Pokémon Spotlight: OU - Toxapex

Introduction​

Meet Toxapex. With the combination of Regenerator, Recover, AND possibly Black Sludge, this little sea star is the one of best walls the OU tier has ever had. Not only does it have immense bulk, it also boasts a solid typing in Water / Poison, granting it only three weaknesses but several prominent resistances to Fairy, Fighting, Bug, Fire, Steel, and Ice. All of these are common types in OU, meaning Toxapex has plenty of opportunities to switch in and tank a hit.

On top of this, its movepool contains everything it needs to be infuriating: Scald to burn Pokémon, Toxic Spikes, Recover, Haze, and a few other gimmicks. Because of this, however, it is very predictable.

When all is said and done though, Toxapex is one of the monsters of Gen 7 OU. Eat your heart out, Tentacruel.

Physically Defensive

Toxapex @ Black Sludge / Rocky Helmet
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Scald
- Toxic Spikes / Toxic
- Recover
- Haze / Baneful Bunker / Protect
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This is by far the most likely thing you'll see a Toxapex doing at any time in the OU tier. Its great typing and exceptional longevity turn it into almost a perfect answer for many Fairy-, Bug-, Fire-, or Fighting-types that may cross its path.

Going physically defensive best adheres to both its typing and its base stats, working on its key Fighting and Bug resistances, seeing as these moves are almost exclusively physical in OU.

Black Sludge is simple: reliable healing that Toxapex can take advantage of thanks to how many free turns Toxapex generates. Rocky Helmet, however, can be used to punish physical attackers, especially those that utilize U-turn, like Greninja and Pheromosa.

Scald is a staple move on Toxapex. While it is horribly underpowered and some battles prefer Liquidation for the chance of reducing the target's Defence, it can burn its targets, which is the main reason for almost any Water-type using it. Physical powerhouses like Excadrill and Hoopa-U are much more wary about switching into Toxapex for that reason alone. Slot two has either Toxic Spikes or Toxic. The former better suits stall-based teams, where it can be used to whittle down foes' HP and also keep their entry hazard control busy. Toxic, however, is a viable means of wearing down airborne foes, such as Latias and Mandibuzz, neither of which care about Toxic Spikes.

Recover is another staple move in slot three, simply keeping Toxapex healthier for longer and making it even tougher to actually KO. Lastly, slot four has Haze, Baneful Bunker, or Protect. The former lets Toxapex cancel out any stat boosts its foe may have acquired, which neuters threats like Belly Drum Azumarill or Dragon Dance Mega Charizard X, while Baneful Bunker and Protect help stall for burn or poison damage. Protect is better suited alongside Toxic due to Baneful Bunker inflicting its targets with regular poison, which is often seen as undesirable in competitive play. Baneful Bunker works well in conjunction with Toxic Spikes, though, as this effectively lets Toxapex pick its opponent's poison. Both are effective and work well under the right circumstances, so they are worth considering.

Synergy Options
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Celesteela is one of the most popular partners for Toxapex due to boasting fantastic synergy together, with Celesteela able to support Toxapex with Leech Seed and Toxapex able to burn Pokémon for Celesteela.

Skarmory is in a similar boat to Celesteela, albeit more hazard inclined. Skarmory can set up Stealth Rock and/or Spikes for Toxapex and also Whirlwind threats away, making for a solid partner in crime.

Both of these pairings will need an Electric-resistant Pokémon, however, which is why Alolan Marowak is a common sighting with them both. Garchomp and Excadrill also work well as more offensive partners, however, with the latter able to provide Rapid Spin support if needed.

Mega Sableye's sole weakness to Fairy means it very much appreciates Toxapex's presence, and Toxapex likes relying on Mega Sableye's ability to keep entry hazards on the opponent's side of the field, be it via spinblocking or Magic Bounce. Mold Breaker Excadrill is a Pokémon that troubles both, however, so an answer for it will be needed.

Where Toxapex is indomitable physically, Chansey is just as unstoppable specially, and the two support each other very well. Toxapex can tank Chansey's sole weakness to Fighting with ease, and Chansey can keep Toxapex healthy with both Wish and cleric support.

Other Options​

Going specially defensive isn't out of the question. It has its perks in stopping prominent special attackers like Volcanion and Greninja from getting too many ideas and slowing down most rain teams. It does noticeably reduce Toxapex's physical bulk, however, rendering it far more vulnerable to the common Earthquake and lowering its overall effectiveness.

Shed Shell can stop Toxapex from getting trapped by Dugtrio, which is useful due to Scald being a 2HKO without prior damage. Lastly, Sludge Bomb or Venoshock are Poison-type STAB moves worth mentioning that can help Toxapex break through opposing Fairy- and Grass-types if the team requires it.

Checks and Counters​

Finding solid answers to Toxapex can be a difficult task but is in no way impossible. Ground-types that don't mind Scald, such as Gastrodon and the occasional Seismitoad, can scare Toxapex away with their Ground-type STAB moves, just as long as they avoid being poisoned. The same applies for the likes of Volcanion, which can use Earth Power to take chunks out of Toxapex but must also watch out for Toxic.

With some pivoting support from U-turn or Volt Switch, Dugtrio can trap Toxapex with Arena Trap and throw powerful Earthquakes at it to bring it down. Other Ground-types such as Landorus-T and Garchomp can't prevent it from switching like Dugtrio but can just as effectively KO it.

Tentacruel, while struggling to actually damage Toxapex, can wall it for days due to taking barely anything from a Scald, being immune to the poison status, and being able to remove Toxic Spikes by simply switching in. Ferrothorn won't like a burn but otherwise shuts Toxapex down more or less completely.

Specially based Psychic-types such as Mega Alakazam and Latias aren't going to care as much about status (though Toxic is still annoying) and can threaten with a powerful Psychic-type STAB move from the get go. The physically based Mega Metagross can even switch into Poison-type moves free of charge thanks to its Steel typing but in return must watch out for a burn from Scald.

Hit-and-run Electric-types like Xurkitree and Tapu Koko can hit Toxapex hard with a powerful Volt Switch or Thunderbolt, caring far less about status due to their role in a team. Special walls like Chansey can tank Scald all day long and won't care about being poisoned because of Natural Cure.

Lastly, pretty much anything with Substitute can outwit Toxapex, as its pitiful Scald often can't break it. Taunt users can cripple it effectively too, just as long as they aren't afraid of being burned.

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Spoiler: Special Thanks

Spoovo The Pirate - Writer
Joyverse - QC
Annoying Orange - QC, Artist
E.T. - QC
RedJoker25 - Grammar
Sobi - QC, Grammar

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toxapex a monster?? the thing hits like a caterpie also heatran wins 1 on 1 vs toxapex, and your set is bad.



Toxapex (M) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SDef
IVs: 0 Atk
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Recover
- Haze
- Scald
- Toxic

i custom ev'd that set awhile back to handle checks of the day i may what to revist it, but it's better than yours


you also forgot tapu bulu and toxapex make a very nice balance core as toxapex loves grassy terrain. and grass fairy pairs well with water poison


also you're wrong about it needing physical def, it tanks fighting moves so well you don't really need to invest into it, as haze handles stat changes the reason i made this sp def was so that my team didn't die to zard y.

 

Well a bunch of other guys seemed to think it was good enough, so I believe what you're suffering from here is a difference of opinion, Kland.

Specially defensive is mentioned in the OO, though I'll probably have to swap Genesect out because of its recent banning.

 

meeps the problem is your set takes 28% from everything mine takes 40% from more things a regen pokemon taking 40% max from things it need to check is fine. It allows it to check more things, your set is win harder on pokemon that it checks reguardless