- The combination of natural bulk, decent defensive typing, Eviolite, and a form of reliable recovery in Roost makes Golbat a great wall in the tier, being able to check a lot of offensive threats such as Sceptile, Comfey and Whimsicott.
- The speed tier Golbat has lets it outspeed really threatening pokemon like Decidueye and Adamant Medicham while OHKOing them back with Brave Bird.
- Infiltrator paired with its Poison typing lets Golbat always hit Toxic. This lets Golbat surpass Substitute users like Braviary and Toxic them making them easier to deal with.
- The diversity of moves Golbat has such as Taunt, Super Fang, Toxic and U-turn makes it a really great pokemon to use, the first 3 moves makes it a really nice stallbreaker.
- However its weakness to Stealth Rock makes it easy to pressure and forces Golbat to use Roost a lot more often.
- Knock Off is also another threat Golbat has to fear since although it has decent defenses without Eviolite, this item being removed really hinders its ability to check strong special attackers like Sceptile and Whimsicott.
name: Defensive
move 1: Roost
move 2: Brave Bird
move 3: Defog / Taunt
move 4: Toxic
item: Eviolite
ability: Infiltrator
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 HP / 80 Def / 176 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Taunt invalidates Mega Audino and Vaporeon from being able to Wish or Heal Bell, while also preventing pokemon like Steelix, Garbodor, Druddigon from getting up hazards.
- Toxic paired with its poison type will always hit and lets it whittle pokemon that can otherwise be a threat such as Rhydon, Slowbro and Diancie.
- Brave Bird is a reliable stab that beats Grass- and Fighting-type pokemon like Decidueye, Sceptile and Passimian while doing decent damage to anything not resisted by the hit.
- Roost provides longevity which lets it switch into Sceptile and Whimsicott multiple times making it a reliable check. It also removes it Flying Typing which helps it beat defensive Diancie sets.
- Super Fang assures solid damage against common Stealth Rock users such as Steelix and Rhydon, that could otherwise be a threat.
Set Details
========
- The 100 speed evs paired with a Jolly Nature lets Golbat outspeed max speed base 70 pokemon like Decidueye and Adamant Medicham.
- 252 HP and 156 Defense evs paired with Eviolite maximize Golbat's physical bulk letting it check really threatening pokemon like Passimian, Sceptile, Whimsicott and Comfey.
- Infiltrator lets Golbat hit Substitute users like Braviary and beat them 1v1.
Usage Tips
========
- Due to the combination of natural bulk and Eviolite, Golbat can be switched directly into Grass-type pokemon like Sceptile and Whimsicott if its at full hp, however if Golbat is weakened it should be aware of the coverage moves these pokemon has since it can still do a good chunk. It can always switch directly into Decidueye since it will take any hit, while also outspeeding and OHKOing it back with Brave Bird. It can also switch into Dhelmise since it can take every hit and 2HKO it with Brave Bird, however it should fear its item being gone due to Knock Off.
- Golbat can be directly switched into Fairy-type pokemon like Comfey and Aromatisse while also switching into passive pokemon like Quagsire, Blastoise, Vaporeon, Pyukumuku, and Vileplume and take little damage. However it does struggle with the most used Fairy type, Diancie, since offensive sets can 2HKO Golbat with Power Gem.
- Taunt should be used against pokemon like Torterra, Miltank, Ferroseed, Garbodor, Palossand, Druddigon and prevent them from getting up hazards. Taunt should also be used against cleric pokemon such as Mega Audino and Vaporeon preventing them from passing wishes and healing status with Heal Bell.
- Thanks to its typing Golbat can check most Fighting-type pokemon like Passimian, Scrafty, Hariyama however it should be aware of losing its item due to Knock Off.
- While its in, it should try to whittle the oposing team spreading status with Toxic.
Team Options
========
- Incineroar, Sneasel and Slowbro all make great partners to Golbat, covering its Psychic-type weakness.
- Silvally-Steel and Alolan Sandslash are very good partners due to these pokemon being good checks to Ice-type pokemon like Vanilluxe while also providing a form in hazard control.
- Incineroar, Hariyama and Mega Audino make great partners thanks to their abilty to take Knock Offs pretty well.
- Rhydon, Steelix and Torterra all make great partners with Golbat since they can provide an Electric type immunity while also providing Stealth Rock support.
- Golbat should be used on Bulky Offensive or Stall teams that really enjoy having a solid way to check Grass- and Fairy-type pokemon.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
- Super Fang can be used over Taunt for consistent damage and weakening Steelix and Rhydon a lot.
- Defog can be used over Taunt to clear hazards, however most Stealth Rock uses such as Steelix and Rhydon can always get them up.
- U-turn can be used over Taunt to give momentum however you miss out on Toxic or Taunt.
- Posion Fang can be used over Toxic due to the chance it has to badly poison Xatu.
- An alternative spread of 252 HP, 80 Defense and 176 Speed with a Timid nature can be used to outspeed Jolly Medicham and Gallade.
- Mean Look can be used on Golbat, letting you trap Pokemon and Toxic stall them down.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock- and Steel-type Pokemon**: Steelix is Golbat's best counter since it takes minimal damage from Brave Bird and can do decent damage with Heavy Slam while pressuring the Roosts with Earthquake. Klinklang takes little damage from Brave Bird and can use Golbat as set up fodder while aslo OHKOing it at +1 with Z Wild Charge. Due to the massive attack stat Rhydon has, this pokemon can easily pressure Golbat with Stone Edge and Earthquake. Aerodactyl can easily switch into Golbat and OHKO it with Stone Edge. However Rhydon and Steelix both are pressured by Super Fang variants.
**Psychic-type Pokemon**: Assault Vest Slowbro and Slowking are really threatening for Golbat since both pokemon can take Brave Bird and do a lot of damage with its Psychic-type coverage. Delphox and Sigilyph can threaten Golbat with Psychic although they can both be 2HKO'd by Brave Bird. If Gallade or Medicham are running a Jolly nature, they can outspeed and OHKO Golbat with Zen Headbutt. Xatu can avoid Toxic due to its ability in Magic Bounce while also punishing Golbat with Rocky Helmet recoil if it ever decides to go for Brave Bird.
**Electric-type Pokemon**: Choice Scarf Rotom is a huge threat to Golbat since it can Trick away its Item and make Golbat pretty useless, Z Thunder can OHKO Golbat, while Colbur Berry sets can burn them. However this last Rotom set is the easiest for Golbat to deal with since Volt Switch does less then half and can be roosted off. Heliolisk has a stronger Volt Switch and Thunderbolt and can 2HKO Golbat with ease. Choice Specs Vikavolt can survive a Brave Bird and OHKO it back with Thunderbolt.
**Ice-type Pokemon**: Vanilluxe can switch into Golbat and OHKO it with Blizzard. Sneasel can do a lot damage with Icicle Crash and even Knock Off Golbat's item, making it lose significant bulk. Although both these pokemon have to fear Brave Bird since it can 2HKO. Piloswine however is another Ice-type pokemon that can do significant damage with Icicle Crash, pressuring Golbat with the threat of an Earthquake on its Roost, and take Brave Birds pretty good.
**Knock Off**: Although Golbat can switch into pokemon like Passimian, Dhelmise and Hariyama, it should fear losing its item due to Knock Off. Even though it can still check these pokemon without its item, Golbat loses a lot of bulk, making it easier to pressure and loses the ability to counter Sceptile and Whimsicott.
- Written by: [[abejas, 241380]]
- Quality checked by: [[Rabia, 336073], [<username2>, <userid2>], [<username3>, <userid3>]]
- Grammar checked by: [[<username1>, <userid1>], [<username2>, <userid2>]]
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