In-battle formes
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| HP: | 109 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Attack: | 53 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defense: | 47 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Atk: | 127 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Def: | 131 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed: | 103 |
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Overview
Nihilego is capable of both attacking and tanking to a respectable extent. Its advantage lies in its Rock / Poison typing, which is good offensively against major forces in the 1v1 metagame in Fire- and Fairy-type Pokemon, like Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Tapu Lele, and Tapu Fini. Nihilego's formidable special bulk allows it to tank strong moves like a Hydro Vortex from Tapu Fini with appropriate investment. Physically, its extremely frail Defense is just not enough to tank most super effective physical moves, especially from Steel- and Ground-type Pokemon like Mega Metagross, Mega Aggron, Zygarde, and Donphan. Pokemon who also carry Earthquake as a coverage move, like Dragonite, Haxorus, Sawk, and Mega Pinsir, will be able to easily knock out Nihilego. Lastly, its immediate power is usually not enough to shore up its awkward defense typing, leaving it wide open to Pokemon like Heatran, Zeraora, Mega Blaziken, and Necrozma, who can all outdamage Nihilego.
Choice Specs
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Moves
Power Gem is Nihilego's Rock-type STAB move, allowing it to KO Fire-, Bug-, and Flying-type Pokemon like Blacephalon, Mega Charizard X, Volcarona, and Mega Charizard Y. Sludge Wave lets Nihilego beat Grass- and Fairy-type Pokemon like Serperior, Whimsicott, and the Island Guardians. Hidden Power Ice can be used to KO non-Choice Scarf Landorus-T and Garchomp. Acid Spray is another option that can be used to beat stall Pokemon such as Deoxys-S and Mega Venusaur. Dazzling Gleam can be used to KO Kommo-o, Krookodile, and Hydreigon, while Grass Knot is an option to beat Pokemon such as Mega Swampert, Mega Slowbro and Quagsire. Thunderbolt hits Celesteela, and Mirror Coat can be run to beat specific specially offensive threats such as Genesect and Naganadel.
Set Details
252 Special Attack EVs in conjunction with Choice Specs allow Nihilego to OHKO specially defensive Mega Charizard X. 252 Speed EVs along with Timid nature let it outspeed maximum Speed Garchomp. Choice Specs maximizes Nihilego's overall damage output.
Usage Tips
If running Hidden Power Ice, be aware that it cannot reliably OHKO Zygarde or Dragonite. Sturdy Pokemon like Golem, Crustle, and Donphan will be able to survive their respective coverage options, as well, and should be avoided.
Team Options
Nihilego's low Defense and weakness to Ground-type attacks make Ice-type Pokemon with considerable physical bulk like Avalugg and Cloyster fit in very well as partners. Nihilego's typing and inability to handle Steel- and Ground-type Pokemon make it almost a necessity to have a Pokemon like Mega Gyarados or Mega Blastoise that can beat them; these two are also good teammates because Nihilego can take care of Grass-types for them. Since Nihilego can struggle against Water-types, Grass-type Pokemon like Kartana, which can also run Sacred Sword to counter Dark-types, can be used to beat them. Also, Nihilego's weakness to Psychic and Steel makes Volcarona a viable teammate for Nihilego, as it can beat Pokemon like Mega Metagross and Mega Mawile. Fast Mega Heracross is also a good teammate, as it can beat Jumpluff, Heatran, Mega Gyarados, and Sturdy users, all of which trouble Nihilego, and Nihilego can beat Fairy- and Fire-types to support Mega Heracross in return.
Acid Spray + Z-Move
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Moves
Acid Spray can be used to weaken bulky Pokemon like Mega Slowbro, Mega Sableye, Mega Venusaur, and Clefable while not having to worry about being afflicted with Taunt. Power Gem boosted into Continental Crush helps in defeating Mega Charizard Y and Mega Charizard X. Sludge Wave is helpful against Fairy-type Pokemon like Tapu Bulu and Whimsicott. Mirror Coat is also an option, since it could help in beating some special attackers such as Genesect and Naganadel. Dazzling Gleam can be run in order to beat Kommo-o.
Set Details
88 HP EVs and 180 Defense EVs allow Nihilego to tank a Zen Headbutt from Adamant Choice Scarf Victini as well as a Hydro Vortex from a bulky Tapu Fini. Nihilego runs 240 Speed EVs with a Timid nature in order to be as fast as possible, outspeeding Pokemon such as Mega Charizard and non-Choice Scarf Victini, and Thundurus-T. Rockium Z converts Power Gem into a strong 160-Base Power Continental Crush.
Usage Tips
If the opposing Pokemon cannot be knocked out by Continental Crush or one of Nihilego's coverage moves immediately, the best course of action would be to use Acid Spray until they are in range of Continental Crush, not allowing them to boost their Special Defense. Nihilego cannot OHKO Pokemon like bulky Tapu Lele and Psyshock Mega Gardevoir, despite being a Fairy-type, and thus should avoid these matchups.
Team Options
Nihilego cannot handle Ground-type attacks, so Mega Blastoise can be used as a teammate to counter Pokemon that usually carry Ground-type moves, like Zygarde, Dragonite, Sturdy Pokemon like Donphan and Golem, and Ground-type Pokemon, with Nihilego covering Mega Blastoise's Grass-type weakness in return. Since Nihilego struggles against Steel-type Pokemon like Mega Metagross, Magearna, and Mega Mawile, Ground-type Pokemon like Zygarde can be used as teammates; Nihilego can also cover Zygarde's Ice-type weakness. Nihilego can handle most Fire- and Flying-type Pokemon, so Pokemon like Mega Heracross can be used to lure in these Pokemon, with Mega Heracross also defeating Pokemon such as Mega Gyarados, Donphan, Golem, and Jumpluff for Nihilego. Some physically bulky Pokemon like Mega Aggron and Mega Slowbro can be used to help accommodate for Nihilego's poor physical bulk, and Nihilego can support them by being a special tank in return.
Other Options
Nihilego can run Poisonium Z in order to beat certain Fairy-type Pokemon like Primarina, Tapu Lele, and Mega Gardevoir while not being locked into one move. However, this set is generally outclassed by Rockium Z in overall coverage, as running Poisonium Z will causes you to lose the Mega Charizard X matchup. Nihilego can also utilize an Air Balloon with a Modest nature and Hidden Power Ice to lure in Pokemon that use Ground-type moves, such as Mega Pinsir and Choice Scarf Landorus-T. However, such a set is only useful as a lure and does not deal a lot of damage. Nihilego can utilize Spite, in combination with Substitute, to lure and beat Magearna, by blocking Pain Split and depleting Fleur Cannon's PP, as well as counter non-Earth Power Choice Specs Necrozma.
Checks and Counters
Ground-type Pokemon and Coverage: Ground-type Pokemon like Zygarde check Nihilego, since they resist both of Nihilego's STAB attacks. Also, Earthquake from Pokemon like Dragonite and Mega Pinsir can take out Nihilego very easily due to its 4x weakness to Ground.
Steel-type Pokemon: Steel-types like Mega Mawile, Magearna, Mega Metagross, and Ferrothorn check Nihilego because its Poison-type attacks deal no damage and its Rock-type attacks are not very effective.
Special Tanks: Choice Specs Necrozma and Mega Gyarados can handle Nihilego's special moves easily and deal heavy damage in return with their respective STAB attacks.
Faster Physical Attackers: Almost all faster physical attackers like Durant, Archeops, and Kartana outspeed Nihilego and KO it with their respective STAB moves.
Sturdy Pokemon: Common threats with Sturdy in the 1v1 metagame include Donphan, Golem, and Crustle; Nihilego is disadvantaged against these Pokemon, as they can endure one attack from it and KO it in return.
Strong Super Effective Attackers: Nihilego is easily cracked by Pokemon like Mega Blastoise, and Hoopa-U, which can survive its attacks and retaliate with strong super effective STAB attacks such as Hydro Cannon, Genesis Supernova, and Zen Headbutt.
Credits
- Written by edudittA
- Quality checked by motogp, charizard8888, and Nalei
- Grammar checked by A Cake Wearing A Hat and Eien
