[OVERVIEW]
Rhyperior's combination of physical bulk, useful resistances, and offensive presence lets it be an effective Stealth Rock setter on offensive teams. A Rock / Ground typing makes for a fearsome STAB combination that enables it to threaten one of the most common Stealth Rock setters in Registeel and force a decent number of switches, especially if opting to wallbreak with its Choice Band set. Said typing also provides some great resistances in Fire, Flying, and Rock, making Rhyperior a good check to the likes of Salazzle, Noivern, and Choice Scarf Tyrantrum. Solid Rock somewhat makes up for Rhyperior's many weaknesses by letting it take a super effective hit from threats like Nidoqueen and +1 Zygarde-10% to KO back. However, it's easily forced out by common Pokemon like Milotic and Shaymin, which can be vexing for offensive teams to switch into. A lack of recovery outside of Leftovers and pathetic Speed make Rhyperior easy for strong attackers to pick off mid- or late-game.
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Rock Blast / Megahorn
move 4: Toxic / Swords Dance
item: Leftovers
ability: Solid Rock
nature: Adamant
evs: 248 HP / 16 Atk / 244 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock is a must on any offensive team, and Rhyperior can use its bulk to set it up pretty reliably. Earthquake is the go-to STAB move for its great coverage and power. Rock Blast hits most of what Earthquake can't, including Flying- and Bug-types, and can mess with users of Focus Sash or Substitute; Megahorn is an alternative to pressure Grass-types, Bronzong, and Mandibuzz. Toxic annoys Water-types and various defensive Pokemon, while Swords Dance lets Rhyperior beat walls more directly.
Set Details
========
Near-maximum HP and Special Defense investment optimizes Leftovers recovery and improves Rhyperior's ability to take special hits; 16 Attack EVs and an Adamant nature give Rhyperior an extra point in Attack thanks to stat calculation quirks. Running 84 Speed EVs is an option to let Rhyperior hit Registeel before it can use Toxic. Solid Rock is easily the best ability because it lets Rhyperior take a super effective hit from all but the strongest attackers. Leftovers means Rhyperior can get maximum use out of its bulk; Rindo Berry is an option to let a healthy Rhyperior tank boosted Grass-type coverage like Ninetales's Solar Beam and Salazzle's Hidden Power Grass. Another option in Rockium Z with Earthquake, Stone Edge, and Megahorn gives Rhyperior a great matchup against teams with multiple Defoggers, a way to nuke common switch-ins like Mega Blastoise, Shaymin, and Milotic, and reduced damage from Knock Off users like Drapion.
Usage Tips
========
Using Rhyperior tends to be straightforward; switch in on Pokemon it can take attacks from like Noivern, Salazzle, and Electric-types to force them out and set Stealth Rock up. If a threatening entry hazard remover like Mega Blastoise is on the opponent's team, it may be more productive to use an appropriate attack as it switches in rather than setting Stealth Rock just to get forced out. Similarly, walls like Milotic and Cresselia can be hindered by Toxic on the switch. Rhyperior's HP should be preserved if it's the only thing keeping a threat like Zygarde-10% or Stakataka from sweeping.
Team Options
========
Grass-types like Shaymin, Roserade, and Virizion make up for Rhyperior's pressing Water weakness; Shaymin and Roserade in particular can use Synthesis to be consistent answers to the likes of Milotic and Mega Blastoise. Fire- and Dragon-types like Salazzle, Ninetales, Dragalge, and Goodra are options for dealing with Grass-types, though none is perfect at it. Fire-types also address Bronzong. Fast Pokemon like Noivern and Swellow threaten speedy offensive teams, which easily overwhelm Rhyperior; Choice Scarf Gardevoir can do the same as well as check Fighting-types and make Rhyperior a threat late-game with Healing Wish. Taunt users like Mandibuzz, Noivern, and Mismagius beat walls and create chances for Rhyperior to set Swords Dance up; Noivern also switches into Grass-types without worrying about them risking coverage moves thanks to Swords Dance Rhyperior's threatening presence, and Mismagius can spinblock.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Megahorn
move 4: Ice Punch
item: Choice Band
ability: Solid Rock
nature: Adamant
evs: 52 HP / 252 Atk / 204 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Earthquake and Stone Edge are Rhyperior's optimal STAB moves. Megahorn deals massive damage to bulky Psychic-types like Bronzong and Cresselia. Ice Punch can be a safer move to lock into thanks to good coverage and accuracy. Rock Blast can be used as a safer alternative to Stone Edge, but it lacks any specific use outside of getting more damage on Substitute users. Superpower can threaten Steel-, Dark-, and Normal-type walls without being as easy to switch into as Earthquake. Rock Wrecker's recharge turn can be justified by its sheer power, most notably always OHKOing Milotic after Stealth Rock.
Set Details
========
Rhyperior uses 204 Speed EVs to outpace Umbreon and all slower walls. Solid Rock lets Rhyperior tank super effective physical hits and KO back. Maximum Speed with a Jolly nature can be threatening with Sticky Web support.
Usage Tips
========
Like most wallbreakers, Rhyperior's at its best when aggressively switched in on predicted Pokemon it can threaten such as Steel-, Flying-, and Fire-types. Coverage moves should be used on switches to checks expecting the more common and stoppable Stealth Rock set like Bronzong, Shaymin, and Milotic. Preserving Rhyperior's health for mid- or late-game can let it take a hit from a valuable attacker and KO back.
Team Options
========
This set's lack of Stealth Rock mandates other setters such as Registeel and Bronzong, which also handle a good number of Pokemon Rhyperior's vulnerable to. Cleaners that benefit from weakened Steel-types like Choice Scarf Gardevoir and Z-Celebrate Shaymin are sensible choices. Swellow is a particularly great option; the only Pokemon that consistently switch into its Boomburst are Rock- and Steel-types, which it can just use U-turn on to give Rhyperior a free switch. Rhyperior's ability to KO Milotic is good news for attackers like Mega Blastoise and Z-Crystal sweepers, the latter of which won't have to spend their Z-Move on it. In general, Rhyperior's team should make up for its lacking Speed and have switch-ins to Water-, Grass-, and Fighting-types in case they get in for free. Paralysis or Sticky Web support from Pokemon like Porygon2 and Araquanid in particular makes Rhyperior much more threatening to offensive teams.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rhyperior's Solid Rock means it can make decent use of Metal Burst to lure and KO almost any attacker, but its own attacks are usually strong and reliable enough.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water**: All Pokemon that use Water-type attacks, including Milotic, Mega Blastoise, Barbaracle, and Feraligatr, threaten Rhyperior with an easy KO. Milotic is the only one that can switch in on Rhyperior's attacks with consistency, however, and even it is in trouble against the Choice Band set.
**Grass**: Grass-types like Shaymin, Rotom-C, and Virizion can switch in on Stealth Rock or Earthquake and easily take Rhyperior out. Roserade and users of Grass-type coverage like Ninetales can similarly deal massive damage but aren't able to safely come in on a STAB attack. No Grass-type likes taking Ice Punch on the switch, either.
**Walls**: Particularly bulky Pokemon that aren't weak to one of Rhyperior's STAB moves like Milotic, Cresselia, and Bronzong can keep Stealth Rock sets at bay, and only Cresselia lacks means to deal with Toxic.
**Fighting-types**: The likes of Bewear, Pangoro, and Machamp would rather not take Earthquake on the switch, but they outspeed Rhyperior and threaten major damage to it and its team.
**Status**: Rhyperior has no recovery options except Leftovers, so poison quickly eliminates its ability to take hits. Burns don't occur often thanks to how threatening Scald already is to Rhyperior, but they'll leave it even easier to exploit.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[CryoGyro, 331519]]
- Quality checked by: [[col49, 105625], [phantom, 180300], [avocado, 56549]]
- Grammar checked by: [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [frostration, 447027]]
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