Welcome back to the weekly series that dissects different Pokémon from Sun and Moon and assesses their fighting prowess and potential by coming up with battle sets to try out against other trainers.
There are some amazing Pokémon in the Alola Region and this week for Pokémon Sun and Moon we’ll be covering a Pokémon that has made its mark in the current battle scene. Of course, we are talking about Toxapex.
If you’ve missed our previous “How To” stories, including the Alola Starters, be sure to check them out. If you want to check out movesets for Incineroar, Decidueye or Primarina be sure to take a look.
We will mainly be discussing Single Battles, but there will be talk of some strategies that can also help in Double Battles. Of course, there are a ton of other options and we want to hear yours in the comments section below.
OVERVIEW
Toxapex is an amazing wall. Its great base Defense and Special Defense stats allow it to take a lot of damage. It also has access to Recover to make it last longer. Its Poison typing lets it absorb Toxic Spikes and prevent it from being poisoned.
With only two weaknesses (Ground, Electric and Psychic) Toxapex can take plenty of hits. It also has a brand new ability and a brand new attack that only Toxapex can learn.
Merciless lets Toxapex’s attacks always crit if the opponent is poisoned. Bane Bunker is Toxapex’s version of Protect that not only lets Toxapex avoid an attack but if the opposing Pokémon uses a contact move, it will be poisoned.
Toxapex’s hidden ability is Regenerator so it can gain even more HP back when switched out. Toxapex has amazing egg moves in Haze and Stockpile/Swallow to either disrupt your opponent’s setups or make yourself even bulkier.
This Pokémon is very hard to take down and is one of the most prominent switch-ins in the current meta.
SPECIAL MERCILESS
Hold Item: Black Sludge
Ability: Merciless
Nature: Modest
EVs: 252 SpAtk 252 Def 4 HP
Moveset: Scald / Surf
Venoshock
Baneful Bunker/Toxic Spikes/Toxic
Recover
This set takes full advantage of the Merciless ability by allowing Toxapex to hit the hardest while poisoning opposing Pokémon to get the guaranteed critical hit. We focus on Toxapex’s Special Attack movepool because its normal Attack movepool is not the greatest.
Surf and Scald are the best Water-type special attacks Toxapex can learn but we prefer Scald to inflict burn on any Pokémon that are immune to poison.
Venoshock doubles in power against poisoned foes, and if you couple that with automatic critical hits Toxapex can hit very hard while ignoring any status buffs.
Keep Recover to help with your staying power and use Black Sludge to give some extra healing while you set up with Toxic Spikes or Toxic. Speaking of those moves, you can use Baneful Bunker if you predict a physical attack while protecting but it’s not automatic so Toxic and Toxic Spikes may be your best bet.
Max out Toxapex’s Special Attack with a Modest nature to deal the most damage and max out its Defense to tank a bunch of physical hits. You can also max out the Special Defense stat if you want to be a special wall, it’s totally your preference.
REGENERATING WALL
Hold Item: Black Sludge/Rocky Helmet
Ability: Regenerator
Nature: Calm/Bold
EVs: Def 252 SpDef 252 HP 4
Moveset: Scald
Recover
Toxic/Toxic Spikes/Baneful Bunker
Haze/Venoshock
This set takes advantage of Toxapex’s amazing defensive stats to stall out opposing Pokémon and be the switch-in every team needs.
Get the hidden ability Regenerator to heal Toxapex’s health when switching in and out and equip the Black Sludge to get even more HP back. Use Recover to get even more HP back when your health is dangerously low.
Scald is a great utility move that burns Pokémon that can’t be poisoned and cripples physical attackers.
You can use Baneful Bunker if you predict a physical attack while protecting but it’s not automatic so Toxic and Toxic Spikes may be your best bet. Toxic Spikes if you want to lead with Toxapex is your best bet, while Toxic is great if you aren’t.
Haze is great to stop other Pokémon from setting up. Swords Dance Mimikyu, or any Pokémon using Dragon Dance could have their whole strategy ruined by resetting their stats.
If you are not worried too much about getting a little bit of health every turn, you can have Toxapex hold the Rocky Helmet to deal damage against Pokémon that use contact moves. This will help dwindle the Pokémon down faster.
As for Nature, if you want to be more specially defensive run Calm and Bold if you want to be physically defensive.
Max out Toxapex’s EVs in Defense and Special Defense and put the rest in HP.
