Hippowdon @ Choice Band - Adamant 80 HP/252 Atk/112 Speed/64 SpDef - Earthquake - Crunch - Superpower - Ice Fang IPL gave this to me originally and I've tweaked it a bit. The EVs are his and allows for outspeeding Blissey as well as most Swampert, some Machamp, and Dusknoir. It generally destroys or cripples a lot of leads, most notably Azelf. A CB Crunch will break the sash and the ensuing sandstorm will KO it. All it can do is Taunt (haha), Stealth Rock or Grass Knot (which doesn't KO, and seems to be rare). Leads Hippo has to switch out of (or can't kill before dying): Spoiler Roserade Ninjask Bronzong Forretress Starmie Skarmory Uxie Mamoswine Empoleon Yanmega Togekiss Zapdos Flygon Charizard Moltres Jumpluff Here are a couple of log files that I've kept, one is Hippo KOing leads the other is what I call 'conditionally' KOing them. Hippo KOs Spoiler ------------------------------------------------------------------- Azelf ------------------------------------------------------------------- cuoo sent out Hippowdon (lvl 100 Hippowdon ♀). brndnjng sent out Azelf (lvl 100 Azelf). Hippowdon's Sand Stream whipped up a sandstorm! A sandstorm brewed! Azelf used Taunt. Hippowdon fell for the taunt! Hippowdon used Crunch. It's super effective! Azelf lost 100% of its health. Azelf hung on using its Focus Sash! The sandstorm rages. Azelf is buffetted by the sandstorm! Azelf lost 0% of its health. brndnjng's Azelf fainted. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Heatran ------------------------------------------------------------------- Gades Gallione sent out Hippowdon (lvl 100 Hippowdon ♀). There Will Be Time sent out Heatran (lvl 100 Heatran ♀). Hippowdon's Sand Stream whipped up a sandstorm! A sandstorm brewed! Heatran used Stealth Rock. Pointed stones float in the air around the foe's team! Hippowdon used Earthquake. It's super effective! Heatran lost 100% of its health. There Will Be Time's Heatran fainted. The Shuca Berry weakened Earthquake's power! ------------------------------------------------------------------- Jirachi ------------------------------------------------------------------- Gades Gallione sent out Hippowdon (lvl 100 Hippowdon ♀). enigma26 sent out Jirachi (lvl 100 Jirachi). Hippowdon's Sand Stream whipped up a sandstorm! A sandstorm brewed! Jirachi used Stealth Rock. Pointed stones float in the air around the foe's team! Hippowdon used Earthquake. It's super effective! Jirachi lost 100% of its health. enigma26's Jirachi fainted. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Metagross ------------------------------------------------------------------- BANANAFURY sent out Metagross (lvl 100 Metagross). Gades Gallione sent out Hippowdon (lvl 100 Hippowdon ?). Hippowdon's Sand Stream whipped up a sandstorm! A sandstorm brewed! Metagross used Stealth Rock. Pointed stones float in the air around the foe's team! Hippowdon used Earthquake. It's super effective! Metagross lost 100% of its health. BANANAFURY's Metagross fainted. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Infernape ------------------------------------------------------------------- red-demon sent out Infernape (lvl 100 Infernape ♂). cuoo sent out Hippowdon (lvl 100 Hippowdon ♀). Hippowdon's Sand Stream whipped up a sandstorm! A sandstorm brewed! Infernape used Stealth Rock. Pointed stones float in the air around the foe's team! Hippowdon used Earthquake. It's super effective! Infernape lost 100% of its health. Infernape hung on using its Focus Sash! The sandstorm rages. Infernape is buffetted by the sandstorm! Infernape lost 0% of its health. red-demon's Infernape fainted. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Gengar ------------------------------------------------------------------- cheeseb sent out Gengar (lvl 100 Gengar ♀). Judge Dredd sent out Hippowdon (lvl 100 Hippowdon ♀). Hippowdon's Sand Stream whipped up a sandstorm! A sandstorm brewed! Gengar used Taunt. Hippowdon fell for the taunt! Hippowdon used Crunch. It's super effective! Gengar lost 100% of its health. Gengar hung on using its Focus Sash! Gengar's defence was lowered. The sandstorm rages. Gengar is buffetted by the sandstorm! Gengar lost 0% of its health. cheeseb's Gengar fainted. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Tyranitar ------------------------------------------------------------------- Judge Dredd sent out Lawgiver (lvl 100 Hippowdon ♀). jebb xx sent out Tyranitar (lvl 100 Tyranitar ♂). Tyranitar's Sand Stream whipped up a sandstorm! A sandstorm brewed! Lawgiver's Sand Stream whipped up a sandstorm! Lawgiver used Superpower. It's super effective! Tyranitar lost 100% of its health. jebb xx's Tyranitar fainted. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Abomasnow ------------------------------------------------------------------- Judge Dredd sent out Lawgiver (lvl 100 Hippowdon ♀). jachael sent out Abomasnow (lvl 100 Abomasnow ♂). Lawgiver's Sand Stream whipped up a sandstorm! A sandstorm brewed! Abomasnow's Snow Warning whipped up a hailstorm! The sandstorm stopped. Hail began to fall! Lawgiver used Superpower. It's super effective! Abomasnow lost 100% of its health. jachael's Abomasnow fainted. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Gliscor ------------------------------------------------------------------- Judge Dredd sent out Lawgiver (lvl 100 Hippowdon ♀). fcsasuke sent out Gliscor (lvl 100 Gliscor ♂). Lawgiver's Sand Stream whipped up a sandstorm! A sandstorm brewed! Gliscor used Taunt. Lawgiver fell for the taunt! Lawgiver used Ice Fang. It's super effective! Gliscor lost 100% of its health. fcsasuke's Gliscor fainted. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Empoleon ------------------------------------------------------------------- M_Dragon sent out Empoleon (lvl 100 Empoleon ♂). Judge Dredd sent out Lawgiver (lvl 100 Hippowdon ♀). Lawgiver's Sand Stream whipped up a sandstorm! A sandstorm brewed! Lawgiver used Earthquake. It's super effective! Empoleon lost 100% of its health. M_Dragon's Empoleon fainted. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Electrode ------------------------------------------------------------------- Opjqy sent out Electrode (lvl 100 Electrode). Judge Dredd sent out Lawgiver (lvl 100 Hippowdon ♀). Lawgiver's Sand Stream whipped up a sandstorm! A sandstorm brewed! Dunya has entered the room. Electrode used Taunt. Lawgiver fell for the taunt! Lawgiver used Earthquake. It's super effective! Electrode lost 100% of its health. Electrode hung on using its Focus Sash! The sandstorm rages. Electrode is buffetted by the sandstorm! Electrode lost 0% of its health. Opjqy's Electrode fainted. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ninjask ------------------------------------------------------------------- Judge Dredd sent out Lawgiver (lvl 100 Hippowdon ♀). webbson sent out Ninjask (lvl 100 Ninjask ♂). Lawgiver's Sand Stream whipped up a sandstorm! A sandstorm brewed! Ninjask used Swords Dance. Ninjask's attack was sharply raised. Lawgiver used Ice Fang. It's super effective! Ninjask lost 100% of its health. Ninjask hung on using its Focus Sash! The sandstorm rages. Ninjask is buffetted by the sandstorm! Ninjask lost 0% of its health. webbson's Ninjask fainted. Conditional Hippo KOs Spoiler ------------------------------------------------------------------- Aerodactyl ------------------------------------------------------------------- cuoo sent out Hippowdon (lvl 100 Hippowdon ♀). magiscoder sent out Aerodactyl (lvl 100 Aerodactyl ♂). Aerodactyl is exerting its pressure! Hippowdon's Sand Stream whipped up a sandstorm! A sandstorm brewed! Aerodactyl used Taunt. Hippowdon fell for the taunt! Hippowdon used Superpower. Aerodactyl lost 100% of its health. Aerodactyl hung on using its Focus Sash! Hippowdon's attack was lowered. Hippowdon's defence was lowered. The sandstorm rages. Aerodactyl used Stealth Rock. Pointed stones float in the air around the foe's team! Hippowdon used Superpower. Aerodactyl lost 0% of its health. magiscoder's Aerodactyl fainted. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Alakazam ------------------------------------------------------------------- Judge Dredd sent out Hippowdon (lvl 100 Hippowdon ♀). Leon_ sent out Alakazam (lvl 100 Alakazam ♂). Hippowdon's Sand Stream whipped up a sandstorm! A sandstorm brewed! Alakazam used Energy Ball. It's super effective! Hippowdon lost 64% of its health. Hippowdon used Earthquake. Alakazam lost 100% of its health. Alakazam hung on using its Focus Sash! The sandstorm rages. Alakazam is buffetted by the sandstorm! Alakazam lost 0% of its health. Leon_'s Alakazam fainted. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Drifblim ------------------------------------------------------------------- Judge Dredd sent out Lawgiver (lvl 100 Hippowdon ♀). bluerversion sent out Drifblim (lvl 100 Drifblim ♂). Lawgiver's Sand Stream whipped up a sandstorm! A sandstorm brewed! Drifblim used Shadow Ball. Lawgiver lost 38% of its health. Lawgiver used Crunch. It's super effective! Drifblim lost 100% of its health. Drifblim hung on using its Focus Sash! Drifblim lost its burden! The sandstorm rages. Drifblim is buffetted by the sandstorm! Drifblim lost 0% of its health. bluerversion's Drifblim fainted. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Froslass ------------------------------------------------------------------- Judge Dredd sent out Lawgiver (lvl 100 Hippowdon ♀). p0p0killa1 sent out Froslass (lvl 100 Froslass ♀). Lawgiver's Sand Stream whipped up a sandstorm! A sandstorm brewed! Froslass used Ice Beam. It's super effective! Lawgiver lost 74% of its health. Lawgiver used Crunch. It's super effective! Froslass lost 100% of its health. Froslass hung on using its Focus Sash! The sandstorm rages. Froslass is buffetted by the sandstorm! Froslass lost 0% of its health. p0p0killa1's Froslass fainted. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Crobat ------------------------------------------------------------------- Judge Dredd sent out Lawgiver (lvl 100 Hippowdon ♀). Plasma.exe sent out Crobat (lvl 100 Crobat ♂). Lawgiver's Sand Stream whipped up a sandstorm! A sandstorm brewed! Crobat used Taunt. Lawgiver fell for the taunt! Lawgiver used Ice Fang. It's super effective! Crobat lost 88% of its health. Crobat was frozen solid! The sandstorm rages. Crobat is buffetted by the sandstorm! Crobat lost 6% of its health. Crobat's leftovers restored its health a little! Crobat restored 6% of its health. Crobat is frozen solid! Lawgiver used Ice Fang. It's super effective! Crobat lost 12% of its health. Plasma.exe's Crobat fainted. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Swampert ------------------------------------------------------------------- Judge Dredd sent out Lawgiver (lvl 100 Hippowdon ♀). flygoner8 sent out Swampert (lvl 100 Swampert ♂). Lawgiver's Sand Stream whipped up a sandstorm! A sandstorm brewed! Lawgiver used Earthquake. Swampert lost 57% of its health. Swampert used Stealth Rock. Pointed stones float in the air around the foe's team! The sandstorm rages. Swampert's leftovers restored its health a little! Swampert restored 6% of its health. Lawgiver used Earthquake. Swampert lost 49% of its health. flygoner8's Swampert fainted. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Machamp ------------------------------------------------------------------- Judge Dredd sent out Lawgiver (lvl 100 Hippowdon ♀). Amleto sent out Machamp (lvl 100 Machamp ♂). Lawgiver's Sand Stream whipped up a sandstorm! A sandstorm brewed! Lawgiver used Earthquake. Machamp lost 76% of its health. Machamp used Substitute. But it failed! The sandstorm rages. Machamp is buffetted by the sandstorm! Machamp lost 6% of its health. Lawgiver used Earthquake. Machamp lost 17% of its health. Amleto's Machamp fainted. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Weavile ------------------------------------------------------------------- Judge Dredd sent out Lawgiver (lvl 100 Hippowdon ♀). firecape01 sent out Weavile (lvl 100 Weavile ♂). Weavile is exerting its pressure! Lawgiver's Sand Stream whipped up a sandstorm! A sandstorm brewed! Weavile used Fake Out. Lawgiver lost 11% of its health. Lawgiver flinched! The sandstorm rages. Weavile is buffetted by the sandstorm! Weavile lost 6% of its health. Weavile used Taunt. Lawgiver fell for the taunt! Lawgiver used Superpower. It's super effective! Weavile lost 94% of its health. firecape01's Weavile fainted. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Dragonite ------------------------------------------------------------------- thunderq sent out Dragonite (lvl 100 Dragonite ♂). Lawgiver's Sand Stream whipped up a sandstorm! A sandstorm brewed! Dragonite used Draco Meteor. Lawgiver lost 88% of its health. Dragonite's special attack was harshly lowered. Dragonite lost 10% of its health. Lawgiver used Ice Fang. It's super effective! Dragonite lost 90% of its health. thunderq's Dragonite fainted. The sandstorm rages.
I really think Stone Edge could be run > Superpower to give you a way of hitting any incoming Gyara. The only thing you'll really be using Superpower for anyway is Tyranitar, who never runs Def EVs. Lets see EQ vs Standard lead Tar: 525 Atk vs 256 Def & 404 HP (100 Base Power): 440 - 522 (108.91% - 129.21%). There really is no need to Superpower Tar anyway as you will just be stuck with a -1 Atk -1 Def Hippo locked into a non-Stab move. That becomes setup fodder for a lot more things than a CB Stone Edge would. Stone Edge also gives you a better way of dealing with Togekiss as it always KOs those that run no HP EVs and has a chance to KO max HP variants. Superpower really only hits Bronzong and Skarmory, two Pokes that wall you regardless.
I used to run Stone Edge over Ice Fang and yeah, it did come in handy vs Togekiss, Gyarados, Zapdos, etc but I needed Ice Fang for Gliscor, who walls you to death otherwise and it helps vs Mence/Flygon. Superpower has actually won me matches before, like vs Blissey who isn't always OHKOed by Earthquake, as well as the random Abomasnow, but you have a good argument for it otherwise. It all comes down to a matter of preference and team coverage but yes, Stone Edge is an extremely viable option on this set - if you can deal with the times that it misses.
Move those 64 EVs from SpDef to HP. This helps with both Hippowdon's Def and SpDef, rather than just investing it on SpDef as it will do just as close damage with 64 EVs in HP. While your Hippowdon with 80 HP and 64 SpDef EVs takes 81.2% - 96% from Lead Azelfs. Simply give your Hippowdon 136 EVs in HP and 8 EVs in SpDef and Grass Knot will do 84.4% - 99.7%. Guaranteeing that you'll never be OHKO'd. While with those 136 HP EVs you have a VERY good chance to living a DD + LO + Outrage from Salamence, taking 86.2% - 101.5% (90.2% chance of surviving and 49.3% chance of surviving after SR damage). While with only 80 HP EVs, you take 89.4% - 105.3% damage (66.7% chance of surviving and 27.4% chance of surviving after SR damage). While the only reason you would give it 112 EVs in its speed (reaching 158 Speed) would be to out speed Empoleon, Magnezone, Porygon2, Swampert, and Weezing at NEUTRAL Speed. No one really runs these Pokemon at Neutral speed. They are almost ALWAYS faster than 158 Speed. Thus, there's not much point to give it 112 EVs in Speed and lessen its defenses. The next most common threats you would want to out speed would be Blissey and Machamp who are at 146 Speed. Most people give these Pokemon 147 Speed in order to evade speed ties. Thus, it's best to give yhour anti-lead Hippowdon 148 Speed, as that's the most ideal Speed. This only requires 72 EVs in Speed. You are now saving 40 EVs. So now you can place those 40 EVs in Hippowdon's HP. Since you're investing 40 more EVs in Hippowdon's HP, there's no reason to give it SpDef EVs as it will always live a Grass Knot from Azelf lead (doing 82.9% - 97.8% now). So now your Hippowdon has: 184 HP / 252 Atk / 72 Speed. And DD + LO + Outrage from Salamence now does only 83.6% - 98.5%. So as you can see, the best EV spread would be: 184 HP / 252 Atk / 72 Speed
I've seen this so much recently, but it's not very effective in my opinion. Something such as Swampert or Smeargle essentially shuts you down. As well as this, each move Hippowdon has doesn't have amazing coverage, and being locked into that isn't the best position to be in. You might kill their lead, but either way, something like Aerodactyl or Jirachi will still get their Entry Hazards up, and so technically it has failed as an Anti-Lead. Hippowdon as a whole isn't exactly overwhelming, and considering that it's easy to play around if you go about its resistances I would much rather use something that can get Entry Hazards up more efficiently or disrupting the foe as much as possible.
I'll do the calculations as regards to the EVs. I find myself missing Hippowdon whenever I try to use other leads, but you're right about not stopping many leads from getting SR up. However, I would like to say that it generally beats Swampert as it outspeeds most of them and Earthquake tends to do over 54% so it's a 2HKO. It is helpess against Smeargle but I love switching Lum/Sub Kingdra in on it and watch as it tries to Spore again (barring scarf variants) on my sub. Most people just forfeit. :p
Eh, I prefer speedy pokemon as anti - leads. There's a sort of... reassurance when you know you're able to attack first IMO. God, I made that sound nerdy.