Pokémon is a wonderful and mythical world of fantastical creatures that has survived for a quarter century in the form of anime, playing cards, collectible toys, and of course, a role-playing video game. Longtime fans can name a large percentage of the 896 creatures that either have been released or announced for release with the next round of DLC for Sword and Shield. Some people’s knowledge of Pokémon begins and ends with Pikachu. There is nothing at all wrong with that kind of casual fandom, but I feel like I must do a service and at least let you know about the other wonderful creatures you can raise in the universe where these monsters do battle, play, work, and keep people company. It’s time to play WHO’S THAT POKÉMON???!?!?
HAXORUS (No. 612)
Evolution Line – Axew → Fraxure (at lv. 38) → Haxorus (lv. 48)
Type – Dragon
Introduced in…Pokémon Black and White
If you believe it, Haxorus is the first Pokémon whose final evolution is mono-type Dragon. Every other Dragon type to date has had a secondary-type, generally to give the critters facing off against them an easy out with a quadruple-whammy attack. That’s why Dragonite, Salamence, Flygon, and Garchomp all have secondary types that make them crumble like a house of cards to Ice-type attacks. Not Haxorus. As with most Dragon-types, their earliest evolutionary form isn’t found until later in the game in their original appearance in Generation V. However, they’re naturally occurring in the main quest in three of the four games they could possibly appear in, and in Sun and Moon, they’re readily available in the postgame action.
Aesthetics and Biology – Haxorus looks like an armored soldier, all the way down to their head which appears to be a helmet with axe-like appendages on the flanks. The appearance is indicative of their best function in battle, as a straight attacker without mercy or relent. Pokémon isn’t exactly a game for subtext, you know. Like many of their Dragon-type forebears, Haxorus is bipedal, like many carnivorous dinosaurs from which it derives inspiration. Although they’re not officially a Steel-type, the total aesthetic reminds one of what it might look like to put a T. Rex in a suit of armor.
Of course, a ferocious dragon standing on two legs and towering down on all who might oppose them would lend to an aloof, perhaps adversarial relationship between Pokémon and trainer. According to Bulbapedia, however, Haxorus is described as “friendly, but territorial.” Hm, where have I heard that description before? Oh yeah, Haxorus is just a big dog that can stand on two feet and take down a herd of Wooloo in 20 seconds or fewer.
In the Games – Although it is not the strongest or rarest Dragon-type in Generation V, Haxorus is still pretty rare. They’re not found in the wild in any of the first three games in which they appear. Axew and Fraxure can be found in the wild, mostly in caves somewhat far into the game. As is the custom with Pokémon this powerful, they’re usually the domain of trainers of a higher pedigree, namely the gym leaders in Black and White in Opelucid City, the final gym before Pokemon League, and in X and Y by Drake of the Elite Four. They’re also greatly fancied by Galar’s Champion Leon. If you are enterprising in Sword and Shield, however, you can find a Haxorus just roaming around on the Axew’s Eye island in the Wild Area. I personally like teasing the Haxorus by ringing my bike bell at them and then cycling out into the water where they can’t get me.
Getting Haxorus in the game will make your quest quite easier. It lacks the pesky secondary type that gives other Dragons an Achilles’ heel, and combining handy resistances to many common CPU trainer-held types with a healthy movepool that can nick Pokémon with type advantages over them gives you some key advantages. All in all, if Haxorus is in a game’s main Pokédex, you might want to have them in your party.
The Nerd Section – With 147 base Attack and 97 base Speed, Haxorus is a formidable attacker who can take chunks out of the other team’s players by sheer force of will. You can’t even rely on switching a Fairy- or Steel-type in on them because they have access to attacks like Poison Jab and Earthquake. The real game-changer, however, is that the addition of Dragon Dance as a Technical Record attack in Generation VIII gives Haxorus a reliable way to boost speed. If you allow Haxorus to get one or two boosts in, and you might be able to sweep the other team easily. The defenses and HP aren’t an overall strength, and if you’re facing Haxorus, you can get a good shot in, say, a Fairy-type STAB Moonblast and take them out. However, Haxorus overall will be a boon to your team should you choose to use them.
Standard Set – Dance, Dragons, Dance
Jolly Nature (Speed ↑, Special Attack↓)
Ability – Mold Breaker
EVs – 4 HP/252 Attack/252 Speed
Hold Item – Life Orb
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Close Combat
- Dragon Dance
This set hits everything but Togekiss and various Grass/Fairy-types for neutral damage at least, and coming from 147 Attack with potential for boosts, that’s a huge deal. You can tweak the set, obviously, but even with the preponderance of Fairy-type Pokémon in the meta, having an, pun intended, outrageously powerful STAB attack with Outrage is going to chunk damage so many other threats who might want to think about coming in if they don’t have immunity. You might want to play with the other two attacking moves, maybe going with Poison Jab in there to give a nice shock to Fairies, but otherwise, this Haxorus strikes first, strikes hard, no mercy.
Another Nice Set – Choice Scarf
Jolly Nature (Speed ↑, Special Attack↓)
Ability – Mold Breaker
EVs – 4 HP/252 Attack/252 Speed
Hold Item – Choice Scarf
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Close Combat
- Poison Jab
This set is identical to the above except for two key differences. Poison Jab replaces Dragon Dance, and the Choice Scarf replaces the Life Orb. The key here is to max out the speed so you can get the drop on many different threats who might try to check you here. The drawback is you are now more beholden to switches rather than having flexibility, but really, the metagame is all about switching constantly until you can get lucky.
Finale – Haxorus looks cool and hits hard. What more could one ask for from a Pokémon? From their addition in Generation V until now, Haxorus is one of the rocks of the series. They’re an accessible Dragon-type who won’t steer you wrong in battle or in show.