Hydreigon @ Expert Belt
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Draco Meteor
- Flamethrower
- Focus Blast
- Dark Pulse
Hydreigon's a pretty underrated threat in this metagame. It's got a great move pool and plenty of offensive power, but its potential is usually wasted with choiced sets that demand perfect prediction. Using an Expert Belt allows Hydreigon to bluff a Scarf or Specs set and score lots of KOs with its carefully designed move selection.
Hydreigon has some notable advantages over other wall breaking Dragons. It isn't weak to Stealth Rock like Salamence is, and it doesn't have an exploitable Pursuit weakness like Latios. Hydreigon is unfortunately slower than the other two, but its Speed stat is still high enough to break through standard Jirachi / Rotom-W / Gliscor cores and other Pokémon at the common 244 Speed mark.
The Modest spread listed above maximizes Hydreigon's damage output and makes it fast enough to outspeed Adamant Haxorus and Base 85s. Draco Meteor is of course the set's hardest hitting move, boasting great damage and coverage. Flamethrower 2HKOes Jirachi after slight prior damage and is preferred for reliability against Steel-types, but Fire Blast is an option for extra power. Focus Blast covers Tyranitar and Heatran, and Dark Pulse gives Hydreigon a useful secondary STAB and even more type coverage.
The great thing about this set is its bluffing potential. Opponents who try to switch into a choice-locked resistance can easily be taken out the next turn. For example, a Tyranitar coming in to tank a Draco Meteor or Flamethrower will shortly be eliminated by Focus Blast. Since Hydreigon is used as a wall breaker, try to partner it with fast late-game sweepers to take advantage of its ability to break standard cores.
I LOVE Hydreigon!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this set, Faladran. I have tried it out, and I do say it really comes in great handy when it needs to.
Something I fear about bluffing Choice on PO, however, is that a lot of my opponents don't ever seem to consider that I'm bluffing in the first place. Either that or they're calling me out on my bluff, but I don't think too many of them are considerate enough to do that :/