Nihilego serves as an incredible Choice Scarf user for Poison teams thanks to its vast movepool and strong Special Attack. Power Gem deals with Flying- and Fire-types such as Tornadus-T, Mega Charizard Y, and Volcarona. Grass Knot targets Ground-types attempting to take on Nihilego's Power Gem such as Hippowdon, Swampert, and Mamoswine. Alternatively, Dazzling Gleam deals with Dragon- and Dark-types like Kommo-o, Hydreigon, and Mega Sableye. Thunderbolt threatens Water-types like Toxapex, Urshifu-R, and Keldeo. Hidden Power Ice removes the Landorus formes for Poison teams along with dealing significant damage to Garchomp and Dragonite. However, Sludge Wave threatens Fairy- and Grass-types like Tapu Lele, Tapu Bulu, and Ogerpon-C. Nidoking serves as an excellent special attacking complement, being able to remove Steel-types that wall Nihilego such as non-Air Balloon Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Gholdengo. Sneasler can help to break through problematic special walls such as Blissey and Hisuian Goodra thanks to its powerful Close Combat, and in return, it appreciates Nihilego beating physical walls like Toxapex and Great Tusk. Mega Venusaur helps to deal with Water- and Ground-types that Nihilego cannot handle such as Barraskewda, Mega Swampert, and Iron Treads. Crobat possesses a necessary Ground immunity and is able to come in on the likes of Clodsire and Excadrill along with being able to check Mega Gallade for Nihilego with its powerful Brave Bird. Alolan Muk can use Pursuit to trap and eliminate problematic Psychic- and Ghost-type threats for Nihilego like Deoxys-S, Tapu Lele, and Blacephalon while also removing Choice Scarf from foes such as Greninja, allowing for Nihilego to outspeed them. Galarian Slowking can safely pivot in Nihilego with Chilly Reception, as well as setting up Future Sight to pressure Nihilego's checks like Iron Hands and Clodsire. Toxapex can safely come in on priority moves such as Scizor's Bullet Punch and Mimikyu's Shadow Sneak and safely handle them thanks to Scald.

This is the sample set before we work on new analyses. This will be updated as the metagame continues to develop. Stay tuned!

With a high capability to end games by potentially getting multiple stat boosts with no passivity, Nihilego is a potent sweeper for Rock teams. As an offensive Grass-type check, Sludge Wave hits Grass-types such as Celebi and Tapu Bulu. Thunderbolt complements its coverage to hit foes such as Corviknight and Toxapex, and Grass Knot stops Nihilego from being walled by Ground-types such as Great Tusk and Gastrodon. The first EV spread ensures that Beast Boost triggers on Nihilego's Speed stat, easing cleaning against offensive teams, particularly Water teams because Mega Swampert is outsped by Nihilego after a boost and Sticky Web support. The second EV spread is also an option to instead handle better the matchup against more defensive teams by boosting its Special Attack instead, OHKOing Ursaluna with Grass Knot at +1 and Toxapex and Celesteela with Thunderbolt at +2 after Stealth Rock damage. Entry hazards from Shuckle and Mega Diancie better Nihilego's consistency at sweeping, with Shuckle's Sticky Web reducing Nihilego's reliance on a Speed boost from its ability, allowing it to outspeed foes such as Ogerpon-W and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele. Shuckle's Stealth Rock and Mega Diancie's Spikes weaken foes to put them into KO range for Nihilego, OHKOing utility Great Tusk with Grass Knot and 2HKOing Kommo-o with Sludge Wave after Stealth Rock damage. Ogerpon-C can break past bulky Ground-types Nihilego can't easily get past such as Gliscor, Clodsire, and Garchomp. Nihilego's poor physical bulk leaves it vulnerable to priority from foes such as Mega Scizor and Azumarill; Hisuian Arcanine and Ogerpon-C can offensively check such foes.