Havens
WGI World Champion
[OVERVIEW]
Dragon
========
Hydreigon is a powerful special attacker for Dragon teams thanks to its solid offensive typing, extensive movepool, and versatility, being to utillze various items such as Choice Specs to act as a powerful wallbreaker and Choice Scarf to act as a potent revenge killer. Furthermore, Hydreigon is the only viable Dragon-type with access to a pivoting move, U-turn. This makes Hydreigon desirable to keep momentum for Dragon teams. However, while Hydreigon is a solid check to Ghost- and Psychic-types by typing, it has a crippling, compounded weakness to Fairy-types, as they resist its STAB moves. Hydreigon's moveset is also rather predictable on Dragon teams and can easily be scouted for. Lastly, despite having a good Speed tier, Hydreigon is outsped by powerful offensive checks such as Mega Gallade and Keldeo.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Dark Pulse
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Flash Cannon / Defog / Fire Blast
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Dark Pulse is Hydreigon's Dark-type STAB move, which it uses to threaten Ghost- and Psychic-types such as Jellicent and Jirachi. Draco Meteor is Hydreigon's most powerful offensive option and devastates foes that don't resist it. U-turn is used to pivot out of foes that it can hardly damage such as Chansey and Mantine. Flash Cannon is utilized to lure and take out problematic Fairy-types such as Alolan Ninetales and Mega Diancie. Defog can be utilized over Flash Cannon as a means of entry hazard removal, which also grants teammates such as Mega Altaria and Latios the flexibility to run other sets. Fire Blast can also be used as a means of checking Ice- and Steel-types such as Alolan Sandslash and Ferrothorn.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack investment allows Hydreigon to hit as hard as possible. Maximum Speed investment, a Timid nature, and a Choice Scarf enable Hydreigon to become a revenge killer, as its boosted Speed stat can let it offensively check incredibly fast foes such as Mega Lopunny. The remaining EVs are placed into Special Defense to prevent Download users such as Porygon-Z from receiving a Special Attack boost. Levitate allows Hydreigon to avoid all entry hazards outside of Stealth Rock as well as Ground-type moves.
Usage Tips
========
This set is meant to act as a revenge killer, as the Speed attained through a Choice Scarf allows it to threaten to KO fast Pokemon while also being able to pick off weakened foes. Hydreigon can also act as a late-game sweeper thanks to its natural special power and great coverage moves. Against Fairy teams, try luring Mega Diancie and KOing it with Flash Cannon. If Fairy teams lose Mega Diancie, it's more likely that Calm Mind Mega Latias can set up and sweep them. Hydreigon also provides momentum for Dragon teams through U-turn. This puts Dragon teams in favorable positions to win and should also be used in situations where the foe may switch out into a defensive countermeasure. Avoid being paralyzed, as a halved Speed stat will prevent Hydreigon from acting efficiently as a revenge killer. Watch out for Protect users, such as Mega Sableye and Toxapex, as these foes can scout for Hydreigon's moves and take an appropriate countermeasure. Draco Meteor sharply lowers Hydreigon's Special Attack stat, making it vulnerable to setup sweepers such as Mega Gallade and Volcarona, so be cautious of locking into it. It's also possible to lead with Hydreigon, as it can pivot out of any unfavorable matchups to teammates better suited for handling them while also providing some early momentum.
Team Options
========
Latios helps to check Fighting-types such as Keldeo and Terrakion for Hydreigon. In return, Hydreigon can check bulkier Psychic-types such as Jirachi and Slowbro. Because Hydreigon provides another countermeasure against faster foes, Latios can run alternativesets such as Choice Specs. Mega Altaria helps against specially defensive Dark-types such as Mega Sableye and Tyranitar by threatening to set up and KO them with its Pixilate-boosted STAB moves, as well as against opposing Dragon teams thanks to its immunity to Dragon-type moves. Kyurem-B utilizes its unrivaled mixed BoltBeam coverage in order to break many defensive Pokemon such as Mantine and Mega Venusaur for Hydreigon. Mega Latias can check Fighting-types such as Breloom and Infernape. Additionally, Calm Mind sets are critical against Fairy teams as they can set up and sweep against most of them bar Mega Diancie and Mimikyu. Kommo-o utilizes Clangorous Soulblaze to act as a late-game cleaner and is especially helpful versus defensive cores such as the Normal-type core of Chansey and Porygon2. Hydreigon can offensively come in on Psychic-types such as Latios and Mew for Kommo-o. Choice Band Dragonite is a powerful tool for breaking down many specially defensive foes for Hydreigon, such as Araquanid, Chansey, and Mantine. Additionally, its access to Extreme Speed also enables it to threaten to revenge kill faster foes and priority users such as Mega Lopunny and Mamoswine for Hydreigon. Garchomp is the only viable user of Stealth Rock available to Dragon teams, and the chip damage helps put foes such as Mega Aerodactyl in range of a KO from Hydreigon's attacks.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Dark Pulse
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Earth Power
item: Choice Specs / Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Dark Pulse is Hydreigon's Dark-type STAB attack and threatens Ghost- and Psychic-types such as Blacephalon, Jirachi, and Mew. Draco Meteor is Hydreigon's most powerful offensive option, threatening to deal massive damage to anything that doesn't resist it. Fire Blast is used to hit Bug-, Ice-, and Steel-types such as Heracross, Alolan Sandslash, and Mega Scizor for massive damage. Earth Power is used to hit Steel-types that take less damage from Fire Blast such as Empoleon and Heatran and also OHKOes unsuspecting Mega Diancie and Tapu Koko if they switch directly into Hydreigon. Focus Blast can also be utilized as better, condensed coverage for Normal-types such as Chansey, Rock-types such as Tyranitar, and Steel-types such as Heatran. However, its poor accuracy can make it more of a liability than an asset.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment paired with a Timid nature allows Hydreigon to hit as hard and as fast as possible. The remaining EVs are placed into Special Defense to prevent Download users such as Porygon2 from receiving a Special Attack boost. Choice Specs enable Hydreigon to do insane amounts of damage with its moves but locks it into using only one move. A Life Orb can be used over Choice Specs in order to use moves freely, though Hydreigon must be wary of the recoil. Additionally, the lessened power prevents Hydreigon from 2HKOing foes such as Armaldo. Levitate, despite being Hydreigon's only ability, is very handy, as it avoids all entry hazards outside of Stealth Rock while also granting it a Ground-type immunity.
Usage Tips
========
This set is meant to break down various walls early-game in order to allow a teammate such as Kommo-o or Mega Latias to set up and sweep late-game. Hydreigon should be preserved against Psychic teams, as it can freely spam Dark Pulse to heavily damage most of them. In the face of foes such as Mega Gallade and Victini, it should be swapped out to avoid excess damage. Hydreigon can also act as a revenge killer due to its decent Speed stat, which is useful against slower threats such as Mimikyu and Mega Garchomp. Try to predict an incoming switch-in with one of Hydreigon's coverage moves if it's utilizing Choice Specs, since it's forcefully locked into the move selected. If the opposing team doesn't have a Pokemon that resists Dragon-type attacks or a specially defensive switch-in, feel free to use Draco Meteor in order to deal massive damage to the foe, though keep in mind the Special Attack drop after using it, as the foe can take advantage of it to use Hydreigon as setup bait. Hydreigon should be mindful of Protect users such as Celesteela and Suicune, as they can scout the move Hydreigon locks into and can make the appropriate switch or countermeasure as a result. Be mindful of paralysis, as a halved Speed stat will prevent it from breaking down slower foes such as Mega Scizor and bulky Zapdos. If Hydreigon is using a Life Orb keep in mind the recoil received by it, as Hydreigon can easily be worn down.
Team Options
========
Mega Latias uses its incredible bulk, Calm Mind, and Stored Power to threaten Fairy teams and bulky special walls such as Chansey late-game for Hydreigon. Additionally, Mega Latias can reliably come in on Fighting-type moves from Infernape and Terrakion for Hydreigon and recover off any damage taken. Choice Scarf Latios acts as a solid revenge killer for Hydreigon, as it outspeeds and threatens opposing Choice Scarf users or setup sweepers such as Keldeo and Kommo-o. Additionally, it can assist Hydreigon by using Trick on Chansey to cripple it and target and OHKOing Mega Diancie with Hidden Power Steel. Kyurem-B uses its unparalleled BoltBeam coverage to offensively threaten many balance builds for Hydreigon, most notably against the Flying-type core of Celesteela, Zapdos, and Mantine and the Poison-type core of Alolan Muk, Toxapex, and Mega Venusaur. Garchomp provides Stealth Rock support that chips away at the opposing team's health, allowing foes such as Celesteela to be put within KO range of Hydreigon's attacks. Mega Altaria can threaten opposing Dragon-types thanks to its additional Fairy typing and also switches into Fighting-types such as Mega Gallade and Keldeo that Hydreigon is weak to. In return, Hydreigon can threaten Steel-types such as Heatran and Mega Scizor for Mega Altaria. Kommo-o uses its combination of Clangorous Soulblaze and Close Combat to threaten the Normal core of Chansey and Porygon2, which Hydreigon has trouble breaking. In return, Hydreigon can switch into Psychic-type moves from Celebi and Mew for Kommo-o and threaten to KO them with Dark Pulse. Dragonite uses its sheer power to break down specially defensive walls that Hydreigon can't easily break, such as Chansey and Mantine. Additionally, Dragonite can also threaten faster presences such as Greninja and Mega Lopunny through Extreme Speed and acts as a powerful revenge killer as a result.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Dragon
--------
Hydreigon has no other viable options.
Checks and Counters
===================
Dragon
--------
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types such as Clefable and Azumarill resist Hydreigon's STAB combination and OHKO it with their 4x super effective STAB moves. Mimikyu is especially threatening, as its Disguise can nullify damage from Hydreigon's attacks for one turn so it can then KO Hydreigon with Play Rough. However, Fairy-types must be wary of being surprised by Flash Cannon.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types such as Keldeo and Terrakion can switch in on Choice-locked Hydreigon and threaten to KO it with their STAB moves. However, they must be wary of Hydreigon's Draco Meteor, as they cannot directly switch into it.
**Special Walls**: Chansey, Araquanid, and Mantine are bulky special walls that can switch into Hydreigon's moves and heal off any damage taken.
**Revenge Killers**: Naturally faster threats such as Mega Lopunny and Nihilego and powerful priority users such as Breloom and Dragonite threaten to KO Hydreigon with their coverage options.
**Protect**: Because Hydreigon is more likely than not to be holding a Choice item, Protect users such as Celesteela and Suicune can scout the move Hydreigon locks itself into, giving these foes more flexibility to switch out to a teammate that can handle its attacks.
**Paralysis**: Hydreigon relies on its Speed in order to perform its roles as a wallbreaker and revenge killer, so halving that Speed makes it more of a detriment to Dragon teams.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Havens, 391540]]
- Dragon analysis by: [[Havens, 391540]]
- Quality checked by: [[maroon, 305839]], [[Decem, 362454]],[Moosical, 215618]]
- Grammar checked by: [[<username1>, <userid1>], [<username2>, <username2>]]
Dragon
========
Hydreigon is a powerful special attacker for Dragon teams thanks to its solid offensive typing, extensive movepool, and versatility, being to utillze various items such as Choice Specs to act as a powerful wallbreaker and Choice Scarf to act as a potent revenge killer. Furthermore, Hydreigon is the only viable Dragon-type with access to a pivoting move, U-turn. This makes Hydreigon desirable to keep momentum for Dragon teams. However, while Hydreigon is a solid check to Ghost- and Psychic-types by typing, it has a crippling, compounded weakness to Fairy-types, as they resist its STAB moves. Hydreigon's moveset is also rather predictable on Dragon teams and can easily be scouted for. Lastly, despite having a good Speed tier, Hydreigon is outsped by powerful offensive checks such as Mega Gallade and Keldeo.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Dark Pulse
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Flash Cannon / Defog / Fire Blast
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Dark Pulse is Hydreigon's Dark-type STAB move, which it uses to threaten Ghost- and Psychic-types such as Jellicent and Jirachi. Draco Meteor is Hydreigon's most powerful offensive option and devastates foes that don't resist it. U-turn is used to pivot out of foes that it can hardly damage such as Chansey and Mantine. Flash Cannon is utilized to lure and take out problematic Fairy-types such as Alolan Ninetales and Mega Diancie. Defog can be utilized over Flash Cannon as a means of entry hazard removal, which also grants teammates such as Mega Altaria and Latios the flexibility to run other sets. Fire Blast can also be used as a means of checking Ice- and Steel-types such as Alolan Sandslash and Ferrothorn.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack investment allows Hydreigon to hit as hard as possible. Maximum Speed investment, a Timid nature, and a Choice Scarf enable Hydreigon to become a revenge killer, as its boosted Speed stat can let it offensively check incredibly fast foes such as Mega Lopunny. The remaining EVs are placed into Special Defense to prevent Download users such as Porygon-Z from receiving a Special Attack boost. Levitate allows Hydreigon to avoid all entry hazards outside of Stealth Rock as well as Ground-type moves.
Usage Tips
========
This set is meant to act as a revenge killer, as the Speed attained through a Choice Scarf allows it to threaten to KO fast Pokemon while also being able to pick off weakened foes. Hydreigon can also act as a late-game sweeper thanks to its natural special power and great coverage moves. Against Fairy teams, try luring Mega Diancie and KOing it with Flash Cannon. If Fairy teams lose Mega Diancie, it's more likely that Calm Mind Mega Latias can set up and sweep them. Hydreigon also provides momentum for Dragon teams through U-turn. This puts Dragon teams in favorable positions to win and should also be used in situations where the foe may switch out into a defensive countermeasure. Avoid being paralyzed, as a halved Speed stat will prevent Hydreigon from acting efficiently as a revenge killer. Watch out for Protect users, such as Mega Sableye and Toxapex, as these foes can scout for Hydreigon's moves and take an appropriate countermeasure. Draco Meteor sharply lowers Hydreigon's Special Attack stat, making it vulnerable to setup sweepers such as Mega Gallade and Volcarona, so be cautious of locking into it. It's also possible to lead with Hydreigon, as it can pivot out of any unfavorable matchups to teammates better suited for handling them while also providing some early momentum.
Team Options
========
Latios helps to check Fighting-types such as Keldeo and Terrakion for Hydreigon. In return, Hydreigon can check bulkier Psychic-types such as Jirachi and Slowbro. Because Hydreigon provides another countermeasure against faster foes, Latios can run alternativesets such as Choice Specs. Mega Altaria helps against specially defensive Dark-types such as Mega Sableye and Tyranitar by threatening to set up and KO them with its Pixilate-boosted STAB moves, as well as against opposing Dragon teams thanks to its immunity to Dragon-type moves. Kyurem-B utilizes its unrivaled mixed BoltBeam coverage in order to break many defensive Pokemon such as Mantine and Mega Venusaur for Hydreigon. Mega Latias can check Fighting-types such as Breloom and Infernape. Additionally, Calm Mind sets are critical against Fairy teams as they can set up and sweep against most of them bar Mega Diancie and Mimikyu. Kommo-o utilizes Clangorous Soulblaze to act as a late-game cleaner and is especially helpful versus defensive cores such as the Normal-type core of Chansey and Porygon2. Hydreigon can offensively come in on Psychic-types such as Latios and Mew for Kommo-o. Choice Band Dragonite is a powerful tool for breaking down many specially defensive foes for Hydreigon, such as Araquanid, Chansey, and Mantine. Additionally, its access to Extreme Speed also enables it to threaten to revenge kill faster foes and priority users such as Mega Lopunny and Mamoswine for Hydreigon. Garchomp is the only viable user of Stealth Rock available to Dragon teams, and the chip damage helps put foes such as Mega Aerodactyl in range of a KO from Hydreigon's attacks.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Dark Pulse
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Earth Power
item: Choice Specs / Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Dark Pulse is Hydreigon's Dark-type STAB attack and threatens Ghost- and Psychic-types such as Blacephalon, Jirachi, and Mew. Draco Meteor is Hydreigon's most powerful offensive option, threatening to deal massive damage to anything that doesn't resist it. Fire Blast is used to hit Bug-, Ice-, and Steel-types such as Heracross, Alolan Sandslash, and Mega Scizor for massive damage. Earth Power is used to hit Steel-types that take less damage from Fire Blast such as Empoleon and Heatran and also OHKOes unsuspecting Mega Diancie and Tapu Koko if they switch directly into Hydreigon. Focus Blast can also be utilized as better, condensed coverage for Normal-types such as Chansey, Rock-types such as Tyranitar, and Steel-types such as Heatran. However, its poor accuracy can make it more of a liability than an asset.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment paired with a Timid nature allows Hydreigon to hit as hard and as fast as possible. The remaining EVs are placed into Special Defense to prevent Download users such as Porygon2 from receiving a Special Attack boost. Choice Specs enable Hydreigon to do insane amounts of damage with its moves but locks it into using only one move. A Life Orb can be used over Choice Specs in order to use moves freely, though Hydreigon must be wary of the recoil. Additionally, the lessened power prevents Hydreigon from 2HKOing foes such as Armaldo. Levitate, despite being Hydreigon's only ability, is very handy, as it avoids all entry hazards outside of Stealth Rock while also granting it a Ground-type immunity.
Usage Tips
========
This set is meant to break down various walls early-game in order to allow a teammate such as Kommo-o or Mega Latias to set up and sweep late-game. Hydreigon should be preserved against Psychic teams, as it can freely spam Dark Pulse to heavily damage most of them. In the face of foes such as Mega Gallade and Victini, it should be swapped out to avoid excess damage. Hydreigon can also act as a revenge killer due to its decent Speed stat, which is useful against slower threats such as Mimikyu and Mega Garchomp. Try to predict an incoming switch-in with one of Hydreigon's coverage moves if it's utilizing Choice Specs, since it's forcefully locked into the move selected. If the opposing team doesn't have a Pokemon that resists Dragon-type attacks or a specially defensive switch-in, feel free to use Draco Meteor in order to deal massive damage to the foe, though keep in mind the Special Attack drop after using it, as the foe can take advantage of it to use Hydreigon as setup bait. Hydreigon should be mindful of Protect users such as Celesteela and Suicune, as they can scout the move Hydreigon locks into and can make the appropriate switch or countermeasure as a result. Be mindful of paralysis, as a halved Speed stat will prevent it from breaking down slower foes such as Mega Scizor and bulky Zapdos. If Hydreigon is using a Life Orb keep in mind the recoil received by it, as Hydreigon can easily be worn down.
Team Options
========
Mega Latias uses its incredible bulk, Calm Mind, and Stored Power to threaten Fairy teams and bulky special walls such as Chansey late-game for Hydreigon. Additionally, Mega Latias can reliably come in on Fighting-type moves from Infernape and Terrakion for Hydreigon and recover off any damage taken. Choice Scarf Latios acts as a solid revenge killer for Hydreigon, as it outspeeds and threatens opposing Choice Scarf users or setup sweepers such as Keldeo and Kommo-o. Additionally, it can assist Hydreigon by using Trick on Chansey to cripple it and target and OHKOing Mega Diancie with Hidden Power Steel. Kyurem-B uses its unparalleled BoltBeam coverage to offensively threaten many balance builds for Hydreigon, most notably against the Flying-type core of Celesteela, Zapdos, and Mantine and the Poison-type core of Alolan Muk, Toxapex, and Mega Venusaur. Garchomp provides Stealth Rock support that chips away at the opposing team's health, allowing foes such as Celesteela to be put within KO range of Hydreigon's attacks. Mega Altaria can threaten opposing Dragon-types thanks to its additional Fairy typing and also switches into Fighting-types such as Mega Gallade and Keldeo that Hydreigon is weak to. In return, Hydreigon can threaten Steel-types such as Heatran and Mega Scizor for Mega Altaria. Kommo-o uses its combination of Clangorous Soulblaze and Close Combat to threaten the Normal core of Chansey and Porygon2, which Hydreigon has trouble breaking. In return, Hydreigon can switch into Psychic-type moves from Celebi and Mew for Kommo-o and threaten to KO them with Dark Pulse. Dragonite uses its sheer power to break down specially defensive walls that Hydreigon can't easily break, such as Chansey and Mantine. Additionally, Dragonite can also threaten faster presences such as Greninja and Mega Lopunny through Extreme Speed and acts as a powerful revenge killer as a result.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Dragon
--------
Hydreigon has no other viable options.
Checks and Counters
===================
Dragon
--------
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types such as Clefable and Azumarill resist Hydreigon's STAB combination and OHKO it with their 4x super effective STAB moves. Mimikyu is especially threatening, as its Disguise can nullify damage from Hydreigon's attacks for one turn so it can then KO Hydreigon with Play Rough. However, Fairy-types must be wary of being surprised by Flash Cannon.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types such as Keldeo and Terrakion can switch in on Choice-locked Hydreigon and threaten to KO it with their STAB moves. However, they must be wary of Hydreigon's Draco Meteor, as they cannot directly switch into it.
**Special Walls**: Chansey, Araquanid, and Mantine are bulky special walls that can switch into Hydreigon's moves and heal off any damage taken.
**Revenge Killers**: Naturally faster threats such as Mega Lopunny and Nihilego and powerful priority users such as Breloom and Dragonite threaten to KO Hydreigon with their coverage options.
**Protect**: Because Hydreigon is more likely than not to be holding a Choice item, Protect users such as Celesteela and Suicune can scout the move Hydreigon locks itself into, giving these foes more flexibility to switch out to a teammate that can handle its attacks.
**Paralysis**: Hydreigon relies on its Speed in order to perform its roles as a wallbreaker and revenge killer, so halving that Speed makes it more of a detriment to Dragon teams.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Havens, 391540]]
- Dragon analysis by: [[Havens, 391540]]
- Quality checked by: [[maroon, 305839]], [[Decem, 362454]],[Moosical, 215618]]
- Grammar checked by: [[<username1>, <userid1>], [<username2>, <username2>]]
Last edited: