[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 4 Onwards
**Price Range**: 14-16 Points
**Overview**: Hydreigon is a phenomenal wallbreaker with a strong offensive movepool while having a respectable speed tier and bulk. Thanks to its expansive movepool and strong offensive stats, Hydreigon is a massive threat in any given matchup and will always need to be accounted for. With its Levitate Ability, it also provides an important immunity to Earthquake and Spikes, which can be a hassle for teams otherwise. Operating typically as a Choice Specs Breaker or a Nasty Plot Sweeper, Hydreigon is a great fit on Balanced Offense teams looking for something that gives an extra punch to an offensive core. Unfortunately, Hydreigon’s one fatal flaw is its average at best speed stat, which can hold it back
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: Hydreigon can use its respectable base Special Attack to be an immediate threat to teams even without setup. Thanks to its easily spammable STAB and coverage moves, Hydreigon can wear down opposing teams and force many switches. It can help build momentum by clicking U-turn into checks and other unfavorable matchups.
**Setup Sweeper**: Nasty Plot, combined with Hydreigon’s extensive special move pool, makes for a dangerous setup sweeper. At +2, Hydreigon is capable of OHKO’ing a significant amount of its opponents while being difficult to counter.
**Revenge Killer**: With its Base 98 Speed and a Choice Scarf, Hydreigon is capable of picking off weakened opponents and allowing its teammates to clean games up. Choice Scarf is often appreciated because Hydreigon’s speed is easy to take advantage of otherwise.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Draco Meteor, Dark Pulse, Dragon Pulse, Crunch, Outrage, Scale Shot, Throat Chop
**Setup Moves**: Nasty Plot, Dragon Dance, Scale Shot
**Utility Moves**: U-turn, Taunt, Roar, Thunder Wave, Stealth Rock, Substitute
**Coverage**: Fire Blast, Flamethrower, Heat Wave, Flash Cannon, Earth Power, Surf, Hydro Pump, Focus Blast, Earthquake, Stone Edge, Zen Headbutt, Head Smash, Tera Blast, Dual Wingbeat, Acrobatics
Niche Moves
========
**Belch**: While incredibly difficult to pull off, Hydreigon can, in theory, use Belch as a way to catch bulkier fairy types off guard in ways Flash Cannon may not be able to. However, because Hydreigon would have to hold and use a berry for this, it would be unable to use a Choice Item or Heavy-Duty Boots, which it would much prefer.
**Endure**: With a held Salac Berry and Nasty Plot, Hydreigon can use Endure to guarantee a +1 Boost to Speed, enabling a potential sweep in the late game.
Common Items
========
**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs is a phenomenal item for Hydreigon, allowing it to muscle through a wide variety of defensive mons thanks to its high special attack and strong coverage.
**Choice Scarf**: With its Base 98 Speed Stat being average at best, Hydreigon appreciates the boost Choice Scarf provides, either using it to get a big hit off first or pivoting out from an unfavorable matchup.
**Life Orb/Damage-Boosting Items**: Life Orb is incredibly useful on Hydreigon, giving a 1.3x Boost to its moves in exchange for 10% of its HP each turn. For matchups where Hydreigon wants to spam multiple coverage moves without switching, Life Orb can be game changing. To avoid the recoil that comes from Life Orb, Hydreigon can use a held Dragon Fang or Black Glasses to get an additional boost on its STAB.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: There are few instances where holding Heavy-Duty Boots is not a good choice. Despite its immunity to Spikes and Toxic Spikes thanks to Levitate, Hydreigon can still appreciate Heavy-Duty Boots to negate any Stealth Rock damage on Pivot sets.
Niche Items
========
**Choice Band**: While not its preferred side of offense, Hydreigon’s 105 Base Attack stat and respectable physical coverage, Hydreigon can turn the tables on would-be checks like Blissey and other special walls. A lack of physical moves to hit Fairy Types reliably, however, makes this tougher to pull off without using Tera Blast.
**Leftovers**: Extra longevity through passive healing can do a lot for Hydreigon, especially if it's going to be on the battlefield for many turns or is taking on a bulkier role in a team. For sets using Substitute and/or Nasty Plot, Leftovers provides extra longevity to make those sets truly thrive.
**Resistance Berry**: With good natural bulk and access to Belch, Hydreigon can catch Fairy Types that would otherwise check it while holding a Roseli Berry. A held Haban Berry can allow Hydreigon to survive a Draco Meteor or Outrage and then fire one back at an opposing Dragon Type.
**Lum Berry**: Hydreigon can be prone to status conditions from various threats, be it Paralysis, Burn, Poison, or Freeze. A Lum Berry provides a one-time cure to any of these status ailments that could otherwise impede on its abilities in-game.
**Assault Vest**: With its respectable bulk of 92/90/90, Hydreigon can make use of Assault Vest to live multiple hits from teams that are more specially-biased.
**Eject Pack**: Hydreigon can use its powerful STAB Draco Meteor as a one-time pivot to avoid becoming setup fodder and maintain momentum in a battle. This can be helpful in faster battles in which Hydreigon cannot fit U-turn into its moveset.
Tera
========
Hydreigon is a great user of Terastalization for both offensive and defensive purposes. A Defensive Tera such as Poison or Steel works especially well as it gives it a way to turn the tables on the fairy types which often check it while not having to worry about the Ground weakness those types have thanks to Levitate. Tera Fire is another way to remove its fairy weakness while also granting a boost to Hydreigon’s coverage to hit the steel types that would otherwise check it, although this Tera type comes with its own problems to address such as a Stealth Rock weakness and Heavy-Duty Boots reliance. Tera Dragon to boost its already absurdly powerful Draco Meteors is also a viable strategy, although it does little to address the problem Fairy Types pose for it.
Draft Strategy
========
Hydreigon is a great complementary piece who should be a premier part of an offensive core. While it does have great Special Attack, Base 98 Speed is just not fast enough for it to be the main attraction of an offensive core, and should be treated as such. Teammates that can reliably pivot and help chip down opposing threats will also help make Hydreigon's role on the field much easier.
**Bulky Pivots**: Hydreigon appreciates having slower pivots to help it get into battles without taking many hits. Slowking-G, Rotom-Wash or Heat, and Uxie all can tank hits and pivot into Hydreigon while offering other utility that Hydreigon benefits from.
**Fairy-Type Answers**: One of Hydreigon's biggest weaknesses is Fairy-type Pokemon and attacks. Strong Steel-Types like Scizor, Corviknight, Metagross, or Heatran and Grounded Poison-types like Sneasler, Overqwil, or Slowking-G make solid teammates. Skeledirge in particular makes a strong teammate, as it resists Fairy, is immune to the Fighting Types that also threaten Hydreigon, and can burn opponents for reliable chip damage each turn.
**Hazard Setters**: Extra chip damage on opponents is always appreciated in a given matchup. The more hazards on the opponent’s side of the field, the easier time Hydreigon has KO’ing its enemies. In a similar sense, being able to keep hazards off your side of the field helps Hydreigon’s longevity in a given matchup. Pokemon like Iron Treads, Excadrill, and Glimmora, who can both set hazards and act as removal make for useful teammates for Hydreigon. Spinblockers like Gholdengo and Skeledirge will also help keep hazards on the opponent’s side of the field while having complementary typing with Hydreigon.
**Physical Attackers**: Having teammates that can threaten special walls that Hydreigon may have a hard time taking out can subsequently help Hydreigon either clean up matches or wallbreak for another cleaner. The aforementioned Metagross and Scizor can put heavy pressure on most Special Tanks while also providing a valuable switch in for Hydreigon.
**Speed Control**: As Hydreigon does not like having to use Choice Scarf in every matchup, being able to lower the opponent’s speed can be crucial for Hydreigon to meet its full potential. Sticky Web setters like Ribombee, Vikavolt, and Galvantula can lay the entry hazard to lower speed while Pokemon like Serperior and Grimmsnarl can spread paralysis through Glare or Thunder Wave, respectively.
Checks and Counters
========
**Fairy and Fighting Types**: While Hydreigon does have options for Fairy Pokemon, there will often be matchups where it either can’t fit Flash Cannon, needs a different Tera Blast, or straight up cannot reliably KO the opponent’s Fairy. Bulkier Fairies like Florges and Sylveon can usually survive a hit while faster Fairies like Enamorus-I and Iron Valiant can revenge kill with their STAB options. As for Fighting Types, faster foes can click hard-hitting Close Combats, Superpowers, or Focus Blasts while bulkier enemies can often survive a hit and strike back with a super-effective move.
**Faster Pokemon/Revenge Killers**: Hydreigon’s Base 98 Speed Stat can leave a lot to be desired. Even with a Choice Scarf, faster threats such as Iron Valiant, Enamorus-I, Sneasler, and Walking Wake can consistently come in and revenge kill it. Sticky Web and Thunder Wave support can mitigate this problem, at least, but extra team support is required, nonetheless. In addition, faster pivots can immediately threaten it with Super Effective U-urns, dealing key damage while getting a check in with minimal risk.
**Specially-Bulky Pokemon**: The aforementioned Blissey, Florges, and other Special Tanks can come in on Hydreigon and threaten it fairly easily one way or another. High-HP Assault Vest Users like Ursaluna-BM can also deal devastating damage while comfortably taking hits from Hydreigon sets without Choice Specs.
[credits]
Written by:
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Quality checked by:
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Grammar checked by:
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**Draft Order**: Round 4 Onwards
**Price Range**: 14-16 Points
**Overview**: Hydreigon is a phenomenal wallbreaker with a strong offensive movepool while having a respectable speed tier and bulk. Thanks to its expansive movepool and strong offensive stats, Hydreigon is a massive threat in any given matchup and will always need to be accounted for. With its Levitate Ability, it also provides an important immunity to Earthquake and Spikes, which can be a hassle for teams otherwise. Operating typically as a Choice Specs Breaker or a Nasty Plot Sweeper, Hydreigon is a great fit on Balanced Offense teams looking for something that gives an extra punch to an offensive core. Unfortunately, Hydreigon’s one fatal flaw is its average at best speed stat, which can hold it back
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: Hydreigon can use its respectable base Special Attack to be an immediate threat to teams even without setup. Thanks to its easily spammable STAB and coverage moves, Hydreigon can wear down opposing teams and force many switches. It can help build momentum by clicking U-turn into checks and other unfavorable matchups.
**Setup Sweeper**: Nasty Plot, combined with Hydreigon’s extensive special move pool, makes for a dangerous setup sweeper. At +2, Hydreigon is capable of OHKO’ing a significant amount of its opponents while being difficult to counter.
**Revenge Killer**: With its Base 98 Speed and a Choice Scarf, Hydreigon is capable of picking off weakened opponents and allowing its teammates to clean games up. Choice Scarf is often appreciated because Hydreigon’s speed is easy to take advantage of otherwise.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Draco Meteor, Dark Pulse, Dragon Pulse, Crunch, Outrage, Scale Shot, Throat Chop
**Setup Moves**: Nasty Plot, Dragon Dance, Scale Shot
**Utility Moves**: U-turn, Taunt, Roar, Thunder Wave, Stealth Rock, Substitute
**Coverage**: Fire Blast, Flamethrower, Heat Wave, Flash Cannon, Earth Power, Surf, Hydro Pump, Focus Blast, Earthquake, Stone Edge, Zen Headbutt, Head Smash, Tera Blast, Dual Wingbeat, Acrobatics
Niche Moves
========
**Belch**: While incredibly difficult to pull off, Hydreigon can, in theory, use Belch as a way to catch bulkier fairy types off guard in ways Flash Cannon may not be able to. However, because Hydreigon would have to hold and use a berry for this, it would be unable to use a Choice Item or Heavy-Duty Boots, which it would much prefer.
**Endure**: With a held Salac Berry and Nasty Plot, Hydreigon can use Endure to guarantee a +1 Boost to Speed, enabling a potential sweep in the late game.
Common Items
========
**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs is a phenomenal item for Hydreigon, allowing it to muscle through a wide variety of defensive mons thanks to its high special attack and strong coverage.
**Choice Scarf**: With its Base 98 Speed Stat being average at best, Hydreigon appreciates the boost Choice Scarf provides, either using it to get a big hit off first or pivoting out from an unfavorable matchup.
**Life Orb/Damage-Boosting Items**: Life Orb is incredibly useful on Hydreigon, giving a 1.3x Boost to its moves in exchange for 10% of its HP each turn. For matchups where Hydreigon wants to spam multiple coverage moves without switching, Life Orb can be game changing. To avoid the recoil that comes from Life Orb, Hydreigon can use a held Dragon Fang or Black Glasses to get an additional boost on its STAB.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: There are few instances where holding Heavy-Duty Boots is not a good choice. Despite its immunity to Spikes and Toxic Spikes thanks to Levitate, Hydreigon can still appreciate Heavy-Duty Boots to negate any Stealth Rock damage on Pivot sets.
Niche Items
========
**Choice Band**: While not its preferred side of offense, Hydreigon’s 105 Base Attack stat and respectable physical coverage, Hydreigon can turn the tables on would-be checks like Blissey and other special walls. A lack of physical moves to hit Fairy Types reliably, however, makes this tougher to pull off without using Tera Blast.
**Leftovers**: Extra longevity through passive healing can do a lot for Hydreigon, especially if it's going to be on the battlefield for many turns or is taking on a bulkier role in a team. For sets using Substitute and/or Nasty Plot, Leftovers provides extra longevity to make those sets truly thrive.
**Resistance Berry**: With good natural bulk and access to Belch, Hydreigon can catch Fairy Types that would otherwise check it while holding a Roseli Berry. A held Haban Berry can allow Hydreigon to survive a Draco Meteor or Outrage and then fire one back at an opposing Dragon Type.
**Lum Berry**: Hydreigon can be prone to status conditions from various threats, be it Paralysis, Burn, Poison, or Freeze. A Lum Berry provides a one-time cure to any of these status ailments that could otherwise impede on its abilities in-game.
**Assault Vest**: With its respectable bulk of 92/90/90, Hydreigon can make use of Assault Vest to live multiple hits from teams that are more specially-biased.
**Eject Pack**: Hydreigon can use its powerful STAB Draco Meteor as a one-time pivot to avoid becoming setup fodder and maintain momentum in a battle. This can be helpful in faster battles in which Hydreigon cannot fit U-turn into its moveset.
Tera
========
Hydreigon is a great user of Terastalization for both offensive and defensive purposes. A Defensive Tera such as Poison or Steel works especially well as it gives it a way to turn the tables on the fairy types which often check it while not having to worry about the Ground weakness those types have thanks to Levitate. Tera Fire is another way to remove its fairy weakness while also granting a boost to Hydreigon’s coverage to hit the steel types that would otherwise check it, although this Tera type comes with its own problems to address such as a Stealth Rock weakness and Heavy-Duty Boots reliance. Tera Dragon to boost its already absurdly powerful Draco Meteors is also a viable strategy, although it does little to address the problem Fairy Types pose for it.
Draft Strategy
========
Hydreigon is a great complementary piece who should be a premier part of an offensive core. While it does have great Special Attack, Base 98 Speed is just not fast enough for it to be the main attraction of an offensive core, and should be treated as such. Teammates that can reliably pivot and help chip down opposing threats will also help make Hydreigon's role on the field much easier.
**Bulky Pivots**: Hydreigon appreciates having slower pivots to help it get into battles without taking many hits. Slowking-G, Rotom-Wash or Heat, and Uxie all can tank hits and pivot into Hydreigon while offering other utility that Hydreigon benefits from.
**Fairy-Type Answers**: One of Hydreigon's biggest weaknesses is Fairy-type Pokemon and attacks. Strong Steel-Types like Scizor, Corviknight, Metagross, or Heatran and Grounded Poison-types like Sneasler, Overqwil, or Slowking-G make solid teammates. Skeledirge in particular makes a strong teammate, as it resists Fairy, is immune to the Fighting Types that also threaten Hydreigon, and can burn opponents for reliable chip damage each turn.
**Hazard Setters**: Extra chip damage on opponents is always appreciated in a given matchup. The more hazards on the opponent’s side of the field, the easier time Hydreigon has KO’ing its enemies. In a similar sense, being able to keep hazards off your side of the field helps Hydreigon’s longevity in a given matchup. Pokemon like Iron Treads, Excadrill, and Glimmora, who can both set hazards and act as removal make for useful teammates for Hydreigon. Spinblockers like Gholdengo and Skeledirge will also help keep hazards on the opponent’s side of the field while having complementary typing with Hydreigon.
**Physical Attackers**: Having teammates that can threaten special walls that Hydreigon may have a hard time taking out can subsequently help Hydreigon either clean up matches or wallbreak for another cleaner. The aforementioned Metagross and Scizor can put heavy pressure on most Special Tanks while also providing a valuable switch in for Hydreigon.
**Speed Control**: As Hydreigon does not like having to use Choice Scarf in every matchup, being able to lower the opponent’s speed can be crucial for Hydreigon to meet its full potential. Sticky Web setters like Ribombee, Vikavolt, and Galvantula can lay the entry hazard to lower speed while Pokemon like Serperior and Grimmsnarl can spread paralysis through Glare or Thunder Wave, respectively.
Checks and Counters
========
**Fairy and Fighting Types**: While Hydreigon does have options for Fairy Pokemon, there will often be matchups where it either can’t fit Flash Cannon, needs a different Tera Blast, or straight up cannot reliably KO the opponent’s Fairy. Bulkier Fairies like Florges and Sylveon can usually survive a hit while faster Fairies like Enamorus-I and Iron Valiant can revenge kill with their STAB options. As for Fighting Types, faster foes can click hard-hitting Close Combats, Superpowers, or Focus Blasts while bulkier enemies can often survive a hit and strike back with a super-effective move.
**Faster Pokemon/Revenge Killers**: Hydreigon’s Base 98 Speed Stat can leave a lot to be desired. Even with a Choice Scarf, faster threats such as Iron Valiant, Enamorus-I, Sneasler, and Walking Wake can consistently come in and revenge kill it. Sticky Web and Thunder Wave support can mitigate this problem, at least, but extra team support is required, nonetheless. In addition, faster pivots can immediately threaten it with Super Effective U-urns, dealing key damage while getting a check in with minimal risk.
**Specially-Bulky Pokemon**: The aforementioned Blissey, Florges, and other Special Tanks can come in on Hydreigon and threaten it fairly easily one way or another. High-HP Assault Vest Users like Ursaluna-BM can also deal devastating damage while comfortably taking hits from Hydreigon sets without Choice Specs.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user1.100000
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user2.200000
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.300000
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.400000
Last edited:
