This is a strategy guide for using Rhyperior in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Rhyperior, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Rhyperior - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Rhyperior

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Rhyperior
Abilities
Solid Rock	Reduces damage from super-effective attacks.
Lightning Rod	Draws in all Electric-type moves to up Special Attack.
Reckless (Hidden)	Powers up moves that have recoil damage.

Rhyperior Weaknesses and Resistances

	Type
Takes 4x damage
Takes 2x damage
Takes 0.5x damage
Takes 1/4x damage
Takes 0x damage

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

HP	Attack	Defense	Sp. Atk	Sp. Def	Speed
115	140	130	55	55	40

Best Nature for Rhyperior

Best Natures
Adamant (+Atk, -SpAtk)	Brave (+Atk, -Spd)

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Rhyperior

Weakness Policy Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Adamant (+Atk, -SpAtk)
EV Spread	HP 252 / Atk 252 / Def 4
Final Stat Values	HP 222 / Atk. 211 / Def. 151 / Sp.Def. 75 / Spd. 60
Ability	Solid Rock
Held Item	Weakness Policy
Moveset	・ Earthquake ・ Rock Blast ・ Fire Punch ・ Superpower

These values are from base stats and ideal EVs, excluding external factors.

Weakness Policy has the key role of powering up Rhyperior's Attack. With its massive Defense, Rhyperior can weather a super-effective hit from an opponent's Physical attack, activating Weakness Policy and unleashing its true strength.

Further bolsters its constitution with Dynamax

Thanks to the combination of the HP boost provided by Dynamax and its ability Solid Rock, which decreases the damage of super effective moves, Rhyperior is a Pokemon which can survive even a super effective attack. Don't be stingy - go ahead and break out the Dynamax right away and reap the benefits of Weakness Policy.

On top of that, Rhyperior works well with Dynamax moves which improve its defensive characteristics.

Move	Effect
Max Quake	Raises its Special Defense by 1 stage.
Max Steelspike	Raises its Defense by 1 stage.
Max Rockfall	Causes a Sandstorm. Rock-type Pokemon receive a 50% Special Defense boost during a Sandstorm.

See All Dynamax Moves and Effects

Alternate Move Choices

Brick Break	Has a high attacking power. Can also increase the damage of Max Rockfall.
Horn Drill	Can power up its Attack with Max Knuckle.
Swords Dance	Boosts Attack, and can be used as Max Guard to block attacks.
Iron Head	Super effective against Fairy-types. Max Steelspike is great for boosting its Defense.

Assault Vest Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Adamant (+Atk, -SpAtk)
EV Spread	HP 252 / Atk 252 / Def 4
Final Stat Values	HP 222 / Atk. 211 / Def. 150 / Sp.Def. 76 / Spd. 60
Ability	Solid Rock
Held Item	Assault Vest
Moveset	・ Earthquake ・ Rock Blast ・ Horn Drill ・ Fire Punch

These values are from base stats and ideal EVs, excluding external factors.

Assault Vest increases Rhyperior's Special Defense by 50%, causing its already high defensive power to rise even further and allowing it to handle Special attacks it otherwise couldn't survive.

Horn Drill can be used to handle defensive walls.

Alternate Move Choices

Rock Wrecker	Has a high attacking power. Can also increase the damage of Max Rockfall.
Iron Head	Super effective against Fairy-types. Max Steelspike is great for boosting its Defense.
Hammer Arm	Can power up its Attack with Max Knuckle.

How to Use Rhyperior Effectively

Stops Physical hitters in their tracks

Rhyperior's heaps of physical Attack and Defense allow it to stare down powerful physical hitters. Under the effects of Dynamax, Rhyperior can handle the likes of Gyarados's Max Geyser and counter back with Max Rockfall for a one-hit knockout.

Trick Room flips its Speed on its head

Thanks to its rock-bottom Speed, Rhyperior flourishes in a Trick Room setting, in which Pokemon with lower Speed move first.

Since the always-popular Mimikyu can use Trick Room, it's a strong contender to include in a party with Rhyperior.
Moveset & Best Build for Mimikyu

Counters for Rhyperior

Weakness

Wipe it out with a Water or Grass-type

With its 4x weakness to Water and Grass moves, Rhyperior can't stay afloat when hit hard with these attacks. Its Special Defense is middling, so using a Special attacker against it will guarantee a swift finish.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Wash Rotom	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Hydro Pump is super effective ・The Ability Levitate grants immunity to Ground-type moves Moveset & Best Build for Wash Rotom
Mow Rotom	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Leaf Storm is super effective ・The Ability Levitate grants immunity to Ground-type moves Moveset & Best Build for Mow Rotom
Dracovish	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Fishious Rend can knock it out in one hit Moveset & Best Build for Dracovish

Counter a Wall with a Wall

Using a highly-defensive Pokemon with an advantageous type matchup to Rhyperior such as Quagsire or Corviknight will leave Rhyperior out of options. As these Pokemon can use recovery moves, Rhyperior can't wear them down even with Dynamax moves.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Corviknight	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can restore HP with Roost ・Can boost its Defense with Iron Defense Moveset & Best Build for Corviknight
Quagsire	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can restore HP with Recover ・Can use Stockpile to increase its Defense Moveset & Best Build for Quagsire

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 10 List of Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

Best Builds for Returning Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for Returning Pokemon
Mimikyu	Wash Rotom	Gyarados
Ferrothorn	Aegislash	Excadrill
Tyranitar	Hydreigon	Heat Rotom
Arcanine	Mamoswine	Toxapex
Togekiss	Cloyster	Durant
Snorlax	Charizard	Sylveon
Lucario	Hippowdon	Umbreon
Conkeldurr	Quagsire	Gastrodon
Lapras	Whimsicott	Rhyperior
Goodra	Haxorus	Glaceon
Mow Rotom	Type: Null	Gengar
Milotic	Gardevoir	Flygon
Chandelure	Lanturn	Torkoal
Bisharp	Seismitoad	Silvally
Butterfree	Primarina	Incineroar
Blastoise	Decidueye	Venusaur
Darmanitan	Alolan Ninetales	Gothitelle
Crawdaunt	Clefable	Reuniclus
Kommo-o	Terrakion	Cobalion
Virizion	Noivern	Fan Rotom
Toxicroak	Pelipper	Jellicent
Celebi	Clefairy	Hitmontop
Diggersby	Ditto	Raichu
Hawlucha	Shiftry	Tsareena
Ludicolo

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle ## Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 10 List of Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

Best Builds for Returning Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for Returning Pokemon
Mimikyu	Wash Rotom	Gyarados
Ferrothorn	Aegislash	Excadrill
Tyranitar	Hydreigon	Heat Rotom
Arcanine	Mamoswine	Toxapex
Togekiss	Cloyster	Durant
Snorlax	Charizard	Sylveon
Lucario	Hippowdon	Umbreon
Conkeldurr	Quagsire	Gastrodon
Lapras	Whimsicott	Rhyperior
Goodra	Haxorus	Glaceon
Mow Rotom	Type: Null	Gengar
Milotic	Gardevoir	Flygon
Chandelure	Lanturn	Torkoal
Bisharp	Seismitoad	Silvally
Butterfree	Primarina	Incineroar
Blastoise	Decidueye	Venusaur
Darmanitan	Alolan Ninetales	Gothitelle
Crawdaunt	Clefable	Reuniclus
Kommo-o	Terrakion	Cobalion
Virizion	Noivern	Fan Rotom
Toxicroak	Pelipper	Jellicent
Celebi	Clefairy	Hitmontop
Diggersby	Ditto	Raichu
Hawlucha	Shiftry	Tsareena
Ludicolo