[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 6 onwards
**Price Range**: 9-11 points
**Overview**: Hoopa-U is a wallbreaker that uses its gargantuan offensive stats and unpredictable coverage options to become an almost impossible Pokemon to switch into. With a respectable Special Defense stat as well, it can serve as a special tank that does not require much investment in its offensive stats to muscle through teams. Hoopa-U's immediate power is most appreciated in bulky offense teams that benefit from a Pokemon that does not require turns to set up. Keeping all of this in mind, however, its slow Speed stat and debilitating weakness to U-turn limits it greatly, resulting in a cheap Pokemon that needs to be craftily built around.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: With vast coverage options and disruptive tools like Trick and Taunt, Hoopa-U serves best as a wallbreaker. Its ability to break walls both physically and specially is unrivaled by any other Pokemon. Its strong offensive STAB combination coupled with fantastic coverage makes it near impossible to switch into, and it has special setup options to muscle past anything that could potentially switch into it. This set typically relies on Choice Scarf, since Hoopa-U's Speed is incredibly average, but in some scenarios, damage-boosting items can be effective.
**Special Wall**: With an Assault Vest, Hoopa-U can sponge multiple special attacks, and with access to Drain Punch, it has a way to recover any health lost back.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Knock Off, Hyperspace Fury, Dark Pulse, Psychic, Psyshock, Zen Headbutt, Psychic Noise
**Setup Moves**: Calm Mind, Nasty Plot
**Utility Moves**: Trick, Taunt, Thunder Wave, Light Screen, Reflect, Brick Break, Substitute
**Coverage**: Drain Punch, Energy Ball, Fire Punch, Focus Blast, Grass Knot, Gunk Shot, Ice Punch, Rock Tomb, Thunderbolt, Thunder Punch
Niche Moves
========
**Future Sight**: Hoopa-U is an incredibly strong Future Sight user, which fits well with its role as a wallbreaker.
**Focus Punch**: If the relatively weak Drain Punch and inaccurate Focus Blast are not reliable enough to deal with Dark-types that are not concerned about Hoopa-U's STAB options, it can use Focus Punch by taking advantage of the fact that Pokemon often switch out against it.
**Trick Room**: Hoopa-U's Speed is not fast enough to outspeed most offensive threats. A Trick Room set can be used as a preventative measure from being revenge killed while having multiple turns to get strong attacks off, but it must be aware of slower Pokemon that can then outspeed it.
**Endure**: With a Custap Berry, Hoopa-U can successfully use Endure to get a powerful final attack off.
**Destiny Bond**: Although Hoopa-U is too slow for Destiny Bond to always be effective, it can be used with Custap Berry as a surprise way to trade Pokemon.
Common Items
========
**Damage-boosting Items**: Although it may not seem like it needs it, Hoopa-U's efficacy is fully realized when it has an item that can boost its damage output. Seeing as it has coverage for practically every type, it arguably takes advantage of Expert Belt more than Life Orb, Choice Band, and Choice Specs, but all of them are viable.
**Choice Scarf**: Hoopa-U's Speed lets it outspeed most unboosted Pokemon with a Choice Scarf and serve as a niche revenge killer, and with Trick, it can give the Choice Scarf away to walls in order to benefit it and its teammates.
**Assault Vest**: Hoopa-U's special bulk is naturally good enough that it can safely tank a hit or two, but with an Assault Vest, it becomes something opponents has to seriously consider, especially if it is a Tera Captain and can shed its mediocre typing.
Niche Items
========
**Eject Pack**: Using Hyperspace Fury to lower its own Defense stat and get a free switch with Eject Pack, Hoopa-U can further enable its teammates while also freeing up its item slot to potentially steal an enemy's item with Magician.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: In matchups where Hoopa-U is expected to hit the field multiple times or tank multiple hits, Heavy-Duty Boots ensures it does not take excess damage from entry hazards.
**Custap Berry**: Used in Endure sets, or even without it if properly played around, Custap Berry can allow for Hoopa-U to deliver a final attack while also having the potential to steal the foe's item with Magician afterwards, since the Custap Berry will have been eaten.
**Light Clay**: Hoopa-U typically likes attacking more often than not, but a Light Clay with dual screens can be used to enable both its teammates and itself to tank more hits.
Tera
========
Hoopa-U has an incredibly mediocre defensive typing, and being a secondary Tera Captain gives it the option to fix this. It is a great mid-tier option that can use Tera types like Tera Poison to strengthen its Gunk Shot while turning both of its weaknesses, including its major weakness to Bug, into resistances. Tera Fairy with Tera Blast gives it a more powerful option than its Fighting-type coverage against most Dark-types while also getting rid of that pesky Bug-type weakness, ensuring it does not have to worry about being free U-turn food. Tera Dark and Psychic can boost its STAB moves as well, with Tera Dark deserving a special shoutout for enabling a much more spammable Hyperspace Fury.
Draft Strategy
========
While Hoopa-U theoretically fits in a large variety of draft compositions, bulky offense is usually able to support it best, giving enough tools to it so that it does not need to be the sole damage dealer on a team. Its weaknesses are easily exploitable, and as a result, all of them need to be patched up in order to effectively use it.
**Defensive Pivots**: Hoopa-U greatly appreciates Pokemon that can switch into U-turn without losing too much momentum such as Tornadus-T, Landorus-T, and Great Tusk.
**Slow Pivots**: Slower Pokemon that can get Hoopa-U on the battlefield safely, like Scizor, Empoleon, and Rotom-W, are important in making sure Hoopa-U is able to safely get attacks off. Pokemon that can punish U-turn with contact effects, like Garchomp, Zapdos, and Rocky Helmet users, are a bonus.
**Setup Sweepers**: Pokemon like Iron Valiant, Salamence, and Annihilape that do not necessarily have as much of an immediate field presence as Hoopa-U appreciate it softening up the field for them.
**Speed Control**: Hoopa-U's middling Speed means that it needs a couple of fast Pokemon such as Iron Bundle and Sneasler to serve as revenge killers, and other speed control options like Thunder Wave Gholdengo and Glare Serperior can also make its job much easier. Sticky Web users such as Vikavolt and Ribombee are useful supplementary speed control options that may force opponents to slightly shift their attention away from Hoopa-U.
Checks and Counters
========
**U-turn**: If it is not a Tera Captain, Hoopa-U's one true archenemy is U-turn, since foes can deal huge damage to it while maintaining positive momentum. It constantly has to be wary of being knocked out by stray U-turn users like Cinderace, Urshifu-S, and Sneasler.
**Faster Physical Threats**: Physical attackers that naturally outspeed Hoopa-U, such as Ogerpon-W, Gouging Fire, and Excadrill, have no problem taking advantage of its feeble physical defense to get a KO on it.
**Fairy-types**: Although they have to fear Hoopa-U's Gunk Shot, Fairy-types like Clefable, Iron Valiant, and Tinkaton can still switch into its Dark-type STAB moves and threaten it back, especially if it is Choice-locked.
**Dark-types**: Dark types like Ting-Lu, Zarude, and Hisuian Samurott are not concerned with either of Hoopa-U's STAB options and can threaten it back, but they have to be wary of its Fighting-type coverage options.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/drizzle.313217/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scribble.356084/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
**Draft Order**: Round 6 onwards
**Price Range**: 9-11 points
**Overview**: Hoopa-U is a wallbreaker that uses its gargantuan offensive stats and unpredictable coverage options to become an almost impossible Pokemon to switch into. With a respectable Special Defense stat as well, it can serve as a special tank that does not require much investment in its offensive stats to muscle through teams. Hoopa-U's immediate power is most appreciated in bulky offense teams that benefit from a Pokemon that does not require turns to set up. Keeping all of this in mind, however, its slow Speed stat and debilitating weakness to U-turn limits it greatly, resulting in a cheap Pokemon that needs to be craftily built around.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: With vast coverage options and disruptive tools like Trick and Taunt, Hoopa-U serves best as a wallbreaker. Its ability to break walls both physically and specially is unrivaled by any other Pokemon. Its strong offensive STAB combination coupled with fantastic coverage makes it near impossible to switch into, and it has special setup options to muscle past anything that could potentially switch into it. This set typically relies on Choice Scarf, since Hoopa-U's Speed is incredibly average, but in some scenarios, damage-boosting items can be effective.
**Special Wall**: With an Assault Vest, Hoopa-U can sponge multiple special attacks, and with access to Drain Punch, it has a way to recover any health lost back.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Knock Off, Hyperspace Fury, Dark Pulse, Psychic, Psyshock, Zen Headbutt, Psychic Noise
**Setup Moves**: Calm Mind, Nasty Plot
**Utility Moves**: Trick, Taunt, Thunder Wave, Light Screen, Reflect, Brick Break, Substitute
**Coverage**: Drain Punch, Energy Ball, Fire Punch, Focus Blast, Grass Knot, Gunk Shot, Ice Punch, Rock Tomb, Thunderbolt, Thunder Punch
Niche Moves
========
**Future Sight**: Hoopa-U is an incredibly strong Future Sight user, which fits well with its role as a wallbreaker.
**Focus Punch**: If the relatively weak Drain Punch and inaccurate Focus Blast are not reliable enough to deal with Dark-types that are not concerned about Hoopa-U's STAB options, it can use Focus Punch by taking advantage of the fact that Pokemon often switch out against it.
**Trick Room**: Hoopa-U's Speed is not fast enough to outspeed most offensive threats. A Trick Room set can be used as a preventative measure from being revenge killed while having multiple turns to get strong attacks off, but it must be aware of slower Pokemon that can then outspeed it.
**Endure**: With a Custap Berry, Hoopa-U can successfully use Endure to get a powerful final attack off.
**Destiny Bond**: Although Hoopa-U is too slow for Destiny Bond to always be effective, it can be used with Custap Berry as a surprise way to trade Pokemon.
Common Items
========
**Damage-boosting Items**: Although it may not seem like it needs it, Hoopa-U's efficacy is fully realized when it has an item that can boost its damage output. Seeing as it has coverage for practically every type, it arguably takes advantage of Expert Belt more than Life Orb, Choice Band, and Choice Specs, but all of them are viable.
**Choice Scarf**: Hoopa-U's Speed lets it outspeed most unboosted Pokemon with a Choice Scarf and serve as a niche revenge killer, and with Trick, it can give the Choice Scarf away to walls in order to benefit it and its teammates.
**Assault Vest**: Hoopa-U's special bulk is naturally good enough that it can safely tank a hit or two, but with an Assault Vest, it becomes something opponents has to seriously consider, especially if it is a Tera Captain and can shed its mediocre typing.
Niche Items
========
**Eject Pack**: Using Hyperspace Fury to lower its own Defense stat and get a free switch with Eject Pack, Hoopa-U can further enable its teammates while also freeing up its item slot to potentially steal an enemy's item with Magician.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: In matchups where Hoopa-U is expected to hit the field multiple times or tank multiple hits, Heavy-Duty Boots ensures it does not take excess damage from entry hazards.
**Custap Berry**: Used in Endure sets, or even without it if properly played around, Custap Berry can allow for Hoopa-U to deliver a final attack while also having the potential to steal the foe's item with Magician afterwards, since the Custap Berry will have been eaten.
**Light Clay**: Hoopa-U typically likes attacking more often than not, but a Light Clay with dual screens can be used to enable both its teammates and itself to tank more hits.
Tera
========
Hoopa-U has an incredibly mediocre defensive typing, and being a secondary Tera Captain gives it the option to fix this. It is a great mid-tier option that can use Tera types like Tera Poison to strengthen its Gunk Shot while turning both of its weaknesses, including its major weakness to Bug, into resistances. Tera Fairy with Tera Blast gives it a more powerful option than its Fighting-type coverage against most Dark-types while also getting rid of that pesky Bug-type weakness, ensuring it does not have to worry about being free U-turn food. Tera Dark and Psychic can boost its STAB moves as well, with Tera Dark deserving a special shoutout for enabling a much more spammable Hyperspace Fury.
Draft Strategy
========
While Hoopa-U theoretically fits in a large variety of draft compositions, bulky offense is usually able to support it best, giving enough tools to it so that it does not need to be the sole damage dealer on a team. Its weaknesses are easily exploitable, and as a result, all of them need to be patched up in order to effectively use it.
**Defensive Pivots**: Hoopa-U greatly appreciates Pokemon that can switch into U-turn without losing too much momentum such as Tornadus-T, Landorus-T, and Great Tusk.
**Slow Pivots**: Slower Pokemon that can get Hoopa-U on the battlefield safely, like Scizor, Empoleon, and Rotom-W, are important in making sure Hoopa-U is able to safely get attacks off. Pokemon that can punish U-turn with contact effects, like Garchomp, Zapdos, and Rocky Helmet users, are a bonus.
**Setup Sweepers**: Pokemon like Iron Valiant, Salamence, and Annihilape that do not necessarily have as much of an immediate field presence as Hoopa-U appreciate it softening up the field for them.
**Speed Control**: Hoopa-U's middling Speed means that it needs a couple of fast Pokemon such as Iron Bundle and Sneasler to serve as revenge killers, and other speed control options like Thunder Wave Gholdengo and Glare Serperior can also make its job much easier. Sticky Web users such as Vikavolt and Ribombee are useful supplementary speed control options that may force opponents to slightly shift their attention away from Hoopa-U.
Checks and Counters
========
**U-turn**: If it is not a Tera Captain, Hoopa-U's one true archenemy is U-turn, since foes can deal huge damage to it while maintaining positive momentum. It constantly has to be wary of being knocked out by stray U-turn users like Cinderace, Urshifu-S, and Sneasler.
**Faster Physical Threats**: Physical attackers that naturally outspeed Hoopa-U, such as Ogerpon-W, Gouging Fire, and Excadrill, have no problem taking advantage of its feeble physical defense to get a KO on it.
**Fairy-types**: Although they have to fear Hoopa-U's Gunk Shot, Fairy-types like Clefable, Iron Valiant, and Tinkaton can still switch into its Dark-type STAB moves and threaten it back, especially if it is Choice-locked.
**Dark-types**: Dark types like Ting-Lu, Zarude, and Hisuian Samurott are not concerned with either of Hoopa-U's STAB options and can threaten it back, but they have to be wary of its Fighting-type coverage options.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/drizzle.313217/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scribble.356084/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Last edited:
