[OVERVIEW]
Brambleghast is the premier Rapid Spin user in NU thanks to its high-Base Power STAB moves, typing that lets it beat common entry hazard setters like Swampert, Diancie, and Bronzong one-on-one, and solid Speed. Brambleghast's useful Wind Rider ability lets it block a possible Hurricane from Kilowattrel and Tornadus. Additionally, Brambleghast is a great wallbreaker, since not many Pokemon can take both of its STAB attacks. Choice Band makes Brambleghast into a dangerous threat, as defensive foes like Vileplume and Tsareena get 2HKOed by Poltergeist on the switch. However, Brambleghast's poor bulk makes it poor at checking wallbreakers like Mienshao, Flygon, and Paldean Tauros-W, as they can threaten it with a 2HKO from their coverage or Choice Band-boosted attacks, forcing Brambleghast to constantly use Strength Sap. Additionally, Brambleghast's typing leaves it weak to common Dark- and Fire-types like Alolan Muk, Incineroar, and Chandelure. While Brambleghast does have good Speed, it's still outsped and revenge killed by foes like Inteleon and Munkidori or by priority attacks like Sucker Punch Toxicroak and Shadow Sneak Alolan Muk.
[SET]
name: Offensive Utility
move 1: Poltergeist
move 2: Power Whip
move 3: Rapid Spin
move 4: Strength Sap / Spikes / Shadow Sneak
item: Heavy-Duty Boots / Colbur Berry
ability: Wind Rider
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
tera type: Fairy / Ghost
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Strength Sap lets Brambleghast check physical wallbreakers like Flygon, Paldean Tauros-W, and Breloom. However, Spikes can be used instead, letting Brambleghast become a solid entry hazard setter. Alternatively, Shadow Sneak lets it revenge kill weakened foes like Flygon, Munkidori, and Mienshao. Heavy-Duty Boots lets Brambleghast ignore entry hazards, meaning it can more reliably remove them, while Colbur Berry lets it tank Dark-type attacks such as Mienshao's Knock Off and Toxicroak's Sucker Punch, letting Brambleghast use Strength Sap on them or hit them back with its STAB attacks. Brambleghast can run a defensive set with an EV spread of 252 HP / 80 Def / 176 Spe and a Jolly nature on utility sets, as it lets Brambleghast better handle physical wallbreakers like Iron Thorns, Paldean Tauros-W, and Mienshao while letting it outspeed base 80 Speed Pokemon like Chandelure. Tera Fairy provides a Dark resistance while not throwing away its matchup into Fighting-types and Flygon. Alternatively, Tera Ghost gives both Poltergeist and Shadow Sneak a power boost, letting it 2HKO foes like Vileplume, Dragalge, and Copperajah with the former.
Fighting-types like Mienshao, Toxicroak, and Heracross are great partners for Brambleghast, as they can check Dark-types like Incineroar, Alolan Muk, and Umbreon; in return, Brambleghast pressures Ghost- and bulky Psychic-types like Chandelure, Cresselia, and Galarian Slowbro. Incineroar is an exceptionally great partner for Brambleghast due to how it beats Grass-, Steel-, and Dark-types for Brambleghast, and in return, Brambleghast can check Fighting-, Ground-, and Water-types for Incineroar. Fire-types like Choice Scarf Chandelure and Talonflame outspeed Brambleghast and destroy it with their STAB attacks. Thus, it best pairs with bulky Water-types like Vaporeon, Milotic, and Tentacruel to check the aforementioned Fire-types. Faster Pokemon like Flygon, Mienshao, and Talonflame can easily revenge kill Brambleghast, so it synergizes well with defensive tanks like Sylveon, Galarian Slowbro, and Diancie that check them. Brambleghast appreciates special wallbreakers like Munkidori, Inteleon, and Kilowattrel for handling physical walls like Vileplume and Avalugg. Brambleghast can spinblock for hazard setters like Bronzong, Diance, and Swampert. Stealth Rock-weak Pokemon like Chandelure, Hisuian Typhlosion, and Staraptor that won't have Heavy-Duty Boots appreciate Brambleghast for its hazard removal.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Poltergeist
move 2: Power Whip
move 3: Shadow Sneak
move 4: Tera Blast
item: Choice Band
ability: Wind Rider
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
tera type: Ghost
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Choice Band allows Brambleghast to 2HKO Vileplume with Poltergeist and OHKO Vaporeon with Power Whip. Shadow Sneak lets Brambleghast pick off weakened foes like Flygon and Breloom. Tera Blast Ghost is a good alternative to Poltergeist, as it neither requires the foe to have an item nor can it miss. Tera Blast Ground could be used to hit common walls like Incineroar and Alolan Muk, but because Brambleghast needs to Terastallize for it to work and it almost always prefers a reliable Ghost-type STAB move, it isn't run.
Ground-types like Flygon, Gligar, and Swampert appreciate Brambleghast for checking Water-types like Vaporeon, Milotic, and Paldean Tauros-W; in return, they can handle Fire-types like Talonflame and Chandelure. Brambleghast appreciates Fighting- and Fairy-types like Toxicroak, Heracross, and Diancie for checking Dark-types like Incineroar, Alolan Muk, and Umbreon. Physical walls like Vileplume, Avalugg, and Tera Fairy Galarian Slowbro can tank many of Brambleghast's attacks very well, so it best synergize with special wallbreakers like Kilowattrel, Munkidori, and Chandelure to handle the physical walls. Brambleghast partners well with Pokemon like Cresselia, Munkidori, Meloetta, and Incineroar, as they can overwhelm shared checks like Alolan Muk and opposing Incineroar.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Infiltrator lets Brambleghast target Substitute users like Flygon and Paldean Tauros-W and -F. Brambleghast can go itemless, reducing the power of Knock Off from Mienshao and Tsareena and walling opposing Brambleghast. Leech Seed can be run on defensive sets, letting Brambleghast make progress on foes like Incineroar, Registeel, and Sylveon. Night Shade lets Brambleghast do consistent damage against Dark-types like Bombirdier and Alolan Muk. A set with Spikes / Poltergeist / Rapid Spin / Curse and a Focus Sash turns Brambleghast into a solid lead hazard setterm as it can set up Spikes and punish foes like Incineroar and Alolan Muk with Curse damage. Tera Water gives it a useful resistance against Fire-type attacks, but it makes Brambleghast weak to other Grass-types like Tsareena and Rotom-C.
Checks and Counters
====
**Dark-types**: Incineroar, Alolan Muk, and Bombirdier resist both of Brambleghast's STAB attacks and can destroy it with their own STAB attacks. Umbreon can threaten Brambleghast with either Foul Play or Toxic, but it is wary of switching into Choice Band-boosted Power Whip.
**Fire-types**: Chandelure and Hisuian Typhlosion destroy Brambleghast with their STAB attacks. Hisuian Typhlosion can outspeed Brambleghast, while Chandelure requires a Choice Scarf to outspeed it, but they are wary of switching into its Poltergeist and can be picked off by Shadow Sneak. Talonflame outspeeds Brambleghast, and it can threaten it back with either a KO from its Brave Bird or cripple Brambleghast with burn from Will-O-Wisp or Flame Body. However, Talonflame doesn't enjoy directly switching into Poltergeist.
**Physical Walls**: Vileplume and Avalugg can tank Brambleghast's attacks and both of them having recovery makes it a lot more difficult for Brambleghast to break through them. However, Vileplume can't directly switch into Choice Band Brambleghast, as it gets 2HKOed. Other physical walls like Dragalge, Talonflame, and bulky Tsareena can tank Choice Banded Brambleghast's attacks and threaten it back with their own attacks, but they have to predict correctly or they take significant damage.
**Revenge Killers**: Faster foes like Inteleon, Munkidori, and Air Slash Kilowattrel can threaten Brambleghast with their attacks due to its poor bulk or use it for momentum, but they don't enjoy switching into Brambleghast's STAB attacks. Priority users like First Impression Flygon and Sucker Punch Toxicroak can easily revenge kill Brambleghast after it's been weakened.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pika134.609709/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hammer798.641404/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Brambleghast is the premier Rapid Spin user in NU thanks to its high-Base Power STAB moves, typing that lets it beat common entry hazard setters like Swampert, Diancie, and Bronzong one-on-one, and solid Speed. Brambleghast's useful Wind Rider ability lets it block a possible Hurricane from Kilowattrel and Tornadus. Additionally, Brambleghast is a great wallbreaker, since not many Pokemon can take both of its STAB attacks. Choice Band makes Brambleghast into a dangerous threat, as defensive foes like Vileplume and Tsareena get 2HKOed by Poltergeist on the switch. However, Brambleghast's poor bulk makes it poor at checking wallbreakers like Mienshao, Flygon, and Paldean Tauros-W, as they can threaten it with a 2HKO from their coverage or Choice Band-boosted attacks, forcing Brambleghast to constantly use Strength Sap. Additionally, Brambleghast's typing leaves it weak to common Dark- and Fire-types like Alolan Muk, Incineroar, and Chandelure. While Brambleghast does have good Speed, it's still outsped and revenge killed by foes like Inteleon and Munkidori or by priority attacks like Sucker Punch Toxicroak and Shadow Sneak Alolan Muk.
[SET]
name: Offensive Utility
move 1: Poltergeist
move 2: Power Whip
move 3: Rapid Spin
move 4: Strength Sap / Spikes / Shadow Sneak
item: Heavy-Duty Boots / Colbur Berry
ability: Wind Rider
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
tera type: Fairy / Ghost
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Strength Sap lets Brambleghast check physical wallbreakers like Flygon, Paldean Tauros-W, and Breloom. However, Spikes can be used instead, letting Brambleghast become a solid entry hazard setter. Alternatively, Shadow Sneak lets it revenge kill weakened foes like Flygon, Munkidori, and Mienshao. Heavy-Duty Boots lets Brambleghast ignore entry hazards, meaning it can more reliably remove them, while Colbur Berry lets it tank Dark-type attacks such as Mienshao's Knock Off and Toxicroak's Sucker Punch, letting Brambleghast use Strength Sap on them or hit them back with its STAB attacks. Brambleghast can run a defensive set with an EV spread of 252 HP / 80 Def / 176 Spe and a Jolly nature on utility sets, as it lets Brambleghast better handle physical wallbreakers like Iron Thorns, Paldean Tauros-W, and Mienshao while letting it outspeed base 80 Speed Pokemon like Chandelure. Tera Fairy provides a Dark resistance while not throwing away its matchup into Fighting-types and Flygon. Alternatively, Tera Ghost gives both Poltergeist and Shadow Sneak a power boost, letting it 2HKO foes like Vileplume, Dragalge, and Copperajah with the former.
Fighting-types like Mienshao, Toxicroak, and Heracross are great partners for Brambleghast, as they can check Dark-types like Incineroar, Alolan Muk, and Umbreon; in return, Brambleghast pressures Ghost- and bulky Psychic-types like Chandelure, Cresselia, and Galarian Slowbro. Incineroar is an exceptionally great partner for Brambleghast due to how it beats Grass-, Steel-, and Dark-types for Brambleghast, and in return, Brambleghast can check Fighting-, Ground-, and Water-types for Incineroar. Fire-types like Choice Scarf Chandelure and Talonflame outspeed Brambleghast and destroy it with their STAB attacks. Thus, it best pairs with bulky Water-types like Vaporeon, Milotic, and Tentacruel to check the aforementioned Fire-types. Faster Pokemon like Flygon, Mienshao, and Talonflame can easily revenge kill Brambleghast, so it synergizes well with defensive tanks like Sylveon, Galarian Slowbro, and Diancie that check them. Brambleghast appreciates special wallbreakers like Munkidori, Inteleon, and Kilowattrel for handling physical walls like Vileplume and Avalugg. Brambleghast can spinblock for hazard setters like Bronzong, Diance, and Swampert. Stealth Rock-weak Pokemon like Chandelure, Hisuian Typhlosion, and Staraptor that won't have Heavy-Duty Boots appreciate Brambleghast for its hazard removal.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Poltergeist
move 2: Power Whip
move 3: Shadow Sneak
move 4: Tera Blast
item: Choice Band
ability: Wind Rider
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
tera type: Ghost
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Choice Band allows Brambleghast to 2HKO Vileplume with Poltergeist and OHKO Vaporeon with Power Whip. Shadow Sneak lets Brambleghast pick off weakened foes like Flygon and Breloom. Tera Blast Ghost is a good alternative to Poltergeist, as it neither requires the foe to have an item nor can it miss. Tera Blast Ground could be used to hit common walls like Incineroar and Alolan Muk, but because Brambleghast needs to Terastallize for it to work and it almost always prefers a reliable Ghost-type STAB move, it isn't run.
Ground-types like Flygon, Gligar, and Swampert appreciate Brambleghast for checking Water-types like Vaporeon, Milotic, and Paldean Tauros-W; in return, they can handle Fire-types like Talonflame and Chandelure. Brambleghast appreciates Fighting- and Fairy-types like Toxicroak, Heracross, and Diancie for checking Dark-types like Incineroar, Alolan Muk, and Umbreon. Physical walls like Vileplume, Avalugg, and Tera Fairy Galarian Slowbro can tank many of Brambleghast's attacks very well, so it best synergize with special wallbreakers like Kilowattrel, Munkidori, and Chandelure to handle the physical walls. Brambleghast partners well with Pokemon like Cresselia, Munkidori, Meloetta, and Incineroar, as they can overwhelm shared checks like Alolan Muk and opposing Incineroar.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Infiltrator lets Brambleghast target Substitute users like Flygon and Paldean Tauros-W and -F. Brambleghast can go itemless, reducing the power of Knock Off from Mienshao and Tsareena and walling opposing Brambleghast. Leech Seed can be run on defensive sets, letting Brambleghast make progress on foes like Incineroar, Registeel, and Sylveon. Night Shade lets Brambleghast do consistent damage against Dark-types like Bombirdier and Alolan Muk. A set with Spikes / Poltergeist / Rapid Spin / Curse and a Focus Sash turns Brambleghast into a solid lead hazard setterm as it can set up Spikes and punish foes like Incineroar and Alolan Muk with Curse damage. Tera Water gives it a useful resistance against Fire-type attacks, but it makes Brambleghast weak to other Grass-types like Tsareena and Rotom-C.
Checks and Counters
====
**Dark-types**: Incineroar, Alolan Muk, and Bombirdier resist both of Brambleghast's STAB attacks and can destroy it with their own STAB attacks. Umbreon can threaten Brambleghast with either Foul Play or Toxic, but it is wary of switching into Choice Band-boosted Power Whip.
**Fire-types**: Chandelure and Hisuian Typhlosion destroy Brambleghast with their STAB attacks. Hisuian Typhlosion can outspeed Brambleghast, while Chandelure requires a Choice Scarf to outspeed it, but they are wary of switching into its Poltergeist and can be picked off by Shadow Sneak. Talonflame outspeeds Brambleghast, and it can threaten it back with either a KO from its Brave Bird or cripple Brambleghast with burn from Will-O-Wisp or Flame Body. However, Talonflame doesn't enjoy directly switching into Poltergeist.
**Physical Walls**: Vileplume and Avalugg can tank Brambleghast's attacks and both of them having recovery makes it a lot more difficult for Brambleghast to break through them. However, Vileplume can't directly switch into Choice Band Brambleghast, as it gets 2HKOed. Other physical walls like Dragalge, Talonflame, and bulky Tsareena can tank Choice Banded Brambleghast's attacks and threaten it back with their own attacks, but they have to predict correctly or they take significant damage.
**Revenge Killers**: Faster foes like Inteleon, Munkidori, and Air Slash Kilowattrel can threaten Brambleghast with their attacks due to its poor bulk or use it for momentum, but they don't enjoy switching into Brambleghast's STAB attacks. Priority users like First Impression Flygon and Sucker Punch Toxicroak can easily revenge kill Brambleghast after it's been weakened.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pika134.609709/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hammer798.641404/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Last edited:
