[OVERVIEW]
Ho-Oh is the most consistent defensive Pokemon in Ubers. Monstrous base stats, a fantastic defensive typing, and access to Regenerator let it serve as a potent defensive pivot, helping its team handle threats like Koraidon, Extreme Killer Arceus, Necrozma-DM, and Calyrex-I. Nothing in the tier likes switching into a Sacred Fire, as even resists like Eternatus or defensive Arceus formes get chipped down by burns over the course of the game. Unfortunately, it is extremely weak to Kyogre, one of the most prominent Pokemon in the tier, and its high usage means that many Pokemon will run coverage specifically for it, such as Zacian-C and Koraidon running Wild Charge or Arceus-Ground and Landorus-T running Stone Edge. As Ho-Oh needs to stay at high HP to effectively check Scale Shot Koraidon, it can get broken down by consistent physical attacks. Many physical attackers run Tera Fire specifically because of Ho-Oh, allowing them to set up in the face of Sacred Fire. Ho-Oh is an extremely reliable member of any defensive core, and it is exceedingly rare that it does not contribute to any battle.
[SET]
Defensive (Ho-Oh) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Tera Type: Fairy / Grass / Dark
Impish Nature
- Sacred Fire
- Brave Bird
- Whirlwind / Earthquake
- Recover
[SET COMMENTS]
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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In the Other Options paragraph you can note any other options that are usable, yet not considered viable enough to be mentioned in the set comments. If there are none, feel free to keep this empty. Trying to fill this paragraph with bad options for the sake of it is detrimental to the user reading the analysis's experience.
Checks and Counters
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**Kyogre**: Rain combined with a natural resistance allows Kyogre to effortlessly shrug off Sacred Fires and threaten Ho-Oh back with super-effective Water-type moves or Thunder Wave. Many defensive Ho-Ohs will opt for Tera Grass just to flip the matchup against Kyogre, and offensive variants do 2HKO with Brave Bird, meaning Kyogre cannot just blindly switch in without first scouting Ho-Oh's set.
**Arceus-Water:** Arceus-Water resists Sacred Fire and doesn't mind taking a Brave Bird, letting it pivot into Ho-Oh, heal off the damage, and make progress with Thunder Wave or Calm Mind. The combination of Sacred Fire burns and Entry Hazards with Recover's limited PP does mean that it can get worn down over the longer game, limiting the number of times it safely enter the field.
**Knock Off Users**: Once its Heavy-Duty Boots have been removed, Ho-Oh becomes extremely vulnerable to Stealth Rocks. As such, Ho-Oh needs to be extremely wary of Pokemon like Necrozma-DM, Gliscor, and Tyranitar, who frequently carry the move.
**Garganacl:** Purifying Salt makes Garganacl immune to Sacred Fire burns, and it can repeatedly switch into Brave Birds to force progress with Salt Cure or Stealth Rocks.
**Tera Fire Pokemon:** Physical attackers such as Koraidon, Necrozma-DM, Extreme Killer Arceus, and Calyrex-I frequently use Tera Fire to resist Sacred Fire, turning Ho-Oh into setup fodder. Extreme Killer Arceus also frequently carries Taunt, which prevents Ho-Oh from phazing it out with Whirlwind.
**Eternatus:** Eternatus can repeatedly switch into a defensive Ho-Oh's attacks over the course of the game and threaten it out, keeping itself healthy with Recover. However, Eternatus has to be wary of offensive Ho-Oh, as it gets 2HKOed by Brave Bird, and even defensive Ho-Oh can threaten it out with Earthquake.
**Rock-type Coverage:** Thanks to its high usage, many setup sweepers carry Rock-type coverage specifically for Ho-Oh. This includes Stone Edge or Rock Tomb from physical Arceus-Ground and Landorus-T, Power Gem from special Arceus-Ground and Flutter Mane, and Meteor Beam from Lunala or Eternatus.
[SET CREDITS]
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