Nihilego - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

This is a strategy guide for using Nihilego in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Nihilego, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Nihilego - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Nihilego

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Nihilego
Abilities
Beast Boost	The Pokemon boosts its most proficient stat each time it knocks out a Pokemon.

Nihilego Weaknesses and Resistances

	Type
Takes 4x damage
Takes 2x damage
Takes 0.5x damage
Takes 1/4x damage
Takes 0x damage	-

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Nihilego

Singles Movesets for Nihilego

Power Herb Moveset & Best Build

Nihilego is a glass cannon that boasts unique coverage with its Rock/Poison dual STAB. Access to Meteor Beam now gives it a way to boost its Special Attack, as well as a stronger Rock-type STAB.

About Nihilego's Moves

Meteor Beam is a powerful special Rock-type move that boosts Nihilego's Special Attack by one stage on the first turn, and then attacking on the second turn. With Power Herb, Nihilego boosts its special attack and then attacks immediately afterwards.

Sludge Wave is its secondary STAB move, hitting Grass and Fairy-types for super effective damage.

It's last two moves are for coverage. Thunderbolt hits Flying-types like Corviknight while Grass Knot lets it threaten Ground-types like Hippowdon.

About Nihilego's EV Spread

84 HP EVs lets it take some hits to allow it to set up with Meteor Beam. 252 Speed EVs make it as fast as possible, while the remaining EVs are placed in Special Attack.

About Nihilego's Ability

Beast Boost is Nihilego's only ability, raising its highest stat every time it knocks out an opposing Pokemon.

About Nihilego's Held Item

Power Herb ensures Nihilego can use Meteor Beam on the same turn.

Other Viable Moves

Entry Hazard Setter Moveset & Best Build

Nihilego can also function as a lead entry hazard setter. Unlike similar leads, it can still attack with its powerful special moves.

About Nihilego's Moves

Stealth Rock sets up entry hazard, providing great chip damage to the rest of the team while the rest of its moves allow Nihilego to hit at common entry hazard counters. Sludge Bomb and Power Gem are its main STAB moves while Grass Knot hits Ground-types for super effective damage.

About Nihilego's EV Spread

We're using a straightforward EV spread with full investment in Special Attack and Speed, with the remaining 4 EVs placed in HP.

About Nihilego's Ability

Beast Boost is Nihilego's only ability, raising its highest stat every time it knocks out an opposing Pokemon.

About Nihilego's Held Item

Focus Sash ensures Nihilego can set up with Stealth Rock.

Other Viable Moves

How to Use Nihilego Effectively

Use it as a Lead Sweeper

Nihilego's high special attack and speed make it a great, if a bit frail, lead sweeper. Due to the threat of Beast Boost and its main STAB moves, Nihilego is good at forcing switches - allowing it to set up with entry hazards like Toxic Spikes and Stealth Rock or simply firing off powerful Meteor Beams or Sludge Waves.

How to Build a Team with Nihilego

Nihilego faces stiff competition from faster and sturdier leads, especially the likes of Gengar and Dragapult that boast better coverage.

It has a niche in Monotype teams, especially Mono Rock-type teams as these usually lack fast special sweepers.

Mono Rock Special Sweeper

Nihilego is a great adddition to a Mono Rock-type teams, and will often be the only fast special sweeper in the team. It's Poison-typing STAB also allows it to threaten Grass-types that have no trouble walling its Rock-type teammates.

Team Options for Nihilego

Lead Weather Setter	Special Attacker	Defensive Pivot
Tyranitar	Nihilego	Cradily

Nihilego functions fills the role of a much-needed special sweeper that can threaten teams off the bat. While it faces some competition from Omaster, it doesn't need to set up (especially when using Power Herb), and has unique coverage with its two STAB moves.

How to Build a Monotype Team

Counters for Nihilego

Weakness

Counter it with Steel-types

Nihilego struggles to do much against Steel-types. Even non-defensive Steel-types can comfortably switch into Nihilego and threaten it with their STAB moves.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Duraludon	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Immune to Sludge Wave and resists Meteor Beam ・Easily KOs Nihilego with Flash Cannon Moveset & Best Build for Duraludon
Lucario	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Immune to Sludge Wave and resists Meteor Beam ・Outspeeds and KOs Nihilego with Bullet Punch Moveset & Best Build for Lucario

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 10 List of Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

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Tapu Fini	Regieleki	Regidrago
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Cresselia	Glastrier	Spectrier
Nidoking	Swampert	Dragonite
Salamence	Garchomp	Metagross
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Pheromosa	Buzzwole	Celesteela
Kartana	Stakataka	Blaziken
Kyogre	Yveltal	Xerneas
Necrozma (Dusk Mane)	Calyrex (Shadow Rider)	Mewtwo
Calyrex (Ice Rider)	Dialga	Lugia
Black Kyurem	Zekrom	Ho-Oh
Rayquaza	Zygarde	Reshiram
White Kyurem	Groudon	Regirock
Palkia	Regigigas	Registeel
Regice	Giratina	Solgaleo
Lunala	Kyurem	Necrozma
Uxie	Mesprit	Azelf
Calyrex