MANNAT
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[OVERVIEW]
Nidoqueen is a useful addition to bulkier teams in the UU metagame due to its ability to pressure opposing teams with Toxic Spikes and its solid bulk and defensive typing, which allow Nidoqueen to check threatening offensive Pokemon, such as Mega Manectric, Cobalion, and Terrakion. Nidoqueen is fairly strong for a defensive Pokemon, which allows it to pressure offensive teams with Sheer Force-boosted attacks. However, Nidoqueen faces stiff competition from Nidoking, which has a better Speed tier and higher power, as well as other entry hazard setters such as Nihilego that can pressure hazard removers better. Additionally, Nidoqueen's typing leaves a lot to be desired in some aspects, being weak to common attacking types in Water, Ground, and Psychic. Defensive sets are hard to fit onto teams due to them facing heavy competition from other bulky Ground-types like Swampert and Hippowdon. Finally, Nidoqueen's lack of reliable recovery leaves it liable to being overwhelmed by multiple offensive threats that it's supposed to check, like Cobalion and Mega Manectric.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Toxic Spikes
move 3: Earth Power
move 4: Sludge Wave
item: Black Sludge
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 128 Def / 132 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Stealth Rock is a fantastic entry hazard that can pressure opposing teams by limiting switches so that Nidoqueen's team can have an easier job outlasting the opposition. Toxic Spikes automatically cripples defensive Pokemon that are traditionally used to beat many of Nidoqueen's common teammates, most notably crippling Suicune. Earth Power is a strong STAB attack that allows Nidoqueen to have a consistent damage output versus Mega Manectric and Cobalion, both of which are Pokemon that Nidoqueen attempts to check. Sludge Wave is useful for its ability to allow Nidoqueen to more effectively check Fairy-types like Sylveon and Mega Altaria. Alternatively, Nidoqueen can use Flamethrower over Sludge Wave to OHKO Scizor and hit Amoonguss harder. Nidoqueen can also use Ice Beam over one of its entry hazards to do heavy damage to Ground-immune Pokemon such as Latias and Hydreigon.
Set Details
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132 Speed EVs allow Nidoqueen to outspeed Sylveon and maximum Speed Bewear. The remaining EVs are invested into HP and Defense with a Bold nature in order to ensure that Nidoqueen can check key physical attackers like Cobalion and Terrakion. Sheer Force is preferred over Poison Point due to the increased power on its attacking moves, enabling Nidoqueen to more effectively pressure the Pokemon that it checks, but Poison Point can be used to cripple contact-based attackers like Infernape and Terrakion. Finally, Black Sludge is used in order to increase Nidoqueen's longevity, as it lacks reliable recovery.
Usage Tips
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Nidoqueen should be pivoted in on Pokemon that it threatens out, such as Mega Manectric and Cobalion, so that it has a good opportunity to set up entry hazards. Nidoqueen is an excellent stop to Mega Manectric's Volt Switch, disrupting your opponent's offensive momentum, and it can resist Cobalion's most powerful STAB move and threaten both of these Pokemon with Earth Power. Nidoqueen should prioritize setting up entry hazards as soon as possible as long as there isn't a significant offensive threat to be neutralized, such as a Swords Dance Cobalion, but it's usually best to avoid setting up Toxic Spikes if there's a grounded Poison-type on the opposing team, as they can quickly be removed. The entry hazard to be set up first should be determined based on the structure of the opposing team and the current situation. For example, if there is a Mega Aerodactyl on the opposing team that can be revenge killed after taking a round of Stealth Rock damage, then it's best to prioritize setting up Stealth Rock over Toxic Spikes. Playing aggressively by predicting the opponent's switches is important with Nidoqueen because it can keep offensive momentum for your team. Be careful not to let Nidoqueen get worn down too quickly due to its lack of reliable recovery; this can be mitigated by limiting the number of times it switches into the battle.
Team Options
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Substitute + Calm Mind Suicune is the first Pokemon that comes to mind when thinking about teammates for Nidoqueen because it loves Toxic Spikes support, particularly its ability to cripple opposing Pokemon and form a deadly combination with Substitute + Protect. Nidoqueen has excellent defensive synergy with bulky Water-types like Alomomola and the aforementioned Suicune due to their ability to take on Krookodile and other offensive Pokemon that threaten Nidoqueen. In exchange, Nidoqueen can check Electric-types that trouble these Pokemon to form a solid core in terms of defensive synergy. Latias is a good teammate for Nidoqueen due to its ability to switch into Water-, Psychic-, and Ground-types for Nidoqueen, while Nidoqueen deals with the bulky Steel-types that trouble Latias. Hydreigon works well with Nidoqueen's hazard stacking presence due to the myriad of switches that it forces as well as its immunity to Psychic- and Ground-type attacks that threaten Nidoqueen. Choice Scarf Hydreigon can check faster threats like Mega Aerodactyl that threaten to weaken Nidoqueen for teammates like Cobalion. Wish support from Pokemon like Sylveon and Alomomola helps make up for Nidoqueen's lack of reliable recovery. Finally, Nidoqueen appreciates entry hazard removal support from teammates like Latias and Empoleon due to its tendency to get worn down by multiple layers of Spikes.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Flamethrower can be used to nail Scizor for significant damage, allowing Nidoqueen to beat most variants. Similarly, Thunderbolt can be used to nail bulky Water-types like Alomomola and Mega Slowbro, but it's usually very weak, as it's an uninvested attack and ends up sacrificing more widely useful coverage. Roar can be used to phaze setup sweepers and rack up hazard damage, but forces Nidoqueen to give up a valuable entry hazard or coverage move. Finally, a more offensive set with Life Orb can be used, but it's mainly outclassed by Nidoking due to being slower and its bulk being underwhelming without investment.
Checks and Counters
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**Blissey**: Blissey fully walls Nidoqueen due to its incredible bulk and can remove poison from teammates with Heal Bell after Nidoqueen's Toxic Spikes have been removed, making it an incredible nuisance to Nidoqueen.
**Water-types**: Water-types tend to be fairly bulky, so Water-types like Suicune can switch into Nidoqueen and threaten it out with their STAB moves.
**Ground-types**: Ground-types like Swampert and Krookodile can threaten out Nidoqueen with STAB Earthquake, but they still have to be wary of switching into Sheer Force-boosted Earth Power, as it does a fair amount of damage.
**Naturally Bulky Pokemon**: Naturally bulky Pokemon like Latias, Kyurem, and Mamoswine can switch into Nidoqueen with ease and threaten it out by beating it 1v1 with reliable recovery or hitting it super effectively. However, Sylveon and Latias need to be wary of switching into Sludge Wave.
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