QC Checks: Amaroq / Hilomilo / -
GP Checks: - / -
[OVERVIEW]
Hawlucha is an excellent late-game setup sweeper for hyper offensive and occasionally bulky offensive teams. Hawlucha is especially excellent on Aurora Veil offense teams, often considered to be the primary sweeper on the playstyle. A base Speed stat of 118 allows Hawlucha to outspeed the majority of the unboosted metagame even before it activates its ability Unburden, including Raikou and Latias. Hawlucha's ability in Unburden doubles its speed when its item is removed, which allows for Hawlucha to outspeed every other Pokemon in the metagame after it loses its item. Hawlucha will normally only be able to attempt a sweep once during a game, however, as Unburden's effect no longer functions if Hawlucha switches out after it activates. With access to Swords Dance and high-powered STAB attacks in the form of Acrobatics and High Jump Kick, Hawlucha is difficult for opposing offensive teams to stop once it is set up. Its typing of Fighting / Flying is excellent offensively, resisted by very few Pokemon in UU. Fighting / Flying is also decent defensively, granting Hawlucha resistances to Bug-, Dark-, Fighting-, and Grass-type attacks while giving it an immunity to Ground-type attacks. This set of resistances allows for Hawlucha to check and set up on Pokemon such as Krookodile and Cobalion. However, Hawlucha is weak to Psychic-, Fairy-, Electric-, Flying-, and Ice-type attacks. Hawlucha's offensive and defensive stats are also somewhat lacking. A base 92 Attack stat means that Hawlucha will not be doing a large amount of damage without boosts from Swords Dance, and its subpar bulk somewhat hinders its ability to set up on anything but weak or resisted attacks and makes it susceptible to being revenged with moderately strong priority attacks. Aurora Veil support heavily mitigates these defensive issues, however, allowing for Hawlucha to more easily set up versus threats like Scizor, Swampert, and Alomomola.
[SET]
name: Power Herb + Sky Attack
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Sky Attack
move 3: High Jump Kick
move 4: Acrobatics
item: Power Herb
ability: Unburden
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance allows for Hawlucha to increase its Attack, which facilitates its ability to sweep. Sky Attack is Hawlucha's strongest available Flying-type attack, and when paired with a Power Herb, it allows for Hawlucha to activate Unburden at a moment's notice while also dealing damage with a one-time 140 BP attack. A +2 Sky Attack can break through Pokemon that Hawlucha would normally be unable to break past, such as Sylveon, Mega Blastoise, and Togekiss. Beware, however, that Sky Attack can miss. High Jump Kick is Hawlucha's primary STAB, capable of muscling past the Steel-, Rock-, and Electric-types which Acrobatics and Sky Attack cannot KO, such as Raikou, Empoleon, and Mega Aerodactyl, and it is usable at all times. Acrobatics is Hawlucha's most accurate attack and its secondary Flying-type STAB, boasting an impressive 110 power once Hawlucha's item is removed. Acrobatics can hit Pokemon which resist or are immune to High Jump Kick or commonly carry protect, such as Alomomola, Celebi, Latias, and Chandelure.
Set Details
========
252 Attack EVs allows for Hawlucha to make the most of its base 92 Attack stat while 252 Speed EVs with a Jolly nature allows for Hawlucha to outspeed the likes of Raikou and Cobalion before Unburden activates. Unburden coupled with a Power Herb allows for Hawlucha to outspeed the entire metagame after using a one-turn Sky Attack.
Usage Tips
========
Before Hawlucha activates Unburden, it can be used in order to pick off weakened threats such as Raikou and Empoleon with High Jump Kick. Set up Swords Dances versus Pokemon such as Cobalion or Krookodile which fail to OHKO Hawlucha with their attacks. It is also possible to set up Swords Dances versus Choice Scarf users such as Hydreigon and Infernape who are locked into Dark- or Fighting-type moves. In a pinch, Hawlucha can simply use Sky Attack immediately and then fire off unboosted Acrobatics and High Jump Kicks to punch holes in the opposing team.
Team Options
========
Hawlucha fits extremely well on hyper offense due to the fast-paced nature of said teams, but it can also function very well on bulky offense due to its great matchup against opposing offensive teams. Alolan Ninetales makes an amazing partner for Hawlucha, as Aurora Veil support allows for Hawlucha to set up on a much wider variety of targets. Hawlucha also pairs well with Dark-types and Pursuit users such as Alolan Muk and Krookodile, as they can trap or break through the bulky Psychic- and Ghost-types that Hawlucha struggles with like Cofagrigus, Slowbro, and Doublade while Hawlucha can break through and set up on the Fighting-types which they struggle with. Beware, however, that pairing Dark-types with Hawlucha usually stacks a weakness to Fairy-types. Hawlucha in general pairs rather well with Pokemon that cause opponents to lock themselves into Fighting- or Dark-type attacks, such as Hydreigon or Celebi, in order to give Hawlucha as many setup opportunities as possible. Wallbreakers such as Crawdaunt or Mamoswine are also good team options which can deal with the bulkier Pokemon that Hawlucha cannot break through. Magneton is a great asset to Hawlucha, as it removes opposing Scizor from play thanks to Magnet Pull. Poison-types such as Nidoking and Mega Beedrill and Steel-types such as Scizor and Metagross can pressure opposing Fairy-types like Togekiss or defensive Primarina which give Hawlucha trouble. Finally, Spikes users such as Klefki and Froslass and Stealth Rock support from Pokemon like Nidoqueen or Krookodile can provide residual damage to opposing teams, which allows for Hawlucha to sweep more easily.
[SET]
name: SubSitrus
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Swords Dance
move 3: High Jump Kick
move 4: Acrobatics
item: Sitrus Berry
ability: Unburden
nature: Jolly
evs: 12 HP / 244 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Substitute allows Hawlucha to take an extra hit by setting up on predicted switches, status moves, or Pokemon which cannot deal over 25% damage to it, and Substitute also allows for Hawlucha to whittle down its own HP in order to activate Unburden. Swords Dance allows for Hawlucha to boost its Attack stat, allowing it to deal massive damage to opposing teams. High Jump Kick is Hawlucha's strongest attack and its primary STAB attack, allowing for Hawlucha to break past the Steel-, Electric-, and Rock-types like Raikou, Metagross, and Mega Steelix which resist Acrobatics and dealing slightly more damage to bulkier targets than a neutral Acrobatics. High Jump Kick can also be used without having eaten the Sitrus Berry first, which allows for Hawlucha to be effective in battle before it sets up. Acrobatics is Hawlucha's Flying-type STAB, boasting a strong base power of 110 after Hawlucha eats its Sitrus Berry. Due to the lack of drawbacks to this attack after Hawlucha sets up, Hawlucha should attempt to use Acrobatics as much as possible over High Jump Kick after Unburden activates. Before Hawlucha has eaten its Berry, however, Acrobatics will be a subpar base 55 power, which severely limits its usefulness before Hawlucha sets up.
Set Details
========
12 HP EVs give Hawlucha a HP value divisible by 4, which allows for Hawlucha to eat its Sitrus Berry after using Substitute twice. 252 Speed EVs with a Jolly nature allows for Hawlucha to outspeed the likes of Raikou and Salazzle before Unburden activates, which facilitates its ability to set up and also increases Hawlucha's usefulness before it sets up. 244 Attack EVs give Hawlucha as much power as possible while maintaining its high Speed stat and its specific HP. An alternative spread of 28 HP / 228 Atk / 252 Speed with a Jolly nature can be used in order to activate Unburden after one Substitute and two rounds of Stealth Rock damage, while also guaranteeing that Alomomola does not break Hawlucha's Substitute on a maximum damage roll. However, Hawlucha loses out on a minor amount of attack power with this spread. Hawlucha's ability Unburden, paired with a Sitrus Berry, allows for it to outspeed the entire metagame after it takes at least 50% damage.
Usage Tips
========
Before Hawlucha sets up, it can still be useful in order to force out or KO weakened Pokemon such as Raikou or Cobalion or Pokemon weak to Fighting such as Empoleon with the threat of a High Jump Kick. Wait to set up Hawlucha until its possible checks such as Hippowdon and Sylveon are weakened to the range where Hawlucha can KO them. Send Hawlucha in as a revenge versus Pokemon such as Krookodile, Mienshao, Scarf Hydreigon, Scarf Infernape, Scarf Terrakion, and -2 Latias, and then set up a Substitute and/or 1-2 Swords Dances before KOing them with Acrobatics. Hawlucha can also be sent in as a free switch on weak defensive Pokemon such as Alomomola and Chesnaught (Although it must be wary of Scald burns); it can then set up Substitutes and Swords Dances versus these Pokemon. Alomomola, specifically, can only remove Hawlucha's Substitute with Scald on a maximum roll. In a pinch, Hawlucha is able to switch into a predicted attack which will deal enough to activate Unburden and proceed to KO the opponent back with Acrobatics or High Jump Kick. However, this normally prevents Hawlucha from using Swords Dance to sweep afterwards.
Team Options
========
Hawlucha fits especially well on hyper offense, as the fast-paced nature of hyper offensive teams usually does not need the Pokemon involved to sweep more than once. However, bulky offense teams can also appreciate Hawlucha's set of resistances and ability to break through offensive teams. Hawlucha greatly appreciates Aurora Veil support from Alolan Ninetales, as it heavily facilitates Hawlucha's ability to set up. Hawlucha appreciates support from Dark-types, especially Pursuit support from Pokemon such as Krookodile and Alolan Muk, in order to take on Ghost-types and bulky Psychic-types like Jellicent, Slowbro, Cofagrigus, Doublade, and Reuniclus which would normally complicate Hawlucha's sweeping ability by blocking High Jump Kicks or surviving Hawlucha's boosted attacks. However, pairing Dark-types with Hawlucha will usually stack a Fairy-type weakness. Wallbreakers such as Crawdaunt and Mega Abomasnow also pair well with Hawlucha, as they can weaken or KO the bulky Pokemon such as Hippowdon or Slowbro which would normally stop a Hawlucha's sweep. Hawlucha also enjoys support from Steel-types such as Scizor or Metagross, as they can deal with the Fairy-types which Hawlucha struggles with such as Sylveon and Togekiss, along with also dealing somewhat well with Mamoswine and Weavile. Poison-types such as Nidoqueen and Mega Beedrill also pressure opposing Fairy-types. Pokemon which struggle versus Krookodile, such as Raikou and Latias, allow for Hawlucha to take full advantage of its ability to set up on Krookodile. On a related note, Hawlucha appreciates having as many opportunities to set up as possible, so Pokemon which can lure Choiced Fighting-type attacks, such as Krookodile and Magneton, make good partners for it.
Magneton is also a good option thanks to its ability to trap and remove Scizor, a Pokemon which annoys Hawlucha with the threat of a Bullet Punch. Stealth Rock support from Pokemon such as Mamoswine and Azelf and Spikes support from Klefki or Froslass can turn several 2HKOs from Hawlucha into OHKOs.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hawlucha can use an Adamant nature on either of its sets for more attack power, but this comes at the cost of not outspeeding Pokemon such as Cobalion, Latias, and Raikou before Unburden, so Jolly is vastly more preferable in most circumstances. Hawlucha can attempt to use Flyinium Z with Sky Attack and Mold Breaker rather than Unburden in an attempt to OHKO Quagsire after a Swords Dance boost and act as a form of stallbreaker. However, Hawlucha is left without a viable Flying-type STAB after the Z-move is used, and it lacks any way of boosting its Speed in order to sweep fast offensive teams. Hawlucha can also attempt to use a Choice Band due to its above average speed tier, but Hawlucha lacks any one-turn Flying-type STAB above 60 power, so it is more easily walled, and it once again lacks any method of boosting its Speed any further.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Priority**: Hawlucha is often easily whittled down or killed by various pokemon with Extreme Speed, such as Entei or Lucario. It is also chipped down by Bullet Punches from Scizor. Mamoswine's Ice Shard also deals heavy damage to Hawlucha, although it does not OHKO outright. A Talonflame at full health can also OHKO Hawlucha mid-sweep with Brave Bird or Supersonic Skystrike. Hawlucha often needs significant chip damage to be OHKOd by most sources of priority, but the SubSitrus set brings itself to the range of many KOs in the process of setting up. Stealth Rock damage also brings Hawlucha into the KO range of several more priority moves.
**Faster Pokemon**: Most Pokemon which naturally outspeed Hawlucha, such as Mega Pidgeot and Mega Aerodactyl, can threaten to OHKO Hawlucha if it has not activated Unburden. However, with a Swords Dance and Unburden boost under its belt, Hawlucha can outspeed and OHKO these threats.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon such as Slowbro, Hippowdon, and Suicune can take Hawlucha's boosted Acrobatics and High Jump Kick and KO it or force it out with Roar or Whirlwind in return.
**Fairy-types**: Sylveon, Klefki, and Togekiss can all take Hawlucha's attacks at +2 and paralyze or KO it in return. Primarina, however, is knocked out by a +2 Acrobatics or Sky Attack.
**Doublade**: Doublade stops Hawlucha hard in its tracks, being immune to High Jump Kick and taking minimal damage from even a +6 Acrobatics, while being able to 2HKO Hawlucha in return with Iron Head.
**Crobat**: Crobat can switch in on SubSitrus Hawlucha as soon as it comes in and force it out whether or not it is behind a Substitute. However, Crobat needs to watch out for Sky Attack Hawlucha, which can 2HKO Crobat on the switch with Sky Attack followed by Acrobatics.
**Quagsire**: Quagsire can ignore Hawlucha's Swords Dances thanks to Unaware, which means Hawlucha cannot break through it.
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