For Sword & Shield, we rate Nihilego A-Tier: a strong pick in Sword & Shield's competitive scene. At 570 BST, it fits the sweeper role. Power Gem with Black Sludge is the standard set.

What is Nihilego weak to?

In Sword & Shield, watch for Rhydon (Ground), Milotic (Water), and Reuniclus (Psychic) when using Nihilego. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Rhydon is the most dangerous since Ground moves deal 4x damage. Steel-type attackers are also a problem.

What is the best ability for Nihilego?

Beast Boost raises this Pokémon's highest stat by one stage when it faints another Pokémon. That's the one you want on Nihilego. It's the only ability Nihilego has.

What role does Nihilego play in battle?

Base 103 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Nihilego is leaning toward the special side (base 127 Sp. Atk). Defensively? Tanky enough to absorb a few hits. Best used as a sweeper.

What counters Nihilego?

For Sword & Shield, Nihilego has answers, but so do you. Priority moves (Mach Punch, Aqua Jet, Ice Shard) bypass its speed. Bulky walls that resist its STAB also shut it down.

Nihilego - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Utility

Sweeper

ATier

103Speed · Fast

Stats & Training

Sp. Def leads and Defense gets almost nothing. That's Nihilego's stat line in a nutshell. 4 stats sit in respectable range, but the spread is brutal. Tough to catch and yields 3 Sp. Def EVs.

Base Stats

Pseudo

HP109

Attack53

Defense47

Sp. Atk127

Sp. Def131

Speed103

Total570

Details

Catch Rate

Challenging45 / 255

Growth Rate

Slow1.25M XP

Height1.2 m

Weight55.5 kg

Base XP257

Abilities

Beast BoostTop Pick

Raises this Pokémon's highest stat by one stage when it faints another Pokémon.

EV Yield

HPAtkDefSpASpD+3Spe

Strong Special Defense training target

Pokedex Entries

No Sword Shield entries available

A life-form from another world, it was dubbed a UB and is thought to produce a strong neurotoxin.

Nihilego Weakness

Ground, Water, Psychic, and Steel moves hit Nihilego for super-effective damage. Ground hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. With 6 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. Nihilego's special bulk (base 131 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.

Nihilego Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
4x (Critical)	Ground
2x (Weak)	Water, Psychic, Steel
0.5x (Resist)	Normal, Fire, Flying, Bug, Fairy
0.25x (Resist)	Poison

Type ChartVulnerable

4Weak

6Resist

0Immune

Score-3

4xCritical

Ground

2xWeak

Water Psychic Steel

½xResist

Normal Fire Flying Bug Fairy

¼xResist

Poison

0xImmune

None

STAB (6)

Fire Ice Flying Bug Grass Fairy

How to Beat Nihilego in Sword & Shield (Best Counters)

In Sword & Shield, Runerigus's Poltergeist hits Nihilego for 50-59%. Klinklang's Wild Charge hits Nihilego for 39-47%.

Runerigus GroundGhost	S
Recommended Build AbilityWanderingspirit ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves Stealth Rock PoltergeistSTAB HazeUtility Will O Wisp Damage vs Nihilego Poltergeist 50-59% View Runerigus builds →
Klinklang Steel	S
Recommended Build AbilityClearbody ItemAir Balloon NatureAdamant Moves Shift Gear Gear Grind Wild Charge SubstituteUtility Damage vs Nihilego Wild Charge 39-47% View Klinklang builds →
ClefableIgnores boosts via Unaware Fairy	A
Recommended Build AbilityMagic Guard ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves MoonblastSTAB Soft Boiled Calm Mind Knock Off Damage vs Nihilego Moonblast 11-13% Knock Off 14-16% View Clefable builds →
Hydreigon DarkDragon	A
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemChoice Scarf NatureTimid Moves Dark Pulse Draco Meteor U Turn Flamethrower Damage vs Nihilego Dark Pulse 28-33% Draco Meteor 46-54% U Turn 10-12% Flamethrower 11-13% View Hydreigon builds →
Lunatone RockPsychic	A
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemPower Herb NatureModest Moves Ice Beam Moonblast PsychicSTAB Meteor Beam Damage vs Nihilego Ice Beam 19-23% Moonblast 10-12% Psychic 2x 58-69% View Lunatone builds →

Sword & Shield Evolution

At 570 base stat total, Nihilego hits hard for a Rock/Poison type. No evolution chain and no egg group, just a straight pickup. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

No Evolution

#793NihilegoDoes not evolve

Breeding

Unavailable

Undiscovered egg group

Sword & Shield Nihilego Best Moveset

Timid nature gives Nihilego the fast special lean it needs to trade hits effectively. Black Sludge adds Poison-type passive recovery, flexible EVs split the difference, and the remaining moves punishes anything trying to wall it.

Best Build

Experimental

Ability

Beast Boost

Item

Black SludgeSUSTAIN

Best Nature for Nihilego

Timid+SPE

Nihilego best EVs are Speed and Sp. Atk

EVs

Def

SpA

Spe

Utility Moveset

Power GemSTAB
Grass Knot
Stealth RockSTAB
Sludge WaveSTAB

Recommended Teammates

ExcadrillDecent

SlowkingDecent

Moves

Level-up moves are just the starting point for Nihilego. TMs unlock coverage across 8 types and turn a straightforward STAB kit around Head Smash and Gunk Shot into something with actual range.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Pound

—4010035Normal

Lv 1

Wrap

—159020Normal

Lv 5

Acid

—4010030Poison

Lv 10

Tickle

D—10020Normal

Lv 15

Acid Spray

C4010020Poison

Lv 20

Clear Smog

C50—15Poison

Lv 25

Guard Split

D——10Psychic

Lv 25

Power Split

———10Psychic

Lv 30

Venoshock

B6510010Poison

Lv 35

Headbutt

D7010015Normal

Lv 40

Toxic Spikes

C——20Poison

Lv 45

Venom Drench

——10020Poison

Lv 50

Power Gem

S8010020Rock

Lv 55

Stealth Rock

A——20Rock

Lv 60

Mirror Coat-5

D—10020Psychic

Lv 65

Wonder Room

———10Psychic

Lv 70

Head Smash

C150805Rock

TM Moves

TR83

Ally Switch+2

C——15Psychic

TR01

Body Slam

D8510015Normal

TM97

Brutal Swing

D6010020Dark

TM73

Cross Poison

D7010020Poison

TR92

Dazzling Gleam

C8010010Fairy

TR26

Endure+4

C——10Normal

TM39

Facade

D7010020Normal

TR81

Foul Play

D9510015Dark

TR77

Grass Knot

S—10020Grass

TR73

Gunk Shot

C120805Poison

TM77

Hex

C6510010Ghost

TR74

Iron Head

D8010015Steel

TM17

Light Screen

C——30Psychic

TR57

Poison Jab

C8010020Poison

TR63

Power Gem

S8010020Rock

TM25

Protect+4

S——10Normal

TR11

Psychic

C9010010Psychic

TR25

Psyshock

C8010010Psychic

TM21

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM22

Rock Slide

D759010Rock

TM48

Rock Tomb

D609515Rock

TM76

Round

C6010015Normal

TM19

Safeguard

C——25Normal

TM32

Sandstorm

D——10Rock

TR27

Sleep Talk

C——10Normal

TR22

Sludge Bomb

S9010010Poison

TR78

Sludge Wave

A9510010Poison

TM24

Snore

—5010015Normal

TR76

Stealth Rock

A——20Rock

TR20

Substitute

C——10Normal

TR09

Thunder

C1107010Electric

TM14

Thunder Wave

C—9020Electric

TR08

Thunderbolt

B9010015Electric

TR54

Toxic Spikes

C——20Poison

TM70

Trick Room-7

C——5Psychic

TR91

Venom Drench

——10020Poison

TM74

Venoshock

B6510010Poison

TM71

Wonder Room

———10Psychic

TR69

Zen Headbutt

D809015Psychic

Egg Moves

Nihilego doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Tut

Tutor

Corrosive Gas

D—10040Poison

Tutor

Meteor Beam

S1209010Rock

How to Get Nihilego in Sword & Shield

No wild encounters for Nihilego in Sword & Shield. It's available in Sun or Ultra Sun and can be transferred over. The details below show where to find it.

Nihilego is not available as a wild encounter in this game.

Also found in:

Sun Ultra Sun

Nihilego Guide

For Sword & Shield, we rate Nihilego A-Tier: a strong pick in Sword & Shield's competitive scene. At 570 BST, it fits the sweeper role. Power Gem with Black Sludge is the standard set.
In Sword & Shield, watch for Rhydon (Ground), Milotic (Water), and Reuniclus (Psychic) when using Nihilego. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Rhydon is the most dangerous since Ground moves deal 4x damage. Steel-type attackers are also a problem.
Beast Boost raises this Pokémon's highest stat by one stage when it faints another Pokémon. That's the one you want on Nihilego. It's the only ability Nihilego has.
Base 103 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Nihilego is leaning toward the special side (base 127 Sp. Atk). Defensively? Tanky enough to absorb a few hits. Best used as a sweeper.
For Sword & Shield, Nihilego has answers, but so do you. Priority moves (Mach Punch, Aqua Jet, Ice Shard) bypass its speed. Bulky walls that resist its STAB also shut it down.

Game Availability

Nihilego joined the series in Sun & Moon and has been available in 3 titles so far. With 4 generations of appearances, it's established itself despite the later start.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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