Hoopa [Limbo]

Hoopa

(Keep in mind this Pokemon has not been released yet. Not all details about it are known, however there are enough details known about its stats, movepool and other things to make a successful early analysis.)



Typing:
Psychic / Ghost (Weak to Ghost and Dark types) (Resistant to Poison and Psychic types) (Immune to Normal and Fighting types)

Abilities:
Magician

Stats:
HP: 80
Attack: 110
Defense: 60
Special Attack: 150
Special Defense: 130
Speed: 70

BST (Base Stat Total): 600

Notable Moves:

Offensive:
Charge Beam
Energy Ball
Focus Blast
Grass Knot
Hyperspace Hole
Psychic
Psyshock
Shadow Ball
Thunderbolt
Brick Break
Phantom Force
Power-Up Punch

Non-Offensive:
Calm Mind
Destiny Bond
Guard Split
Light Screen
Magic Coat
Power Split
Protect
Rain Dance
Reflect
Rest
Substitute
Sunny Day
Taunt
Thunder Wave
Torment
Toxic
Trick
Trick Room

Description:

Hoopa is the least hyped out of the three pseudo-legendaries of X / Y, and on the surface it may not be clear why. It has an insane 150 Special Attack, a damn good 130 Special Defense, an interesting typing and a fantastic support movepool with a decent offensive movepool. However, it's in Hoopa's execution and weaknesses that give it away. Hoopa may only have two weaknesses, but they're both 4x and they're to two very common attacking types. With Aegislash and Greninja running around at every turn, this thing will be hard pressed to stay in OU at all. Along with this, it only resists Psychic / Poison and its immunity to Normal and Fighting is less useful than it was in the past. Its Attack stat is as of this moment somewhat redundant due to a terrible physical offensive movepool, and its speed is less than satisfactory. To top all that off, it has a downright useless ability in Magician, unless you're running Trick. However it's not all doom and gloom for Hoopa. As stated previously, it has a fantastic support movepool, with gems like Calm Mind, Trick, Trick Room, Screens, Magic Coat, Power Split, Taunt, Torment and Thunder Wave. It also has perfect stats to abuse Choice items with. Don't count this guy out yet, because if you do, that 150 Special Attack will punch holes in your team.

Set #1: Choice Specs

Hoopa @ Choice Specs
Ability: Magician
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Hyperspace Hole / Psychic / Psyshock
- Focus Blast
- Thunderbolt / Energy Ball / Trick

Set Description:

Simple, punch holes in your opponent's team. Hoopa's Special Attack is insane once Specs is equipped. Shadow Ball is your main STAB, plunging holes in anything that doesn't resist it. Since Ghost now hits Steel type neutrally, it also won't be so easy for defensive Pokemon to switch into it to take the brunt force of its attack. For the second slot, Hyperspace Hole is Hoopa's signature move, an 80 BP Psychic move that moves through Protect, Detect, King's Shield and Spiky Shield that also gets STAB. It's quite powerful and definitely has a good niche. If you don't want to utilize its effect however, you could always opt for either Psychic for more power or Psyshock for the ability to maim Special tanks. Focus Blast gives you completely un-resisted coverage combined with Shadow Ball and maims a multitude of Pokemon super effectively. Thunderbolt and Energy Ball are good coverage options as well should you be having trouble with specific Pokemon. You could also utilize Trick to great effect here, and then later on use Magician to steal an item from another opponent.

Set #2: Choice Scarf

Hoopa @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Magician
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Hyperspace Hole / Psychic / Psyshock
- Focus Blast
- Thunderbolt / Energy Ball / Trick

Set Description:

Same principle as the Choice Specs set but trades overwhelming power for great power and great speed. All the moves function the same as in the Choice Specs set, including the Trick Magician combo.

Set #3: Calm Mind

Hoopa @ Leftovers
Ability: Magician
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Hyperspace Hole / Thunderbolt / Energy Ball / Rest

Set Description:

This capitalizes on Hoopa's access to Calm Mind. Simply boost and fire away. Hoopa's base 80 HP is satisfactory enough, and as is Hoopa's weaknesses are primarily Special types. Shadow Ball will be your main STAB and will tear through anything, Focus Blast gives you un-resisted coverage. The last slot is a toss up. Hyperspace Hole gives you a way to hit through Protect and such along with having a good STAB move, Thunderbolt and Energy Ball are good coverage options, and Rest is if you want to have a way to get rid of status if you have enough boosts with no fear of getting phased out.

Other Options:

A Trick Room set is viable, as Hoopa's base 70 Speed is just on the cusp of Trick Room's usefulness. Along with this, Hoopa gets access to Light Screen and Reflect, and can bolster your team's defenses even more. Thunder Wave, Taunt, Torment, and Destiny Bond are all other niche options that Hoopa gets. Destiny Bond in particular could be a nasty surprise on the Scarf set.