[OVERVIEW]
Nidoqueen is both a premier offensive Stealth Rock setter and a devastating Sheer Force wallbreaker with few safe switch-ins. It can forgo Stealth Rock altogether to run a dedicated wallbreaker set, which can even get past some usual answers like Umbreon, Assault Vest Reuniclus, and Bronzong with the right moves. Nidoqueen's typing lends it crucial resistances like Fighting and an immunity to Electric, which lets it check prominent Pokemon such as Cobalion and Raikou. Most importantly, however, is having that Electric immunity without a Grass weakness, which lets it check Xurkitree and block its Volt Switch, a trait only shared by Steelix. However, Nidoqueen's lack of reliable recovery severely cuts into how long it can check a foe. At best, it might check a Pokemon like Xurkitree twice, but Nidoqueen can take full advantage of these opportunities to punish the opponent with an onslaught of Sheer Force + Life Orb boosted attacks. Nidoqueen's slightly below average Speed is just enough to get the jump on common Pokemon such as Volcanion and Metagross, but it barely misses out on a lot of other prevalent threats like Togekiss, Gardevoir, and Xurkitree. This often leads to worse matchups against fast-paced teams, as Nidoqueen will have fewer opportunities to set Stealth Rock or get an attack off against faster foes.
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Sludge Wave
move 4: Ice Beam
item: Life Orb
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Timid
evs: 232 SpA / 24 SpD / 252 Spe
ivs: 0 Atk
[SET COMMENTS]
Nidoqueen forces a lot of switches, which it can use to safely set Stealth Rock, and it can keep Stealth Rock up because it threatens most common entry hazard removers such as Crobat, Flygon, and Rotom-C. Ice Beam OHKOes Flygon and 2HKOes Crobat, both of which Nidoqueen can't touch without it. Sheer Force, alongside Life Orb, lets Nidoqueen OHKO or 2HKO most of the tier except the bulkiest of special walls. Still, Shuca Berry is a valid option to check Flygon and other Ground-types Nidoqueen lures in. 16 Defense EVs can be run with Shuca Berry so Nidoqueen isn't OHKOed by Outrage from Choice Band Flygon. A Timid nature ensures Nidoqueen outspeeds Pokemon such as Volcanion and 24 Special Defense EVs avoid the 2HKO from Xurkitree's Energy Ball.
Cobalion, Obstagoon, Togekiss, and Pangoro can all take advantage of Nidoqueen's switch-ins such as Assault Vest Reuniclus and Umbreon. Pivots such as Crobat and Noivern can provide free switches with U-turn against Steel- and Rock-types such as Registeel, Metagross, and Diancie. Crobat and Noivern also help check Fighting-types, which Nidoqueen can't reliably do on its own, as can Reuniclus and Galarian Weezing. Dark-types such as Umbreon, Incineroar, and Guzzlord can check Psychic-types such as Assault Vest Reuniclus and Celebi, while Steel-types such as Metagross and Escavalier can take on Calm Mind Reuniclus and Gardevoir. Umbreon deserves special mention, as it also keeps Nidoqueen healthy throughout the match with Wish. Electric- and Grass-types such as Xurkitree, Celebi, and Rotom-C take care of bulky Water-types, and Grass-types are also crucial for Electric-types like Xurkitree, Raikou, and Rotom-C, which can otherwise overwhelm Nidoqueen with either repeated strong attacks or super effective coverage. Water-types such as Milotic, Golisopod, and Vaporeon help with common Ground-types like Flygon. Golisopod also provides Spikes to help Nidoqueen out-damage Assault Vest Reuniclus's Regenerator healing and wear down other switch-ins like Umbreon, while, similarly to Umbreon, Vaporeon can heal it with Wish.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Earth Power
move 2: Sludge Wave
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Toxic / Taunt / Fire Blast
item: Life Orb
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Timid
evs: 232 SpA / 24 SpD / 252 Spe
ivs: 0 Atk
[SET COMMENTS]
Ice Beam OHKOes Flygon and 2HKOes Crobat, which wall Nidoqueen's STAB combination. Toxic cripples switch-ins such as Assault Vest Reuniclus, Milotic, and Jellicent. On the other hand, Taunt prevents one of its most common counters, Umbreon, from healing up with Wish and ultimately lets Nidoqueen beat it. Fire Blast 2HKOes Bronzong, which otherwise completely stonewalls Nidoqueen, but it's less prevalent than Nidoqueen's other counters. Thunderbolt is an option to 2HKO bulky Water-types such as Milotic, Jellicent, and Vaporeon after Stealth Rock. The 24 Special Defense EVs ensure Energy Ball from Xurkitree doesn't 2HKO Nidoqueen, and a Timid nature is used to outrun Pokemon such as Volcanion.
Wallbreakers such as Obstagoon, Pangoro, and Grimmsnarl can take advantage of Nidoqueen's usual answers, primarily Reuniclus and Umbreon. Special wallbreakers such as Volcanion, Xurkitree, and Celebi especially appreciate Taunt Nidoqueen because it prevents special walls like Umbreon from healing. Pivots such as Crobat, Noivern, and Tornadus can provide free switches with U-turn against Steel- and Rock-types such as Registeel, Metagross, and Diancie. The former two also help Nidoqueen check Fighting-types, which it can't do on its own, while the latter can help break through Umbreon with Superpower. Steel-types such as Registeel, Metagross, Stakataka, and Bronzong halt any Psychic-types like Gardevoir and Celebi trying to take advantage of Nidoqueen. Water-types such as Milotic, Golisopod, and Vaporeon can soak up hits from Ground-types such as Flygon. Golisopod also provides Spikes, which lets Nidoqueen push past Assault Vest Reuniclus without needing Toxic and more quickly whittle down Umbreon if Nidoqueen is running Toxic. Meanwhile, Vaporeon is noteworthy for its Wish support, which keeps Nidoqueen healthy throughout the match. Grass-types such as Celebi, Dhelmise, and Roserade can deal with Water-types like Milotic and Vaporeon, and they help Nidoqueen check Electric-types such as Xurkitree, Raikou, and Rotom-C, which can otherwise overwhelm it with either repeated strong hits or super effective coverage.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A specially defensive set with Black Sludge is viable on balance and stall teams as a solid switch-in to Xurkitree, but it competes with Steelix and is harder to fit elsewhere, as more offensive teams heavily value Nidoqueen's wallbreaking ability. With Choice Scarf, Nidoqueen can outspeed and surprise KO revenge killers such as Flygon, Obstagoon, and Celebi, but outside of the surprise factor, it's generally outclassed by other Choice Scarf users due to its lower Speed tier. Nidoqueen can set Toxic Spikes, but the abundance of Poison-types such as opposing Nidoqueen and Roserade, Heavy-Duty Boots users, and ungrounded Pokemon, such as Crobat and Flygon, leaves few relevant targets for the move. Focus Blast with a Modest nature 2HKOes Umbreon and Porygon2 after Stealth Rock, but Nidoqueen already has more reliable methods to deal with both in Taunt and Toxic.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Specially defensive Pokemon such as Assault Vest Reuniclus, Umbreon, and the rarer Porygon2 can comfortably switch into any of Nidoqueen's attacks; Reuniclus, in particular, does this well, as it out-heals any damage it takes with Regenerator. However, all of them need to watch out for Toxic, and Umbreon also fears Taunt. Snorlax can switch in with ease and use Nidoqueen as setup fodder.
**Bulky Water-types**: Certain bulky Water-types such as Milotic, Jellicent, and Vaporeon sport high enough special bulk to comfortably switch into Nidoqueen. However, the former two will lose in the long run to sets with Toxic, and all of them fear the rare Thunderbolt.
**Faster Threats**: Common faster threats such as Flygon, Starmie, and Gardevoir can outspeed and KO Nidoqueen but can't safely switch in. Gardevoir can even copy Sheer Force with Trace to boost its moves and make it harder for Nidoqueen's teammates to deal with it.
**Bronzong**: Thanks to Levitate, Bronzong hard counters any Nidoqueen set without Fire Blast.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[GoldCat, 359771]]
- Quality checked by: [[Lunala, 409096], [MrAldo, 227521]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [dex, 277988]]
Nidoqueen is both a premier offensive Stealth Rock setter and a devastating Sheer Force wallbreaker with few safe switch-ins. It can forgo Stealth Rock altogether to run a dedicated wallbreaker set, which can even get past some usual answers like Umbreon, Assault Vest Reuniclus, and Bronzong with the right moves. Nidoqueen's typing lends it crucial resistances like Fighting and an immunity to Electric, which lets it check prominent Pokemon such as Cobalion and Raikou. Most importantly, however, is having that Electric immunity without a Grass weakness, which lets it check Xurkitree and block its Volt Switch, a trait only shared by Steelix. However, Nidoqueen's lack of reliable recovery severely cuts into how long it can check a foe. At best, it might check a Pokemon like Xurkitree twice, but Nidoqueen can take full advantage of these opportunities to punish the opponent with an onslaught of Sheer Force + Life Orb boosted attacks. Nidoqueen's slightly below average Speed is just enough to get the jump on common Pokemon such as Volcanion and Metagross, but it barely misses out on a lot of other prevalent threats like Togekiss, Gardevoir, and Xurkitree. This often leads to worse matchups against fast-paced teams, as Nidoqueen will have fewer opportunities to set Stealth Rock or get an attack off against faster foes.
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Sludge Wave
move 4: Ice Beam
item: Life Orb
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Timid
evs: 232 SpA / 24 SpD / 252 Spe
ivs: 0 Atk
[SET COMMENTS]
Nidoqueen forces a lot of switches, which it can use to safely set Stealth Rock, and it can keep Stealth Rock up because it threatens most common entry hazard removers such as Crobat, Flygon, and Rotom-C. Ice Beam OHKOes Flygon and 2HKOes Crobat, both of which Nidoqueen can't touch without it. Sheer Force, alongside Life Orb, lets Nidoqueen OHKO or 2HKO most of the tier except the bulkiest of special walls. Still, Shuca Berry is a valid option to check Flygon and other Ground-types Nidoqueen lures in. 16 Defense EVs can be run with Shuca Berry so Nidoqueen isn't OHKOed by Outrage from Choice Band Flygon. A Timid nature ensures Nidoqueen outspeeds Pokemon such as Volcanion and 24 Special Defense EVs avoid the 2HKO from Xurkitree's Energy Ball.
Cobalion, Obstagoon, Togekiss, and Pangoro can all take advantage of Nidoqueen's switch-ins such as Assault Vest Reuniclus and Umbreon. Pivots such as Crobat and Noivern can provide free switches with U-turn against Steel- and Rock-types such as Registeel, Metagross, and Diancie. Crobat and Noivern also help check Fighting-types, which Nidoqueen can't reliably do on its own, as can Reuniclus and Galarian Weezing. Dark-types such as Umbreon, Incineroar, and Guzzlord can check Psychic-types such as Assault Vest Reuniclus and Celebi, while Steel-types such as Metagross and Escavalier can take on Calm Mind Reuniclus and Gardevoir. Umbreon deserves special mention, as it also keeps Nidoqueen healthy throughout the match with Wish. Electric- and Grass-types such as Xurkitree, Celebi, and Rotom-C take care of bulky Water-types, and Grass-types are also crucial for Electric-types like Xurkitree, Raikou, and Rotom-C, which can otherwise overwhelm Nidoqueen with either repeated strong attacks or super effective coverage. Water-types such as Milotic, Golisopod, and Vaporeon help with common Ground-types like Flygon. Golisopod also provides Spikes to help Nidoqueen out-damage Assault Vest Reuniclus's Regenerator healing and wear down other switch-ins like Umbreon, while, similarly to Umbreon, Vaporeon can heal it with Wish.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Earth Power
move 2: Sludge Wave
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Toxic / Taunt / Fire Blast
item: Life Orb
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Timid
evs: 232 SpA / 24 SpD / 252 Spe
ivs: 0 Atk
[SET COMMENTS]
Ice Beam OHKOes Flygon and 2HKOes Crobat, which wall Nidoqueen's STAB combination. Toxic cripples switch-ins such as Assault Vest Reuniclus, Milotic, and Jellicent. On the other hand, Taunt prevents one of its most common counters, Umbreon, from healing up with Wish and ultimately lets Nidoqueen beat it. Fire Blast 2HKOes Bronzong, which otherwise completely stonewalls Nidoqueen, but it's less prevalent than Nidoqueen's other counters. Thunderbolt is an option to 2HKO bulky Water-types such as Milotic, Jellicent, and Vaporeon after Stealth Rock. The 24 Special Defense EVs ensure Energy Ball from Xurkitree doesn't 2HKO Nidoqueen, and a Timid nature is used to outrun Pokemon such as Volcanion.
Wallbreakers such as Obstagoon, Pangoro, and Grimmsnarl can take advantage of Nidoqueen's usual answers, primarily Reuniclus and Umbreon. Special wallbreakers such as Volcanion, Xurkitree, and Celebi especially appreciate Taunt Nidoqueen because it prevents special walls like Umbreon from healing. Pivots such as Crobat, Noivern, and Tornadus can provide free switches with U-turn against Steel- and Rock-types such as Registeel, Metagross, and Diancie. The former two also help Nidoqueen check Fighting-types, which it can't do on its own, while the latter can help break through Umbreon with Superpower. Steel-types such as Registeel, Metagross, Stakataka, and Bronzong halt any Psychic-types like Gardevoir and Celebi trying to take advantage of Nidoqueen. Water-types such as Milotic, Golisopod, and Vaporeon can soak up hits from Ground-types such as Flygon. Golisopod also provides Spikes, which lets Nidoqueen push past Assault Vest Reuniclus without needing Toxic and more quickly whittle down Umbreon if Nidoqueen is running Toxic. Meanwhile, Vaporeon is noteworthy for its Wish support, which keeps Nidoqueen healthy throughout the match. Grass-types such as Celebi, Dhelmise, and Roserade can deal with Water-types like Milotic and Vaporeon, and they help Nidoqueen check Electric-types such as Xurkitree, Raikou, and Rotom-C, which can otherwise overwhelm it with either repeated strong hits or super effective coverage.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A specially defensive set with Black Sludge is viable on balance and stall teams as a solid switch-in to Xurkitree, but it competes with Steelix and is harder to fit elsewhere, as more offensive teams heavily value Nidoqueen's wallbreaking ability. With Choice Scarf, Nidoqueen can outspeed and surprise KO revenge killers such as Flygon, Obstagoon, and Celebi, but outside of the surprise factor, it's generally outclassed by other Choice Scarf users due to its lower Speed tier. Nidoqueen can set Toxic Spikes, but the abundance of Poison-types such as opposing Nidoqueen and Roserade, Heavy-Duty Boots users, and ungrounded Pokemon, such as Crobat and Flygon, leaves few relevant targets for the move. Focus Blast with a Modest nature 2HKOes Umbreon and Porygon2 after Stealth Rock, but Nidoqueen already has more reliable methods to deal with both in Taunt and Toxic.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Specially defensive Pokemon such as Assault Vest Reuniclus, Umbreon, and the rarer Porygon2 can comfortably switch into any of Nidoqueen's attacks; Reuniclus, in particular, does this well, as it out-heals any damage it takes with Regenerator. However, all of them need to watch out for Toxic, and Umbreon also fears Taunt. Snorlax can switch in with ease and use Nidoqueen as setup fodder.
**Bulky Water-types**: Certain bulky Water-types such as Milotic, Jellicent, and Vaporeon sport high enough special bulk to comfortably switch into Nidoqueen. However, the former two will lose in the long run to sets with Toxic, and all of them fear the rare Thunderbolt.
**Faster Threats**: Common faster threats such as Flygon, Starmie, and Gardevoir can outspeed and KO Nidoqueen but can't safely switch in. Gardevoir can even copy Sheer Force with Trace to boost its moves and make it harder for Nidoqueen's teammates to deal with it.
**Bronzong**: Thanks to Levitate, Bronzong hard counters any Nidoqueen set without Fire Blast.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[GoldCat, 359771]]
- Quality checked by: [[Lunala, 409096], [MrAldo, 227521]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [dex, 277988]]
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