Hawlucha

Hawlucha, The Wrestling Pokémon. It drives its opponents to exhaustion with its agile maneuvers, then ends the fight with a flashy finishing move. It drives its opponents to exhaustion with its agile maneuvers, then ends the fight with a flashy finishing move.

Overview

The masked wrestler bird, Hawlucha rises up again as an interesting Pokemon. With a great ability and offensive stats, Hawlucha is an excellent late game cleaner. It also gained more reliable STAB options this gen in the form of Close Combat and Brave Bird, which makes it much more consistent than before. However, Hawlucha falls in the same area as sweepers such as Volcarona, a potent threat but can be dead weight in some situations. In Hawlucha's case, it's fairly weak without a boost due to its average Attack stat, so it's often dependent on setting up to get things done. This can make it less favorable than Pokemon such as Dragpault or Hydreigon that can just decimate teams that lack an answer, and don't necessarily need much setup to do it. However, Hawlucha is still a decent pick for a sweeper, especially with two solid abilities to choose from.
Positives
-Hawlucha has great offensive stats to allow it clean up late game with relative ease, most notably is its great base 118 Speed.Mbr .< -Hawlucha has excellent typing as Fighting/Flying grants it great offensive coverage, while also not giving it too many weaknesses so that it can actually set up with its mediocre bulk.

Negatives
-Hawlucha is more on the frail side and the Pokedex cut hurt as it can't use terrian seeds easily without the Tapus. This hinders its bulk more as the seeds helped bolster its bulk making it harder to revenge kill, and also made Unburden a reliable ability to set up with.
-Hawlucha has trouble with coverage, since while Flying/Fighting is good, Halwlucha lacks the moves to break walls such as Toxapex.

Movesets

Unburden Sweeper

-Close Combat
-Brave Bird
-Swords Dance
-Substitute / Roost
Item Attached: White Herb
Ability: Unburden
EVs and Nature:
252 Atk /4 Def / 252 Speed
Adamant Nature

Close Combat is a key move here as it allows the use of White Herb, which activates Unburden allowing Hawlucha to sweep. Brave Bird is nice coverage and STAB but shortens Hawlucha's lifespan so be mindful of the recoil. Swords Dance takes Hawlucha from a threat to a straight up game-ender if it can manage to snag a boost. Finally Roost allows to heal off Brave Bird while Substitute lets Hawlucha secure a boost either with Unburden or Swords Dance. Hawlucha can also choose to opt for coverage options such as Thunder Punch in the last slot, which is useful when Dynamaxing for use as Max Lightning as an option to threaten Toxapex.

Hawlucha desperately needs all the offensive investment it can get due to its average Attack, it's not bulky enough to benefit much from investment in those stats. Adamant nature gives it as much of a power boost as possible since Unburden gives more than enough Speed anyway. It is worth noting that on Battle Stadium, Mold Breaker becomes the preferred ability choice with a Life Orb, due to Mimikyu being so prevalent, though the set functions the same otherwise.

Other Options

-Power Herb/Sky Attack is another option to activate the Unburden. However, much like Clos Combat it has its own drawback as, once used, if you use again it will leave you open for a turn. This is devastating in Singles but more manageable in Doubles

Partners

Terrakion - With similar walls, Terrakion is great partner as it can break walls with a Choice Band set and tear holes for Hawlucha later. Note that Terrakion is not legal on Battle Stadium though, so this is only an option in 6v6 metas.
Dragapult - Spreading Will-O-Wisp helps Hawlucha get in easier and Dragapult can act as a secondary win condition with Hex or just a Dragon Dance set.

Countering Hawlucha

-Toxapex - Without Swords Dance, Toxapex can give Hawlucha a hard time, especially if it lacks Thunder Punch for coverage. Toxapex can simply Haze away its boosts all day otherwise.
-Togekiss - Dynamax Togekiss puts immense pressure on anything weak to it, and Hawlucha is no exception. Unless Hawlucha has big boosts and other support, Togekiss is a major threat to it.
-Mimikyu - This alone forces many Hawlucha to run Mold Breaker instead in Battle Stadium, since Mimikyu is a hard stone to Hawlucha otherwise. Mold Breaker Hawlucha still muscles past Mimikyu with a boost, though if it hasn't boosted then Dynamax Mimikyu can still beat that too.

Locations in Games

Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game

Gold/Silver/Crystal:
Not in game

Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Not in game

FireRed/LeafGreen:
Not in game

Colosseum/XD:
Not in game

Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Not in game

HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Not in game

Black/White:
Not in game

Black 2/White 2:
Not in game

X/Y:
Route 10,Friend Safari

Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Trade from XY

Sun/Moon:
Trade from Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon

Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Route 3

Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Not in game.

Sword/Shield:
Route 6, Hammerlocke Hills
Max Raid Battles: Dusty Bowl, East Lake Axewell, Giant's Cap, Hammerlocke Hills, North Lake Miloch, Stony Wilderness (Sword)
Max Raid Battles: Dusty Bowl, East Lake Axewell, Giant's Cap, Hammerlocke Hills, North Lake Miloch, Rolling Fields (Shield)

Animé Appearences

Hawlucha has made a few appearances in the anime. Most notably it is used by Ash during his Kalos League campaign

# -English Episode Name- -Jp. Episode Name- Pics
838 The Forest Champion The Forest Champion! Enter Hawlucha!! Pics
M17 Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction The Cocoon of Destruction and Diancie Pics
P16 Pikachu, What's This Key? Pikachu, What Kind of Keys Are These? Pics
839 Battles in the Sky A Sky Battle?! Hawlucha VS Talonflame!! Pics
840 The Cave of Mirrors! Reflection Cave! Ash and the Ash Through the Looking-Glass!? Pics
841 Forging Forest Friendships! The Trevenant from the Wriggling Forest! Pics
845 Battling Into the Hall of Fame! Team Battle! Competing for the Hall of Fame!! Pics
846 Origins of Mega Evolution! The Tower of Mastery! The History of Mega Evolution! Pics
847 Showdown at the Shalour Gym! Shalour Gym Match! Pikachu VS Mega Lucario!! Pics
848 Splitting Heirs! Clemont VS Bonnie!? A Sibling Battle With Meowstic!! Pics
852 Bonnie for the Defense! Mobilise, Lapras Defense Corps! Bonnie Does Her Best!! Pics
853 Pathways to Peformance Partnering! Dance, Pancham; Charm the Crowd, Fennekin! Waltz Towards Tomorrow!! Pics
854 When Dark and Light Collide! Hawlucha & Dark Hawlucha!! Pics
856 A Race for Home! Serena Gets Serious! The Wild Skiddo Race!! Pics
859 One for the Goomy! Dedenne Does Its Best! All for Goomy!! Pics
861 Green, Green Grass Types of Home! Coumarine Gym Match! Frogadier VS Gogoat!! Pics
862 Under the Pledging Tree! Ash and Serena's First Date! The Vow Tree and the Present!! Pics
865 The Future Is Now, Thanks to Determination! Protect the Future of Science! The Labyrinth of Electricity!! Pics
867 Battling With Elegance And a Big Smile Fennekin VS Delphox! A Gorgeous Performer Battle!! Pics
870 Moment of Lumiose Truth! Lumiose Gym Match! Ash VS Clemont!! Pics
872 Defending the Homeland! A Fight in the Wetlands! Goodra VS Florges!! Pics
S40 Hoopa’s Surprise Ring Adventures Hoopa's Appear Operation Pics
874 So You're Having a Bad Day! The Worst Possible Luck? Bonnie VS Meowth!! Pics
876 A Fashionable Battle! We Will Have a Battle at the Fashion Show! Bagon VS Spritzee!! Pics
877 Fairy-Type Trickery! Laverre Gym Match! The Beautiful Fairy Trap!! Pics
878 Rivals: Today and Tomorrow! A Best-of-Three Rival Battle! Aim Towards Tomorrow!! Pics
879 A Not-So-Flying-Start! The Wind, the Egg and the Noibat! Pics
880 A Relay in the Sky! The Pokémon Sky Rally Challenge! Fly, Noibat!! Pics
881 Lights! Camera! Pika! Pikachu Becomes a Star!? Its Movie Debut!!
"How to Pikachu the Movie! Ready! Action!!"
The Thunderclap Hero! Super Pikachu!!
Pikachu's Thrilling Blooper Award
Pics
882 A Frenzied Factory Fiasco! A Fierce Fight at the Poké Ball Factory! Pikachu VS Meowth!! Pics
M18 Hoopa & The Clash of Ages The Archdjinni of the Rings: Hoopa Pics
887 Adventures in Running Errands! Chespin! Its First Errand!! Pics
892 The Frocking Find in the Flowers Eevee is Shy with Strangers! The Catcher in the Flowers!! Pics
897 From A to Z! The Explosive Birth of Z! That Which Lies Hidden in Kalos!! Pics
907 A Windswept Encounter Noibat and Floette! An Encounter in the Wind!! Pics
909 A Meeting of Two Journeys The Strongest Mega Battle! Greninja VS Mega Charizard!! Pics
910 An Explosive Operation The Explosive Land's Wrath! Operation: Capture Zygarde!! Pics
912 Master Class Choices! The Master Class Trial! What Will You Do, Serena!? Pics
913 An Electrifying Rage! Zapdos and Noivern! A Furious Strike of Lightning!! Pics
919 The Synchronicity Test! Ash and Alain! Greninja VS Mega Charizard Once Again!! Pics
922 A Full-Strength Battle Surprise! Rival Showdown! Ash VS Sawyer!! Pics
923 All Hail the Ice Battlefield! Snowbelle Gym Match! A Battlefield of Ice!! Pics
924 Seeing the Forest for the Trees! The Winding Woods...The Dawn of Evolution! Pics
925 A Real Icebreaker! Ash-Greninja VS Mega Abomasnow! The Giant Water Shuriken Triggers!! Pics
926 A Diamond in the Rough! Find Carbink! Goodra and Dedenne!! Pics
929 Valuable Experience for All! Mega Sceptile VS Raichu! I Received Some EXP!! Pics
M19 Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel Volcanion & The Ingenious Magearna Pics
930 Analysis Versus Passion! Semifinal Full Battle! Ash VS Sawyer!! Pics
931 A Riveting Rivalry! Fierce Rival Battle! Ash-Greninja VS Mega Sceptile Pics
932 Kalos League Passion With a Certain Flare! Fierce Fighting at the Kalos League! Gather, All of My Passion!! Pics
933 Finals Not for the Faint-Hearted! The Finals! Ash VS Alain!! Pics
934 Down to the Fiery Finish Kalos League Victory! Ash's Ultimate Match!! Pics
935 A Towering Takeover! Team Flare Attacks! The Zygarde at the Prism Tower!! Pics
936 Coming Apart at the Dreams! The Shocking Zygarde VS Zygarde! The Breaking World!! Pics
937 The Right Hero for the Right Job! Attack on Lumiose Gym! The Clembot Forever!! Pics
940 Battling With a Clean Slate! We Start at Zero! Clemont's Decision!! Pics
941 The First Day of the Rest of Your Life! One Last Battle with Ash! Serena's Choice!! Pics
942 Facing the Needs of the Many Farewell, Ash-Greninja! Xerosic Strikes Back!! Pics
943 Till We Compete Again A Zero With No End! Till the Day We Meet Again!! Pics
1123 Solitary and Menacing! Bea, the Lone Warrior! The Grapploct Menace!! Pics
1128 Octo-Gridlock at the Gym! Ash VS Bea! Overcome Octolock Pics
1157 Advice for Goh! Rivals for Goh?! The Road to Mew!! Pics
1174 Battle Three with Bea! Rival Showdown! Ash VS Bea!! Pics
1175 A Battle of Mega vs Max! Mega Evolution VS Gigantamax! Pics
1203 Friends, Rivals, Lend Me Your Spirit! Fire Training Battle! Ash VS Paul!! Pics
1207 Battling as Hard as Stone! Ash Heads Into Battle! VS Steven!! Pics
1210 TBC The Climax Begins: Ash's Masters Tournament Experience Pics
1211 It's Champion Time! The Semifinals I: Sweep Pics
1212 Bewitch, Battle, and Bewilder! The Semifinals II: Dazzle Pics
1213 Valor: A Strategic Part of Battling! The Semifinals III: Valor Pics
1214 Whittle While You Work! The Semifinals IV: Impact Pics
1219 Toying With Your Motions! The Finals II: Toying Pics
1220 Paring Pokémon While Parrying! The Finals III: Smashing Pics
1221 Partners in Time! The Finals IV: Partner Pics
1224 Heroes Unite! Pokémon! I Am Glad I Got To Meet You Pics
1231 The Same Moon, Now and Forever! And We're Looking at the Same Moon! Pics
1234 Rocket Revengers! Team Rocket's Counterattack! Pics
1235 Ash and Latios Ash & Latios Pics