[Pros]
<ul>
<li>Great Grass/Ghost typing gives her several useful resistances.</li>
<li>Access to Will-o-Wisp and Leech Seed to harass and Pain Split for recovery.</li>
<li>Solid 85/122/75 bulk allows her to take on rapid spinners and many other threatening offensive Pokemon.</li>
<li>Frisk allows her to scout enemy items just by switching in</li>
<li>STAB priority in Shadow Sneak backed by a modest 100 base attack is just enough to dent things.</li>
</ul>
[Cons]
<ul>
<li>Very slow in her largest form and thus can only outrun slower defensive Pokemon.</li>
<li>Typing leaves her vulnerable to Fire, Ice, Ghost and Dark, all common attacking types, and a Pursuit weakness allows several dangerous Pokemon to trap her, though they must watch out for Will-o-Wisp.</li>
<li>Middling special defence leaves her unable to make the most of her handy water resistance.</li>
<li>Faces competition from Trevenant as a Grass/Ghost.</li>
</ul>
[Set Recommendations]
<p>Gourgeist-H @ Leftovers<br />
Ability: Frisk<br />
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def<br />
Impish Nature<br />
- Will-o-Wisp<br />
- Leech Seed<br />
- Protect / Pain Split<br />
- Shadow Sneak / Seed Bomb</p>
<p>Gourgeist's decent base 85 HP and exceptional base 122 Defense cry out for a defensive set, and she has the support moves to back up those stats. The given EV spread provides Gourgeist with maximum Physical bulk while bolstering Attack slightly with the remaining EVs. This actually makes Gourgeist bulkier than Physcially Defensivve Skarmory on both sides of the spectrum, to give an idea of how tough she is to take down. Pain Split is Gourgeist's best method of recovery, and though it is not ideal paired with a reasonable base HP it adds to the passive damage Gourgeist can inflict on her foes and keeps her healthy enough to tank hits from burned physical attackers. That said, Protect is also useful for recovery, granting an extra turn or Leech Seed recovery and inflicting even more passive damage on the opponent.</p>
<p>Although investing in her defences does prevent Gourgeist from doing large amounts of damage, 100 base Attack is still very respectable for a defensive Pokemon and that is reflected in her ability to deal heavy damage to anything weak to her STABs, 2HKOing Rotom-W with Seed Bomb, her most reliable and damaging STAB. However, Shadow Sneak is also very potent as its priority allows Gourgeist to pick off weakened Pokemon - just be aware that she is much less effective against Grass-weak Pokemon, such as Tyranitar, without Seed Bomb. As the priority of Shadow Sneak synergises so well with the passive damage Gourgeist constantly inflicts, it is the preferred option, but both are viable. Due to the limited coverage of whatever attack is chosen, the majority of Gourgeist's damage will be passive, and that's where the first two moveslots come in. Will-o-Wisp is extremely useful for any bulky Ghost-type Pokemon, and Gourgeist is no exception, taking 45% maximum from a Burned Tyranitar's Choice Band Pursuit if she attempts to switch out. Additionally, Gourgeist's handy Grass typing allows her to take on most Earthquake users with ease, resisting the move and sponging coverage attacks easily with her mammoth defense. For example, +2 Garchomp has only a 1% chance to 2HKO with Dragon Claw if Gourgeist has not suffered prior damage, which means in an emergency situation Gourgeist can switch into and Burn Garchomp to prevent a sweep. Due to her resistance to Ground-type moves, she pairs well with Pokemon who do not enjoy taking Earthquakes - particularly those that can absorb special attacks directed at her such as Tentacruel and Tyranitar. Gourgeist also appreciates partners with Wish, as its own recovery is fairly unreliable. Sylveon and Florges are both good options and can easily endure the dark-type attacks directed at Gourgeist while passing Wishes to keep her healthy or ridding her of status with Heal Bell and Aromatherapy, respectively.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Faster Substitute users are a major thorn in the side of any Gourgeist, blocking both Will-o-Wisp and Leech Seed while leaving it to chip away with Seed Bomb. Gliscor is a great option, as Poison Heal protects it from burns and it has the defense to sponge almost anything Gourgeist can throw at it while using Substitute to block Leech Seed from the defensive variant. Generally, offensive Fire, Ice or Dark-type Pokemon are the best answers to Gourgeist, especially if they can hit it on its weaker special side. Gengar resists Seed Bomb, and can use Substitute to block passive damage - however, it will take heavy damage from Shadow Sneak. Alakazam can use Magic Guard to shield itself from passive damage and hit Gourgeist's weaker Special Defense, but it too is mauled by Shadow Sneak. Talonflame is a great option, able to switch into Will-o-Wisp with impunity thanks to its Fire typing and crush Gourgeist with a STAB, super-effective Brave Bird, even hitting before her Shadow Sneak thanks to Gale Wings. </p>
<ul>
<li>Great Grass/Ghost typing gives her several useful resistances.</li>
<li>Access to Will-o-Wisp and Leech Seed to harass and Pain Split for recovery.</li>
<li>Solid 85/122/75 bulk allows her to take on rapid spinners and many other threatening offensive Pokemon.</li>
<li>Frisk allows her to scout enemy items just by switching in</li>
<li>STAB priority in Shadow Sneak backed by a modest 100 base attack is just enough to dent things.</li>
</ul>
[Cons]
<ul>
<li>Very slow in her largest form and thus can only outrun slower defensive Pokemon.</li>
<li>Typing leaves her vulnerable to Fire, Ice, Ghost and Dark, all common attacking types, and a Pursuit weakness allows several dangerous Pokemon to trap her, though they must watch out for Will-o-Wisp.</li>
<li>Middling special defence leaves her unable to make the most of her handy water resistance.</li>
<li>Faces competition from Trevenant as a Grass/Ghost.</li>
</ul>
[Set Recommendations]
<p>Gourgeist-H @ Leftovers<br />
Ability: Frisk<br />
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def<br />
Impish Nature<br />
- Will-o-Wisp<br />
- Leech Seed<br />
- Protect / Pain Split<br />
- Shadow Sneak / Seed Bomb</p>
<p>Gourgeist's decent base 85 HP and exceptional base 122 Defense cry out for a defensive set, and she has the support moves to back up those stats. The given EV spread provides Gourgeist with maximum Physical bulk while bolstering Attack slightly with the remaining EVs. This actually makes Gourgeist bulkier than Physcially Defensivve Skarmory on both sides of the spectrum, to give an idea of how tough she is to take down. Pain Split is Gourgeist's best method of recovery, and though it is not ideal paired with a reasonable base HP it adds to the passive damage Gourgeist can inflict on her foes and keeps her healthy enough to tank hits from burned physical attackers. That said, Protect is also useful for recovery, granting an extra turn or Leech Seed recovery and inflicting even more passive damage on the opponent.</p>
<p>Although investing in her defences does prevent Gourgeist from doing large amounts of damage, 100 base Attack is still very respectable for a defensive Pokemon and that is reflected in her ability to deal heavy damage to anything weak to her STABs, 2HKOing Rotom-W with Seed Bomb, her most reliable and damaging STAB. However, Shadow Sneak is also very potent as its priority allows Gourgeist to pick off weakened Pokemon - just be aware that she is much less effective against Grass-weak Pokemon, such as Tyranitar, without Seed Bomb. As the priority of Shadow Sneak synergises so well with the passive damage Gourgeist constantly inflicts, it is the preferred option, but both are viable. Due to the limited coverage of whatever attack is chosen, the majority of Gourgeist's damage will be passive, and that's where the first two moveslots come in. Will-o-Wisp is extremely useful for any bulky Ghost-type Pokemon, and Gourgeist is no exception, taking 45% maximum from a Burned Tyranitar's Choice Band Pursuit if she attempts to switch out. Additionally, Gourgeist's handy Grass typing allows her to take on most Earthquake users with ease, resisting the move and sponging coverage attacks easily with her mammoth defense. For example, +2 Garchomp has only a 1% chance to 2HKO with Dragon Claw if Gourgeist has not suffered prior damage, which means in an emergency situation Gourgeist can switch into and Burn Garchomp to prevent a sweep. Due to her resistance to Ground-type moves, she pairs well with Pokemon who do not enjoy taking Earthquakes - particularly those that can absorb special attacks directed at her such as Tentacruel and Tyranitar. Gourgeist also appreciates partners with Wish, as its own recovery is fairly unreliable. Sylveon and Florges are both good options and can easily endure the dark-type attacks directed at Gourgeist while passing Wishes to keep her healthy or ridding her of status with Heal Bell and Aromatherapy, respectively.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Faster Substitute users are a major thorn in the side of any Gourgeist, blocking both Will-o-Wisp and Leech Seed while leaving it to chip away with Seed Bomb. Gliscor is a great option, as Poison Heal protects it from burns and it has the defense to sponge almost anything Gourgeist can throw at it while using Substitute to block Leech Seed from the defensive variant. Generally, offensive Fire, Ice or Dark-type Pokemon are the best answers to Gourgeist, especially if they can hit it on its weaker special side. Gengar resists Seed Bomb, and can use Substitute to block passive damage - however, it will take heavy damage from Shadow Sneak. Alakazam can use Magic Guard to shield itself from passive damage and hit Gourgeist's weaker Special Defense, but it too is mauled by Shadow Sneak. Talonflame is a great option, able to switch into Will-o-Wisp with impunity thanks to its Fire typing and crush Gourgeist with a STAB, super-effective Brave Bird, even hitting before her Shadow Sneak thanks to Gale Wings. </p>
Last edited:
