**art is mine**
[OVERVIEW]
Hariyama makes for a respectable tank thanks to its elephantine HP and access to Thick Fat, making it an ideal switch-in against Pokemon like Salazzle, Ninetales, and Mega Blastoise. Hariyama's Attack is also quite respectable, and it has the right coverage to hit everything in the tier for at least neutral damage, which makes switching into it difficult. However, Machamp is a major competitor for the same role, since it can act as a status absorber with Guts to boost its offensive potential. However, Hariyama has useful resistances thanks to Thick Fat and its slightly better special bulk. Hariyama is also worn down quickly by entry hazards, status, and repeatedly switching into resisted attacks thanks to its lack of reliable recovery. It is also slow and easily revenge killed by faster wallbreakers such as Bewear, Necrozma, and Noivern.
[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Stone Edge / Earthquake
move 4: Earthquake / Bullet Punch
item: Assault Vest
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Adamant
evs: 172 Atk / 252 SpD / 84 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Close Combat is Hariyama's strongest STAB move, but it comes with the cost of lowering its defenses. Knock Off can threaten Ghost and Psychic-types that attempt to switch in against Close Combat like Mismagius, Cresselia, and Alolan Marowak and remove items from bulky Pokemon like Registeel and Bronzong. Stone Edge and Earthquake form a combination that can hurt anything that resists Close Combat such as Golisopod, Noivern, Salazzle, Nidoqueen, and Diancie. Bullet Punch is a decent option to revenge kill weakened Pokemon like Gardevoir and Noivern.
Set Details
========
The given investment with an Assault Vest allows Hariyama to take hits from Pokemon like Nidoqueen, Salazzle, and Mega Blastoise while still outpacing uninvested Pokemon with base 50 Speed like Registeel and Diancie. Thick Fat gives Hariyama extra resistances to Fire- and Ice-type moves from Pokemon such as Arcanine, Raikou, and Mega Blastoise.
Usage Tips
========
Hariyama can use its sheer bulk to directly pivot into threatening special attackers such as Mega Blastoise, Raikou, and Mega Sceptile. It can also find opportunities to come in against Stealth Rock setters such as Registeel, Nidoqueen, and Bronzong as they set entry hazards, but it must be cautious of Toxic. Once in battle, Close Combat is generally a safe move to use because of its raw power and coverage, but be cautious of repeated uses, because it lowers Hariyama's defenses with each use. Knock Off is also a good move to use early- to mid-game, as it can cripple defensive checks such as Slowbro, Cresselia, and Golbat, which makes these Pokemon less threatening late-game. Hariyama can usually force switches, so it would be wise to take advantage of that and go for a coverage move to possibly OHKO or 2HKO Pokemon like Noivern, Diancie, or Sigilyph. Hariyama is incredibly bulky, but make sure the battlefield is clear of entry hazards, as repeatedly switching into them wears down Hariyama. Additionally, keep Hariyama away from Knock Off, as it needs its Assault Vest to reliably pivot into special attackers. Finally, do not let it be inflicted with status, as Toxic will chip away at Hariyama's bulk every turn, and being burned from Scald lowers its offensive presence.
Team Options
========
Gardevoir is an ideal partner for Hariyama, since it can provide Healing Wish support if Hariyama has sustained prior damage. In return, Hariyama can threaten the Steel-, Dark-, and Fire-types that can take Gardevoir's STAB attacks. Pokemon like Virizion, Noivern, Flygon, and Mega Sceptile appreciate Hariyama's ability to act as a switch-in to Fire- and Ice-type moves. Noivern and Flygon can also safely bring Hariyama in safely with U-turn. Teammates like Registeel, Metagross, and Golisopod can help ease Hariyama's time against Psychic- and Fairy-types, while partners such as Raikou, Rhyperior, and Tyrantrum make dealing with Flying-types much easier. Entry hazard removers such as Mega Blastoise, Donphan, and Sigilyph can extend Hariyama's longevity by removing entry hazards that wear it down. Sigilyph can also switch into Toxic for Hariyama. A Z-Move user such as Virizion, Raikou, or Bewear or a Mega Evolution such as Mega Blastoise gives Hariyama a safety net against Knock Off, as it needs its Assault Vest in order to check special attackers.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Heavy Slam can OHKO Diancie, take out Gardevoir on the switch, and KO Florges after Stealth Rock, but it has little utility outside of these specific targets.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Flying-types**: Pokemon like Noivern, Swellow, Honchkrow, and Golbat can threaten Hariyama out of the battle. However, they do not want to switch into Stone Edge or Knock Off.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types such as Gardevoir, Diancie, and Florges take very little from Hariyama's attacks and can take it out with Moonblast. Diancie does not want to switch into Earthquake, however, and Gardevoir has to be careful of a potential Bullet Punch.
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types such as Necrozma, Cresselia, and Slowbro can comfortably stomach Hariyama's moves outside of Knock Off and can force it out of battle with their STAB attacks, Toxic, or a Scald burn. Slowbro can also heal any damage dealt by switching out.
**Faster Wallbreakers**: Thanks to its low Speed, Hariyama is vulnerable to being revenge killed by faster Pokemon such as Machamp, Bewear, and Tyrantrum if it has been weakened enough. However, these Pokemon do not want to risk switching into Hariyama.
**Residual Damage**: Repeatedly switching into entry hazards and special attackers does wear down Hariyama thanks to its lack of reliable recovery. Status conditions also chip away at Hariyama's bulk. Toxic puts Hariyama on a timer, while being burned from Scald or Will-O-Wisp depletes its HP while also reducing its offensive presence.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[JustoonSmitts, 239732]
- Quality checked by: [[MrAldo, 227521], [zizalith, 410251], [Averado, 409096]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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