Gen 7 [Gen 7 1v1] Nihilego Offense

[FunInDaSun]

Sources: https://www.pngfind.com/pngs/m/497-...hilego-by-purplesce-davp0av-nihilego-cute.png, https://pm1.narvii.com/5731/170d14351c09575d924bcfcc04ab79aa08ecd189_hq.jpg, https://toppng.com/uploads/preview/mega-mega-charizard-x-11563082553gsw1papikf.png

Hello everyone, today I'd like to showcase one of my favourite teams for Gen 7 1v1!

Before I start, here's the importable of the team (so that you can use it without reading all of this):

Team Importable

Nihilego @ Choice Specs
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Power Gem
- Sludge Wave
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Psychic

Heracross-Mega @ Heracronite
Ability: Guts
EVs: 56 HP / 224 Atk / 4 SpD / 224 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Pin Missile
- Close Combat
- Rock Blast
- Bullet Seed

Charizard-Mega-X @ Charizardite X
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 212 HP / 12 Atk / 172 SpD / 112 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Outrage
- Flame Charge
- Will-O-Wisp

The reason I love this team so much is because of its simplicity. Taking a look at the Pokemons' moves, 10 out of all 12 of them are just straight-up attacks. The team is in intended to be an offensive build which relies on sheer strength and coverage to overcome opponents. In fact, if you're new to Gen 7 1v1, then I highly recommend trying this team out as it requires little strategy and matchup knowledge to be effective. And if you're not new, you can still have lots of fun blasting away opponents with raw power!

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Team Breakdown

Nihilego @ Choice Specs
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Power Gem
- Sludge Wave
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Psychic / Acid Spray

Nihilego is an underrated pick in the metagame. It is one of the most reliable answers to both Mega Charizards, and it also beats Porygon-Z and Tapu Lele, who are common Charizard-X partners. Additionally, its speed stat is conveniently just above base 100s, Landorus-I (101) and Garchomp (102). With Choice Specs, Nihilego gets just the power boost it needs to KO Fire, Fairy, and other types of Pokemon with its wide range of coverage moves.

Power Gem: Rock STAB, Zard-crusher.
Sludge Wave: Poison STAB, Fairy-disenchanter.
HP Ice: KOs 4x weak Pokemon like Landorus (both forms), Garchomp and PhysDef Zygarde.
Psychic: Helps against Poison-types like Venusaur and Toxapex, which the team struggles to break. Can be replaced for Acid Spray.
EVs: Standard max speed and special attack to be as fast and potent as possible.

What Nihilego beats from S to B+

S Rank
Charizard-Mega-X

A+ Rank
Charizard-Mega-Y
Porygon-Z
Tapu Lele (non-scarf)

A Rank
Gardevoir-Mega
Zygarde (PhysDef only)

A- Rank
Landorus-Therian (non-scarf)
Primarina
Tapu Fini

B+ Rank
Altaria-Mega
Clefable
Garchomp (non-scarf)
Serperior
Togekiss
Venusaur-Mega

Calcs

• 252 SpA Choice Specs Nihilego Power Gem vs. 248 HP / 144+ SpD Charizard-Mega-X: 342-404 (95.2 - 112.5%) -- 75% chance to OHKO (This is against the most SpDef Zard-X set you will find, all other spreads will just get OHKO'd)
• 252 SpA Choice Specs Nihilego Sludge Wave vs. 248 HP / 140 SpD Tapu Lele: 360-426 (104.9 - 124.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
• 252 SpA Choice Specs Nihilego Sludge Wave vs. 240 HP / 0 SpD Gardevoir-Mega: 354-416 (105 - 123.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
• 252 SpA Choice Specs Nihilego Sludge Wave vs. 248 HP / 24 SpD Tapu Fini: 356-422 (103.7 - 123%) -- guaranteed OHKO
• 252 SpA Choice Specs Nihilego Hidden Power Ice vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Zygarde: 404-476 (96.1 - 113.3%) -- 75% chance to OHKO
• 252 SpA Choice Specs Nihilego Hidden Power Ice vs. 248 HP / 80 SpD Landorus-Therian: 424-500 (111.2 - 131.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
• 252 SpA Choice Specs Nihilego Psychic vs. 248 HP / 92+ SpD Venusaur-Mega: 208-246 (57.3 - 67.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Heracross-Mega @ Heracronite
Ability: Guts
EVs: 56 HP / 224 Atk / 4 SpD / 224 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Pin Missile
- Close Combat
- Rock Blast
- Bullet Seed

Mega Heracross serves as a partner who appreciates Nihilego's ability to remove Fire, Fairy and most Flying types. In turn, Nihilego appreciates Mega-Heracross's ability to take on Steel-types which wall it, such as Heatran, Aggron and Kartana. Mega Heracross, being a multi-hit move user, also counters the likes of Sturdymons Donphan, Golem, Crustle and Carracosta, all of which give Nihilego trouble. In addition, Heracross's non-mega ability Guts can be a situational surprise to Mew and Sableye, who would enjoy landing a Will-O-Wisp burn on it.

Pin Missile: Bug STAB, beats slower Psychic-types like Meloetta and Slowbro.
Close Combat: Fighting STAB, Steel-smasher.
Rock Blast: Takes on Gyarados in regular form, also used to beat slower Dragonites.
Bullet Seed: The best option vs. Water and Ground types, which Nihilego struggles against.
EVs: The speed lets Mega-Heracross Outspeed base 60s, as well as modest Heatran while in regular form. 56 HP + 4 SpD EVs let Mega-Heracross live Hydro Vortex from Sub Petaya Greninja, which would otherwise wash away the team. The remaining EVs are poured into attack with an adamant nature to maximise power and allow Mega-Heracross to OHKO slower Dragonites with Rock Blast.

What Mega-Heracross beats from S to B+

S Rank
Dragonite (Slower sets, which is majority of Dnites nowadays)
Gyarados-Mega

A+ Rank
Greninja (Sub Petaya)

A Rank
Meloetta
Mew (Kee set only)
Slowbro-Mega

A- Rank:
Primarina
Tapu Fini (non Fairium-Z)

B+ Rank:
Donphan
Heatran (stay in non-mega form to outspeed it!)
Jumpluff
Sableye-Mega (requires mind games)
Serperior
Tyranitar-Mega

Calcs

• 224+ Atk burned Heracross-Mega Pin Missile (5 hits) vs. +1 252 HP / 4 Def Mew: 200-240 (49.5 - 59.4%) -- approx. 99.6% chance to 2HKO
• 224+ Atk Guts Heracross Pin Missile (3 hits) vs. +1 252 HP / 4 Def Mew: 258-312 (63.8 - 77.2%) -- approx. 2HKO
• 224+ Atk Heracross-Mega Pin Missile (5 hits) vs. 0 HP / 152 Def Zeraora: 305-365 (96.2 - 115.1%) -- approx. 93.8% chance to OHKO
• 224+ Atk Heracross Close Combat vs. 104 HP / 0 Def Heatran: 390-462 (111.7 - 132.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
• 224+ Atk Heracross-Mega Rock Blast (1 hit) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Multiscale Dragonite: 41-49 (10.6 - 12.7%) + 224+ Atk Heracross-Mega Rock Blast (4 hits) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Dragonite: 328-392 (84.9 - 101.5%) = (95.5 - 114.2%) -- approx. 75% to OHKO
• 224+ Atk Heracross-Mega Bullet Seed (5 hits) vs. 252 HP / 240+ Def Primarina: 340-410 (93.4 - 112.6%) -- approx. 81.3% chance to OHKO
• 252 SpA Greninja Hydro Vortex (200 BP) vs. 56 HP / 4 SpD Heracross-Mega: 265-313 (84.1 - 99.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• 44+ Atk Mold Breaker Gyarados-Mega Waterfall vs. 56 HP / 0 Def Heracross-Mega: 127-151 (40.3 - 47.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
• 252+ Atk Zeraora Gigavolt Havoc (180 BP) vs. 56 HP / 0 Def Heracross-Mega: 259-306 (82.2 - 97.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Charizard-Mega-X @ Charizardite X
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 212 HP / 12 Atk / 172 SpD / 112 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Outrage
- Flame Charge / Dragon Dance
- Will-O-Wisp

What better mon to appoint as third member of the team than one of the best in the metagame. While Zard-X is indeed an incredible mon, it also has the important role of beating the many steel types which Mega-Heracross can't beat, like Magearna, Mega-Metagross, Magnezone and Aegislash. Zard-X also serves as a more consistent answer to Dragonite as well as a few other threats to the team like Kommo-o and SpDef Zygarde. By running a specially defensive spread, we can lure and beat specs Greninja, specs Naganadel and Mewnium-Z Mew, all of which would 3-0 the team if we were running a regular Zard-X spread instead.

Flare Blitz: Fire STAB, Steel-burner.
Outrage: Dragon STAB, Dragon-slayer.
Flame Charge: Great utility move that breaks Lopunny's and Jumpluff's substitutes and Dragonite's Multiscale. Can be replaced for Dragon Dance if you prefer!
Will-O-Wisp: Great utility move and the best choice vs. physical Dragonites.
EVs: 212 HP lets Zard-X live Fake Out + Giga Impact from jolly Mega-Lopunny, combined with 172 SpD, Zard-X lives Hydro Cannon from specs Greninja and Draco Meteor from specs Naganadel in non-mega form. 112 speed with a Timid nature lets Zard-X outspeed non-scarf Dragonite and modest scarf Tapu Lele after a +1 speed boost. The sliver of remaining EVs go into attack.

What Zard-X beats from S to B+

S Rank:
Dragonite

S- Rank:
Magearna

A+ Rank:
Charizard-Mega-Y
Greninja (choice specs only)
Metagross-Mega
Tapu Lele (choice scarf only)

A Rank:
Gardevoir-Mega
Mew (Mewnium-Z only)
Zeraora
Zygarde (SpDef only)

A- Rank:
Aegislash
Kommo-o
Magnezone
Victini

B+ Rank:
Celesteela
Genesect
Jumpluff (if running Flame Charge)
Mawile-Mega
Sableye-Mega (struggles vs. PhysDef variants)
Serperior (Poor Serperior gets beaten by all 3 Pokemon on this team)

Calcs

• 12 Atk Tough Claws Charizard-Mega-X Flare Blitz vs. 232 HP / 0+ Def Magearna: 344-408 (95.8 - 113.6%) -- 75% chance to OHKO
• 12 Atk Tough Claws Charizard-Mega-X Outrage vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Mew: 213-252 (52.7 - 62.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• 12 Atk Tough Claws Charizard-Mega-X Outrage vs. 240 HP / 0 Def Kommo-o: 350-414 (99.7 - 117.9%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO
• 12 Atk Tough Claws Charizard-Mega-X Outrage vs. 240 HP / 88 Def Zygarde: 336-396 (80.5 - 94.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (will KO after a few turns of burn damage)
• 252 Atk Lopunny-Mega Fake Out vs. 212 HP / 0 Def Charizard-Mega-X: 63-75 (18 - 21.4%) + 252 Atk Lopunny-Mega Giga Impact vs. 212 HP / 0 Def Charizard-Mega-X: 232-274 (66.2 - 78.2%) = (84.2 - 99.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• 252+ SpA Tapu Lele Psychic vs. 212 HP / 172 SpD Charizard-Mega-X in Psychic Terrain: 199-235 (56.8 - 67.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• 252 SpA Choice Specs Greninja Hydro Cannon vs. 212 HP / 172 SpD Charizard-Mega-X: 297-349 (84.8 - 99.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• 252 SpA Choice Specs Naganadel Draco Meteor vs. 212 HP / 172 SpD Charizard: 297-349 (84.8 - 99.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• 0- Atk Mew Fake Out vs. 212 HP / 0 Def Charizard-Mega-X: 24-29 (6.8 - 8.2%) + 252+ SpA Mew Genesis Supernova vs. 212 HP / 172 SpD Charizard-Mega-X: 262-309 (74.8 - 88.2%) = (81.4 - 96.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• 0 SpA Pixilate Gardevoir-Mega Hyper Beam vs. 212 HP / 172 SpD Charizard-Mega-X: 285-336 (81.4 - 96%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

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Team Weaknesses:


Scarfed Landoruses and Garchomp: The team's way of beating these is to outspeed and KO with Nihilego. But if these guys wear choice scarves, there is no chance.


Timid scarfed Tapu Lele: An incredibly uncommon Lele set, but if you're going to run choice scarf to outspeed Pokemon, you may as well go the full way right?


Faster Rock-types: Mainly Mega-Diancie and Archeops. They both have the speed and coverage to KO the team.


Mega-Blaziken: Because of our pitiful attack investment in Zard-X, it can't KO Mega-Blaziken before getting 2HKO'd by High Jump Kick or Rock Slide.


Slaking: The ultimate offense mon dunks on our entire offense team. Incredibly strong, faster than Mega-Heracross and Zard-X and bulky enough to live anything from Nihilego.


Mew and Zygarde: The team does beat these, however I'm including them as an example of how the player needs to know the opponent's set in order to make the right choice. Heracross beats Kee Mew while Zard-X beats Mewnium, and Nihilego beats PhysDef Zygarde while Zard-X beats SpDef Zygarde. The player could easily have trouble guessing between sets, so these mons would qualify as team weaknesses. (Although the same applies for Greninja, specs is way more common than Sub Petaya, so it is usually safe to go Zard-X against a predicted Greninja)

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That is all! As offense teams are always fun, I can almost guarantee you'll enjoy using the team whether you're a new player or a veteran! If you're not sure where to play Gen 7 1v1, the 1v1 chatroom holds tournaments in this format once or twice per day, so go wild :)

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Edit Log

[30/01/21] Removed Zeraora from Mega-Heracross' list of what it beats, since Bulk Up sets are common and beat Mega-Heracross.
[31/01/21] Added Venusaur-Mega to Nihilego's list of what it beats