Hilomilo
High-low My-low
[OVERVIEW]
Nihilego's typing, high Special Attack, and good Speed allow it to carve a niche for itself in OU as an effective revenge killer with a Choice Scarf. While it most notably revenge kills Volcarona, it can also cover key threats like Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, Greninja, and Mega Pinsir with relative ease. Nihilego can also perform as an adequate wallbreaker with Choice Specs, muscling past even the bulkiest of threats in Tangrowth, Celesteela, and Toxapex. A fantastic ability in Beast Boost allows Nihilego to become increasingly more threatening every time it nets a KO by boosting its Special Attack, further bolstering its offensive presence. Its good HP and Special Defense stats allow it to reliably tank a few special hits if need be, notably surviving attacks like Greninja's Extrasensory, Magearna's Flash Cannon, and more often than not, Volcarona's boosted Hidden Power Ground. Unfortunately, Nihilego is cursed with extremely pitiful physical bulk and a poor defensive typing, which leaves it weak to several common attacking types and heavily pressured by a majority of the tier's physical attackers. Nihilego's typing can also hinder it offensively at times, as it struggles to break past most of the metagame's common Ground- and Steel-types. Nihilego also suffers from stiff competition from Terrakion as a revenge killer due to the latter's better Speed and STAB combination.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Power Gem
move 2: Sludge Wave
move 3: Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Thunderbolt / Thunder
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Power Gem is Nihilego's most powerful Rock-type STAB attack and is essential for dealing heavy damage to the likes of Volcarona, Mega Charizard Y, and Mega Pinsir. Sludge Wave is a powerful Poison-type STAB attack that allows Nihilego to hit Fairy-types like Clefable, Tapu Lele, and Tapu Koko super effectively. It is also useful for hitting Tangrowth quite hard. Hidden Power Ice covers the Ground-types that resist Nihilego's STAB combination, notably 2HKOing defensive Landorus, Garchomp, and Dugtrio. However, Hidden Power Fire can be used over Hidden Power Ice for covering some of the Steel-types that resist Nihilego's STAB combination, like Mega Scizor, Excadrill, and Ferrothorn, 2HKOing all. Thunderbolt rounds off Nihilego's coverage quite nicely, giving it a way to OHKO Greninja after Stealth Rock, as well as deal significant damage to Pokemon like Skarmory, Mega Gyarados, and Manaphy. Thunder is an option over Thunderbolt due to its ability to 2HKO both Toxapex and Celesteela, but it is slightly risky given its shaky accuracy. Grass Knot is an option for revenge killing neutral-natured Mega Swampert in the rain, but this usually forces Nihilego to give up more valuable coverage.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in Speed with a Timid nature and a Choice Scarf gives Nihilego as much Speed as possible, allowing it to outpace the entire unboosted metagame. It also allows Nihilego to outpace and revenge kill a few threatening boosted sweepers, such as Volcarona, Gyarados, and Mega Swampert in rain. Maximum investment in Special Attack puts a considerable amount of power behind Nihilego's attacks, allowing it to 2HKO Tapu Fini with Sludge Wave and OHKO Greninja with Thunderbolt after Stealth Rock. Beast Boost is Nihilego's only possible ability, but it is useful for boosting its Special Attack after it scores a KO and allowing it to become increasingly more threatening.
Usage Tips
========
This set's main function is as a revenge killer, and it should be used to revenge kill Pokemon like Tapu Koko, Mega Charizard Y, Serperior, and Tapu Lele. It can also revenge kill a few boosted setup sweepers, such as Volcarona, Gyarados, and Mega Pinsir. Nihilego does, however, need to either switch in as any of the aforementioned threats are setting up or after they've KOed a teammate to reliably revenge kill them. Due to its abysmal physical bulk, Nihilego should refrain from attempting to switch in more often than not and instead be brought into play with support from a pivot or after a teammate has fainted. If Nihilego has already revenge killed its intended targets or its revenge killing capabilities aren't needed, it can attempt to clean up late-game due to its good Speed and Beast Boost. It does, however, require quite a bit of support in order to adequately clean up, as both Steel- and Ground-types should be removed from play entirely to allow Nihilego to freely spam Power Gem or Sludge Wave.
Team Options
========
Due to Nihilego's inability to break past most Steel-types, Pokemon capable of taking them on like Heatran, Mega Charizard Y, and Zygarde make good options for teammates. Magnezone in particular can remove or weaken threats like Mega Scizor and Celesteela, which can allow for Nihilego to clean up quite well in the late-game. Reliable checks to Magearna are particularly important due to its presence in the tier, which makes Pokemon like Alolan Marowak, Gastrodon, and Heatran notably useful teammates. Answers to Ground-types, such as Ash-Greninja, Tapu Bulu, and Weavile, are also appreciated as partners due to Nihilego's inability to threaten most of the tier's Ground-types with anything more powerful than Hidden Power. Due to Nihilego's awful physical bulk, Pokemon capable of tanking physical hits fairly well make good teammates. Landorus-T and Zygarde in particular can switch in on most of the physical hits that threaten Nihilego while covering the Poison- and Steel-types it can struggle with. Entry hazard support from Pokemon like Ferrothorn and Landorus is useful to Nihilego for securing various KOs, such as the OHKO on +1 Special Defense Charti Berry Volcarona after Stealth Rock and the OHKO on Tapu Lele after one layer of Spikes. Slow pivot support from the likes of Zapdos and Landorus-T is also quite useful for safely bringing Nihilego into play. Tapu Lele is useful for its ability to provide Psychic Terrain support, which prevents priority like Mega Scizor's Bullet Punch and Ash-Greninja's Water Shuriken from threatening Nihilego, as well as for its ability to pressure Poison-types and weaken some of the checks it shares with Nihilego.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Power Gem
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Hidden Power Fire
move 4: Dazzling Gleam / Thunderbolt
item: Choice Specs
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Timid
evs: 176 SpA / 80 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Power Gem is a powerful STAB attack, and coming off the given Special Attack investment and Choice Specs, it is capable of hitting most foes that don't resist it quite hard. Sludge Bomb allows Nihilego to hit Fairy- and Grass-types quite hard, OHKOing Clefable, Tapu Lele, Serperior, and sometimes even Assault Vest Tangrowth with Stealth Rock down. It is preferred over Sludge Wave due to its useful 30% chance to poison switch-ins such as Chansey, Tyranitar, and Zygarde at the cost of only a slight decrease in power. Hidden Power Fire lets Nihilego hit Ferrothorn and Scizor for a 2HKO and OHKO after Stealth Rock, respectively. Hidden Power Ice can also be used, however, as it OHKOes Zygarde, Garchomp, and Landorus-T, though it should only be used alongside Thunderbolt to avoid redundancy of coverage options. Dazzling Gleam nails Tyranitar, a Pokemon that otherwise walls Nihilego, on the switch, as well as covering Pokemon like Latios, Zygarde, and Garchomp quite nicely. Thunderbolt hits Celesteela, which can otherwise switch in, for a 2HKO while also giving Nihilego a way of hitting the likes of Ash-Greninja and Toxapex for super effective damage. Grass Knot is an option for hitting Pokemon that will often switch into Nihilego, such as Tyranitar and Mega Swampert, for good damage.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in Speed with a Timid nature gives Nihilego as much Speed as possible, allowing it to outpace the tier's many base 100 Speed threats, such as Manaphy, Mega Charizard Y, Zapdos, and Mega Medicham, as well as threats like Garchomp and the rare Thundurus-T. The given Special Attack investment allows for Nihilego to maintain a decent offensive presence with Choice Specs, while the EVs invested in Special Defense allow it to always survive a +1 Hidden Power Ground from Volcarona. Beast Boost is Nihilego's only possible ability but is useful for booting its Speed every time it nets a KO thanks to the EV spread.
Usage Tips
========
Due to this set's function as a wallbreaker, Nihilego should be brought into play when it's capable of defeating the opponent's active Pokemon. Nihilego should, however, refrain from attempting to spam either of its STAB attacks if the opponent has Ground- or Steel-type Pokemon that are healthy so as not to generate free turns for its foes. Due to the nature of Choice Specs, this set must be used with proper prediction in order to make full use of Nihilego's offensive prowess. For example, if a switch-in to Sludge Bomb like Celesteela or Zygarde is suspected, Nihilego should opt to use super effective coverage (Thunderbolt and Hidden Power Ice, respectively) to nail the foe switching in, as it will otherwise generate free turns for its opponent. Once again, due to its abysmal physical bulk, Nihilego should often keep from switching in and rather come into play via pivot support or after a teammate faints.
Team Options
========
Pokemon capable of pressuring Ground-types, such as Greninja, Keldeo, and Latios, make helpful teammates due to Nihilego's inability to hit Ground-types very hard without Hidden Power. Steel-type checks, such as Heatran, Zygarde, and particularly Magnezone and Dugtrio due to their trapping capabilities, are also often useful teammates. Setup sweepers like Volcarona, Garchomp, and Zygarde appreciate Nihilego's ability to weaken foes early-game so that they can easily sweep later on. Slow pivot support from Magnezone and Landorus-T is helpful to Nihilego due to its general inability to directly come into play. Entry hazard support is also useful for punishing switches and allowing Nihilego to wallbreak more easily, making Pokemon like Ferrothorn, Landorus-T, Greninja, and Clefable good teammates. Powerful physical attackers, such as Mega Mawile, Mega Heracross, Hoopa-U, and Garchomp, can take on specially bulky Pokemon like Chansey and Assault Vest Magearna that can often trouble Nihilego.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A lead set with a Focus Sash and either Stealth Rock or Toxic Spikes is an option given the OU tier's slight lack of reliable entry hazard removal. However, Nihilego will often function more consistently as a revenge killer or wallbreaker, and it also struggles as a lead at times due to its poor defensive typing and physical bulk. A set with an Electrium Z and Thunder can be used to lure in and remove Celesteela, though both Nihilego's Choice Scarf and Choice Specs sets have ways of 2HKOing Celesteela on the switch as is. Mirror Coat can be used in tandem with a Focus Sash to take out a powerful special threat, but it is quite situational and often not as useful as just running Choice Scarf or Choice Specs.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Due to their immunity to Poison-type attacks and resistance to Rock-type attacks, Steel-types like Magearna, Celesteela, Ferrothorn, Jirachi, and Mega Mawile can take on Nihilego with little trouble.
**Ground-types**: Ground-type Pokemon, such as Landorus-T, Mega Swampert, Dugtrio, Garchomp, and Zygarde, can tank both Power Gem and Sludge Wave and retaliate by OHKOing Nihilego with their super effective STAB attacks. All should be wary of super effective coverage, however.
**Physical Attackers**: Nihilego's horrible Defense stat leaves it open to an OHKO from almost any physical attacker. Choice Scarf users that outpace Choice Scarf Nihilego, such as Dugtrio and Terrakion, are particularly troublesome due to their ability to KO Nihilego without even taking a hit.
**Psychic-types**: Mega Alakazam, Choice Scarf Jirachi, and Latios can all take at least one hit from Choice Scarf Nihilego and outspeed the Choice Specs set, proceeding to dent it with their Psychic-type STAB attacks.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon*: Nihilego generally struggles to break past Pokemon with exceptional special bulk. Chansey can threaten to wear it down with Seismic Toss while tanking its attacks, while both forms of Tyranitar only fear the rare Grass Knot and OHKO in return with their powerful attacks. Alolan Muk is also quite threatening, as it can heavily dent Nihilego with Knock Off while utilizing an Assault Vest to tank hits.
Nihilego's typing, high Special Attack, and good Speed allow it to carve a niche for itself in OU as an effective revenge killer with a Choice Scarf. While it most notably revenge kills Volcarona, it can also cover key threats like Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, Greninja, and Mega Pinsir with relative ease. Nihilego can also perform as an adequate wallbreaker with Choice Specs, muscling past even the bulkiest of threats in Tangrowth, Celesteela, and Toxapex. A fantastic ability in Beast Boost allows Nihilego to become increasingly more threatening every time it nets a KO by boosting its Special Attack, further bolstering its offensive presence. Its good HP and Special Defense stats allow it to reliably tank a few special hits if need be, notably surviving attacks like Greninja's Extrasensory, Magearna's Flash Cannon, and more often than not, Volcarona's boosted Hidden Power Ground. Unfortunately, Nihilego is cursed with extremely pitiful physical bulk and a poor defensive typing, which leaves it weak to several common attacking types and heavily pressured by a majority of the tier's physical attackers. Nihilego's typing can also hinder it offensively at times, as it struggles to break past most of the metagame's common Ground- and Steel-types. Nihilego also suffers from stiff competition from Terrakion as a revenge killer due to the latter's better Speed and STAB combination.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Power Gem
move 2: Sludge Wave
move 3: Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Thunderbolt / Thunder
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Power Gem is Nihilego's most powerful Rock-type STAB attack and is essential for dealing heavy damage to the likes of Volcarona, Mega Charizard Y, and Mega Pinsir. Sludge Wave is a powerful Poison-type STAB attack that allows Nihilego to hit Fairy-types like Clefable, Tapu Lele, and Tapu Koko super effectively. It is also useful for hitting Tangrowth quite hard. Hidden Power Ice covers the Ground-types that resist Nihilego's STAB combination, notably 2HKOing defensive Landorus, Garchomp, and Dugtrio. However, Hidden Power Fire can be used over Hidden Power Ice for covering some of the Steel-types that resist Nihilego's STAB combination, like Mega Scizor, Excadrill, and Ferrothorn, 2HKOing all. Thunderbolt rounds off Nihilego's coverage quite nicely, giving it a way to OHKO Greninja after Stealth Rock, as well as deal significant damage to Pokemon like Skarmory, Mega Gyarados, and Manaphy. Thunder is an option over Thunderbolt due to its ability to 2HKO both Toxapex and Celesteela, but it is slightly risky given its shaky accuracy. Grass Knot is an option for revenge killing neutral-natured Mega Swampert in the rain, but this usually forces Nihilego to give up more valuable coverage.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in Speed with a Timid nature and a Choice Scarf gives Nihilego as much Speed as possible, allowing it to outpace the entire unboosted metagame. It also allows Nihilego to outpace and revenge kill a few threatening boosted sweepers, such as Volcarona, Gyarados, and Mega Swampert in rain. Maximum investment in Special Attack puts a considerable amount of power behind Nihilego's attacks, allowing it to 2HKO Tapu Fini with Sludge Wave and OHKO Greninja with Thunderbolt after Stealth Rock. Beast Boost is Nihilego's only possible ability, but it is useful for boosting its Special Attack after it scores a KO and allowing it to become increasingly more threatening.
Usage Tips
========
This set's main function is as a revenge killer, and it should be used to revenge kill Pokemon like Tapu Koko, Mega Charizard Y, Serperior, and Tapu Lele. It can also revenge kill a few boosted setup sweepers, such as Volcarona, Gyarados, and Mega Pinsir. Nihilego does, however, need to either switch in as any of the aforementioned threats are setting up or after they've KOed a teammate to reliably revenge kill them. Due to its abysmal physical bulk, Nihilego should refrain from attempting to switch in more often than not and instead be brought into play with support from a pivot or after a teammate has fainted. If Nihilego has already revenge killed its intended targets or its revenge killing capabilities aren't needed, it can attempt to clean up late-game due to its good Speed and Beast Boost. It does, however, require quite a bit of support in order to adequately clean up, as both Steel- and Ground-types should be removed from play entirely to allow Nihilego to freely spam Power Gem or Sludge Wave.
Team Options
========
Due to Nihilego's inability to break past most Steel-types, Pokemon capable of taking them on like Heatran, Mega Charizard Y, and Zygarde make good options for teammates. Magnezone in particular can remove or weaken threats like Mega Scizor and Celesteela, which can allow for Nihilego to clean up quite well in the late-game. Reliable checks to Magearna are particularly important due to its presence in the tier, which makes Pokemon like Alolan Marowak, Gastrodon, and Heatran notably useful teammates. Answers to Ground-types, such as Ash-Greninja, Tapu Bulu, and Weavile, are also appreciated as partners due to Nihilego's inability to threaten most of the tier's Ground-types with anything more powerful than Hidden Power. Due to Nihilego's awful physical bulk, Pokemon capable of tanking physical hits fairly well make good teammates. Landorus-T and Zygarde in particular can switch in on most of the physical hits that threaten Nihilego while covering the Poison- and Steel-types it can struggle with. Entry hazard support from Pokemon like Ferrothorn and Landorus is useful to Nihilego for securing various KOs, such as the OHKO on +1 Special Defense Charti Berry Volcarona after Stealth Rock and the OHKO on Tapu Lele after one layer of Spikes. Slow pivot support from the likes of Zapdos and Landorus-T is also quite useful for safely bringing Nihilego into play. Tapu Lele is useful for its ability to provide Psychic Terrain support, which prevents priority like Mega Scizor's Bullet Punch and Ash-Greninja's Water Shuriken from threatening Nihilego, as well as for its ability to pressure Poison-types and weaken some of the checks it shares with Nihilego.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Power Gem
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Hidden Power Fire
move 4: Dazzling Gleam / Thunderbolt
item: Choice Specs
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Timid
evs: 176 SpA / 80 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Power Gem is a powerful STAB attack, and coming off the given Special Attack investment and Choice Specs, it is capable of hitting most foes that don't resist it quite hard. Sludge Bomb allows Nihilego to hit Fairy- and Grass-types quite hard, OHKOing Clefable, Tapu Lele, Serperior, and sometimes even Assault Vest Tangrowth with Stealth Rock down. It is preferred over Sludge Wave due to its useful 30% chance to poison switch-ins such as Chansey, Tyranitar, and Zygarde at the cost of only a slight decrease in power. Hidden Power Fire lets Nihilego hit Ferrothorn and Scizor for a 2HKO and OHKO after Stealth Rock, respectively. Hidden Power Ice can also be used, however, as it OHKOes Zygarde, Garchomp, and Landorus-T, though it should only be used alongside Thunderbolt to avoid redundancy of coverage options. Dazzling Gleam nails Tyranitar, a Pokemon that otherwise walls Nihilego, on the switch, as well as covering Pokemon like Latios, Zygarde, and Garchomp quite nicely. Thunderbolt hits Celesteela, which can otherwise switch in, for a 2HKO while also giving Nihilego a way of hitting the likes of Ash-Greninja and Toxapex for super effective damage. Grass Knot is an option for hitting Pokemon that will often switch into Nihilego, such as Tyranitar and Mega Swampert, for good damage.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in Speed with a Timid nature gives Nihilego as much Speed as possible, allowing it to outpace the tier's many base 100 Speed threats, such as Manaphy, Mega Charizard Y, Zapdos, and Mega Medicham, as well as threats like Garchomp and the rare Thundurus-T. The given Special Attack investment allows for Nihilego to maintain a decent offensive presence with Choice Specs, while the EVs invested in Special Defense allow it to always survive a +1 Hidden Power Ground from Volcarona. Beast Boost is Nihilego's only possible ability but is useful for booting its Speed every time it nets a KO thanks to the EV spread.
Usage Tips
========
Due to this set's function as a wallbreaker, Nihilego should be brought into play when it's capable of defeating the opponent's active Pokemon. Nihilego should, however, refrain from attempting to spam either of its STAB attacks if the opponent has Ground- or Steel-type Pokemon that are healthy so as not to generate free turns for its foes. Due to the nature of Choice Specs, this set must be used with proper prediction in order to make full use of Nihilego's offensive prowess. For example, if a switch-in to Sludge Bomb like Celesteela or Zygarde is suspected, Nihilego should opt to use super effective coverage (Thunderbolt and Hidden Power Ice, respectively) to nail the foe switching in, as it will otherwise generate free turns for its opponent. Once again, due to its abysmal physical bulk, Nihilego should often keep from switching in and rather come into play via pivot support or after a teammate faints.
Team Options
========
Pokemon capable of pressuring Ground-types, such as Greninja, Keldeo, and Latios, make helpful teammates due to Nihilego's inability to hit Ground-types very hard without Hidden Power. Steel-type checks, such as Heatran, Zygarde, and particularly Magnezone and Dugtrio due to their trapping capabilities, are also often useful teammates. Setup sweepers like Volcarona, Garchomp, and Zygarde appreciate Nihilego's ability to weaken foes early-game so that they can easily sweep later on. Slow pivot support from Magnezone and Landorus-T is helpful to Nihilego due to its general inability to directly come into play. Entry hazard support is also useful for punishing switches and allowing Nihilego to wallbreak more easily, making Pokemon like Ferrothorn, Landorus-T, Greninja, and Clefable good teammates. Powerful physical attackers, such as Mega Mawile, Mega Heracross, Hoopa-U, and Garchomp, can take on specially bulky Pokemon like Chansey and Assault Vest Magearna that can often trouble Nihilego.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A lead set with a Focus Sash and either Stealth Rock or Toxic Spikes is an option given the OU tier's slight lack of reliable entry hazard removal. However, Nihilego will often function more consistently as a revenge killer or wallbreaker, and it also struggles as a lead at times due to its poor defensive typing and physical bulk. A set with an Electrium Z and Thunder can be used to lure in and remove Celesteela, though both Nihilego's Choice Scarf and Choice Specs sets have ways of 2HKOing Celesteela on the switch as is. Mirror Coat can be used in tandem with a Focus Sash to take out a powerful special threat, but it is quite situational and often not as useful as just running Choice Scarf or Choice Specs.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Due to their immunity to Poison-type attacks and resistance to Rock-type attacks, Steel-types like Magearna, Celesteela, Ferrothorn, Jirachi, and Mega Mawile can take on Nihilego with little trouble.
**Ground-types**: Ground-type Pokemon, such as Landorus-T, Mega Swampert, Dugtrio, Garchomp, and Zygarde, can tank both Power Gem and Sludge Wave and retaliate by OHKOing Nihilego with their super effective STAB attacks. All should be wary of super effective coverage, however.
**Physical Attackers**: Nihilego's horrible Defense stat leaves it open to an OHKO from almost any physical attacker. Choice Scarf users that outpace Choice Scarf Nihilego, such as Dugtrio and Terrakion, are particularly troublesome due to their ability to KO Nihilego without even taking a hit.
**Psychic-types**: Mega Alakazam, Choice Scarf Jirachi, and Latios can all take at least one hit from Choice Scarf Nihilego and outspeed the Choice Specs set, proceeding to dent it with their Psychic-type STAB attacks.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon*: Nihilego generally struggles to break past Pokemon with exceptional special bulk. Chansey can threaten to wear it down with Seismic Toss while tanking its attacks, while both forms of Tyranitar only fear the rare Grass Knot and OHKO in return with their powerful attacks. Alolan Muk is also quite threatening, as it can heavily dent Nihilego with Knock Off while utilizing an Assault Vest to tank hits.
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