[OVERVIEW]
Poison
========
* Nihilego's high Special Attack and great Speed allow it to function as an efficient revenge killer and sweeper.
* Beast Boost allows Nihilego to boost its Special Attack with every KO, building momentum against a weakened team.
* Nihilego has access to Rock-type coverage, which is rare for Poison teams and helps it sweep Fire and Flying teams.
* It sits at a unique Speed tier that allows it to outspeed and KO many threatening foes such as Victini, Garchomp, Landorus, and Mega Charizard X and Y.
* Nihilego also boasts incredible special bulk that lets it take almost any neutral hit and even some super effective hits with ease including Pelipper's Scald and Mega Venusaur's Giga Drain.
* Its typing is unique and provides a resistance to Fire- and Flying-type attacks. However, it is also doubly weak to Ground moves and adds Water and Steel weaknesses, making it weak to priority attacks from Azumarill and Scizor.
* Despite great special bulk, its Defense stat is poor, leaving it unable to deal with physical attackers that can either outspeed or otherwise avoid being KOed by it.
* Even with its high Special Attack, Nihilego is dependent on Beast Boost for power, as its unboosted damage output is not amazing. Opponents like Infernape are able to survive any unboosted attack and retaliate.
* Additionally, the combination of Rock- and Poison-type STAB moves is mediocre due to being resisted by Ground- and Steel-types, forcing Nihilego to rely on coverage moves such as Hidden Power and Thunderbolt to check these opponents.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Power Gem
move 2: Sludge Wave
move 3: Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Thunderbolt
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Power Gem is Nihilego's most reliable STAB attack, allowing it to OHKO threats such as Victini and Mega Charizard X and sweep Fire and Flying teams once key defensive threats are weakened.
* Sludge Wave is its most powerful attack, hitting Fairy-types such as Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu super effectively and causing major damage to anything that doesn't resist it.
* Hidden Power Ice allows Nihilego to OHKO Landorus, Gliscor, and Garchomp, which are major threats to Poison teams, after a little prior damage.
* Thunderbolt provides the best coverage in tandem with the other 3 moves and is often Nihilego's best option against Steel-types such as Celesteela as well as opponents like Toxapex and Mega Gyarados.
* Hidden Power Fire can be used instead of Hidden Power Ice to hit Steel-types hard, 2HKOing Excadrill, defensive Mega Scizor, and Ferrothorn.
* Grass Knot can be used instead of Thunderbolt to pressure Ground-types more, OHKOing threats such as Mamoswine and Seismitoad, but is inferior in terms of overall coverage and leaves Nihilego helpless against Steel-types.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Speed EVs with a Timid nature ensure that Nihilego makes the most out of its great Speed tier, while the rest of the EVs are invested in Special Attack to make it as strong as possible.
* With a Choice Scarf, Nihilego outspeeds many foes that would otherwise be problematic, such as Choice Scarf Garchomp and Mega Charizard X after a Dragon Dance.
* The EVs above cause Beast Boost to increase Special Attack by one stage with each KO. Coupled with Nihilego's high Speed, it can allow Nihilego to sweep a weakened team with ease.
Usage Tips
========
* Nihilego should be saved for later in the match so that it can pick off weakened foes and boost its power, serving as an effective wincon.
* However, if the opponent has managed to set up and threaten the team, Nihilego can be brought in early to scare off or KO the threat at hand. Its great Speed means that even if Mega Charizard X or Volcarona nab a Speed boost, Nihilego can revenge kill them.
* Due to its amazing natural special bulk, it can also switch in on weaker resisted special hits, such as Pelipper's Hurricane and Torkoal's Lava Plume, and pressure the foe if necessary.
* Conversely, it should not be switched in directly against physical threats, even those that are likely to set up that turn, as a single misprediction will cause you to lose Nihilego.
* Even after one boost, Nihilego still cannot break many special walls such as Chansey, so it should avoid trying to sweep until they've been sufficiently weakened or KO.
Team Options
========
* Mega Venusaur is a great partner for Nihilego because it can switch into almost any Water- or Ground-type attack comfortably due to its Grass typing. Nihilego appreciates Mega Venusaur's stellar physical bulk, and Mega Venusaur similarly appreciates Nihilego's Rock typing to help take Fire and Flying attacks and eliminate strong foes such as Mega Pinsir and Mega Charizard X and Y.
* Crobat provides an immunity to Nihilego's biggest weakness in Ground and can Defog away entry hazards and screens. It can also maintain momentum with U-turn, helping to bring in Nihilego safely on opponents Crobat scares away such as Mega Venusaur, and use Taunt on more defensive opponents, such as Chansey, that Nihilego struggles against.
* Alolan Muk is immune to Psychic-type attacks and can trap Psychic-types such as Choice Scarf Latios and Alolan Raichu that would otherwise outspeed and KO Nihilego. It also provides utility with Knock Off, removing items and weakening opponents for a late-game sweep.
* Scolipede doesn't provide much defensive synergy, but it makes a great offensive partner because it puts additional pressure on Steel- and Ground-types as well as bulky Psychic-types such as Mew and Slowbro, paving the way for Nihilego to sweep teams that only have one or two of these.
* Salazzle, though it is also a speedy special attacker, can outspeed and KO almost every Steel-type with its Fire-type attacks, including Ferrothorn, Mega Scizor, and Magnezone, which Nihilego appreciates.
* Nidoking and Nidoqueen can also deal with many Steel- and Ground-types with Earth Power, Flamethrower, and Ice Beam, and can even set up Stealth Rock to help weaken the opponent's team for Nihilego to sweep.
* Gengar can run Hidden Power Ice and Thunderbolt to allow Nihilego to run alternative coverage, and is also able to run Focus Blast to take on Steel-types for Nihilego as well as Taunt to shut down walls that Nihilego has trouble breaking.
* Toxapex is one of the best defensive pivots that can support Nihilego, as it can switch into Water- and Steel-type attacks, wall many physical attackers, and use Haze to check setup sweepers that might try to take advantage of Nihilego being locked into coverage moves.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Poison
--------
* Nihilego can run Dazzling Gleam over Thunderbolt for added coverage against Fighting-, Dark-, and Dragon-types, but it will leave Nihilego unable to do much damage to most Steel-types. Hidden Power Ice already provides some coverage against Dragon-types and will hit Garchomp harder than Dazzling Gleam.
* Psychic can be used over Thunderbolt to hit Poison-types, but otherwise does not provide any useful coverage. Dazzling Gleam can deal with most Fighting-type opponents more efficiently.
* Nihilego can equip Choice Specs over Choice Scarf for more immediate power, securing the 2HKO on Heatran and Celesteela with Power Gem and Thunderbolt, respectively. However, it will lose to almost every viable Choice Scarf user as a result of its unboosted Speed, including Garchomp and Victini, and will even lose to unboosted opponents in a higher Speed tier such as Dugtrio and Greninja.
* Nihilego can also run an effective suicide lead set with Focus Sash and either Stealth Rock or Toxic Spikes, but this can be done just as effectively by Nidoking and Nidoqueen and isn't worth giving up Nihilego's potential as a Choice Scarf user.
* An Air Balloon can be used to circumvent Nihilego's biggest weakness to Ground, but it leaves Nihilego open to faster threats that can KO it through other means and still exposes it to Ground-type moves after it takes a hit. Nihilego can support its team better by utilizing its Speed and power to their maximum potential and should rely on team support for dealing with Ground-type moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
Poison
--------
**Steel-types**: Steel-types are immune to Poison and generally resistant to Rock and most coverage moves, and as a result can tank attacks from Nihilego with ease. Ferrothorn and Magearna are especially troublesome because they do not take much damage from any of Nihilego's common coverage moves and can either set up or OHKO it with Steel-type attacks.
**Ground-types**: Ground-types resist both of Nihilego's STAB moves and can OHKO it with Ground-type moves. Excadrill is especially deadly, as it can outspeed Nihilego if sand is up and OHKO with either STAB move, but other Ground-types such as Mamoswine and Seismitoad can also remove Nihilego easily if it lacks Grass Knot.
**Special Walls**: Even with multiple boosts from its ability, Nihilego will struggle to dent special walls that it cannot hit super effectively. Pokemon such as Chansey, Alolan Muk, and Cradily can take multiple attacks and either cripple it or outright KO it.
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types deal super effective damage to Nihilego and often use Psyshock, taking advantage of its poor Defense stat. As a result, Nihilego should avoid all Psychic-types unless it can outspeed and OHKO with certainty. Mega Alakazam is especially threatening, as it can survive Power Gem after one boost, copy Beast Boost for itself with Trace, and start to counter-sweep your team.
**Revenge Killers**: Nihilego must beware of revenge killers that either outspeed and OHKO Choice Scarf users, such as Latios and Keldeo, or use powerful priority attacks, including Mega Scizor's Bullet Punch and Azumarill's Aqua Jet.
**Physical Attacks**: Nihilego has poor Defense, so even neutral physical attacks will cause large amounts of damage. Physical attackers that can hit Nihilego for neutral damage such as Terrakion, Breloom, and Tyranitar can OHKO it without using super effective attacks.
**Paralysis**: Nihilego should avoid paralysis at all costs, as it will cut its Speed in half to make it much easier to outspeed and KO. For this reason, Nihilego should take extra precaution when switching into Discharge, especially from Zapdos. Additionally, Thundurus and Klefki can easily paralyze Nihilego with priority Thunder Wave.
Poison
========
* Nihilego's high Special Attack and great Speed allow it to function as an efficient revenge killer and sweeper.
* Beast Boost allows Nihilego to boost its Special Attack with every KO, building momentum against a weakened team.
* Nihilego has access to Rock-type coverage, which is rare for Poison teams and helps it sweep Fire and Flying teams.
* It sits at a unique Speed tier that allows it to outspeed and KO many threatening foes such as Victini, Garchomp, Landorus, and Mega Charizard X and Y.
* Nihilego also boasts incredible special bulk that lets it take almost any neutral hit and even some super effective hits with ease including Pelipper's Scald and Mega Venusaur's Giga Drain.
* Its typing is unique and provides a resistance to Fire- and Flying-type attacks. However, it is also doubly weak to Ground moves and adds Water and Steel weaknesses, making it weak to priority attacks from Azumarill and Scizor.
* Despite great special bulk, its Defense stat is poor, leaving it unable to deal with physical attackers that can either outspeed or otherwise avoid being KOed by it.
* Even with its high Special Attack, Nihilego is dependent on Beast Boost for power, as its unboosted damage output is not amazing. Opponents like Infernape are able to survive any unboosted attack and retaliate.
* Additionally, the combination of Rock- and Poison-type STAB moves is mediocre due to being resisted by Ground- and Steel-types, forcing Nihilego to rely on coverage moves such as Hidden Power and Thunderbolt to check these opponents.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Power Gem
move 2: Sludge Wave
move 3: Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Thunderbolt
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Power Gem is Nihilego's most reliable STAB attack, allowing it to OHKO threats such as Victini and Mega Charizard X and sweep Fire and Flying teams once key defensive threats are weakened.
* Sludge Wave is its most powerful attack, hitting Fairy-types such as Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu super effectively and causing major damage to anything that doesn't resist it.
* Hidden Power Ice allows Nihilego to OHKO Landorus, Gliscor, and Garchomp, which are major threats to Poison teams, after a little prior damage.
* Thunderbolt provides the best coverage in tandem with the other 3 moves and is often Nihilego's best option against Steel-types such as Celesteela as well as opponents like Toxapex and Mega Gyarados.
* Hidden Power Fire can be used instead of Hidden Power Ice to hit Steel-types hard, 2HKOing Excadrill, defensive Mega Scizor, and Ferrothorn.
* Grass Knot can be used instead of Thunderbolt to pressure Ground-types more, OHKOing threats such as Mamoswine and Seismitoad, but is inferior in terms of overall coverage and leaves Nihilego helpless against Steel-types.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Speed EVs with a Timid nature ensure that Nihilego makes the most out of its great Speed tier, while the rest of the EVs are invested in Special Attack to make it as strong as possible.
* With a Choice Scarf, Nihilego outspeeds many foes that would otherwise be problematic, such as Choice Scarf Garchomp and Mega Charizard X after a Dragon Dance.
* The EVs above cause Beast Boost to increase Special Attack by one stage with each KO. Coupled with Nihilego's high Speed, it can allow Nihilego to sweep a weakened team with ease.
Usage Tips
========
* Nihilego should be saved for later in the match so that it can pick off weakened foes and boost its power, serving as an effective wincon.
* However, if the opponent has managed to set up and threaten the team, Nihilego can be brought in early to scare off or KO the threat at hand. Its great Speed means that even if Mega Charizard X or Volcarona nab a Speed boost, Nihilego can revenge kill them.
* Due to its amazing natural special bulk, it can also switch in on weaker resisted special hits, such as Pelipper's Hurricane and Torkoal's Lava Plume, and pressure the foe if necessary.
* Conversely, it should not be switched in directly against physical threats, even those that are likely to set up that turn, as a single misprediction will cause you to lose Nihilego.
* Even after one boost, Nihilego still cannot break many special walls such as Chansey, so it should avoid trying to sweep until they've been sufficiently weakened or KO.
Team Options
========
* Mega Venusaur is a great partner for Nihilego because it can switch into almost any Water- or Ground-type attack comfortably due to its Grass typing. Nihilego appreciates Mega Venusaur's stellar physical bulk, and Mega Venusaur similarly appreciates Nihilego's Rock typing to help take Fire and Flying attacks and eliminate strong foes such as Mega Pinsir and Mega Charizard X and Y.
* Crobat provides an immunity to Nihilego's biggest weakness in Ground and can Defog away entry hazards and screens. It can also maintain momentum with U-turn, helping to bring in Nihilego safely on opponents Crobat scares away such as Mega Venusaur, and use Taunt on more defensive opponents, such as Chansey, that Nihilego struggles against.
* Alolan Muk is immune to Psychic-type attacks and can trap Psychic-types such as Choice Scarf Latios and Alolan Raichu that would otherwise outspeed and KO Nihilego. It also provides utility with Knock Off, removing items and weakening opponents for a late-game sweep.
* Scolipede doesn't provide much defensive synergy, but it makes a great offensive partner because it puts additional pressure on Steel- and Ground-types as well as bulky Psychic-types such as Mew and Slowbro, paving the way for Nihilego to sweep teams that only have one or two of these.
* Salazzle, though it is also a speedy special attacker, can outspeed and KO almost every Steel-type with its Fire-type attacks, including Ferrothorn, Mega Scizor, and Magnezone, which Nihilego appreciates.
* Nidoking and Nidoqueen can also deal with many Steel- and Ground-types with Earth Power, Flamethrower, and Ice Beam, and can even set up Stealth Rock to help weaken the opponent's team for Nihilego to sweep.
* Gengar can run Hidden Power Ice and Thunderbolt to allow Nihilego to run alternative coverage, and is also able to run Focus Blast to take on Steel-types for Nihilego as well as Taunt to shut down walls that Nihilego has trouble breaking.
* Toxapex is one of the best defensive pivots that can support Nihilego, as it can switch into Water- and Steel-type attacks, wall many physical attackers, and use Haze to check setup sweepers that might try to take advantage of Nihilego being locked into coverage moves.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Poison
--------
* Nihilego can run Dazzling Gleam over Thunderbolt for added coverage against Fighting-, Dark-, and Dragon-types, but it will leave Nihilego unable to do much damage to most Steel-types. Hidden Power Ice already provides some coverage against Dragon-types and will hit Garchomp harder than Dazzling Gleam.
* Psychic can be used over Thunderbolt to hit Poison-types, but otherwise does not provide any useful coverage. Dazzling Gleam can deal with most Fighting-type opponents more efficiently.
* Nihilego can equip Choice Specs over Choice Scarf for more immediate power, securing the 2HKO on Heatran and Celesteela with Power Gem and Thunderbolt, respectively. However, it will lose to almost every viable Choice Scarf user as a result of its unboosted Speed, including Garchomp and Victini, and will even lose to unboosted opponents in a higher Speed tier such as Dugtrio and Greninja.
* Nihilego can also run an effective suicide lead set with Focus Sash and either Stealth Rock or Toxic Spikes, but this can be done just as effectively by Nidoking and Nidoqueen and isn't worth giving up Nihilego's potential as a Choice Scarf user.
* An Air Balloon can be used to circumvent Nihilego's biggest weakness to Ground, but it leaves Nihilego open to faster threats that can KO it through other means and still exposes it to Ground-type moves after it takes a hit. Nihilego can support its team better by utilizing its Speed and power to their maximum potential and should rely on team support for dealing with Ground-type moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
Poison
--------
**Steel-types**: Steel-types are immune to Poison and generally resistant to Rock and most coverage moves, and as a result can tank attacks from Nihilego with ease. Ferrothorn and Magearna are especially troublesome because they do not take much damage from any of Nihilego's common coverage moves and can either set up or OHKO it with Steel-type attacks.
**Ground-types**: Ground-types resist both of Nihilego's STAB moves and can OHKO it with Ground-type moves. Excadrill is especially deadly, as it can outspeed Nihilego if sand is up and OHKO with either STAB move, but other Ground-types such as Mamoswine and Seismitoad can also remove Nihilego easily if it lacks Grass Knot.
**Special Walls**: Even with multiple boosts from its ability, Nihilego will struggle to dent special walls that it cannot hit super effectively. Pokemon such as Chansey, Alolan Muk, and Cradily can take multiple attacks and either cripple it or outright KO it.
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types deal super effective damage to Nihilego and often use Psyshock, taking advantage of its poor Defense stat. As a result, Nihilego should avoid all Psychic-types unless it can outspeed and OHKO with certainty. Mega Alakazam is especially threatening, as it can survive Power Gem after one boost, copy Beast Boost for itself with Trace, and start to counter-sweep your team.
**Revenge Killers**: Nihilego must beware of revenge killers that either outspeed and OHKO Choice Scarf users, such as Latios and Keldeo, or use powerful priority attacks, including Mega Scizor's Bullet Punch and Azumarill's Aqua Jet.
**Physical Attacks**: Nihilego has poor Defense, so even neutral physical attacks will cause large amounts of damage. Physical attackers that can hit Nihilego for neutral damage such as Terrakion, Breloom, and Tyranitar can OHKO it without using super effective attacks.
**Paralysis**: Nihilego should avoid paralysis at all costs, as it will cut its Speed in half to make it much easier to outspeed and KO. For this reason, Nihilego should take extra precaution when switching into Discharge, especially from Zapdos. Additionally, Thundurus and Klefki can easily paralyze Nihilego with priority Thunder Wave.
Last edited:
