Other XY OU Victim of the Week [WEEK 6 (Read post #181)]

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Weezing @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Bold Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split
- Sludge Bomb
- Flamethrower

It can take anything and Sludge Bomb (SR is needed to secure the KO after Sitrus) Azumarill to death. Pretty simple.

Another cool thing is Shaymin. It easily tanks +6 Aqua Jet and can KO with Seed Flare. Shaymin is also a good Pokemon in general. Talonflame can RK with Brave Bird. Kyurem-B outruns and KOes with Fusion Bolt, tanking the +6 Aqua Jet well. Honestly, anything faster that resists Water and is powerful/has SE coverage on it works fine. BD Azu is easy to check.
 
I got swept by BD Azu and Conk a LOT, so I spent a lot of time finding a poke that could deal with them easily.

Other than a few obscure pokemon and our premier wall, Megasaur, you can't really check BD once it's happened.
Not saying those obscure pokemon are or aren't viable (I actually like seeing different pokemon being played/talked about every once in a while..)
You can pretty much roar it (allowing it to try again) or kill it with something that can resist a +6 Jet.

OR

Whimsicott_XY.gif

You can use this guy.

Whimsicott @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 248 HP / 132 Def / 128 SDef (I just even defenses)
Calm Nature
- Encore
- Leech Seed
- Substitute
- Stun Spore

Put pressure on Azu just by your presence.
Whenever he switches in, immediately bring Whimsicott out (who, btw, can take every unboosted attack Azu runs).
Encore his BD and set up on him. All Whimsicott needs is a free turn to sub.
After that, he stalls out almost everything with leech seed/sub spam and spreads stun to aid your team and allow him more free turns.

Because of how he is played, he makes a great lead too.
When not stalling and making teams RQ, Whimsicott uses priority Stun to take down fast mons and encoring set up sweepers like Azu.
 
Sorry that it took me a bit of extra time to update this project; I was away for the start of the weekend and forgot about it. Round 4 shall be closing now. Thanks to everyone that participated in the discussion re: BD Azumarill and its counters! A common theme in counters is a good Grass-typing and many resist its STAB Play Rough as well. In particular, Mega Venusaur seems to be concluded as the best available counter, with other unique Pokemon such as Weezing also being able to check it fairly well. Particularly interesting was the Encore Whimsicott set, which can lock Azumarill into its set up moves or take any of its uninvested hits with complete ease.

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Victim of the Week #5
The Victim of the Week for week #4 is a Pokemon which arrived in Gen 6. Although people anticipated it being a common user of Swords Dance, its role ended up being quick different (yet as equally distinct). I present to you: Mixed Aegislash.

aegislash-blade.png

Aegislash (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 240 Atk / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 12 Spd
Quiet Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Iron Head
- Sacred Sword
- Shadow Sneak

Wielding ridiculous 150 / 150 offensive stats and a vast, powerful movepool, mixed Aegislash is a fearsome wallbreaker. Most of Aegislash's otherwise counters are usually nailed by one of its specific moves. For example, Bisharp and Blissey are dismantled by Sacred Sword, while bulky Fairy-types such as Clefable and Togekiss are obliterated by Iron Head. On top of the fact that Aegislash can nuke most of its checks with the correct move, it also possesses of a very powerful priority move in Shadow Sneak, which, although weak, comes off a high base Attack stat and can finish off most of the Pokemon that Aegislash weakens with Shadow Ball. You should always have a back-up plan for Aegislash lest you wish things for you turn very sour as it picks off your team piece by piece.

GL!
 
Mandibuzz. Counters absolutely every single set, except Head Smash ones which must be so crazy rare that I've only ever heard of them, never seen one after tons and tons of battles with Mandibuzz on every team. She is such an incredibly good physical wall that can counter or check nearly every given physical attacker, thanks to her huge bulk and STAB Foul Play.

Mandibuzz is the ONLY bulky dark type with recovery that's not weak to fighting. She's pretty much the only pokemon the game that can switch in to Aegislash multiples times throughout a match.

There's also Chesnaught, whose signature ability gives him immunity to Shadow Ball so he only has to take hits from the physical side (which he can shrug off with 88/122 bulk,) but loses badly to ones with Flash Cannon. However he walls and stalls out the set you posted, spits spikes all over the other team and recovers with Leech Seed and/or Synthesis.
 
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Choice Band Diggersby is an excellent check to Aegislash. While it does not counter it per se as it doesn't want to switch in on a Sacred Sword, it can easily switch in on Shadow Ball or Shadow Sneak, or come in to revenge kill, and simply use Earthquake, as it is naturally faster and doesn't mind Aegislash's only form of priority.

Mandibuzz is great too of course, it is the most reliable Aegislash counter there is.

Specially Defensive Hippowdon can wall it and wear it down with Earthquake which will KO it after it attacks at any point.
 
While it can't truly counter it due to sacred sword, Bisharp's sucker punch is the Bane of Aegislash's existence. If aegi brings up king's shield, Bisharp doesn't even care thanks to defiant.
 
Specially defensive Hippowdon can easily take a hit from it and Slack Off the damage or return with an Earthquake. That and Mandibuzz are really about the only things that switch in easily to it, though...
 
I have been using that exact same set in the OP for a while now, and the only two things that really gave me trouble were specially defensive Hippodown and Mandibuzz, the latter more than the former, since Hippo is left extremely crippled if it switches in on Shadow Ball, which something like Mega Charizard-X can take advantage of later in the game, and if it switches in on Shadow Ball with a bit of prior damage, it will get 2HKOed since Aegi outspeeds it.

For that reason, I'm going to be posting the standard Mandibuzz set:

mandibuzz.gif

Mandibuzz (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 252 Def / 248 HP / 8 SDef
Impish Nature
- Foul Play
- Roost
- Taunt
- Defog

Even if Mandibuzz switches in on Iron Head and SR, it can just Roost up until it's at a desirable amount of health, and proceed to OHKO with Foul Play. There is literally no way that Aegislash can get past this thing without prior damage, and any good player would keep their Mandibuzz healthy when Aegislash is around. Here are a few calcs proving Mandi's effectiveness:

240 Atk Life Orb Aegislash-Blade Iron Head vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Mandibuzz: 133-156 (31.4 - 36.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Life Orb Aegislash-Blade Shadow Ball vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Mandibuzz: 109-129 (25.7 - 30.4%) -- 7.6% chance to 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

While it can just OHKO with Foul Play:

0 Atk Mandibuzz Foul Play vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Aegislash-Blade: 594-702 (227.5 - 268.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Sorry for being unoriginal :/ kinda new to OU :P
 
This one is really easy. Chesnaught.

Chesnaught has amazing physical defense and a "Niche" ability in bullet proof that keeps him immune to the Shadow Ball.

Chesnaught (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Bulletproof
EVs: 252 Def / 252 HP / 4 Atk
Impish Nature
- Synthesis
- Leech Seed
- Hammer Arm
- Shadow Claw

Not only that, I like to abuse Aegi's near perfect coverage as well in fight/ghost. Stall it out with leech seed, synthesis up when needed, and scout KS before going shadow claw.
 
250px-198Murkrow.png


Murkrow @ Eviolite
Ability: Prankster
EVs 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SDef
Bold Nature
-Foul Play/Knock Off
-Roost
-Feather Dance
-Toxic/Taunt
Really, 60/42/42 dosen't look that great, but this thing gets it's Job done.
Foul Play is for damage, scoring a OHKO on Aegislash even at -2. Roost is for recovery. Feather dance is to lower the damage it gets from physical attacks. Toxic is to poison swich ins, while taunt blocks Kings shield, forcing Aegislash to stay in Blade form. Knock off might be consisdered as well, but its not a garuanteed kill on Aegislash.

Calcs:
240 Atk Life Orb Aegislash-Blade Iron Head vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Murkrow: 148-175 (45.8 - 54.1%) -- 48% chance to 2HKO
-2 240 Atk Life Orb Aegislash-Blade Iron Head vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Murkrow: 75-90 (23.2 - 27.8%) -- 67.7% chance to 4HKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Aegislash-Blade Shadow Ball vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Eviolite Murkrow: 136-160 (42.1 - 49.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
240 Atk Life Orb Aegislash-Blade Sacred Sword vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Murkrow: 110-131 (34 - 40.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
-2 240 Atk Life Orb Aegislash-Blade Sacred Sword vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Murkrow: 56-66 (17.3 - 20.4%) -- possible 5HKO
240 Atk Life Orb Aegislash-Blade Shadow Sneak vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Murkrow: 38-44 (11.7 - 13.6%) -- possible 8HKO

0 Atk Murkrow Foul Play vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Aegislash-Blade: 594-702 (227.5 - 268.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
-2 0 Atk Murkrow Foul Play vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Aegislash-Blade: 300-354 (114.9 - 135.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 
Ah yes, a major sword-in-the-rear. What's always made this guy annoying for me is the sheer amount of items I see this thing carrying. I see Air Balloon, Leftovers, Life Orb, Weakness Policy, even a couple of Rocky Helmets! However, I've found that this set beats most Aegislash sets fairly well:

Pangoro @ Assault Vest
Ability: Scrappy
Impish Nature
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 Att
- Crunch
- Hammer Arm/Sky Uppercut
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge/Poison Jab/Aerial Ace/Dragon Claw/Shadow Claw/X-Scissor/COVERAGE MOVE WHATEVER

As I was saying before I totally didn't notice a math mistake on the Conkeldurr set (Which I totally didn't suggest first) which completely ruined the counter and made a different set, bulky Assault Vest PANGORO is a perfect stop to this set.

240 Atk Life Orb Aegislash-Blade Iron Head vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Pangoro: 160-188 (40.6 - 47.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
240 Atk Life Orb Aegislash-Blade Shadow Sneak vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Pangoro: 39-47 (9.8 - 11.9%) -- possible 9HKO
240 Atk Life Orb Aegislash-Blade Sacred Sword vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Pangoro: 237-281 (60.1 - 71.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Aegislash-Blade Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Pangoro: 92-109 (23.3 - 27.6%) -- 73.3% chance to 4HKO

And Pangoro's Rebuttal:

4 Atk Pangoro Crunch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Aegislash-Blade: 360-426 (137.9 - 163.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
4 Atk Pangoro Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Aegislash-Blade: 302-356 (115.7 - 136.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
4 Atk Pangoro Sky Uppercut vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Aegislash-Blade: 384-452 (147.1 - 173.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
4 Atk Pangoro Crunch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Aegislash-Shield: 150-176 (57.4 - 67.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
4 Atk Pangoro Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Aegislash-Shield: 124-146 (47.5 - 55.9%) -- 75.8% chance to 2HKO
4 Atk Pangoro Sky Uppercut vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Aegislash-Shield: 156-186 (59.7 - 71.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Pangoro, even with 0 Speed investment, is still faster than 12 Speed Aegislash. Even if Aegislash predicts the switch and hits him with a Sacred Sword followed by a Shadow Sneak, Pangoro lives and OHKOs. Even if Aegislash is running King's Shield, Pangoro can just go with the safe Earthquake, which still maims it in Shield Form and outright kills it in Blade form. Even if it makes the 24.2% chance to "Live" the two EQs, the Life Orb recoil will still kill it. No matter how you slice it, Pangoro wins the matchup.

(As a side-note, AV Conkeldurr still isn't a BAD response for this Aegislash set, but when I first calc'd it I forgot to add the Life Orb; Aegislash can 2HKO with Shadow Ball or Iron Head and outspeeds, so it's not a true counter. But if you can come in on the Sacred Sword or Shadow Sneak, Conkeldurr can still rip it in half with a Knock Off)
 
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Ajwf said:
Sky Uppercut is a fighting type move. Also, kind of a bad stop to sacred sword.
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Pangoro has Scrappy, so Sky Uppercut or Hammer Arm will hit for Super-Effective damage. The Sacred Sword damage only matters if the switch is predicted; otherwise Pangoro is faster and OHKOs with Earthquake. The damage also only matters for anything beyond Aegislash because, since we're countering THIS set, Aegislash has no King's Shield to fall back on. Best case (Assuming no crits) he predicts the switch on Pangoro to hit with Sacred Sword and then Shadow Sneak. Assuming Max damage rolls on both, Pangoro is reduced to 16.8% before OHKOing this Aegislash set.
 
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Facepalmboook said:
250px-198Murkrow.png


Murkrow @ Eviolite
Ability: Prankster
EVs 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SDef
Bold Nature
-Foul Play/Knock Off
-Roost
-Feather Dance
-Toxic/Taunt
Really, 60/42/42 dosen't look that great, but this thing gets it's Job done.
Foul Play is for damage, scoring a OHKO on Aegislash even at -2. Roost is for recovery. Feather dance is to lower the damage it gets from physical attacks. Toxic is to poison swich ins, while taunt blocks Kings shield, forcing Aegislash to stay in Blade form. Knock off might be consisdered as well, but its not a garuanteed kill on Aegislash.

Calcs:
240 Atk Life Orb Aegislash-Blade Iron Head vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Murkrow: 148-175 (45.8 - 54.1%) -- 48% chance to 2HKO
-2 240 Atk Life Orb Aegislash-Blade Iron Head vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Murkrow: 75-90 (23.2 - 27.8%) -- 67.7% chance to 4HKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Aegislash-Blade Shadow Ball vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Eviolite Murkrow: 136-160 (42.1 - 49.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
240 Atk Life Orb Aegislash-Blade Sacred Sword vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Murkrow: 110-131 (34 - 40.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
-2 240 Atk Life Orb Aegislash-Blade Sacred Sword vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Murkrow: 56-66 (17.3 - 20.4%) -- possible 5HKO
240 Atk Life Orb Aegislash-Blade Shadow Sneak vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Murkrow: 38-44 (11.7 - 13.6%) -- possible 8HKO

0 Atk Murkrow Foul Play vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Aegislash-Blade: 594-702 (227.5 - 268.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
-2 0 Atk Murkrow Foul Play vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Aegislash-Blade: 300-354 (114.9 - 135.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Click to expand...

Mandibuzz is superior to this set in pretty much every way.
 
Well, I've been beaten to the punch and can't pick my dear Mandi this week :(

Obviously Mandibuzz is the most reliable answer to Aegislash, checking it with great typing, defenses, and Foul Play. Although, even Mandibuzz fears the rare Head Smash or 252 Speed Aegislash LO Flash Cannon (which 2HKOs before Mandi can move). Chesnaught is definitely the next best counter, as it is immune to Shadow Ball while packing the physical bulk to shrug off any attack (although it's easily 2HKO'd by Flash Cannon as well, and is too weak to stop offensive SD variants from boosting). SpD Hippo is one of my favorite switch-ins to Aegis, and does very well against most variants as well.

Beyond those few, nothing really likes switching in Aegis. Really, that's why I like this thread, it just goes to show how tough it is to answer all these incredibly threatening Pokemon in this metagame! The next best choices in my mind would be bulky AV users, most notably:

645-s.png

Landorus-T @ Assault Vest
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 176 Atk / 72 SpD / 8 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- U-Turn
- Knock Off

With Intimidate and Assault Vest equipped, Lando-T effectively has a Cosmic Power boost whenever it enters the field, which allows it to check mixed threats like LO Aegislash very well. With an Adamant Nature it still has incredible power behind its STAB EQ, which is more than enough to send Aegislash packing. 8 Speed EVs are all you need to beat max Speed neutral-nature Aegislash, and the SpD EVs guarantee you won't be 2HKO'd by LO Shadow Ball even after SR. The Attack guarantees you will KO Shield form Aegis after 2 rounds of LO recoil, and makes this Lando much more threatening in general.

176+ Atk Landorus-T Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Aegislash-Blade: 260-308 (80.2 - 95%)

252+ SpA Life Orb Aegislash-Blade Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 72 SpD Assault Vest Landorus-T: 153-181 (40 - 47.3%)
-1 252+ Atk Life Orb Aegislash-Blade Iron Head vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Landorus-T: 152-179 (39.7 - 46.8%)

The only thing Lando-T fears is the extremely rare HP Ice, but beyond that it's very reliable. Gyarados is a very similar counter (although I'm only allowed to post 1 per week, shame). Gyara can handle any attack with either AV, or a heavy SpD spread, although its EQ isn't nearly as threatening to tank Aegis. Both AV Lando-T and Gyara really really appreciate Wish support so that they can switch in throughout the match.
 
It's time this fella gets some recognition:

465.png


Tangrowth (M) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Leaf Storm / Giga Drain
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
- Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Fire / Hidden Power Rock

No need for much talk, i will let the calcs speak for themselves:
  • 252+ SpA Life Orb Aegislash-Blade Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Tangrowth: 152-179 (37.6 - 44.3%) -- 2.3% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock
  • 240 Atk Life Orb Aegislash-Blade Iron Head vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tangrowth: 156-185 (38.6 - 45.7%) -- 17.6% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock
  • 0 Atk Tangrowth Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Aegislash-Blade: 248-294 (76.5 - 90.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO and guaranteed OHKO after SR and two rounds of LO recoil
 
Besides Mandibuzz, Zapdos is probably the next best counter. I've found, this set handles Aegislash marvelously.

Zapdos @ Leftovers
EVs: 248 HP / 64 Def / 196 SDef
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Calm
- Thunderbolt
- Heat Wave
- Defog
- Roost

Some relevant calculations to this set:
  • 252+ SpA Life Orb Aegislash-Blade Shadow Ball vs. 248 HP / 196+ SpD Zapdos: 169-200 (44.1 - 52.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
  • 240 Atk Life Orb Aegislash-Blade Shadow Sneak vs. 248 HP / 64 Def Zapdos: 99-118 (25.8 - 30.8%) -- 5.8% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery
Even if you switch into SR and take the Shadow Ball followed by Shadow Sneak, you will very seldom be KO'd (only about 2% chance at most?), accounting for Leftovers recovery. You are always faster too, so it is easy to roost off the damage and retaliate with super-effective Heat Wave. LO recoil makes wearing down Aegislash even easier.

Like Mandibuzz, the only thing this set fears is Head Smash, which is astonishingly rare. However, Zapdos also resists Flash Cannon, sometimes seen as a lure to 2HKO Mandibuzz after SR.
 
However, the fact that it can work shouldn't be denied. In fact, many dedicated stall teams rely on him to take Aegi. I think it's roughly 33% Shadow ball with max SpA.
 
Would a Choice Specs Gengar be a good option? It would get fucked easily by Shadow Sneak but it can hit hard. Switch in when excepting a Sacred Sword and hit back with a STAB Shadow Ball.
 
dkkc19 said:
Would a Choice Specs Gengar be a good option? It would get fucked easily by Shadow Sneak but it can hit hard. Switch in when excepting a Sacred Sword and hit back with a STAB Shadow Ball.
Click to expand...

Last I checked, Gengar's speed doesn't have priority over Shadow Sneak. Bad idea.
 
Sergeant Spooky said:
Mandibuzz. Counters absolutely every single set, except Head Smash ones which must be so crazy rare that I've only ever heard of them, never seen one after tons and tons of battles with Mandibuzz on every team. She is such an incredibly good physical wall that can counter or check nearly every given physical attacker, thanks to her huge bulk and STAB Foul Play.

Mandibuzz is the ONLY bulky dark type with recovery that's not weak to fighting. She's pretty much the only pokemon the game that can switch in to Aegislash multiples times throughout a match.

There's also Chesnaught, whose signature ability gives him immunity to Shadow Ball so he only has to take hits from the physical side (which he can shrug off with 88/122 bulk,) but loses badly to ones with Flash Cannon. However he walls and stalls out the set you posted, spits spikes all over the other team and recovers with Leech Seed and/or Synthesis.
Click to expand...
I know it's not listed on the VOTW moveset in question but I've seen a fair few Mixed Slashes run Flash Cannon. I have no idea what move they run it over but Mandi REALLY dislikes taking it.

Of course, I'm sure Slash has to compromise a bit. It must lose it's ability to counter other threats by ditching one of the mentioned moves.

I will say though, Mandi is my favourite Pokemon this gen. The thing isn't just a good wall, it's something I'd expect to find in Palestine. It's about as dangerous as well lol.
 
for a hyper offensive check, gengar and bisharp work well together. gengar forces out the shadow sneak which bisharp can come in on, while adamant bisharp guaranteed ohkos 252/0 aegi (the mixed wallbreak set) after rocks with knock off. obviously on defensive teams there are better answers to aegi but when you need to put constant offensive pressure, that maxed out knock off is as good as it gets.
 
For that particular Aegislash set, I would just slap a Life Orb on my Rotom-H and OHKO with Overheat.

Rotom-H@Life Orb
EV:252hp, 252def, 4sp.atk
Nature: Bold
-Will-o-wisp
-Volt Switch
-Overheat
-Thunderbolt

0hp/4sp.def Shield Form Aegislash gets OHKO by Life Orb Overheat. Rotom-H can also switch into any of Aegislash and not get 2HKO BESIDES Shadow Ball, but you'll outspeed Aegislash anyways, forcing the switch at which point you can burn the incoming switch or volt switch out. If Aegislash does stay in, it'll get melted.

I usually run RestoChesto Rotom-H without thunderbolt for physical Swords Dance Aegislash, which is super easy because they either have to switch or take a will-o-wisp and get melted by overheat.

I'm also thinking about trying out Nidoqueen which could take on this particular Aegislash as well

Nidoqueen@Assault Vest
EV:252HP, 252Sp.Atk, 4Def
Nature: Timid
-Earth Power
-Fire Blast
-Sludge Wave
-Ice Beam

Only Aegislash's Iron Head can 2HKO Nidoqueen, so Nidoqueen should be able to switch into it's other moves with ease. Nidoqueen's Earth Power 2HKO's 0hp/4sp.def Shield Form, OHKO Sword Form
 
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