[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 6 onwards
**Price Range**: 10-11 points
**Overview**: Haxorus is a unique physical wallbreaker and sweeper that takes advantage of its immense Attack stat and access to Mold Breaker to sweep teams. With usable bulk and setup moves to bolster its average Speed stat, Haxorus also can find a niche on teams with speed control to bypass the necessity of outspeeding foes to effectively sweep. Despite all this, its awkward Speed tier lets foes easily revenge kill it, especially without setup, and it is heavily reliant on coverage, often not being able to fit every coverage move needed. Haxorus is typically drafted when looking for a cheap wallbreaker and potential setup sweeper.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Setup Sweeper**: Using Swords Dance or Dragon Dance to boost its Attack, Haxorus is an incredibly potent sweeper. Swords Dance + Scale Shot is typically preferred for immediate wallbreaking power, but Dragon Dance can be valuable against teams where Haxorus would have a hard time safely using both moves.
**Wallbreaker**: Thanks to its already-high base Attack stat, Haxorus does not need to worry about setting up to smash through the foe's defenses, especially when paired with items such as Choice Band. It can also use First Impression to hit faster foes, and it has lots of coverage options that can hit Fairy- and Steel-types that would normally check it, alongside Mold Breaker to ignore defensive abilities like Unaware and Levitate.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Outrage, Dragon Claw, Scale Shot
**Setup Moves**: Swords Dance, Dragon Dance, Trailblaze
**Utility Moves**: Taunt, Dragon Tail, Roar, Brick Break, Substitute
**Coverage**: Close Combat, First Impression, Earthquake, Iron Head, Iron Tail, Aqua Tail, Crunch, Poison Jab, Rock Slide, Shadow Claw, X-Scissor
Niche Moves
========
**Counter**: Although Haxorus is typically better off delivering an attack of its own, Counter can be used to surprise a physical attacker that it has a tough time breaking through.
**Endure**: Custap Berry + Endure can be used on Haxorus to safely get a move off, as it is very prone to being revenge killed.
Common Items
========
**Choice Band**: Haxorus's wallbreaking potential is heightened with a Choice Band, and thanks to its vast movepool, even having access to First Impression for revenge killing faster foes, it makes for a very hard Pokemon for foes to switch into.
**Loaded Dice**: On Swords Dance sets, Haxorus still wants to outspeed opposing Pokemon, so using Scale Shot + Swords Dance gives it a reliable Dragon-type STAB option while also raising its Speed stat.
**Lum Berry**: Haxorus is very easily debilitated by status conditions, so having a Lum Berry makes setting up on opposing Pokemon that look to burn it with Scald or paralyze it with Discharge much safer. Additionally, on Outrage sets, Lum Berry is a necessity in curing confusion to safely sweep.
**Focus Sash**: Against offensively oriented teams, Focus Sash can be a necessity in safely setting up. Additionally, on hyper offense teams, Focus Sash is also much easier to get value from, as your opponent has far less time to get entry hazards on your side of the field.
Niche Items
========
**Damage-boosting Items**: Although Choice Band is a standout option for wallbreaking, damage-boosting items give Haxorus an extra boost that it might need to secure KOs while still letting it set up and switch moves.
**Choice Scarf**: Using Haxorus's high Attack stat, Choice Scarf is typically used to catch faster Pokemon off guard, letting Haxorus easily KO them to enable its teammates.
**Resistance Berries**: Haxorus's meager bulk leaves it vulnerable to Ice- and Fairy-type coverage moves, but having a resistance Berry allows it to more safely set up.
**Custap Berry**: With access to Endure, Haxorus has the ability to safely activate Custap Berry and throw out a powerful death rattle.
Tera
========
Although outclassed by more powerful Tera Captains, Haxorus is a good mid-range Tera Captain that can use Terastallization to flip matchups on their heads. Tera Steel is a standout for turning all three of its weaknesses into resistances while boosting its Steel-type moves to KO the Fairy- and Ice-type Pokemon that would normally check it. Tera Electric with Tera Blast gives Haxorus a way to break through bulky Water-types like Alomomola and Blastoise that it would otherwise struggle to. Tera Dragon with a move like Outrage is arguably better for this, however, as the power boost Haxorus gets makes neutral matchups a lot harder for the foe to handle. Keeping all of this in mind, Haxorus rarely needs to be a Tera Captain to do what it needs to do, facilitating Pokemon that take better advantage of Terastallization instead.
Draft Strategy
========
Haxorus appreciates an extremely offense-oriented draft, even leaning towards the side of hyper offense. There is merit in drafting it on a team with two or three other setup sweepers and using it to burst through walls mid-game, allowing for stronger or more reliable setup sweepers to close out the game.
**Strong Special Attackers**: Pokemon like Greninja, Darkrai, and Iron Valiant work well to soften the physical walls Haxorus can struggle with getting through while also forcing bulky Pokemon to choose between physically and specially defensive EVs.
**Entry Hazard Setters**: Anything that allows Haxorus to sweep more effectively is appreciated, and a dedicated entry hazard setter such as Glimmora, Meowscarada, or Hisuian Samurott may force foes into using up their item slot on Heavy-Duty Boots, which Haxorus also appreciates.
**Slow Pivots**: Since Haxorus isn't very bulky and rarely wants to invest in bulk, slower pivots like Primarina, Rotom-W, and Scizor give it a much-needed safe way onto the battlefield while letting it safely switch out of disadvantageous matchups.
**Speed Control**: Haxorus's middling Speed stat means that it can easily be revenge killed, so it works best with faster Pokemon like the aforementioned Greninja, Darkrai, and Meowscarada that can outspeed revenge killers to keep the field safer for it.
Checks and Counters
========
**Revenge Killers**: Even at +1 Speed, Haxorus is outsped by many other Choice Scarf or Speed Booster Energy users, such as Iron Treads and Iron Valiant, as well as Choice Scarf Foul Play users such as Darkrai, and on Scale Shot sets, priority users like Scizor, Dragonite, and Hisuian Samurott can take advantage of the resulting Defense drop to deal more damage.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Naturally physically defensive Pokemon like Great Tusk, Landorus-T, and Uxie can take Haxorus's attacks with little issue and punish it back. They can also use Rocky Helmet or other contact effects to take advantage of the plethora of contact moves Haxorus is forced to use to weaken it back.
**Fairy-types**: The existence of Fairy-types alone forces Haxorus to be careful. Although it has coverage to hit them, it can struggle fitting these moves on sets sometimes, and it would rather spam its powerful STAB attacks.
**Status**: All forms of status pose a threat to Haxorus's sweeping abilities if it is not holding a Lum Berry.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/drizzle.313217/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
**Draft Order**: Round 6 onwards
**Price Range**: 10-11 points
**Overview**: Haxorus is a unique physical wallbreaker and sweeper that takes advantage of its immense Attack stat and access to Mold Breaker to sweep teams. With usable bulk and setup moves to bolster its average Speed stat, Haxorus also can find a niche on teams with speed control to bypass the necessity of outspeeding foes to effectively sweep. Despite all this, its awkward Speed tier lets foes easily revenge kill it, especially without setup, and it is heavily reliant on coverage, often not being able to fit every coverage move needed. Haxorus is typically drafted when looking for a cheap wallbreaker and potential setup sweeper.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Setup Sweeper**: Using Swords Dance or Dragon Dance to boost its Attack, Haxorus is an incredibly potent sweeper. Swords Dance + Scale Shot is typically preferred for immediate wallbreaking power, but Dragon Dance can be valuable against teams where Haxorus would have a hard time safely using both moves.
**Wallbreaker**: Thanks to its already-high base Attack stat, Haxorus does not need to worry about setting up to smash through the foe's defenses, especially when paired with items such as Choice Band. It can also use First Impression to hit faster foes, and it has lots of coverage options that can hit Fairy- and Steel-types that would normally check it, alongside Mold Breaker to ignore defensive abilities like Unaware and Levitate.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Outrage, Dragon Claw, Scale Shot
**Setup Moves**: Swords Dance, Dragon Dance, Trailblaze
**Utility Moves**: Taunt, Dragon Tail, Roar, Brick Break, Substitute
**Coverage**: Close Combat, First Impression, Earthquake, Iron Head, Iron Tail, Aqua Tail, Crunch, Poison Jab, Rock Slide, Shadow Claw, X-Scissor
Niche Moves
========
**Counter**: Although Haxorus is typically better off delivering an attack of its own, Counter can be used to surprise a physical attacker that it has a tough time breaking through.
**Endure**: Custap Berry + Endure can be used on Haxorus to safely get a move off, as it is very prone to being revenge killed.
Common Items
========
**Choice Band**: Haxorus's wallbreaking potential is heightened with a Choice Band, and thanks to its vast movepool, even having access to First Impression for revenge killing faster foes, it makes for a very hard Pokemon for foes to switch into.
**Loaded Dice**: On Swords Dance sets, Haxorus still wants to outspeed opposing Pokemon, so using Scale Shot + Swords Dance gives it a reliable Dragon-type STAB option while also raising its Speed stat.
**Lum Berry**: Haxorus is very easily debilitated by status conditions, so having a Lum Berry makes setting up on opposing Pokemon that look to burn it with Scald or paralyze it with Discharge much safer. Additionally, on Outrage sets, Lum Berry is a necessity in curing confusion to safely sweep.
**Focus Sash**: Against offensively oriented teams, Focus Sash can be a necessity in safely setting up. Additionally, on hyper offense teams, Focus Sash is also much easier to get value from, as your opponent has far less time to get entry hazards on your side of the field.
Niche Items
========
**Damage-boosting Items**: Although Choice Band is a standout option for wallbreaking, damage-boosting items give Haxorus an extra boost that it might need to secure KOs while still letting it set up and switch moves.
**Choice Scarf**: Using Haxorus's high Attack stat, Choice Scarf is typically used to catch faster Pokemon off guard, letting Haxorus easily KO them to enable its teammates.
**Resistance Berries**: Haxorus's meager bulk leaves it vulnerable to Ice- and Fairy-type coverage moves, but having a resistance Berry allows it to more safely set up.
**Custap Berry**: With access to Endure, Haxorus has the ability to safely activate Custap Berry and throw out a powerful death rattle.
Tera
========
Although outclassed by more powerful Tera Captains, Haxorus is a good mid-range Tera Captain that can use Terastallization to flip matchups on their heads. Tera Steel is a standout for turning all three of its weaknesses into resistances while boosting its Steel-type moves to KO the Fairy- and Ice-type Pokemon that would normally check it. Tera Electric with Tera Blast gives Haxorus a way to break through bulky Water-types like Alomomola and Blastoise that it would otherwise struggle to. Tera Dragon with a move like Outrage is arguably better for this, however, as the power boost Haxorus gets makes neutral matchups a lot harder for the foe to handle. Keeping all of this in mind, Haxorus rarely needs to be a Tera Captain to do what it needs to do, facilitating Pokemon that take better advantage of Terastallization instead.
Draft Strategy
========
Haxorus appreciates an extremely offense-oriented draft, even leaning towards the side of hyper offense. There is merit in drafting it on a team with two or three other setup sweepers and using it to burst through walls mid-game, allowing for stronger or more reliable setup sweepers to close out the game.
**Strong Special Attackers**: Pokemon like Greninja, Darkrai, and Iron Valiant work well to soften the physical walls Haxorus can struggle with getting through while also forcing bulky Pokemon to choose between physically and specially defensive EVs.
**Entry Hazard Setters**: Anything that allows Haxorus to sweep more effectively is appreciated, and a dedicated entry hazard setter such as Glimmora, Meowscarada, or Hisuian Samurott may force foes into using up their item slot on Heavy-Duty Boots, which Haxorus also appreciates.
**Slow Pivots**: Since Haxorus isn't very bulky and rarely wants to invest in bulk, slower pivots like Primarina, Rotom-W, and Scizor give it a much-needed safe way onto the battlefield while letting it safely switch out of disadvantageous matchups.
**Speed Control**: Haxorus's middling Speed stat means that it can easily be revenge killed, so it works best with faster Pokemon like the aforementioned Greninja, Darkrai, and Meowscarada that can outspeed revenge killers to keep the field safer for it.
Checks and Counters
========
**Revenge Killers**: Even at +1 Speed, Haxorus is outsped by many other Choice Scarf or Speed Booster Energy users, such as Iron Treads and Iron Valiant, as well as Choice Scarf Foul Play users such as Darkrai, and on Scale Shot sets, priority users like Scizor, Dragonite, and Hisuian Samurott can take advantage of the resulting Defense drop to deal more damage.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Naturally physically defensive Pokemon like Great Tusk, Landorus-T, and Uxie can take Haxorus's attacks with little issue and punish it back. They can also use Rocky Helmet or other contact effects to take advantage of the plethora of contact moves Haxorus is forced to use to weaken it back.
**Fairy-types**: The existence of Fairy-types alone forces Haxorus to be careful. Although it has coverage to hit them, it can struggle fitting these moves on sets sometimes, and it would rather spam its powerful STAB attacks.
**Status**: All forms of status pose a threat to Haxorus's sweeping abilities if it is not holding a Lum Berry.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/drizzle.313217/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
Last edited:
