What is a good moveset for Nihilego?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Nihilego, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for its pre-evolutions, if any, can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Nihilego Pokedex & learnset for reference.

Comments

Nihilego @ Choice Specs  
Ability: Beast Boost  
EVs: 80 Def / 176 SpA / 252 Spe  
Timid Nature  
IVs: 0 Atk  
- Power Gem  
- Sludge Wave  
- Thunderbolt  
- Hidden Power [Ghost]

Answer 1

Gen 8 SWSH Monotype (Rock)

Nihilego @ Power Herb
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 80 Def / 176 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Meteor Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Grass Knot
- Sludge Wave / Dazzling Gleam

This is the Meteor Beam set used on Rock-type teams in SWSH Monotype. Meteor Beam is for Rock STAB which raises your special attack and can be executed in one turn with your Power Herb. Thunderbolt is used for coverage such as most Water-types and can be used on Flying-types. Grass Knot allows you to deal with Water/Ground types like Seismitoad and Swampert as well as Ground-types like Hippowdon after you get a special attack boost. Sludge Wave can be used for Poison STAB, whereas Dazzling Gleam can be used instead for coverage against Dragon-types.

The given EVs allow Nihilego to gain a speed boost after a KO to become harder to revenge kill. Usually, 80 EVs go to HP since they are leftover EVs. However, with 80 EVs in Defense, you have a decent chance of survivng a Choice Band Aqua Jet from Urshifu if you're at full HP, as shown in this calc:

252 Atk Choice Band Urshifu-Rapid-Strike Aqua Jet vs. 0 HP / 80 Def Nihilego: 308-366 (85.7 - 101.9%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO
Possible damage amounts: (308, 312, 318, 320, 324, 326, 332, 336, 338, 342, 344, 350, 354, 356, 360, 366)

Just don't directly switch in to Urshifu-R if you want to revenge kill it.

Answer 2

Nihilego @ Focus Sash
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Sludge Wave
- Power Gem
- Thunderbolt / Toxic Spikes

Lead Nihilego, with Sash to ensure it can get some hazards up. Double STABs to take advantage of it's really nice SpA stat. Last slot can be T-Bolt for Celesteela among others, or T-Spikes if that suits your fancy.

Answer 3

Nihilego @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sludge Wave
- Power Gem
- Dazzling Gleam
- Thunderbolt

I haven't built a team for SM yet but I think this could do well. I don't think it would last very long with <110 speed and its physical defense, so I decided to make a scarf set.

Comments

Nice set I would rather have a Modest Nature on this because you already have a Scarf. You deserve a vote up.

Answer 4

Nihilego @ Rockium-Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature

• Power Gem
• Sludge Wave
• Hidden Power [Fire] / [Ice]
• Sandstorm

Nihilego has an interesting typing and stat spread, but its playstyle is somewhat run-of-the-mill due to the fact that it lacks a particularly interesting movepool. Z-Sandstorm is a cool option though since it boosts Nihilego's speed by 1 stage and temporarily boosts its already good Sp. Def. While it can be a bit situational, sandstorm itself can overwrite the weather to mess with rain/sun/hail teams and potentially get some residual damage on them (breaking sashes and setting up at the same time can prove pretty useful too depending on where you use it.) The main use of Z-Sandstorm is to clean up a team late-game with the speed boost in combination with with Beast Boost; Nihilego is usually too slow to make good use of Beast Boost on its own. Alternatively, Power Gem can be turned into a 160 BP Continental Crush to help clutch crucial KOs in the match. Sludge Wave is secondary STAB as well as one that's much more powerful than Power Gem; It's greatly appreciated for its raw power, especially since Power Gem's damage output tends to be mediocre without stat boosts or without being a Z-move. Nihilego also doesn't really have the coverage options to even consider not running dual STAB. Finally in the last slot we have Hidden Power to deal with either Ground-Types or Steel-Types. Nihilego can't use both, so choose wisely.

Answer 5

Nihilego @ Power Herb

Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
• Meteor Beam
• Sludge Wave
• Power Gem
• Thunderbolt

Meteor Beam boosts SpA, and with STAB, will likely OHKO. Every time an opponent is defeated, you get a SpA boost. Power Gem is STAB, and so is Sludge Wave. Thunderbolt covers Water-types.

Answer 6

Nihilego @ Focus Sash / Black Sludge
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs 86 HP / 170 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature

• Toxic Spikes
• Stealth Rock
• Sludge Wave / Mirror Coat
• Power Gem / Mirror Coat

He's great for setting hazards up. Focus Sash is there to Ensure that he makes a move before being KO'ed by faster Earthquake users. Max Speed is there to increase the chances of him starting first in a turn. Beast Boost increases his speed as after the EV spread and nature, he has higher speed than special Attack. Power Gem and Sludge Wave are STAB. Mirror Coat works great with Focus Sash and deals with Earth Power users. Black Sludge can be used for recovery and also deals with Trick users. Besides setting hazards, he can also be useful for attacking.

Comments

Wouldn't the nature be modest not timid?

Answer 7

Nihilego is a great Pokemon with its tricky speed, just outspeeding Garchomp and the base 100s. It also removes Toxic Spikes and has a unique typing. Its physical side is a shame but its special side makes up for it. I recommend you to avoid faster physical Pokemon and especially ground types. Despite having some flaws, it works great as a lead and sweeper. My moveset would be:

Nihilego @ Focus Sash / Poisonium Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Sludge Wave
- Power Gem
- Grass Knot
- Stealth Rock / Toxic Spikes / Thunderbolt / Psyshock

If you choose a hazard as a move, I recommend giving it a Focus Sash. Otherwise, give it a Poisonium Z so that it can ensure a kill against a non-poison-resisting Pokemon and get a Beast Boost in SpA. From now on, continue sweeping. Sludge Wave and Power Gem are STAB. Grass Knot is for Ground-types which resist both STAB moves. Thunderbolt is for Toxapex and Psyshock is to nail Chansey as well as Toxapex.

Comments

why not use psychic?

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you shouldn't use psychic because psyshock targets defense, not special defense.

Answer 8

Lulu (Nihilego) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Power Gem
- Sludge Wave
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]

When sweeping, make sure to use a move that can kill the rest of the Pokemon on the opposing team.

Answer 9

Nihilego @ Poisonium Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 43 HP / 42 SpA / 22 SpD (think I totally messed up on those EVs)
Calm Nature
- Power Gem
- Thunder
- Acid Spray
- Rest / Psychic

Power Gem is a good Rock-type move with great accuracy that is a STAB. Thunder is a pretty good move to beat off water types like Wishiwashi. Rest for a good healing move if you don't have Leftovers although you fall asleep. Psychic is a pretty good Psychic-type move that is easy for it to get that deals lots of damage. Probably better than rest if you have Leftovers. Acid Spray doesn't deal much damage, but it harshly lowers the opponent's Sp. Defense. Another good STAB.

Answer 10

Lilly (Nihilego) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Beast Boost
Level: 50
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic Spikes
- Clear Smog
- Power Gem

It's basically perfect for setting up, this is how I use mine.

Answer 11

Nihilego @ Black Sludge
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA
Mild Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Toxic Spikes
- Venoshock
- Wonder Room
- Guard Split

Comments

"Wonder room for slow teammates although it might be a downside if opponents slow"
Do you mean Trick Room? Wonder Room switches Defense and Special Defense.

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This is a very crappy moveset, but atleast it looks better now

Answer 12

Nihilego @ Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Power Gem
- Sludge Wave
- Pain Split

I've used this moveset for Nihilego multiple times, and it's proven to be useful, even enough so to beat a Blissey. This set is built with Stealth Rock to set up for good measure, Power Gem and Sludge Wave for STAB, and last, but not least, (in fact, probably the best move out of all of them), Pain Split. This set makes Nihilego a more than decent special tank, and in addition to that, it's fast, a great combination. It's well worth the slot on my team.

Answer 13

Nihilego @ Focus Sash/Salac Berry
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid / Modest Nature
- Toxic Spikes / Stealth Rock
- Venoshock
- Reflect
- Pain Split / Venom Drench

Lead Nihilego can set up hazards if needed but is best when Toxic is set up for it (Focus Sash). My preferred set would be to have another Pokemon come in and set Toxic Spikes and have Nihilego come in on an attack that brings it down to their berry and Venoshock sweep the opposing team. Stealth Rock is if you predict a K.O. on your side and Venom Drench is to discourage setup.

Answer 14

Nihilego @ Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Toxic Spikes
- Venoshock (x2 damage to poisoned target)
- Power Gem
- Thunderbolt / Dazzling Gleam

Answer 15

Nihilego @ Choice Specs
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Power Gem
- Sludge Wave
- Thunderbolt
- Psyshock / Dazzling Gleam

Choice Specs sweeper. Nihilego has good coverage with Thunderbolt and Psyshock/Dazzling Gleam and strong STAB with Power Gem/Sludge Wave.

The way the EVs are formatted means Nihilego will get a Special Attack boost from Beast Boost. (353 SpA, 335 Spe)

Answer 16

National Dex UU

Nihilego @ Power Herb
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 80 HP / 176 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Meteor Beam
- Sludge Wave
- Thunder / Grass Knot

An Offensive Stealth Rock set that doesn't lose to every Defogger. Stealth Rock provides your team support as it chips opposing Pokemon switching in. Meteor Beam is rock STAB that gives you a special attack boost. Sludge Wave is for poison STAB. Thunder is for coverage and can also be used to 2HKO specially defensive Slowking, which is why Thunder is used over Thunderbolt. Grass Knot can be used instead for coverage against ground types like Swampert, Seismitoad, and Hippowdon.

This Nihilego set should be used when steel and ground (if you use Thunder over Grass Knot) types along with Pokemon that carry priority moves on the opposing team are taken down. This set can also switch in on a few Defoggers such as Moltres and Mega Altaria lacking Earthquake. The given EV spread puts Nihilego's Special Attack at 334 and its speed at 335, allowing Nihilego to gain a speed boost when it knocks something out so you can become harder to revenge kill when you gain a speed boost of two.