So I posted in the rate my moveset a moveset I had for a lead Nidoqueen in OU. There was a lot of debate as to how much team support it required, so I figured the best way to show the support it needed would be to post the entirety of the team I was using it in. I was reluctant to because I was nominated in the preliminary stages of the BOTW and didn't want to post my team before that, but since I'm out and I'll have at least another 2 weeks before the next OU BOTW I think it's safe to post it here.
more to love (Nidoqueen) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Poison Point
EVs: 252 HP/200 Def/44 Spd/12 SDef
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic Spikes
- Roar
Yes, on paper this looks like a terrible lead. It is weak to a lot of things including Earthquake, Ice Beam, Psychic, and Surf. It's slow as hell and doesn't hit very hard. It loses to almost all the major OU leads. Azelf Taunts it, sets up rocks, and kills it with psychic; Metagross, Swampert, and Tyranitar Earthquake it after setting up rocks; Aerodactyl and Gliscor taunt it and then set up rocks and Earthquake; Jirachi is able to escape from it scot free since Nidoqueen will either get locked into her entry hazard move or Earthquake; Infernape can just generally overpower it; Roserade can put it to sleep (though I have a solution to that as I'll explain later); and Smeargle can either use the trickscarf strategy or put it to sleep.
So why use it? The answer is simple. It has access to both Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes. With those two hazards in play, my team becomes infinitely better against other stall teams, removing problems like Vaporeon and other non-resttalkers and limiting when my opponent can safely switch in. Between Nidoqueen and Skarmory, I have access to all 3 entry hazards on this team, meaning that anything will take at least 12.5% damage (generally closer to 25%) when it switches in and the grounded non-steel non-poison types will be toxic'd.
But Forretress also has access to both Toxic Spikes and Stealth Rock, you may say. Why not just use that? Think about this: Would YOU use Forretress as a lead on a team that already has several fire weaknesses in an environment where anti-lead Infernape isn't uncommon, Rotom-H and HP Fire Gengar are on a large majority of teams, and Azelfs have flamethrower roughly 1/3 of the time? I didn't think so.
So in conclusion, although Nidoqueen is a terrible terrible pokemon, she fits quite well on this team with her electric immunity and ability to set up entry hazards. Her EVs are such that she shouldn't be OHKO'd by anything but Azelf's Psychic from typical leads. Her fighting and rock resistances can also come in handy. I have a Sleep Talker on my team to absorb the initial attacks of Roserade and Smeargle so that's a non-issue as well. Roar is also a great move on her since it allows her to phaze and spread the poison. I like having as many phazers on a team as I can usually.
One thing I have been considering for this set is going Bold and using Ice Beam instead of Earthquake for better type coverage and defense against Gliscor and Dragons. However, this means that she would have a harder time against Steels which is not something I particularly want. Otherwise she's fine.
my ***** (Gyarados) (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP/248 Def/12 Spd
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Rest
- Roar
- Sleep Talk
- Waterfall
Standard resttalk Gyara. His job is to absorb the sleep attacks from Roserade, Breloom, Smeargle, etc. and then phaze in his sleep. He also resists fire and steel and is immune to ground, all of which help on this team. Intimidate is also quite good as it essentially means that I can switch him into Breloom at any time and totally wreck him.
Skarmory (Blissey) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 220 HP/252 Def/36 SAtk
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Flamethrower
- Thunder Wave
- Softboiled
- Shadow Ball
I'm pretty sure I've talked about this set before. It's basically the standard Softboil "attacker" Blissey. Thanks to toxic spikes, I don't get to use Thunder Wave as often, but I can still hit steel types, levitators, and fliers, which is mostly what it's used for before anyway. Flamethrower is obviously to nail Scizors and Metagross who try to switch in. Seismic Toss is to break subs.
Blissey (Skarmory) (F) @ Shed Shell
Ability: Keen Eye
EVs: 252 HP/72 Def/184 Spd
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Roost
- Spikes
- Taunt
- Whirlwind
TauntSkarm is by far my favorite Skarmory build. It gives me access to all the moves Skarmory typically uses and the ability to outspeed and Taunt other Skarmories and defensive pokemon. He has saved my *** a lot of times and is very good at winning stall battles.
coupon head (Jirachi) @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 240 HP/160 Def/32 Spd/76 SDef
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Iron Head
- U-turn
- Thunder Wave
- Wish
This guy is mostly used for Wish passing, which generally helps my team a lot, especially the less bulky stuff like Rotom and Nidoqueen, Gyarados who takes a lot of damage from switching in, and just generally any pokemon low on health. Twave is used on this set in addition to Blissey because my team is slow as **** and needs all the help it can get. And if enough stuff on my opponent't team is paralyzed or slow, flinchhax sweeping is always possible. Jirachi is also a good check to Tyranitar, who my team has lots of trouble with otherwise.
Hot Pocket (Rotom-h) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/164 Def/92 Spd
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Shadow Ball
- Overheat
- Will-o-wisp
- Discharge
Standard Rotom-H. Discharge is used over Thunderbolt as an increased means of paralysis on Heatrans who switch into him. The one complaint I have about him is that he's probably the second most frail pokemon on my team besides Nidoqueen. It seems that even though he has a good amount of all-around bulk, he's always the first to die in a fight (besides Nidoqueen). He's also the only pokemon on my team hurt by Toxic, as Nidoqueen, Skarmory, and Jirachi are all immune, Blissey cures her status on switching out, and Gyarados can rest it off. However, just because he always dies fast doesn't mean I don't like him. He gets me out of a lot of bad situations and can help kill many pokemon I wouldn't be able to with anyone else.
Discuss.
more to love (Nidoqueen) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Poison Point
EVs: 252 HP/200 Def/44 Spd/12 SDef
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic Spikes
- Roar
Yes, on paper this looks like a terrible lead. It is weak to a lot of things including Earthquake, Ice Beam, Psychic, and Surf. It's slow as hell and doesn't hit very hard. It loses to almost all the major OU leads. Azelf Taunts it, sets up rocks, and kills it with psychic; Metagross, Swampert, and Tyranitar Earthquake it after setting up rocks; Aerodactyl and Gliscor taunt it and then set up rocks and Earthquake; Jirachi is able to escape from it scot free since Nidoqueen will either get locked into her entry hazard move or Earthquake; Infernape can just generally overpower it; Roserade can put it to sleep (though I have a solution to that as I'll explain later); and Smeargle can either use the trickscarf strategy or put it to sleep.
So why use it? The answer is simple. It has access to both Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes. With those two hazards in play, my team becomes infinitely better against other stall teams, removing problems like Vaporeon and other non-resttalkers and limiting when my opponent can safely switch in. Between Nidoqueen and Skarmory, I have access to all 3 entry hazards on this team, meaning that anything will take at least 12.5% damage (generally closer to 25%) when it switches in and the grounded non-steel non-poison types will be toxic'd.
But Forretress also has access to both Toxic Spikes and Stealth Rock, you may say. Why not just use that? Think about this: Would YOU use Forretress as a lead on a team that already has several fire weaknesses in an environment where anti-lead Infernape isn't uncommon, Rotom-H and HP Fire Gengar are on a large majority of teams, and Azelfs have flamethrower roughly 1/3 of the time? I didn't think so.
So in conclusion, although Nidoqueen is a terrible terrible pokemon, she fits quite well on this team with her electric immunity and ability to set up entry hazards. Her EVs are such that she shouldn't be OHKO'd by anything but Azelf's Psychic from typical leads. Her fighting and rock resistances can also come in handy. I have a Sleep Talker on my team to absorb the initial attacks of Roserade and Smeargle so that's a non-issue as well. Roar is also a great move on her since it allows her to phaze and spread the poison. I like having as many phazers on a team as I can usually.
One thing I have been considering for this set is going Bold and using Ice Beam instead of Earthquake for better type coverage and defense against Gliscor and Dragons. However, this means that she would have a harder time against Steels which is not something I particularly want. Otherwise she's fine.
my ***** (Gyarados) (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP/248 Def/12 Spd
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Rest
- Roar
- Sleep Talk
- Waterfall
Standard resttalk Gyara. His job is to absorb the sleep attacks from Roserade, Breloom, Smeargle, etc. and then phaze in his sleep. He also resists fire and steel and is immune to ground, all of which help on this team. Intimidate is also quite good as it essentially means that I can switch him into Breloom at any time and totally wreck him.
Skarmory (Blissey) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 220 HP/252 Def/36 SAtk
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Flamethrower
- Thunder Wave
- Softboiled
- Shadow Ball
I'm pretty sure I've talked about this set before. It's basically the standard Softboil "attacker" Blissey. Thanks to toxic spikes, I don't get to use Thunder Wave as often, but I can still hit steel types, levitators, and fliers, which is mostly what it's used for before anyway. Flamethrower is obviously to nail Scizors and Metagross who try to switch in. Seismic Toss is to break subs.
Blissey (Skarmory) (F) @ Shed Shell
Ability: Keen Eye
EVs: 252 HP/72 Def/184 Spd
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Roost
- Spikes
- Taunt
- Whirlwind
TauntSkarm is by far my favorite Skarmory build. It gives me access to all the moves Skarmory typically uses and the ability to outspeed and Taunt other Skarmories and defensive pokemon. He has saved my *** a lot of times and is very good at winning stall battles.
coupon head (Jirachi) @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 240 HP/160 Def/32 Spd/76 SDef
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Iron Head
- U-turn
- Thunder Wave
- Wish
This guy is mostly used for Wish passing, which generally helps my team a lot, especially the less bulky stuff like Rotom and Nidoqueen, Gyarados who takes a lot of damage from switching in, and just generally any pokemon low on health. Twave is used on this set in addition to Blissey because my team is slow as **** and needs all the help it can get. And if enough stuff on my opponent't team is paralyzed or slow, flinchhax sweeping is always possible. Jirachi is also a good check to Tyranitar, who my team has lots of trouble with otherwise.
Hot Pocket (Rotom-h) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/164 Def/92 Spd
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Shadow Ball
- Overheat
- Will-o-wisp
- Discharge
Standard Rotom-H. Discharge is used over Thunderbolt as an increased means of paralysis on Heatrans who switch into him. The one complaint I have about him is that he's probably the second most frail pokemon on my team besides Nidoqueen. It seems that even though he has a good amount of all-around bulk, he's always the first to die in a fight (besides Nidoqueen). He's also the only pokemon on my team hurt by Toxic, as Nidoqueen, Skarmory, and Jirachi are all immune, Blissey cures her status on switching out, and Gyarados can rest it off. However, just because he always dies fast doesn't mean I don't like him. He gets me out of a lot of bad situations and can help kill many pokemon I wouldn't be able to with anyone else.
Discuss.
