Project Threats to OU Cores: Round 2: Ferrothorn + Hippowdon

[Martin]

Kommo-o @ Throat Spray
Ability: Bulletproof
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Clangorous Soul
- Clanging Scales
- Flamethrower
- Flash Cannon

Omnibooster Kommo-o is a nice set on hyper offense teams which is primarily used to help versus stuff like Bisharp, and it happens to have a REALLY good matchup versus this core. It sets up in Ferrothorn's face, and Kommo-o easily one-shots Ferrothorn with Flamethrower and almost always OHKOs Hippowdon after Stealth Rock chip after the boost from Clangorous Soul+Throat Spray. Obviously this core is commonly paired with Pokemon like Clefable and Primarina, so you would need something else in the back that can pressure and/or KO fairies well.

Additional Notes:

: Dracovish destroys that core but he's banned now. Good bye dear friend

Thank you Mr. Fish

 

[ReadTheMango]

Togekiss @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Air Slash
- Substitute
- Flamethrower

Nasty Plot Togekiss completely dismantles this core assuming a couple of flinches. It cooks Ferrothorn with flamethrower and beats down Hippowdon over time, even without a boost. The only actual way for this core to deal with Togekiss is to whirlwind it out, knocking off its leftovers isn't super crucial. Not to mention this thing helps deal with potential Pex and (not unaware) Clef as well.

 

[Sinnoh Myths]

Diggersby @ Life Orb
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Quick Attack
- Fire Punch / Thunder Punch

Diggersby threatens this core as both Ferrothorn and Hippowdon don't resist its powerful Earthquake, specially when it gets an oppurtunity and sets up a SD, as both drop after a bit of chip damage. Hippowdon is pressured to Whirlwind as it risks being setup on, while Ferrothorn can't come in or it dies to Fire Punch. I also list Thunder Punch as at +2 earthquake has a chance to KO the Ferrothorn, so it's a nice option to have that hits both Corviknight and Mandibuzz. Below are the calcs according to the spreads presented.

Hippo Calcs

252+ Atk Life Orb Huge Power Diggersby Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 248+ Def Hippowdon: 177-211 (42.1 - 50.2%) -- 0.4% chance to 2HKO

8 Atk Hippowdon Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Diggersby: 148-175 (47.5 - 56.2%) -- 82.8% chance to 2HKO

+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Huge Power Diggersby Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 248+ Def Hippowdon: 352-417 (83.8 - 99.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Thorn Calcs

252+ Atk Life Orb Huge Power Diggersby Fire Punch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Ferrothorn: 328-390 (93.1 - 110.7%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO

+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Huge Power Diggersby Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Ferrothorn: 328-386 (93.1 - 109.6%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO

252+ Def Ferrothorn Body Press vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Diggersby: 238-282 (76.5 - 90.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

[escarlata]

Crawdaunt @ Life Orb
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly/Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- Crabhammer
- Aqua Jet
- Swords Dance / Close Combat

Crawdaunt can't really switch in on Ferrothorn but it still does a very good job at breaking the core by virtue of being one of the only Pokemon that can threaten to OHKO Hippowdon unboosted, easily forcing a switch while it sets up. While Close Combat also works in the last spot, I prefer Swords Dance because a +2 Knock Off still OHKOs Ferrothorn, while also OHKOing common teammates like Toxapex and Corviknight. As a bonus, Crawdaunt also OHKOs common allies like Excadrill and Rotom-H with Aqua Jet.

 

[peter97]

I hope I'm not too late.

Venusaur @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Sunny Day
- Weather Ball
- Giga Drain
- Growth

Vs Hippo:
- 252+ SpA Life Orb Venusaur Giga Drain vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Hippowdon: 382-452 (90.9 - 107.6%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO
- 252+ SpA Life Orb Venusaur Giga Drain vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Hippowdon: 382-452 (90.9 - 107.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO after 1 layer of Spikes
Possible damage amounts: (382, 385, 390, 398, 400, 406, 408, 413, 416, 424, 429, 432, 437, 439, 445, 452)


Vs Ferro under the sun:
- 252+ SpA Life Orb Venusaur Weather Ball (100 BP Fire) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Ferrothorn in Sun: 686-811 (194.8 - 230.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Venusaur can switch into Hippo and then giga drain it or set the sun up and with sunny day can + weather ball deals with Ferro.
The standard Chlorophyll sweeper set is better, but it requires more prediction or switches to deal with Hippo's Sandstream.
Black Sludge over Life Orb is a possibility, but: 252+ SpA Venusaur Giga Drain vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Hippowdon: 294-348 (70 - 82.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO.

 

[Odd Numbers]

I’m a little shocked that it wasn’t posted already but CM Zeraora works as an offensive check to Ferro/Hippo defensive cores.

Zeraora @ Leftovers
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Thunderbolt
- Grass Knot
- Aura Sphere

This Zera set is a little more niche than physical sets but there’s more than a few HO teams sporting this Zera on the ladder. This thing can set up on a number of forced switches like Corviknight or Toxapex, or it can set up directly on Ferrothorn itself. At +1, it threatens the OHKO on Hippowdon with Grass Knot and the 2HKO on Ferrothorn with Aura Sphere.

+1 252 SpA Zeraora Grass Knot (120 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Hippowdon: 434-512 (103.3 - 121.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO

+1 252 SpA Zeraora Aura Sphere vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Ferrothorn: 194-230 (55.1 - 65.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

Zeraora has to be wary of common teammates of the core like SR Excadrill, Dragapult, or Kommo-o, but ideally it’d have teammates to take care of those threats and in itself it is a viable offensive check to Ferro/Hippo.

 

[Steel With It]

Rillaboom @ Choice Band
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 SpD
Jolly Nature
- Wood Hammer
- Superpower
- Knock Off
- U-Turn

Grassy Surge Rilla is a newcomer and it waits to be seen which of its sets become standard - I've put Banded here for simplicity's sake - but I'm sure everyone remembers naturally-bulky Grass-types with Fighting coverage shredding this core from Gen 7 Bulu. Wood Hammer OHKOs Hippo and Superpower 2HKOs Ferro, and while prediction can be an issue as long as Ferro is alive (Wood Hammer OKHOs SpDef Clef and Primarina), that's what Knock Off and U-Turn are for.