Hydreigon, the Brutal Pokémon. Only the central head has a brain. It is very intelligent, but it thinks only of destruction. It's said that Hydreigon grew ferocious because people in times long past loathed it, considering it to be evil incarnate and attacking it relentlessly.
Overview
The 5th generation Pseudolegendary, Hydreigon has captivated trainers the world over with its vicious design and brutal power. While the introduction of the Fairy type has meant Hydreigon no longer reached the heights of its introduction, Hydreigon’s tools have kept it in contention. What diverse tools they are too, with a massive Base 125 Special Attack backed by a widely diverse coverage pool, a pair of extremely spammable STABs and Nasty Plot, very few Pokémon can safely switch into Hydreigon’s assaults. It’s not just special attacks Hydreigon boasts, with above average HP and decent defenses coupled by the numerous resistances its base typing affords and Levitate, Hydreigon can easily pivot into a wide range of attacks, even repeatedly with Roost. Levitate’s natural synergy with Terastalization ratchets Hydreigon’s hit taking ability up to another level, making it very hard to remove without specific coverage. Access to utility like Thunder Wave, Taunt, Substitute and U-Turn adds another layer of unpredictability to Hydreigon leaving opponents guessing until they see Hydreigon’s full movepool.
Hydreigon’s woes with Fairies cannot be ignored, however. A Quadruple weakness is crippling on any Pokémon, and with Fairy types resisting both of Hydreigon’s STABs and having high Special Defense to weather coverage ensures they remain Hydreigon’s bane. Hydreigon’s base 98 Speed, which was suspect at its introduction, is another pain point in a vastly speed crept environment. Being part Dragon as much a curse as it is a boon for Hydreigon as well; given the absurd number of excellent Dragon types all vying for a similar team slot, such as the Lati Twins, Kyurem, Raging Bolt and Walking Wake vying as specially offensive Dragons to new comers like Roaring Moon that share Hydreigon’s base typing. It isn’t just the Dragon types anymore. The ninth generation introduced many incredible Dark types as well, with Meowscarada, Ting-Lu, Kingambit, and Hisuian Samurott, just to name a few. With so many excellent Pokémon sharing its typing, naturally teams preparing for them will be in some part prepared for Hydreigon as well, especially given its weakness to three of the most popular coverage types in the game in Fighting, Ice and Fairy. Four Moveslot Syndrome also strikes Hydreigon hard, preventing it from covering every threat it wants in a single set. All of this only slows down Hydreigon’s rampage, not stop it, and even direct answers must be careful lest Hydreigon turn the fight against them.
Positives
Base 125 Special Attack and insane coverage ensures Hydreigon hits hard. Nasty Plot ensures it hits even harder.
Dragon Dark is great both offensively and defensively, offering great neutral STABs and several valuable resistances.
Absurd movepool, with just about every type of coverage a Pokémon could ask for and utility like U-Turn to back it up.
Levitate is amazing, protecting against most hazards and providing an extra immunity while synergizing well with Terastalization
Negatives
Cripplingly bad matchup against Fairy types defensively and to a lesser extent offensively paints a huge target on Hydreigon’s back.
Base 98 Speed is unimpressive for an offensive Pokémon, leaving Hydreigon outsped by numerous threats.
Movesets
Sinister Serpent
-Nasty Plot
-Dark Pulse
-Flash Cannon
-Draco Meteor
Ability: Levitate
Item: Life Orb
EVs and Nature:
4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
Nasty Plot Hydreigon is a force to be feared, pushing Hydreigon's offense to the point it is favored to at least 2HKO all but the bulkiest special sponges in the game; Chansey, Blissey and Unaware Clodsire. Nasty Plot boosts are relatively easy to grab too, given Hydreigon's decent defenses, numerous resistances and Levitate making it relatively simple to pivot in and setup. Dark Pulse is obligatory, being a strong STAB with no drawbacks. Flash Cannon despite being non-STAB is just as mandatory as coverage. Hydreigon is famously reliant on its STABs for damage, making Fairy types a popular switch in, as well as Fairy's popularity as a defensive Tera Type, making Flash Cannon Mandtory for handling both. Hitting opposing Ice types is a fringe benefit. Draco Meteor is for when a target needs to be removed, often OHKOing where Dark Pulse and Flash Cannon cannot, as well as being Hydreigon's best way to muscle through Ting-Lu.
Tera Types:
While Hydreigon's base typing provides a lot of resistances, it also provides plenty of weaknesses to. That, coupled with the fact that Hydreigon has power to spare leads it valuing Tera types with defensive merit. Tera Steel is the choice for Hydreigon given its access to Levitate. As Skarmory, Corviknight and Bronzong have proven, floating Steels are some of the hardest Pokémon to damage in the game, walling out a disproportionate amount of the Dex, giving Hydreigon surprising longevity and greatly facilitating Nasty Plot setup. Tera Steel also has offensive merit, pushing Flash Cannon to be in line with Dark Pulse, being an excellent option for the Fairies that resist Hydreigon's STABs. Tera Poison is an alternative option that works even better defensively for Hydreigon, changing Hydreigon's Fighting weakness to a resistance, while most Psychic types wanting nothing to do with Hydreigon due to its Dark STAB and Psychic's unpopularity as a coverage option.
EVs and Items:
As a sweeper set, Max Speed and Special Attack investment are recommended. A speed boosting nature is all but necessary given Hydreigon's Base 98 Speed to at least punish anything in the base 100 Speed club that doesn't maximize investment as well as outrun Pokémon close to Hydreigon's Speed tier such as Lokix, Haxorus, Kyurem, Gouging Fire, and Urshifu. Max Special Attack investment is recommended to get the most out of Nasty Plot and does a lot in helping Hydreigon reach its famed KO power. Items is where it gets interesting. Life Orb is recommended given it helps Hydreigon reach One to Two Hit Knock Outs on several targets. Without Life Orb, you are likely to miss the 3HKO on Clodsire, the probable 2HKO on Dondozo, Specially Defensive Tinkaton (if running Earth Power), Bulky Kingambit and Primarina, and the OHKO on Gargnacl, sans Assault Vest Hisuian Goodra, Cobalion and Zamazenta. Leftovers can be worth giving up that power; it deprives your opponent of playing around Hydreigon and picking it off when it is weakened and synergizes incredibly with Tera Steel to have Hydreigon stick around far longer than an offensive Pokémon would be expected to. Blackglasses or Dragon Fang can be a compromise, giving up some power while not ruining Hydreigon defensively.
Partners:
Given Hydreigon's barely under par speed stat, speed control makes Hydreigon's Nasty Plot set frighteningly difficult to handle. Sticky Web support from Ribombee is the most obvious, being persistent Speed control across the entire team. Slowking, in both forms also work for this role, spreading paralysis with Thunder Wave and being an answer into opposing Fighting fighting types.
Allies that can answer Hydreigon's weaknesses are also greatly appreciated, being able to remove such threats that can stop or cut short a Nasty Plot sweep. Steel types like Iron Treads and Gholdengo stand out, able to tank the Dragon, Ice and Fairy attacks sent Hydreigon's way, with Gholdengo even nulling Fighting attacks. Such Steel types in turn draw in Ground and Fire attackers that offer an easy pivot into Hydreigon. Kingambit turns this on its head, instead using Hydreigon to soften or remove Dark and Steel resists to prepare for its own sweep later.
Other Options:
Earth Power is notable for being Hydreigon's best coverage option against several Pokémon such as Tinkaton, Cobalion, Kingambit before it Terastalizes as well as not requiring awkward Draco Meteors into the likes of Chi-Yu and Assault Vest Hisuian Samurott.
Substitute is great against bulkier Pokémon, like Blissey, Tinkaton and the others that would try to stop Hydreigon with status, warding against revenge KO attempts, and all the while great for ensuring Nasty Plot setup, especially if Hydreigon definitively forces out whatever it came in on. Best used with Leftovers so that Hydreigon can heal off the HP tax.
Roost is niche, but works well with Life Orb, offsetting Life Orb recoil and preventing your opponent from being able to wear Hydreigon down.
Fire Blast is a far stronger option for most Steel types than Earth Power, only missing out on Heatran and Empoleon.
Hydro Pump is niche, mainly for Unaware Clodsire and Ting-Lu, though both are notable for being incredible headaches for Hydreigon.
Focus Blast slams Chansey, Blissey, Ting-Lu and Hisuian Goodra hard, though its reliability remains a pain point.
Chadreigon
-Draco Meteor
-Dark Pulse
-Flash Cannon
-U-Turn
Ability: Levitate
Item: Choice Specs
EVs and Nature:
4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
Hydreigon is the standard Choice attacker, its attributes being what everyone should look for at least in part for such a Pokémon, even if Hydreigon isn’t the best due to issues of power and speed. Its defenses and typing are part of this, allowing Hydreigon to pivot into attacks as well as tank blows when it inevitably does get hit, offering defensive utility and not only coming in on a free Switch. Levitate also plays a vital role in this, greatly reducing the damage Hydreigon takes from entry hazards from constantly switching as a Choice attacker, reducing the opportunity cost in using it as such. Then are Hydreigon’s moves. Draco Meteor is a veritable nuke, removing Pokémon at high health, with very few safe switch-ins thanks to Dragon’s neutral coverage while the drawback being more manageable thanks to Choice’d attackers constantly switching. Dark Pulse is the reliable STAB attack to fall back on, when you don’t need to go full nuclear and can pressure the opponent with repeated blows without being as easily forced out. Flash Cannon is essential coverage, hitting the Fairy types that Draco Meteor and Dark Pulse can’t. U-Turn is great for predicted switches, baiting in your opponent’s Hydreigon answer before repositioning into a partner that checks their check, maintaining momentum.
Specs Hydreigon is a wallbreaker, using its wide coverage and the obscene power of Specs Draco Meteor to blow open holes in the opponent’s defenses in the early game, paving the way for Hydreigon’s teammates to clean up in the late game, if not Hydreigon itself. It should be noted that good prediction is needed to not allow Fairy types a free switch into Draco Meteor.
Tera Types:
Choice Hydreigon isn’t that reliant on Tera, often preferring a hit a run style and switching when facing a target it can’t handle. Though, when Choice Hydreigon does Terastalize, offensive Teras are important for reaching KOs, the extra damage meaning the difference between Hydreigon having done its job and being removed. Tera Steel remains an excellent offensive/defensive option for luring in Fairy types and turning the tables on them via a boosted Flash Cannon, while having absurd synergy with Levitate. Tera Fire is similar to Steel in regard to its synergy with Levitate, and boosting Fire Blast to melt opposing Steel types in line with Hydreigon’s other STABs. Speaking of Hydreigon’s STABs, Tera Dragon and Tera Dark are incredible power boosts. Tera Dark is popular for the consistency boost, pushing Dark Pulse to near Draco Meteor in power with none of the drawbacks. Tera Dragon is great if you can remove the team’s opposing Fairy types, pushing Specs Draco Meteor to the point of doing 50% to Ting-Lu and by that metric, OHKOing or maiming anything else that doesn’t resist Draco Meteor or having absurd special bulk.
EVs and Items:
Max Speed and Special Attack are recommended. Hydreigon needs to hit as hard and fast as possible and maximizing investment into those two points is natural for Hydreigon to do its duties. Item choice is entirely dependent on how you want Hydreigon to function on the team. Choice Specs as previously mentioned turns Hydreigon into a wallbreaker, ripping holes into all but the spongiest of Pokémon. Choice Scarf on the other hand answers Hydreigon’s speed issues and enables it as a vicious revenge attacker, removing weakened targets that can no longer keep up with Hydreigon.
Partners:
Anti Fairy partners are a must have for Choice Hydreigon, given their resistance to both STABs and Hydreigon needing such a partner to pivot out to when it inevitably draws them in. Gholdengo is notable for this given it can also switch into Fighting attacks that Hydreigon fears and appreciates Hydreigon drawing in and compromising special walls that would be tasked with handling them both. Scizor is another great example, its Bullet Punch overwhelming most Fairy types regardless of Speed and able to pivot back to Hydreigon with its own STAB U-Turns.
Other Options:
Fire Blast and Flamethrower are popular options for removing Steel and Tera Steel types, such as Scizor, and Kingambit as well as synergizing with the Fairy Resistant Tera Fire.
Earth Power also deserves mention as another option for Dragon resistant Steel types, especially Heatran, while being a reliable not Draco Meteor option into Fire Dark types like Chi Yu and Incineroar.
Countering Hydreigon
Hydreigon’s issues with Fairy types are well known, and they don’t get much bigger than resisting both STABs while having a quadruple weakness to exploit. However, since Fairy and Tera Fairy types are such a big issue, Hydreigon is commonly prepared for them, carrying Flash Cannon and a Fairy resistant Tera Type, though Choice sets unsurprisingly struggle when locked into a STAB attack. Assault Vest Primarina is a standout Fairy type despite all this thanks to its neutrality to Flash Cannon, with a secondary Water STAB that slams any Fairy resistant Tera that Hydreigon attempts. Enamorus is another option, that while requiring good prediction, naturally outspeeds Hydreigon and can punish Tera Steel with Mystical Fire.
Steel types are also a consistent roadblock for Hydreigon given their resistance to its main power move in Draco Meteor, though Hydreigon can and does carry answers for them as well. Dark Resistant Steel types can be particularly nightmarish, given they resist both Hydreigon’s STABs. Kingambit is the first Pokémon that comes to mind for Dark Resistant Steels and its good bulk ensures even boosted attacks will bounce off, though Nasty Plot Boosted Draco Meteor can 2HKO factoring in the drop with bulk investment and Kingambit needs Low Kick to OHKO back. If not carrying Earth Power or Fire coverage, Tinkaton also does well thanks to its great Special Bulk, though lacking the power to directly answer Hydreigon, it can cripple it with Thunder Wave and Encore and leave it to a teammate who can finish the job.
Dedicated sponges also give Hydreigon a hard time, with Scarf sets unable to break through them, Specs sets requiring specific Teras, and Nasty Plot sets needing multiple boosts to effectively muscle through them. Blissey and Chansey are the perennial Special Walls, and their ability to handle Hydreigon comes as no surprise. Ting-Lu lacks the ability to take repeated blows, and struggles to do damage, but its bulk is immense enough to tank a boosted Draco Meteor and can wipe away Nasty Plot boosts with Whirlwind. Hisuian Goodra can’t stomach Unaware Clodsire cannot handle the Specs set, and can be overwhelmed by Life Orb variants with Earth Power and/or Hydro Pump, but can put the Nasty Plot set on a timer with Toxic.
As difficult as it can be to switch into Hydreigon, barring the Scarf Set, Hydreigon’s unimpressive speed does leave it vulnerable to being revenge KO’d. Weavile, Triple Axel Meowscarda, Dragapult, Iron Valiant, Walking Wake, Ice Beam Greninja, Alolan Ninetales, Hawlucha, and more all naturally outspeed and have Super Effective STAB to deal with Hydreigon. Even priority users like Mamoswine, and Lokix can do serious if not lethal damage to Hydreigon with their own STABs.
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game
Gold/Silver/Crystal:
Not in game
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Not in game
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Not in game
Colosseum/XD:
Not in game
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Not in game
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Not in game
Black/White:
Evolve Zweilous
Black 2/White 2:
Evolve Zweilous
X/Y:
Victory Road
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Evolve Zweilous
Sun/Moon:
Evolve Zweilous
Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Trade from Sun/Moon
Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Not in game
Sword/Shield:
Roaring-Sea Caves (Sword)
Max Raid Battles: Bridge Field, Dusty Bowl, Giant's Mirror, Stony Wilderness, West Lake Axewell
Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl:
Ramanas Park (Brilliant Diamond)
Legends: Arceus:
Not in game
Scarlet/Violet:
Evolve Zweilous (Scarlet)
Tera Raid Battles: 5 Star Raid Battles , 6 Star Raid Battles
Anime Appearences
