:bw/nidoqueen:
[OVERVIEW]
Nidoqueen is an exceptional wallbreaker and capable entry hazard setter because Life Orb and Sheer Force let it 2HKO the entire UU metagame bar Chansey and Slowking. Its solid defensive typing also lets it check Pokemon such as Nihilego and compress a Ground-type immunity for a team to discourage common Electric-types such as Zeraora and Rotom-H from using Volt Switch. Unfortunately, Nidoqueen's overreliance on its Life Orb leaves it susceptible to Knock Off, which Zeraora can take advantage of when Nidoqueen attempts to pivot into it. A low Speed stat gives Nidoqueen an undesirable matchup versus faster-paced teams, and although Nidoqueen sports a quality defensive typing, it is still very weak to common Pokemon in the tier such as Mamoswine and Alakazam. These struggles sting a bit more because Nidoqueen has no form of reliable recovery, meaning it is worn down pretty quickly throughout a match.
[SET]
name: Offensive Entry Hazard Setter
move 1: Stealth Rock / Toxic Spikes
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Sludge Wave
move 4: Fire Blast
item: Life Orb
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Nidoqueen is a reliable setter of entry hazards because of its above average bulk, ability to force switches, and good matchup versus hazard removers such as Salamence, Skarmory, and Rotom-H. Stealth Rock is the better hazard choice for this set, as it provides excellent utility to just about any team, although Toxic Spikes is an option if the team has another Stealth Rock user. Earth Power and Sludge Wave are mandatory, powerful STAB moves that OHKO bulkier Pokemon such as Hatterene, Tangrowth, and Incineroar. Fire Blast is an excellent coverage move and the best pick for the last slot, as it easily OHKOes Scizor, almost OHKOes Amoonguss, and cleanly 2HKOes Celesteela. Modest is the preferred nature because it grants Nidoqueen exceptional power and still lets it outspeed most of its primary targets, although a Timid nature can be used to outspeed Jolly Tapu Bulu, Timid Volcanion, and Timid Toxtricity. However, a Timid nature will make Nidoqueen noticeably weaker, missing out on benchmarks such as the guaranteed 2HKO on defensive Kommo-o.
Tapu Bulu pairs very well with Nidoqueen, as it appreciates Nidoqueen taking care of Amoonguss and Tangrowth and in return can check Water-types like Azumarill, Slowking, and Keldeo. Its Grassy Terrain also provides a bit of recovery to Nidoqueen. Wallbreakers such as Azumarill, Terrakion, Lycanroc-D, and Bisharp make good teammates because they also appreciate Nidoqueen's good matchup versus Amoonguss, Skarmory, and Tangrowth. Azumarill and Bisharp benefit Nidoqueen because of their good matchups versus Pokemon that check it, such as Slowking and Chansey. Azumarill and Bisharp can also use Knock Off to remove Slowking's Heavy-Duty Boots or Chansey's Eviolite to make it easier for Nidoqueen or other teammates to pressure these Pokemon. Ironically, Slowking is a decent teammate for Nidoqueen because it checks many Pokemon that threaten Nidoqueen, such as Keldeo. Slowking also can use Teleport to bring Nidoqueen in safely, as can Volt Switch pivots like Zeraora, which can pressure Keldeo and Alakazam and appreciates Nidoqueen's good matchup versus Amoonguss and Tangrowth once again; Zeraora can also lure in these Pokemon using Volt Switch. Rotom-H and Rotom-W are both Volt Switch users that can also check Mamoswine, and the latter has the added benefit of checking Krookodile. Nidoqueen pairs well with almost any Kommo-o set, as Nidoqueen can break through Primarina and Hatterene to help it succeed. Defensive Kommo-o sets using Stealth Rock also can let Nidoqueen run Toxic Spikes.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Nidoqueen can run a bulkier set holding Black Sludge, as it can somewhat take advantage of its bulk and defensive typing to better check Zeraora, Scizor, and non-Earthquake Terrakion and do a better job setting up entry hazards, but this set struggles because it is somewhat weak. Taunt does a decent job of giving utility Pokemon a hard time, but unfortunately it is still pretty ineffective against Nidoqueen's best checks, Slowking and Chansey. Substitute can be a viable option to ease prediction on a forced switch. Protect also helps prediction by letting Nidoqueen scout Choice-locked Pokemon it is weak to such as Krookodile, Victini, and Jirachi. Lastly, Thunderbolt can be used over Fire Blast to hit Slowking better as well as a Gyarados using Dragon Dance, but it misses out on OHKOing Scizor, doesn't hit Amoonguss super effectively, and is notably weaker versus Celesteela.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types such as Alakazam, and Slowking all check Nidoqueen. For instance, the former outspeeds and can easily OHKO it with its Psychic STAB move, while Slowking can take multiple hits and weaken Nidoqueen with Scald or shift the momentum with Future Sight.
**Chansey**: Chansey is the single best answer to Nidoqueen, as it can consistently switch into its attacks without worry, recover any damage away, and chip Nidoqueen with Seismic Toss.
**Water-types**: The majority of Water-types in UU can outspeed and OHKO Nidoqueen with ease. For example, Keldeo can outspeed Nidoqueen and OHKO it with Scald, while Choice Band Crawdaunt OHKOes it with Aqua Jet. Even Tentacruel can force out Nidoqueen if Nidoqueen is worn down enough.
**Faster Revenge Killers**: Faster, powerful Pokemon such as Lycanroc-D and Krookodile can outspeed and OHKO Nidoqueen, especially if it is worn down enough. UU is full of Pokemon that can do so, like Mamoswine and Kyurem.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[bb skarm, 235692]]
- Quality checked by: [[Juno, 444224], [Estarossa, 461329], [Twilight, 344575]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
[OVERVIEW]
Nidoqueen is an exceptional wallbreaker and capable entry hazard setter because Life Orb and Sheer Force let it 2HKO the entire UU metagame bar Chansey and Slowking. Its solid defensive typing also lets it check Pokemon such as Nihilego and compress a Ground-type immunity for a team to discourage common Electric-types such as Zeraora and Rotom-H from using Volt Switch. Unfortunately, Nidoqueen's overreliance on its Life Orb leaves it susceptible to Knock Off, which Zeraora can take advantage of when Nidoqueen attempts to pivot into it. A low Speed stat gives Nidoqueen an undesirable matchup versus faster-paced teams, and although Nidoqueen sports a quality defensive typing, it is still very weak to common Pokemon in the tier such as Mamoswine and Alakazam. These struggles sting a bit more because Nidoqueen has no form of reliable recovery, meaning it is worn down pretty quickly throughout a match.
[SET]
name: Offensive Entry Hazard Setter
move 1: Stealth Rock / Toxic Spikes
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Sludge Wave
move 4: Fire Blast
item: Life Orb
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Nidoqueen is a reliable setter of entry hazards because of its above average bulk, ability to force switches, and good matchup versus hazard removers such as Salamence, Skarmory, and Rotom-H. Stealth Rock is the better hazard choice for this set, as it provides excellent utility to just about any team, although Toxic Spikes is an option if the team has another Stealth Rock user. Earth Power and Sludge Wave are mandatory, powerful STAB moves that OHKO bulkier Pokemon such as Hatterene, Tangrowth, and Incineroar. Fire Blast is an excellent coverage move and the best pick for the last slot, as it easily OHKOes Scizor, almost OHKOes Amoonguss, and cleanly 2HKOes Celesteela. Modest is the preferred nature because it grants Nidoqueen exceptional power and still lets it outspeed most of its primary targets, although a Timid nature can be used to outspeed Jolly Tapu Bulu, Timid Volcanion, and Timid Toxtricity. However, a Timid nature will make Nidoqueen noticeably weaker, missing out on benchmarks such as the guaranteed 2HKO on defensive Kommo-o.
Tapu Bulu pairs very well with Nidoqueen, as it appreciates Nidoqueen taking care of Amoonguss and Tangrowth and in return can check Water-types like Azumarill, Slowking, and Keldeo. Its Grassy Terrain also provides a bit of recovery to Nidoqueen. Wallbreakers such as Azumarill, Terrakion, Lycanroc-D, and Bisharp make good teammates because they also appreciate Nidoqueen's good matchup versus Amoonguss, Skarmory, and Tangrowth. Azumarill and Bisharp benefit Nidoqueen because of their good matchups versus Pokemon that check it, such as Slowking and Chansey. Azumarill and Bisharp can also use Knock Off to remove Slowking's Heavy-Duty Boots or Chansey's Eviolite to make it easier for Nidoqueen or other teammates to pressure these Pokemon. Ironically, Slowking is a decent teammate for Nidoqueen because it checks many Pokemon that threaten Nidoqueen, such as Keldeo. Slowking also can use Teleport to bring Nidoqueen in safely, as can Volt Switch pivots like Zeraora, which can pressure Keldeo and Alakazam and appreciates Nidoqueen's good matchup versus Amoonguss and Tangrowth once again; Zeraora can also lure in these Pokemon using Volt Switch. Rotom-H and Rotom-W are both Volt Switch users that can also check Mamoswine, and the latter has the added benefit of checking Krookodile. Nidoqueen pairs well with almost any Kommo-o set, as Nidoqueen can break through Primarina and Hatterene to help it succeed. Defensive Kommo-o sets using Stealth Rock also can let Nidoqueen run Toxic Spikes.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Nidoqueen can run a bulkier set holding Black Sludge, as it can somewhat take advantage of its bulk and defensive typing to better check Zeraora, Scizor, and non-Earthquake Terrakion and do a better job setting up entry hazards, but this set struggles because it is somewhat weak. Taunt does a decent job of giving utility Pokemon a hard time, but unfortunately it is still pretty ineffective against Nidoqueen's best checks, Slowking and Chansey. Substitute can be a viable option to ease prediction on a forced switch. Protect also helps prediction by letting Nidoqueen scout Choice-locked Pokemon it is weak to such as Krookodile, Victini, and Jirachi. Lastly, Thunderbolt can be used over Fire Blast to hit Slowking better as well as a Gyarados using Dragon Dance, but it misses out on OHKOing Scizor, doesn't hit Amoonguss super effectively, and is notably weaker versus Celesteela.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types such as Alakazam, and Slowking all check Nidoqueen. For instance, the former outspeeds and can easily OHKO it with its Psychic STAB move, while Slowking can take multiple hits and weaken Nidoqueen with Scald or shift the momentum with Future Sight.
**Chansey**: Chansey is the single best answer to Nidoqueen, as it can consistently switch into its attacks without worry, recover any damage away, and chip Nidoqueen with Seismic Toss.
**Water-types**: The majority of Water-types in UU can outspeed and OHKO Nidoqueen with ease. For example, Keldeo can outspeed Nidoqueen and OHKO it with Scald, while Choice Band Crawdaunt OHKOes it with Aqua Jet. Even Tentacruel can force out Nidoqueen if Nidoqueen is worn down enough.
**Faster Revenge Killers**: Faster, powerful Pokemon such as Lycanroc-D and Krookodile can outspeed and OHKO Nidoqueen, especially if it is worn down enough. UU is full of Pokemon that can do so, like Mamoswine and Kyurem.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[bb skarm, 235692]]
- Quality checked by: [[Juno, 444224], [Estarossa, 461329], [Twilight, 344575]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
Last edited:
