Naganadel Moveset - Sweeper

[Kris]

Fanart by borbamena

---

After a long wait, I'm finally covering Naganadel, who was clearly the most popular of my Ultra Beast Discussion posts. Naganadel scored itself a spot in Ubers thanks to it's sheer power as a sweeper/stall breaker Pokemon. It's Poison and Dragon typying is really good, getting STAB from moves like Sludge Wave and Draco Meteor, and it's Posion typing also means it can absorb Toxic Spikes, making it the only one besides Mega Gengar who can fill this role on offense in the Uber tier. It's 121 Base Speed is also extremely good paired with Beast Boost to act as a "fake Speed Boost" whenever it picks up a KO, making up for it's mediocre defenses. It's defenses, however, leave it vulnerable to faster threats like Marshadow and Ultra Necrozma. 

---

Type: 
Base Stats: Hp: 73 Attack: 73 Defense: 73 Sp.Atk: 127 Sp.Def: 73 Speed: 121
Weaknesses:  x2 x2 x2 x2
Resistances:  x0.5 x0.5 x0.5 x0.25 x0.5 x0.5 x0.5
Immunities: None
Ability: Beast Boost

---

Set  (Z-Draco Meteor)

Naganadel @ Dragonium Z  
Ability: Beast Boost  
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe  
Timid Nature  
IVs: 0 Atk  
- Draco Meteor  
- Nasty Plot  
- Sludge Wave  
- Fire Blast

 
Naganadel's most powerful STAB move is Draco Meteor, paired with Dragonium Z, it becomes a 195 Base Power nuke which can take out stronger threats like Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre after a Nasty Plot, all without losing any Special Attack. Nasty Plot is required to have Devistating Drake take out the aforementioned threats, plus overall it's a very handy move to have, being able to boost Sludge Wave, Naganadel's weakest move on this set. Sludge Wave is Naganadel's answer to Xerneas and Pixie Plate Arceus, being able to check both Pokemon after a Nasty Plot and easily get Beast Boost to have it potentially start sweeping as well as offering great neutral coverage. Fire Blast is the only good option against Ferrothorn, Bronzong and Necrozma Mane of Twilight, as all three are immune to Sludge Wave and can easily eat up Draco Meteor. 252 Speed EVs and a Timid Nature puts Naganadel's Speed higher than it's Special Attack and enhances Naganadel's sweeping potential greatly, and also allows it to outspeed max Speed Arceus variants. Naganadel is best switched in on a predicted status move, Toxic, Recover or Protect, and it's also safest to attack on a possible switch in from the opponent, rather than to try setup right away as a faster Pokemon or a strong priority attacker may switch in and KO Naganadel. Avoid switching into hazards as Naganadel will get worn down easily. It's Z-Move requires good prediction as it can be wasted if the opponent switches in to a Fairy type, and then you can't take out stronger and bulkier Pokemon like Ho-Oh. 

---

Damage Calculations

Offensive: 

• +2 252 SpA Naganadel Devastating Drake (195 BP) vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Groudon-Primal: 483-568 (119.8 - 140.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
  Possible damage amounts: (483, 487, 493, 499, 505, 511, 516, 522, 528, 534, 540, 544, 550, 556, 562, 568)
  
• +2 252 SpA Naganadel Devastating Drake (195 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Kyogre-Primal: 415-489 (102.7 - 121%) -- guaranteed OHKO
  Possible damage amounts: (415, 420, 424, 429, 435, 439, 444, 448, 454, 459, 463, 468, 474, 478, 483, 489)
  
• +2 252 SpA Naganadel Devastating Drake (195 BP) vs. 240 HP / 0 SpD Arceus: 535-630 (121.3 - 142.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
  Possible damage amounts: (535, 541, 547, 553, 559, 567, 573, 579, 585, 591, 598, 604, 610, 616, 622, 630)
  
• +2 252 SpA Naganadel Sludge Wave vs. 72 HP / 100 SpD Xerneas: 560-662 (136.2 - 161%) -- guaranteed OHKO
  Possible damage amounts: (560, 570, 576, 582, 588, 594, 602, 608, 614, 620, 626, 636, 642, 648, 654, 662)
  
• 252 SpA Naganadel Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Lucario-Mega: 316-374 (112.4 - 133%) -- guaranteed OHKO
  Possible damage amounts: (316, 320, 324, 328, 332, 336, 340, 344, 346, 350, 354, 358, 362, 366, 370, 374)
  
• +2 252 SpA Naganadel Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Aegislash-Blade: 510-602 (157.4 - 185.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
  Possible damage amounts: (510, 516, 522, 528, 534, 540, 546, 552, 558, 564, 570, 576, 582, 588, 594, 602)
  

---

Team Options 

• Hazard setters like Excadrill and Deoxys Speed Forme can help to wear down Naganadel's checks
  
• Marshadow handles Extremespeed Arceus and Rayquaza, and in turn Naganadel handles Marshadow's Fairy type threats.
  
• Choice Scarf Yveltal can handle Psychic types and is complimented with Naganadel's presence around Fairy types.
  

---

Threats 

• Faster Pokemon like Choice Scarf Yveltal or Xerneas can threaten Naganadel if it doesn't have a speed boost
  
• Bulky attackers Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre can take any attack from unboosted Naganadel and easily OHKO it
  
• Ho-Oh can take any boosted attacked, bar Devistating Drake, from Naganadel and OHKO it with Earthquake
  
• Necrozma Mane of Twilight is immune to Sludge Wave and can only be OHKOed by Fire Blast, and in return can beat Naganadel with Photon Geyser, or if it's an Ultranecrozium Z variant, just Ultra Burst and proceed to OHKO it there.
  

---

Other Notable Moves 

• Flamethrower can be run for a more reliable, albeit weaker, option against Necrozma MoT, Ferrothorn and Bronzong