[OVERVIEW]
Noivern provides excellent utility to any team as an offensive pivot or Defogger. Its typing and sky-high Speed tier let it check and revenge kill a vast array of common Pokemon such as Zarude, Cobalion, and Zygarde-10%. Noivern excels as a pivot, providing frequent free switches for wallbreakers while forming potent VoltTurn cores with Zarude, Raikou, and Mienshao. As a Defogger, Noivern has some of the better matchups against common entry hazard setters, being able to threaten Cobalion, Steelix, and Roserade but struggling with Rhyperior, Diancie, and Registeel. Noivern's defensive utility is greatly diminished by its reliance on Heavy-Duty Boots, as it can't switch in on Pokemon such as Mienshao, Golisopod, and Seismitoad without the risk of getting hit by Knock Off. Furthermore, Noivern's mediocre Special Attack means it barely scratches special walls like Diancie, Assault Vest Reuniclus, and Snorlax while also leaving it as setup fodder for Calm Mind Reuniclus and Nasty Plot Togekiss. However, Noivern can circumvent its switch-ins by providing a free switch for powerful wallbreakers with U-turn.
[SET]
name: Offensive Utility
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Flamethrower
move 3: Roost
move 4: U-turn / Defog
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Infiltrator
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Draco Meteor threatens dominant Electric-types in Raikou, Xurkitree, and Toxtricity. Flamethrower hits Steel-types such as Cobalion, Steelix, and Metagross for good damage while chipping away at sturdier Steel-types like Registeel. U-turn takes advantage of Noivern's switch-ins to provide a free switch for its teammates. Noivern can opt for Defog if the team is in need of entry hazard removal. Heavy-Duty Boots is necessary because Noivern is held down by Stealth Rock otherwise. With Infiltrator, Noivern can ignore Substitute from Volcanion and rare Chandelure sets. An alternative EV spread of 168 Def / 88 SpA / 252 Spe trades power for extra bulk to avoid a 2HKO from Choice Scarf Zarude's Darkest Lariat.
Wallbreakers such as Heracross, Choice Band Metagross, and Toxtricity appreciate the free switch provided by U-turn and take advantage of common switch-ins to Noivern like Assault Vest Reuniclus, Togekiss, and Diancie. Noivern appreciates VoltTurn partners such as Zarude, Mienshao, and Raikou, as they can keep up momentum against its switch-ins. Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Darmanitan, Xurkitree, and Toxtricity get ravaged by entry hazards when pivoting around and therefore appreciate Noivern as a Defogger. Noivern does next to nothing to Fairy-types like Togekiss, Sylveon, and Diancie, so Fairy-types answers like Metagross, Steelix, and Registeel are crucial. Pokemon to take advantage of Fairy-types like Galarian Slowbro, Darmanitan, and Durant are especially appreciated by U-turn Noivern. Fighting- and Ground-types like Heracross, Mienshao, and Seismitoad help deal with bulky Steel-types such as Registeel, Stakataka, and Klefki. Noivern can struggle as a team's sole Fighting-type check due to its weakness to Knock Off. Therefore, Pokemon such as Galarian Slowbro, Reuniclus, and Sylveon can handle Fighting-types in place of Noivern. For similar reasons, Knock Off absorbers such as Cobalion, Colbur Berry Galarian Slowbro, and Reuniclus make for great teammates.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic can cripple common switch-ins to Noivern such as Togekiss, Assault Vest Reuniclus, and Diancie. With Toxic, Noivern can also act as a hard stop to Calm Mind + Substitute Suicune thanks to Infiltrator. However, using Toxic means giving up on the great utility provided by U-turn or Defog, which is difficult to justify on most teams. A stallbreaker set with Taunt prevents Cobalion, Seismitoad, and Registeel from setting Stealth Rock and walls like Milotic, Togekiss, and Snorlax from healing. Generally, Hurricane is the preferred STAB option alongside Taunt because it gives better odds of beating Calm Mind Suicune. Switcheroo can be run alongside Choice Scarf to cripple Noivern's switch-ins such as Registeel, Assault Vest Reuniclus, and Diancie. Swapping items with Calm Mind users like Galarian Slowbro, Reuniclus, and Suicune neutralizes their attempts at a sweep. Noivern is also the fastest Choice Scarf user in RU and can even outspeed and revenge kill +2 Cloyster. However, Choice Scarf sets are greatly limited by Stealth Rock. Rocky Helmet punishes U-turn pivots like Zarude, Mienshao, and Darmanitan. It can also be used alongside Taunt to always beat Registeel. The big downfall with Rocky Helmet is that it also leaves Noivern vulnerable to Stealth Rock.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types such as Sylveon, Diancie, and Togekiss wall Noivern. Diancie is especially troublesome for Defog Noivern because it can freely switch in on the turn Noivern uses Defog and set Stealth Rock again. Choice Scarf Gardevoir can revenge kill Noivern, and Mimikyu can use Defog sets as setup fodder.
**Special Walls**: Special walls such as Assault Vest Reuniclus, Umbreon, Snorlax, and Porygon2 take very little damage from Noivern's attacks. Reuniclus can set up Future Sight or remove an item with Knock Off, Umbreon gets a free Wish for itself or its teammates, Snorlax sets up Curse, and Porygon2 pivots out with Teleport or cripples something with Toxic.
**Choice Scarf users**: Choice Scarf users such as Mienshao, Xurkitree, and Darmanitan can revenge kill Noivern after a slight bit of prior damage. Choice Scarf Zarude can 2HKO non-invested Noivern on the switch but needs to watch out for U-turn. Less common Choice Scarf users such as Tyrantrum and Gardevoir can always OHKO Noivern.
**Steel-types**: Certain Steel-types like Registeel, Stakataka, and Klefki can take Flamethrower from Noivern multiple times. Klefki can also cripple Noivern with Thunder Wave. Steelix and Cobalion can threaten Noivern on the switch with a Rock-type coverage move in Head Smash or Stone Edge.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[GoldCat, 359771]]
- Quality checked by: [[gorex, 244449], [zizalith, 410251]]
- Grammar checked by: [[CryoGyro, 331519], [Milak, 262594]]
Noivern provides excellent utility to any team as an offensive pivot or Defogger. Its typing and sky-high Speed tier let it check and revenge kill a vast array of common Pokemon such as Zarude, Cobalion, and Zygarde-10%. Noivern excels as a pivot, providing frequent free switches for wallbreakers while forming potent VoltTurn cores with Zarude, Raikou, and Mienshao. As a Defogger, Noivern has some of the better matchups against common entry hazard setters, being able to threaten Cobalion, Steelix, and Roserade but struggling with Rhyperior, Diancie, and Registeel. Noivern's defensive utility is greatly diminished by its reliance on Heavy-Duty Boots, as it can't switch in on Pokemon such as Mienshao, Golisopod, and Seismitoad without the risk of getting hit by Knock Off. Furthermore, Noivern's mediocre Special Attack means it barely scratches special walls like Diancie, Assault Vest Reuniclus, and Snorlax while also leaving it as setup fodder for Calm Mind Reuniclus and Nasty Plot Togekiss. However, Noivern can circumvent its switch-ins by providing a free switch for powerful wallbreakers with U-turn.
[SET]
name: Offensive Utility
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Flamethrower
move 3: Roost
move 4: U-turn / Defog
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Infiltrator
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Draco Meteor threatens dominant Electric-types in Raikou, Xurkitree, and Toxtricity. Flamethrower hits Steel-types such as Cobalion, Steelix, and Metagross for good damage while chipping away at sturdier Steel-types like Registeel. U-turn takes advantage of Noivern's switch-ins to provide a free switch for its teammates. Noivern can opt for Defog if the team is in need of entry hazard removal. Heavy-Duty Boots is necessary because Noivern is held down by Stealth Rock otherwise. With Infiltrator, Noivern can ignore Substitute from Volcanion and rare Chandelure sets. An alternative EV spread of 168 Def / 88 SpA / 252 Spe trades power for extra bulk to avoid a 2HKO from Choice Scarf Zarude's Darkest Lariat.
Wallbreakers such as Heracross, Choice Band Metagross, and Toxtricity appreciate the free switch provided by U-turn and take advantage of common switch-ins to Noivern like Assault Vest Reuniclus, Togekiss, and Diancie. Noivern appreciates VoltTurn partners such as Zarude, Mienshao, and Raikou, as they can keep up momentum against its switch-ins. Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Darmanitan, Xurkitree, and Toxtricity get ravaged by entry hazards when pivoting around and therefore appreciate Noivern as a Defogger. Noivern does next to nothing to Fairy-types like Togekiss, Sylveon, and Diancie, so Fairy-types answers like Metagross, Steelix, and Registeel are crucial. Pokemon to take advantage of Fairy-types like Galarian Slowbro, Darmanitan, and Durant are especially appreciated by U-turn Noivern. Fighting- and Ground-types like Heracross, Mienshao, and Seismitoad help deal with bulky Steel-types such as Registeel, Stakataka, and Klefki. Noivern can struggle as a team's sole Fighting-type check due to its weakness to Knock Off. Therefore, Pokemon such as Galarian Slowbro, Reuniclus, and Sylveon can handle Fighting-types in place of Noivern. For similar reasons, Knock Off absorbers such as Cobalion, Colbur Berry Galarian Slowbro, and Reuniclus make for great teammates.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic can cripple common switch-ins to Noivern such as Togekiss, Assault Vest Reuniclus, and Diancie. With Toxic, Noivern can also act as a hard stop to Calm Mind + Substitute Suicune thanks to Infiltrator. However, using Toxic means giving up on the great utility provided by U-turn or Defog, which is difficult to justify on most teams. A stallbreaker set with Taunt prevents Cobalion, Seismitoad, and Registeel from setting Stealth Rock and walls like Milotic, Togekiss, and Snorlax from healing. Generally, Hurricane is the preferred STAB option alongside Taunt because it gives better odds of beating Calm Mind Suicune. Switcheroo can be run alongside Choice Scarf to cripple Noivern's switch-ins such as Registeel, Assault Vest Reuniclus, and Diancie. Swapping items with Calm Mind users like Galarian Slowbro, Reuniclus, and Suicune neutralizes their attempts at a sweep. Noivern is also the fastest Choice Scarf user in RU and can even outspeed and revenge kill +2 Cloyster. However, Choice Scarf sets are greatly limited by Stealth Rock. Rocky Helmet punishes U-turn pivots like Zarude, Mienshao, and Darmanitan. It can also be used alongside Taunt to always beat Registeel. The big downfall with Rocky Helmet is that it also leaves Noivern vulnerable to Stealth Rock.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types such as Sylveon, Diancie, and Togekiss wall Noivern. Diancie is especially troublesome for Defog Noivern because it can freely switch in on the turn Noivern uses Defog and set Stealth Rock again. Choice Scarf Gardevoir can revenge kill Noivern, and Mimikyu can use Defog sets as setup fodder.
**Special Walls**: Special walls such as Assault Vest Reuniclus, Umbreon, Snorlax, and Porygon2 take very little damage from Noivern's attacks. Reuniclus can set up Future Sight or remove an item with Knock Off, Umbreon gets a free Wish for itself or its teammates, Snorlax sets up Curse, and Porygon2 pivots out with Teleport or cripples something with Toxic.
**Choice Scarf users**: Choice Scarf users such as Mienshao, Xurkitree, and Darmanitan can revenge kill Noivern after a slight bit of prior damage. Choice Scarf Zarude can 2HKO non-invested Noivern on the switch but needs to watch out for U-turn. Less common Choice Scarf users such as Tyrantrum and Gardevoir can always OHKO Noivern.
**Steel-types**: Certain Steel-types like Registeel, Stakataka, and Klefki can take Flamethrower from Noivern multiple times. Klefki can also cripple Noivern with Thunder Wave. Steelix and Cobalion can threaten Noivern on the switch with a Rock-type coverage move in Head Smash or Stone Edge.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[GoldCat, 359771]]
- Quality checked by: [[gorex, 244449], [zizalith, 410251]]
- Grammar checked by: [[CryoGyro, 331519], [Milak, 262594]]
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