Optimizing Sand Teams: Adding Hydreigon to Your VGC Squad
Summary
In the Pokémon Champions | VGC Battles & Tournaments server, members are discussing competitive team optimization. This announcement covers a strategic shift for sand teams, replacing Staraptor with a Life Orb Hydreigon to provide essential special damage and ground immunity. By utilizing a consistent Dragon Pulse set, players can improve their team's reliability against common threats like Farigiraf and Ghost-types, enhancing overall performance in the current VGC meta.
wanting to add an hydreigon here since staraptor isn't that useful in the current version i run imo (i rarely ever use it, here is the old version : https://pokepast.es/283d3e4cae37af63), which set would you put on hydreigon ? https://pokepast.es/f38aa63477a7621c
For the old version, Hydreigon would just replace Staraptor directly.
For the current version, I’d put Hydreigon in the open / changed slot as the special attacker.
The set I’d start with is:
Hydreigon @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
Level: 50
EVs: 2 HP / 32 SpA / 32 Spe
Timid Nature
- Dark Pulse
- Dragon Pulse
- Earth Power
- Protect
I think this fits because it gives the team special damage, a Ground immunity next to Excadrill, and Dark pressure into Farigiraf, Ghosts, and Psychic-types.
I’d use Dragon Pulse over Draco Meteor here because it’s more consistent and doesn’t drop your Sp. Atk after one attack. The team already has enough moving parts with sand, Tailwind, Trick Room, and Scarf Basculegion, so I’d keep Hydreigon simple and reliable.
thanks a lot, do you think this actually makes the team better ?
