In the world of competitive Pokémon battling, few decisions are as critical as move selection. Among the choices available for sound-based attacks, two moves often compared are Hyper Voice and Uproar. Each has its own advantages, drawbacks, and strategic purposes depending on the scenario. Whether you’re building a team for double battles, planning your moves around abilities like Pixelate or Soundproof, or simply deciding which Normal-type attack fits best, understanding the strengths of Hyper Voice versus Uproar can make a significant difference. This topic dives into the mechanics, strategy, and comparative usage of these two moves.
Understanding Hyper Voice
Basic Mechanics
Hyper Voice is a Normal-type special move with a base power of 90 and 100% accuracy. It hits all adjacent opponents in double battles, making it a valuable area-of-effect (AOE) option. It does not require any setup or continuation like some other moves, allowing for flexibility in battle turns.
Strategic Uses
Hyper Voice truly shines when combined with abilities like Pixilate, which change Normal-type moves into Fairy-type and provide a 20% boost in power. This makes it particularly popular on Pokémon like Sylveon, which becomes a dominant force in doubles format. Additionally, Hyper Voice can bypass Substitute, giving it a tactical edge against certain defensive strategies.
Competitive Highlights
- Power and consistency: Reliable 90 base power with no negative effects.
- Double battle utility: Hits both opposing Pokémon without affecting allies.
- Great synergy with sound-related abilities: Amplified by Pixilate, Liquid Voice, and Scrappy.
- Ignores Substitute: One of the few moves that can deal damage through Substitutes.
Understanding Uproar
Basic Mechanics
Uproar is also a Normal-type special attack, with a base power of 90 and 100% accuracy. However, its unique characteristic is that once activated, it lasts for 2-5 turns and continues automatically without the player choosing another move. During this time, no Pokémon can fall asleep. The move targets a single Pokémon, unlike Hyper Voice’s AOE effect.
Strategic Uses
Uproar’s main advantage lies in its utility against teams that rely on sleep tactics. If your opponent tends to use moves like Spore, Sleep Powder, or Hypnosis, Uproar can shut them down completely. It’s also a good choice for Pokémon that benefit from being locked into a powerful move, such as those using Choice Specs for boosted damage.
Competitive Highlights
- Anti-sleep utility: Prevents all Pokémon on the field from falling asleep during its duration.
- Momentum building: Forces the user to stay in, which can be both a pro and a con.
- Choice item synergy: Pairs well with Choice Specs or Choice Scarf for consistent, powerful output.
- Hits through Substitute: Like Hyper Voice, Uproar also bypasses Substitutes.
Hyper Voice vs. Uproar: Key Differences
Targeting Mechanics
One of the primary differences is how each move targets opponents. Hyper Voice is an AOE move in double battles, hitting both foes simultaneously. Uproar, on the other hand, targets a single opponent, which limits its effectiveness in doubles formats.
Effect Duration
Uproar is locked in for multiple turns, which can be either strategic or problematic. If you’re trying to avoid setup turns or maintain continuous pressure, Uproar is great. However, if flexibility is needed or the battle situation changes, the inability to switch moves may become a liability. Hyper Voice gives more tactical control per turn.
Sleep Prevention
This is where Uproar stands out significantly. If your strategy involves countering sleep-inducing Pokémon, such as Amoonguss or Breloom, Uproar can shut down that tactic entirely for several turns. Hyper Voice does not provide this status-related benefit.
Synergy with Abilities
Hyper Voice benefits greatly from ability synergy. For instance, with Pixilate, it becomes a strong Fairy-type move, while Liquid Voice turns it into Water-type. Uproar, however, has fewer synergistic abilities and is mostly used for its sleep-prevention and forced-turn mechanic.
When to Choose Hyper Voice
Ideal Scenarios
- You’re using a Pokémon with Pixilate or Liquid Voice (e.g., Sylveon, Primarina).
- You need to hit both opponents in a double battle.
- You prefer per-turn flexibility over being locked into one move.
- You want to break through Substitutes on multiple enemies at once.
Pokémon That Use It Well
- Sylveon: Pixilate-boosted Hyper Voice becomes one of the strongest Fairy-type spread moves.
- Primarina: With Liquid Voice, Hyper Voice becomes a Water-type spread move with high damage potential.
- Exploud: Can use Scrappy to hit Ghost-types and abuse the high power of Hyper Voice in both singles and doubles.
When to Choose Uproar
Ideal Scenarios
- You’re facing teams that heavily rely on sleep-inducing strategies.
- You want to lock into a high-damage move to maintain pressure.
- You’re using a Choice item and want continuous output without switching.
Pokémon That Use It Well
- Noivern: Fast enough to use Uproar with Choice Specs for massive damage early on.
- Exploud: Although commonly seen with Hyper Voice, it can also run Uproar in single-target-focused sets.
- Whismur Line: Early-game strategy in casual formats with Uproar for dealing quick damage while preventing status effects.
Choosing between Hyper Voice and Uproar ultimately depends on your team composition, the format you’re playing, and your battle goals. If you want consistent, high-damage AOE output with synergy from abilities like Pixilate, Hyper Voice is your go-to move. It’s especially effective in double battles and when you need tactical control every turn. On the other hand, Uproar is best for countering sleep strategies and maintaining uninterrupted offense with a single-target focus.
Each move has carved out a niche in the competitive Pokémon landscape. Understanding when and how to use Hyper Voice or Uproar will help you build stronger strategies and more adaptable teams. The next time you’re preparing for a battle, consider not just the power of your moves, but also how their unique mechanics can shift the tide in your favor.