In-battle formes
| Type | |
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| Abilities | |
| Tier |
| HP: | 81 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Attack: | 102 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Defense: | 77 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Atk: | 85 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Def: | 75 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed: | 85 |
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Overview
Nidoking's access to a great pool of Sheer Force-boosted coverage options such as Ice Beam, Flamethrower, and Thunderbolt allows it to deal heavy damage to defensive Pokemon like Zapdos, Toxapex, Tapu Fini, Landorus-T, and Tangrowth. Its great typing combination grants it immunities to Electric-type attacks, Thunder Wave, and Toxic and lets it absorb Toxic Spikes, something most wallbreakers in the tier cannot do, thus giving it a defensive niche. However, it must compete with stronger or faster wallbreakers in the metagame like Kyurem-B, Hoopa-U, and Mega Charizard Y, and its mediocre bulk and Speed tier make it vulnerable to fast offensive threats like Greninja, Garchomp, Tornadus-T, and Tapu Lele, which doesn't help much in that regard.
Life Orb Attacker
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Moves
Earth Power is Nidoking's strongest special Ground-type STAB move, which allows it to check defensive as well as offensive threats such as Toxapex, Jirachi, Alolan Marowak, Magnezone, and Tapu Koko. Sludge Wave lets Nidoking break through defensive threats such as Tangrowth, Tapu Fini, and Clefable as well as slower offensive threats like Tapu Bulu. Ice Beam's coverage enables Nidoking to deal heavy damage to bulkier Pokemon like Landorus-T, Gliscor, Zapdos, and Amoonguss. Substitute provides room for Nidoking and eases predicting switches, making a huge difference when playing against offensive teams. It also prevents Nidoking from getting easily revenge killed, which is a great attribute because it has very few checks, but Flamethrower can also be run to break through defensive Pokemon like Ferrothorn, Celesteela, and Mega Scizor. Fire Blast over Flamethrower is also an alternate option that can 2HKO specially defensive Celesteela in exchange for the accuracy drop.
Set Details
Maximum investment in Special Attack maximizes Nidoking's power. Life Orb boosts its power even more and also pairs well with Sheer Force, as it negates the recoil received. Full investment in Speed allows Nidoking to outspeed everything up to Adamant Mimikyu.
Usage Tips
Use pivots and Volt Switch and U-turn users against offensive teams to switch in Nidoking unscratched, which will allow it to apply immense offensive pressure on its foe. Take advantage of the switches Nidoking can force by going for Substitute. This allows it to apply a lot of offensive pressure while also forcing the opponent to go for certain moves that one can further take advantage of. Nidoking can also be switched into weakened, bulkier Pokemon like Skarmory or a predicted Moonblast from Tapu Fini and proceed to use its two main STAB moves and coverage moves to break through the team, helping faster teammates potentially clean late-game. In order to utilize Nidoking to its fullest, the player is required to predict switches and use its coverage moves accordingly.
Team Options
Volt Switch and U-turn users such as Tapu Koko, Landorus-T, and Mega Scizor make for good partners with Nidoking, as they are able to pivot around and switch in Nidoking safely. A faster threat like Mega Alakazam is able to outspeed and check offensive teams that Nidoking usually struggles against. Setup sweepers such as Magearna, Double Dance Landorus-T, and Mega Pinsir can sweep late-game after Nidoking has weakened the opposing team. Strong physical attackers like Garchomp, Hoopa-U, Mega Heracross, and Tapu Bulu make great teammates for Nidoking, as they are able to break through Chansey, which Nidoking struggles against. Switch-ins to Psychic-type attacks like Celesteela and Jirachi can be paired with Nidoking on bulkier teams, while the latter can also provide entry hazard support. Switch-ins to strong Water-type attacks like Tapu Fini, Tapu Bulu, Tangrowth, and Keldeo are greatly appreciated as well.
Other Options
In general, Nidoking is better off running a special set than a physical one, since most of its Sheer Force-boosted moves are special. Superpower can deal heavy damage to Chansey but unfortunately requires a good amount of EVs invested in Attack. Thunderbolt can be run in the last slot, as it allows Nidoking to OHKO Mantine and Gyarados while also being an alternate way of hitting Celesteela and Tornadus-T for good damage. Stealth Rock is also usable over one of Nidoking's coverage moves to provide hazard support in emergency cases, as Nidoking is able to force out common Defog users like Mega Scizor and Tapu Fini. Sucker Punch with the help of 16 EVs invested into Attack, Nidoking can outspeed and KO Gengar and Mega Alakazam, but other than that, it's not that worthwhile to run the move over Ice Beam or Flamethrower.
Checks and Counters
Faster Threats: Faster threats such as Keldeo, Garchomp, Landorus-T, Excadrill, and Mega Alakazam can easily revenge kill Nidoking.
Chansey: Thanks to Chansey's tremendously high special bulk, it is able to switch into any of Nidoking's attacks and can proceed to whittle it down with Seismic Toss or set up Stealth Rock.
Psychic-types: Pokemon like Tapu Lele and Latios can easily check Nidoking; however, none of them can switch into Nidoking for free.
Assault Vest Tornadus-T: While Tornadus-T cannot switch in safely on Nidoking, it can beat it one-on-one by removing its item with Knock Off and then proceeding to KO with Hurricane after taking damage from Ice Beam.
Celesteela: Specially defensive Celesteela avoids a 2HKO from Flamethrower from Nidoking and can retaliate back with Heavy Slam, annoy it with Leech Seed, and then stall with Protect.
Strong Water-types: Offensive Water-types such as Greninja and Manaphy are able to outspeed Nidoking and OHKO it with their Water-type STAB moves, while Azumarill is able to deal heavy damage with Aqua Jet.
