[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 5 onward
**Price Range**: 10-11 points
**Overview**: Hisuian Goodra is a mid-tier special wall with a great defensive typing. It is differentiated from other similarly priced special walls by also offering offensive options even with minimal investment, as well as extensive coverage that can be retooled and utilized in any matchup. These coverage options combined with good defensive stats allow Hisuian Goodra to always tailor its set to potentially eliminate any one Pokemon and trade one-for-one It also has potential to set up with Acid Armor combined with Body Press. However, Hisuian Goodrais held back by its weaknesses to common Ground- and Fighting-type coverage moves and Spikes, as well as having no reliable recovery. As a Steel-type , it also does not resist Fairy and offers limited utility and entry hazard control, which must be found elsewhere on your draft.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Special Wall**: With a great defensive typing and very high Special Defense , Hisuian Goodra is able to tank all kinds of special attacks and then threaten foes back with an extensive list of coverage options. With Dragon Tail, it is also able to phaze threatening setup sweepers.
**Setup Sweeper**: Hisuian Goodra can also sometimes take advantage of Acid Armor to become nearly unbreakable and tear through the opposing team with its boosted Body Press. Its ability Shell Armor protects it from critical hits that would otherwise end its sweep early.
**Bulky Offense**: Hisuian Goodra's natural bulk can allow for investment into its offensive stats. This can be combined with a damage-boosting item to fire off unexpectedly powerful attacks.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Draco Meteor, Flash Cannon, Dragon Pulse, Heavy Slam, Iron Head, Outrage, Dragon Claw
**Setup Moves**: Acid Armor, Curse
**Utility Moves**: Dragon Tail, Knock Off, Acid Spray, Charm, Rest, Life Dew, Substitute
**Coverage**: Body Press, Earthquake, Fire Blast, Flamethrower, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Surf, Hydro Pump, Ice Beam, Sludge Bomb, Sludge Wave, Fire Punch, Ice Spinner, Rock Slide, Thunder Punch
Niche Moves
========
**Counter**: Hisuian Goodra can wield its high bulk to take a strong physical attack and return a surprise KO with Counter. This usually relies on a resistance Berry to let it survive the attack.
**Steel Beam**: Hisuian Goodra can utilize Steel Beam to unleash a high-damage STAB attack that can also KO it to provide its team with momentum.
Common Items
========
**Assault Vest**: Boosting an already-high Special Defense stat, Assault Vest allows Hisuian Goodra to utilize its large movepool and invest its EVs offensively without trading away bulk. Hisuian Goodra's lack of utility moves makes it so that it typically wants to run a lot of attacking moves, and as such, it does not feel an Assault Vest's restriction as heavily as others might.
**Leftovers**: Without access to reliable recovery, Hisuian Goodra is reliant on Leftovers to stay healthy, allowing it to better perform its role as a tank.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots protects Hisuian Goodra from entry hazards on the field, allowing it to frequently switch in throughout a battle.
Niche Items
========
**Eject Pack**: Eject Pack allows Hisuian Goodra to use the stat drop from Draco Meteor to pivot and keep momentum for its team.
**Resistance Berries**: Resistance Berries can allow Hisuian Goodra to tank hits that would normally KO it, allowing for strong, unexpected counterattacks.
**Choice Specs**: Hisuian Goodra's natural bulk allows it to use Choice Specs, providing a surprisingly strong offensive presence that makes up for its lack of utility.
**Choice Scarf**: A Choice Scarf and a Speed-boosting nature allow Hisuian Goodra to outspeed Pokemon with up to base 114 Speed. This can allow for surprise KOs on Pokemon such as Garchomp and Latios.
**Red Card**: Bulky Hisuian Goodra sets can use Red Card to disrupt the opponent's gameplan. Thanks to its bulk, it can often survive boosted special attacks and phaze the attacker without needing to use a move.
**Weakness Policy**: By leveraging Hisuian Goodra's bulk, it can survive many super effective attacks, allowing its Weakness Policy-boosted attacks to KO the other Pokemon back.
Tera
========
There are usually better options for Tera Captains than Hisuian Goodra, so selecting it as one comes with the added cost of not having a stronger Pokemon in its place. If used as a Tera Captain, it can use a defensive Tera type, such as Tera Fairy, Flying, or Water, to offset its Ground and Fighting weaknesses. Offensively, it can use Tera Dragon and Steel to bolster its STAB attacks. Tera Fighting canalso boost the power of Body Press on setup sets. In spite of these benefits, Hisuian Goodra's type combination is more than good enough for it, and it does not gain as much from being a Tera Captain as other potential Captains do; as such, it would be better to look towards higher-tier options.
Draft Strategy
========
Hisuian Goodra is a defensive Pokemon that wants to pivot in and take hits for its teammates. Its diverse movepool can offset the downsides of having no recovery, entry hazards, or momentum. When drafting Hisuian Goodra, it is important to draft strong offensive threats that it can take hits for, as it is not able to win games by itself; it pairs nicely with these offensive threats by allowing them to stay healthy longer into the game.
**Potential Wincons**: As a primarily defensive Pokemon, Hisuian Goodra usually is not able to close out games. As such, powerful cleaners, such as Iron Valiant, Palafin, and Meowscarada, are needed to sweep. These Pokemon tend to have worse defensive profiles and need support from Pokemon that can tank attacks and chip foes into KO range for them, which Hisuian Goodra can do.
**Entry Hazard Removal**: Without reliable recovery, Hisuian Goodra can very quickly be worn down by Spikes and lose its ability to function as a defensive stop, so keeping entry hazards off the field is a priority. Hazard removers such as Great Tusk and Mandibuzz can support it, these two additionally acting as physical walls.
**Entry Hazard Setters**: Hisuian Goodra is a Steel-type that lacks the ability to set entry hazards, so they will need to be found elsewhere on your draft, being set by teammates such as Garchomp, Deoxys-D, and Uxie.
Checks and Counters
========
**Ground- and Fighting-types**: Hisuian Goodra particularly does not appreciate having to deal with Ground- and Fighting-type Pokemon, as its lower offensive stats and Speed mean it can't reliably OHKO them before they attack it. This is made worse because they tend to be physical attackers, able to target Hisuian Goodra's weaker Defense.
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Hisuian Goodra's lower physical bulk leaves it vulnerable to strong physical attacks. A strong physical wall, such as Great Tusk, Alomomola, or Deoxys-D, is a necessary piece to shore up its team's defensive profile.
**Knock Off**: Hisuian Goodra's reliance on Assault Vest or Heavy-Duty Boots leaves it more susceptible to getting worn down over the course of a game if they are removed.
**Spikes**: On sets where Hisuian Goodra does not have Heavy-Duty Boots, it finds itself quickly worn down by chip damage and less able to function as an effective wall in the face of Spikes.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dr-geo.522583/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/abriel.473082/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/olivia.620359/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
**Draft Order**: Round 5 onward
**Price Range**: 10-11 points
**Overview**: Hisuian Goodra is a mid-tier special wall with a great defensive typing. It is differentiated from other similarly priced special walls by also offering offensive options even with minimal investment, as well as extensive coverage that can be retooled and utilized in any matchup. These coverage options combined with good defensive stats allow Hisuian Goodra to always tailor its set to potentially eliminate any one Pokemon and trade one-for-one It also has potential to set up with Acid Armor combined with Body Press. However, Hisuian Goodrais held back by its weaknesses to common Ground- and Fighting-type coverage moves and Spikes, as well as having no reliable recovery. As a Steel-type , it also does not resist Fairy and offers limited utility and entry hazard control, which must be found elsewhere on your draft.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Special Wall**: With a great defensive typing and very high Special Defense , Hisuian Goodra is able to tank all kinds of special attacks and then threaten foes back with an extensive list of coverage options. With Dragon Tail, it is also able to phaze threatening setup sweepers.
**Setup Sweeper**: Hisuian Goodra can also sometimes take advantage of Acid Armor to become nearly unbreakable and tear through the opposing team with its boosted Body Press. Its ability Shell Armor protects it from critical hits that would otherwise end its sweep early.
**Bulky Offense**: Hisuian Goodra's natural bulk can allow for investment into its offensive stats. This can be combined with a damage-boosting item to fire off unexpectedly powerful attacks.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Draco Meteor, Flash Cannon, Dragon Pulse, Heavy Slam, Iron Head, Outrage, Dragon Claw
**Setup Moves**: Acid Armor, Curse
**Utility Moves**: Dragon Tail, Knock Off, Acid Spray, Charm, Rest, Life Dew, Substitute
**Coverage**: Body Press, Earthquake, Fire Blast, Flamethrower, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Surf, Hydro Pump, Ice Beam, Sludge Bomb, Sludge Wave, Fire Punch, Ice Spinner, Rock Slide, Thunder Punch
Niche Moves
========
**Counter**: Hisuian Goodra can wield its high bulk to take a strong physical attack and return a surprise KO with Counter. This usually relies on a resistance Berry to let it survive the attack.
**Steel Beam**: Hisuian Goodra can utilize Steel Beam to unleash a high-damage STAB attack that can also KO it to provide its team with momentum.
Common Items
========
**Assault Vest**: Boosting an already-high Special Defense stat, Assault Vest allows Hisuian Goodra to utilize its large movepool and invest its EVs offensively without trading away bulk. Hisuian Goodra's lack of utility moves makes it so that it typically wants to run a lot of attacking moves, and as such, it does not feel an Assault Vest's restriction as heavily as others might.
**Leftovers**: Without access to reliable recovery, Hisuian Goodra is reliant on Leftovers to stay healthy, allowing it to better perform its role as a tank.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots protects Hisuian Goodra from entry hazards on the field, allowing it to frequently switch in throughout a battle.
Niche Items
========
**Eject Pack**: Eject Pack allows Hisuian Goodra to use the stat drop from Draco Meteor to pivot and keep momentum for its team.
**Resistance Berries**: Resistance Berries can allow Hisuian Goodra to tank hits that would normally KO it, allowing for strong, unexpected counterattacks.
**Choice Specs**: Hisuian Goodra's natural bulk allows it to use Choice Specs, providing a surprisingly strong offensive presence that makes up for its lack of utility.
**Choice Scarf**: A Choice Scarf and a Speed-boosting nature allow Hisuian Goodra to outspeed Pokemon with up to base 114 Speed. This can allow for surprise KOs on Pokemon such as Garchomp and Latios.
**Red Card**: Bulky Hisuian Goodra sets can use Red Card to disrupt the opponent's gameplan. Thanks to its bulk, it can often survive boosted special attacks and phaze the attacker without needing to use a move.
**Weakness Policy**: By leveraging Hisuian Goodra's bulk, it can survive many super effective attacks, allowing its Weakness Policy-boosted attacks to KO the other Pokemon back.
Tera
========
There are usually better options for Tera Captains than Hisuian Goodra, so selecting it as one comes with the added cost of not having a stronger Pokemon in its place. If used as a Tera Captain, it can use a defensive Tera type, such as Tera Fairy, Flying, or Water, to offset its Ground and Fighting weaknesses. Offensively, it can use Tera Dragon and Steel to bolster its STAB attacks. Tera Fighting canalso boost the power of Body Press on setup sets. In spite of these benefits, Hisuian Goodra's type combination is more than good enough for it, and it does not gain as much from being a Tera Captain as other potential Captains do; as such, it would be better to look towards higher-tier options.
Draft Strategy
========
Hisuian Goodra is a defensive Pokemon that wants to pivot in and take hits for its teammates. Its diverse movepool can offset the downsides of having no recovery, entry hazards, or momentum. When drafting Hisuian Goodra, it is important to draft strong offensive threats that it can take hits for, as it is not able to win games by itself; it pairs nicely with these offensive threats by allowing them to stay healthy longer into the game.
**Potential Wincons**: As a primarily defensive Pokemon, Hisuian Goodra usually is not able to close out games. As such, powerful cleaners, such as Iron Valiant, Palafin, and Meowscarada, are needed to sweep. These Pokemon tend to have worse defensive profiles and need support from Pokemon that can tank attacks and chip foes into KO range for them, which Hisuian Goodra can do.
**Entry Hazard Removal**: Without reliable recovery, Hisuian Goodra can very quickly be worn down by Spikes and lose its ability to function as a defensive stop, so keeping entry hazards off the field is a priority. Hazard removers such as Great Tusk and Mandibuzz can support it, these two additionally acting as physical walls.
**Entry Hazard Setters**: Hisuian Goodra is a Steel-type that lacks the ability to set entry hazards, so they will need to be found elsewhere on your draft, being set by teammates such as Garchomp, Deoxys-D, and Uxie.
Checks and Counters
========
**Ground- and Fighting-types**: Hisuian Goodra particularly does not appreciate having to deal with Ground- and Fighting-type Pokemon, as its lower offensive stats and Speed mean it can't reliably OHKO them before they attack it. This is made worse because they tend to be physical attackers, able to target Hisuian Goodra's weaker Defense.
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Hisuian Goodra's lower physical bulk leaves it vulnerable to strong physical attacks. A strong physical wall, such as Great Tusk, Alomomola, or Deoxys-D, is a necessary piece to shore up its team's defensive profile.
**Knock Off**: Hisuian Goodra's reliance on Assault Vest or Heavy-Duty Boots leaves it more susceptible to getting worn down over the course of a game if they are removed.
**Spikes**: On sets where Hisuian Goodra does not have Heavy-Duty Boots, it finds itself quickly worn down by chip damage and less able to function as an effective wall in the face of Spikes.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dr-geo.522583/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/abriel.473082/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/olivia.620359/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
Last edited: