I've seen a lot of hate for infestation. But I was thinking, wouldn't toxic(spikes) + infestation trapping be useful to rack up damage over time on a pokemon that can't do much to kill your toxapex?
Why would someone leave in a `mon who can't do much vs Toxapex? Every time Toxapex switches in, I have basically two responses:
1. Bring in my Taunt `mon
2. Bring in my Spiker and start laying spikes.
252 Atk Reckless Staraptor Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Toxapex: 118-141 (38.8 - 46.3%) -- 89.1% chance to 2HKO after 3 layers of Spikes and Black Sludge recovery
252 Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Bonemerang (2 hits) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Toxapex: 172-204 (56.5 - 67.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after 3 layers of Spikes
3 layers of spikes means that my Wallbreaker KO's Toxapex without any setup, from max-HP on the switchins. No need to KO now, I'm going for the sweep later in the game. My Staraptor is Jolly Scarf (no Choice Band) but still manages the 2-hit KO after spikes support. As far as I'm concerned, the `mon is dead once three spiikes are up.
Of the other-heavy hitters in the Meta:
252 SpA Life Orb Tapu Koko Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Toxapex: 229-273 (75.3 - 89.8%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO after 2 layers of Spikes
252+ Atk Tapu Bulu Wood Hammer vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Toxapex: 172-204 (56.5 - 67.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Black Sludge recovery and Grassy Terrain recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu-Alola Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Toxapex: 229-273 (75.3 - 89.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu-Alola Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Toxapex: 195-229 (64.1 - 75.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Raichu's STAB can switch between the Special Side and the Physical Side, so Toxapex is going to be 2HKO'd. Add in Electric Terrain or Psychic Terrain, and Raichu might OHKO.
In any case, Toxapex doesn't wall the major metagame threats aside from Pheromosa.
--------
But yeah, Free Spikes. Toxapex needs to come in, wall things (which... it has a lot of safe switch ins). But if Toxapex lays Toxic Spikes, the opponent can switch in a
real Spiker / Stealth Rocker and gain superior momentum.
If Toxapex wants to threaten a "Walled Victory", there are a number of Wallbreakers in the current-metagame that must be KO'd before Toxapex has a chance. Staraptor, Marowak-A, Tapu Koko, Tapu Bulu, Raichu-A come to mind immediately. It seems too easy to overpower the Toxapex right now...
Of the major wallbreakers that "break" Toxapex, only Marowak-A is weak to pursuit. Tapu Koko outspeeds Dugtrio... so you'll need Scarf Dugtrio to have a chance. Dugtrio also traps-and-KOs Raichu-A.
-------
Toxapex is basically fine if you come into a predicted Swords Dance / Dragon Dance / other stat-up move. It also beats out slower-stat ups like Slowbro Calm Mind or a bulky DD strategy.
But if you "hope" that the Dragonite is a bulky-DD Fly-Nite... but you mispredict and oops... Dragonite was running Choice Band? Toxapex is going down.