09-16-2016, 10:22 PM
Great guide!
Countering Nucleon is the first thing you must consider when thinking a competetive team, and it's even worthy to make a own thread about it. But since this thread seems to handle counters to, let me talk about it here.
One thing to note, it can learn Shadow Ball when it's Eevee. It can be used to ruin few of the pinpoint counters explained later, Hazma and Geigeroach.
Now, counters.
First, I should explain there are two ways to counter a threatening Pokemon: To switch, or not to switch.
If you choose to switch, then you need a Pokemon which can be switched in against them. It should be able to endure several hits, if not, be able to OHKO them.
It's better to have many of these Pokemon in your team, but single can do the job.
If you choose not to switch, then you have to pack plenty of Pokemons which can beat the threat. You don't need to switch, but you should have many of these countering Pokemon, as you have nothing to switch in against the threat, the Pokemon facing the threat probably get beaten if it can't beat the threat itself.
After that long explanation, what I want to say is that you have to distinguish the counters in these two groups.
For example, as the counter you wrote in the fist post, Inflagetah and Yatagaryu can't be switched in. Atomizate Hyper Voice OHKO them. Neither a Pokemon with high SPDef can, if they hit double weaknesses from Nuclear.
Tracton have chance of enduring one hit, speed boosted to overspeed it and OHKO Nucleon so it can be switched in. But I bet it can only take single hit, which is unreliable to be the only counter in the whole team.
So, these are the counter I can think of, devided in two groups.
Counters that CAN be switched in:
Pokemon with Lead Skin:
That is, Hazma and Geigeroach that I mentioned above. They are immune to Nuclear attacks, and basically take nothing except for Shadow Ball.
Hazma can use Expunge to finish Nucleons, and Geigeroach can use his Bug attacks.
Gararewl:
Only non-Nuclear Pokemon that has resistance to Nuclear attacks. But it's base SPDef is not so high, so if you want it to be switched several times, then you should consider investing EVs in SPDef.
Also Shadow Ball hits neutrally against it, so that's another case where high SPDef come handy.
Paraboom(Soundproof):
If it's ability is Soundproof, then it can disable Hyper Voice, which Nucleon mainly use. It's also immune to Shadow Ball! But since it's not immune to Nuclear, it take hits from Quick Attack and Hyper Beam, or even Explosion and Return. But I think immunity to Hyper Voice is usually enough.
Nucleon:
Yeah it's sounds dumb, but Nucleon itself is resistant to Nuclear too, and it can use Shadow Ball to attack the opposing Nucleon. Don't rely on it, but if you have to, then there's a choice to switch it in.
Pokemon with steel type AND high SPDef:
Except for Gararewel, no steel types can resist Nuclear and take neutral hits from them, so it should have high SPDef too. Metalynx and Lanthan with EVs in SPDef can stand a chance of enduring them a few, but only a few.
As I mentioned above, Tracton can resist one hit, use Protect to Speed Boost if you want, and attack Nucleon.
They are not so reliable, so you better think them as a counter you can't switch in, even though I grouped them as counter you can switch.
Counters that CAN'T be switched in:
Pokemon with strong priority moves:
Inflagetah is the best choice, but Harptera with Gale Wings can also do the job. Nucleons must flee against them, and that makes Nucleons difficult to move freely. And that's the basic concept of counters without switching.
Pokemon with Focus Sash:
Endure one hit with Focus Sash, and revenge kill them. Simple.
But of course you can't switch in, and beware the Stealth Rock. It ruins the Sash and can ruin your whole team!
I think Nucleons usually pair with Stealth Rock users to counter the Sash, so don't rely on these as a counter.
Pokemon with high base Speed than Nucleon, AND have Choice Scarf:
You'd better think that opposing Nucleon has Choice Scarf until you really know what it has. So Pokemon like Yatagaryu, without Choice Scarf or Focus Sash, usually get outsped by Choice Scarf Nucleon and get OHKO'ed.
There are many Pokemon that has higher base Speed than Nucleon, so I bet you have plenty of choices to pick from: That is, unless you choose to give Nucleon a Choice Scarf too!(Helding same items should be banned by rules)
Team that can change Speed:
Chlorophyll with Sun, Swift Swim with Rain, Sand Rush with Sandstorm, Pokemon with these abilities AND weather conditions can outspeed Choice Scarf Nucleon. Also Trick Room has a chance too, as most Nucleon has their EVs fully invested in Speed, and has nature to boost Speed.
But make sure you can actually start the weather/Trick Room. If Nucleon was sended as a lead and beats your weather/Trick Room starter, then your whole team would probably be beaten.
Whimsicott with Prankster and Mega-Electruxo can safely start the weather, or make sure that your weather/Trick Room starter can handle a hit from Nucleon. Or just rely on Focus Sash, it works well on the lead.
Sorry for long long rubbish with bad grammar(I'm Japanese and not so good at English),
but I hope it helps in countering this beast.
I'm not fan of Tier-Rule-Thingy, and don't want Pokemon except Urayne(which is the only "true Legendary" now) being banned in serious battles.
It IS possible to counter Nucleon.
Thank you.
Countering Nucleon is the first thing you must consider when thinking a competetive team, and it's even worthy to make a own thread about it. But since this thread seems to handle counters to, let me talk about it here.
One thing to note, it can learn Shadow Ball when it's Eevee. It can be used to ruin few of the pinpoint counters explained later, Hazma and Geigeroach.
Now, counters.
First, I should explain there are two ways to counter a threatening Pokemon: To switch, or not to switch.
If you choose to switch, then you need a Pokemon which can be switched in against them. It should be able to endure several hits, if not, be able to OHKO them.
It's better to have many of these Pokemon in your team, but single can do the job.
If you choose not to switch, then you have to pack plenty of Pokemons which can beat the threat. You don't need to switch, but you should have many of these countering Pokemon, as you have nothing to switch in against the threat, the Pokemon facing the threat probably get beaten if it can't beat the threat itself.
After that long explanation, what I want to say is that you have to distinguish the counters in these two groups.
For example, as the counter you wrote in the fist post, Inflagetah and Yatagaryu can't be switched in. Atomizate Hyper Voice OHKO them. Neither a Pokemon with high SPDef can, if they hit double weaknesses from Nuclear.
Tracton have chance of enduring one hit, speed boosted to overspeed it and OHKO Nucleon so it can be switched in. But I bet it can only take single hit, which is unreliable to be the only counter in the whole team.
So, these are the counter I can think of, devided in two groups.
Counters that CAN be switched in:
Pokemon with Lead Skin:
That is, Hazma and Geigeroach that I mentioned above. They are immune to Nuclear attacks, and basically take nothing except for Shadow Ball.
Hazma can use Expunge to finish Nucleons, and Geigeroach can use his Bug attacks.
Gararewl:
Only non-Nuclear Pokemon that has resistance to Nuclear attacks. But it's base SPDef is not so high, so if you want it to be switched several times, then you should consider investing EVs in SPDef.
Also Shadow Ball hits neutrally against it, so that's another case where high SPDef come handy.
Paraboom(Soundproof):
If it's ability is Soundproof, then it can disable Hyper Voice, which Nucleon mainly use. It's also immune to Shadow Ball! But since it's not immune to Nuclear, it take hits from Quick Attack and Hyper Beam, or even Explosion and Return. But I think immunity to Hyper Voice is usually enough.
Nucleon:
Yeah it's sounds dumb, but Nucleon itself is resistant to Nuclear too, and it can use Shadow Ball to attack the opposing Nucleon. Don't rely on it, but if you have to, then there's a choice to switch it in.
Pokemon with steel type AND high SPDef:
Except for Gararewel, no steel types can resist Nuclear and take neutral hits from them, so it should have high SPDef too. Metalynx and Lanthan with EVs in SPDef can stand a chance of enduring them a few, but only a few.
As I mentioned above, Tracton can resist one hit, use Protect to Speed Boost if you want, and attack Nucleon.
They are not so reliable, so you better think them as a counter you can't switch in, even though I grouped them as counter you can switch.
Counters that CAN'T be switched in:
Pokemon with strong priority moves:
Inflagetah is the best choice, but Harptera with Gale Wings can also do the job. Nucleons must flee against them, and that makes Nucleons difficult to move freely. And that's the basic concept of counters without switching.
Pokemon with Focus Sash:
Endure one hit with Focus Sash, and revenge kill them. Simple.
But of course you can't switch in, and beware the Stealth Rock. It ruins the Sash and can ruin your whole team!
I think Nucleons usually pair with Stealth Rock users to counter the Sash, so don't rely on these as a counter.
Pokemon with high base Speed than Nucleon, AND have Choice Scarf:
You'd better think that opposing Nucleon has Choice Scarf until you really know what it has. So Pokemon like Yatagaryu, without Choice Scarf or Focus Sash, usually get outsped by Choice Scarf Nucleon and get OHKO'ed.
There are many Pokemon that has higher base Speed than Nucleon, so I bet you have plenty of choices to pick from: That is, unless you choose to give Nucleon a Choice Scarf too!(Helding same items should be banned by rules)
Team that can change Speed:
Chlorophyll with Sun, Swift Swim with Rain, Sand Rush with Sandstorm, Pokemon with these abilities AND weather conditions can outspeed Choice Scarf Nucleon. Also Trick Room has a chance too, as most Nucleon has their EVs fully invested in Speed, and has nature to boost Speed.
But make sure you can actually start the weather/Trick Room. If Nucleon was sended as a lead and beats your weather/Trick Room starter, then your whole team would probably be beaten.
Whimsicott with Prankster and Mega-Electruxo can safely start the weather, or make sure that your weather/Trick Room starter can handle a hit from Nucleon. Or just rely on Focus Sash, it works well on the lead.
Sorry for long long rubbish with bad grammar(I'm Japanese and not so good at English),
but I hope it helps in countering this beast.
I'm not fan of Tier-Rule-Thingy, and don't want Pokemon except Urayne(which is the only "true Legendary" now) being banned in serious battles.
It IS possible to counter Nucleon.
Thank you.
