Naganadel - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

This is a strategy guide for using Naganadel in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Naganadel, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Naganadel - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Naganadel

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Naganadel
Abilities
Beast Boost	The Pokemon boosts its most proficient stat each time it knocks out a Pokemon.

Naganadel Weaknesses and Resistances

	Type
Takes 4x damage	-
Takes 2x damage
Takes 0.5x damage
Takes 1/4x damage
Takes 0x damage	-

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Naganadel

Singles Movesets for Naganadel

Dynamax Lead Moveset & Best Build

Naganadel is a fearsome setup sweeper in both Singles and Doubles. High speed and special attack, as well as a speed boosting ability, make it a great Dynamax lead that that's difficult to revenge kill once it gets enough boosts.

About Naganadel's Moves

Nasty Plot boosts Naganadel's already high special attack to dangerous levels, allowing it to easily knock out opposing Pokemon that don't resist its STAB and coverage moves.

Sludge Wave is its main STAB move, hitting Fairy-types and Grass-types for super effective damage.

Draco Meteor is its secondary STAB and is best used during Dynamax to avoid the special attack drop. It also hits slower Dragon-types like Garchomp and Dragonite.

Fire Blast is its last move and is mostly for coverage, hitting Steel-types that take little damage from the rest of Naganadel's moves.

About Naganadel's EV Spread

We're using a straightforward special attacking EV spread with full investment in Special Attack and Speed so that Naganadel hits as hard and as fast as possible. The remaining EVs are placed in Special Defense to boost its bulk.

About Naganadel's Ability

Beast Boost increases Naganadel's highest stat when it knocks out an enemy. With a Timid Nature, Naganadel has an effective 190 Speed at Level 50. This means its Beast Boost ability will give it +1 Speed every time it knocks out an enemy.

About Naganadel's Held Item

Life Orb boosts the power of Naganadel's moves at the cost of some residual damage.

Other Viable Moves

Choice Scarf Moveset & Best Build

Naganadel can also forgo Nasty Plot and fill the role of a revenge killer with Choice Scarf.

About Naganadel's Moves

Draco Meteor coming from Naganadel's high special attack dents anything that doesn't resist it, and can even knock out frailer Pokemon. Sludge Wave is its secondary attacking move, hitting Fairy and Grass-types for super effective damage.

Fire Blast hits Steel-types like Ferrothorn while U-Turn lets it quickly pivot from the battle.

About Naganadel's EV Spread

We're using a straightforward special attacking EV spread with full investment in Special Attack and Speed so that Naganadel hits as hard and as fast as possible. The remaining EVs are placed in HP to boost its bulk.

About Naganadel's Ability

Beast Boost increases Naganadel's highest stat when it knocks out an enemy. With a Timid Nature, Naganadel has an effective 190 Speed at Level 50. This means its Beast Boost ability will give it +1 Speed every time it knocks out an enemy.

About Naganadel's Held Item

Choice Scarf doubles Naganadel's speed but restricts it from using other moves during its turn.

Other Viable Moves

How to Use Naganadel Effectively

Use it as a Lead Setup Sweeper

Naganadel has the potential to outrun its checks and counters if it gets enough boosts from its Beast Boost ability. That's why it's best used early in the game as a lead so that it can setup with Nasty Plot and fire off powerful special attacks once it Dynamaxes.

How to Build a Team with Naganadel

Naganadel is easy to fit in both offensive and balanced teams due to its great stats and access to good coverage moves. Both the Nasty Plot and Choice Specs are useable in Singles and Doubles, although for the latter, it's important to find the right partner for it.

Doubles Sweeper

Naganadel is an effective setup sweeper in Doubles, especially if its partnered with a Pokemon that can provide it redirection support.

Doubles Lead
Pokemon	Indeedee	Naganadel
Ability	Psychic Surge	Beast Boost
Held Item	Focus Sash	Life Orb
Nature	Sassy	Timid
EV Spread	HP 252 / Def 212 / Sp.Def 44	Sp.Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4 / Spd 252
Moveset	・Follow Me ・Helping Hand ・Expanding Force ・Protect	・Nasty Plot ・Sludge Wave ・Dragon Pulse ・Fire Blast

Indeedee (Female) is a great partner for lead Naganadel in Doubles as it provides redirection support with Follow Me. This ensures Naganadel can set up Nasty Plot and sweep with its STAB moves. Indeedee also has Protect to ensure it doesn't get hit by Naganadel's Sludge Wave.

After setting up with Nasty Plot, Naganadel can freely sweep with its special attacks. It can also Dynamax, and use Max Ooze to further boost it and its team's Special Attack stat.

Counters for Naganadel

Weakness

Exploit its Weaknesses

Naganadel's dual typing and move coverage make it a fearsome sweeper, but there are some Pokemon that not only resist this dual coverage but can also take advantage of Naganadel's weakness to Ground-type moves. Heatran, in particular, resists all of Naganadel's moves and can threaten it with Earth Power.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Heatran	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Immune to Sludge Wave and resists all of Naganadel's coverage moves ・Flash Fire negates Fire Blast ・Can threaten Naganadel with Earth Power Moveset & Best Build for Heatran
Landorus (Therian Forme)	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Can outspeed Naganadel with a Choice Scarf ・Easily KOs Naganadel with Earthquake Moveset & Best Build for Landorus
Dragapult	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Outspeeds Timid Naganadel even with a Modest Nature ・Both special and physical attacking variants easily KO Naganadel with STAB Dragon-type moves Moveset & Best Build for Dragapult
Glastrier	Ranking: ★★★★ ・With a high base Attack and Defense, you can exploit Naganadel's Ice weakness. ・Beware of Max Wyrmwind dropping your Attack. Moveset & Best Build for Glastrier
Cresselia	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Hit it with Super Effective moves like Psychic and Ice Beam. ・It will be harder to counter Naganadel once it has used Nasty Plot Moveset & Best Build for Cresselia
Mamoswine	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Overcome Naganadel's speed with a priority move like Ice Shard Moveset & Best Build for Mamoswine

Counter with Mimikyu

Mimikyu will have an easy time to set up with Swords Dance due to the free turn provided by Disguise. Disguise also keeps Mimikyu safe from Naganadel's Poison moves. Meanwhile, Mimikyu can hit back with STAB Fairy moves, or even a priority-move in the form of Shadow Sneak.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Mimikyu	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can handle most things Naganadel has despite the Poison weakness. Moveset & Best Build for Heatran

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 10 List of Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

Best Builds for The Crown Tundra Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for The Crown Tundra Pokemon
Galarian Articuno	Galarian Zapdos	Galarian Moltres
Raikou	Entei	Suicune
Articuno	Zapdos	Moltres
Tornadus	Thundurus	Landorus
Tapu Koko	Tapu Lele	Tapu Bulu
Tapu Fini	Regieleki	Regidrago
Latios	Latias	Heatran
Cresselia	Glastrier	Spectrier
Nidoking	Swampert	Dragonite
Salamence	Garchomp	Metagross
Galarian Slowking	Nihilego	Naganadel
Pheromosa	Buzzwole	Celesteela
Kartana	Stakataka	Blaziken
Kyogre	Yveltal	Xerneas
Necrozma (Dusk Mane)	Calyrex (Shadow Rider)	Mewtwo
Calyrex (Ice Rider)	Dialga	Lugia
Black Kyurem	Zekrom	Ho-Oh
Rayquaza	Zygarde	Reshiram
White Kyurem	Groudon	Regirock
Palkia	Regigigas	Registeel
Regice	Giratina	Solgaleo
Lunala	Kyurem	Necrozma
Uxie	Mesprit	Azelf
Calyrex