[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Sludge Bomb
move 2: Power Gem
move 3: Toxic Spikes / Stealth Rock
move 4: Knock Off
item: Black Sludge
ability: Regenerator
nature: Calm
evs: 244 HP / 252 Def / 12 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Nihilego is a formidable utility Pokemon thanks to its incredible special bulk along with access to Toxic Spikes and Stealth Rock. Thanks to its typing, it is able to check a unique array of threats, from Fairy-types like Tapu Koko to Fire-types like Talonflame and Chandelure. Furthermore, Nihilego can also pressure common Defoggers like Tapu Fini and Mandibuzz, making it a great Toxic Spikes setter. Stealth Rock is a good alternative, but it competes with other Pokemon like Garchomp as a setter. Sludge Bomb is a spammable STAB move that allows Nihilego to spread additional poison and hits Tapu Fini. Power Gem hits Flying-types like Mandibuzz and Corviknight, and Talonflame, as well as Cinderace. Knock Off pairs well with Toxic Spikes, threatening Pokemon that get around Toxic Spikes like Heavy-Duty Boots users, Magic Guard users, and Steel-types like Assault Vest Jirachi. Regenerator provides Nihilego with much-needed longevity, allowing it to repeatedly switch into foes and set entry hazards. The given EV spread and a Calm nature ensure that Chandelure never 2HKOes Nihilego with Shadow Ball, while the remaining EVs improve Nihilego's abysmal physical bulk, enabling it to check the likes of Pixilate Tapu Koko and Talonflame.
Nihilego fits best on balance teams with wallbreakers that appreciate it setting entry hazards reliably and checking some of the most dangerous wallbreakers in the metagame. Poisoning Pokemon, especially Ground-types such as Swampert, Garchomp and Hippowdon, allows wallbreakers like Desolate Land Heatran, Inteleon, and Garchomp to overwhelm them. These Pokemon also provide immediate pressure, which Nihilego often struggles at delivering. It pairs equally well with defensive pivots like Corviknight and Blissey, as it can switch into powerful wallbreakers like Chandelure and Tapu Koko that they struggle with; in return, these Pokemon can check Ground- and Water-types such as Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Inteleon, which Nihilego struggles with. As Nihilego crumbles to any physical attack it does not resist, sturdy physical walls like Dauntless Shield Mew and Skarmory are necessary teammates. Both Pokemon can also set Spikes, forming a dangerous entry hazard-stacking core with Nihilego. An additional answer to Cinderace in particular is helpful, like Toxapex and Primordial Sea Zapdos, as it is able to 2HKO Nihilego and the aforementioned wall. Lastly, Nihilego and its offensive teammates appreciate pivots like Tapu Koko and Mew, as they can keep up momentum with Toxic Spikes on the field, maximizing chip damage and preventing the opponent from removing it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Nihilego can run a Meteor Beam four attacks set that turns it into a devastating sweeper, especially when paired with abilities like Tinted Lens. However, without Unburden, Nihilego's Speed tier is mediocre as a sweeper, leaving it revenge killed by common Pokemon like Terrakion, Latios, and Choice Scarf Landorus-T, not to mention that its extreme weakness to priority moves from Pokemon such as Zarude and Barraskewda.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Common Ground-types like Garchomp and Landorus-T wall Nihilego with ease and threaten to OHKO with Earthquake while being able to set Stealth Rock. However, Nihilego can still poison them or remove their item on the switch.
**Physical Attackers**: Even with maximum Defense investment, Nihilego cannot take physical attacks unless they are resisted, so Pokemon like Ferrothorn and Kommo-o still pose a threat, while wallbreakers like Galarian Zapdos and Zarude can outright OHKO Nihilego. Additionally, even if resisted, Cinderace is able to 2HKO Nihilego with any of its sets.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types like Corviknight and Excadrill can stop Nihilego from making progress, as they are not threatened by its attacks at all, and they can remove Toxic Spikes using Defog and Rapid Spin, respectively.
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types such as Tapu Lele and Azelf are some of the few special attackers that blow through Nihilego with moves like Psyshock and Expanding Force, respectively.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[avyrie, 476520]]
- Quality checked by: [[UT, 523866], [Isaiah, 375662]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Adeleine, 517429]]
name: Utility
move 1: Sludge Bomb
move 2: Power Gem
move 3: Toxic Spikes / Stealth Rock
move 4: Knock Off
item: Black Sludge
ability: Regenerator
nature: Calm
evs: 244 HP / 252 Def / 12 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Nihilego is a formidable utility Pokemon thanks to its incredible special bulk along with access to Toxic Spikes and Stealth Rock. Thanks to its typing, it is able to check a unique array of threats, from Fairy-types like Tapu Koko to Fire-types like Talonflame and Chandelure. Furthermore, Nihilego can also pressure common Defoggers like Tapu Fini and Mandibuzz, making it a great Toxic Spikes setter. Stealth Rock is a good alternative, but it competes with other Pokemon like Garchomp as a setter. Sludge Bomb is a spammable STAB move that allows Nihilego to spread additional poison and hits Tapu Fini. Power Gem hits Flying-types like Mandibuzz and Corviknight, and Talonflame, as well as Cinderace. Knock Off pairs well with Toxic Spikes, threatening Pokemon that get around Toxic Spikes like Heavy-Duty Boots users, Magic Guard users, and Steel-types like Assault Vest Jirachi. Regenerator provides Nihilego with much-needed longevity, allowing it to repeatedly switch into foes and set entry hazards. The given EV spread and a Calm nature ensure that Chandelure never 2HKOes Nihilego with Shadow Ball, while the remaining EVs improve Nihilego's abysmal physical bulk, enabling it to check the likes of Pixilate Tapu Koko and Talonflame.
Nihilego fits best on balance teams with wallbreakers that appreciate it setting entry hazards reliably and checking some of the most dangerous wallbreakers in the metagame. Poisoning Pokemon, especially Ground-types such as Swampert, Garchomp and Hippowdon, allows wallbreakers like Desolate Land Heatran, Inteleon, and Garchomp to overwhelm them. These Pokemon also provide immediate pressure, which Nihilego often struggles at delivering. It pairs equally well with defensive pivots like Corviknight and Blissey, as it can switch into powerful wallbreakers like Chandelure and Tapu Koko that they struggle with; in return, these Pokemon can check Ground- and Water-types such as Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Inteleon, which Nihilego struggles with. As Nihilego crumbles to any physical attack it does not resist, sturdy physical walls like Dauntless Shield Mew and Skarmory are necessary teammates. Both Pokemon can also set Spikes, forming a dangerous entry hazard-stacking core with Nihilego. An additional answer to Cinderace in particular is helpful, like Toxapex and Primordial Sea Zapdos, as it is able to 2HKO Nihilego and the aforementioned wall. Lastly, Nihilego and its offensive teammates appreciate pivots like Tapu Koko and Mew, as they can keep up momentum with Toxic Spikes on the field, maximizing chip damage and preventing the opponent from removing it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Nihilego can run a Meteor Beam four attacks set that turns it into a devastating sweeper, especially when paired with abilities like Tinted Lens. However, without Unburden, Nihilego's Speed tier is mediocre as a sweeper, leaving it revenge killed by common Pokemon like Terrakion, Latios, and Choice Scarf Landorus-T, not to mention that its extreme weakness to priority moves from Pokemon such as Zarude and Barraskewda.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Common Ground-types like Garchomp and Landorus-T wall Nihilego with ease and threaten to OHKO with Earthquake while being able to set Stealth Rock. However, Nihilego can still poison them or remove their item on the switch.
**Physical Attackers**: Even with maximum Defense investment, Nihilego cannot take physical attacks unless they are resisted, so Pokemon like Ferrothorn and Kommo-o still pose a threat, while wallbreakers like Galarian Zapdos and Zarude can outright OHKO Nihilego. Additionally, even if resisted, Cinderace is able to 2HKO Nihilego with any of its sets.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types like Corviknight and Excadrill can stop Nihilego from making progress, as they are not threatened by its attacks at all, and they can remove Toxic Spikes using Defog and Rapid Spin, respectively.
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types such as Tapu Lele and Azelf are some of the few special attackers that blow through Nihilego with moves like Psyshock and Expanding Force, respectively.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[avyrie, 476520]]
- Quality checked by: [[UT, 523866], [Isaiah, 375662]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Adeleine, 517429]]
Last edited:
