>attack is 23 higher than special attack >ability, movepool,

>>32276563
This wasnt the case pre-gen 5

In fact both of his STABs were physical before the split came into play

>>32276579
Pre-4*

>>32276579
gen1 nidoking was non existant
gen2 it only ran earthquake as a physical attack
gen3 uu mainly physical

so it was the case most of the time

>>32276588
He got Sheer Force in gen 5 though

>>32276563
that ground doesnt have any physical sheer force compatible moves because drill run still doesnt count

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>>32276563
>ability, movepool, and competitive sets are based entirely on being a special attacker
>ability

>>32276563
The physical equivalent of its moves typically are weaker even with the same investment.

Physical:
>252+ Atk Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Poison Jab vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Mew: 207-243 (60.7 - 71.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
>252+ Atk Life Orb Nidoking Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Mew: 199-234 (58.3 - 68.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
>252+ Atk Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Ice/Thunder/Fire Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Mew: 130-153 (38.1 - 44.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
Special:
>252+ SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Sludge Wave vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mew: 218-257 (63.9 - 75.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
>252+ SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Earth Power vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mew: 204-242 (59.8 - 70.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
>252+ SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mew: 136-161 (39.8 - 47.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

If the Physical versions of its moves were treated with respect (like making poison jab/element punches have 90 power) and it got a decent Physical ground move that can activate SF, then it would be Physical.

>>32276563

Gamefreak probably has no idea what Sheer Force works with.

See also: Kingler

>>32278211
>>32276563
I like to think every update they make to the metagame comes with unnoticed changes. Nidoking was born and designed to be physical

>>32278211
you mean
>see every sheer force user

Nidoking being a good special attacker because of sheer force was 100% unintentional

>>32276563
because of variety and covers you faggot
no one is stopping you from using a physical nido tho.

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>>32276563
>special attack is 25 points higher than physical attack
>movepool is heavily based on being a physical attacker
>fire is an excellent typing for physical attackers due to burn immunity
>given no useful special coverage moves ever
>no Mega evolution
>HA is arguably even less useful than its default ability
What did they mean by THIS?

>>32278211
im like 90% sure theyre operating under the assumption that is actually works with crit ratio moves, because with that
>kingler
crabhammer
>hariyama
cross chop
>nidoking/queen
drill run

like its almost perfect how it fixes the ones that dont work without breaking the ones that are already good

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>>32276563
You could say the same of Tapu Koko - he doesn't even get physical fairy STAB.

>>32276563
It's because sheer force is an amazing ability for special attackers, yet almost exclusively gets distributed to physical attackers.

>>32279448
Same with Bulu. Both of the Tapu's with higher special attack got moonblast, but the physical ones not only don't get play rough, but don't even get moonblast either. Totally shafted.