[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 4 onwards
**Price Range**: 12-13 points
**Overview**: Hisuian Arcanine is an excellent wallbreaker thanks to its solid Attack stat combined with extremely strong STAB moves and a lack of recoil damage thanks to Rock Head. There are very few Pokemon that want to switch into its strong STAB moves, and it can make up for its lower Speed tier with Extreme Speed. It even has some utility with Intimidate and Stealth Rock and can use Morning Sun to prolong its stay on the battlefield. However, its weakness to Stealth Rock, mediocre bulk, and unimpressive base Speed hold it back from being a stronger threat.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: Hisuian Arcanine's extremely powerful STAB moves and respectable Attack mean any Pokemon has to be careful switching in.Its solid Speed means it outspeeds most defensive Pokemon, and Choice Band boosts its Attack to sky-high levels. The combination of Head Smash, Flare Blitz, and Close Combat is unresisted, and Hisuian Arcanine has a number of coverage moves to hit OHKO or 2HKO thresholds.
**Defensive Pivot**: Heavy-Duty Boots, Intimidate, and Morning Sun let Hisuian Arcanine play a utility role, coming in on physical threats and forcing them out through Intimidate and the threat of Will-O-Wisp. It can stay healthy with Morning Sun and force progress with Stealth Rock or the threat of a strong Flare Blitz or Head Smash.
**Setup Sweeper**: Hisuian Arcanine can use Agility in combination with Life Orb and its strong STAB moves to clean up a weakened opposing team. At +2, Hisuian Arcanine outspeeds most +1 Pokemon, making it relatively safe from Choice Scarf users.
**Revenge Killer**: Hisuian Arcanine has a great Speed tier for Choice Scarf, and its strong STAB moves can take care of most setup sweepers. It even has Extreme Speed as a priority option in case its foe is still faster.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Head Smash, Flare Blitz, Stone Edge, Raging Fury
**Setup Moves**: Agility, Flame Charge
**Utility Moves**: Will-O-Wisp, Morning Sun, Roar, Stealth Rock
**Coverage**: Extreme Speed, Crunch, Iron Head, Outrage, Psychic Fangs, Wild Charge, Close Combat
Niche Moves
========
**Rock Tomb / Bulldoze**: Rock Tomb and Bulldoze can help with speed control on more defensive sets and ensure certain foes cannot set up.
**Rock Blast**: Rock Blast is more accurate than Head Smash and can bypass Sturdy and Focus Sash, letting Hisuian Arcanine stop certain revenge killers from ruining its day.
**Special Attacks**: Hisuian Arcanine has a decent base Special Attack stat, so if your opponent has a good physical check to it that woulddie to be KOed by a special attack from it, you can slap Choice Specs on it to catch your opponent off guard.
Common Items
========
**Choice Band**: Choice Band boosts Hisuian Arcanine's Attack to absurd levels and, in combination with strong moves like Head Smash and Flare Blitz, lets it threaten 2HKOs or OHKOs on a majority of Pokemon.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots gets rid of Hisuian Arcanine's weakness to Stealth Rock and allows it to switch in more freely, either to continually use strong attacks throughout the game or use Intimidate and threaten Will-O-Wisp against foes with its bulkier sets.
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf lets Hisuian Arcanine act as a powerful revenge killer, outspeeding most unboosted Pokemon while still being a threatening presence.
**Other Damage-boosting Items**: Other damage-boosting items such as Charcoal and Life Orb can be used to boost Hisuian Arcanine's damage output without locking it into a move.
Niche Items
========
**Resistance Berries**: If there is a specific threat that only Hisuian Arcanine can check, and it can only survive against it with the help of a resistance Berry, then it can be worthwhile to use one.
**Rocky Helmet**: Rocky Helmet in combination with Intimidate can punish physical attackers with contact moves and also help punish U-turn.
**Protective Pads**: Hisuian Arcanine makes contact with almost all of its offensive moves, so Protective Pads can keep it safe from Rough Skin or Rocky Helmet.
Tera
========
Hisuian Arcanine doesn't need to be a Tera Captain, as it's threatening even without a boost to its STAB moves from Tera. If you do choose to use it as a Tera Captain, Tera Rock and Fire help boost Hisuian Arcanine's best traits in its incredibly powerful attacks. Tera Fighting lets it have completely unresisted STAB coverage, and Tera Normal gives it strong priority in STAB Extreme Speed. Tera types like Tera Grass, Water, and Flying let it flip its defensive weaknesses into resistances while giving it solid coverage options, while Tera Fairy is a strong defensive type that works well with Hisuian Arcanine's defensive pivot set.
Draft Strategy
========
Hisuian Arcanine should be drafted when your team is in need of a strong physical wallbreaker. It can muscle past most defensive Pokemon, and it can severely weaken the toughest of defensive checks, allowing your setup sweepers to close out games.
**Slow Pivots**: Hisuian Arcanine is not the bulkiest Pokemon, and it has a poor defensive typing. Hard switching it in on an attack leaves it with little health to do its job, and with its offensive sets not running Heavy-Duty Boots, it can be easily chipped down by entry hazards. Pokemon like Scizor, Galarian Slowking, and Corviknight can take an attack and switch out, letting Hisuian Arcanine come in safely on their checks.
**Entry Hazard Removal**: Hisuian Arcanine typically runs a Choice item or Life Orb and has a weakness to Stealth Rock. Pokemon like Iron Treads, Excadrill, and Corviknight can remove entry hazards and in some cases act as pivots or bait out moves that Hisuian Arcanine doesn't mind switching in on.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Strong special wallbreakers like Darkrai, Thundurus-T, and Latios can take care of the walls that Hisuian Arcanine has trouble with, allowing it to sweep weakened teams.
**Other Stealth Rock Setters**: Hisuian Arcanine rarely wants to be bringing Stealth Rock to matches, so make sure you have other options to set entry hazards. Iron Treads, Great Tusk, and Azelf are all solid options that work well with Hisuian Arcanine.
Checks and Counters
========
**Fire- and Rock-resistant Pokemon**: Pokemon that resist Hisuian Arcanine's STAB combination can be a problem for it, since it wants to be using Head Smash or Flare Blitz as often as possible. Quagsire, Kommo-o, and Quaquaval can all switch in on Hisuian Arcanine and tank a hit while threatening a KO back.
**Faster Threats**: With only middling base Speed, Hisuian Arcanine doesn't outspeed a lot of offensive Pokemon, and with medium defenses and a poor defensive typing, it can be easily taken out in one hit. Pokemon like Greninja, Landorus-T, and Roaring Moon can threaten it out with faster super effective attacks.
**Entry Hazards**: Offensive sets want to run a Choice item or Life Orb; thus, Hisuian Arcanine is very vulnerable to being chipped down by entry hazards. Pokemon like Gastrodon, Hisuian Samurott, and Gliscor can set up hazards while making sure it can't switch in.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/fr3ya.574067/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scribble.356084/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sablolol.466715/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
**Draft Order**: Round 4 onwards
**Price Range**: 12-13 points
**Overview**: Hisuian Arcanine is an excellent wallbreaker thanks to its solid Attack stat combined with extremely strong STAB moves and a lack of recoil damage thanks to Rock Head. There are very few Pokemon that want to switch into its strong STAB moves, and it can make up for its lower Speed tier with Extreme Speed. It even has some utility with Intimidate and Stealth Rock and can use Morning Sun to prolong its stay on the battlefield. However, its weakness to Stealth Rock, mediocre bulk, and unimpressive base Speed hold it back from being a stronger threat.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: Hisuian Arcanine's extremely powerful STAB moves and respectable Attack mean any Pokemon has to be careful switching in.Its solid Speed means it outspeeds most defensive Pokemon, and Choice Band boosts its Attack to sky-high levels. The combination of Head Smash, Flare Blitz, and Close Combat is unresisted, and Hisuian Arcanine has a number of coverage moves to hit OHKO or 2HKO thresholds.
**Defensive Pivot**: Heavy-Duty Boots, Intimidate, and Morning Sun let Hisuian Arcanine play a utility role, coming in on physical threats and forcing them out through Intimidate and the threat of Will-O-Wisp. It can stay healthy with Morning Sun and force progress with Stealth Rock or the threat of a strong Flare Blitz or Head Smash.
**Setup Sweeper**: Hisuian Arcanine can use Agility in combination with Life Orb and its strong STAB moves to clean up a weakened opposing team. At +2, Hisuian Arcanine outspeeds most +1 Pokemon, making it relatively safe from Choice Scarf users.
**Revenge Killer**: Hisuian Arcanine has a great Speed tier for Choice Scarf, and its strong STAB moves can take care of most setup sweepers. It even has Extreme Speed as a priority option in case its foe is still faster.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Head Smash, Flare Blitz, Stone Edge, Raging Fury
**Setup Moves**: Agility, Flame Charge
**Utility Moves**: Will-O-Wisp, Morning Sun, Roar, Stealth Rock
**Coverage**: Extreme Speed, Crunch, Iron Head, Outrage, Psychic Fangs, Wild Charge, Close Combat
Niche Moves
========
**Rock Tomb / Bulldoze**: Rock Tomb and Bulldoze can help with speed control on more defensive sets and ensure certain foes cannot set up.
**Rock Blast**: Rock Blast is more accurate than Head Smash and can bypass Sturdy and Focus Sash, letting Hisuian Arcanine stop certain revenge killers from ruining its day.
**Special Attacks**: Hisuian Arcanine has a decent base Special Attack stat, so if your opponent has a good physical check to it that would
Common Items
========
**Choice Band**: Choice Band boosts Hisuian Arcanine's Attack to absurd levels and, in combination with strong moves like Head Smash and Flare Blitz, lets it threaten 2HKOs or OHKOs on a majority of Pokemon.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots gets rid of Hisuian Arcanine's weakness to Stealth Rock and allows it to switch in more freely, either to continually use strong attacks throughout the game or use Intimidate and threaten Will-O-Wisp against foes with its bulkier sets.
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf lets Hisuian Arcanine act as a powerful revenge killer, outspeeding most unboosted Pokemon while still being a threatening presence.
**Other Damage-boosting Items**: Other damage-boosting items such as Charcoal and Life Orb can be used to boost Hisuian Arcanine's damage output without locking it into a move.
Niche Items
========
**Resistance Berries**: If there is a specific threat that only Hisuian Arcanine can check, and it can only survive against it with the help of a resistance Berry, then it can be worthwhile to use one.
**Rocky Helmet**: Rocky Helmet in combination with Intimidate can punish physical attackers with contact moves and also help punish U-turn.
**Protective Pads**: Hisuian Arcanine makes contact with almost all of its offensive moves, so Protective Pads can keep it safe from Rough Skin or Rocky Helmet.
Tera
========
Hisuian Arcanine doesn't need to be a Tera Captain, as it's threatening even without a boost to its STAB moves from Tera. If you do choose to use it as a Tera Captain, Tera Rock and Fire help boost Hisuian Arcanine's best traits in its incredibly powerful attacks. Tera Fighting lets it have completely unresisted STAB coverage, and Tera Normal gives it strong priority in STAB Extreme Speed. Tera types like Tera Grass, Water, and Flying let it flip its defensive weaknesses into resistances while giving it solid coverage options, while Tera Fairy is a strong defensive type that works well with Hisuian Arcanine's defensive pivot set.
Draft Strategy
========
Hisuian Arcanine should be drafted when your team is in need of a strong physical wallbreaker. It can muscle past most defensive Pokemon, and it can severely weaken the toughest of defensive checks, allowing your setup sweepers to close out games.
**Slow Pivots**: Hisuian Arcanine is not the bulkiest Pokemon, and it has a poor defensive typing. Hard switching it in on an attack leaves it with little health to do its job, and with its offensive sets not running Heavy-Duty Boots, it can be easily chipped down by entry hazards. Pokemon like Scizor, Galarian Slowking, and Corviknight can take an attack and switch out, letting Hisuian Arcanine come in safely on their checks.
**Entry Hazard Removal**: Hisuian Arcanine typically runs a Choice item or Life Orb and has a weakness to Stealth Rock. Pokemon like Iron Treads, Excadrill, and Corviknight can remove entry hazards and in some cases act as pivots or bait out moves that Hisuian Arcanine doesn't mind switching in on.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Strong special wallbreakers like Darkrai, Thundurus-T, and Latios can take care of the walls that Hisuian Arcanine has trouble with, allowing it to sweep weakened teams.
**Other Stealth Rock Setters**: Hisuian Arcanine rarely wants to be bringing Stealth Rock to matches, so make sure you have other options to set entry hazards. Iron Treads, Great Tusk, and Azelf are all solid options that work well with Hisuian Arcanine.
Checks and Counters
========
**Fire- and Rock-resistant Pokemon**: Pokemon that resist Hisuian Arcanine's STAB combination can be a problem for it, since it wants to be using Head Smash or Flare Blitz as often as possible. Quagsire, Kommo-o, and Quaquaval can all switch in on Hisuian Arcanine and tank a hit while threatening a KO back.
**Faster Threats**: With only middling base Speed, Hisuian Arcanine doesn't outspeed a lot of offensive Pokemon, and with medium defenses and a poor defensive typing, it can be easily taken out in one hit. Pokemon like Greninja, Landorus-T, and Roaring Moon can threaten it out with faster super effective attacks.
**Entry Hazards**: Offensive sets want to run a Choice item or Life Orb; thus, Hisuian Arcanine is very vulnerable to being chipped down by entry hazards. Pokemon like Gastrodon, Hisuian Samurott, and Gliscor can set up hazards while making sure it can't switch in.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/fr3ya.574067/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scribble.356084/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sablolol.466715/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
Last edited: