[OVERVIEW]
Hisuian Goodra's incredible natural bulk, solid defensive typing, and numerous ways to make progress cement it as one of the most reliable defensive Pokemon in the tier. Hisuian Goodra's Dragon / Steel typing gives it resistances to STAB attacks from the strongest special attackers in the tier, such as Armarouge, Volcanion, and Hisuian Zoroark, while its high Special Defense allows it to usually shrug off neutral hits as well. Moreover, there are very few Pokemon in the metagame that can slow Hisuian Goodra down from making progress with its Choice Specs set carrying immense power and its defensive set's access to several coverage and utility options such as Knock Off, Acid Spray, and Protect. However, Hisuian Goodra's low Speed stat holds it back quite a bit, rendering it weak to common offensive threats such as Galarian Zapdos, Krookodile, and Mamoswine and even generally slow Pokemon such as Chesnaught and Golurk. Its lack of reliable recovery also significantly lowers its effectiveness as a defensive sponge, making it vulnerable to getting chipped down by entry hazards and VoltTurn cores over longer games.
[SET]
Bulky Attacker (Goodra-Hisui) @ Leftovers / Assault Vest
Ability: Sap Sipper / Gooey
Tera Type: Fairy / Ghost / Water
EVs: 252 HP / 64 Def / 192 SpA
Quiet Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Heavy Slam / Flash Cannon / Acid Spray
- Knock Off / Earthquake / Flamethrower
- Protect / Dragon Tail
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Bulky attacker Hisuian Goodra leverages its good natural bulk to consistently tank special attacks and strike back with strong attacks and progress-making moves. Heavy Slam is great for dealing with specially defensive foes such as Calm Mind Fezandipiti and Wo-Chien, while Flash Cannon is better for threatening Mamoswine and Rhyperior. Acid Spray is an alternative that can more consistently take down defensive tanks in combination with Draco Meteor, especially ones that can't threaten Hisuian Goodra back like Umbreon and Slowbro. Knock Off is fantastic for making progress against common switch-ins such as Jirachi, Registeel, and the aforementioned Umbreon, as well as enabling Acid Spray by removing Covert Cloak from common users like Fezandipiti and Slowbro. Earthquake similarly hits Steel-types as well as key targets such as Empoleon and Volcanion. Flamethrower is an alternative that also helps Hisuian Goodra deal with Pokemon like Wo-Chien and Forretress more easily. Protect is incredibly useful on Leftovers Hisuian Goodra, allowing it to heal up safely while scouting for attacks, especially those from common Choice item users such as Galarian Zapdos and Krookodile. Dragon Tail is an option that can chip away at switch-ins, especially if entry hazards are set up on the opposing field, and phaze threatening setup sweepers like Oricorio-E. Although these options are slashed in specific slots, it should be noted that Hisuian Goodra is able to freely mix and match from them to suit the needs of its team. Leftovers is valuable on Hisuian Goodra to make up for its lack of reliable recovery, though Assault Vest can be used to make it a nigh-unbreakable special wall. Sap Sipper allows Hisuian Goodra to wall Grass-types such as Wo-Chien and Amoonguss. Gooey is an alternative that can slow down physical attackers like Jirachi and Maushold to then allow Hisuian Goodra or one of its teammates to outspeed them and strike back, but it should be used with caution due to Galarian Zapdos and Bisharp being very common in the metagame and able to exploit it with Defiant. The given EVs let Hisuian Goodra survive an Earthquake from Jolly Mamoswine; however, similar to its moveset, Hisuian Goodra's EV spread and nature can be altered to suit its desired defensive and offensive capabilities. Tera Fairy flips Hisuian Goodra's weakness to Fighting into a resistance, removes its weakness to Ground, and provides a valuable resistance to Knock Off, enabling it to survive hits from physical wallbreakers such as Galarian Zapdos and Krookodile and threaten them back with its powerful attacks. Tera Ghost instead provides an immunity to Fighting to help against Fighting-type wallbreakers like Slither Wing, though Hisuian Goodra should be careful of the acquired weaknesses to Dark- and Ghost-type attacks from common Pokemon such as Krookodile, Bisharp, and Basculegion-F. Tera Water removes Hisuian Goodra's weaknesses while retaining its resistance to Iron Head from Jirachi and Bisharp. Additionally, Tera Water improves Hisuian Goodra's ability to deal with Volcanion and should be combined with Sap Sipper to nullify the Grass weakness it causes Hisuian Goodra to have. However, Tera Water has the caveat of making Hisuian Goodra unable to deal with Electric-types such as Magnezone and Oricorio-E.
Hisuian Goodra is a fantastic fit on balance and bulky offense teams as a blanket switch-in to most special attackers in the tier such as Armarouge and Basculegion-F. Physically defensive partners such as Galarian Weezing, Slowbro, and Hippowdon are practically necessities for Hisuian Goodra, as they can tank attacks from physical wallbreakers like Galarian Zapdos, Mamoswine, and Krookodile. On top of that, (AC) they also serve as Knock Off absorbers, which Hisuian Goodra appreciates due to often being item reliant, particularly if it's holding Leftovers. Hisuian Goodra greatly appreciates entry hazard removal from Noivern, Talonflame, or the aforementioned Galarian Weezing due to its lack of reliable recovery; Cyclizar can also be used, though it can be a suboptimal partner due to overlapping roles and sharing the Fighting weakness with Hisuian Goodra. To similarly make up for Hisuian Goodra's lack of recovery, Wish passers like Umbreon and Jirachi can be valuable teammates. Acid Spray Hisuian Goodra pairs well with strong special attackers like Basculegion-F and Volcanion that can exploit the weakened foe or an unsuspecting switch-in to blow holes in the opposing team. Hisuian Goodra's Knock Off and Dragon Tail can help make progress on hazard-stacking structures, with setters like Krookodile, Jirachi, and Chesnaught, by removing Heavy-Duty Boots from the opposing team and chipping away at them through hazards and phazing. Hisuian Goodra can often struggle to stop bulky setup sweepers such as Bisharp, Gyarados, and Suicune; therefore, teammates that can handle them defensively, such as Chesnaught, Umbreon, and Alluring Voice Fezandipiti, respectively, as well as those with disruption options, such as Choice Scarf Trick Gardevoir, Encore Jirachi, and Whirlwind Hippowdon, are important to have.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
An IronPress set with Acid Armor and Body Press can significantly improve Hisuian Goodra's ability to deal with physical attacks and possibly allow it to sweep, though its lack of recovery makes it suboptimal. Fire Blast can be used over Flamethrower to trade accuracy for power, notably allowing bulky attacker Hisuian Goodra to 2HKO Jirachi and guaranteeing Choice Specs Hisuian Goodra an OHKO on Bisharp. Thunderbolt allows bulky attacker sets to hit Water-types like Slowbro, Volcanion, and Empoleon.
Checks and Counters
====
**Fighting-types**: Many of the Fighting-type Pokemon in the metagame such as Galarian Zapdos, Slither Wing, and Mienshao threaten to OHKO Hisuian Goodra. Chesnaught can similarly take it down after some chip damage.
**Ground-types**: Ground-types like Krookodile and Mamoswine can outspeed and KO Hisuian Goodra. Though Rhyperior and Hippowdon are slower, they can usually survive a hit and deal significant damage back.
**Bulky Setup Sweepers**: Setup sweepers with decent bulk like Bisharp, Suicune, and Oricorio-E can often tank Hisuian Goodra's attacks as well as prepare to KO it back and potentially sweep. Calm Mind sweepers such as Slowbro and Reuniclus can also pose problems to Hisuian Goodra if it lacks Acid Spray. While Dragon Tail can phaze many of these sweepers, it fails against Substitute Suicune and Tera Fairy users.
**Entry Hazards**: Despite Hisuian Goodra's resistance to Stealth Rock, it is vulnerable to getting chipped down by entry hazards due to its lack of reliable recovery, eventually making it unable to answer special wallbreakers such as Choice Specs Basculegion-F and Hisuian Zoroark.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sir-tetris.655207/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flampoke.654091/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rarelyme.513635/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
Hisuian Goodra's incredible natural bulk, solid defensive typing, and numerous ways to make progress cement it as one of the most reliable defensive Pokemon in the tier. Hisuian Goodra's Dragon / Steel typing gives it resistances to STAB attacks from the strongest special attackers in the tier, such as Armarouge, Volcanion, and Hisuian Zoroark, while its high Special Defense allows it to usually shrug off neutral hits as well. Moreover, there are very few Pokemon in the metagame that can slow Hisuian Goodra down from making progress with its Choice Specs set carrying immense power and its defensive set's access to several coverage and utility options such as Knock Off, Acid Spray, and Protect. However, Hisuian Goodra's low Speed stat holds it back quite a bit, rendering it weak to common offensive threats such as Galarian Zapdos, Krookodile, and Mamoswine and even generally slow Pokemon such as Chesnaught and Golurk. Its lack of reliable recovery also significantly lowers its effectiveness as a defensive sponge, making it vulnerable to getting chipped down by entry hazards and VoltTurn cores over longer games.
[SET]
Bulky Attacker (Goodra-Hisui) @ Leftovers / Assault Vest
Ability: Sap Sipper / Gooey
Tera Type: Fairy / Ghost / Water
EVs: 252 HP / 64 Def / 192 SpA
Quiet Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Heavy Slam / Flash Cannon / Acid Spray
- Knock Off / Earthquake / Flamethrower
- Protect / Dragon Tail
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Bulky attacker Hisuian Goodra leverages its good natural bulk to consistently tank special attacks and strike back with strong attacks and progress-making moves. Heavy Slam is great for dealing with specially defensive foes such as Calm Mind Fezandipiti and Wo-Chien, while Flash Cannon is better for threatening Mamoswine and Rhyperior. Acid Spray is an alternative that can more consistently take down defensive tanks in combination with Draco Meteor, especially ones that can't threaten Hisuian Goodra back like Umbreon and Slowbro. Knock Off is fantastic for making progress against common switch-ins such as Jirachi, Registeel, and the aforementioned Umbreon, as well as enabling Acid Spray by removing Covert Cloak from common users like Fezandipiti and Slowbro. Earthquake similarly hits Steel-types as well as key targets such as Empoleon and Volcanion. Flamethrower is an alternative that also helps Hisuian Goodra deal with Pokemon like Wo-Chien and Forretress more easily. Protect is incredibly useful on Leftovers Hisuian Goodra, allowing it to heal up safely while scouting for attacks, especially those from common Choice item users such as Galarian Zapdos and Krookodile. Dragon Tail is an option that can chip away at switch-ins, especially if entry hazards are set up on the opposing field, and phaze threatening setup sweepers like Oricorio-E. Although these options are slashed in specific slots, it should be noted that Hisuian Goodra is able to freely mix and match from them to suit the needs of its team. Leftovers is valuable on Hisuian Goodra to make up for its lack of reliable recovery, though Assault Vest can be used to make it a nigh-unbreakable special wall. Sap Sipper allows Hisuian Goodra to wall Grass-types such as Wo-Chien and Amoonguss. Gooey is an alternative that can slow down physical attackers like Jirachi and Maushold to then allow Hisuian Goodra or one of its teammates to outspeed them and strike back, but it should be used with caution due to Galarian Zapdos and Bisharp being very common in the metagame and able to exploit it with Defiant. The given EVs let Hisuian Goodra survive an Earthquake from Jolly Mamoswine; however, similar to its moveset, Hisuian Goodra's EV spread and nature can be altered to suit its desired defensive and offensive capabilities. Tera Fairy flips Hisuian Goodra's weakness to Fighting into a resistance, removes its weakness to Ground, and provides a valuable resistance to Knock Off, enabling it to survive hits from physical wallbreakers such as Galarian Zapdos and Krookodile and threaten them back with its powerful attacks. Tera Ghost instead provides an immunity to Fighting to help against Fighting-type wallbreakers like Slither Wing, though Hisuian Goodra should be careful of the acquired weaknesses to Dark- and Ghost-type attacks from common Pokemon such as Krookodile, Bisharp, and Basculegion-F. Tera Water removes Hisuian Goodra's weaknesses while retaining its resistance to Iron Head from Jirachi and Bisharp. Additionally, Tera Water improves Hisuian Goodra's ability to deal with Volcanion and should be combined with Sap Sipper to nullify the Grass weakness it causes Hisuian Goodra to have. However, Tera Water has the caveat of making Hisuian Goodra unable to deal with Electric-types such as Magnezone and Oricorio-E.
Hisuian Goodra is a fantastic fit on balance and bulky offense teams as a blanket switch-in to most special attackers in the tier such as Armarouge and Basculegion-F. Physically defensive partners such as Galarian Weezing, Slowbro, and Hippowdon are practically necessities for Hisuian Goodra, as they can tank attacks from physical wallbreakers like Galarian Zapdos, Mamoswine, and Krookodile. On top of that, (AC) they also serve as Knock Off absorbers, which Hisuian Goodra appreciates due to often being item reliant, particularly if it's holding Leftovers. Hisuian Goodra greatly appreciates entry hazard removal from Noivern, Talonflame, or the aforementioned Galarian Weezing due to its lack of reliable recovery; Cyclizar can also be used, though it can be a suboptimal partner due to overlapping roles and sharing the Fighting weakness with Hisuian Goodra. To similarly make up for Hisuian Goodra's lack of recovery, Wish passers like Umbreon and Jirachi can be valuable teammates. Acid Spray Hisuian Goodra pairs well with strong special attackers like Basculegion-F and Volcanion that can exploit the weakened foe or an unsuspecting switch-in to blow holes in the opposing team. Hisuian Goodra's Knock Off and Dragon Tail can help make progress on hazard-stacking structures, with setters like Krookodile, Jirachi, and Chesnaught, by removing Heavy-Duty Boots from the opposing team and chipping away at them through hazards and phazing. Hisuian Goodra can often struggle to stop bulky setup sweepers such as Bisharp, Gyarados, and Suicune; therefore, teammates that can handle them defensively, such as Chesnaught, Umbreon, and Alluring Voice Fezandipiti, respectively, as well as those with disruption options, such as Choice Scarf Trick Gardevoir, Encore Jirachi, and Whirlwind Hippowdon, are important to have.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
An IronPress set with Acid Armor and Body Press can significantly improve Hisuian Goodra's ability to deal with physical attacks and possibly allow it to sweep, though its lack of recovery makes it suboptimal. Fire Blast can be used over Flamethrower to trade accuracy for power, notably allowing bulky attacker Hisuian Goodra to 2HKO Jirachi and guaranteeing Choice Specs Hisuian Goodra an OHKO on Bisharp. Thunderbolt allows bulky attacker sets to hit Water-types like Slowbro, Volcanion, and Empoleon.
Checks and Counters
====
**Fighting-types**: Many of the Fighting-type Pokemon in the metagame such as Galarian Zapdos, Slither Wing, and Mienshao threaten to OHKO Hisuian Goodra. Chesnaught can similarly take it down after some chip damage.
**Ground-types**: Ground-types like Krookodile and Mamoswine can outspeed and KO Hisuian Goodra. Though Rhyperior and Hippowdon are slower, they can usually survive a hit and deal significant damage back.
**Bulky Setup Sweepers**: Setup sweepers with decent bulk like Bisharp, Suicune, and Oricorio-E can often tank Hisuian Goodra's attacks as well as prepare to KO it back and potentially sweep. Calm Mind sweepers such as Slowbro and Reuniclus can also pose problems to Hisuian Goodra if it lacks Acid Spray. While Dragon Tail can phaze many of these sweepers, it fails against Substitute Suicune and Tera Fairy users.
**Entry Hazards**: Despite Hisuian Goodra's resistance to Stealth Rock, it is vulnerable to getting chipped down by entry hazards due to its lack of reliable recovery, eventually making it unable to answer special wallbreakers such as Choice Specs Basculegion-F and Hisuian Zoroark.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sir-tetris.655207/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flampoke.654091/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rarelyme.513635/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
Last edited:
