[OVERVIEW]
Dark
========
Hydreigon sports impressive Special Attack and decent Speed, allowing it to function as either a wallbreaker with Choice Specs, Expert Belt, or Life Orb to threaten balanced and defensive teams or a revenge killer with Choice Scarf to threaten more offensive teams. Its Dark / Dragon typing is amazing, having almost perfect neutral coverage against any type except Fairy. Hydreigon can also utilize its typing defensively coupled with its solid bulk, granting it the ability to switch into a handful of types comfortably. Thanks to Levitate making Hydreigon immune to Ground and entry hazards bar Stealth Rock, it's a particularly reliable switch-in to Ground-types. It also has a very diverse movepool with respectable coverage options such as Fire Blast and Earth Power to make it a more potent threat to a variety of types. Hydreigon also has access to U-turn to capitalize on its ability to revenge kill by gaining momentum. However, it struggles to break through Fairy-types and suffers a huge weakness to them, making it depend more on teammates such as Greninja, Bisharp, and Alolan Muk to remove them. Hydreigon's typing also makes it difficult to deal with priority moves such as Ice Shard and Mach Punch from users such as Mamoswine and Breloom. Hydreigon's Speed is decent but sits below the crowed base 100 Speed tier, meaning it is outpaced by threats such as Mega Gardevoir and Volcarona without a Choice Scarf and outsped and revenge killed by faster Choice Scarf users such as Infernape, Latios, and Greninja. While Hydreigon's offensive stats are great and Speed stat is passable, it relies on Choice items to wallbreak or revenge kill effectively, making it more predictable and easy to counter. It has space for only one or two coverage moves, hindering its ability to take on a variety of types in the metagame.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker (Dark)
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Focus Blast
item: Choice Specs / Expert Belt / Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Combined with the boost from Choice Specs or Life Orb, Draco Meteor becomes insanely powerful, KOing or dealing massive damage to threats that don't resist the attack while putting pressure on teams lacking a Dragon-resistant Pokemon. Dark Pulse is more consistent without any drawbacks and provides great neutral coverage with Draco Meteor. Fire Blast hits Steel-types such as Klefki, Skarmory, Mega Scizor, and Ferrothorn. Focus Blast is a nifty coverage move for breaking through Normal- and Rock-types such as Porygon2, Stakataka, and Tyranitar and as well as OHKOing offensive Heatran, but its accuracy leaves much to be desired. Earth Power is an alternative over Focus Blast used to hit threats such as Tapu Koko and Tyranitar while OHKOing Heatran. However, Earth Power misses out on OHKOing Tyranitar, and Hydreigon needs to be very cautious about threats that are immune to Ground when using it.
Set Details
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252 Speed EVs with a Timid nature allow Hydreigon to be as fast as possible. 252 Special Attack EVs increase Hydreigon’s damage output. Choice Specs further boosts Hydreigon’s attacking power to get more KOs. Expert Belt can be used instead of Choice Specs so Hydreigon can attack with no drawbacks. With Hydreigon's well-rounded coverage moves, it can get Expert Belt's super effective damage bonus often. Despite itdealing less extra damage than Choice Specs, Life Orb grants Hydreigon the freedom to use all of its moves at the cost of health after each successful hit.
Usage Tips
========
This set concentrates on Hydreigon’s role as a wallbreaker, making it great against defensive teams and bulky attackers. Hydreigon is excellent to use early-game to weaken walls for its teammates to finish off or sweep later in the game. Hydreigon should mainly use Draco Meteor or Dark Pulse unless it’s against threats that resist both of these attacks or take more damage from its coverage moves. However, be careful when using Draco Meteor early because the huge Special Attack drop will force Hydreigon out and provide the foe with a free turn to set up. Dark Pulse is usually Hydreigon’s safest option while saving Draco Meteor for later, and with no drawbacks and a 20% chance to flinch, it’s easily spammable. When equipped with Choice Specs, Hydreigon should be more cautious about using its coverage moves because the opponent can switch in a Pokemon that doesn't mind them to set up. For example, attempting to use Focus Blast on Heatran will force it to switch to defensive Mega Scizor, which is 3HKOed by the attack. If that happens, Hydreigon is locked into Focus Blast, forcing it to switch out. Only use Focus Blast on threats that resist Hydreigon's other attacks or are only KOed by it. Hydreigon should always be careful of Fairy-types on the opposing team such as Tapu Koko on Electric, Azumarill on Water, and Mega Altaria on Dragon because the majority easily walls Hydreigon and can take it out. Despite Hydreigon’s resistances and good bulk, it is still recommended to have it come in safely from U-turn to avoid taking unnecessary damage, as it should stay healthy to continue coming in to wallbreak. With Expert Belt or Life Orb equipped, Hydreigon has more freedom to use coverage moves. Life Orb Hydreigon should avoid switching on attacks at all because its attacks' recoil make it worn down even faster. Hydreigon doesn't lose momentum from using Expert Belt or Life Orb, so it doesn't need to make as many predictions and is less prone to being setup bait. Hydreigon can utilize Expert Belt to bluff a Choice item, as the opponent usually assumes Hydreigon is running Choice Scarf or Choice Specs. Make sure to keep Hydreigon away from paralysis, as the reduced Speed will make it less effective at wallbreaking, while Life Orb Hydreigon should also avoid poison and burns to conserve its precious HP.
Team Options
========
Tyranitar and Krookodile provide Stealth Rock support, assisting Hydreigon in getting KOs. Tyranitar can can also spread paralysis with Thunder Wave, which is great for a somewhat slow wallbreaker like Hydreigon. Dragon Dance Mega Tyranitar pairs well with Hydreigon, as both can dismantle teams. Mega Tyranitar can check Flying- and Ice-types for Hydreigon. Bisharp and Alolan Muk can take on Fairy-types for Hydreigon. Bisharp specifically can also check slower Ice-types that pose a threat and can set up Swords Dance to help Hydreigon break down slower threats. With Alolan Muk’s excellent special bulk coupled with Assault Vest, it serves as a pivot that tanks special attacks. Alolan Muk can also absorb Toxic. Both Bisharp and Alolan Muk can provide Knock Off support to remove items such as Eviolite from Chansey and Porygon2 and Leftovers from bulky threats. Mega Sableye serves as another status absorber for Hydreigon and hazard control thanks to Magic Bounce while being a great switch-in to Knock Off to prevent Hydreigon from losing its Choice Specs or Life Orb. Mega Sableye is also reliable in offering utility such as Knock Off and can burn threats. Mandibuzz is another partner that offers hazard control and boasts impressive physical bulk to tank physical attacks for Hydreigon while checking Fighting-types. Greninja and Sharpedo are great offensive Water-types to pair with Hydreigon. Greninja can check Fairy- and Fighting-types with Gunk Shot and Extrasensory alongside taking on a variety of types thanks to Protean. Sharpedo can gain a Speed boost and Mega Evolve to clean up after Hydreigon has dealt enough damage to the opposing team.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf (Dark)
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Draco Meteor is Hydreigon’s most powerful STAB attack and is mainly necessary for KOing threats that do not faint from its other attacks. Dark Pulse gives Hydreigon another reliable STAB move with no drawbacks and a chance to flinch the foe. Fire Blast supports Hydreigon’s reliable STAB moves in hitting annoying Steel-types such as Cobalion, Klefki, Ferrothorn, and Mega Scizor as well as Tapu Bulu. U-turn allows Hydreigon to pivot out of unfavorable matchups and have one of its more suitable teammates take out a threat while also maintaining momentum.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature and Choice Scarf allows Hydreigon to outspeed Mega Latias, Keldeo, and other Choice Scarf users such as Tapu Bulu, Landorus-T, Heracross, and Excadrill. 252 Special Attack EVs allow Hydreigon to hit as hard as possible. The remaining 4 EVs in Special Defense prevent Porygon-Z from ever getting a Special Attack boost from Download. Levitate is Hydreigon's only ability, which lets it switch into Ground-type attacks bar Mold Breaker Excadrill's Earthquake without taking damage.
Usage Tips
========
Because Hydreigon functions primarily as a revenge killer and a solid late-game sweeper, it should come in freely after a teammate has fainted with a slow U-turn user such as Mandibuzz, or with a double switch. Take advantage of Hydreigon’s typing and solid bulk to switch into resisted attacks and Levitate to switch into Ground-type moves, but be wary of switching Hydreigon into coverage moves such as Nidoking's Ice Beam. Make sure to utilize U-turn whenever Hydreigon is at a disadvantage and needs to maintain momentum or when the opponent attempts to switch in a counter to Hydreigon. Choice Scarf Hydreigon can also make use of U-turn as a lead to scout foes, especially those that resist its STAB attacks. Be careful about using Draco Meteor, and try not to use it very early in the game. It destroys Hydreigon’s momentum because the huge drop in Special Attack will leave it setup bait and unable to KO anything else that is healthy. Also be careful when locking Hydreigon into one of its coverage moves because they're quite weak. Try not to have Hydregion stay in against bulkier threats because this set isn’t built to deal with defensive Pokemon. Hydreigon should avoid paralysis at all times because it ruins its role as a revenge killer.
Team Options
========
Hydreigon pairs well with Greninja, as Greninja's offensive presence, Protean, and Speed stat can assist Hydreigon in applying offensive pressure onto teams. It also has an enormous movepool that allows it to check many threats and includes Gunk Shot and Extrasensory, which threaten Fairy- and Fighting-types that Hydreigon struggles against. Mega Sharpedo is another strong Water-type and can take on special walls that Hydreigon can’t break. It also has access to Psychic Fangs, making it a decent check to Fighting-types. Alolan Muk and Bisharp are great partners for Hydreigon, helping its weakness to Fairy-types. Assault Vest Alolan Muk can switch into special attacks, while Bisharp can check Ice-types that threaten Hydreigon. Hydreigon appreciates Mandibuzz’s Defog granting it more freedom to switch in. Hydreigon can also come in safely thanks to Mandibuzz’s slow U-turn. Tyranitar and Krookodile are great users of Stealth Rock, which pressures the opposing team and makes foes easier for Hydreigon to finish off. Tyranitar is also good for checking Ice-types and spreading paralysis with Thunder Wave to cripple faster threats. In return, Hydreigon can cover Tyranitar’s weakness to Ground with Levitate. Mega Sableye takes pressure off Hydreigon thanks to its immunity to Fighting-type attacks. Mega Sableye can also bounce back Stealth Rock and status moves.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Dark
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Taunt + Roost allows Hydreigon to function as a stallbreaker and should be used with Dark Pulse and Fire Blast. Such a set can prevent defensive Pokemon such as Skarmory from setting up entry hazards and Chansey from inflicting status onto Hydreigon while granting Hydreigon reliable recovery to stall these Pokemon out with. However, Hydreigon prefers using its coverage moves more, and this set doesn't do well against more offensive teams. Flash Cannon is a coverage move that allows Hydreigon to hit Fairy-types such as Mega Diancie, which take little damage from its other attacks. Note that it's preferred on the Choice Scarf set because Hydreigon then outspeeds Mega Diancie. However, despite Fairy-types being common in the metagame, Hydreigon has teammates such as Greninja, Bisharp, and Alolan Muk to deal with them, so Flash Cannon isn't needed as much. Also, Flash Cannon Hydreigon doesn't beat most Fairy-types one-on-one because many are neutral to it.
Checks and Counters
===================
Dark
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**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types can easily shrug off Hydreigon’s STAB attacks. Some, such as Clefable and Mega Diancie, should be wary of Hydreigon running Flash Cannon, however. Azumarill in particular doesn’t mind any of Hydreigon’s attacks and can use that as an opportunity to set up Belly Drum.
**Chansey**: Chansey easily switches into Hydreigon, tanks all of its attacks, and can stall it out with Toxic + Soft-Boiled.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types resist Hydreigon’s Dark Pulse; however, Draco Meteor threatens them. Many Fighting-types have their own ways of dealing with Hydreigon. Choice Scarf Terrakion and Infernape can easily get rid of Hydreigon with Close Combat, Keldeo can KO Hydreigon with Choice Specs Secret Sword, Cobalion survives a Fire Blast and cripples it with Thunder Wave, and Mega Gallade KOes it with either Drain Punch or Close Combat.
**Ice-type Moves**: Hydreigon sports a weakness to Ice-type attacks, so Pokemon such as Mamoswine and Lapras can threaten it out. Hydreigon also needs to be wary of switching in on Pokemon that carry Ice-type coverage, such as Nidoking and Porygon2.
**Faster Pokemon**: Choice Scarf Hydreigon's Speed is certainly high, but other Choice Scarf users such as Greninja and Latios outspeed it and force it out. Boosted setup sweepers such as Mega Charizard X and Volcarona are able to KO Hydreigon with Outrage and Bug Buzz, respectively.
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