Haxorus - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Haxorus Movesets in Other Games
SV	SWSH

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

Haxorus - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Haxorus

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Haxorus
Abilities
Mold Breaker	Moves can be used regardless of Abilities.
Rivalry	Deals more damage to a Pokemon of same gender.
Unnerve (Hidden)	Makes the foe nervous and unable to eat Berries.

Haxorus 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
76	147	90	60	70	97

Best Nature for Haxorus

Best Natures
Jolly (+Spd, -Atk)	Adamant (+Atk, -Spd)

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Haxorus

Haban Berry Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Jolly (+Spd, -Atk)
EV Spread	HP 60 / Atk 188 / Def 4 / Sp.Def 4 / Spd 252
Final Stat Values	HP 159 / Atk 191 / Def 111 / Sp.Def 91 / Spd 163
Ability	Mold Breaker
Held Item	Haban Berry
Moveset	・Outrage ・Dragon Dance ・Earthquake ・Iron Tail

Haxorus has the potential to deal a lot of damage, but its mediocre bulk makes it easy to take it by stronger attackers.

Haban Berry attempts to fix this, letting Haxorus switch into opposing Dragon-types better.

About Haxorus's Moves

Outrage is Haxorus' strongest STAB move that deals damage for 2 to 3 turns and causes confusion when it's done. Dragon Dance is its main boosting move, raising its Attack and Speed stat by 1 stage.

Earthquake is Haxorus main coverage move, providing great neutral coverage and hitting Steel-types such as Heatran and Metagross for super effective damage.

Its last move is Iron Tail, which is the only way Haxorus can deal damage against Fairy-types that will easily wall its main Dragon-type moves.

About Haxorus's EV Spread

We're using a modified physical attacking EV spread with full investment in Speed and 188 Atk EVs so that it can hit as hard and as fast as possible.

60 HP and 4 Def and 4 Sp.Def to round off its bulk and ensure that it can take weaker or unboosted attacks from opposing attackers.

About Haxorus's Ability

Mold Breaker provides Haxorus some great utility. This Ability ignores the opposing Pokemon's Abilities, such as Mimikyu's Disguise or Wash Rotom's Levitate.

About Haxorus's Held Item

Haban Berry halves the damage of super effective Dragon-type moves. This allows Haxorus to stay in battle against the likes of Garchomp or Hydreigon and get a Dragon Dance boost to turn the tide of the battle.

Other Viable Moves

Shadow Claw	An alternative coverage move that can replace Iron Tail. Becomes Max Phantasm during Dynamax, lowering the opposing team's Defense stat by 1 stage.
Rock Slide	An alternative coverage move that can replace Iron Tail. Synergizes well with Earthquake.
Close Combat	An alternative covrage move that can replace Iron Tail. Becomes Max Knuckle during Dynamax, boosting Haxorus and its team's Attack stat by 1 stage.

Choice Scarf Attacker Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Jolly (+Spd, -Atk)
EV Spread	Atk 252 / Def 4 / Spd 252
Final Stat Values	HP 151 / Atk 199 / Def 111 / Sp.Def 90 / Spd 163
Ability	Mold Breaker
Held Item	Choice Scarf
Moveset	・Outrage ・Close Combat ・Iron Tail ・Earthquake

Haxorus is an excellent candidate for Choice Scarf, with its main role being that of a revenge killer or late-game cleaner.

About Haxorus's Moves

Outrage is Haxorus' strongest STAB move that deals damage for 2 to 3 turns and causes confusion when it's done. Close Combat is a powerful Fighting-type coverage move that hits Steel, Rock, and Dark-types for super effective damage.

Its last two moves round off its coverage. Iron Tail hits Fairy-type Pokemon while Earthquake is great move with neutral coverage.

About Haxorus's EV Spread

We're using a standard physical attacking EV Spread, with full EV investment in Attack and Speed so that Haxorus hits hard and as fast as possible. The remaining 4 EVs are invested in Def to slightly boost its physical bulk.

About Haxorus's Ability

Mold Breaker provides Haxorus some great utility. This Ability ignores the opposing Pokemon's Abilities, such as Mimikyu's Disguise or Wash Rotom's Levitate.

About Haxorus's Held Item

Choice Scarf doubles Haxorus Speed stat, but restricts it from only using the initial move that it used during the start of the battle.

Other Viable Moves

Shadow Claw	An alternative coverage move that can replace Iron Tail. Becomes Max Phantasm during Dynamax, lowering the opposing team's Defense stat by 1 stage.
Rock Slide	An alternative coverage move that can replace Iron Tail. Synergizes well with Earthquake.

Focus Sash Lead Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Jolly (+Spd, -Atk)
EV Spread	Atk 252 / Def 4 / Spd 252
Final Stat Values	HP 151 / Atk 199 / Def 111 / Sp.Def 90 / Spd 163
Ability	Mold Breaker
Held Item	Focus Sash
Moveset	・Outrage ・Dragon Dance ・Iron Tail ・Earthquake

Haxorus makes an excellent, and while it has mediocre bulk, Focus Sash easily patches that up - ensuring that it has a free turn to set up with its boosting move.

About Haxorus's Moves

Outrage is Haxorus' strongest STAB move that deals damage for 2 to 3 turns and causes confusion when it's done. Dragon Dance is its main boosting move, raising its Attack and Speed stat by 1 stage.

Earthquake is Haxorus main coverage move, providing great neutral coverage and hitting Steel-types such as Heatran and Metagross for super effective damage.

It's last move is Iron Tail, which is the only way Haxorus can deal damage against Fairy-types that will easily wall its main Dragon-type moves.

About Haxorus's EV Spread

We're using a standard physical attacking EV Spread, with full EV investment in Attack and Speed so that Haxorus hits hard and as fast as possible. The remaining 4 EVs are invested in Def to slightly boost its physical bulk.

About Haxorus's Ability

Mold Breaker provides Haxorus some great utility. This Ability ignores the opposing Pokemon's Abilities, such as Mimikyu's Disguise or Wash Rotom's Levitate.

About Haxorus's Held Item

Focus Sash lets Haxorus survive a hit that would otherwise KO it.

Other Viable Moves

Shadow Claw	An alternative coverage move that can replace Iron Tail. Becomes Max Phantasm during Dynamax, lowering the opposing team's Defense stat by 1 stage.
Rock Slide	An alternative coverage move that can replace Iron Tail. Synergizes well with Earthquake.
Close Combat	An alternative covrage move that can replace Iron Tail. Becomes Max Knuckle during Dynamax, boosting Haxorus and its team's Attack stat by 1 stage.

How to Use Haxorus Effectively

A Powerful Setup Sweeper

Haxorus is a powerful physical attacker that can further boost its Attack with Dragon Dance or Swords Dance.

This makes it one of the best setup sweepers in the current metagame, although its odd base Speed stat means it's easy to outspeed.

How to Build a Team with Haxorus

Haxorus doesn't have any other options other than filling the role of a physical attacker, but it certainly does it well! Although you can fit it into any team, it's best used in offensive-oriented teams.

A Setup Sweeper for Hyper Offense Teams

Haxorus is one of the most commonly used physical attackers for Hyper Offense teams.

A combination of excellent attack, boosting moves, and Mold Breaker allow it to easily overpower defensive Pokemon - especially ones that rely on their respective Abilities.

Example Dynamax Lead Team

Lead Dynamax	Offensive Pivot	Special Attacker
Haxorus	Scizor	Ribombee

Haxorus functions as this team's Lead Dynamax user, although it's important that you get at least one Dragon Dance up before Dynamaxing. It can then support its team by using Max Wyrmwind to lower the opposing team's Attack, Max Knuckle to boost its own team's Attack, or Max Steelspike to bolster the team's Defense.

Even with Iron Tail, Haxorus struggles against Fairy-types. Scizor makes a great partner for it, boasting a strong Technician boosted Bullet Punch. In turn, Haxorus threatens opposing Steel-types such as Heatran and Ferrothorn with Earthquake and Close Combat respectively.

Ribombee rounds off the team's coverage by providing by providing strong Fairy-type STAB. Its Fairy-typing also allows it to switch into opposing Dragon-type moves targeted at Haxorus.

Counters for Haxorus

Weakness

Wall it with a Defensive Pokemon

Despite its massive offenses, certrain Defensive Pokemon can actually shrug off its STAB and coverage. Others can even ignore its stat boosts completely!

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Celesteela	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Resists Haxorus' Dragon-type STAB and immune to Earthquake ・Can stall out Haxorus with a combination of Leech Seed and Protect Moveset & Best Build for Celesteela
Corviknight	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Resists Haxorus' Dragon-type STAB and immune to Earthquake ・Boasts reliable recovery in Roost and can phase Haxorus with Whirlwind Moveset & Best Build for Corviknight
Ferrothorn	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Resists Haxorus' Dragon-type STAB ・Can stall out Haxorus with a combination of Leech Seed and Iron Barbs residual damage Moveset & Best Build for Ferrothorn
Quagsire	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Ignores Haxorus' stat boosts with its Unaware Ability ・Can burn Haxorus with Scald ・Boasts reliable recovery in Recover Moveset & Best Build for Quagsire

Overpower it with Super Effective Moves

Haxorus doesn't have great defenses and is easily worn down by even weaker hits.

Unfortunately for the Axe Jaw Pokemon, the current metagame has a plethora of physical and special attackers that boasts super effective moves and naturally outspeed it.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Dragapult	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can use Dragon Darts to break Haxorus' Focus Sash ・Naturally outspeeds Haxorus and can KO with Outrage or Draco Meteor Moveset & Best Build for Dragapult
Tapu Fini	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Boasts great defenses, neutrality to Steel-type moves, and immune to Haxorus' Dragon-type STAB ・Its Misty Surge Ability sets up Misty Terrain, which halves the damage of Dragon-type moves Moveset & Best Build for Tapu Fini
Garchomp	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Naturally outspeeds Haxorus and can KO with Outrage Moveset & Best Build for Garchomp
Mamoswine	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Can use Ice Shard to outspeed Haxorus Moveset & Best Build for Mamoswine

Pokemon Sword and Shield Related Guides

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