most things, but it's really solid vs Hydreigon, so if you're really weak to Hydreigon and Keldeo, maybe consider using this.
 
Check

Kyurem-Black @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Teravolt
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Outrage
- Fusion Bolt
- Iron Head
- Dragon Claw

Kyurem-Black is one of the most powerful wallbreakers in the metagame, and, given a scarf, it's able to outspeed and KO most of it's usual checks and counters. This set has far more speed than even the Timid version of Specs Hydreigon has, and is able to check it relatively easily with Outrage or Dragon Claw.

252+ Atk Teravolt Kyurem-B Outrage vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Hydreigon: 576-678 (177.2 - 208.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Teravolt Kyurem-B Dragon Claw vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Hydreigon: 384-452 (118.1 - 139%) -- guaranteed OHKO
 
Check/Counter


Audino-Mega @ Audinite
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dazzling Gleam
- Flamethrower
- Protect
- Wish

Don't ask me how long i have been looking for a check but as Random Passerby already mentioned it is very difficult to find some.
Lol does this thing even has counters.
Megau-Audino can act as nice Check to Hydreigon if switched in to Draco Meteor, Dark Pulse or Fire Blast. M-Audino's defence allows it to survive 3 Flash Canones and can fire back with its Dazzling Gleam to finish off the threa headed dragon.

0 SpA Mega Audino Dazzling Gleam vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Hydreigon: 312-372 (95.7 - 114.1%) -- 75% chance to OHKO

252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Flash Cannon vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Mega Audino: 170-202 (41.4 - 49.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Mega Audino: 63-75 (15.3 - 18.2%) -- possible 6HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Mega Audino: 118-139 (28.7 - 33.9%) -- 0.9% chance to 3HKO
 
Check
Gardevoir @ Choice Scarf. Pretty self-explanatory.
Actually put any pretty powerful Fairy type in place of Gardevoir with a Scarf.
Other possibilities:
Sylveon, Togekiss.
Ps Quick feet Granbull set could work but its not that viable in OU.

Check
Sylveon @ Choice Specs.
Again, pretty self explanatory. This thing can take the Flash Cannon uninvested in Sp Def but some invest in HP even after stealth rocks damage and retaliates with a guaranteed OHKO Hyper Voice (I mean it kills like three Hydreis lol). Also Specs Sylv has viability outside checking hydrei so well I guess this is a good idea.

Sylv vs Hydrei
252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Flash Cannon vs. 240 HP / 0 SpD Sylveon: 224-264 (57.2 - 67.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Pixilate Sylveon Hyper Voice vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Hydreigon: 912-1072 (280.6 - 329.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Scarf Gard vs Hydrei
252 SpA Gardevoir Moonblast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Hydreigon: 660-780 (203 - 240%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Flash Cannon vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Gardevoir: 248-292 (89.5 - 105.4%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO

So the Gard even has a chance living the hit. But it outspeeds and is 100% chance to OHKO after stealth rock so...
 
Check


Medicham @ Medichamite
Ability: Pure Power
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- High Jump Kick
- Ice Punch
- Thunder Punch
- Zen Headbutt

Outspeeds Modest variants and OHKOes with HJK, although you have absolutely no business switching into it. Jolly can outspeed the Timid variants, but isn't really recommended in the current meta.
 
Counter / Hard Check



Conkeldurr @ Assault Vest
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful / Adamant Nature
- Drain Punch
- Knock Off
- Ice Punch
- Mach Punch

AV Conkeldurr with Careful nature hard counters Specs Hydreigon as it is not 2HKO'd by any combination of attacks and threatens to OHKO with Drain Punch or 2HKO with Drain Punch + Mach Punch or 2 Mach Punches. However, most AV Conkeldurr are Adamant Nature as Careful should only be run if you need a Hydreigon counter badly, which is still a good check/counter as it is able to switch into any move other than Draco Meteor twice, and still has a good chance to survive 2 Draco Meteors in a row and threaten it out with Drain Punch or Mach Punch.
 
Counter / Hard Check



Conkeldurr @ Assault Vest
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful / Adamant Nature
- Drain Punch
- Knock Off
- Ice Punch
- Mach Punch

AV Conkeldurr with Careful nature hard counters Specs Hydreigon as it is not 2HKO'd by any combination of attacks and threatens to OHKO with Drain Punch or 2HKO with Drain Punch + Mach Punch or 2 Mach Punches. However, most AV Conkeldurr are Adamant Nature as Careful should only be run if you need a Hydreigon counter badly, which is still a good check/counter as it is able to switch into any move other than Draco Meteor twice, and still has a good chance to survive 2 Draco Meteors in a row and threaten it out with Drain Punch or Mach Punch.
Welcome to Smogon! Ü

It's nice to see people posting niche mons that are still usable (to some degree) in OU. However, I can't say I'm very fond of that nomination because Conkeldurr is simply not a reliable Specs Hydra counter (more of a shaky check) since the latter actually can 2HKO Conkeldurr with 2 consecutive Draco Meteors while it loses only a bit more than half of its HP to Mach Punch (Careful is dung and still gets 2HKOed most of the time):

252+ Atk Conkeldurr Mach Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Hydreigon: 168-198 (51.6 - 60.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Draco Meteor vs. 0 HP / 252 SpD Assault Vest Conkeldurr: 234-276 (66.6 - 78.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
-2 252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Draco Meteor vs. 0 HP / 252 SpD Assault Vest Conkeldurr: 118-139 (33.6 - 39.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

234 + 118 = 352HP ―――> Conkeldurr has 351HP, meaning a guaranteed 2HKO.

In other words, you might change it to a check as Conkeldurr does beat Hydra in a 1v1 scenario, 2HKOing Hydra before getting KOed itself.
 
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Aragorn the King

Literally a duck
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Checks:

VII Keldeo
VI Mega Medicham
VI Mega Diancie
V Clefable
IV Cobalion
III Porygon2
III CB Azumarill
III Mega Gardevoir
II Mega Altaria
I Specs Sylveon
I Specs Sylveon
I Mega Audino
Kyurem-B
Latios
AV Tornadus T
Scarf Gardevoir
Volcarona
AV SpD Conkeldurr


Counters:

IX Chansey
II Umbreon
II AV Azumarill
I Blissey

You may vote for 3 checks and 1 counter.

Also, Drangonn. & Recreant be sure to write your noms up before voting ends.

**Note: Italics = the winner of my tie-breaker.​
 
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No one wrote Togekiss? lol. No more votes then.
Kiss can T-Wave and paraflinch (or 2HKO after rocks with Aura Sphere), but without the yellow magic or a Scarf it is outsped and 2HKOed by Flash Cannon. Kinda shaky.

Also, voting for Diancie, Clefable, and Keldeo as checks, and Umbreon as a counter.
 

Martin

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Kiss can T-Wave and paraflinch (or 2HKO after rocks with Aura Sphere), but without the yellow magic or a Scarf it is outsped and 2HKOed by Flash Cannon. Kinda shaky.

Also, voting for Diancie, Clefable, and Keldeo as checks, and Umbreon as a counter.
Its no shakier than Clefable is+uses it for setup bait, so idk what you're trying to say here. Also Gleam variants just murder it if it comes in on anything other than Flash

Anyway:

Mega Diancie, Clefable, Mega Medicham
Chansey
 

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