Noivern

Noivern, The Sound Wave Pokémon. They fly around on moonless nights and attack careless prey. Nothing can beat them in a battle in the dark. The ultrasonic waves it emits from its ears can reduce a large boulder to pebbles. It swoops out of the dark to attack.

Overview

Noivern is an interesting Pokémon, boosting solid typing for the tier, RU, as well as incredible speed making it a solid threat. Noivern also has solid enough coverage with Focus Blast and Flamethrower, as well as access to Hurricane to make use of its Flying typing. However, Noivern has low Attack and average Special Attack, making it both predictable and a bit easy to handle, but is still a major threat in tier.
Positives
+ High speed allows Noivern to apply a lot of pressure to opposing teams with strong stab moves
+ For its tier Noivern has solid typing and defensive stats, allowing it to tank hits a bit and heal with Roost

Negatives
- Noivern lacks a lot of power making it hard to confirm damage/deal damage. This is made a further problem by its main stab move Hurricane and Draco Meteor (low accuracy on one and power drop on the other)
- Noivern has to compete with other fast threats like Swellow and Jolteon who are just as fast but have more power and less shaky moves

Abilities

Frisk - Reveals opponents item - Alright as it reveals items on sets making it easier to predict and outplay
Infiltrator - Bypasses Light Screen, Reflect, Substitute, Aurora Veil, Mist, and Safeguard - A really strong offensive ability as it guarantees neutral damage, which Noivern struggles to deal
Telepathy - Immune to allies moves - Only good in VGC/Doubles, but a solid ability overall

Movesets

Life Orb Attacker

-Draco Meteor
-Hurricane
-Flamethrower/Focus Blast
-Roost
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Infiltrator/Frisk
EVs and Nature:
252SpAtk/4SpDef/252Spd
Timid Nature

Noivern needs to run as much power as possible, so a Life Orb is a must. This also makes Draco Meteor and Hurricane a must use, though both are great moves in their own right, but have drawbacks. Flamethrower is the main option to deal with Steels, but Focus Blast is nice to get over Rock threats but has low accuracy like Hurricane. Lastly Roost is the last option to heal the recoil from Life Orb as well as switch in damage.

Other Options

Choice Specs - Noivern can easily make use of Choice Specs, switching Roost for U-Turn, and just try to blow stuff up but needs more control of hazards.

Possible Partners

Nidoqueen - With its Poison typing, Nidoqueen can easily pressure out Fairy types that wall Noivern such as Florges. Nidoqueen also brings entry hazards, both Stealth Rocks and Toxic Spikes, which Noivern really enjoys with its low base power
Cryogonal - With its Flying typing, Noivern really likes having Stealth Rocks removed. Cryogonal is a good option as it can go head to head with most Stealth Rock setters in tier and win, allowing it to maintain pressure and make it harder to reset Stealth Rocks
Snorlax - Snorlax is a nice team option with Noivern with its solid Attack stat, allowing it to break specially defensive walls that plague Noivern. Snorlax also packs a lot of coverage to beat most as well such as Crunch, Iron Head, Earthquake, or Fire Punch

VGC, Double, & Triple Battle Options

Noivern is another Pokemon not found in the Alolan Pokedex and therefore missing from VGC 2017, but it has been uncommon in doubles in its first few years of existence anyway. Noivern’s most common role has been a fast Tailwind setter, as its high base speed (typically holding a Focus Sash) almost guarantees Tailwind will go up. Though it is not the bulkiest Tailwind user, it does provide some offensive presence to help a teammate sweep, but it faces stiff competition from a number of other supporting Tailwind Pokemon. Although we probably will still not see this dragon much once VGC 2018 comes around, it is a unique supporting choice in doubles with a great ability and a relatively deep movepool.

Cloud Jumper

-Draco Meteor
-Air Slash / Flamethrower
-Tailwind
-Super Fang / Protect
Item Attached: Focus Sash
Ability: Frisk
EVs and Nature:
252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature

Max speed with a Timid nature helps Noivern get Tailwind up as quickly as possible and outspeed a majority of the Pokemon commonly found in doubles. Max special attack gives it some power so that it does not become dead weight after using Tailwind, while the remaining four EVs are put into special defense to give opposing Download Porygon2 an attack boost. Focus Sash helps Noivern take any one hit, which can be useful for surviving attacks from faster threats like Tapu Koko or surprise Choice Scarf opponents. Frisk is an incredible ability in double battles, revealing the items of your opponents’ Pokemon when Noivern is sent out, which can help determine your opponent’s sets and which Pokemon holds a z crystal.

Draco Meteor is Noivern’s strongest move to do damage. Air Slash is moderately strong, but the main reason to use it is for a potential flinch, which goes well with the high speed stat and Tailwind. Flamethrower is an alternative that is useful for steel types, especially Ferrothorn or Celesteela. Tailwind of course is Noivern’s primary role in supporting the team. Protect is not always necessary due to the Focus Sash, but if you fear Fake Out breaking your Sash, it is a good option to have. Alternatively, Super Fang is fantastic to help a sweeper eliminate a threat. Strong attacks from Pokemon like Tapu Lele or Mega Charizard Y have no problem knocking out opponents once they have been reduced to 50% of their health.

Other Options & Team Ideas

-While Frisk is the best ability for Noivern, the other abilities can still be considered for specific occurrences. Infiltrator is great for hitting Pokemon behind Substitute, which can be annoying to deal with. Telepathy gives you the ability to run certain spread moves like Discharge, Surf, Sludge Wave, or Lava Plume next to Noivern to throw off your opponent.
-The flying and dragon Z-Moves give Noivern a massive attack when paired with Hurricane and Draco Meteor, respectively.
-Hurricane is very powerful, but with the poor accuracy, it is best to run it in the rain or paired with the Z-Move.
-Dragon Pulse is an alternative to Draco Meteor that does not lower your special attack, but the missing power is not ideal since Noivern does not have the bulk to stick around forever. Heat Wave is an alternative to Flamethrower that does spread damage.
-Taunt is very common on Noivern to prevent Trick Room and other strategies. Whirlwind is another alternative to stop boosting Pokemon or Trick Room.
-Sunny Day can mess with some rain teams since Noivern can live super-effective attacks from Swift Swim Pokemon thanks to its Focus Sash. Swicheroo has seen some use to mess with your opponent, but can be risky due to your opponent switching and it being useless on mega stones and z crystals. Snatch is a sneaky alternative to Tailwind to steal an opponent’s Tailwind (or certain other moves they use) when they try to match yours.
-Noivern has access to a number of coverage moves like Boomburst, Hyper Voice, Psychic, Shadow Ball, Dark Pulse, and Focus Blast, but Boomburst is the only one that really sees any significant use due to its high base power as a spread move. It does also hit your teammate though, so Boomburst is best used next to a ghost-type.

-Tapu Fini is not threatened by Noivern, and weakens your dragon-type attacks against targets on the ground with its terrain, so Pokemon like Tapu Koko and Kartana are good teammates to scare it away.
-Earthquake users (especially Choice Scarf sets to KO Tapu Koko) like Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Krookodile can freely Earthquake next to Noivern.
-Fake Out is always useful to help set up Tailwind and help keep Noivern’s Focus Sash intact.
-Like previously mentioned, powerful sweepers that can take advantage of Tailwind like Mega Charizard Y, Tapu Lele, Mega Gardevoir, and Landorus-T are great partners.

Countering Noivern

Special Defensive Threats - With the best option being Draco Meteor and having the stat drop, Special Defensive walls easily stop Noivern. Porygon 2 can threaten back with Ice Beam while other walls like Umbreon, Cresselia, and Bronzong all sponge attacks, heal, and threaten stats moves.
Rock types - Without Focus Blast, Rock types wall Noivern easily. Diancie is the best being part Fairy so it takes neutral from Focus Blast and threaten back with Fairy stab moves. Defensively Gigalith dodges a 2hko from Focus Blast and KO back with Stone Edge. Lastly Aerodactyl can revenge kill Noivern and come in on all moves but Draco Meteor
Ice types - While none can switch directly in, Mega Glalie and Sneasel threaten Noivern with powerful Ice Shards, while Cryogonal can pressure Noivern out if it has used Draco Meteor

Locations in Games

Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game

Gold/Silver/Crystal:
Not in game

Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Not in game

FireRed/LeafGreen:
Not in game

Colosseum/XD:
Not in game

Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Not in game

HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Not in game

Black/White:
Not in game

Black 2/White 2:
Not in game

X/Y:
Evolve Noibat

Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Trade from X/Y

Sun/Moon:
Transfer from Generation VI

Animé Appearences

Noivern has made a fair few appearances in the anime. Most notably, Ash's Noibat evolved into one and was used through his Kalos League campaign

# -English Episode Name- -Jp. Episode Name- Pics
798 Celebrating the Hero's Comet! Noivern Appears! The Legend of the Comet & the Hero!! Pics
803 Dream Continues! My Dream: Pokémon Master! Pics
808 A Blustery Santalune Gym Battle! Santalune Gym Match! The Vivillon's Elegant Dance Battle! Pics
809 Battling on Thin Ice! Decisive Battle on Ice! Pikachu VS Vivillon! Pics
822 A Conspiracy to Conquer! Madame X's Evil Plot! The Terrifying Malamar!! Pics
M17 Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction The Cocoon of Destruction and Diancie Pics
S40 Hoopa’s Surprise Ring Adventures Hoopa's Appear Operation Pics
913 An Electrifying Rage! Zapdos and Noivern! A Furious Strike of Lightning!! Pics
919 The Synchronicity Test! Ash and Alain! Greninja VS Mega Charizard Once Again!! Pics
922 A Full-Strength Battle Surprise! Rival Showdown! Ash VS Sawyer!! Pics
924 Seeing the Forest for the Trees! The Winding Woods...The Dawn of Evolution! Pics
925 A Real Icebreaker! Ash-Greninja VS Mega Abomasnow! The Giant Water Shuriken Triggers!! Pics
926 A Diamond in the Rough! Find Carbink! Goodra and Dedenne!! Pics
929 Valuable Experience for All! Mega Sceptile VS Raichu! I Received Some EXP!! Pics
M19 Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel Volcanion & The Ingenious Magearna Pics
930 Analysis Versus Passion! Semifinal Full Battle! Ash VS Sawyer!! Pics
931 A Riveting Rivalry! Fierce Rival Battle! Ash-Greninja VS Mega Sceptile Pics
932 Kalos League Passion With a Certain Flare! Fierce Fighting at the Kalos League! Gather, All of My Passion!! Pics
933 Finals Not for the Faint-Hearted! The Finals! Ash VS Alain!! Pics
934 Down to the Fiery Finish Kalos League Victory! Ash's Ultimate Match!! Pics
935 A Towering Takeover! Team Flare Attacks! The Zygarde at the Prism Tower!! Pics
936 Coming Apart at the Dreams! The Shocking Zygarde VS Zygarde! The Breaking World!! Pics
937 The Right Hero for the Right Job! Attack on Lumiose Gym! The Clembot Forever!! Pics
940 Battling With a Clean Slate! We Start at Zero! Clemont's Decision!! Pics
941 The First Day of the Rest of Your Life! One Last Battle with Ash! Serena's Choice!! Pics
942 Facing the Needs of the Many Farewell, Ash-Greninja! Xerosic Strikes Back!! Pics
943 Till We Compete Again A Zero With No End! Till the Day We Meet Again!! Pics
1030 Filling the Light with Darkness! Crisis in Alola! The Darkness that Eats Radiance!! Pics
1031 Full Moon and Many Arms! Lunala VS UB: BLACK! A Battle at Full Moon!! Pics
1032 The Prism Between Light and Darkness! A Prism of Light and Darkness: Its name is Necrozma! Pics
1033 Securing the Future! Connect to the Future! The Legend of the Blinding One!! Pics
1083 Z-Move Showdown! Guzzlord Attacks! Decisive Z-Move Battle!! Pics
1087 From Z to Shining Z! The Greatest Z in Alola! Tapu Koko VS Pikachu! Pics
1114 A Festival Reunion! A Battle Festival Exploding With Life! VS Mega Lucario!! Pics
1157 Advice for Goh! Rivals for Goh?! The Road to Mew!! Pics
1192 The Future is Now, Thanks to Strategy! Ash & Clemont! Special Friendship Training!! Pics
1193 Taking Two For The Team! Ultra Class! VS Elite Four Drasna! Pics
1203 Friends, Rivals, Lend Me Your Spirit! Fire Training Battle! Ash VS Paul!! Pics
1207 Battling as Hard as Stone! Ash Heads Into Battle! VS Steven!! Pics
1210 TBC The Climax Begins: Ash's Masters Tournament Experience Pics
1212 Bewitch, Battle, and Bewilder! The Semifinals II: Dazzle Pics
1213 Valor: A Strategic Part of Battling! The Semifinals III: Valor Pics
1214 Whittle While You Work! The Semifinals IV: Impact Pics
1218 A Flood of Torrential Gains The Finals I: Torrent Pics
1219 Toying With Your Motions! The Finals II: Toying Pics
1220 Paring Pokémon While Parrying! The Finals III: Smashing Pics
1221 Partners in Time! The Finals IV: Partner Pics
1224 Heroes Unite! Pokémon! I Am Glad I Got To Meet You Pics
1226 The Road Most Traveled The Wind of Beginnings! The Eon Path!! Pics