[OVERVIEW]
Noivern is notable for outspeeding the entire UU metagame, making it a naturally fast teammate without the use of a Choice Scarf. Its great STAB combination also makes Noivern a solid revenge killer. Furthermore, its defensive typing, access to reliable recovery, and decent bulk allow Noivern to reliably check threats like Keldeo and Tapu Bulu. Unfortunately, Noivern finds itself competing for a spot on teams with the tier's other Dragon / Flying type, Salamence. Salamence is much stronger and bulkier, which makes it a better wallbreaker and allows it to fulfill Noivern's defensive niche much more effectively than Noivern itself. However, Noivern's higher Speed, which is especially useful when dealing with massive threats like Keldeo, still makes it a solid option and a worthwhile pick over Salamence.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Draco Meteor / Hurricane / U-turn
move 2: Flamethrower
move 3: Hurricane
move 4: Roost
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Infiltrator
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Hurricane hits a wider amount of range than Draco Meteor, such as Amoonguss, Tangrowth, and Conkeldurr, and allows Noivern to pressure Fairy types, like Togekiss and Azumarill. However, Draco Meteor is more reliable and spammable than Hurricane, allows Noivern to OHKO Salamence and potentially OHKO Kommo-o, and is useful for chipping Pokemon that would otherwise check Noivern, like Rhyperior, Rotom-H, and Rotom-W. Flamethrower prevents Noivern from being completely walled by Steel-types, such as Scizor, Jirachi, and Celesteela. U-turn is an option over either STAB move that allows Noivern to pivot out of would-be checks and bring in teammates more safely. Noivern does prefer to run both STAB moves, however. Roost is necessary for longevity. Infiltrator is used to bypass Substitute, which is crucial for allowing Noivern to take out Pokemon that rely on it, like Raikou and Aegislash. It also bypasses dual screens.
Noivern is best used on teams that otherwise lack naturally fast Pokemon or Choice Scarf users. Electric-types like Raikou and Rotom-W are particularly good partners for Noivern, forming a fast VoltTurn core. Raikou can lure in Rhyperior and weaken it with Toxic or Scald, as well as pressure Pokemon like Primarina and Azumarill for Noivern. Rotom-W can check Mamoswine and deals with Ground-types like Krookodile and Rhyperior better than Noivern can. Grass-types, such as Tangrowth and Amoonguss, are able to come in on Pokemon like Thundurus-T and Lycanroc-D that threaten Noivern. Scizor makes Noivern's matchup against Celesteela easier by removing its Leftovers with Knock Off. Noivern, meanwhile, can lure special walls like Chansey for Scizor. Noivern and Scizor's shared access to U-turn also allows them to form a pivoting core. Wallbreakers such as Lycanroc-D, Mamoswine, and Crawdaunt help make up for Noivern's lackluster offensive presence. These Pokemon can also remove special walls that Noivern otherwise struggles with, such as Chansey, Primarina, and Milotic. Mew and Krookodile can set up entry hazards, which allow Noivern to more easily KO foes.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Super Fang can be used to weaken bulky walls like Chansey and Celesteela and make it easier for its teammates to revenge kill them while also pairing nicely with Taunt, but it's not very useful otherwise. Boomburst is another option for an attacking move, having an incredibly high Base Power without the drawbacks of Draco Meteor or Hurricane, but it is weaker and does not hit anything super effectively. Defog is a solid option, as Noivern is the fastest Defogger in the metagame and also checks common entry hazard setters like Nidoqueen and Kommo-o. However, Noivern struggles to fit Defog into its moveset, and if you want to run a Dragon / Flying Defogger, Salamence is a better option. Choice Specs is an option to make Noivern hit harder, but the lack of Heavy-Duty Boots makes Noivern incredibly susceptible to Stealth Rock, and thus it remains a very fringe option.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Walls:** Chansey brushes off all of Noivern's moves and forces it to switch out, though it does have to worry about Taunt. Rhyperior can also easily sponge Noivern's attacks except for Draco Meteor. Finally, Celesteela is only 4HKOed by Noivern's Flamethrower, allowing it to serve as an occasional check.
**Priority Users:** Pokémon like Mamoswine and Lycanroc-D can use their super effective priority moves to bypass Noivern's blistering Speed and easily take it out.
**Knock Off Users:** Krookodile, Scizor, Conkeldurr, and other common Knock Off users can remove Noivern's Heavy-Duty Boots, which severely hampers its longevity and makes it unable to perform its role as a pivot as well as it could.
**Fairy-types:** Hatterene, Primarina, and Azumarill can take at least one hit and hit Noivern hard with their super effective STAB moves. However, these Pokemon generally don't like having to take more than one Hurricane.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[StarFalcon555, 540058]]
- Quality checked by: [[Lilburr, 481709], [bb skarm, 235692], [Twilight, 344575]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Bandkrook, 301217], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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