NFE Substitute + Bulk Up (Hakamo-o) @ Eviolite
Ability: Bulletproof
EVs: 16 HP / 192 Atk / 132 SpD / 168 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Bulk Up
- Substitute
- Drain Punch
- Dragon Claw
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Optional Move(s):
- Dual Chop
- Earthquake
- Swords Dance
Optional Item(s):
- Choice Scarf
- Dragonium Z
Optional Ability:
- N/A
Optional EV/IV(s):
- N/A
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Overview: Hakamo-o is a good setup sweeper in the metagame. With good offensive STAB attacks, a reasonably good Attack and defensive stats and access to a wide variety of setup moves such as Bulk Up, Dragon Dance, and Swords Dance, it is a threatening Pokemon in the tier. It faces competition from Fraxure, who is much stronger offensively and has a better defensive typing but Fraxure lacks dual STAB and Bulk Up.
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Dragon Dance: The Dragon Dance Hakamo-o set can run Eviolite to improve its bulk and make it easier to set up. Steelium Z Corkscrew Crash is used as a Fairy-type lure, capable of almost OHKOing defensive Clefairy and Togetic at +1. Dragon Dance boosts Hakamo-o's Attack and Speed, which lets it outspeed the entire unboosted metagame at +1 including notable threats such as Electabuzz, Frogadier, Haunter, and Kadabra. Close Combat hits Dark- and Steel-types such as Ferroseed, Krokorok, and Pawniard for super effective damage and it hits most neutral targets for good damage when boosted. Drain Punch is significantly weaker but useful on Eviolite sets in order regain HP and not incur defense drops from Close Combat. Outrage serves as a hard-hitting STAB attack which hits opposing Dragon-types such as Sliggoo, Fraxure, and Gabite for super effective damage. Dragon Claw is a weaker STAB attack but it avoids being locked into Outrage, then subsequently revenge killed by a Fairy- or Steel-type. Iron Tail hits Fairy-types such as Clefairy and Togetic hard.
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Substitute + Bulk Up: The Substitute and Bulk Up set exploits bulky but weak attackers such as Roselia, Gloom, and Prinplup with aid from its ability Bulletproof, which makes it immune to Sludge Bomb. Hakamo-o can set up Substitute on the aforementioned Pokemon or on forced switch-ins. On the physical side, it is capable of setting up and beating notable threats like Pawniard, Klang, Ferroseed, and Krokorok. Bulk Up boosts its Attack and Defense and makes it more difficult to beat on the physical side.
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Checks and Counters: Defensive Mareanie and Dusclops can comfortably tank any hit at +1 and Haze away any accumulated boosts. Defensive Staravia can also switch into Hakamo-o, tank hits and threaten it with Brave Bird. Focus Sash Kadabra can revenge kill a boosted Hakamo-o in exchange for its Focus Sash. Fast Choice Scarf users such as Electabuzz, Frogadier, Staravia, Trumbeak, and Haunter can also revenge kill a +1 Hakamo-o but do not appreciate switching into it.
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