Gourghost
Banned deucer.
Original thread by Goddess Briyella, who took it over from Rowan, I believe.
Overview
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Prankster
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name: Prankster
move 1: Copycat
move 2: Protect
move 3: Drain Punch
move 4: Crunch
ability: Prankster
item: Eviolite
evs: 196 HP / 196 Def / 116 SpD
nature: Impish
Moves
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Set Details
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Usage Tips
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Team Options
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Swords Dance Attacker
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name: Swords Dance Attacker
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: High Jump Kick
move 3: Copycat
move 4: Crunch / Protect
ability: Prankster
item: Eviolite
evs: 36 HP / 196 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 196 Spe
nature: Jolly
Moves
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Set Details
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Usage Tips
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Team Options
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Other Options
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Checks & Counters
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**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types, such as Spritzee and Cottonee, completely wall Riolu by resisting both attacking moves, while the latter one has faster priority and can stall it out with ease.
**Poison-types**: Poison-types such as Trubbish resist Drain Punch and High Jump Kick, Riolu's main STAB, and Crunch is too weak in order to hit them well.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types can easily beat Riolu with a supereffective STAB attack, especially Fletchling, as it can switch in while Riolu is boosting its Attack with Swords Dance and can outprioritize it with Acrobatics.
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types, such as Abra, can easily take out Riolu with their STAB, but have to be wary of Crunch.
**Gastly**: Gastly can be trouble for Riolu, as it is immune to High Jump Kick and can disable Crunch by the use of Substitute + Disable.
**Taunt**: Taunt disallows the use of Copycat and Protect, shutting down Riolu pretty much.
Overview
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- Mostly outclassed by other Fighting-types such as Mienfoo, that have better stats on the overall.
- It's niche lies, however, in access to Prankster + Copycat, as it allows it to hit twice in a row most of the time, as well as revenge killing random threats.
- Wide movepool that has, however, limited viable options.
- Poor bulk means that it can take limited hits only.
Prankster
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name: Prankster
move 1: Copycat
move 2: Protect
move 3: Drain Punch
move 4: Crunch
ability: Prankster
item: Eviolite
evs: 196 HP / 196 Def / 116 SpD
nature: Impish
Moves
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- Prankster Copycat allows it to copy the last used move with priority. This means it can usually hit Drain Punch twice, or revenge Pokemon such as Scraggy and Dwebble.
- It can also be used to Copycat things such as U-turn or Volt Switch from a teammate to keep up momentum, or set up things such as the opposing teams hazards or boosting moves.
- Protect works well in most situations as it allows it to protect itself from all sort of attacks, and then use certain moves such as Ferroseed's Spikes.
- Drain Punch is the main STAB move, providing decent recovery, especially when Copycat allows it to use it twice in a row.
- Crunch is the best option against Ghost-type switch ins, having a good chance to OHKO Gastly.
Set Details
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- Eviolite is the preferred item as it maximizes Riolu's bulk, and in combination with the EVs also lets it hit 21 Defense and 18 Special Defense.
- The EVs are heavily invested in HP and physical Defense, which allows it to take on physical attackers such as Pawniard and Scraggy, but also special attackers such as Magnemite a little better.
- The rest is put into Special Defense to give it a little boost on its Special Defense.
Usage Tips
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- Riolu should be used as a pivot, switching into the Dark-, Rock-, Steel- and Normal-types it beats.
- Protect and Copycat allow Riolu at times to switch in and pick off Pokemon that usually outspeed it
- Often Copycat has very situational uses, so make sure you think about the plays you can make with it.
- Use Protect at times you're predicting an incoming status move where can be taken advantage from with Copycat
Team Options
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- Drilbur gets an exclusive mention, as it is able to take on Poison-types, and most importantly Trubbish that otherwise would wall Riolu completely.
- Pokemon that can take on Fletchling and other Flying-types, such as Chinchou and Tirtouga, make great partners as these Pokemon really threaten this Riolu.
- Volt Switch and U-turn users, such as Chinchou and Fletchling can often be used to get Riolu in safely, and then Riolu can copycat their Volt Switch or U-Turn to preserve momentum.
- Riolu needs something that can take on Fairy- and Psychic-types, such as Pawniard, as these forme a threat to Riolu, especially Cottonee as it has faster priority.
Swords Dance Attacker
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name: Swords Dance Attacker
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: High Jump Kick
move 3: Copycat
move 4: Crunch / Protect
ability: Prankster
item: Eviolite
evs: 36 HP / 196 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 196 Spe
nature: Jolly
Moves
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- Swords Dance is the first move on the set, as it allows Riolu to set up on other attackers and hit them hard after.
- High Jump Kick has tremendous power that gets boosted furtherly by STAB.
- Copycat can copy High Jump Kick after, that means it gets priority and allows it to hit first in most situations, and also outspeeds max Speed Adamant Fletchling.
- Crunch is an option to use over Protect and hits Ghost-types well, as they are immune to High Jump Kick and would otherwise completely wall Riolu.
- Protect can be used to scout the opponent and use one of the opponent's moves to your advantage after.
Set Details
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- Prankster is standard and has great synergy with Copycat, that lets it move first in most situations.
- Eviolite gives Riolu extra bulk that helps it set up more safely.
- The EVs ensure helps Riolu hit as effectively as possible, the rest is put in HP in defenses to help Riolu set up better.
- Jolly nature and max Speed in order to outspeed max Speed Adamant Fletchling.
Usage Tips
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- Try to switch into Dark-types, as they'll be forced to switch after and allow Riolu to set up a free Swords Dance.
- Once an attacking move is used (preferably High Jump Kick) Riolu should always use Copycat to let it move first against other Pokemon without priority.
- Protect on an incoming status attack if you run it, so you can cripple the opponent with it the turn after.
- This Riolu is designed as a physical wallbreaker, so whenever a wall is on the field, try and set up with it and hit it hard after.
- Don't recklessy spam High Jump Kick when the opponent has a Ghost-type in their team; missing will be crucial for Riolu.
Team Options
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- Magnemite is a real good teammate, as it can resist Psychic-, Flying-, and Fairy-type attacks and is immune to Poison, as well as it can Volt Switch out to keep momentum up for the team and Riolu can Copycat it after.
- Pawniard also gets an exclusive mention, as it can trap Psychic + Ghost-types with Pursuit and beats up Fairy-types with Iron Head.
- Because this set lacks real good coverage, Pursuit users are useful as they trap Psychic- and Ghost-types and takes them out, as these threaten Riolu if it doesn't run Crunch.
- Pokemon that beat up Poison-types, such as Gothita, Abra, and Diglett, are good teammates because Poison-types resist Riolu's STAB, and the former one traps them as well and can beat most Poison-types with only a single Psychic.
- Partners that can get rid of Fairy-types are useful, as Fairy-types form the biggest threat to this set, as they resist Riolu's two attacking options.
Other Options
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- Riolu can boost its stats with Agility or Bulk Up, but these options are generally outclassed by other Pokemon.
- Foresight is an option in order to hit Ghost-types neutrally with Riolu's STAB, but isn't worth a slot as Riolu can hit them with Crunch otherwise anyway.
- Power-Up-Punch + Copycat is decent as it lets it boost Attack as well as doing damage, but as it has low base power, High Jump Kick and Drain Punch are better in most situations.
- Riolu can also function as a Sun or Rain setter as it has access to Prankster, but isn't really good as it wastes Riolu's good Attack and Speed.
- Zen Headbutt is for hitting Croagunk way better than Earthquake, but only hits Croagunk really and therefore isn't good.
- Nasty Plot can be used in order to utilize a special set with Aura Sphere, but isn't worth it as Riolu has quite low Special Attack
- Iron Tail or Poison Jab are its best option against Pokemon such as Spritzee and other Fairy-types, but the low accuracy of Iron Tail and the bad coverage of Poison Jab is off-putting.
- Ice Punch has great coverage on the overall, but lacks power as Riolu doesn't get STAB.
- Earthquake can be used in order to hit Poison-types better, but also, lacks a bit power and hits only uncommon Poison-types well.
Checks & Counters
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**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types, such as Spritzee and Cottonee, completely wall Riolu by resisting both attacking moves, while the latter one has faster priority and can stall it out with ease.
**Poison-types**: Poison-types such as Trubbish resist Drain Punch and High Jump Kick, Riolu's main STAB, and Crunch is too weak in order to hit them well.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types can easily beat Riolu with a supereffective STAB attack, especially Fletchling, as it can switch in while Riolu is boosting its Attack with Swords Dance and can outprioritize it with Acrobatics.
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types, such as Abra, can easily take out Riolu with their STAB, but have to be wary of Crunch.
**Gastly**: Gastly can be trouble for Riolu, as it is immune to High Jump Kick and can disable Crunch by the use of Substitute + Disable.
**Taunt**: Taunt disallows the use of Copycat and Protect, shutting down Riolu pretty much.
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