[OVERVIEW]
Toxapex is a solid defensive pivot for balance and stall teams thanks to its typing, great defenses, and Regenerator, which allow it to blanket check common threats such as Dracovish, Marshadow, and Ho-Oh. It has access to a great utility moves, including Toxic Spikes, Haze, Recover, Knock Off, and Scald. However, Toxapex is very passive, letting many common threats such as Calyrex-S, Zekrom, and Groudon switch in for free when it uses Recover or Haze. It also faces rough competition as a status spreader with Eternatus, which actually has an offensive presence.
[SET]
name: The Pex
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Haze / Toxic Spikes
move 3: Recover
move 4: Scald / Toxic
item: Rocky Helmet / Black Sludge
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Toxapex's great bulk allows it to switch in on many physical attackers and cripple them with Knock Off, Toxic, or a Scald burn. Haze prevents physical sweepers such as Bulk Up Marshadow and Dragon Dance Necrozma-DM from setting up and overwhelming Toxapex. Recover and Regenerator allow Toxapex to check threats like Ho-Oh and Marshadow. Toxic and Toxic Spikes are, admittedly passive, ways to better deal with Dracovish and Ho-Oh and cripple switch-ins such as Zekrom, Zygarde-C, and Giratina. The two can be used together, with Toxic punishing opposing threats that would switch in anticipation of Toxic Spikes, such as Zekrom, Groudon, and Kyogre. Rocky Helmet is the preferred item to punish most attacks from physical attackers such as Marshadow's Spectral Thief, Dracovish's Fishious Rend, Ho-Oh's Brave Bird, and Necrozma-DM's Sunsteel Strike. Black Sludge can be used to give Toxapex better longevity, notably reducing the chance that Dracovish's Fishious Rend 2HKOes it.
Blissey and Chansey offer solid answers to special attackers like Xerneas, which Toxapex cannot handle. They also offer Wish and Stealth Rock, which can complement Toxic Spikes from Toxapex. Ferrothorn can switch into most Zekrom and Groudon sets and provides entry hazards and Knock Off support. Bulky Dark-types can check Psychic-types like Calyrex-S and Mewtwo. Yveltal provides Defog and Knock Off, and Knock Off can remove Leftovers or Heavy-Duty Boots to increase the effectiveness of Toxic Spikes, while Tyranitar offers Stealth Rock support. Both formes of Giratina are great teammates with Toxapex. Giratina can phaze dangerous setup sweepers like Zekrom and Zygarde-C, which Toxapex cannot handle alone; Giratina-O benefits from Toxapex spreading status thanks to Hex, has no trouble switching into Groudon thanks to Levitate, and offensively checks Calyrex-S with Shadow Sneak. Setup sweepers like Zygarde-C and defensive variants of Kyogre and Groudon can also take advantage of status spreading, as well as checking threats like Ho-Oh and Zekrom.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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A set with Block and Spite lets Toxapex lure in and PP stall passive switch-ins such as defensive variants of Necrozma-DM, Eternatus, and Yveltal lacking U-turn and Taunt. However, its utility against offensive teams is really low. Baneful Bunker punishes direct contact from many physical attackers that can 2HKO or OHKO Toxapex, including Ho-Oh, Dracovish, and Zekrom. However, it is more prediction reliant than Toxic and Toxic Spikes.
Checks and Counters
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**Psychic-types**: Strong Psychic-types like Mewtwo, Calyrex-S, and Lunala heavily threaten Toxapex, though they must be wary of switching into Knock Off and Toxic.
**Eternatus**: With great bulk, immunity to Toxic, and a high Special Attack, Eternatus is a threat for Toxapex. It doesn't mind losing its item and is able to PP stall Toxapex thanks to Pressure. Finally, Eternatus can absorb Toxic Spikes.
**Ground-types**: Even though they don't want to switch in and get statused, both Groudon and Zygarde-C are top threats for Toxapex. They can both attempt to set up with Bulk Up, Dragon Dance, or Coil. Both Landorus and Landorus-T can force Toxapex out with either Earthquake or Earth Power, and both can set up Stealth Rock.
**Super Effective Coverage**: Toxapex can be overwhelmed quickly if Pokemon like Kyogre, Xerneas, Necrozma-DM, and Ho-Oh predict it switching in and land coverage moves like Thunder and Earthquake.
**Setup Special Attackers**: Despite its high Special Defense, Toxapex struggles at absorbing boosted strong special attacks. Offensive variants of Eternatus can use Meteor Beam on the switch and threaten to 2HKO with Dynamax Cannon. Meanwhile, Xerneas can use Toxapex as setup fodder with Substitute and does massive damage with a boosted Thunder, though these variants have to be wary of Haze.
**Taunt**: Taunt users like Yveltal can severely hinder Toxapex, leaving it unable to threaten foes with Toxic; specially-oriented Yveltal in particular can easily heal off any damage dealt by Toxapex with Oblivion Wing.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Eledyr, 415367]]
- Quality checked by: [[SiTuM, 274590], [Minority, 222996]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517249]]
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