[OVERVIEW]
Nidoqueen is the best offensive Stealth Rock user in the tier. Thanks to Sheer Force, Nidoqueen's power is boosted to scary levels, and its massive special movepool makes it hard to switch into. In addition to that, above-average natural bulk and the ability to switch into Electric-, Fighting-, and Fairy-type moves make it useful on the defensive side as well. Nidoqueen's base 76 Speed is rather lacking for an offensive Pokemon, and its bulk isn't good enough to tank multiple hits without serious investment, but don't let this hold you from using Nidoqueen, for it has all the tools it needs to be one of the best Pokemon in the tier.
[SET]
name: Offensive Entry Hazard Setter
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Sludge Wave
item: Life Orb
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nidoqueen makes for an excellent Stealth Rock setter, since unlike more defensively minded Stealth Rock setters like Gigalith and Diancie, it's able to scare most hazard removers off. If you already have a Stealth Rock setter on your team, Toxic Spikes makes for a great alternative entry hazard for Nidoqueen to set. Earth Power is Nidoqueen's primary STAB move and receives a very welcome Sheer Force boost, allowing Nidoqueen to do crazy things like 2HKO specially defensive Gigalith with ease. Ice Beam complements Earth Power very well, hitting most Pokemon that resist Ground-type moves super effectively, notably scoring an OHKO on Gligar, which otherwise can Defog Nidoqueen's hazards away. Sludge Wave is a good secondary STAB move for Nidoqueen, allowing it to check Calm Mind Florges and Rotom-H. Fire Blast is a powerful alternative to Ice Beam that still roasts Grass-types while also surprising the likes of Bronzong, Cryogonal, and Escavalier, but Nidoqueen can only barely 2HKO Gligar with it, making it not worth the moveslot most of the time.
Set Details
========
252 Special Attack EVs and a Modest nature allow Nidoqueen to hit as hard as possible, while the Speed EVs allow it to outspeed the likes of Adamant Honchkrow and defensive Defog Flygon. Some Speed EVs can be put into Nidoqueen's HP if you want it to tank hits from the likes of Doublade better, but make sure you run at least 76 Speed EVs in order to outspeed Gligar. A Timid nature can also be used in order to win Speed ties against other Nidoqueen while also outspeeding the likes of Jolly Cloyster, but this obviously comes at the cost of a lot of power. Sheer Force negates secondary effects of moves but boosts their damage output significantly, making it the best ability for Nidoqueen. Life Orb pairs well with Sheer Force, since the ability negates Life Orb's recoil damage while keeping the benefit of a x1.3 boost to its attacks.
Usage Tips
========
Use Nidoqueen's set of resistances and offensive pressure to force things out, allowing you to set up entry hazards. Nidoqueen can soften teams up early-game thanks to its great coverage, so try to get it in on predicted switches and weaker resisted attacks and fire away. Play more conservatively with Nidoqueen if you need it to check major threats to offensive teams; play more aggressively if its main purpose is to simply set hazards and do as much damage as possible.
Team Options
========
Nidoqueen generally fits on most offensive teams, since all teams appreciate Stealth Rock support and Nidoqueen combines that role with the role of a powerful wallbreaker. Any wallbreaker that can deal with the special walls Nidoqueen struggles with makes for a good partner. Bewear, Pangoro, and Escavalier are great examples, for they easily take care of Umbreon, Cresselia, Snorlax, Bronzong, and Porygon2. Nidoqueen can use its wide array of coverage moves to lure in and take out troublesome walls that hinder certain sweepers. Cloyster appreciates Nidoqueen's ability to remove bulky Water-types with Thunderbolt and Bronzong with Fire Blast; Minior also loves Nidoqueen's ability to take out Bronzong in order to ease a sweep, and Psychic-types in general appreciate Nidoqueen's ability to weaken or outright beat Escavalier, the number one nuisance for any Psychic-type sweeper. Slowbro and Slowking are great partners for Nidoqueen, taking Water-, Ice-, and Psychic-type moves for Nidoqueen while appreciating Nidoqueen's ability to check Bug- and Electric-types.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock / Toxic Spikes
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Poison Jab / Flamethrower
item: Black Sludge
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Relaxed / Bold
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
This Nidoqueen set uses its bulk and defensive typing to its fullest, allowing it to reliably set Stealth Rock and/or Toxic Spikes. Earth Power is a reliable STAB move and hits decently hard thanks to Sheer Force. Ice Beam gives Nidoqueen great neutral coverage and most importantly hits Gligar hard, which otherwise comes in freely and uses Defog. The last moveslot is dependent on what Pokemon you want Nidoqueen to check. Poison Jab gives Nidoqueen a secondary STAB move that punishes Calm Mind Florges and Comfey, preventing them from setting up. Flamethrower, meanwhile, roasts Escavalier, Bewear, and Bronzong. Earthquake and Roar are all decent options on this set if you need Nidoqueen to do specific things: Earthquake hits roughly as hard as Earth Power and gets more damage off on the likes of Gigalith and Registeel, but it fails to do much to physically bulky threats like Rhyperior and Doublade; and Roar phazes Calm Mind users that set up on Nidoqueen while racking up entry hazard damage. This Nidoqueen set is flexible with what moves it runs overall, so you're free to mess around with moves based on what Pokemon you want Nidoqueen to check; just make sure you run at least one entry hazard on it.
Set Details
========
This EV spread maximizes Nidoqueen's physical bulk, allowing it to better tank hits from the likes of Pangoro, Doublade and other physical attackers while allowing it to outspeed Gligar and do major damage with Ice Beam. When Nidoqueen isn't running Poison Jab, it can run a spread of 248 HP / 184 Def / 76 Spe with a Bold nature, allowing it to outspeed Gligar and hit it hard with Ice Beam before it can use Defog or Earthquake. Sheer Force gives Nidoqueen's mediocre Special Attack stat some oomph. Black Sludge gives Nidoqueen a means of passive recovery, which is very important in order to avoid a few 2HKOs.
Usage Tips
========
Nidoqueen's ability to check a slew of threats to slow, bulky teams including Pangoro and Toxicroak is compromised if you allow it to get worn down by entry hazards and other chip damage, so try to keep it healthy whenever you can. Roar is a useful tool to prevent bulky sweepers like Florges from setting up, but make sure you have a backup plan for these Pokemon, since you cannot phaze them when they are the last Pokemon on the opposing team.
Team Options
========
This Nidoqueen set fits on bulky teams that appreciate its set of resistances and its ability to reliably set entry hazards. Nidoqueen is easily worn down, so Wish passers are very much appreciated. Vaporeon and Umbreon fit this role, and they both have great defensive synergy with Nidoqueen to boot. Chesnaught takes on Ground-types and Water-types for Nidoqueen while also setting Spikes, making them a good hazard stacking duo. Unfortunately, they do share weaknesses to Psychic-types and Ice-types. Toxic Spikes lure in Poison-types that want to remove them, which makes Cresselia an excellent partner for its ability to set up on most Poison-types. It also covers Nidoqueen's Psychic- and Ground-type weaknesses while simultaneously beating most Water- and Ice-types due to it impressive bulk. Slowbro pairs well with Nidoqueen for similar reasons, exploiting Toxic Spikes in order to set up on Poison-types while covering Nidoqueen's Water-, Ice-, and Psychic-type weaknesses.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
Focus Blast takes care of many Pokemon that otherwise wall Nidoqueen, like Snorlax, Umbreon, and Porygon2, but unfortunately its accuracy is shaky. Thunderbolt is a good move on Nidoqueen, hitting bulky Water-types for massive damage. Taunt provides Nidoqueen with another option to shut down Defoggers and prevents walls from boosting or healing, which can be useful on sand balance, for example. Nidoqueen has a pretty respectable physical movepool as well, but a lot of its physical attacks are weaker and/or lack the Sheer Force boost that its special moves get, making them not worth it.
Checks and Counters
========
**Special Walls**: Cresselia, Snorlax, Umbreon, and Porygon2 don't mind any of the moves Nidoqueen commonly carries and can heal off any damage or smack Nidoqueen with super effective hits.
**Situational Counters**: Certain walls can beat Nidoqueen unless it runs a certain coverage move. Bronzong and Cryogonal can beat Nidoqueen without Fire-type coverage.
**Faster Attackers**: Mega Glalie, Flygon, Feraligatr, and Meloetta are examples of Pokemon that threaten Nidoqueen out due to their ability to outspeed it and threaten it with a super effective STAB move.
Nidoqueen is the best offensive Stealth Rock user in the tier. Thanks to Sheer Force, Nidoqueen's power is boosted to scary levels, and its massive special movepool makes it hard to switch into. In addition to that, above-average natural bulk and the ability to switch into Electric-, Fighting-, and Fairy-type moves make it useful on the defensive side as well. Nidoqueen's base 76 Speed is rather lacking for an offensive Pokemon, and its bulk isn't good enough to tank multiple hits without serious investment, but don't let this hold you from using Nidoqueen, for it has all the tools it needs to be one of the best Pokemon in the tier.
[SET]
name: Offensive Entry Hazard Setter
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Sludge Wave
item: Life Orb
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nidoqueen makes for an excellent Stealth Rock setter, since unlike more defensively minded Stealth Rock setters like Gigalith and Diancie, it's able to scare most hazard removers off. If you already have a Stealth Rock setter on your team, Toxic Spikes makes for a great alternative entry hazard for Nidoqueen to set. Earth Power is Nidoqueen's primary STAB move and receives a very welcome Sheer Force boost, allowing Nidoqueen to do crazy things like 2HKO specially defensive Gigalith with ease. Ice Beam complements Earth Power very well, hitting most Pokemon that resist Ground-type moves super effectively, notably scoring an OHKO on Gligar, which otherwise can Defog Nidoqueen's hazards away. Sludge Wave is a good secondary STAB move for Nidoqueen, allowing it to check Calm Mind Florges and Rotom-H. Fire Blast is a powerful alternative to Ice Beam that still roasts Grass-types while also surprising the likes of Bronzong, Cryogonal, and Escavalier, but Nidoqueen can only barely 2HKO Gligar with it, making it not worth the moveslot most of the time.
Set Details
========
252 Special Attack EVs and a Modest nature allow Nidoqueen to hit as hard as possible, while the Speed EVs allow it to outspeed the likes of Adamant Honchkrow and defensive Defog Flygon. Some Speed EVs can be put into Nidoqueen's HP if you want it to tank hits from the likes of Doublade better, but make sure you run at least 76 Speed EVs in order to outspeed Gligar. A Timid nature can also be used in order to win Speed ties against other Nidoqueen while also outspeeding the likes of Jolly Cloyster, but this obviously comes at the cost of a lot of power. Sheer Force negates secondary effects of moves but boosts their damage output significantly, making it the best ability for Nidoqueen. Life Orb pairs well with Sheer Force, since the ability negates Life Orb's recoil damage while keeping the benefit of a x1.3 boost to its attacks.
Usage Tips
========
Use Nidoqueen's set of resistances and offensive pressure to force things out, allowing you to set up entry hazards. Nidoqueen can soften teams up early-game thanks to its great coverage, so try to get it in on predicted switches and weaker resisted attacks and fire away. Play more conservatively with Nidoqueen if you need it to check major threats to offensive teams; play more aggressively if its main purpose is to simply set hazards and do as much damage as possible.
Team Options
========
Nidoqueen generally fits on most offensive teams, since all teams appreciate Stealth Rock support and Nidoqueen combines that role with the role of a powerful wallbreaker. Any wallbreaker that can deal with the special walls Nidoqueen struggles with makes for a good partner. Bewear, Pangoro, and Escavalier are great examples, for they easily take care of Umbreon, Cresselia, Snorlax, Bronzong, and Porygon2. Nidoqueen can use its wide array of coverage moves to lure in and take out troublesome walls that hinder certain sweepers. Cloyster appreciates Nidoqueen's ability to remove bulky Water-types with Thunderbolt and Bronzong with Fire Blast; Minior also loves Nidoqueen's ability to take out Bronzong in order to ease a sweep, and Psychic-types in general appreciate Nidoqueen's ability to weaken or outright beat Escavalier, the number one nuisance for any Psychic-type sweeper. Slowbro and Slowking are great partners for Nidoqueen, taking Water-, Ice-, and Psychic-type moves for Nidoqueen while appreciating Nidoqueen's ability to check Bug- and Electric-types.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock / Toxic Spikes
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Poison Jab / Flamethrower
item: Black Sludge
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Relaxed / Bold
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
This Nidoqueen set uses its bulk and defensive typing to its fullest, allowing it to reliably set Stealth Rock and/or Toxic Spikes. Earth Power is a reliable STAB move and hits decently hard thanks to Sheer Force. Ice Beam gives Nidoqueen great neutral coverage and most importantly hits Gligar hard, which otherwise comes in freely and uses Defog. The last moveslot is dependent on what Pokemon you want Nidoqueen to check. Poison Jab gives Nidoqueen a secondary STAB move that punishes Calm Mind Florges and Comfey, preventing them from setting up. Flamethrower, meanwhile, roasts Escavalier, Bewear, and Bronzong. Earthquake and Roar are all decent options on this set if you need Nidoqueen to do specific things: Earthquake hits roughly as hard as Earth Power and gets more damage off on the likes of Gigalith and Registeel, but it fails to do much to physically bulky threats like Rhyperior and Doublade; and Roar phazes Calm Mind users that set up on Nidoqueen while racking up entry hazard damage. This Nidoqueen set is flexible with what moves it runs overall, so you're free to mess around with moves based on what Pokemon you want Nidoqueen to check; just make sure you run at least one entry hazard on it.
Set Details
========
This EV spread maximizes Nidoqueen's physical bulk, allowing it to better tank hits from the likes of Pangoro, Doublade and other physical attackers while allowing it to outspeed Gligar and do major damage with Ice Beam. When Nidoqueen isn't running Poison Jab, it can run a spread of 248 HP / 184 Def / 76 Spe with a Bold nature, allowing it to outspeed Gligar and hit it hard with Ice Beam before it can use Defog or Earthquake. Sheer Force gives Nidoqueen's mediocre Special Attack stat some oomph. Black Sludge gives Nidoqueen a means of passive recovery, which is very important in order to avoid a few 2HKOs.
Usage Tips
========
Nidoqueen's ability to check a slew of threats to slow, bulky teams including Pangoro and Toxicroak is compromised if you allow it to get worn down by entry hazards and other chip damage, so try to keep it healthy whenever you can. Roar is a useful tool to prevent bulky sweepers like Florges from setting up, but make sure you have a backup plan for these Pokemon, since you cannot phaze them when they are the last Pokemon on the opposing team.
Team Options
========
This Nidoqueen set fits on bulky teams that appreciate its set of resistances and its ability to reliably set entry hazards. Nidoqueen is easily worn down, so Wish passers are very much appreciated. Vaporeon and Umbreon fit this role, and they both have great defensive synergy with Nidoqueen to boot. Chesnaught takes on Ground-types and Water-types for Nidoqueen while also setting Spikes, making them a good hazard stacking duo. Unfortunately, they do share weaknesses to Psychic-types and Ice-types. Toxic Spikes lure in Poison-types that want to remove them, which makes Cresselia an excellent partner for its ability to set up on most Poison-types. It also covers Nidoqueen's Psychic- and Ground-type weaknesses while simultaneously beating most Water- and Ice-types due to it impressive bulk. Slowbro pairs well with Nidoqueen for similar reasons, exploiting Toxic Spikes in order to set up on Poison-types while covering Nidoqueen's Water-, Ice-, and Psychic-type weaknesses.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
Focus Blast takes care of many Pokemon that otherwise wall Nidoqueen, like Snorlax, Umbreon, and Porygon2, but unfortunately its accuracy is shaky. Thunderbolt is a good move on Nidoqueen, hitting bulky Water-types for massive damage. Taunt provides Nidoqueen with another option to shut down Defoggers and prevents walls from boosting or healing, which can be useful on sand balance, for example. Nidoqueen has a pretty respectable physical movepool as well, but a lot of its physical attacks are weaker and/or lack the Sheer Force boost that its special moves get, making them not worth it.
Checks and Counters
========
**Special Walls**: Cresselia, Snorlax, Umbreon, and Porygon2 don't mind any of the moves Nidoqueen commonly carries and can heal off any damage or smack Nidoqueen with super effective hits.
**Situational Counters**: Certain walls can beat Nidoqueen unless it runs a certain coverage move. Bronzong and Cryogonal can beat Nidoqueen without Fire-type coverage.
**Faster Attackers**: Mega Glalie, Flygon, Feraligatr, and Meloetta are examples of Pokemon that threaten Nidoqueen out due to their ability to outspeed it and threaten it with a super effective STAB move.
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