[SET]
name: Meteor Beam Sweeper
move 1: Meteor Beam
move 2: Sludge Wave / Sludge Bomb
move 3: Thunderbolt / Hidden Power Fire
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Grass Knot
item: Power Herb
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Timid
evs: 80 Def / 176 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Nihilego carves out a niche, utilizing its great coverage and snowballing ability to be a notable sweeper. Meteor Beam + Power Herb lets it gain a power boost while firing off a strong STAB move. Sludge Wave's higher power is preferred to secure KOs after boosting, but Sludge Bomb is an alternative that trades a bit of power for a higher chance to poison the target, which may prove useful in longer games. Thunderbolt hits Toxapex, Corviknight, and Skarmory hard, while Hidden Power Fire allows Nihilego to break through Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor. Hidden Power Ice can be used to hit Ground-types not weak to Grass Knot, such as Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Gliscor. However, Grass Knot will often be Nihilego's strongest option against bulky Ground-types, such as Hippowdon and Gastrodon. While Hidden Power Ice's targets tend to be more common, they usually do not have reliable recovery, while Grass Knot's targets do and are harder to wear down. The given EV spread ensures Beast Boost raises Nihilego's Speed after each KO.
Nihilego fits best on offensive teams in need of a late game sweeper. Teammates that can deal with bulky Ground-types such as Garchomp and Excadrill are greatly appreciated. Landorus-T is a good answer to these Pokemon that can also provide U-turn support to help Nihilego enter the field safely. Landorus-T also provides entry hazards and threatens Steel-types that Nihilego can't break through, even wearing down Ferrothorn with Knock Off and Earthquake. Magnezone can help trap Kartana not locked into Sacred Sword, as well as certain bulky Steel-types such as Melmetal and Mega Scizor, all of which threaten Nihilego. As many of Nihilego's checks lack reliable recovery and/or are greatly pressured by Spikes, entry hazard support from Ferrothorn, Mew, and Greninja is appreciated. In particular, many bulky Steel-types that trouble Nihilego such as Heatran and Melmetal are quickly worn down by repeatedly switching into Spikes. Tapu Lele is a strong wallbreaker that can overwhelm some of Nihilego's Steel-type enemies over time, while also providing Psychic Terrain support to block priority attacks such as Bullet Punch from Mega Scizor, Water Shuriken from Ash-Greninja, and Aqua Jet from Urshifu-R.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Pain Split enables Nihilego to heal versus Chansey and Blissey as it tries to gain enough Meteor Beam boosts to eventually break through them. However, this sacrifices valuable coverage that Nihilego needs to break through its other switch-ins. Hidden Power Ground is an option to help Nihilego lure and destroy specially defensive Heatran, but is generally inferior to Nihilego's other coverage options. A Choice Scarf set with maximum Special Attack investment has late-game sweeping potential, although its lack of power before a boost makes it generally outclassed by other Choice Scarf users with more immediate power, such as Kartana. In terms of utility for Nihilego, Knock Off cripples switch-ins like Chansey and Ferrothorn by removing their items, making them easier to break through for Nihilego and its teammates. Nihilego can also opt for entry hazards in the form of Toxic Spikes and Stealth Rock to further wear down its checks, but is ultimately outclassed by other entry hazard setters like Heatran and Toxapex.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Revenge Killers**: Nihilego's subpar defensive typing makes it a prime target for priority users. Bullet Punch from Mega Scizor and Mega Medicham, Aqua Jet from Urshifu-R, Sucker Punch from Mega Mawile, and Water Shuriken from Ash-Greninja can all easily revenge kill Nihilego. In addition, Choice Scarf Kartana can revenge kill Nihilego even after a Speed boost.
**Ground-Types**: Ground-types such as Gliscor, Garchomp, Hippowdown, and Gastrodon resist Nihilego's STAB combination and OHKO it with Earthquake. Even with super effective coverage, an unboosted Nihilego cannot typically OHKO these Ground-types and is forced to switch out. However, the Special Attack boost from Meteor Beam makes a potential Hidden Power Ice or Grass Knot notably more threatening to their respective targets.
**Steel-Types**: Steel-types like specially defensive Heatran, Mega Scizor, Magnezone, Ferrothorn, and Excadrill don't fear Nihilego's standard coverage much and can force it to switch. Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor must watch out for Hidden Power Fire, however, while Excadrill, Magnezone, and Heatran can be worn down by hazards and repeated attacks.
**Specially Defensive Walls**: Blissey and Chansey have immense special bulk and have the potential to wall Nihilego entirely. However, they must KO it with Seismic Toss quickly or else Nihilego may aquire enough boosts to break through them. A properly positioned Toxapex can also use Haze to remove Nihilego's boosts.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[nimzowitsch, 272785]]
- Quality checked by: [[Kaede, 483087], [Sulo, 528036]]
- Grammar checked by: [[UT, 523866], [Isaiah, 375662]]
name: Meteor Beam Sweeper
move 1: Meteor Beam
move 2: Sludge Wave / Sludge Bomb
move 3: Thunderbolt / Hidden Power Fire
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Grass Knot
item: Power Herb
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Timid
evs: 80 Def / 176 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Nihilego carves out a niche, utilizing its great coverage and snowballing ability to be a notable sweeper. Meteor Beam + Power Herb lets it gain a power boost while firing off a strong STAB move. Sludge Wave's higher power is preferred to secure KOs after boosting, but Sludge Bomb is an alternative that trades a bit of power for a higher chance to poison the target, which may prove useful in longer games. Thunderbolt hits Toxapex, Corviknight, and Skarmory hard, while Hidden Power Fire allows Nihilego to break through Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor. Hidden Power Ice can be used to hit Ground-types not weak to Grass Knot, such as Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Gliscor. However, Grass Knot will often be Nihilego's strongest option against bulky Ground-types, such as Hippowdon and Gastrodon. While Hidden Power Ice's targets tend to be more common, they usually do not have reliable recovery, while Grass Knot's targets do and are harder to wear down. The given EV spread ensures Beast Boost raises Nihilego's Speed after each KO.
Nihilego fits best on offensive teams in need of a late game sweeper. Teammates that can deal with bulky Ground-types such as Garchomp and Excadrill are greatly appreciated. Landorus-T is a good answer to these Pokemon that can also provide U-turn support to help Nihilego enter the field safely. Landorus-T also provides entry hazards and threatens Steel-types that Nihilego can't break through, even wearing down Ferrothorn with Knock Off and Earthquake. Magnezone can help trap Kartana not locked into Sacred Sword, as well as certain bulky Steel-types such as Melmetal and Mega Scizor, all of which threaten Nihilego. As many of Nihilego's checks lack reliable recovery and/or are greatly pressured by Spikes, entry hazard support from Ferrothorn, Mew, and Greninja is appreciated. In particular, many bulky Steel-types that trouble Nihilego such as Heatran and Melmetal are quickly worn down by repeatedly switching into Spikes. Tapu Lele is a strong wallbreaker that can overwhelm some of Nihilego's Steel-type enemies over time, while also providing Psychic Terrain support to block priority attacks such as Bullet Punch from Mega Scizor, Water Shuriken from Ash-Greninja, and Aqua Jet from Urshifu-R.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Pain Split enables Nihilego to heal versus Chansey and Blissey as it tries to gain enough Meteor Beam boosts to eventually break through them. However, this sacrifices valuable coverage that Nihilego needs to break through its other switch-ins. Hidden Power Ground is an option to help Nihilego lure and destroy specially defensive Heatran, but is generally inferior to Nihilego's other coverage options. A Choice Scarf set with maximum Special Attack investment has late-game sweeping potential, although its lack of power before a boost makes it generally outclassed by other Choice Scarf users with more immediate power, such as Kartana. In terms of utility for Nihilego, Knock Off cripples switch-ins like Chansey and Ferrothorn by removing their items, making them easier to break through for Nihilego and its teammates. Nihilego can also opt for entry hazards in the form of Toxic Spikes and Stealth Rock to further wear down its checks, but is ultimately outclassed by other entry hazard setters like Heatran and Toxapex.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Revenge Killers**: Nihilego's subpar defensive typing makes it a prime target for priority users. Bullet Punch from Mega Scizor and Mega Medicham, Aqua Jet from Urshifu-R, Sucker Punch from Mega Mawile, and Water Shuriken from Ash-Greninja can all easily revenge kill Nihilego. In addition, Choice Scarf Kartana can revenge kill Nihilego even after a Speed boost.
**Ground-Types**: Ground-types such as Gliscor, Garchomp, Hippowdown, and Gastrodon resist Nihilego's STAB combination and OHKO it with Earthquake. Even with super effective coverage, an unboosted Nihilego cannot typically OHKO these Ground-types and is forced to switch out. However, the Special Attack boost from Meteor Beam makes a potential Hidden Power Ice or Grass Knot notably more threatening to their respective targets.
**Steel-Types**: Steel-types like specially defensive Heatran, Mega Scizor, Magnezone, Ferrothorn, and Excadrill don't fear Nihilego's standard coverage much and can force it to switch. Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor must watch out for Hidden Power Fire, however, while Excadrill, Magnezone, and Heatran can be worn down by hazards and repeated attacks.
**Specially Defensive Walls**: Blissey and Chansey have immense special bulk and have the potential to wall Nihilego entirely. However, they must KO it with Seismic Toss quickly or else Nihilego may aquire enough boosts to break through them. A properly positioned Toxapex can also use Haze to remove Nihilego's boosts.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[nimzowitsch, 272785]]
- Quality checked by: [[Kaede, 483087], [Sulo, 528036]]
- Grammar checked by: [[UT, 523866], [Isaiah, 375662]]
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