NU Hippopotas

[frenzyplant]

1/2 :)

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Overview
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With the ability Sand Stream, Hippopotas find its place in NU as a very reliable sand setter and the only one with Sand Steam who can set it up on switch in. Along with a decent defensive typing, (comma) and access to Stealth Rock, (comma) and reliable recovery in Slack Off it makes it a reliable, if specific, team supporter. However, (comma) thanks to its low base stats, (comma) overall it's fairly frail even when invested and prone to get being set up on unless it runs a phazing move like Whirlwind. While Its typing is decent for physical attacks, it also leaves it Hippopotas weak to common special Water- and Grass-type moves. Because of the unique support it gives, (comma) it only fits on a certain type of team and fails to contribute much throughout a match except setting up sand.

Sand Support
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name: Sand Support
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Toxic / Earthquake
move 3: Whirlwind
move 4: Slack Off
ability: Sand Stream
item: Smooth Rock / Eviolite
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
nature: Impish

Moves
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Stealth Rock gives Hippopotas extra entry hazards support for its team members and damages the Flying types immune to Earthquake. Whirlwind can phaze out anything that would tries to set up on Hippopotas and also racks up more hazard damage on the thing it forces out. Yawn can be used instead of Whirlwind to force switches instead of Whirlwind. It's more unreliable but can spread sleep and help bring in team members safely on safer on predicted double switches or on a sleeping Pokemon. Slack Off is reliable recovery and ensures that it Hippopotas stays healthy thoughout the game, even if it switches in a lot. Earthquake hits Rock- and Steel-types decently hard, but it should rarely be used as Hippopotas hasve a low Attack stat. Toxic can be used as a more reliable way to get damage on the opposing opponents team, while also increasing the passive damage done.

Set Details
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The EVs listed give the most physical bulk possible to take resisted and weaker neutral moves better. The use of Smooth Rock extends the turns of sand from five to eight, (comma) which in most situations is preferable than the extra bulk from Eviolite. Sand Stream is mandatory, (comma) as it is the only reason to use Hippopotas. The option to use Eviolite can be used over Smooth Rock to give Hippopotas better overall bulk exists. However, (comma) Eviolite it forces Hippopotas to switch in more to keep up if sand is to be kept up, as it doesn't give as many turns of sand each time.

Usage Tips
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Hippopotas is used for the support it gives its team, (comma) so it should be in as little as possible when sand is already up to avoid wasting sand turns. However, (comma) it can still set up Stealth Rock for the team or take on weaker physical attackers if needed. Note that even with defensive investment Hippopotas is fairly frail, (comma) so avoid strong attackers and powerful moves. When switching Hippopotas in make sure it will live after the entry hazards damage as Sand Stream activates afterwards hazards damage.

Team Options
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Pokemon that work well with Hippopotas are things that can take advantage of the sand it brings. Sand Rush Pokemon such as Stoutland and Sandslash are a must as they gain boosted speed and become dangerous sweepers with boosted Speed under sand. Further are Rock-types (dash) such as like Cradily, Rhydon, (comma) and Carracosta who get their Special Defense boosted by the sand, allowing them to more effectively do their jobs. Other options to consider are Pokemon with Sand Veil like such as Cacturne that benefits from the evasion boost sand gives it. Supporting Hippoptas are Specially defensive Pokemon such as Dragalge that resist common Grass- (dash) and Water-type moves aimed at Hippopotas can support it. A Pokemon with Sandstorm can be used to relieve some that pressure on Hippopotas. While not mandatory as it Hippopotas functions without it, (comma) Rapid Spin or Defog support helps it to switch in more times throughout a game.

Other Options
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Hippopotas doesn't have much else to offer. A set with Bulldoze is possible to lower the opponent's (apostrophe) Speed for a bit more team support. Sandstorm can also be used to beat opposing weather starters that try to remove the sand that Hippopotas sets up.

Checks & Counters
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(add line break)
**Weather Starters**: Opposing weather starters support can remove replace the sand Hippopotas sets up and place a with a different weather on the field instead.

**Entry Hazards**: As Hippopotas will be switching in and out a lot, it's easy to wear it down with Spikes, Toxic Spikes, (comments) and Stealth Rock as it has no passive recovery.

**Special Attackers**: Any powerful special attacker will take it Hippopotas out in a few hits, (comma) even with neutral STAB moves. Most Pokemon with a special super effective move can easily deals with it.

**Super Effective Moves**: Both physical and special super effective moves can easily take non-Eviolite Hippopotas it out without Eviolite to boost its defenses.

 

[Quite Quiet]

Implemented everything above, with a side question for the GP team.

Is there anywhere that say that entry hazards are plural in every case, because the Spelling/Grammar Standards doesn't mention it unless I'm missing it?

 

[fleurdyleurse]

hi

check

Overview
########

Hippopotas find its place in NU as a very reliable sand setter, and the only one wwith Sand Stream. A decent defensive typing, access to Stealth Rock, and reliable recovery in Slack Off makes it a reliable, ifalbeit specific, team supporter. However, thanksdue to its low base stats, it's fairly frail even when invested, and is prone to being set up on unless it runs a phazing move. Its typing leaves Hippopotas weak to common special Water- and Grass-type moves. Because of the unique support it gives, it only fits on a certain type of team and fails to contributedo much exceptother than setting up sand.

Sand Support
########
name: Sand Support
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Toxic / Earthquake
move 3: Whirlwind
move 4: Slack Off
ability: Sand Stream
item: Smooth Rock / Eviolite
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
nature: Impish

Moves
========

Stealth Rock gives Hippopotas entry hazards support, and damages the Flying -types, which are immune to Earthquake. Whirlwind can phaze out anything that tries to set up on Hippopotas and racks up hazard damage. Yawn can be used instead of Whirlwind to force switches. It's more unreliable, but it can spread sleep and help bring in team members safely on predicted double switches or on sleeping Pokemon. Slack Off is reliable recovery and ensures that Hippopotas stays healthy thoughout the game. Earthquake hits Rock- and Steel-types decently hard, but it should rarely be used, as Hippopotas has a low Attack stat. Toxic can be used as a more reliable way to damage the opposing team.

Set Details
========

The EVs listed give the most physical bulk possible. Smooth Rock extends the turns of sand from five to eight, which, in most situations, is preferable over the extra bulk from Eviolite. Sand Stream is mandatory, as it is the only reason to use Hippopotas. Eviolite can be used over Smooth Rock to give Hippopotas better overall bulk. However, Eviolite forces Hippopotas to switch in more to keep up sand.

Usage Tips
========

Hippopotas is used for the support it gives its team, so it should be in as little as possible when sand is already up to avoid wasting sand turns. However, it can still set up Stealth Rock or take on weaker physical attackers if needed. Note that even with defensive investment, Hippopotas is fairly frail, so avoid strong attackers and powerful moves. When switching Hippopotas in, make sure it will live the entry hazards damage, as Sand Stream activates after hazards damage.

Team Options
========

Pokemon that work well with Hippopotas can take advantage of the sand it brings. Sand Rush Pokemonusers such as Stoutland and Sandslash are a must, as they become dangerous sweepers with boosted Speed under sand. Rock-types such as Cradily, Rhydon, and Carracosta get their Special Defense boosted by the sand, allowing them to more effectively do their jobs. Other options to consider are Pokemon with Sand Veil such as Cacturne that benefit from the evasion boost that sand gives it. Specially defensive Pokemon such as Dragalge that resist common Grass- and Water-type moves aimed at Hippopotas can support it. A Pokemon with Sandstorm can be used to relieve thate pressure on Hippopotas. While it is not mandatory as Hippopotas can functions well without it, Rapid Spin or Defog support helps it to switch in more times throughout a game.

Other Options
########

Hippopotas doesn't have much else to offer. A set with Bulldoze is possible to lower the opponent's Speed for a bit more team support. Sandstorm can also be used to beat opposing weather starters that try to remove the sand that Hippopotas sets up.

Checks & Counters
########

**Weather Starters**: Opposing weather starters can replace the sand Hippopotas sets up with a different weather.

**Entry Hazards**: As Hippopotas will be switching in and out a lot, it's easy to wear it down with Spikes, Toxic Spikes, and Stealth Rock as it has no passive recovery.

**Special Attackers**: Any powerful special attacker will take Hippopotas out in a few hits, even with neutral STAB moves. Most Pokemon with a special super effective move can easily deal with it.

**Super Effective Moves**: Both physical and special super effective moves can easily take non-Eviolite Hippopotas out.

gp 1/2

 

[Quite Quiet]

Edited to the above. Is the 1/2 gp meant to be 2/2? fleurdyleurse

edit: Looked at the GP thread, it's listed as done there, so I'll assume it was a typo.

 

[Raseri]

made a few changes and uploaded