[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Fire Blast / Flamethrower
move 4: Sludge Bomb / Sucker Punch / Trailblaze
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Timid / Hasty
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
tera type: Dark / Grass / Poison
[SET COMMENTS]
Thanks to its strong offensive typing, access to setup moves, and useful coverage, Houndoom establishes itself as a high level offensive threat in the PU metagame. Fire Blast allows Houndoom to have some extra power and can be especially useful in situations where boosting with Nasty Plot is not possible. It also helps Houndoom to muscle through targets that either are extremely bulky or naturally resist Dark Pulse, such as Tinkatuff. Alternatively, Flamethrower provides a less powerful but more consistent Fire-type STAB attack and eliminates the risk of a missed Fire Blast prematurely ending Houndoom's sweep. Sludge Bomb gives Houndoom a strong special coverage move able to hit certain targets for neutral or super effective damage that would otherwise wall Houndoom handily, such as Carbink, Dachsbun, and opposing Houndoom. Sucker Punch gives Houndoom a safe option against faster, weakened targets that threaten to revenge kill it, such as Dugtrio, Alolan Dugtrio, and Basculin, although one must be wary of these Pokemon's access to their own priority. Trailblaze is another option, allowing Houndoom to remedy its underwhelming Speed and become a much more threatening sweeper, either through a well-timed prediction or by finishing off a weakened target. Heavy-Duty Boots is mandatory on this set to offer Houndoom opportunities to use Nasty Plot, since it is already relatively frail. Flash Fire both sets it apart from and allows it to combat fellow Fire-type attackers such as Pyroar, Charizard, and opposing Houndoom, allowing it to safely switch in on their Fire-type STAB moves while also boosting the power of its own. In a similar manner, it can also take advantage of Will-O-Wisp from targets such as Midreavus and Rotom-S. Tera Dark increases the power of Dark Pulse even further while also removing key weaknesses to Rock, Water, and Ground. Tera Grass offers a resistance to the latter two while also increasing the power of Trailblaze and pairing well with Houndoom's natural Fire immunity. Lastly, Tera Poison increases the power of Sludge Bomb, increasing damage against foes such as Carbink and Dachsbun while also providing a resistance to STAB moves from Pokemon such as Skuntank. Also of note, Houndoom should only use a Hasty nature if it is running Sucker Punch; otherwise, it should use a Timid nature and 0 Attack IVs.
Houndoom's greatest challenge is its rather disappointing Speed, especially compared to other Fire-type wallbreakers like Charizard and Pyroar, so a Sticky Web setter such as Masquerain is greatly appreciated. Houndoom also greatly appreciates teammates like Perrserker and Skuntank that can handle Dachsbun and Carbink, especially if it opts not to run Sludge Bomb. Similarly, teammates that can handle bulky Water-types such as Lumineon and Whiscash are welcome, as while Houndoom can do relatively good damage to these Pokemon with Dark Pulse, doing so is extremely risky without a Nasty Plot boost or a defensive Tera. Therefore, Grass-types such as Gogoat and Thwackey are natural partners, with Houndoom especially appreciating the latter's ability to set Grassy Terrain, both allowing Houndoom some passive recovery and lessening the damage from opposing Earthquakes. Fast revenge killers, such as Electrode and Raichu, and Choice Scarf users such as Golduck, are also excellent teammates, as they are able to handily dispose of targets that Houndoom has already heavily damaged.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/melt-gibson.617840/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/uhbella.567483/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lumari.232216/
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Fire Blast / Flamethrower
move 4: Sludge Bomb / Sucker Punch / Trailblaze
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Timid / Hasty
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
tera type: Dark / Grass / Poison
[SET COMMENTS]
Thanks to its strong offensive typing, access to setup moves, and useful coverage, Houndoom establishes itself as a high level offensive threat in the PU metagame. Fire Blast allows Houndoom to have some extra power and can be especially useful in situations where boosting with Nasty Plot is not possible. It also helps Houndoom to muscle through targets that either are extremely bulky or naturally resist Dark Pulse, such as Tinkatuff. Alternatively, Flamethrower provides a less powerful but more consistent Fire-type STAB attack and eliminates the risk of a missed Fire Blast prematurely ending Houndoom's sweep. Sludge Bomb gives Houndoom a strong special coverage move able to hit certain targets for neutral or super effective damage that would otherwise wall Houndoom handily, such as Carbink, Dachsbun, and opposing Houndoom. Sucker Punch gives Houndoom a safe option against faster, weakened targets that threaten to revenge kill it, such as Dugtrio, Alolan Dugtrio, and Basculin, although one must be wary of these Pokemon's access to their own priority. Trailblaze is another option, allowing Houndoom to remedy its underwhelming Speed and become a much more threatening sweeper, either through a well-timed prediction or by finishing off a weakened target. Heavy-Duty Boots is mandatory on this set to offer Houndoom opportunities to use Nasty Plot, since it is already relatively frail. Flash Fire both sets it apart from and allows it to combat fellow Fire-type attackers such as Pyroar, Charizard, and opposing Houndoom, allowing it to safely switch in on their Fire-type STAB moves while also boosting the power of its own. In a similar manner, it can also take advantage of Will-O-Wisp from targets such as Midreavus and Rotom-S. Tera Dark increases the power of Dark Pulse even further while also removing key weaknesses to Rock, Water, and Ground. Tera Grass offers a resistance to the latter two while also increasing the power of Trailblaze and pairing well with Houndoom's natural Fire immunity. Lastly, Tera Poison increases the power of Sludge Bomb, increasing damage against foes such as Carbink and Dachsbun while also providing a resistance to STAB moves from Pokemon such as Skuntank. Also of note, Houndoom should only use a Hasty nature if it is running Sucker Punch; otherwise, it should use a Timid nature and 0 Attack IVs.
Houndoom's greatest challenge is its rather disappointing Speed, especially compared to other Fire-type wallbreakers like Charizard and Pyroar, so a Sticky Web setter such as Masquerain is greatly appreciated. Houndoom also greatly appreciates teammates like Perrserker and Skuntank that can handle Dachsbun and Carbink, especially if it opts not to run Sludge Bomb. Similarly, teammates that can handle bulky Water-types such as Lumineon and Whiscash are welcome, as while Houndoom can do relatively good damage to these Pokemon with Dark Pulse, doing so is extremely risky without a Nasty Plot boost or a defensive Tera. Therefore, Grass-types such as Gogoat and Thwackey are natural partners, with Houndoom especially appreciating the latter's ability to set Grassy Terrain, both allowing Houndoom some passive recovery and lessening the damage from opposing Earthquakes. Fast revenge killers, such as Electrode and Raichu, and Choice Scarf users such as Golduck, are also excellent teammates, as they are able to handily dispose of targets that Houndoom has already heavily damaged.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/melt-gibson.617840/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/uhbella.567483/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lumari.232216/
Last edited:
