[SET]
name: Physical Wall
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Toxic / Rock Slide
move 4: Slack Off
item: Eviolite
ability: Sand Force
nature: Impish
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
A Ground typing, solid Eviolite-boosted bulk, and reliable recovery shape Hippopotas into a good wall to take on physical attackers like Lairon, Mienfoo, Muk, Arbok, and Pawniard. Even stronger physical wallbreakers like Slaking, Choice Band Exploud, and Guts Luxray struggle to break through Hippopotas's bulk on their own. Stealth Rock is a mandatory move for every team, and Hippopotas is a great user of the move, finding opportunities against top-tier physical attackers like Lairon, Persian, and Muk. STAB Earthquake helps define Hippopotas's role as a counter to the Poison-types and Lairon, which are some of the most difficult Pokemon to check in the tier. Toxic is a catch-all move that synergizes well with STAB Earthquake and notably cripples Leafeon and Solrock, which could otherwise fully wall Hippopotas and threaten to set up or spread their own status effects. Rock Slide is a good alternative that 2HKOes Emolga and forces it to play mindgames versus Hippopotas's Earthquake when using Roost for recovery. Rock Slide helps Hippopotas remain offensive versus other Flying-types like Pelipper. Hippopotas's Sand Stream ability is not legal in ZU, so it uses Sand Force.
Hippopotas best fits on bulkier teams looking to recruit a physically defensive backbone. The bulkier teams Hippopotas fits on can complement it with a specially defensive partner like Clefairy, Meganium, or Grumpig. Clefairy is an especially amazing partner for Hippopotas thanks to Magic Guard, great special bulk, and the freedom to use one of its many utility moves besides Stealth Rock. Clefairy appreciates Hippopotas beating one of Clefairy's best checks, Muk, and taking on other physical attackers like it. Choice Scarf Grumpig is a great check to special setup sweepers like Simisear that would threaten to break through Hippopotas. Frillish makes for an excellent partner for Hippopotas, blocking Staryu's Rapid Spin, defusing physical attackers with Scald or Will-O-Wisp, and taking on problematic Pokemon like Kingler and Clefairy for Hippopotas. In turn, Frillish appreciates Hippopotas taking the strain off checking Lairon, Arbok, and Muk. Leafeon and Meganium can alleviate status effects Hippopotas takes with Heal Bell and Aromatherapy respectively, while Ivysaur and Gloom are immune to Toxic; all of the aforementioned Grass-types take on problematic Water- and Grass-types for Hippopotas while appreciating its capacity to check Muk, Arbok, and Emolga for them. Staryu can absorb status effects for Hippopotas with Natural Cure. In exchange, Hippopotas takes pressure off of Staryu by checking physical attackers like Muk, Mienfoo, and Arbok for it, which can give it more opportunities to use Rapid Spin.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hippopotas could run a specially defensive set with an EV spread of 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD and a Careful nature to face Raichu, Simisear, and Pikachu. However, Hippopotas's typing makes it much more effective as a physical wall given that its Ice and Water weaknesses make it vulnerable to common special attackers like Walrein, Glaceon, and Staryu. Hippopotas can run Whirlwind to phaze switch-ins like Leafeon and Meganium, forming a nice synergy with Stealth Rock. Whirlwind can also phaze setup sweepers like Shelgon, Grumpig, and Mothim. Like with Toxic, running Whirlwind over Rock Slide makes Hippopotas more passive against Flying-types, and Whirlwind is ineffective if the opponent has one Pokemon remaining. Body Slam gives Hippopotas a way to spread paralysis, which is less expected and irritating for Pokemon like Solrock, Emolga, and Leafeon.
Checks and Counters
===================
** Grass-types**: Leafeon and Meganium take little damage from Hippopotas's Earthquake, have reliable recovery to stay healthy versus Hippopotas, threaten it out with their STAB moves, and can use it as setup fodder and a chance to support their teammates with Heal Bell or Aromatherapy. Ivysaur and Gloom possess great physical bulk and reliable recovery, letting them take advantage of Hippopotas and threaten it out with their Grass-type STAB moves.
**Water-types**: Most Water-types severely damage or OHKO Hippopotas with their STAB moves. Staryu, Frillish, and Pelipper have recovery to wall Hippopotas while they threaten it with Scald burns. Staryu and Frillish can disrupt Hippopotas's entry hazard setting with Rapid Spin and Taunt. Kingler and Whiscash have good physical bulk, which enables both of them to break through Hippopotas or use it as setup fodder. Walrein and Pelipper can come in as Stealth Rock is being set or on Hippopotas's Earthquake and threaten it out or exploit it to set up, but neither enjoys the additional chip damage from Stealth Rock.
**Bulky Pokemon**: Hippopotas's low damage output causes it to struggle against bulky foes. Solrock, Vibrava, and Vullaby are immune to Hippopotas's Earthquake, letting them switch in and recover. Bulky Toxic users such as Wormadam-S and Wormadam-G put Hippopotas on a timer and force it to use Slack Off more. Clefairy ignores Stealth Rock damage with Magic Guard and can take advantage of Hippopotas and support its team with its array of utility moves. Shelgon can use Hippopotas as setup fodder thanks to its bulk and is not bothered by Toxic with its RestTalk set.
**Special Attackers**: Special attackers like Mr. Mime, Grumpig, and Simisear can easily break through Hippopotas due to its lower special bulk, though they don't want to take its Earthquake. Glaceon is especially threatening because it can OHKO Hippopotas with Ice Beam and doesn't take much damage from Hippopotas's attacks, though Hippopotas's Stealth Rock can wear it down. Raichu and Pikachu threaten Hippopotas with Hidden Power Ice on the switch but are OHKOed by Earthquake.
**Knock Off**: Physical attackers that Hippopotas would normally like to counter, like Persian, Emolga, and Mienfoo, can use Knock Off to remove a substantial part of Hippopotas's bulk, opening up themselves or a teammate to more easily KO it. Several Pokemon that wall Hippopotas like Ivysaur, Clefairy, and Pelipper commonly run Knock Off.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monai.482455/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
name: Physical Wall
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Toxic / Rock Slide
move 4: Slack Off
item: Eviolite
ability: Sand Force
nature: Impish
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
A Ground typing, solid Eviolite-boosted bulk, and reliable recovery shape Hippopotas into a good wall to take on physical attackers like Lairon, Mienfoo, Muk, Arbok, and Pawniard. Even stronger physical wallbreakers like Slaking, Choice Band Exploud, and Guts Luxray struggle to break through Hippopotas's bulk on their own. Stealth Rock is a mandatory move for every team, and Hippopotas is a great user of the move, finding opportunities against top-tier physical attackers like Lairon, Persian, and Muk. STAB Earthquake helps define Hippopotas's role as a counter to the Poison-types and Lairon, which are some of the most difficult Pokemon to check in the tier. Toxic is a catch-all move that synergizes well with STAB Earthquake and notably cripples Leafeon and Solrock, which could otherwise fully wall Hippopotas and threaten to set up or spread their own status effects. Rock Slide is a good alternative that 2HKOes Emolga and forces it to play mindgames versus Hippopotas's Earthquake when using Roost for recovery. Rock Slide helps Hippopotas remain offensive versus other Flying-types like Pelipper. Hippopotas's Sand Stream ability is not legal in ZU, so it uses Sand Force.
Hippopotas best fits on bulkier teams looking to recruit a physically defensive backbone. The bulkier teams Hippopotas fits on can complement it with a specially defensive partner like Clefairy, Meganium, or Grumpig. Clefairy is an especially amazing partner for Hippopotas thanks to Magic Guard, great special bulk, and the freedom to use one of its many utility moves besides Stealth Rock. Clefairy appreciates Hippopotas beating one of Clefairy's best checks, Muk, and taking on other physical attackers like it. Choice Scarf Grumpig is a great check to special setup sweepers like Simisear that would threaten to break through Hippopotas. Frillish makes for an excellent partner for Hippopotas, blocking Staryu's Rapid Spin, defusing physical attackers with Scald or Will-O-Wisp, and taking on problematic Pokemon like Kingler and Clefairy for Hippopotas. In turn, Frillish appreciates Hippopotas taking the strain off checking Lairon, Arbok, and Muk. Leafeon and Meganium can alleviate status effects Hippopotas takes with Heal Bell and Aromatherapy respectively, while Ivysaur and Gloom are immune to Toxic; all of the aforementioned Grass-types take on problematic Water- and Grass-types for Hippopotas while appreciating its capacity to check Muk, Arbok, and Emolga for them. Staryu can absorb status effects for Hippopotas with Natural Cure. In exchange, Hippopotas takes pressure off of Staryu by checking physical attackers like Muk, Mienfoo, and Arbok for it, which can give it more opportunities to use Rapid Spin.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hippopotas could run a specially defensive set with an EV spread of 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD and a Careful nature to face Raichu, Simisear, and Pikachu. However, Hippopotas's typing makes it much more effective as a physical wall given that its Ice and Water weaknesses make it vulnerable to common special attackers like Walrein, Glaceon, and Staryu. Hippopotas can run Whirlwind to phaze switch-ins like Leafeon and Meganium, forming a nice synergy with Stealth Rock. Whirlwind can also phaze setup sweepers like Shelgon, Grumpig, and Mothim. Like with Toxic, running Whirlwind over Rock Slide makes Hippopotas more passive against Flying-types, and Whirlwind is ineffective if the opponent has one Pokemon remaining. Body Slam gives Hippopotas a way to spread paralysis, which is less expected and irritating for Pokemon like Solrock, Emolga, and Leafeon.
Checks and Counters
===================
** Grass-types**: Leafeon and Meganium take little damage from Hippopotas's Earthquake, have reliable recovery to stay healthy versus Hippopotas, threaten it out with their STAB moves, and can use it as setup fodder and a chance to support their teammates with Heal Bell or Aromatherapy. Ivysaur and Gloom possess great physical bulk and reliable recovery, letting them take advantage of Hippopotas and threaten it out with their Grass-type STAB moves.
**Water-types**: Most Water-types severely damage or OHKO Hippopotas with their STAB moves. Staryu, Frillish, and Pelipper have recovery to wall Hippopotas while they threaten it with Scald burns. Staryu and Frillish can disrupt Hippopotas's entry hazard setting with Rapid Spin and Taunt. Kingler and Whiscash have good physical bulk, which enables both of them to break through Hippopotas or use it as setup fodder. Walrein and Pelipper can come in as Stealth Rock is being set or on Hippopotas's Earthquake and threaten it out or exploit it to set up, but neither enjoys the additional chip damage from Stealth Rock.
**Bulky Pokemon**: Hippopotas's low damage output causes it to struggle against bulky foes. Solrock, Vibrava, and Vullaby are immune to Hippopotas's Earthquake, letting them switch in and recover. Bulky Toxic users such as Wormadam-S and Wormadam-G put Hippopotas on a timer and force it to use Slack Off more. Clefairy ignores Stealth Rock damage with Magic Guard and can take advantage of Hippopotas and support its team with its array of utility moves. Shelgon can use Hippopotas as setup fodder thanks to its bulk and is not bothered by Toxic with its RestTalk set.
**Special Attackers**: Special attackers like Mr. Mime, Grumpig, and Simisear can easily break through Hippopotas due to its lower special bulk, though they don't want to take its Earthquake. Glaceon is especially threatening because it can OHKO Hippopotas with Ice Beam and doesn't take much damage from Hippopotas's attacks, though Hippopotas's Stealth Rock can wear it down. Raichu and Pikachu threaten Hippopotas with Hidden Power Ice on the switch but are OHKOed by Earthquake.
**Knock Off**: Physical attackers that Hippopotas would normally like to counter, like Persian, Emolga, and Mienfoo, can use Knock Off to remove a substantial part of Hippopotas's bulk, opening up themselves or a teammate to more easily KO it. Several Pokemon that wall Hippopotas like Ivysaur, Clefairy, and Pelipper commonly run Knock Off.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monai.482455/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
Last edited: