[OVERVIEW]
Nidoqueen finds use on specific hyper offense builds alongside Nidoking. Both of them wield impeccable coverage, being completely unresisted and featuring a vast array of options. This coverage makes them incredibly hard Pokemon to switch into, applying vast offensive pressure. In addition to this, their Ground typing make them a defensive check to Electric-types, most notably Electrode. Their Poison typing let them block Toxic, which various Pokemon like Blastoise and Rapidash use to check wrappers and Poliwhirl. Nidoqueen's decent bulk also lets it take less punishment from foes like Seadra than other Ground-types such as Nidoking and Golem.
However, Nidoqueen struggles to find a spot on most competitive teams. Its primary issue is its competition with Nidoking, a faster Pokemon that has the same typing, identical coverage, and greater Attack. While Nidoqueen has greater bulk, this typically isn't enough to justify it over Nidoking, as it fails to decisively improve its matchups against any viable NU Pokemon. In addition to this, while Nidoqueen's typing gives it unique defensive utility, it also causes it to struggle against the wide array of notable Water- and Ground-types in the tier, such as Nidoking, Blastoise, and Seadra. The lack of justification to be used over Nidoking forces it to be used alongside it, however these teams are often very defensively unstable due to the exacerbated weakness to Pokemon like Mr. Mime. Its middling Speed enhances these weaknesses, being outsped by Blastoise and Seadra, whereas even Nidoking isn't. Nidoqueen's Speed stat forces it to rely on paralysis support, which can make it cumbersome to include on teams, especially since Nidoking itself already often needs said support.
[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Blizzard / Fire Blast
move 4: Rock Slide / Body Slam / Substitute
[SET COMMENTS]
Earthquake is Nidoqueen's most powerful attack, threatening a 2HKO on many notable Pokemon like Nidoking, Ninetales, Rapidash, Arcanine, and Mr. Mime. Thunderbolt is Nidoqueen's strongest consistent option versus Water-types like Blastoise and Seadra, 3HKOing both. Blizzard 2HKOes Exeggcute and Dragonair. Alternatively, Fire Blast 2HKOes Pinsir and spreads burn, which cripples wrappers and physical attackers such as Fearow and Golem. Rock Slide nails Charizard and Moltres, 2HKOing both of them. As a different option, Body Slam can mitigate Nidoqueen's mediocre Speed by spreading paralysis, making it more self-sufficient. Substitute can be used over either of these to ease prediction on switches and allow it to take less punishment from moves like Surf.
Nidoqueen's massive movepool makes it very customizable. Thunder does the most damage versus Blastoise and Seadra, wielding chances to 2HKO both, though its accuracy leaves much to be desired, and its targets often deal significant damage on misses. Toxic is the most consistent check to wrappers such as Rapidash, Charizard, Ninetales, Moltres, and Dragonair. Counter can potentially deal high damage to physical attackers, notably allowing Nidoqueen to switch in on a predicted Hyper Beam from common users such as Pinsir, Charizard, and Clefable and threaten a KO. Submission is Nidoqueen's deadliest option versus Clefable, with a chance to 3HKO. Surf is a guaranteed KO versus Golem, but its utility compared to Blizzard and Rock Slide is inferior otherwise.
Nidoqueen is a more effective user of Substitute than Nidoking, as its increased bulk can let it reuse the move even after taking a hit from the likes of Seadra. Their combined weakness to Psychic makes dedicated Mr. Mime checks a necessity, usually consisting of your own Mr. Mime as well as Clefable, Exeggcute, or Drowzee. Nidoqueen and Nidoking can struggle versus Fire- and Water-types too, especially Charizard, so Water-types like Blastoise and Seadra are highly appreciated.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[pac, 520967]]
- Quality checked by: [[May, 236353], [Enigami, 233818]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
Last edited:
