Pre Evolutions:
Form Change:
Highlander brings a lot of dynamic combinations and matchups. And with a fortified team that will appreciate the boost in healing and energy shortcuts, sustainability is the name of Nidoqueen’s game.
Strategy Points:
- “Mother Pheromone” quickens the pace of the match with every Pokémon being able to attack for one less Colorless Energy. Though you can’t have a Special Energy, Pheromosa and Hitmonchan can blitz early high damage for even less now.
- Thanks to their “Aerilate” Abilities, Mega Salamence and Mega Pinsir can have any Special Energy that provides Colorless, while receiving the benefit of “Mother Pheromone.” Warp, Jet, and Powerful Energy all grant great effects while not being counted as Special Energy.
- “Maternal Comfort” is the backbone of multiple high sustainability strategies. Not only does this create a harder to KO environment for the opponent, but you have the opportunity to jolt burst healing effects from Potion and Fresh Water Set.
- Palossand appreciates using “Absorb Vitality” for a lower Energy Cost while healing even more damage. “Eerie Wall of Light” will add a lot of disruption for the opponent while keeping Nidoqueen’s Poke-Bodies around with a Pokémon Tool Card. Conkeldurr also appreciates the same benefits, while increasing its HP thanks to “Craftsmanship.”
- “Give Aid” has the opportunity to do 100 damage for only two energy thanks to “Mother Pheromone.” A strong way to maintain a higher bench count is by using Ditto or Sudowoodo (with Bonsly). These two also pair well with “Mother Pheromone”, allowing for their copied attacks to be one Colorless Energy less.
- “Call for Family” from Nidoran ♀ is a great way to begin a strong board. The Pokemon you play will also be able to evolve next turn, allowing for a fast and impactful turn two set up. Zoroark or Dodrio are great turn two options to quickly retreat your Nidoran ♀.
- “Family Rescue” from Nidorina is a great recovery option. There’s a specific combo where you can use Nidoqueen Level X’s “Queen’s Command” to grab 4 Psychic Pokémon, and discard them all to quickly meet the requirements for Greedent’s “Spill Out”, then use Shrine of Memories to use “Family Rescue” for no Energy if you don’t have access to Super Rod or Miriam.
- Nidoqueen – Level X:
- “Queen’s Command” provides a burst of high searching. With the help of Broken Time-Space or Wally, you can easily play out multiple fully Evolved Pokémon from this one Poké-Power.
- There’s a specific combo loop you can do thanks to “Queen’s Command,” one of your four searches can be used to get Uxie. The other three can be dedicated to a plethora of offensive or defensive support, like Nidoking, Stonjourner, and Passimian. You can then use “Psychic Restore” with attached PlusPowers and Fighting Fury Belt/Vitality Band for zero energy thanks to “Mother Pheromone”. Rotate into a punishing wall you can search, like Lugia or Kabutops, and repeat the process while you continue healing.
- “Kingdom Fortified” becomes a lethal threat if given even one turn to use on a full board. Your damage potential will quickly begin to skyrocket for low energy in combination with “Mother Pheromone” and “Queen’s Command.”