roman
Banned deucer.
qc: avocado / teach / phantom
gp: cake / cryogyro
[OVERVIEW]
Nidoqueen is an excellent offensive Stealth Rock setter and wallbreaker thanks to its strong Life Orb- and Sheer Force-boosted attacks and its access to Taunt and Toxic. Its effectiveness as a Stealth Rock setter is bolstered by the fact that it beats almost every entry hazard remover in the tier thanks to its impeccable coverage. Nidoqueen's typing gives it an immunity to Electric and useful resistances that allow it to check common Pokemon. However, Nidoqueen's average Speed tier prevents it from outpacing common Pokemon such as Necrozma, Feraligatr, and Roserade. Nidoqueen also struggles to beat walls like Milotic, Cresselia, and Umbreon unless running Toxic or niche coverage moves. For example, it can run Thunderbolt for Milotic or Focus Blast for Umbreon. However, Nidoqueen can still struggle to break through Pokemon even when running the appropriate coverage attack; one case of this is relying on the inaccuate Focus Blast to break through Pokemon like Snorlax and the aforementioned Umbreon.
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Toxic / Taunt
item: Life Orb
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Stealth Rock racks up chip damage as switches are made, especially against Pokemon with a Rock weakness like Yanmega and Moltres. Earth Power is Nidoqueen's strongest, most reliable attack. Ice Beam hits Flying-types such as Gligar and Mandibuzz and Grass-types like Roserade and Shaymin super effectively. Toxic allows Nidoqueen to put a timer on Pokemon that completely wall it such as Cresselia and Porygon2. Taunt lets Nidoqueen prevent Defog and other status moves such as Stealth Rock and Spikes. It can also stop walls such as Porygon2 and Cresselia from recovering health. Sludge Wave takes out Fairy-types such as Comfey and Florges and hits Pokemon with Levitate such as Cresselia and Rotom-H harder than Ice Beam does.
Set Details
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252 Speed EVs and a Timid nature let Nidoqueen outpace Pokemon like Cloyster and Hoopa. 252 EVs invested into Special Attack let Nidoqueen hit as hard as possible. Sheer Force and Life Orb bolster Nidoqueen’s damage output. A Modest nature can be used so Nidoqueen can hit walls like Umbreon and Porygon2 much harder at the cost of being outpaced by Pokemon such as Cloyster, Hoopa, and Modest Mega Blastoise.
Usage Tips
========
Try to position Nidoqueen against Pokemon it forces it out early-game so it can freely set up Stealth Rock. However, if you can’t achieve this, Nidoqueen set up Stealth Rock later in the game against Pokemon that are Choice-locked into resisted attacks like Tyrantrum's Head Smash and Gardevoir's Moonblast. Make sure to use Toxic on potential switch-ins such as Porygon2 and Cresselia, as it prevents them from switching into attacks multiple times throughout a game. Play wisely when the opponent has Pokemon immune to Earth Power that can outpace and KO Nidoqueen such as Sigilyph and Flygon, as they may try to aggressively switch them in. Use Taunt liberally against walls that might be trying to heal such as Umbreon and Porygon2.
Team Options
========
A plethora of setup sweepers, including Salazzle, Dragon Dance Flygon, and Feraligatr, appreciate Nidoqueen's ability to soften the opposition with Stealth Rock and shut down walls with Taunt or Toxic. For example, Feraligatr enjoys Nidoqueen’s ability to cripple Pokemon like Milotic lacking Refresh and Pyukumuku. Wallbreakers such as Escavalier and Bewear are great teammates, as they can help deal with walls like Cresselia and Umbreon, which Nidoqueen struggles with. Roserade synergizes well with Nidoqueen, as it can set Spikes to aid Nidoqueen in wallbreaking, act as a switch-in to Water-type attacks like Scald from Milotic, and potentially use Sleep Powder to prevent Pokemon like Gligar from using Defog. Pokemon like Rotom-C, Mega Glalie, and Rotom-H are able to take advantage of Pokemon that Nidoqueen is weak to, such as Mega Blastoise, Life Orb Roserade, and Vanilluxe, respectively.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Thunderbolt allows Nidoqueen to 2HKO Milotic. Modest Nidoqueen with Focus Blast 2HKOes walls such as Porygon2, Umbreon, and Snorlax. Toxic Spikes wears down defensive counterplay extremely quickly, allowing Nidoqueen and its teammates to break past defensive Pokemon. However, Nidoqueen has a hard time fitting this on most sets due to its extremely good movepool. Fire Blast hits Steel-types that can switch into Earth Power, such as Bronzong and Escavalier. Shuca Berry Nidoqueen gives offensive teams a reliable way of beating pains like Zygarde-10% and Flygon. This set also beats opposing Nidoqueen without having to rely on winning a Speed tie.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Walls**: Even with Taunt or Toxic, Nidoqueen struggles to break past specially defensive Pokemon such as Cresselia, Snorlax, Porygon2, and Milotic.
**Ground-types**: Ground-type attacks from common Pokemon such as Flygon and Zygarde-10% KO Nidoqueen either outright or after slight chip damage.
**Psychic-types**: Super effective Psychic-type attacks from Pokemon such as Gardevoir, Meloetta, Espeon, Sigilyph, and Necrozma beat Nidoqueen.
**Offensive Water-types**: Water-types like Mega Blastoise and Feraligatr outpace and OHKO Nidoqueen.
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