TheManlyLadybug
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Good job on the analysis Ryuuki!Overview
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The generation shift wasn't very kind towards Hydreigon. With the new Fairy-type Hydreigon received a quadruple weakness to watch out for. Not only that, Hydreigon now has to resort to moves like Iron Tail to get past its weakness to Fairy-types problem. Depending on your covaerage moves, (AC) Pokemons susch as Conkeldurr and Clefable can switch in on Hydreigon and force it out. As a Dragon-type he now has competition from the new Mega Charizard X, who has more speed, power, (AC) and the ability to increase its stats with a boosting move a better boosting move than Hydreigon. As a Dark-type, Hydreigon competes with Bisharp, who has strong priority, can block act as a Defog, (AC) and isn't weak to Fairy-types blocker and wallbreaker(Hydreigon is a wallbreaker too). But not all is dark for Hydreigon,(RC). with Steel-types no longer resisting Dark-type attacks, (AC) allowing Hydreigon to spam Dark Pulse more easily have some use for its Dark-type STAB. With an unique typing, (AC) Hydreigon has many useful resistances. plenty of types, (RC) the most noteworthy being Dark- and Ghost-type attacks such as Shadow Sneak, Sucker Punch, and Pursuit. A disappointing Its 98 base sSpeed of 98 leaves much to be desired as you miss out on the base 100 mark, (AC) but with an impressive 125 base Special Attack, 105 base Attack, (AC) and a movepool that would make most other pokemons green with envy, (AC) Hydreigon still has the right tools to 2HKO most of the metagame of this generation. Play Hydreigon towards its strengths and you will not be disappointed.
Mixed Attacker
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Set Name: Mixed Attacker
Move 1: Dark Pulse
Move 2: Draco Meteor
Move 3: Fire Blast / Superpower
Move 4: Superpower / Iron Tail / Roost
Ability: Levitate
Item: Life Orb
Nature: Rash / Mild
EVs: 60 Atk / 216 SAtk / 232 Spe
Moves
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The moveset is pretty simple as the focus lies in Hydreigon's massive offensive power. Dark Pulse is your most spammable attack, (AC) as best STAB and it's only resisted by Fairy-, Fighting-, and Dark-types. Draco Meteor deals massive damage to everything that isn't immune or resists it but Fairy- and Steel-types, (AC). It can even and leaves big holes in walls like Hippowdon and Mega Venusaur. Fire Blast makes every Steel-type besides Heatran think twice before switching in, (AC) on Hydreigon as Fire Blast might will outright OHKO or 2HKO them. The choice between Superpower and Iron Tail comes down to what threats your team needs taken care of you want to be checked by. If you decide to go with Superpower, (AC) then Blissey, Chansey, and Tyranitar are no longer a big problem. It also helps you get break past both Bisharp and Heatran. If you however decide to take choose Iron Tail, (AC) then Fairy-types such as Sylveon and Clefable will no longer be a problem, (AC) as they no longer can switch in without the risk of getting are 2HKOed on the switch. Iron Tail also has the benefit of being able to break past Tyranitar. Roost can be used to keep Hydreigon healthy when you're facing going to break past bulkier teams.
Set Details
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Wallbreaking is Hydreigon's strength, (AC) and therefore how you should use it as such. 232 Speed EVs lets you outrun max Speed, neutral Kyurem-B and hit it with Draco Meteor before it can damage you hit back. The 60 Attack EVs lets you 2HKO 4HP / 252+ Defense Chansey with Superpower after Stealth Rock support. You’ll need to do a little more damage to max HP, max Defense Chansey before you can 2HKO it with Superpower, though. It also secures the 2HKO on Sylveon and Bold Clefable with Iron Tail after Stealth Rock damage. The rest of the EVs are put into Special Attack to hit as hard as possible for maximize Dark Pulse, Draco Meteor, and Fire Blast. A Rash nature should be is the preferred nature as it lets help Hydreigon take Physical priority attacks with ease while increasing your Special Attack. If you don't mind taking a little more damage from priority attacks but want that extra special bulk, (AC) then a Mild nature can be used instead. Life orb is the your preferred item as it gives you the last power that's needed to 2HKO most of the metagame while still being able to switch between your attacks. If you want to are scared of being outspeed by Haxorus, (AC) a spread of 60 Attack, 252 Special Attack, and 196 Speed with a Naive nature lets you outspeed the standard Dragon Dance set before a boost.
Usage Tips
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Hydreigon should be used as a wallbreaker and punch giant holes in bulky teams and tanks rather than trying to sweep on its own, (AC) as it's too slow for sweeping. With plenty of resistances, (AC) Hydreigon has an easy time to switching in and on a resisted attack and start punching holes in the opposing team from there. Draco Meteor's power makes it a good move for wallbreaking breaking down walls, (AC) but be careful with spamming Draco Meteor as it has a the Special Attack drop that leaves you weak wide open to opposing set up sweepers. Even if though Hydreigon resists Pursuit, (AC) you should also be careful when spamming Superpower if you cannot take care of the Pursuit trapper after you have finished something, because at -1 Defense a fleeing Hydreigon will take massive damage from Pursuit.
Team Options
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When it comes to down to team support, there's nothing a Hydreigon loves more than Hazard support in the form of greatly appreciates Stealth Rock support, as Stealth Rock secures many 2HKOes for Hydreigon. Heatran can both lay down Stealth Rock and check any pesky Fairy-types for you with it's quadruple resistance to Fairy-type attacks and STAB Flash Cannon. Skarmory is another good option as it can lay down Stealth Rock and handle Fighting-types much better than Heatran, as it is not weak to Fighting-type attacks (don't compare team options in the analysis). If you lack Superpower you're going to need a strong Fighting-type that can break through Chansey, Blissey and Tyranitar who otherwise don't care much about wall Hydreigon. Both Conkeldurr and Terrakion can burst down easily OHKO all three of these Pokemon Blissey and Chansey without problem. If you however lack Iron Tail, (AC) you should have a solid answer to Fairy-types. Mega Venusaur can check the majority of the Fairy-types and can hit back with STAB Sludge Bomb. Mega Scizor with STAB Bullet Punch and variants of Heatran carrying with STAB Flash Cannon are two other good options for checking Fairy-types. Aegislash also makes a great offencsive and defensive partner, (AC) to Hydreigon due to the fact that as they resists each other's weaknesses and covers for each other. Pivots such as Landorus-T, Mega Scizor, and Rotom-W are all good scouts and help Hydreigon get a safe switch-in on Hydreigon thanks to U-Turn and Volt Switch respectively. Finally, (AC) you should always consider taking a sweeper such as Keldeo, Mega Pinsir, Mega Mawile, or Mega Gyarados as they can easily clean up after Hydreigon has broken down opposing walls. any of those pokémon really appreciates a weakened team to finish off
Other Options
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Hydreigon has a lot of other options due to its wide movepool. A Choice Scarf set can be used to catch the opposing team off guard, (AC) but the power drop can really hurt sometimes. While Choice Specs hits even harder than Life Orb, (AC) it's easier to take advantage of a locked Hydreigon due to its low speed. If you're using Choice Specs, (AC) then Hydreigon can use Flash Cannon to get past Fairy-types if they are a problem. An attack that makes Hydreigon is one of the only stand out from other Dragon-types that gets U-Turn, a move which can help gain momentum. is U-Turn. With U-turn Hydreigon can scout the opposing team for any potential check or counter, and get chip damage. Substitute is another good move as Hydreigon often forces switches and attacking isn't the best option. A bulky set with Taunt, Roost, and two attacks can also work as a bulky attacker if your team needs that more than a wallbreaker.
Checks & Counters
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**Fairy-types** Without Iron Tail, (AC) Hydreigon is very prone to Fairy-types such as Clefable, Sylveon, and Azumarill. With Hydreigon having a quadruple weakness to Fairy, KOing Hydreigon is not difficult for Fairy-type Pokemon. Azumarill in particular can switch to any attack bar the gimmick Charge Beam and beat either OHKO Hydreigon or set up on it, (RC) making it a good counter.
**Special Walls** Without Superpower, (AC) Umbreon, Chansey, and Blissey become major headaches for Hydreigon to bypass. Umbreon can wear out Hydreigon with STAB Foul Play while using Wish and Protect to heal itself. Chansey and Blissey take little damage from any attack Hydreigon can throws at them, (RC) barring Superpower, and can force Hydreigon out with Seismic Toss or Toxic stall.
**Assault Vest Users** Some Pokemon such as Conkeldurr and Machamp Goodra can stomach any attack, barring repeated Draco Meteors, and scare off Hydreigon with STAB Drain Punch and STAB Dynamic Punch Draco Meteor, respectively. Conkeldurr can also revenge kill weakened Hydreigon with STAB Mach Punch.
**Revenge Killers** Priority attackers such as Conkeldurr, Breloom, and Mega Scizor can finish off a weakened Hydreigon. Hydreigon’s mediocre Speed leaves it very vulnerable to revenge killers such as Garchomp, Latios, Latias, and Greninja.
