What is a good moveset for Toxapex?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Toxapex, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for its pre-evolutions, if any, can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Toxapex Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Comments

Thought I should mention, seeing as a lot of people here are recommending it: do *not* use 252 Def / 252 SpD on Toxapex. If you really want an even balance in Def / SpD (which is a lazy and unthoughtful EV spread anyway), then you should use 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SpD which is mathematically superior:
252 SpA Silvally Hyper Voice vs. 252 HP / 128 SpD Toxapex: 81-96 (26.6 - 31.5%) -- guaranteed 4HKO
252 Atk Silvally Take Down vs. 252 HP / 128 Def Toxapex: 76-90 (25 - 29.6%) -- guaranteed 4HKO
252 SpA Silvally Hyper Voice vs. 0 HP / 252 SpD Toxapex: 75-88 (31.1 - 36.5%) -- 62.3% chance to 3HKO
252 Atk Silvally Take Down vs. 0 HP / 252 Def Toxapex: 70-84 (29 - 34.8%) -- 7.6% chance to 3HKO
https://calc.pokemonshowdown.com/

Also, Merciless sets are not good. Regenerator is a fantastic ability and building around it instead is a good idea.

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Just wanted to add on about the 252 Def / 252 SpD thing:
You can use this equation to figure out a Pokémon's walling Pokemon capabilities:
HP*Def or HP*SpD
Let's apply this to Toxapex:
252 Def: 241*403=97,123
252 / 128 Def: 304*372=113,088
252 SpD: 241*421=101,461
252 / 128 SpD: 304*387=117,648

The higher the total, the more capable a Pokemon can wall physical/special attacks. In this case, the 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SpD spread gives Toxapex better walling capabilities.

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the offensive sets here pain me

Answer 1

Toxapex @ Black Sludge
Ability: Merciless
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SpD
IVs: 0 Atk
Calm Nature / Sassy Nature
- Recover
- Venoshock
- Toxic Spikes / Scald
- Toxic

The whole idea about this is to poison the opponent and use Venoshock. Venoshock would be totally awesome with merciless and when the opponent is poisoned. First use Toxic, then use Venoshock. After that use Toxic Spikes so that you no need to keep using Toxic. Note that if you want to take on steel types, Scald is an option. But you will need to keep using Toxic. Recover heals Toxapex together with Leftovers, meaning he can almost never die and be more of a wall due to its high Defence and Special Defence. Max EVs in Hp and the rest in Defence and Special Defence boost Toxapex's Bulk nicely.

Comments

Leftovers? Why not Black Sludge?

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Oh, Black Sludge will be better since he's a poison type. Thanks for reminding me.

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you're welcome! :3

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Wow I agree that this is a great moveset for a tanky BEAST like toxapex! I have the exact same moves and items on him I don't recommend this strategy for those with no patience but it is a very effective strategy. If anyone wants they may single battle me in sun and moon. My UN is SurSethsalot and me,toxapex and magearna are always excepting new challenges.You guys sound really good at pokemon but don't hold back Cuz I need a challenge

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I totally agree with this. I mean, if a Pokemon's got an OP ability like merciless, why not use it?

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Thanks :P It helped a lot

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I'm not gonna be rude, but this is really good because, when are are on low HP, you can't outspeed and use Recover, so you would be dead X-X put Baneful Bunker on it, it will save you and let you regenerate a little bit of HP.

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And what about poison barb?

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I wondering about the EVs for my Toxapex I put 252 Special Attack and 252 for Defense. Is that good?

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Toxapex is a tank pokemon, it has merciless + venoshock which is enough, so it doesn't need special attack.

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With the buffs of STAB, guaranteed crits due to Merciless and double damage because of Venoshock, that comes to a total of around 390 damage. Imagine this being 4x Super Effective. And because it's slow, it would be deadly on a Trick Room team.

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No... Trick Room + poisoning every opponent is a hilarious amount of setup required for a Pokemon that still cannot outdamage a real attacker. If you want a sweeper then use a Pokemon that has more than base 53 Spa.
0 SpA Toxapex Venoshock (130 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Dondozo on a critical hit: 178-211 (35.3 - 41.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after poison damage
252 SpA Gholdengo Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Dondozo: 187-222 (37.1 - 44%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
https://calc.pokemonshowdown.com/

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Just use Regenerator and make use of Toxapex's strengths by being a wall. Even with Merciless, it still barely does any damage due to its abysmal offensive stats. Also, it's usually better to invest fully in either PhysDef Or SpDef rather than splitting your EVs evenly.

Answer 2

Let's get straight into it. Nothing too fancy.

Toxapex @ Black Sludge
Ability: Merciless
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD OR 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Bold Nature / Calm Nature
- Toxic / Toxic Spikes
- Venoshock
- Scald / Surf / Infestation
- Recover

No Limber, no Regenerator, don't ruin Toxapex's true purpose
- Toxic / Toxic Spikes (Either one is viable and activates Toxapex's amazing ability to CRIT any Pokemon who is poisoned)
- Venoshock (Deals double damage if target is poisoned)
- Scald / Surf / Infestation (Scald for STAB and a chance of burn, Surf for that extra damage and STAB, Infestation because why not)
- Recover (You can't rely on that Black Sludge for everything)

NOTE: When breeding, keep in mind you should have bred a 5 or 4 IV Mareanie with its Attack stat as low as possible so it can take less damage from Confusion and Foul Play. This is a great idea for a "tanky wall status inflicting" Pokemon like Toxapex. You want to take advantage of Toxapex's walling abilities so use this to your advantage.

Comments

That is what it should be: SpD
Speed is Spe
I like to us SpDef

Answer 3

The Nasty Stockpile SetterUpper

Toxapex @ Black Sludge
Ability: Merciless
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def
Bold Nature
- Stockpile
- Swallow
- Spit Up
- Toxic Spikes

Stockpile: Just nasty, but meh
Swallow: Get 3 stockpiles and gg ~~ 100 HO recover
Spit Up: 3 stockpiles = 300 base power
Toxic Spikes: 300 base power + Merciless + poisoned = gg

Or instead of Toxic Spikes, if you have a Toxic Spiker already, go for Venoshock or Scald.

Answer 4

Second favourite Pokémon overall, so I'd love to give my two cents!

Toxapex @ Black Sludge
Ability: Merciless
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Baneful Bunker / Recover
- Toxic
- Venoshock
- Liquidation / Scald

The goal is to poison the enemy no matter the cost and stalling them to death with this Pokémon usually. With its Ability, it can also effectively be offensive as well! Sassy brings down its only useless stat and brings its lower Special Defence slightly higher than its Defence. Bunker and Recover serve the purpose of surviving as long as possible, one by stopping hits, the other by recovering from them. I prefer Baneful Bunker since it also lets me poison the opponent which is very important.

Toxic does what it does best: badly poisons the opponent which is preferable but not necessary. After that, it's about how to best take down your opponent. Venoshock for sure when using Poison moves since it doubles in power when the opponent is poisoned (which it will be). A must for any offensive Toxapex. I prefer Liquidation since it give a Physical option when going against Special walls, but Scald is also an option if you think Physical threats will be a problem. The IVs are to boost its best stats as much as possible while the item lets it recover between moves. Pairs up very nicely with Baneful Bunker as an annoyance.

Hope you consider this! I absolutely love Toxapex and will keep it in my team for a long time to come as well!!

Answer 5

Toxabest
Toxapex@sitrus berry
Ability: merciless
EVS: 252 defence, 252 sp.def, 6 atk
Nature: sassy
Moves:
Liquidation
Poison jab
Stockpile
Recover
Another moveset by verlisify, this is a god moveset. So you start stockpiling to make them not damage yo at all and if they get you below half hp(after five hours jk), your health goes back up, if it happens again then you recover. Once that happens then you start poison jabbing in order to poison then liquidation to slaughter them.

Comments

Ok that is ur opinion that is ok. Me to. My fave that I use is number to but for a beginner it is good to check out verlisify but beware to not do all he says Cuz wellllll, you will see

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verlisify isn't even good for beginners, he will confuse the flup out of them lol

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True now that I think of it. Bye

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Toxabest? More like toxaworst. Who uses physical moves when its special attacks are way better?

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This move set could be killed with a stat reset. In the time it takes you to gain a good boost from stockpile, your opponent would have used Swords Dance or Nasty Plot once or twice and swept you.