[OVERVIEW]
Hoopa is a powerful wallbreaker, possessing the highest Special Attack stat of any Pokemon in the RU tier with a movepool well-suited to taking advantage of it. Thanks to useful coverage moves such as Shadow Ball, Psyshock, and Focus Blast, it is able to 2HKO the majority of the tier. Base 130 Special Defense combined with a decent HP stat gives Hoopa considerable special bulk, allowing Hoopa to be an effective offensive pivot against neutral special hits. Its Ghost typing further solidifies its niche as an offensive spinblocker for hazard stacking teams. While Hoopa's typing provides it with a great STAB combination, it unfortunately plagues it with 4x weaknesses to Ghost and Dark. This means that moves such as Pursuit and Sucker Punch make its job much harder, with the former OHKOing it most of the time even when it stays in. Hoopa is severely lacking in physical bulk and Speed, meaning it will have a tough time doing its job against teams with fast or physical threats. Furthermore, Hoopa faces tough competition for a team slot with other Ghost-types; Dhelmise is capable of fulfilling a similar wallbreaking role, while Mismagius is able to run a similar Nasty Plot set but possesses a superior Speed stat.
[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Nasty Plot
item: Ghostium Z
ability: Magician
nature: Timid
evs: 248 SpA / 8 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shadow Ball is a powerful STAB move that also allows Hoopa to hit Psychic- and Ghost-types hard. Focus Blast is primarily for Dark-types such as Umbreon, which resist Hoopa's STAB moves, but allows it to heavily damage Steel-types like Registeel as well. Nasty Plot allows Hoopa to boost its Special Attack to absurd levels, letting it muscle past walls such as Florges or potentially sweep when behind a Substitute. Substitute eases prediction and allows Hoopa to circumvent its low Speed. Substitute can also be used to avoid status moves such as Toxic and Thunder Wave from walls such as Florges, Bronzong, and Registeel. Psyshock is an alternative option over Nasty Plot for Hoopa that'll allow it to still hurt special walls such as Florges, Mantine, and Snorlax while preventing Bulletproof Pokemon such as Chesnaught and Kommo-o from walling non-Z-Move Hoopa.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread of 248 SpA / 252 Spe / 8 SpD allows Hoopa to fully capitalize on its offensive prowess while being as fast as possible to maximize the chance it can move first. 8 EVs are placed in Special Defence to ensure +2 Salazzle will never be able to OHKO Hoopa. Ghostium Z is the primary item choice, as Never-Ending Nightmare enables Hoopa to both muscle through defensive walls with or without a boost and prevent itself from being walled by Pokemon with the ability Bulletproof. Life Orb is an alternative if Z-Moves are already being used by your team, as it further enhances Hoopa's damage output while still allowing it the freedom to make use of its coverage moves. A Timid nature is chosen to outspeed neutral-natured Honchkrow, Venusaur, Stoutland, and other base 80 Speed Pokemon; Modest can be chosen if outspeeding these threats is not important and you want Hoopa to hit harder. Notably, a Modest nature allows +2 Hoopa to double its chances of OHKOing Umbreon. Fightinium Z is an option that will allow Hoopa to hit very hard and avoid risking a miss with Focus Blast. In addition to OHKOing Umbreon 100% of the time at +2, it notably allows +2 Hoopa to score a KO on Meloetta, which would otherwise check Hoopa.
Usage Tips
========
Thanks to Hoopa's special bulk, it can be utilized as a switch-in for specially offensive threats such as Venusaur, Rotom, Gardevoir, and more. However, due to its lack of recovery, Hoopa should not be recklessly switched in; repeated special attacks or unexpected Choice Specs attackers could leave Hoopa with large damage it cannot heal off. With the ability to use Substitute to avoid status conditions, Hoopa also functions amazingly versus walls such as Florges, Registeel, Bronzong, Mantine, and Pyukumuku. Care must be taken with switching straight into these Pokemon, however, as Hoopa does not appreciate the status conditions it can receive when predicted. When the opposing team contains potential Pursuit trappers such as Escavalier, Snorlax, Zoroark, Aerodactyl, and Stoutland, Hoopa should ideally not be brought in until they are eliminated. Substitute should be prioritized before attacking. This is both to prevent getting Pursuit trapped and to ease prediction, as Hoopa tends to force switches. While spinblocking, it is important to scout for or predict moves such as Donphan's Knock Off and Dhelmise's Shadow Claw, as these moves will OHKO Hoopa and allow them to use Rapid Spin freely. If utilizing any Z-Move, it is important to remember that it can only be used once, so care should be taken that the foe it is used on does not have Protect or a partner that is immune to it. Due to its poor Defense, Hoopa should avoid staying in against strong physical attackers.
Team Options
========
Bulkier teams utilizing Spikes stackers such as Roserade and Chesnaught appreciate Hoopa's spinblocking. Hoopa greatly benefits from having the support of Fighting-types like Bewear, Kommo-o and Toxicroak to both tank Dark-type attacks aimed at Hoopa and eliminate Dark- and Normal-types that prevent it from being able to utilize its STAB moves. Teammates that can sponge strong physical hits such as Gligar, Diancie, Doublade, and Rhyperior are appreciated. Shuckle and Galvantula are able to aid Hoopa in circumventing its mediocre Speed with their usage of Sticky Web. Hoopa in turn is able to protect the Sticky Web its teammates place from opposing Rapid Spin users. Due to lack of recovery and low physical bulk, Hoopa enjoys having teammates such as Flygon, Gligar, Whimsicott, and Rotom bring it in via Volt Switch or U-turn.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Psyshock
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Specs
ability: Magician
nature: Timid
evs: 248 SpA / 8 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shadow Ball is Hoopa's primary STAB option, as only Normal- and Dark-types switch into it easily. Psyshock is another strong STAB move that allows Hoopa to hurt specially defensive Pokemon such as Florges and Normal-types such as Snorlax. Focus Blast allows Hoopa to threaten Dark-types such as Umbreon, which would otherwise wall Hoopa. Trick allows Hoopa to severely disadvantage walls by passing them a Choice Specs.
Set Details
========
The EV spread along with a Timid nature maximizes Hoopa's offensive potential and allows it to outspeed base 80 Speed Pokemon such as neutral natured Venusaur and Honchkrow. Choice Specs further boosts Hoopa's monstrous Special Attack stat, allowing it to blast through walls with the correct move choice.
Usage Tips
========
Hoopa's special bulk means it can be utilized as a switch-in for specially offensive threats such as Venusaur, Rotom, Gardevoir, and more. However, due to its lack of recovery, Hoopa should not be recklessly switched in; repeated special attacks or unexpected Choice Specs attackers could leave Hoopa with large damage it cannot heal off. Hoopa's primary STAB option is dependent on what immunities the opposing team has. If the opposing team has both a Dark-type and a Normal-type, predict carefully when choosing what move to utilize; it should otherwise primarily use whichever STAB move hits every foe. Try to preserve Hoopa until Pursuit trappers such as Zoroark, Snorlax, and Stoutland are removed, as this will both remove a lot of pressure from Hoopa and allow it to have more freedom with move selection.
Team Options
========
Bulkier teams utilizing Spikes stackers such as Roserade and Chesnaught appreciate Hoopa's spinblocking. Hoopa greatly appreciates having the support of Fighting-types like Bewear, Kommo-o and Toxicroak to both tank Dark-type attacks aimed at Hoopa and eliminate Dark- and Normal-types that prevent it from being able to utilize its STAB moves. Fairy-types such as Florges, Gardevoir, Diancie, and Comfey can make swift work of Dark-types as well. Gligar, Diancie, Doublade, and Rhyperior can sponge strong physical hits commonly sent towards Hoopa. Shuckle and Galvantula are able to aid Hoopa in circumventing its mediocre Speed with their usage of Sticky Web. Hoopa in turn is able to protect the Sticky Web its teammates place from opposing Rapid Spin users. Pokemon that can use the holes created by Hoopa to clean up, such as Sharpedo and Choice Specs Espeon, make good teammates.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Due to its mediocre Speed stat, Hoopa is capable of utilizing Trick Room to turn the tides on faster offensive teams. It also functions well as a Trick Room setter and attacker on a dedicated Trick Room team. Hyperspace Hole is a unique Psychic-type STAB option for Hoopa, allowing it to punish Wish + Protect strategies. A Choice Scarf set with the same moveset as the Choice Specs set is an option, as it can still hit very hard thanks to its massive Special Attack. Hoopa learns many alternate filler moves, notably including Toxic and Taunt, which can be used against stall or setup sweepers, and Knock Off and Destiny Bond for general utility.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Pursuit**: A 4x Dark-type weakness means any use of Pursuit will most likely result in an OHKOed Hoopa. Notably, Assault Vest Escavalier is is able to switch into any unboosted hit and trap Hoopa with Pursuit. Other Pokemon to watch out for that may carry Pursuit include Zoroark, Honchkrow, Snorlax, Aerodactyl, Stoutland, and Sneasel.
**Sucker Punch**: Similar to Pursuit, even non-STAB users of Sucker Punch like Emboar will most likely OHKO Hoopa. Pokemon that may have Sucker Punch include Honchkrow, Emboar, Toxicroak, and Zoroark.
**Physical Attacks**: Lackluster Defense means Hoopa will not be able to take strong physical hits, even if they are not super effective.
**Ghost-types**: Any Ghost-type carrying a STAB move can make quick work of Hoopa thanks to its 4x weakness to Ghost. Notable mention goes to Doublade, which can revenge kill Hoopa with Shadow Sneak and switch into any non-Ghost-type move from Hoopa.
**Dark-types**: Any Dark-type move user, such as any Pokemon running Knock Off or Foul Play, can make quick work of Hoopa.
**Paralysis**: Hoopa relies on its Speed to do its job well, so try to avoid staying in on or switching into Pokemon that are likely to induce paralysis.
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