Hoopa Movesets & Competitive Sets

Moves Nasty Plot boosts Hoopa's Special Attack, allowing it to break common cores. Shadow Ball is its main attack, hitting most of the tier for neutral damage, as well as becoming immensely powerful when used with Ghostium Z. Focus Blast has great neutral coverage in conjunction with Shadow Ball, hitting frailer Ghost-type resists for large amounts of damage, and with Fightinium Z, Hoopa can break defensive Dark-types such as Alolan Muk and Umbreon after minimal prior damage, as well as Blissey. Substitute gives safer setup opportunities and prevents Hoopa from being worn down by status conditions, and it can be used on a free turn or on a forced switch. Psyshock can be used over Substitute to break bulky Pokemon like Blissey and Calm Mind Suicune harder, but this makes Hoopa easily revenge killed by common Pursuit users like Krookodile and Mega Aerodactyl. Set Details Maximum investment in Special Attack and a Modest nature give Hoopa as much power and breaking potential as possible. 252 Speed EVs let Hoopa outspeed threats such as Scizor, Crawdaunt, and most defensive Pokemon such as Mantine and defensive Togekiss. 4 Special Defense EVs are used so unboosted Suicune never breaks Hoopa's Substitute. A Timid nature can be used to outspeed Primarina, but since at +2, Modest Hoopa has a 50% chance to OHKO Alolan Muk after Stealth Rock and a Nasty Plot boost, Modest is the preferred option. Fightinium Z is the more viable item option, allowing Hoopa to muscle past common checks to Psychic-types such as Alolan Muk and Blissey while being a no-drawback move to OHKO Krookodile and Hydreigon. Ghostium Z allows Hoopa to severely dent neutral switch-ins with its excellent power and break defensive cores more readily at the cost of being unable to KO Alolan Muk and Blissey reliably. Alternatively, Life Orb can be used if another teammate utilizes the Z-Move better or if running an all-out attacker set. Usage Tips Do not try to set up until Pursuit trappers like Choice Band Scizor are have been weakened and faster Pokemon like Hydreigon have been KOed. Take advantage of Hoopa's good special bulk by using Pokemon such as -2 Latias, bulky Water-types, and resisted attackers as setup fodder. Additionally, forcing switches also gives free setup opportunities. Use Hoopa's Ghost typing to block Rapid Spin from weaker spinners such as Tentacruel, but not offensive ones like Mega Blastoise and Starmie, which can overpower Hoopa quite easily, and use Substitute on weaker or resisted special attackers like Suicune, as this can help alleviate pressure from incoming Pursuit trappers, as well as avoid being hit by a potentially damaging status effect. Try to keep Hoopa healthy versus bulkier teams, as its power to break through walls such as Mega Aggron, Alomomola, and Blissey is extremely useful. Steel-types such as Cobalion and Scizor also are good targets of the Z-Move if opposing Dark-types have been chipped down or KOed. Never-Ending Nightmare should be used as soon as opposing Dark-types are heavily damaged, as most teams do not have switch-ins to it. Due to Hoopa's lack of recovery and need to set Substitute, try to pivot into it in via U-turn, Volt Switch, or a sacrifice. Team Options Hoopa fares well on offensive builds that appreciate its wallbreaking capacity. Klefki makes an excellent partner, as it can set entry hazards to weaken checks, as well as slow down faster teams with Thunder Wave to ease a sweep, and in return, Hoopa can block Rapid Spin. Stealth Rock setters such as Nihilego, Krookodile, and Cobalion also weaken checks and appreciate Hoopa's spinblocking. Other powerful special attackers like Latias, Mega Manectric, and Hydreigon enjoy Hoopa's ability to break past common checks such as Blissey and Alolan Muk. Checks to Dark-types, such as Mega Altaria, and Cobalion, help Hoopa by alleviating offensive pressure on it, provided you play aggressively. Fast Pokemon such as Mega Aerodactyl and Choice Scarf Hydreigon can help make up for Hoopa's lack of Speed. Hazard removers such as Tentacruel, Gligar, and Rotom-H are good teammates because Hoopa is less effective once it has taken residual damage. Wallbreakers such as Infernape and Scizor appreciate Hoopa's ability to weaken defensive Pokemon that they struggle with. Pokemon that resist Dark- or Ghost-type attacks such as Krookodile and Terrakion make good teammates due to their ability to take hits such as Knock Off from opposing Krookodile and Shadow Ball from Gengar.

Moves Trick Room allows Hoopa to utilize its low Speed to dismantle fast offensive teams and support its slower teammates. Psychic is Hoopa's primary STAB move, which hits Poison- and Fighting-types such as Mega Venusaur, Keldeo, Kommo-o, and Toxapex super effectively. Shadow Ball is Hoopa's main Ghost-type STAB move that hits Psychic-type Pokemon such as Jirachi and Slowbro and other Ghost-types like Blacephalon. Thunderbolt can be useful coverage against Water- and Flying-type Pokemon like Greninja, Mantine, Celesteela, and Mandibuzz. Focus Blast is also helpful to help deal with Dark- and Steel-type Pokemon such as Tyranitar, Excadrill, and Heatran. Set Details Maximum HP investment is used to maximize Hoopa's survivability in battle. Life Orb along with maximum Special Attack investment and a Quiet nature maximizes Hoopa's total damage output. A Quiet nature also slows down Hoopa even more to make it faster under Trick Room. Usage Tips Due to Hoopa working best under Trick Room, it must either come in while Trick Room is active or set it up itself on a predicted switch against a slow wall like Toxapex. It should be noted that Hoopa's Special Defense stat is very good, so use this to your advantage in front of common special attackers like Latios, non-Dark Pulse Greninja, and Thundurus-T to set up Trick Room. Be wary of known Pursuit users like Mega Aerodactyl during the match. This is because due to Hoopa's typing and lack of bulk, it will almost always be OHKOed by an opposing Pursuit user, sometimes even if it stays in. Try to refrain from letting those Pokemon, as well as physical attackers in general, switch into Hoopa, as it will be forced out and causes you to make a hard switch. Refrain from taking chip damage, as it will make it harder for Hoopa to be usable in the match, since it needs to be healthy to try and set up Trick Room. Avoid getting affected by any status condition, as it will hinder Hoopa's ability to be useful in the match, whether it be through the chip damage that being poisoned or burned provides or the potential stun chance from paralysis. Team Options Golurk is important for all Trick Room Ghost teams, as it can effectively use its powerful Dynamic Punch to scare off most opposing Dark-types and sets Stealth Rock, which can chip down the opposition. Cofagrigus is an excellent partner for Hoopa due to it also being a Trick Room setter and having an easier time setting it up thanks to its superior bulk. It can also support Hoopa by using Z-Memento under Trick Room so that Hoopa can come in for free and wreak havoc with full HP. Alolan Marowak is also a solid teammate on Trick Room Ghost due to its ability to wallbreak with ease thanks to Swords Dance and its Thick Club, allowing it to break past many walls that Hoopa struggles with, such as Chansey and Alolan Muk after a Swords Dance. Hoopa supports Alolan Marowak by providing another Trick Room setter. Mega Sableye is able to support Hoopa by reflecting any incoming status moves and entry hazards that may be directed towards it thanks to its Magic Bounce ability. Aside from that, it can also take hits from most Ghost- and Dark-type moves for it thanks to its bulk and further support Hoopa by crippling opposing Pokemon with Will-O-Wisp or removing their item with Knock Off. Mimikyu is able to take down Dark-type threats to Hoopa such as Alolan Muk and Tyranitar, as well as be a good assisting wallbreaker thanks to its access to Swords Dance and a Z-Move. On Trick Room teams, Mimikyu is also a good Trick Room setter for the type, which is helpful for Hoopa and the other Pokemon that can take advantage of Trick Room. Gengar and Blacephalon both help keep faster foes in check outside of Trick Room that can pick off fast threats to Hoopa such as Choice Scarf Excadrill and Choice Scarf Landorus-T. Gengar specifically helps more with Fairy-types like Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu, while Blacephelon helps more with Steel-types like Mega Scizor.

Moves Shadow Ball is Hoopa's main STAB move and provides neutral coverage across most types. Focus Blast helps immensely with taking out walls that Hoopa's STAB moves can't take on, such as Porygon2 and Umbreon. Psyshock gives Hoopa the ability to hit special walls such as Blissey and Florges on their weaker Defense stat. As Hoopa forces a ton of switches, Substitute gives it the ability to get a free hard hit off on anything. It also ensures safety against status spreaders such as Blissey and Porygon2. Nasty Plot can be used over a coverage move to allow Hoopa to efficiently remove common walls such as Empoleon, Florges, and Umbreon. Calm Mind could also be an option over Nasty Plot, as it allows Hoopa to take on more balanced teams a bit more easily, but Nasty Plot is generally better against most archetypes. Set Details Salac Berry allows Hoopa to outspeed common revenge killers once it is consumed such as Mamoswine and Mienshao. However, it can be swapped out for Life Orb or Leftovers depending on need for power or longevity. A Timid nature with maximum investment in Speed and Special Attack allows Hoopa to outspeed as many threats as possible while also doing maximum damage. 30 HP IVs allow Hoopa to consume the Salac Berry after setting up three Substitutes, allowing it to hit 393 Speed after the boost. If Hoopa is not running a Salac Berry, it should have a Modest nature instead, as it allows Hoopa to become a more potent wallbreaker. Magician can be effective at times, especially after consumption of the Salac Berry, as it can allow Hoopa to steal a beneficial item such as Leftovers. Usage Tips With a Salac Berry, it is important to conserve Hoopa's HP until an opportunity comes up to set up a Substitute, such as a forced switch. Hoopa can be used on a variety of playstyles, as almost every archetype can appreciate Hoopa's exceptional wallbreaking abilities. Hoopa can also set up on a number of Pokemon in the metagame, but you must be cautious of Pokemon that could be running coverage for Hoopa such as Shadow Ball Reuniclus and Crunch Snorlax. Try to never KO foes with Hoopa until all opposing Pursuit trappers are gone. Substitute can provide some safety from Pursuit trappers, though. Team Options Hoopa can really appreciate Sticky Web users such as Galvantula, as they help it outspeed common revenge killers such as Mamoswine and Krookodile. Hoopa also supports its team in return by blocking Rapid Spin. Dark- and Fighting-types such as Krookodile and Lucario have great offensive and defensive synergy with Hoopa as they can take out Hoopa's counters such as Gligar and Mandibuzz. A Memento user such as Whimsicott can lure some of the threats that Hoopa is able to set up on such as Nidoking, Nidoqueen, and Dragalge. Knock Off users such as Krookodile and Conkeldurr can also be useful, as stealing the wrong item with Magician can put an end to a sweep.

Moves Trick Room allows Hoopa to move first against many of its usual checks. Shadow Ball is Hoopa's most spammable STAB move with neutral coverage on most types and the added benefit of being super effective against bulky Psychic-types such as Cresselia and Reuniclus. Psyshock allows Hoopa to break through more specially defensive Pokemon such as Snorlax and Florges. Psychic is a nice alternative that has more power but prevents Hoopa from hitting walls like Blissey and Florges on their weaker defensive stat. Focus Blast is Hoopa's coverage move to hit Dark- and Steel-types such as Krookodile and Cobalion. Energy Ball could be used as a way to ensure an OHKO on Krookodile without running the risk of missing with Focus Blast and to check bulky Water-types such as Suicune and Swampert. Set Details Life Orb increases Hoopa's already exceptional wallbreaking prowess. A Modest nature and maximum investment in Special Attack further increases its wallbreaking abilities. The EVs make sure Hoopa is not entirely dependent on Trick Room, letting it outspeed common walls outside of Trick Room such as Umbreon and Florges. Alternatively, maximum HP and no Speed investment could be used to outpace these walls under Trick Room while also providing Hoopa with some bulk. Magician is Hoopa's only ability; it's not very useful for this specific set, unless Hoopa's running a Berry of some sort to help facilitate its sweep. Usage Tips Hoopa is best used as a revenge killer and a wallbreaker against more defensively-minded teams. Trick Room is best used against more offensively-minded ones. When trying to set up Trick Room, always try to use it when Hoopa forces a switch or is facing a weaker special attacker such as Celebi or any of the Rotom formes. As for teams Hoopa can fit on, hyper offense and Hoopa complement each other by the offensive playstyle wearing teams down for an eventual Hoopa sweep. Trick Room teams can benefit from Hoopa's exceptional power and special bulk. Generally, Trick Room teams lack offensive Trick Room setters, but Hoopa can really excel at that role. Always be wary of Pursuit; notably, Trick Room being up can prevent Hoopa from being forced out by a potential Pursuit user. Team Options Entry hazard setters such as Froslass, Forretress, and Metagross all work great with Hoopa, inducing chip damage on the opposing team to make Hoopa's job as a sweeper easier. Trick Room sweepers such as Pangoro and Escavalier can capitalize on Hoopa's Trick Room support. Strong special attackers such as Porygon-Z, Nidoking, and Nidoqueen can consistently put pressure on opposing special walls, paving the way for a Hoopa sweep. Memento users such as Whimsicott and Chandelure can allow Hoopa to set up Trick Room with ease on a weakened foe.