Haunter

November Blue

A universe where hot chips don't exist :(
is a Contributor Alumnus


[Overview]

<p>Haunter is easily the best offensive Ghost-type in NU. Its excellent Special Attack and Speed stats give it an edge as a powerful threat, but as you'd expect of a Pokemon made entirely of gas, it can't take a hit to save its life; Haunter's bulk is absolutely atrocious. Thankfully, the purple specter has an amazing movepool that is full of diabolical tricks that can patch up this weakness.</p>

[SET]
name: Substitute
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Sludge Bomb
move 4: Pain Split / Hidden Power Ground
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Haunter is a terrifying sweeper, but its bulk, like its arms, is nonexistent. To fix this, Haunter employs Substitute. With a Substitute in place, Haunter is protected from detrimental status such as paralysis, priority, and powerful hits from faster Pokemon such as Swellow, Cinccino, and Choice Scarf Rotom-S. With its two STAB moves, Shadow Ball and Sludge Bomb, Haunter has neutral coverage at worst on every Pokemon in NU except Skuntank, Probopass, and Bastiodon. Hidden Power Ground hits all three super effectively, and gives Haunter perfect coverage. However, Pain Split is a nifty alternative that pairs well with Substitute, gives Haunter recovery, and can damage foes. Due to Haunter's low HP stat, Pain Split leeches a large amount of HP from foes, especially those with high HP stats; using Pain Split on Pokemon such as Lickilicky and Alomomola will fully restore Haunter's HP and halve theirs in most cases, which makes it much easier for Haunter to KO them.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The Timid nature is mandatory, as without it, Haunter would be outsped by threats such as Sawk, Jynx, and Pinsir. Thunderbolt is a good alternative to Hidden Power Ground, as it offers a stronger hit on Alomomola and Samurott, which can tank Haunter's other attacks fairly well. However, without Hidden Power Ground, Haunter becomes a helpless plaything of Skuntank, which can tank all of its moves and crush it with Pursuit or Sucker Punch. Skuntank will always cause problems for this set no matter the moves chosen, so it must be dealt with externally. Teammates such as Regirock, Sawk, and Camerupt all check the skunky menace effectively. Regirock can also fend off Swellow, Braviary, and Cinccino, which can all outspeed and dispatch Haunter with ease—in Cinccino's case, even if Haunter is behind a Substitute.</p>

<p>The choice between Life Orb and Leftovers is a difficult one. Leftovers is extremely useful for healing the HP lost from Substitute, and really eases the pressure if you're not using Pain Split. Life Orb boosts the power of Haunter's attacks, and this can be crucial in some situations. Skuntank, for example, is always 2HKOed by Hidden Power Ground, but with Life Orb's power boost, Haunter has a chance to OHKO it with Spikes support. A similar scenario pops up with Sludge Bomb against Braviary: it always 2HKOes, but Braviary is usually faster, so Haunter can't get the second shot off. A Life Orb-boosted Sludge Bomb has a chance to OHKO Braviary with Stealth Rock support, and some prior damage can seal the deal. Sludge Bomb scores a guaranteed OHKO on Swellow with Life Orb, but so does Leftovers + Stealth Rock. Absol is undoubtedly a huge threat to Haunter (and the rest of your team), so being able to take it out is always useful. With Life Orb, Haunter has an almost guaranteed OHKO on Absol with Sludge Bomb, but if you chose Leftovers, you'll need Spikes to achieve the OHKO.</p>

[SET]
name: Substitute + Disable
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Disable
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Hidden Power Fighting / Sludge Bomb
item: Leftovers
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>If you relish in seeing your opponent tear their hair out in pure frustration, this is the set for you. Haunter's exceptional set of resistances (4x Poison, 4x Bug, and 2x Grass) and immunities (Normal, Fighting, and Ground) give it an unusual advantage in battle: a large number of physical attackers only carry one attack that can damage Haunter. By deactivating this single move with Disable, many Pokemon will be unable to harm Haunter in any way when it is behind a Substitute. Shadow Ball is preferred over Sludge Bomb as Haunter's primary STAB move as it is resisted by fewer Pokemon. Hidden Power Fighting has perfect neutral coverage with Shadow Ball and hits Bastiodon and Probopass super effectively, but Sludge Bomb can also be used as it is Haunter's strongest move, and scores a powerful hit on foes such as Braviary and Swellow.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The given EV spread maximizes Haunter's Special Attack and Speed, and a Timid nature ensures that it is not outsped by Pokemon such as Jynx and Sawk. Leftovers is needed on this set to restore the HP eaten up by Haunter's repeated use of Substitute. This set supports itself fairly well, but Wish support can be useful for getting Haunter out of a pinch; passing Wish to Haunter can heal any damage taken from using Substitute, and Lickilicky or Alomomola are both great choices, as a single Wish from either will fill Haunter's HP all the way up to 100%. Because it does not run Hidden Power Ground, this Haunter variant has a lot of trouble with Skuntank. Haunter needs Skuntank gone before it can enter the battlefield, and Golem or Torterra both do an excellent job of taking it down. Swellow and Braviary are immune to Shadow Ball and take little damage from Hidden Power Fighting, so you will need a teammate that can deal with these birds, such as Probopass, Regirock, or Golem. Additionally, this Haunter variant can spinblock effectively, as it is quite powerful and immune to Toxic.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Hidden Power Ground
move 4: Thunderbolt / Trick
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>When equipped with Choice Scarf, Haunter becomes a frightening revenge killer. With a Timid nature, it outspeeds absolutely everything, including Choice Scarf Sawk and Rotom-S, Timid Shell Smash Gorebyss, and Swellow. Sludge Bomb and Shadow Ball are a powerful STAB combination that has perfect neutral coverage in NU with Hidden Power Ground, which hits Probopass, Bastiodon, and Skuntank super effectively. Thunderbolt is useful for the stronger hit on Braviary, Swellow, Gorebyss, Wartortle, and Alomomola. As there are so many Pokemon that resist one of two of the moves on this set, it's all too easy for the opponent to send in something that walls Haunter's chosen move and force it out. Thus, to capitalize on Choice Scarf Haunter's effectiveness, you must predict well, or it'll get thrown around like a ragdoll.</p>

<p>Trick is an excellent move that can hamper any defensive Pokemon, and can be used instead of Thunderbolt. Many Pokemon in NU rely on Eviolite, such as Gurdurr and Misdreavus, and they become much easier to KO after it has been Tricked away. Without the freedom to switch moves, most Pokemon will struggle to do their jobs, especially defensive Pokemon such as Tangela and Miltank.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Although this set has excellent neutral coverage, you might find Haunter's power lacking, as Poison- and Ghost-type attacks hit very few Pokemon super effectively. To remedy this, entry hazard support is recommended. Alomomola can wall Haunter surprisingly well, but with Spikes support, Thunderbolt can KO it. Jynx has a small chance to survive Shadow Ball, but is OHKOed with Stealth Rock. Although Choice Scarf Haunter outspeeds Braviary, Stealth Rock is needed to secure the OHKO with Thunderbolt. Probopass is a nuisance as always, and Haunter will need Spikes support to guarantee a 2HKO on it with Hidden Power Ground. A Timid nature is mandatory on this set, as Haunter would otherwise be outsped by Shell Smash Gorebyss and Choice Scarf Jynx and Rotom-S. Pursuit users, namely Absol and Skuntank, terrify Haunter, so a Pokemon that can deal with them, such as Gurdurr or Regirock, makes an excellent teammate.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Destiny Bond is a great move that Haunter abuses spectacularly with its high Speed, as it can bait dangerous threats into KOing it, such as Magmortar, boosted Gurdurr, and Absol, or even walls such as Probopass and Quagsire. With clever use of this strategy, Haunter can get rid of Pokemon that give your team trouble, clearing the way for one of your sweepers. Will-O-Wisp is another useful move for Haunter, as Choice Scarf and priority users, such as Braviary and Absol, are some of Haunter's most common switch-ins, and crippling them with Will-O-Wisp on the switch can render them useless for the rest of the battle. Giga Drain is a nifty alternative to Thunderbolt that can replenish Haunter's HP, and hits bulky Water-types such as Alomomola and Quagsire super effectively. Though its Base Power is lower, it still gets the job done; Quagsire is OHKOed, and Alomomola is 2HKOed. Note that Braviary, Swellow, and Skuntank resist Giga Drain, so Thunderbolt is usually the better choice due to the greater coverage it offers.</p>

<p>Haunter also has access to useful support moves such as Haze, Confuse Ray, Hypnosis, Perish Song, and Taunt. These moves are generally not used because of Haunter's extreme frailty, as it would be KOed if it attempted to use them. However, a useful move is a useful move, and with deft play, you can definitely make the most of them. Haze is a great means of stopping slow, bulky stat boosters such as Gurdurr, as Haunter can use the move before being KOed, erasing any stat boosts and neutralizing the threat. Confuse Ray and Hypnosis are both useful for incapacitating dangerous foes, but both are rather hit-or-miss; though Confuse Ray is 100% accurate, the confusion chance is only 50 / 50, and Hypnosis's awful 60% Accuracy is cited by many competitive players to be unusable. Taunt is a great move as always, and Haunter can use it to prevent foes from setting up, laying entry hazards, or inflicting status, but you run the risk that the opponent might simply attack, KOing poor Haunter. Finally, Perish Song has useful applications as a phazing move, and can guarantee that the opponent's last Pokemon will be KOed, which can be a lifesaver if you find yourself facing down a foe that your remaining Pokemon can't take down.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Haunter is tricky to deal with by nature, and its checks depend on the set it runs. Skuntank, Probopass, and Bastiodon are all great catch-all checks, as they resist Haunter's STAB moves. Skuntank absolutely annihilates Haunter with its STAB Pursuit and Sucker Punch, and Probopass can paralyze it with Thunder Wave. Swellow, Choice Scarf Braviary, and Cinccino outspeed Haunter and are immune to Shadow Ball, and all three OHKO Haunter with the correct attack. Cinccino is especially dangerous, as it can KO through Substitute with Rock Blast, posing a constant threat to the Substitute and Disable sets. Although Haunter is immune to Gurdurr's Mach Punch, it must watch out for other priority users, such as Aqua Jet Samurott and Sucker Punch Absol, both of whom can OHKO it easily. Like Skuntank, Absol resists Shadow Ball and threatens Haunter with its Dark-type STAB moves. Choice Scarf Rotom-S and Sawk outspeed Haunter, and are both bulky enough to tank one of its attacks. Finally, Golem resists Sludge Bomb and can threaten Haunter with Sucker Punch, or set up Stealth Rock as the ghost switches out.</p>
 

marilli

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For the SubDisable set, HP Fighting is listed as the main slash, but it isn't even mentioned in Set Comments. I'm not part of QC so I don't know which is the case, but either you need to change that on the main set, or you need to edit your set comments to reflect on this.

Also, another issue with Hidden Powers:
First set said:
Hidden Power Fighting is a good alternative to Hidden Power Ground, as it offers a stronger hit on both Probopass and Bastiodon, who resist Haunter's STAB moves.
This sounds as if HP Fighting offers a stronger hit on those two mons in comparison to HP Ground, which is just not true. Maybe reword the sentence?
 
Under Other Options it lists that accuracy of Hypnosis as 65%; Hypnosis has only 60% accuracy.
Also, no mention of Giga Drain in Other Options? It's mentioned in Haunter's RU analysis as a health replenishing alternative to Thunderbolt.
 

erisia

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I'm debating whether Thunderbolt should be on the Scarf set over something like Destiny Bond or Trick... Swellow and Gorebyss are already destroyed by Sludge Bomb, while Wartortle doesn't have recovery, and using Thunderbolt just invites setup opportunities from Pokemon like Torterra and Marowak. Destiny Bond is great for getting KOs against bulky mons that you shouldn't be able to kill, and it's a great general insurance option. I personally think it's much more useful, but I guess it's your call.
 

November Blue

A universe where hot chips don't exist :(
is a Contributor Alumnus
Choiced Destiny Bond? I wouldn't do it. It'd only be useful once, and being locked into it is going to invite something to switch in and set up on Haunter.

Besides, Thunderbolt is great for Alomomola.

Trick sounds good though, I'll slash that in.
 

erisia

Innovative new design!
is a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnus
Yeah, I only try to use Destiny Bond when I'm certain the opponent is going to go for the KO; it'd probably become less effective if it became standard and people started to play around it. Sounds good. :)
 
Deletions
Additions / Corrections
Comments


[Overview]

<p>Haunter is easily the best offensive Ghost-type in NU. Its excellent Special Attack and Speed stats give it an edge as a powerful threat, but as you'd expect of a Pokemon made entirely of gas, it can't take a hit to save its life; Haunter's bulk is absolutely atrocious. Thankfully, the purple specter has an amazing movepool that is full of diabolical tricks that can patch up this weakness.</p> (imo this is really short. You could elaborate about the different sets which Haunter can run)

[SET]
name: Substitute
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Sludge Bomb
move 4: Pain Split / Hidden Power Ground
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Haunter is a terrifying sweeper, but its bulk, like its arms, is nonexistent. To fix this, Haunter employs Substitute. With a Substitute in place, Haunter is protected from detrimental status such as paralysis, priority, and powerful hits from faster Pokemon such as Swellow, Cinccino, and Choice Scarf Rotom-S. With its two STAB moves, Shadow Ball and Sludge Bomb, Haunter has neutral coverage at worst on every Pokemon in NU except Skuntank, Probopass, and Bastiodon. Hidden Power Ground hits all three super effectively, and gives Haunter perfect coverage. However, Pain Split is a nifty alternative that pairs well with Substitute, gives Haunter recovery, and can damage foes. Due to Haunter's low HP stat, Pain Split leeches a large amount of HP from foes, especially those with high HP stats; using Pain Split on Pokemon such as Lickilicky and Alomomola will fully restore Haunter's HP and halve theirs in most cases, which makes it much easier for Haunter to KO them.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The Timid nature is mandatory, as without it, Haunter would be outsped by threats such as Sawk, Jynx, and Pinsir. Thunderbolt is a good alternative to Hidden Power Ground, as it offers a stronger hit on Alomomola and Samurott, which (you use ''it'' to refer to Pokemon, so I changed the ''who'' to ''which'' to maintain neutrality in gender) can tank Haunter's other attacks fairly well. However, without Hidden Power Ground, Haunter becomes a helpless plaything of Skuntank, which can tank all of its moves and crush it with Pursuit or Sucker Punch. Skuntank will always cause problems for this set no matter the moves chosen, so it must be dealt with externally. Teammates such as Regirock, Sawk, and Camerupt all check the stinky menace effectively. Regirock can also fend off Swellow, Braviary, and Cinccino, which can all outspeed and dispatch Haunter with ease—in Cinccino's case, even if Haunter is behind a Substitute.</p>

<p>The choice between Life Orb and Leftovers is a difficult one. Leftovers is extremely useful for healing the HP lost from Substitute, and really eases the pressure if you're not using Pain Split. Life Orb boosts the power of Haunter's attacks, and this can be crucial in some situations. Skuntank, for example, is always 2HKOed by Hidden Power Ground, but with Life Orb's power boost, Haunter has a chance to OHKO it with Spikes support. A similar scenario pops up when using withSludge Bomb on against Braviary: it always 2HKOes, but Braviary is usually faster, so Haunter can't get the second shot off. A Life Orb-boosted Sludge Bomb has a chance to OHKO Braviary with Stealth Rock support, and some prior damage can seal the deal. Sludge Bomb scores a guaranteed OHKO on Swellow with Life Orb, but so does Leftovers + Stealth Rock. Absol is undoubtedly a huge threat to Haunter (and the rest of your team), so being able to take it out is always useful. With Life Orb, Haunter has an almost guaranteed OHKO on Absol with Sludge Bomb, but if you chose Leftovers, you'll need Spikes to achieve the OHKO.</p>

[SET]
name: Substitute + Disable
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Disable
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Hidden Power Fighting / Sludge Bomb
item: Leftovers
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>If you relish in seeing your opponent tear their hair out in pure frustration, this is the set for you. Haunter's exceptional set of resistances (4x Poison, 4x Bug, and 2x Grass) and immunities (Normal, Fighting, and Ground) give it an unusual advantage in battle: a large number of physical attackers only carry one attack that can damage Haunter. By deactivating this single move with Disable, many Pokemon will be unable to harm Haunter in any way, shape, or form when it is behind a Substitute. Shadow Ball is the primary choice of STAB move rather than Sludge Bomb preferred over Sludge Bomb as Haunter's primary STAB move as it is resisted by fewer Pokemon. Hidden Power Fighting has perfect neutral coverage with Shadow Ball and hits Bastiodon and Probopass super effectively, but Sludge Bomb can also be used as it is Haunter's strongest move, and scores a powerful hit on foes such as Braviary and Swellow.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The given EV spread maximizes Haunter's Special Attack and Speed, and a Timid nature ensures that it is not outsped by Pokemon such as Jynx and Sawk. Leftovers is needed on this set to restore the HP eaten up by Haunter's repeated Substitute use of Substitute. This set supports itself fairly well, but a Wishpasser Wish support can be useful for getting Haunter out of a pinch; passing Wish to Haunter can heal any damage taken from using Substitute, and Lickilicky or Alomomola are both great choices, as a single Wish from either will fill Haunter's HP all the way up to 100%. Because it does not run Hidden Power Ground, this Haunter variant has a lot of trouble with Skuntank. Haunter needs Skuntank gone before it can enter the battlefield, and Golem or Torterra both do an excellent job of taking it down. Swellow and Braviary are immune to Shadow Ball and take little damage from Hidden Power Fighting, so you will need a teammate that can deal with these birds, such as Probopass, Regirock, or Golem. Although Misdreavus already does a great job, this Haunter variant can spinblock quite effectively, as it is quite powerful and immune to Toxic.(didn't get you here ... are you comparing Haunter to Misdreavus as a spinblocker?)</p>

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Hidden Power Ground
move 4: Thunderbolt / Trick
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>When equipped with Choice Scarf, Haunter becomes a frightening revenge killer. With a Timid nature, it outspeeds absolutely everything, including Choice Scarf Sawk and Rotom-S, Timid Shell Smash Gorebyss, and Swellow. Sludge Bomb and Shadow Ball are a powerful STAB combination that has perfect neutral coverage in NU with Hidden Power Ground, which hits Probopass, Bastiodon, and Skuntank super effectively. Thunderbolt is useful for the stronger hit on Braviary, Swellow, Gorebyss, Wartortle, and Alomomola. As there are so many Pokemon that resist one of two of the moves on this set, it's all too easy for the opponent to send in something that walls Haunter's chosen move and force it out. Thus, to capitalize on Choice Scarf Haunter's effectiveness, you must predict well, or it'll get thrown around like a ragdoll.</p>

<p>Trick is an excellent move that can hamper any defensive Pokemon, and it can thus be used instead of Thunderbolt. Many Pokemon in NU, such as Gurdurr and Misdreavus, rely on Eviolite to tank hits, and they become much easier to KO after it has been Tricked away. Without the freedom to switch moves, most Pokemon will struggle to do their jobs, especially defensive Pokemon such as Tangela and Miltank.</p> (I moved the detail on Trick to Set Comments, since it is a move slash on the set. If a move is slashed on the set, you should write about it only in Set Comments, not in AC.)

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Although this set has excellent neutral coverage, you might find Haunter's power lacking, as Poison- and Ghost-type attacks hit very few Pokemon super effectively. To remedy this, entry hazard support is recommended. Alomomola can wall Haunter surprisingly well, but with Spikes support, Thunderbolt can KO it. Jynx has a small chance to survive Shadow Ball, but is OHKOed with Stealth Rock. Although Choice Scarf Haunter outspeeds Braviary, Stealth Rock is needed to secure the OHKO with Thunderbolt. Probopass is a nuisance as always, and Haunter will need Spikes support to guarantee a 2HKO on it with Hidden Power Ground. A Timid nature is mandatory on this set, as Haunter would otherwise be outsped by Shell Smash Gorebyss and Choice Scarf Jynx and Rotom-S.</p>

<p>Trick is an excellent move that can hamper any defensive Pokemon, and can be used instead of Thunderbolt. Many Pokemon in NU rely on Eviolite, such as Gurdurr and Misdreavus, and they become much easier to KO after it has been Tricked away. Without the freedom to switch moves, most Pokemon will struggle to do their jobs, especially defensive Pokemon such as Tangela and Miltank. Pursuit users, namely Absol and Skuntank, terrify Haunter, so a Pokemon that can deal with them, such as Gurdurr or Regirock, makes an excellent teammate.</p> (This paragraph is really short now, so you might want to add some more info on teammates)

[Other Options]

<p>Destiny Bond is a great move that Haunter abuses spectacularly. Using withits high Speed, Haunter as it can bait dangerous threats into KOing it, such as Magmortar, boosted Gurdurr, Absol, and Mesprit, or even walls such as Probopass and Quagsire. With clever use of this strategy, Haunter can get rid of Pokemon that give your team trouble, and can clearing the way for one of your sweepers. Will-O-Wisp is another useful move for Haunter, as Choice Scarf and priority users, such as Braviary and Absol, are some of Haunter's most common switch-ins, and crippling them with Will-O-Wisp on the switch can render them useless for the rest of the battle, and is a great way for Haunter to get around its checks. Giga Drain is a nifty alternative to Thunderbolt that can replenish Haunter's HP, and hits NU's bulky Water-types such as Alomomola and Quagsire super effectively. Though its Base Power is lower, it still gets the job done; Quagsire is OHKOed, and Alomomola is 2HKOed. Note that Braviary, Swellow, and Skuntank resist Giga Drain, so Thunderbolt is usually the better choice due to the greater coverage it offers.</p>

<p>Haunter also has access to useful support moves such as Haze, Confuse Ray, Hypnosis, Perish Song, and Taunt. These moves are generally not used because of Haunter's extreme frailty, as it would be KOed if it attempted to use them. However, a useful move is a useful move, and with deft play, you can definitely make the most of them. Haze is a great means of stopping slow, bulky stat boosters such as Gurdurr, as Haunter can use the move before being KOed, erasing any stat boosts and neutralizing the threat. Confuse Ray and Hypnosis are both useful for incapacitating dangerous foes, but both are rather hit-or-miss; though Confuse Ray is 100% accurate, the confusion chance is only 50 / 50, and Hypnosis's awful 60% Accuracy is cited by many competitive players to be unusable. Taunt is a great move as always, and Haunter can use it to prevent foes from setting up on it, laying entry hazards, or inflicting status, but you run the risk that the opponent might simply attack, KOing poor Haunter. Finally, Perish Song has useful applications as a phazing move, and can guarantee that the opponent's last Pokemon will be KOed, which can be a livesaver if you find yourself facing down a foe that your remaining Pokemon can't take down.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Haunter is tricky to deal with by nature, and its checks depend on the set it runs. Skuntank, Probopass, and Bastiodon are all great catch-all checks, as they resist Haunter's STAB move. Skuntank absolutely annihilates Haunter with its STAB Pursuit and Sucker Punch, and Probopass can paralyze it with Thunder Wave. Swellow, Choice Scarf Braviary, and Cinccino outspeed Haunter and are immune to Shadow Ball, and all three OHKO Haunter with the correct attack. Cinccino is especially dangerous, as it can tear down Haunter Substitute and KO through Substitute with Rock Blast, posing an ever-present threat a constant to the Substitute and Disable sets. Although Haunter is immune to Gurdurr's Mach Punch, it must watch out for other priority users, such as Aqua Jet Samurott and Sucker Punch Absol, both of whom can OHKO Haunter it easily. Like Skuntank, Absol resists Shadow Ball and threatens Haunter with its Dark-type STAB moves. Choice Scarf Rotom-S and Sawk outspeed Haunter, and are both bulky enough to tank one of Haunter's its attacks. Finally, Golem resists Sludge Bomb and can threaten Haunter with Sucker Punch, or set up Stealth Rock as the ghost switches out.</p>




GP 1 / 2
 

Desolate

Banned deucer.


[Overview]

<p>Haunter is easily the best offensive Ghost-type in NU. Its excellent Special Attack and Speed stats give it an edge as a powerful threat, but as you'd expect of a Pokemon made entirely of gas, it can't take a hit to save its life; Haunter's bulk is absolutely atrocious. Thankfully, the purple specter has an amazing movepool that is full of diabolical tricks that can patch up this weakness.</p>

[SET]
name: Substitute
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Sludge Bomb
move 4: Pain Split / Hidden Power Ground
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Haunter is a terrifying sweeper, but its bulk, like its arms, is nonexistent. To fix this, Haunter employs Substitute. With a Substitute in place, Haunter is protected from detrimental status such as paralysis, priority, and powerful hits from faster Pokemon such as Swellow, Cinccino, and Choice Scarf Rotom-S. With its two STAB moves, Shadow Ball and Sludge Bomb, Haunter has neutral coverage at worst on every Pokemon in NU except Skuntank, Probopass, and Bastiodon. Hidden Power Ground hits all three super effectively, and gives Haunter perfect coverage. However, Pain Split is a nifty alternative that pairs well with Substitute, gives Haunter recovery, and can damage foes. Due to Haunter's low HP stat, Pain Split leeches a large amount of HP from foes, especially those with high HP stats; using Pain Split on Pokemon such as Lickilicky and Alomomola will fully restore Haunter's HP and halve theirs in most cases, which makes it much easier for Haunter to KO them.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The Timid nature is mandatory, as without it, Haunter would be outsped by threats such as Sawk, Jynx, and Pinsir. Thunderbolt is a good alternative to Hidden Power Ground, as it offers a stronger hit on Alomomola and Samurott, which can tank Haunter's other attacks fairly well. However, without Hidden Power Ground, Haunter becomes a helpless plaything of Skuntank, which can tank all of its moves and crush it with Pursuit or Sucker Punch. Skuntank will always cause problems for this set no matter the moves chosen, so it must be dealt with externally. Teammates such as Regirock, Sawk, and Camerupt all check the skunky menace effectively. Regirock can also fend off Swellow, Braviary, and Cinccino, which can all outspeed and dispatch Haunter with ease—in Cinccino's case, even if Haunter is behind a Substitute.</p>

<p>The choice between Life Orb and Leftovers is a difficult one. Leftovers is extremely useful for healing the HP lost from Substitute, and really eases the pressure if you're not using Pain Split. Life Orb boosts the power of Haunter's attacks, and this can be crucial in some situations. Skuntank, for example, is always 2HKOed by Hidden Power Ground, but with Life Orb's power boost, Haunter has a chance to OHKO it with Spikes support. A similar scenario pops up with Sludge Bomb against Braviary: it always 2HKOes, but Braviary is usually faster, so Haunter can't get the second shot off. A Life Orb-boosted Sludge Bomb has a chance to OHKO Braviary with Stealth Rock support, and some prior damage can seal the deal. Sludge Bomb scores a guaranteed OHKO on Swellow with Life Orb, but so does Leftovers + Stealth Rock. Absol is undoubtedly a huge threat to Haunter (and the rest of your team), so being able to take it out is always useful. With Life Orb, Haunter has an almost guaranteed OHKO on Absol with Sludge Bomb, but if you chose Leftovers, you'll need Spikes to achieve the OHKO.</p>

[SET]
name: Substitute + Disable
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Disable
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Hidden Power Fighting / Sludge Bomb
item: Leftovers
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>If you relish in seeing your opponent tear their hair out in pure frustration, this is the set for you. Haunter's exceptional set of resistances (4x Poison, 4x Bug, and 2x Grass) and immunities (Normal, Fighting, and Ground) give it an unusual advantage in battle: a large number of physical attackers only carry one attack that can damage Haunter. By deactivating this single move with Disable, many Pokemon will be unable to harm Haunter in any way when it is behind a Substitute. Shadow Ball is preferred over Sludge Bomb as Haunter's primary STAB move as it is resisted by fewer Pokemon. Hidden Power Fighting has perfect neutral coverage with Shadow Ball and hits Bastiodon and Probopass super effectively, but Sludge Bomb can also be used as it is Haunter's strongest move, and scores a powerful hit on foes such as Braviary and Swellow.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The given EV spread maximizes Haunter's Special Attack and Speed, and a Timid nature ensures that it is not outsped by Pokemon such as Jynx and Sawk. Leftovers is needed on this set to restore the HP eaten up by Haunter's repeated use of Substitute. This set supports itself fairly well, but Wish support can be useful for getting Haunter out of a pinch; passing Wish to Haunter can heal any damage taken from using Substitute, and Lickilicky or Alomomola are both great choices, as a single Wish from either will fill Haunter's HP all the way up to 100%. Because it does not run Hidden Power Ground, this Haunter variant has a lot of trouble with Skuntank. Haunter needs Skuntank gone before it can enter the battlefield, and Golem or Torterra both do an excellent job of taking it down. Swellow and Braviary are immune to Shadow Ball and take little damage from Hidden Power Fighting, so you will need a teammate that can deal with these birds, such as Probopass, Regirock, or Golem. Additionally, this Haunter variant can spinblock effectively, as it is quite powerful and immune to Toxic.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Hidden Power Ground
move 4: Thunderbolt / Trick
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>When equipped with Choice Scarf, Haunter becomes a frightening revenge killer. With a Timid nature, it outspeeds absolutely everything, including Choice Scarf Sawk and Rotom-S, Timid Shell Smash Gorebyss, and Swellow. Sludge Bomb and Shadow Ball are a powerful STAB combination that has perfect neutral coverage in NU with Hidden Power Ground, which hits Probopass, Bastiodon, and Skuntank super effectively. Thunderbolt is useful for the stronger hit on Braviary, Swellow, Gorebyss, Wartortle, and Alomomola. As there are so many Pokemon that resist one of two of the moves on this set, it's all too easy for the opponent to send in something that walls Haunter's chosen move and force it out. Thus, to capitalize on Choice Scarf Haunter's effectiveness, you must predict well, or it'll get thrown around like a ragdoll.</p>

<p>Trick is an excellent move that can hamper any defensive Pokemon, and can be used instead of Thunderbolt. Many Pokemon in NU rely on Eviolite, such as Gurdurr and Misdreavus, and they become much easier to KO after it has been Tricked away. Without the freedom to switch moves, most Pokemon will struggle to do their jobs, especially defensive Pokemon such as Tangela and Miltank.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Although this set has excellent neutral coverage, you might find Haunter's power lacking, as Poison- and Ghost-type attacks hit very few Pokemon super effectively. To remedy this, entry hazard support is recommended. Alomomola can wall Haunter surprisingly well, but with Spikes support, Thunderbolt can KO it. Jynx has a small chance to survive Shadow Ball, but is OHKOed with Stealth Rock. Although Choice Scarf Haunter outspeeds Braviary, Stealth Rock is needed to secure the OHKO with Thunderbolt. Probopass is a nuisance as always, and Haunter will need Spikes support to guarantee a 2HKO on it with Hidden Power Ground. A Timid nature is mandatory on this set, as Haunter would otherwise be outsped by Shell Smash Gorebyss and Choice Scarf Jynx and Rotom-S. Pursuit users, namely Absol and Skuntank, terrify Haunter, so a Pokemon that can deal with them, such as Gurdurr or Regirock, makes an excellent teammate.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Destiny Bond is a great move that Haunter abuses spectacularly with its high Speed, as it can bait dangerous threats into KOing it, such as Magmortar, boosted Gurdurr, and Absol, or even walls such as Probopass and Quagsire. With clever use of this strategy, Haunter can get rid of Pokemon that give your team trouble, clearing the way for one of your sweepers. Will-O-Wisp is another useful move for Haunter, as Choice Scarf and priority users, such as Braviary and Absol, are some of Haunter's most common switch-ins, and crippling them with Will-O-Wisp on the switch can render them useless for the rest of the battle. Giga Drain is a nifty alternative to Thunderbolt that can replenish Haunter's HP, and hits bulky Water-types such as Alomomola and Quagsire super effectively. Though its Base Power is lower, it still gets the job done; Quagsire is OHKOed, and Alomomola is 2HKOed. Note that Braviary, Swellow, and Skuntank resist Giga Drain, so Thunderbolt is usually the better choice due to the greater coverage it offers.</p>

<p>Haunter also has access to useful support moves such as Haze, Confuse Ray, Hypnosis, Perish Song, and Taunt. These moves are generally not used because of Haunter's extreme frailty, as it would be KOed if it attempted to use them. However, a useful move is a useful move, and with deft play, you can definitely make the most of them. Haze is a great means of stopping slow, bulky stat boosters such as Gurdurr, as Haunter can use the move before being KOed, erasing any stat boosts and neutralizing the threat. Confuse Ray and Hypnosis are both useful for incapacitating dangerous foes, but both are rather hit-or-miss; though Confuse Ray is 100% accurate, the confusion chance is only 50 / 50, and Hypnosis's awful 60% Accuracy is cited by many competitive players to be unusable. Taunt is a great move as always, and Haunter can use it to prevent foes from setting up, laying entry hazards, or inflicting status, but you run the risk that the opponent might simply attack, KOing poor Haunter. Finally, Perish Song has useful applications as a phazing move, and can guarantee that the opponent's last Pokemon will be KOed, which can be a livfesaver if you find yourself facing down a foe that your remaining Pokemon can't take down.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Haunter is tricky to deal with by nature, and its checks depend on the set it runs. Skuntank, Probopass, and Bastiodon are all great catch-all checks, as they resist Haunter's STAB moves. Skuntank absolutely annihilates Haunter with its STAB Pursuit and Sucker Punch, and Probopass can paralyze it with Thunder Wave. Swellow, Choice Scarf Braviary, and Cinccino outspeed Haunter and are immune to Shadow Ball, and all three OHKO Haunter with the correct attack. Cinccino is especially dangerous, as it can KO through Substitute with Rock Blast, posing a constant threat to the Substitute and Disable sets. Although Haunter is immune to Gurdurr's Mach Punch, it must watch out for other priority users, such as Aqua Jet Samurott and Sucker Punch Absol, both of whom can OHKO it easily. Like Skuntank, Absol resists Shadow Ball and threatens Haunter with its Dark-type STAB moves. Choice Scarf Rotom-S and Sawk outspeed Haunter, and are both bulky enough to tank one of its attacks. Finally, Golem resists Sludge Bomb and can threaten Haunter with Sucker Punch, or set up Stealth Rock as the ghost switches out.</p>




[Overview]

<p>Haunter is easily the best offensive Ghost-type in NU. Its excellent Special Attack and Speed stats give it an edge as a powerful threat, but as you'd expect of a Pokemon made entirely of gas, it can't take a hit to save its life; Haunter's bulk is absolutely atrocious. Thankfully, the purple specter has an amazing movepool that is full of diabolical tricks that can patch up this weakness.</p>

[SET]
name: Substitute
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Sludge Bomb
move 4: Pain Split / Hidden Power Ground
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Haunter is a terrifying sweeper, but its bulk, like its arms, is nonexistent. To fix this, Haunter employs Substitute. With a Substitute in place, Haunter is protected from detrimental status such as paralysis, priority, and powerful hits from faster Pokemon such as Swellow, Cinccino, and Choice Scarf Rotom-S. With its two STAB moves, Shadow Ball and Sludge Bomb, Haunter has neutral coverage at worst on every Pokemon in NU except Skuntank, Probopass, and Bastiodon. Hidden Power Ground hits all three super effectively, and gives Haunter perfect coverage. However, Pain Split is a nifty alternative that pairs well with Substitute, gives Haunter recovery, and can damage foes. Due to Haunter's low HP stat, Pain Split leeches a large amount of HP from foes, especially those with high HP stats; using Pain Split on Pokemon such as Lickilicky and Alomomola will fully restore Haunter's HP and halve theirs in most cases, which makes it much easier for Haunter to KO them.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The Timid nature is mandatory, as without it, Haunter would be outsped by threats such as Sawk, Jynx, and Pinsir. Thunderbolt is a good alternative to Hidden Power Ground, as it offers a stronger hit on Alomomola and Samurott, which can tank Haunter's other attacks fairly well. However, without Hidden Power Ground, Haunter becomes a helpless plaything of Skuntank, which can tank all of its moves and crush it with Pursuit or Sucker Punch. Skuntank will always cause problems for this set no matter the moves chosen, so it must be dealt with externally. Teammates such as Regirock, Sawk, and Camerupt all check the skunky menace effectively. Regirock can also fend off Swellow, Braviary, and Cinccino, which can all outspeed and dispatch Haunter with ease—in Cinccino's case, even if Haunter is behind a Substitute.</p>

<p>The choice between Life Orb and Leftovers is a difficult one. Leftovers is extremely useful for healing the HP lost from Substitute, and really eases the pressure if you're not using Pain Split. Life Orb boosts the power of Haunter's attacks, and this can be crucial in some situations. Skuntank, for example, is always 2HKOed by Hidden Power Ground, but with Life Orb's power boost, Haunter has a chance to OHKO it with Spikes support. A similar scenario pops up with Sludge Bomb against Braviary: it always 2HKOes, but Braviary is usually faster, so Haunter can't get the second shot off. A Life Orb-boosted Sludge Bomb has a chance to OHKO Braviary with Stealth Rock support, and some prior damage can seal the deal. Sludge Bomb scores a guaranteed OHKO on Swellow with Life Orb, but so does Leftovers + Stealth Rock. Absol is undoubtedly a huge threat to Haunter (and the rest of your team), so being able to take it out is always useful. With Life Orb, Haunter has an almost guaranteed OHKO on Absol with Sludge Bomb, but if you chose Leftovers, you'll need Spikes to achieve the OHKO.</p>

[SET]
name: Substitute + Disable
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Disable
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Hidden Power Fighting / Sludge Bomb
item: Leftovers
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>If you relish in seeing your opponent tear their hair out in pure frustration, this is the set for you. Haunter's exceptional set of resistances (4x Poison, 4x Bug, and 2x Grass) and immunities (Normal, Fighting, and Ground) give it an unusual advantage in battle: a large number of physical attackers only carry one attack that can damage Haunter. By deactivating this single move with Disable, many Pokemon will be unable to harm Haunter in any way when it is behind a Substitute. Shadow Ball is preferred over Sludge Bomb as Haunter's primary STAB move as it is resisted by fewer Pokemon. Hidden Power Fighting has perfect neutral coverage with Shadow Ball and hits Bastiodon and Probopass super effectively, but Sludge Bomb can also be used as it is Haunter's strongest move, and scores a powerful hit on foes such as Braviary and Swellow.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The given EV spread maximizes Haunter's Special Attack and Speed, and a Timid nature ensures that it is not outsped by Pokemon such as Jynx and Sawk. Leftovers is needed on this set to restore the HP eaten up by Haunter's repeated use of Substitute. This set supports itself fairly well, but Wish support can be useful for getting Haunter out of a pinch; passing Wish to Haunter can heal any damage taken from using Substitute, and Lickilicky or Alomomola are both great choices, as a single Wish from either will fill Haunter's HP all the way up to 100%. Because it does not run Hidden Power Ground, this Haunter variant has a lot of trouble with Skuntank. Haunter needs Skuntank gone before it can enter the battlefield, and Golem or Torterra both do an excellent job of taking it down. Swellow and Braviary are immune to Shadow Ball and take little damage from Hidden Power Fighting, so you will need a teammate that can deal with these birds, such as Probopass, Regirock, or Golem. Additionally, this Haunter variant can spinblock effectively, as it is quite powerful and immune to Toxic.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Hidden Power Ground
move 4: Thunderbolt / Trick
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>When equipped with Choice Scarf, Haunter becomes a frightening revenge killer. With a Timid nature, it outspeeds absolutely everything, including Choice Scarf Sawk and Rotom-S, Timid Shell Smash Gorebyss, and Swellow. Sludge Bomb and Shadow Ball are a powerful STAB combination that has perfect neutral coverage in NU with Hidden Power Ground, which hits Probopass, Bastiodon, and Skuntank super effectively. Thunderbolt is useful for the stronger hit on Braviary, Swellow, Gorebyss, Wartortle, and Alomomola. As there are so many Pokemon that resist one of two of the moves on this set, it's all too easy for the opponent to send in something that walls Haunter's chosen move and force it out. Thus, to capitalize on Choice Scarf Haunter's effectiveness, you must predict well, or it'll get thrown around like a ragdoll.</p>

<p>Trick is an excellent move that can hamper any defensive Pokemon, and can be used instead of Thunderbolt. Many Pokemon in NU rely on Eviolite, such as Gurdurr and Misdreavus, and they become much easier to KO after it has been Tricked away. Without the freedom to switch moves, most Pokemon will struggle to do their jobs, especially defensive Pokemon such as Tangela and Miltank.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Although this set has excellent neutral coverage, you might find Haunter's power lacking, as Poison- and Ghost-type attacks hit very few Pokemon super effectively. To remedy this, entry hazard support is recommended. Alomomola can wall Haunter surprisingly well, but with Spikes support, Thunderbolt can KO it. Jynx has a small chance to survive Shadow Ball, but is OHKOed with Stealth Rock. Although Choice Scarf Haunter outspeeds Braviary, Stealth Rock is needed to secure the OHKO with Thunderbolt. Probopass is a nuisance as always, and Haunter will need Spikes support to guarantee a 2HKO on it with Hidden Power Ground. A Timid nature is mandatory on this set, as Haunter would otherwise be outsped by Shell Smash Gorebyss and Choice Scarf Jynx and Rotom-S. Pursuit users, namely Absol and Skuntank, terrify Haunter, so a Pokemon that can deal with them, such as Gurdurr or Regirock, makes an excellent teammate.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Destiny Bond is a great move that Haunter abuses spectacularly with its high Speed, as it can bait dangerous threats into KOing it, such as Magmortar, boosted Gurdurr, and Absol, or even walls such as Probopass and Quagsire. With clever use of this strategy, Haunter can get rid of Pokemon that give your team trouble, clearing the way for one of your sweepers. Will-O-Wisp is another useful move for Haunter, as Choice Scarf and priority users, such as Braviary and Absol, are some of Haunter's most common switch-ins, and crippling them with Will-O-Wisp on the switch can render them useless for the rest of the battle. Giga Drain is a nifty alternative to Thunderbolt that can replenish Haunter's HP, and hits bulky Water-types such as Alomomola and Quagsire super effectively. Though its Base Power is lower, it still gets the job done; Quagsire is OHKOed, and Alomomola is 2HKOed. Note that Braviary, Swellow, and Skuntank resist Giga Drain, so Thunderbolt is usually the better choice due to the greater coverage it offers.</p>

<p>Haunter also has access to useful support moves such as Haze, Confuse Ray, Hypnosis, Perish Song, and Taunt. These moves are generally not used because of Haunter's extreme frailty, as it would be KOed if it attempted to use them. However, a useful move is a useful move, and with deft play, you can definitely make the most of them. Haze is a great means of stopping slow, bulky stat boosters such as Gurdurr, as Haunter can use the move before being KOed, erasing any stat boosts and neutralizing the threat. Confuse Ray and Hypnosis are both useful for incapacitating dangerous foes, but both are rather hit-or-miss; though Confuse Ray is 100% accurate, the confusion chance is only 50 / 50, and Hypnosis's awful 60% Accuracy is cited by many competitive players to be unusable. Taunt is a great move as always, and Haunter can use it to prevent foes from setting up, laying entry hazards, or inflicting status, but you run the risk that the opponent might simply attack, KOing poor Haunter. Finally, Perish Song has useful applications as a phazing move, and can guarantee that the opponent's last Pokemon will be KOed, which can be a lifesaver if you find yourself facing down a foe that your remaining Pokemon can't take down.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Haunter is tricky to deal with by nature, and its checks depend on the set it runs. Skuntank, Probopass, and Bastiodon are all great catch-all checks, as they resist Haunter's STAB moves. Skuntank absolutely annihilates Haunter with its STAB Pursuit and Sucker Punch, and Probopass can paralyze it with Thunder Wave. Swellow, Choice Scarf Braviary, and Cinccino outspeed Haunter and are immune to Shadow Ball, and all three OHKO Haunter with the correct attack. Cinccino is especially dangerous, as it can KO through Substitute with Rock Blast, posing a constant threat to the Substitute and Disable sets. Although Haunter is immune to Gurdurr's Mach Punch, it must watch out for other priority users, such as Aqua Jet Samurott and Sucker Punch Absol, both of whom can OHKO it easily. Like Skuntank, Absol resists Shadow Ball and threatens Haunter with its Dark-type STAB moves. Choice Scarf Rotom-S and Sawk outspeed Haunter, and are both bulky enough to tank one of its attacks. Finally, Golem resists Sludge Bomb and can threaten Haunter with Sucker Punch, or set up Stealth Rock as the ghost switches out.</p>


Great analysis! I only found one small typographical error, but other than that, you're golden. You just need an official member to stamp this.
 

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