[OVERVIEW]
Nidoqueen offers a unique mix of utility to UU teams, including its immunity to Electric, access to entry hazards like Toxic Spikes and Stealth Rock, and favorable one-on-one matchup against threats like Mega Manectric, Terrakion, and Nihilego. It can viably run both offensive and defensive sets, which similarly take advantage of these matchups as well as its coverage options in tandem with Sheer Force. Alongside its solid defensive uses, Nidoqueen's main selling point lies in these traits, letting it threaten entry hazard removers like Tentacruel, Empoleon, and Gligar. However, Nidoqueen possesses mediocre stats across the board, leaving it easily revenge killed and shakier versus threats like Terrakion and Cobalion than it would prefer. Nidoking offers stiff competition offensively, trading Nidoqueen's additional bulk for more Speed and the ability to deal with Pokemon like Togekiss. Other bulky Ground-types, mainly Gligar and Hippowdon, also make bulky sets hard to justify, possessing superior bulk and access to reliable recovery at the cost of Nidoqueen's offensive presence.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Toxic Spikes / Stealth Rock
move 2: Sludge Wave
move 3: Earth Power
move 4: Ice Beam
item: Black Sludge
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 108 Def / 72 SpD / 76 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Toxic Spikes poisons the opposing team upon entry, wearing them down throughout the match. Alternatively, Stealth Rock is a viable option on Nidoqueen if no other setters fit alongside it. Sludge Wave allows Nidoqueen to threaten Fairy-types such as Primarina and Mega Altaria. Earth Power possesses great synergy with Toxic Spikes, threatening hazard removal options such as Empoleon and grounded Poison-types like Tentacruel, opposing Nidoqueen, and Gengar. Ice Beam has nice coverage alongside Earth Power, hitting foes such as Gligar, Hydreigon, and Mega Aerodactyl for solid damage.
Set Details
========
76 Speed EVs most notably allow Nidoqueen to outspeed Gligar, letting it effectively threaten with Ice Beam by moving before Gligar's Roost. 72 Special Defense EVs let Nidoqueen stomach a +2 Fire Blast from Infernape while bolstering its one-on-one matchup against foes such as Mega Manectric, Nihilego, and Tentacruel. The remaining investment is dumped into Defense alongside a Bold nature, helping it combat foes like Terrakion, Dragon Dance Mega Altaria, and Choice Scarf Infernape. Black Sludge provides Nidoqueen with passive recovery, aiding it through keeping it healthy throughout a match.
Usage Tips
========
Nidoqueen should be used primarily early- to mid-game, mainly to handle threats such as Nihilego, Terrakion, and Mega Manectric. These favorable positions make for ideal opportunities to set up an entry hazard, as the foe is often forced out. Prioritize laying down Toxic Spikes if the opponent has multiple Pokemon vulnerable to them, especially if they lack a grounded Poison-type or an entry hazard remover that fares well against Nidoqueen. Similarly, setting Stealth Rock can be crucial in pressuring foes like Moltres, Rotom-H, and Mega Aerodactyl. Keep Nidoqueen healthy if it is necessary to handle cleaners like Mega Manectric, Choice Scarf Infernape, and Nihilego.
Team Options
========
Defensive Nidoqueen fits best on balance or bulky teams that appreciate its unique defensive utility and ability to set entry hazards. Nidoqueen's access to Toxic Spikes makes Pokemon like Taunt Hydreigon, Substitute Kyurem, and Calm Mind + Substitute Suicune stand out as ideal partners, as they greatly appreciate the residual damage on foes as they apply pressure. Dragon-types like Latias and the aforementioned Hydreigon share great defensive synergy with Nidoqueen, covering its weaknesses to Water-, Psychic-, and Ground-type moves while it handles Fairy-types in return. They also take pressure off of Nidoqueen in handling Electric-types such as Mega Manectric and Rotom-H. Starmie, Tsareena, and Mega Blastoise offer Rapid Spin support, removing the need to use Defog and potentially risk clearing Nidoqueen's entry hazards. Additionally, these removers appreciate Nidoqueen's ability to remove opposing Toxic Spikes upon entry. Nidoqueen can absorb the Electric-type moves aimed at bulky Water-types like Alomomola, Empoleon, and Primarina; additionally, Alomomola can help keep Nidoqueen healthy with Wish. Other Stealth Rock setters like Bronzong, Mega Aggron, and Kommo-o alleviate the need for Nidoqueen to run the move itself, meaning it can more feasibly fit Toxic Spikes on its moveset. Pursuit users such as Scizor and Mega Aerodactyl can remove threats to Nidoqueen such as Latias and Celebi.
[SET]
name: Offensive Hazard Setter
move 1: Toxic Spikes / Stealth Rock
move 2: Sludge Wave
move 3: Earth Power
move 4: Ice Beam
item: Life Orb
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Modest
evs: 128 HP / 252 SpA / 128 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Toxic Spikes pressures the opposing team by poisoning those vulnerable, wearing them down over time. Stealth Rock is a solid alternative option to Toxic Spikes, but it is only truly necessary when another user does not fit on the rest of the team. Sludge Wave sufficiently threatens foes such as Mega Altaria, Primarina, and Celebi while often offering a safe middle ground between the outstanding synergy shared by Earth Power and Ice Beam. Earth Power punishes Pokemon like Empoleon, Tentacruel, Gengar, and Alolan Muk, which can remove Toxic Spikes either through Defog or their typing. Ice Beam nails foes such as Gligar, Hydreigon, Hippowdon, and Amoonguss, applying even more offensive pressure alongside its STAB moves.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack investment alongside a Modest nature and Life Orb make Nidoqueen as threatening as possible with its great coverage. 128 Speed EVs guarantee that Nidoqueen outruns Modest Primarina, maximizing its opportunities to dish out damage. The remaining EVs are dumped into HP to assist Nidoqueen in dealing with foes like Nihilego, Mega Manectric, and Terrakion by virtue of its defensive typing.
Usage Tips
========
Especially early on in matches, position Nidoqueen against foes like Mega Altaria, Mega Manectric, and Cobalion, where it can either set an entry hazard or throw out a powerful attack. Nidoqueen has the coverage necessary to threaten most teams offensively; therefore, play aggressively to make the most of this trait. The combination of Earth Power and Ice Beam can hit most Pokemon super effectively, but Sludge Wave can often make for a safe middle ground if expecting a switch to Pokemon like Hydreigon, Moltres, or Rotom-H. Offensive Nidoqueen has a tendency to be worn down easily, so prioritize keeping it healthy if it is needed to beat Pokemon like Mega Manectric or Terrakion.
Team Options
========
Offensive Nidoqueen finds its home on bulky offense teams that take advantage of its offensive presence, entry hazards, and favorable matchups presented by its typing. Choice Scarf Hydreigon is a fantastic partner, getting Nidoqueen into favorable positions against its most common answers in Fairy-types while covering its weaknesses to Psychic-, Water-, and Ground-type moves. Rotom-H deals with Ground-types such as Hippowdon and Mamoswine as well as Togekiss, the one Fairy-type Nidoqueen truly struggles with. Rotom-H also gets Nidoqueen into good spots with Volt Switch and takes pressure off of it in dealing with Mega Manectric. Other pivots such as Scizor and Mega Manectric can be valuable partners, getting Nidoqueen into favorable positions with U-turn and Volt Switch. Alternative Stealth Rock users like Mega Aggron, Cobalion, and Kommo-o let Nidoqueen run Toxic Spikes instead, letting it more effectively support the team by wearing down foes. Tsareena provides Rapid Spin support, a valuable asset alongside Toxic Spikes, and gets Nidoqueen into favorable matchups against Mega Altaria and Amoonguss.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Flamethrower hits Scizor and Bronzong for super effective damage, though it is generally less useful than other options. Similarly, Thunderbolt lets Nidoqueen sufficiently threaten Water-types like Suicune, Mega Slowbro, and Alomomola, but it is also hard to justify over other moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Blissey**: Much like most other special attackers, Nidoqueen struggles to do meaningful damage to Blissey, which can use Nidoqueen for free turns to support the opposing team.
**Dragon-types**: Latias, Kyurem, and Hydreigon outspeed Nidoqueen and deal huge damage to it while surviving any of its moves from full HP.
**Water-types**: Nidoqueen cannot OHKO Water-types like Empoleon, Suicune, and Swampert with any of its common attacking moves, and they can hit Nidoqueen with their super effective STAB moves in return.
**Ground-types**: Mamoswine, Nidoking, and Krookodile outrun Nidoqueen and can nail it with their powerful STAB moves.
**Bronzong**: Bronzong walls all of Nidoqueen's attacking moves, easily performing its roles in front of it and halting its offensive momentum.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Pak, 245869]]
- Quality checked by: [[Indigo Plateau, 216712], [Nuked, 382658], [Eyan, 226777]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732], [frostration, 447027]]
Last edited:
