Nasty Plot

Type

Dark

Category

status

Power

—

Accuracy

—

PP

20

Priority

0

Target

self

Contact

No

Spread

No

Protect blocks

Yes

Wide Guard blocks

No

Massive special boost that enables late-game sweeps.

• Incineroar
• Houndoom Mega
• Delphox Mega
• Slowbro Mega
• Malamar Mega
• Gholdengo
• Hydreigon
• Gengar Mega
• Lucario Mega Z
• Lucario Mega
• Alakazam Mega
• Hydrapple
• Infernape
• Zoroark
• Decidueye Hisui
• Mr Rime
• Gengar Gmax
• Gengar
• Grimmsnarl Gmax
• Alakazam
• Ninetales
• Raichu Mega Y
• Meowscarada
• Farigiraf
• Weavile
• Raichu Mega X
• Sinistcha
• Delphox
• Raichu Alola
• Banette Mega
• Rotom Mow
• Grimmsnarl
• Slowking Galar
• Spiritomb
• Oranguru
• Rotom Fan
• Zoroark Hisui
• Rotom Frost
• Runerigus
• Gourgeist Average
• Rotom Wash
• Rotom Heat
• Cofagrigus
• Polteageist
• Slowbro Galar
• Malamar
• Houndoom
• Meowstic Female
• Decidueye
• Corviknight Gmax
• Sneasler
• Lucario
• Sableye Mega
• Slowbro
• Toxicroak
• Salazzle
• Gourgeist Super
• Gourgeist Large
• Ninetales Alola
• Raichu
• Gourgeist Small
• Slowking
• Aromatisse
• Corviknight
• Meowstic Male
• Salazzle Totem
• Liepard
• Banette
• Rotom
• Morpeko Hangry
• Morpeko Full Belly
• Pikachu Starter
• Watchog
• Pikachu
• Pikachu Alola Cap
• Pikachu Belle
• Pikachu Cosplay
• Pikachu Gmax
• Pikachu Hoenn Cap
• Pikachu Kalos Cap
• Pikachu Libre
• Pikachu Original Cap
• Pikachu Partner Cap
• Pikachu Phd
• Pikachu Pop Star
• Pikachu Rock Star
• Pikachu Sinnoh Cap
• Pikachu Unova Cap
• Pikachu World Cap
• Sableye

Nasty Plot is a Dark-type status move. It targets the user and has 20 PP. Raises the user's Special Attack by two stages.

Massive special boost that enables late-game sweeps.

Consider Nasty Plot when your team needs the utility it provides rather than direct damage. Status moves define speed control, redirection, protection and disruption in VGC. Its value depends on whether your team can exploit the turns it creates. Check your team composition for Pokémon that benefit from the positioning or tempo it generates.

In team building, Nasty Plot competes with other support and disruption options for a limited number of moveslots. Ask whether your team has enough offense to justify a utility move, and whether you have the speed or bulk to use it safely. Many successful teams run one or two status moves that enable the rest of the roster, so treat it as part of your overall gameplan rather than an afterthought.

Common mistakes with Nasty Plot include: Using it without a clear plan for the turns it creates. Forgetting that Protect and Detect can block it, wasting a key turn. Not considering how redirectors like Follow Me and Rage Powder change targeting.

Protect and Detect block this move. These interactions are situational, so test them in the team builder and matchup analyzer before committing to the moveslot.

Use the tools below to test Nasty Plot in a full team context and compare it with alternative options.

• Protect / Detect: blocks this move.
• Wide Guard: does not block this move.
• Follow Me / Rage Powder: spread moves are not redirected.
• Quick Guard: no effect (non-priority).