In-battle formes
| Type | |
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| Abilities | |
| Tier |
| HP: | 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Attack: | 63 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Defense: | 152 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Atk: | 53 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Def: | 142 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed: | 35 |
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Evolutions
- Mareanie
- Toxapex
The Pex
| Move 1 | |
|---|---|
| Move 2 | |
| Move 3 | |
| Move 4 |
| Item | |
|---|---|
| Ability | |
| Nature |
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| EVs |
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Set Details
Toxapex is the premier defensive Water-type in the metagame. Its massive physical bulk allows Toxapex to switch into some of the tier's most threatening physical attackers such as Urshifu-R, Venomicon-E, Weavile, and Melmetal and force them out with the threat of burn from Scald and Knock Off. Beyond checking strong wallbreakers, Scald and Knock Off also allow Toxapex to not be passive and make important progress over the course of a game. Haze is necessary to check prominent setup sweepers like Weavile, Dragonite, Volcarona, and Galarian Moltres. A set with maximum Defense and Rocky Helmet is best for punishing physical attackers such as the aforementioned Weavile, Venomicon-E, and Urshifu-R; however, Black Sludge can also be run for valuable passive recovery. An EV spread of 252 HP / 124 Def / 132 SpD with a Sassy nature prevents Toxapex from being 2HKOed by Weavile's Knock Off, as well as helping it against special attackers like Dragapult by letting it survive two Shadow Balls after Stealth Rock and two Draco Meteors without entry hazards.
Toxapex is most commonly ran on balance and certain bulky offense teams. Landorus-T is a great teammate that forms a sturdy defensive backbone with Toxapex, checking Electric-types such as Zeraora; in return, it appreciates Toxapex's good matchup against Water-types and Ice-types. Bulky Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Heatran are strong partners, checking Psychic-types like Tapu Lele while benefiting from Toxapex dealing with Fire-types. Clefable forms a defensive core with Toxapex that is highly difficult to wear down with status, hazards, or other residual damage. Pokemon with Regenerator like Astrolotl and Tornadus-T are potent teammates that are useful for scouting opposing attackers. Kartana, especially its Choice Scarf set, is a good partner; Toxapex can often remove Heavy-Duty Boots from Kartana's Flying-type checks like Tornadus-T and Zapdos and benefit from its ability to threaten checks like Tapu Lele and Arctozolt. Finally, many offensive Pokemon such Garchomp and Venomicon-E appreciate Toxapex's ability to check Weavile, while Dragapult, Dragonite, and other Dragon-types benefit from Toxapex's good matchup into Fairy-types.
Other Options
Poison Jab can be run in place of either Scald or Knock Off to deal with Calm Mind Tapu Fini; if used over Scald, Toxapex can run an Impish nature as well. Shed Shell lets Toxapex switch into Heatran and Whirlpool Tapu Fini much more comfortably. Toxic Spikes over Scald pressures grounded Pokemon that don't run Heavy-Duty Boots, like Dragapult, Tapu Fini, and Tapu Lele. Baneful Bunker can be used over Knock Off to catch physical attackers like Weavile and U-turn users such as Dragapult by surprise, though it is often inconsistent and loses out on Knock Off's great general utility. Finally, the combination of Block + Spite can be used over Scald + Haze to trap and PP stall foes like Clefable and opposing Toxapex to enable Toxapex's own teammates; however, this set forgoes much of Toxapex's general utility and is inconsistent and niche.
Checks and Counters
Electric-types: Electric-types like Zeraora, Tapu Koko, Zapdos, Rotom-W, Krilowatt, Magnezone, and Arctozolt are some of the most common and effective methods of threatening Toxapex. However, Zeraora and Arctozolt despise being burned, and most of these Pokemon don't enjoy losing their item to Knock Off and aren't safe switch-ins.
Ground-types: Landorus-T, Garchomp, Colossoil, and Equilibra threaten Toxapex. However, none of them are safe switch-ins, as Toxapex can survive any one hit from them and threaten back with Scald or Knock Off; Landorus-T and Garchomp especially despite this interaction.
Strong Wallbreakers: Pokemon like Tapu Lele, Nidoking, and Air Balloon Heatran can immediately force Toxapex out, but these three cannot safely switch in, fearing losing their item or accruing undesirable chip damage. Venomicon can switch in on Toxapex and set up on it, though Venomicon may lose its Heavy-Duty Boots in the process. Swords Dance Kartana is one of the few physical attackers capable of threatening Toxapex, as +2 Leaf Blade has a chance to OHKO; however, it can never directly switch in and must set up first.
Taunt: Taunt users like Calm Mind Tapu Fini, Cosmic Power Mew, Taunt + Magma Storm Heatran, and certain Tornadus-T variants are highly effective options at dealing with Toxapex; Taunt prevents Toxapex from using Recover and removing boosts from the former two with Haze.
Future Sight: Future Sight users like Slowbro, Slowking, Galarian Slowking, and occasionally Tapu Lele enable teammates normally walled by Toxapex such as Urshifu-R and Weavile to break past it. The former two Pokemon also do not particularly mind losing their item or being burned, making them decent switch-ins.
