
[SET]
name: Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Outrage
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Iron Tail
item: Haban Berry / Leftovers
ability: Mold Breaker
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Haxorus makes for a potent Dragon Dance sweeper thanks to Dynamax. After a single Dragon Dance, it can outspeed threats such as Dragapult and Choice Scarf Galarian Darmanitan, while its massive Attack stat is only stopped by potent defensive walls such as Galarian Corsola and Hippowdon. The Mold Breaker ability allows Haxorus to ignore the defensive abilities of Pokemon such as Quagsire and Eiscue, as well as allowing its Earthquake or Max Quake to strike at levitating Pokemon such as Rotom-H and Rotom-W. Outrage is Haxorus' most powerful STAB move, requiring significantly less prior damage to KO walls that would otherwise stop it, like the aforementioned Galarian Corsola. However, Haxorus cannot Dynamax while locked into Outrage. Earthquake is necessary to hit Steel-types such as Aegislash, as well as being generally the most reliable attack in Haxorus' arsenal due to having no downsides and a solid offensive typing. Iron Tail is used to hit Togekiss and Clefable, which otherwise wall the attacking combination of Dragon- and Ground-type attacks. The combination of Max Steelspike and Max Quake when Dynamaxed allows Haxorus to increase its Defense and Special Defense, making it much more difficult to revenge kill during and after Dynamax. Another move that might be considered is Close Combat, which allows Haxorus to potentially beat Corviknight and to better handle Ferrothorn, as well as boosting its Attack while Dynamaxed. Substitute can also be used in order to set up on passive Pokemon such as Toxapex and to protect against Ditto, but Substitutes are lost when Dynamaxing which limits Haxorus' options behind a Substitute. Haban Berry is used to allow Haxorus to survive an Outrage from an opposing Ditto while Dynamaxed, preventing this common Choice Scarf user from revenge killing Haxorus consistently. Leftovers is an alternative that gives Haxorus more longevity at the cost of being completely vulnerable to Ditto.
Haxorus fits best on offensive teams, which appreciate its ability to punch holes in the opposing team or sweep outright. It can be prudent to pair Haxorus with a Pokemon that checks it to ensure Ditto cannot reverse sweep your team. Corviknight would be an excellent partner as it resists all of the moves on this set and has superb bulk. Haxorus can also be used to lure Ditto into performing an Outrage, trapping it and allowing a partner to eliminate it to facilitate a different sweeper, such as Dragon Dance Tyranitar.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Darvin, 262367]]
- Quality checked by: [[Jordy, 395754], [Mannat, 144451]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Mafeking, 122460]]
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