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Description

Say hello to my favorite of the new Ultra Beasts. Now Nihilego (also known UB-01 Symbiont) has a relatively large role in the Sun and Moon games, primarily because it is used by the game's antagonist Lusamine. Though unlike previous games, this wasn't the traditional manner of human controlling Pokemon. In actuality, the roles were reversed as Nihilego was really the one that was controlling Lusamine! Now while it may look very much like a jellyfish, Nihilego is actually a parasite. One that injects a neurotoxin that subtly alters the thoughts and actions of any human or Pokémon that becomes its host. If given enough time, it is even capable of physically merging with its host (as evidenced by what ended up happening with Lusamine). In fact, it is believed that Nihilego is what caused Lusamine to go insane in the first Sun and Moon games. Not only her, but many believe that the reason for the violent behavior of other Ultra Beasts that passed through Ultra Wormholes into our world was due to them acting under the influence of Nihilego venom. So it's safe to say Nihilego is quite formidable both in real life and in battle, and that is why I like it so much. It's honestly the last thing you'd expect it'd be capable of given its appearance.

Sadly, it lost this major role in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon since it never had a chance to fuse with Lusamine due to the intervention from Necrozma, the true antagonist of the Ultra Sun and Moon games. But the Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon games actually enable you to ride on Solgaleo and Lunala to traverse across Ultra Space where you can catch Legendary Pokemon from previous gens as well as catch the Ultra Beasts in their natural habitats within the dimensions they call home (what's more is that you can always go back there and recapture Ultra Beasts more than once). Nihilego dwells in a dimension known as Ultra Deep Sea, which is pretty much the place you go to in the first Sun and Moon games where you encounter Lusamine and she fuses with one of the Nihilego there (and where Lillie finally stands up to her twisted mother, which I always felt was a touching moment). When you visit the place in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, of course, you won't find Lusamine there, but interestingly enough the first time you visit there and encounter Nihilego, one will appear by sitting in the spot Lusamine was seated in the first Sun and Moon games. Now, this is all just complete speculation, but part of me thinks that's the very same Nihilego that Lusamine captured in Sun and Moon and then fused with. But since that never happened in the Ultra Sun and Moon games, it's here waiting for you, and it likely would try to fuse with you if you hadn't caught it. So in summary, I love Nihilego for its design and interesting role in Sun and Moon that ultimately helped shape the events of the first Sun and Moon games.

In terms of competitive battle, Nihilego does not disappoint either. Nihilego is the first Pokemon to gain access to the unique Rock/Poison typing, which allows it to hit many common Pokemon in the metagame for super effective damage. A base Speed of 103 enables Nihilego to outspeed most of the metagame, while its base 127 special attack stat can deal some formidable damage when combined with its enormous offensive movepool. This makes Nihilego a fast offensive sweeper if left unchecked. What's more is that Nihilego's ability, Beast Boost, allows it to increase its highest stat further when it scores a KO, which makes Nihilego stronger after every successful KO. Furthermore, its Poison typing allows it to hit all of the guardian deities for super effective damage, OHKOing them most of the time. However, Nihilego is often walled by bulky Steel-types like Celesteela and Magnezone and is also helpless when facing a Trick Room team. Base defensive stats of 109 / 47 / 131 allows it to take on a variety of special attacks with ease, while Sandstorm can be used to further boost its Special Defense to higher levels. Other than that Nihilego only has one real problem, which is that x4 weakness to Ground-types. Meaning that a single Earthquake will OHKO it. But quite honestly, Nihilego doesn't mind that flaw, because its abysmal Defense stat of 47 leaves it open to be OHKO'd by practically every physical attack (which is why you keep a Focus Sash on it)! So having a x4 weakness to Ground isn't that big of an issue when practically every physical attack can knock it out already. Overall, Nihilego is a powerful threat, especially in the VGC metagame, where most of the Pokemon are relatively slow, as its typing allows it to take out most of the popular-used Pokemon.

Here’s my Nihilego's summary.
Nature: Timid
Held Item: Focus Sash
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 6 Def / 252 SpAtk / 252 Spe
-Power Gem
-Sludge Bomb / Sludge Wave
-Thunderbolt
-Grass Knot

Nihilego is used primarily for its Speed and typing. Therefore, it is mandatory to run Sludge Bomb due to the rising popularity of Fairy-type Pokemon. Sludge Bomb almost always OHKO's most of the popular guardian deities, after which Nihilego gets a boost from its ability to make sure its next attack hits even harder. Sludge Wave is an alternate option as it does have a little more power. But it is not recommended since it can be walled out by Wide Guard (plus it also hits Nihilego's partner if they are not immune to it). Pokemon like Gyarados and Arcanine are common staples in many teams, and the former can even OHKO Nihilego if it's not running a Focus Sash. Power Gem ensures Nihilego KO's them with ease while also hurting Celesteela for neutral damage. Grass Knot can be used in this slot to deal huge amounts of damage to Gastrodon and Milotic, 2HKOing the latter. Protect is necessary for VGC due to Nihilego's frailty, as it helps scout incoming attacks and stalls out Trick Room.

252 Speed EVs ensure Nihilego outspeeds maximum speed Garchomp, which is one of the faster Pokemon in the format. This also helps Nihilego outspeed threats like Tapu Lele and Salamence. 252 Special Attack EVs are run to maximize Nihilego's damage output. The EVs are plain and simple, as Nihilego is purely an offensive sweeper. Focus Sash is the most used item on Nihilego, as it helps compensate for Nihilego's lack of physical bulk (and is able to tank a single Earthquake or pretty much any physical move thrown at it). Prolonged field presence with Beast Boost makes Nihilego much more threatening than it already is. Taking enough Special Attack EVs is another way to take advantage of Beast Boost, to ensure Nihilego's Speed is boosted instead. This increases Nihilego's Speed so that it can outspeed even Choice Scarf Pokemon.

Of course Nihilego can run a variety of other moves. Here are some suggestions:
-Hidden Power Ice allows Nihilego to OHKO most Garchomp and helps deal with the occasional Ground-type Pokemon once boosted and is often a staple on most Nihilego. You can alternatively run Hidden Power Fire to handle Pokemon that wall nearly all of Nihilego's attacks.
-Thunder has a noticeably higher damage output than Thunderbolt, most notably being able to OHKO Greninja. The extra power is also useful against Celesteela, and Toxapex. Though be aware if its low accuracy, unless of course, you're using it on a rain team.
-Acid Spray is also an option to drop a target's special defense by 2 stages. Thus enabling Nihilego to better be able to KO its weakened targets.
-Knock Off is always a good utility move overall, and one Nihilego can always use to remove items from your opponent's Pokemon. Though frankly there are lots of other Pokemon that can do this job better than it could.
-Foul Play can be used to hit an opponent's physical attacking Pokemon for a high amount of damage.
-Pain Split is Nihilego's only recovery option outside of the Rest/Sleep Talk combo. But it really isn't worth using on Nihilego given how its already super frail.
-Spite is always good for depleting the PP of the moves of your opponent's Pokemon.
-Ally Switch is an interesting option you can utilize with Nihilego in double battles. Because of its natural frailty, it's already easy to predict what your opponent will use to KO it. This is where you can utilize Ally Switch and put Nihilego's partner in its place to take the blow, and Nihilego remains unharmed. Just make sure you pair it with a relatively bulky partner. Also, keep in mind that Ally Switch won't make any sort of difference if your opponent's Pokemon uses a spread move that hits both of your Pokemon like Earthquake. So this strategy is gimmicky at best.
-Nihilego can be a decent offensive Stealth Rock setter due to its typing and is also one of the few viable offensive Toxic Spikes setters.
-Nihilego can run Trick Room, as it is one of the few viable Trick Room Pokemon capable of setting Stealth Rock. Nihilego can also double as a way to weaken or revenge kill an enemy, as without a maximum Speed Nihilego, most Trick Room teams rely on a very bulky setter like Cresselia to set up Trick Room and then fall to an opposing attack.
-Life Orb is often used to secure the OHKO on Gyarados and Arcanine. However, this makes Nihilego much more susceptible to Earthquake and Heavy Slam.
-An interesting strategy I've come up with is pairing Nihilego with Tapu Bulu in double battles and having Nihilego hold a Grassy Seed. The moment they're both sent out, Tapu Bulu's ability will activate Grassy Terrain and the Grassy Seed Nihilego is holding will activate and raise its physical defense. While this item may seem utterly pointless to use on Nihilego's given its terrible physical defense stat, just hear me out first. Now Nihilego actually benefits greatly from Grassy Terrain, not only does the terrain restore its HP a little at the end of every turn but it also halves the power of Earthquake. Considering this move is used 9.9/10 times in a competitive battle (not to mention Nihilego having a x4 weakness to it), having Earthquake's power halved and Nihilego's defense raised can help it better hold its own in battle and quite possibly even tank an Earthquake from a foe that otherwise would've KO'd it. Plus with Bulu as Nihilego's ally, it will better be able to cover its weakness to Ground-types. It's definitely something to think about.

Notes:

I personally think Nihilego is fine without a nickname, its own name sums up what it essentially is and possibly why it seeks to merge itself with hosts. You see Nihilego's name literally means "no ego." But this goes beyond simply its name and in fact refers to the fact of how it only has an id (the survival and instinctual part of the psyche), which obviously relates to Nihilego being described as acting on a sort of self-preservation instinct. The former may reflect Nihilego's victims' lack of will outside their focus on Nihilego, while the latter may represent Nihilego's role in dominating the desires of its victims.

But should you decide to nickname it, here are a few suggestions:
-Venom, after the infamous villain from the Spiderman series. Yes, Nihilego looks absolutely nothing like Venom. But the reason for the nickname lies with what Venom is known best for, being a symbiotic organism and physically merging itself with other life-forms. What's more is that both Venom and Nihilego also alter the thoughts and actions of their host once they've merged with them. So I feel that given these traits they share, it is more than enough than getting away with nicknaming Nihilego after Venom. Though if you need further convincing, Nihilego is a frikkin' Poison-type!
-UB-01 Symbiont, which is Nihilego's given codename in the Sun and Moon games.

Do you have your own Nihilego moveset and strategy? Comment below with your moveset!

Description

Say hello to my favorite of the new Ultra Beasts. Now Nihilego (also known UB-01 Symbiont) has a relatively large role in the Sun and Moon games, primarily because it is used by the game's antagonist Lusamine. Though unlike previous games, this wasn't the traditional manner of human controlling Pokemon. In actuality, the roles were reversed as Nihilego was really the one that was controlling Lusamine! Now while it may look very much like a jellyfish, Nihilego is actually a parasite. One that injects a neurotoxin that subtly alters the thoughts and actions of any human or Pokémon that becomes its host. If given enough time, it is even capable of physically merging with its host (as evidenced by what ended up happening with Lusamine). In fact, it is believed that Nihilego is what caused Lusamine to go insane in the first Sun and Moon games. Not only her, but many believe that the reason for the violent behavior of other Ultra Beasts that passed through Ultra Wormholes into our world was due to them acting under the influence of Nihilego venom. So it's safe to say Nihilego is quite formidable both in real life and in battle, and that is why I like it so much. It's honestly the last thing you'd expect it'd be capable of given its appearance.

Sadly, it lost this major role in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon since it never had a chance to fuse with Lusamine due to the intervention from Necrozma, the true antagonist of the Ultra Sun and Moon games. But the Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon games actually enable you to ride on Solgaleo and Lunala to traverse across Ultra Space where you can catch Legendary Pokemon from previous gens as well as catch the Ultra Beasts in their natural habitats within the dimensions they call home (what's more is that you can always go back there and recapture Ultra Beasts more than once). Nihilego dwells in a dimension known as Ultra Deep Sea, which is pretty much the place you go to in the first Sun and Moon games where you encounter Lusamine and she fuses with one of the Nihilego there (and where Lillie finally stands up to her twisted mother, which I always felt was a touching moment). When you visit the place in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, of course, you won't find Lusamine there, but interestingly enough the first time you visit there and encounter Nihilego, one will appear by sitting in the spot Lusamine was seated in the first Sun and Moon games. Now, this is all just complete speculation, but part of me thinks that's the very same Nihilego that Lusamine captured in Sun and Moon and then fused with. But since that never happened in the Ultra Sun and Moon games, it's here waiting for you, and it likely would try to fuse with you if you hadn't caught it. So in summary, I love Nihilego for its design and interesting role in Sun and Moon that ultimately helped shape the events of the first Sun and Moon games.

In terms of competitive battle, Nihilego does not disappoint either. Nihilego is the first Pokemon to gain access to the unique Rock/Poison typing, which allows it to hit many common Pokemon in the metagame for super effective damage. A base Speed of 103 enables Nihilego to outspeed most of the metagame, while its base 127 special attack stat can deal some formidable damage when combined with its enormous offensive movepool. This makes Nihilego a fast offensive sweeper if left unchecked. What's more is that Nihilego's ability, Beast Boost, allows it to increase its highest stat further when it scores a KO, which makes Nihilego stronger after every successful KO. Furthermore, its Poison typing allows it to hit all of the guardian deities for super effective damage, OHKOing them most of the time. However, Nihilego is often walled by bulky Steel-types like Celesteela and Magnezone and is also helpless when facing a Trick Room team. Base defensive stats of 109 / 47 / 131 allows it to take on a variety of special attacks with ease, while Sandstorm can be used to further boost its Special Defense to higher levels. Other than that Nihilego only has one real problem, which is that x4 weakness to Ground-types. Meaning that a single Earthquake will OHKO it. But quite honestly, Nihilego doesn't mind that flaw, because its abysmal Defense stat of 47 leaves it open to be OHKO'd by practically every physical attack (which is why you keep a Focus Sash on it)! So having a x4 weakness to Ground isn't that big of an issue when practically every physical attack can knock it out already. Overall, Nihilego is a powerful threat, especially in the VGC metagame, where most of the Pokemon are relatively slow, as its typing allows it to take out most of the popular-used Pokemon.

Here’s my Nihilego's summary.
Nature: Timid
Held Item: Focus Sash
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 6 Def / 252 SpAtk / 252 Spe
-Power Gem
-Sludge Bomb / Sludge Wave
-Thunderbolt
-Grass Knot

Nihilego is used primarily for its Speed and typing. Therefore, it is mandatory to run Sludge Bomb due to the rising popularity of Fairy-type Pokemon. Sludge Bomb almost always OHKO's most of the popular guardian deities, after which Nihilego gets a boost from its ability to make sure its next attack hits even harder. Sludge Wave is an alternate option as it does have a little more power. But it is not recommended since it can be walled out by Wide Guard (plus it also hits Nihilego's partner if they are not immune to it). Pokemon like Gyarados and Arcanine are common staples in many teams, and the former can even OHKO Nihilego if it's not running a Focus Sash. Power Gem ensures Nihilego KO's them with ease while also hurting Celesteela for neutral damage. Grass Knot can be used in this slot to deal huge amounts of damage to Gastrodon and Milotic, 2HKOing the latter. Protect is necessary for VGC due to Nihilego's frailty, as it helps scout incoming attacks and stalls out Trick Room.

252 Speed EVs ensure Nihilego outspeeds maximum speed Garchomp, which is one of the faster Pokemon in the format. This also helps Nihilego outspeed threats like Tapu Lele and Salamence. 252 Special Attack EVs are run to maximize Nihilego's damage output. The EVs are plain and simple, as Nihilego is purely an offensive sweeper. Focus Sash is the most used item on Nihilego, as it helps compensate for Nihilego's lack of physical bulk (and is able to tank a single Earthquake or pretty much any physical move thrown at it). Prolonged field presence with Beast Boost makes Nihilego much more threatening than it already is. Taking enough Special Attack EVs is another way to take advantage of Beast Boost, to ensure Nihilego's Speed is boosted instead. This increases Nihilego's Speed so that it can outspeed even Choice Scarf Pokemon.

Of course Nihilego can run a variety of other moves. Here are some suggestions:
-Hidden Power Ice allows Nihilego to OHKO most Garchomp and helps deal with the occasional Ground-type Pokemon once boosted and is often a staple on most Nihilego. You can alternatively run Hidden Power Fire to handle Pokemon that wall nearly all of Nihilego's attacks.
-Thunder has a noticeably higher damage output than Thunderbolt, most notably being able to OHKO Greninja. The extra power is also useful against Celesteela, and Toxapex. Though be aware if its low accuracy, unless of course, you're using it on a rain team.
-Acid Spray is also an option to drop a target's special defense by 2 stages. Thus enabling Nihilego to better be able to KO its weakened targets.
-Knock Off is always a good utility move overall, and one Nihilego can always use to remove items from your opponent's Pokemon. Though frankly there are lots of other Pokemon that can do this job better than it could.
-Foul Play can be used to hit an opponent's physical attacking Pokemon for a high amount of damage.
-Pain Split is Nihilego's only recovery option outside of the Rest/Sleep Talk combo. But it really isn't worth using on Nihilego given how its already super frail.
-Spite is always good for depleting the PP of the moves of your opponent's Pokemon.
-Ally Switch is an interesting option you can utilize with Nihilego in double battles. Because of its natural frailty, it's already easy to predict what your opponent will use to KO it. This is where you can utilize Ally Switch and put Nihilego's partner in its place to take the blow, and Nihilego remains unharmed. Just make sure you pair it with a relatively bulky partner. Also, keep in mind that Ally Switch won't make any sort of difference if your opponent's Pokemon uses a spread move that hits both of your Pokemon like Earthquake. So this strategy is gimmicky at best.
-Nihilego can be a decent offensive Stealth Rock setter due to its typing and is also one of the few viable offensive Toxic Spikes setters.
-Nihilego can run Trick Room, as it is one of the few viable Trick Room Pokemon capable of setting Stealth Rock. Nihilego can also double as a way to weaken or revenge kill an enemy, as without a maximum Speed Nihilego, most Trick Room teams rely on a very bulky setter like Cresselia to set up Trick Room and then fall to an opposing attack.
-Life Orb is often used to secure the OHKO on Gyarados and Arcanine. However, this makes Nihilego much more susceptible to Earthquake and Heavy Slam.
-An interesting strategy I've come up with is pairing Nihilego with Tapu Bulu in double battles and having Nihilego hold a Grassy Seed. The moment they're both sent out, Tapu Bulu's ability will activate Grassy Terrain and the Grassy Seed Nihilego is holding will activate and raise its physical defense. While this item may seem utterly pointless to use on Nihilego's given its terrible physical defense stat, just hear me out first. Now Nihilego actually benefits greatly from Grassy Terrain, not only does the terrain restore its HP a little at the end of every turn but it also halves the power of Earthquake. Considering this move is used 9.9/10 times in a competitive battle (not to mention Nihilego having a x4 weakness to it), having Earthquake's power halved and Nihilego's defense raised can help it better hold its own in battle and quite possibly even tank an Earthquake from a foe that otherwise would've KO'd it. Plus with Bulu as Nihilego's ally, it will better be able to cover its weakness to Ground-types. It's definitely something to think about.

Notes:

I personally think Nihilego is fine without a nickname, its own name sums up what it essentially is and possibly why it seeks to merge itself with hosts. You see Nihilego's name literally means "no ego." But this goes beyond simply its name and in fact refers to the fact of how it only has an id (the survival and instinctual part of the psyche), which obviously relates to Nihilego being described as acting on a sort of self-preservation instinct. The former may reflect Nihilego's victims' lack of will outside their focus on Nihilego, while the latter may represent Nihilego's role in dominating the desires of its victims.

But should you decide to nickname it, here are a few suggestions:
-Venom, after the infamous villain from the Spiderman series. Yes, Nihilego looks absolutely nothing like Venom. But the reason for the nickname lies with what Venom is known best for, being a symbiotic organism and physically merging itself with other life-forms. What's more is that both Venom and Nihilego also alter the thoughts and actions of their host once they've merged with them. So I feel that given these traits they share, it is more than enough than getting away with nicknaming Nihilego after Venom. Though if you need further convincing, Nihilego is a frikkin' Poison-type!
-UB-01 Symbiont, which is Nihilego's given codename in the Sun and Moon games.

Do you have your own Nihilego moveset and strategy? Comment below with your moveset!