[OVERVIEW]
Rock
========
With its powerful offenses, diverse coverage options, and unique defensive utility, Nihilego is one of Rock's strongest special attackers. Access to valuable coverage moves like Thunderbolt and Grass Knot allows Nihilego to put heavy pressure on the Water and Ground teams that Rock can struggle with. Thanks to these coverage moves and its good Speed tier, Nihilego can outrun and check key threats such as Garchomp and Landorus. Nihilego's Speed tier also lets it clean through weakened teams in conjunction with Beast Boost. Furthermore, its Poison typing offers valuable neutralities to Fighting- and Grass-type moves, which Rock is weak to, as well as a means of removing Toxic Spikes, and its high Special Defense lets it serve as a check for special attackers such as Alolan Raichu and Greninja, especially with sand support. However, Nihilego's middling Defense leaves it vulnerable to many physical attackers such as Mega Lopunny and many common priority users such as Azumarill and Scizor, and despite its good Speed, Nihilego is still outsped by key threats such as Terrakion and Keldeo that threaten Rock as a whole. While Nihilego has a deep movepool, it is not able to cover everything with four moveslots and will always have a gap in its coverage opponents can exploit.
[SET]
name: Special Wallbreaker (Rock)
move 1: Sludge Wave
move 2: Hidden Power Ice
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Grass Knot
item: Life Orb
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sludge Wave is Nihilego's Poison-type STAB move and strongest attack, useful for guaranteeing a 2HKO on Mega Venusaur. Hidden Power Ice is necessary coverage for hitting Ground-types such as Garchomp and Landorus. Thunderbolt helps Nihilego threaten Water-types such as Suicune and Toxapex, as well as Steel-types that resist its other moves. Grass Knot lets Nihilego break through heavy Ground-types such as Swampert, Hippowdon, and Seismitoad that would otherwise check it. Power Gem is an option over Grass Knot as a strong Rock-type STAB move, and it is particularly useful against Flying and Bug teams.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature lets Nihilego outrun threats such as Garchomp and Landorus. Maximum Special Attack investment with a Life Orb gives Nihilego the power it needs to make use of its diverse coverage and break walls such as Mega Venusaur. Beast Boost is Nihilego's only ability and can let it clean through weakened teams late-game with Special Attack boosts.
Usage Tips
========
Nihilego should primarily be used as a wallbreaker and revenge killer, sent in to manage troublesome defensive Pokemon such as Skarmory, Toxapex, and Hippowdon. Take advantage of Nihilego's high Special Defense to switch into weak special attacks and position it against walls it can break such as Mega Venusaur or and Zapdos. Nihilego's Poison typing can be used to tank Grass- and Fighting-type attacks, as well as to absorb Toxic and Toxic Spikes for the team. Nihilego can even stomach Scald from bulky Water-types like Toxapex and Suicune. Keep Nihilego's Special Attack boosts in mind as well, as a single boost can be enough to keep one of its usual checks, such as a healthy Hippowdon, from handling it. However, Nihilego can also be preserved as a check for special attackers such as Alolan Raichu and Greninja, especially when supported with sand.
Team Options
========
Shuckle offers valuable entry hazard support with Sticky Web, which lets Nihilego outspeed a much broader range of offensive threats such as Keldeo, Greninja, and Tapu Koko. Terrakion serves as an excellent revenge killer with Choice Scarf to complement Nihilego's wallbreaking, and it helps in the Steel and Normal matchups that Nihilego is largely useless in. Tyranitar works as a fantastic physical wallbreaker to punch through special walls that Nihilego cannot touch such as Chansey and Mew, and it can Pursuit trap the Psychic- and Ghost-types that threaten Nihilego. Mega Diancie is an excellent mixed attacker that puts pressure in the Dark, Dragon, and Fighting matchups where Nihilego can struggle. Alolan Golem and Rhyperior serve as effective checks to Mega Scizor, which otherwise sets up freely on Nihilego. Alolan Golem can also trap other pesky Steel-types that wall Nihilego such as Excadrill, Ferrothorn, and Celesteela. Cradily can help support Nihilego in the Water matchup with its immunity to Water-type moves and appreciates Nihilego's capacity to absorb Toxic Spikes.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf (Rock)
move 1: Sludge Wave
move 2: Hidden Power Ice
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Power Gem / Toxic Spikes
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sludge Wave is Nihilego's strongest attack and should be used liberally to revenge kill threats. Hidden Power Ice is excellent coverage for hitting Ground- and Dragon- types, and it is necessary to check threats such as Choice Scarf Landorus-T. Thunderbolt hits Water- and Steel-types resistant to Nihilego's other attacks such as Celesteela and Skarmory. Power Gem is a reliable Rock-type STAB move that hits targets resistant to Sludge Wave. Toxic Spikes can be used over Power Gem to help whittle down bulkier teams with chip damage, especially Normal and Water.
Set Details
========
Nihilego uses maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature and a Choice Scarf to outrun threats such as Choice Scarf Tapu Bulu and Choice Scarf Landorus-T. The remaining EVs are placed into Special Attack to make Nihilego as strong as possible. Beast Boost is Nihilego's only ability, boosting its Special Attack whenever it KOes a foe. Combined with Choice Scarf, this gives Nihilego the potential to clean late-game against types such as Water and Dragon.
Usage Tips
========
Nihilego should be used to check threats to Rock such as Garchomp and Choice Scarf Tapu Bulu, as well as other offensive Pokemon. Since Nihilego is easily walled by most defensive Pokemon when locked into an attack, be aggressive with double switches to bring teammates in against walls. You can also take advantage of forced switches as an opportunity to set Toxic Spikes. This should be prioritized against bulkier teams like Normal, where the extra chip damage is important for wearing down Chansey and Porygon2. You may also want to preserve Nihilego as a check to special attackers such as Tapu Koko and Choice Scarf Greninja with its tremendous special bulk. You should take care to keep Nihilego healthy in matchups where it is needed to absorb Toxic Spikes, such as against Water or Poison teams. Keep an eye on opportunities late-game to clean weakened teams using Beast Boost's Special Attack boosts.
Team Options
========
Shuckle offers valuable entry hazard support with Stealth Rock, which can whittle down Nihilego's checks so it can clean late-game, and Sticky Web, which lets Nihilego outrun faster revenge killers like Choice Scarf Keldeo and Choice Scarf Greninja. With Nihilego serving as Rock's revenge killer, Terrakion can serve as the team's wallbreaker or sweeper with a Choice Band or Swords Dance set. Tyranitar can break special walls such as Alolan Muk and Chansey that Nihilego cannot touch and Pursuit trap Nihilego's Psychic-type checks such as Latios. Mega Diancie serves as a dangerous mixed attacker that supports Nihilego in the Dark, Dragon, and Fighting matchups. Alolan Golem and Rhypherior can be used to check Mega Scizor and put pressure on Steel-type teams that Nihilego cannot threaten. Alolan Golem can also trap Steel-types such as Ferrothorn and Celesteela. Cradily can help cement the Water matchup with its immunity to Water-type moves and appreciates Nihilego's Toxic Spikes to whittle down opposing teams.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rock
--------
* There are no other viable Nihilego sets.
Checks and Counters
===================
Rock
--------
**Steel-types**: Steel-type Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Jirachi, and Excadrill resist Nihilego's STAB moves and are not threatened by its coverage options, so they can take advantage of this to KO Nihilego or set entry hazards.
**Physical Attackers**: Nihilego's middling physical bulk leaves it vulnerable against physical attackers that can either stomach one of its attacks, such as Diggersby, or outspeed it, such as Mega Lopunny.
**Priority Attackers**: Nihilego is weak to several common forms of priority and has mediocre physical bulk, so it is checked by threats such as Azumarill, Mega Scizor, and Bisharp.
**Pursuit Trappers**: Nihilego can be severely weakened or KOed by powerful pursuit trappers such as Scizor and Alolan Muk that it cannot directly threaten.
**Special Walls**: Special walls such as Chansey and Tyranitar can completely shut down Nihilego and use the opportunity to set entry hazards or spread status against the team.
Rock
========
With its powerful offenses, diverse coverage options, and unique defensive utility, Nihilego is one of Rock's strongest special attackers. Access to valuable coverage moves like Thunderbolt and Grass Knot allows Nihilego to put heavy pressure on the Water and Ground teams that Rock can struggle with. Thanks to these coverage moves and its good Speed tier, Nihilego can outrun and check key threats such as Garchomp and Landorus. Nihilego's Speed tier also lets it clean through weakened teams in conjunction with Beast Boost. Furthermore, its Poison typing offers valuable neutralities to Fighting- and Grass-type moves, which Rock is weak to, as well as a means of removing Toxic Spikes, and its high Special Defense lets it serve as a check for special attackers such as Alolan Raichu and Greninja, especially with sand support. However, Nihilego's middling Defense leaves it vulnerable to many physical attackers such as Mega Lopunny and many common priority users such as Azumarill and Scizor, and despite its good Speed, Nihilego is still outsped by key threats such as Terrakion and Keldeo that threaten Rock as a whole. While Nihilego has a deep movepool, it is not able to cover everything with four moveslots and will always have a gap in its coverage opponents can exploit.
[SET]
name: Special Wallbreaker (Rock)
move 1: Sludge Wave
move 2: Hidden Power Ice
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Grass Knot
item: Life Orb
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sludge Wave is Nihilego's Poison-type STAB move and strongest attack, useful for guaranteeing a 2HKO on Mega Venusaur. Hidden Power Ice is necessary coverage for hitting Ground-types such as Garchomp and Landorus. Thunderbolt helps Nihilego threaten Water-types such as Suicune and Toxapex, as well as Steel-types that resist its other moves. Grass Knot lets Nihilego break through heavy Ground-types such as Swampert, Hippowdon, and Seismitoad that would otherwise check it. Power Gem is an option over Grass Knot as a strong Rock-type STAB move, and it is particularly useful against Flying and Bug teams.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature lets Nihilego outrun threats such as Garchomp and Landorus. Maximum Special Attack investment with a Life Orb gives Nihilego the power it needs to make use of its diverse coverage and break walls such as Mega Venusaur. Beast Boost is Nihilego's only ability and can let it clean through weakened teams late-game with Special Attack boosts.
Usage Tips
========
Nihilego should primarily be used as a wallbreaker and revenge killer, sent in to manage troublesome defensive Pokemon such as Skarmory, Toxapex, and Hippowdon. Take advantage of Nihilego's high Special Defense to switch into weak special attacks and position it against walls it can break such as Mega Venusaur or and Zapdos. Nihilego's Poison typing can be used to tank Grass- and Fighting-type attacks, as well as to absorb Toxic and Toxic Spikes for the team. Nihilego can even stomach Scald from bulky Water-types like Toxapex and Suicune. Keep Nihilego's Special Attack boosts in mind as well, as a single boost can be enough to keep one of its usual checks, such as a healthy Hippowdon, from handling it. However, Nihilego can also be preserved as a check for special attackers such as Alolan Raichu and Greninja, especially when supported with sand.
Team Options
========
Shuckle offers valuable entry hazard support with Sticky Web, which lets Nihilego outspeed a much broader range of offensive threats such as Keldeo, Greninja, and Tapu Koko. Terrakion serves as an excellent revenge killer with Choice Scarf to complement Nihilego's wallbreaking, and it helps in the Steel and Normal matchups that Nihilego is largely useless in. Tyranitar works as a fantastic physical wallbreaker to punch through special walls that Nihilego cannot touch such as Chansey and Mew, and it can Pursuit trap the Psychic- and Ghost-types that threaten Nihilego. Mega Diancie is an excellent mixed attacker that puts pressure in the Dark, Dragon, and Fighting matchups where Nihilego can struggle. Alolan Golem and Rhyperior serve as effective checks to Mega Scizor, which otherwise sets up freely on Nihilego. Alolan Golem can also trap other pesky Steel-types that wall Nihilego such as Excadrill, Ferrothorn, and Celesteela. Cradily can help support Nihilego in the Water matchup with its immunity to Water-type moves and appreciates Nihilego's capacity to absorb Toxic Spikes.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf (Rock)
move 1: Sludge Wave
move 2: Hidden Power Ice
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Power Gem / Toxic Spikes
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sludge Wave is Nihilego's strongest attack and should be used liberally to revenge kill threats. Hidden Power Ice is excellent coverage for hitting Ground- and Dragon- types, and it is necessary to check threats such as Choice Scarf Landorus-T. Thunderbolt hits Water- and Steel-types resistant to Nihilego's other attacks such as Celesteela and Skarmory. Power Gem is a reliable Rock-type STAB move that hits targets resistant to Sludge Wave. Toxic Spikes can be used over Power Gem to help whittle down bulkier teams with chip damage, especially Normal and Water.
Set Details
========
Nihilego uses maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature and a Choice Scarf to outrun threats such as Choice Scarf Tapu Bulu and Choice Scarf Landorus-T. The remaining EVs are placed into Special Attack to make Nihilego as strong as possible. Beast Boost is Nihilego's only ability, boosting its Special Attack whenever it KOes a foe. Combined with Choice Scarf, this gives Nihilego the potential to clean late-game against types such as Water and Dragon.
Usage Tips
========
Nihilego should be used to check threats to Rock such as Garchomp and Choice Scarf Tapu Bulu, as well as other offensive Pokemon. Since Nihilego is easily walled by most defensive Pokemon when locked into an attack, be aggressive with double switches to bring teammates in against walls. You can also take advantage of forced switches as an opportunity to set Toxic Spikes. This should be prioritized against bulkier teams like Normal, where the extra chip damage is important for wearing down Chansey and Porygon2. You may also want to preserve Nihilego as a check to special attackers such as Tapu Koko and Choice Scarf Greninja with its tremendous special bulk. You should take care to keep Nihilego healthy in matchups where it is needed to absorb Toxic Spikes, such as against Water or Poison teams. Keep an eye on opportunities late-game to clean weakened teams using Beast Boost's Special Attack boosts.
Team Options
========
Shuckle offers valuable entry hazard support with Stealth Rock, which can whittle down Nihilego's checks so it can clean late-game, and Sticky Web, which lets Nihilego outrun faster revenge killers like Choice Scarf Keldeo and Choice Scarf Greninja. With Nihilego serving as Rock's revenge killer, Terrakion can serve as the team's wallbreaker or sweeper with a Choice Band or Swords Dance set. Tyranitar can break special walls such as Alolan Muk and Chansey that Nihilego cannot touch and Pursuit trap Nihilego's Psychic-type checks such as Latios. Mega Diancie serves as a dangerous mixed attacker that supports Nihilego in the Dark, Dragon, and Fighting matchups. Alolan Golem and Rhypherior can be used to check Mega Scizor and put pressure on Steel-type teams that Nihilego cannot threaten. Alolan Golem can also trap Steel-types such as Ferrothorn and Celesteela. Cradily can help cement the Water matchup with its immunity to Water-type moves and appreciates Nihilego's Toxic Spikes to whittle down opposing teams.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rock
--------
* There are no other viable Nihilego sets.
Checks and Counters
===================
Rock
--------
**Steel-types**: Steel-type Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Jirachi, and Excadrill resist Nihilego's STAB moves and are not threatened by its coverage options, so they can take advantage of this to KO Nihilego or set entry hazards.
**Physical Attackers**: Nihilego's middling physical bulk leaves it vulnerable against physical attackers that can either stomach one of its attacks, such as Diggersby, or outspeed it, such as Mega Lopunny.
**Priority Attackers**: Nihilego is weak to several common forms of priority and has mediocre physical bulk, so it is checked by threats such as Azumarill, Mega Scizor, and Bisharp.
**Pursuit Trappers**: Nihilego can be severely weakened or KOed by powerful pursuit trappers such as Scizor and Alolan Muk that it cannot directly threaten.
**Special Walls**: Special walls such as Chansey and Tyranitar can completely shut down Nihilego and use the opportunity to set entry hazards or spread status against the team.
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