Pokémon Nidoking

[Rawbi]

Nidoking

Typing:

Base Stats: 81 HP / 102 Atk / 77 Def / 85 SpA / 75 SpD / 85 Spe

Abilities:
Poison Point / Rivalry / Sheer Force

Move List

Level Up

• [Evolve] Megahorn
• [1] Fury Attack
• [1] Toxic Spikes
• [1] Double Kick
• [1] Horn Attack
• [1] Helping Hand
• [1] Toxic
• [1] Flatter
• [1] Poison Jab
• [1] Earth Power
• [1] Leer
• [1] Poison Sting
• [1] Peck
• [1] Focus Energy

TM

• [TM00] Mega Punch
• [TM01] Mega Kick
• [TM02] Pay Day
• [TM03] Fire Punch
• [TM04] Ice Punch
• [TM05] Thunder Punch
• [TM08] Hyper Beam
• [TM09] Giga Impact
• [TM15] Dig
• [TM21] Rest
• [TM22] Rock Slide
• [TM23] Thief
• [TM24] Snore
• [TM25] Protect
• [TM27] Icy Wind
• [TM31] Attract
• [TM32] Sandstorm
• [TM33] Rain Dance
• [TM34] Sunny Day
• [TM36] Whirlpool
• [TM37] Beat Up
• [TM39] Facade
• [TM41] Helping Hand
• [TM43] Brick Break
• [TM48] Rock Tomb
• [TM53] Mud Shot
• [TM54] Rock Blast
• [TM59] Fling
• [TM64] Avalanche
• [TM65] Shadow Claw
• [TM74] Venoshock
• [TM76] Round
• [TM77] Hex
• [TM81] Bulldoze
• [TM96] Smart Strike
• [TM98] Stomping Tantrum

TR

• [TR01] Body Slam
• [TR02] Flamethrower
• [TR04] Surf
• [TR05] Ice Beam
• [TR06] Blizzard
• [TR08] Thunderbolt
• [TR09] Thunder
• [TR10] Earthquake
• [TR13] Focus Energy
• [TR15] Fire Blast
• [TR17] Amnesia
• [TR20] Substitute
• [TR22] Sludge Bomb
• [TR24] Outrage
• [TR26] Endure
• [TR27] Sleep Talk
• [TR28] Megahorn
• [TR31] Iron Tail
• [TR33] Shadow Ball
• [TR35] Uproar
• [TR37] Taunt
• [TR39] Superpower
• [TR54] Toxic Spikes
• [TR57] Poison Jab
• [TR62] Dragon Pulse
• [TR64] Focus Blast
• [TR67] Earth Power
• [TR75] Stone Edge
• [TR76] Stealth Rock
• [TR78] Sludge Wave
• [TR87] Drill Run
• [TR91] Venom Drench
• [TR94] High Horsepower
• [TR95] Throat Chop
• [TR99] Body Press

Egg Moves

• Confusion
• Counter
• Disable
• Head Smash
• Poison Tail
• Sucker Punch
• Supersonic
• Take Down
• Horn Drill
• Thrash

Move Tutor:

• Scorching Sands

Pre-evolution Only:

• N/A

Transfer Only

• Roar
• Smack Down
• Double Team
• Torment
• Echoed Voice
• Quash
• Dragon Tail
• Swagger
• Confide
• Headbutt
• Reflect
• Seismic Toss
• Super Fang
• Aqua Tail
• Focus Punch
• Shock Wave
• Water Pulse
• Hone Claws
• Incinerate
• Rock Smash
• Power-up Punch
• Cut
• Strength
• Fury Cutter
• Mud-slap
• Double-edge
• Mimic
• Dynamic Punch
• Defense Curl
• Tackle
• Curse
• Detect
• Bubble Beam
• Water Gun
• Submission
• Fissure
• Skull Bash

Newly Obtainable Moves:

• Body Press
• High Horsepower
• Rock Blast
• Sand Tomb
• Hex
• Mud Shot
• Scorching Sands: Ground, Special, 70 BP, 30% chance to burn the opponent

Notable Moves:

• Earth Power
• Fire Blast
• Flamethrower
• Focus Blast
• Ice Beam
• Sludge Wave
• Stealth Rock
• Substitute
• Sucker Punch
• Super Fang
• Superpower
• Taunt
• Thunderbolt
• Toxic
• Toxic Spikes

Pros:

• Enormous amounts of Sheer Force-boosted coverage options like Ice Beam, Flamethrower, and Thunderbolt makes Nidoking difficult to switch into
• Ground/Poison typing grants immunities to Electric moves and Toxic, absorbs Toxic Spikes on entry, and resists Fairy moves and Stealth Rock
• Base 85 Speed is decent, allowing Nidoking to get the jump on slow wallbreakers and defensive mons

Cons:

• Easily outsped and revenge killed
• Walled by Chansey and Blissey
• Celesteela is immune to both STABs and can heal off coverage move damage with Leech Seed + Protect

Potential Sets:

Nidoking (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Earth Power
- Sludge Wave
- Ice Beam
- Substitute / Flamethrower

An all-out attacking set plays into Nidoking's greatest strength: LO Sheer Force wallbreaking. Sludge Wave deletes Fairies and Tangrowth. Earth Power is Nidoking's strongest Special STAB and complements Sludge Wave by blowing past Steels and Toxapex. Ice Beam covers mons not hit by STABs such as Landorus-T and Zapdos. Nidoking's last moveslot is highly adaptable to whatever your team needs. Substitute capitalizes on the switches Nidoking forces. Flamethrower handles Ferrothorn and Buzzwole. Stealth Rock is a usable option to set up on a switch.

Nidoking is not the easiest Pokemon to use or build around in the OU metagame, but it is an unexpected pick that brings unique offensive and defensive qualities to teams!

 

[nameless90]

Nidoking is always the same...but the entire OU environment has become stronger with the new additions, but I still think that Nidoking can still be a solid B-tier monster thanks to Sheer Force.
I think that even a Choice Scarf set is worthy of the OU because it has enough Spe (base 85 is enough once some overpowered threats will be banned) and enough firepower without the Life Orb boost.

 

[Empress Mobile]

I would probably run Fire Blast over Flamethrower. Also I'd consider dropping Ice Beam or Fire coverage for Rocks if the team calls for it.

 

[TakunHiwatari]

I'm pretty scrubby so I'm about to ask a dumb question here:

Is there a reason why physical sets aren't used for Nidoking? Does his physical movepool not benefit from the Sheer Force ability?

 

[DrPumpkinz]

I'm pretty scrubby so I'm about to ask a dumb question here:

Is there a reason why physical sets aren't used for Nidoking? Does his physical movepool not benefit from the Sheer Force ability?

It's weaker.

252 Atk Life Orb Nidoking Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Mew: 179-212 (52.4 - 62.1%)
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Earth Power vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mew: 187-222 (54.8 - 65.1%)

252 Atk Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Poison Jab vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Mew: 187-222 (54.8 - 65.1%)
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Sludge Wave vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mew: 199-234 (58.3 - 68.6%)

252 Atk Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Ice Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Mew: 117-139 (34.3 - 40.7%)
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mew: 125-148 (36.6 - 43.4%)
(same calc for Fire, except Fire Blast is even stronger if you opt for it)

It also has to deal with Intimidate, burns, Rough Skin, etc.

 

[TakunHiwatari]

It's weaker.

252 Atk Life Orb Nidoking Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Mew: 179-212 (52.4 - 62.1%)
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Earth Power vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mew: 187-222 (54.8 - 65.1%)

252 Atk Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Poison Jab vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Mew: 187-222 (54.8 - 65.1%)
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Sludge Wave vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mew: 199-234 (58.3 - 68.6%)

252 Atk Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Ice Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Mew: 117-139 (34.3 - 40.7%)
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mew: 125-148 (36.6 - 43.4%)
(same calc for Fire, except Fire Blast is even stronger if you opt for it)

It also has to deal with Intimidate, burns, Rough Skin, etc.

Thank you! I didn't realize that the BP of the Special Moves were enough to overcome the gap in his ATK and SpATK stats.

 

[BreloomBoyBouttaSpore]

You should add outclassed by lando-i as a con until thats banned

 

[tinyranitar]

You should add outclassed by lando-i as a con until thats banned

It is now

 

[Sickist]

I would mention Superpower as a slash with Subsitute (alongside a hasty/naive nature), as Nidoking can easily lure in blissey/chansey and pressure them into a corner with it.