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OU Gothitelle
- Thread starter trc
- Start date
Overview
I wouldn't say that Gothetille can easily trap and dispatch threats, because it normally doesn't work like that in practice. Instead, I would just say that it can trap and potentially dispatch certain threats.
I also think it will be worthwhile to mention that Gothitelle could struggle trapping and revenge killing threats due to how offensive the metagame is nowadays. The influx of VoltTurn and bulky/powerful Megas and whatnot could make it hard to make Goth actually useful, especially since it isn't that strong or fast.
Being locked into a Psychic attack is also bad offensively, giving Pokemon such as Aegislash, Tyranitar, and Bisharp free switch-ins to pound something on your team very hard or just get a free boost.
Moves
HP Ground also hits Aegislash (you can live a 0 Atk Shadow Sneak), Tyranitar, and Bisharp.
HP Ice also hits Lati@s and other Dragons.
HP Fire also hits Celebi, so I would just not mention Signal Beam. It's way too situational and Celebi is nowhere near common enough for it to be mentioned.
Come to think of it, I'm wondering if Shadow Ball deserves a mention, though. It lets you hit all of Lati@s, Aegislash, (Mega) Gardevoir, Jirachi, and Celebi, among others I might be missing, super effectively. They also hit all of them harder than the appropriate Hidden Powers. Honestly, I would probably drop Hidden Power Ice since it's really only specific to Gliscor and I guess Landorus-T, but they are both already hit very hard by Psychic and the latter can just U-turn out as well if it's fast enough. I'm not sure if I want to see Hidden Power Fire dropped too because Scizor is basically the only relevant target (Ferro's not that great anymore, and you have Trick for it anyway), and CB/Scarf/Mega Scizor can be a nuisance to dispose of (Mega Scizor can easily be faster if it runs a decent amount of Speed). I think Hidden Power Ground and Shadow Ball are the best choices because they each hit more important targets. So I would make the set:
Psyshock / Psychic
Thunderbolt
Hidden Power Ground / Shadow Ball
Trick
With HP Fire/Ice mentioned in comments.
Usage Tips
I would still say that you need to evaluate whether you want to be locked into x move at y time. I mean, I don't think you'd want to Psychic something so that Tyranitar can come in for a free DD afterwards.
This will be okay if that means you get to dispose of the single threat that is impeding your victory. For instance, if Mega Venusaur is literally walling your ass and you can't do anything, but you'll be in such a good position if it's gone, feel free to use Goth's trapping to kill it for the team and force the opponent to Pursuit you if they wish.
Team Options
You can mention Pokemon that can take advantage of Pursuit work well too, or ones that capitalize on Tyranitar/Bisharp/etc. You can mention that when you bring up Lucario, as well as Terrakion and whatever else works.
Other Options
It's not that it's too slow, but it has very limited coverage and lack of reliable recovey, making it easy to revenge kill.
At the cost of power.
Checks & Counters
Also predicting when it comes in and doing a double switch.
QC 2/3
I wouldn't say that Gothetille can easily trap and dispatch threats, because it normally doesn't work like that in practice. Instead, I would just say that it can trap and potentially dispatch certain threats.
I also think it will be worthwhile to mention that Gothitelle could struggle trapping and revenge killing threats due to how offensive the metagame is nowadays. The influx of VoltTurn and bulky/powerful Megas and whatnot could make it hard to make Goth actually useful, especially since it isn't that strong or fast.
Being locked into a Psychic attack is also bad offensively, giving Pokemon such as Aegislash, Tyranitar, and Bisharp free switch-ins to pound something on your team very hard or just get a free boost.
Moves
HP Ground also hits Aegislash (you can live a 0 Atk Shadow Sneak), Tyranitar, and Bisharp.
HP Ice also hits Lati@s and other Dragons.
HP Fire also hits Celebi, so I would just not mention Signal Beam. It's way too situational and Celebi is nowhere near common enough for it to be mentioned.
Come to think of it, I'm wondering if Shadow Ball deserves a mention, though. It lets you hit all of Lati@s, Aegislash, (Mega) Gardevoir, Jirachi, and Celebi, among others I might be missing, super effectively. They also hit all of them harder than the appropriate Hidden Powers. Honestly, I would probably drop Hidden Power Ice since it's really only specific to Gliscor and I guess Landorus-T, but they are both already hit very hard by Psychic and the latter can just U-turn out as well if it's fast enough. I'm not sure if I want to see Hidden Power Fire dropped too because Scizor is basically the only relevant target (Ferro's not that great anymore, and you have Trick for it anyway), and CB/Scarf/Mega Scizor can be a nuisance to dispose of (Mega Scizor can easily be faster if it runs a decent amount of Speed). I think Hidden Power Ground and Shadow Ball are the best choices because they each hit more important targets. So I would make the set:
Psyshock / Psychic
Thunderbolt
Hidden Power Ground / Shadow Ball
Trick
With HP Fire/Ice mentioned in comments.
Usage Tips
I would still say that you need to evaluate whether you want to be locked into x move at y time. I mean, I don't think you'd want to Psychic something so that Tyranitar can come in for a free DD afterwards.
This will be okay if that means you get to dispose of the single threat that is impeding your victory. For instance, if Mega Venusaur is literally walling your ass and you can't do anything, but you'll be in such a good position if it's gone, feel free to use Goth's trapping to kill it for the team and force the opponent to Pursuit you if they wish.
Team Options
You can mention Pokemon that can take advantage of Pursuit work well too, or ones that capitalize on Tyranitar/Bisharp/etc. You can mention that when you bring up Lucario, as well as Terrakion and whatever else works.
Other Options
It's not that it's too slow, but it has very limited coverage and lack of reliable recovey, making it easy to revenge kill.
At the cost of power.
Checks & Counters
Also predicting when it comes in and doing a double switch.
QC 2/3
Last edited:
I'm not sure what Clefable set this is supposed to be referring to but almost all of the standard sets are 252/252+ Bold and even with specs and stealth rock you don't 2HKO with Psyshock
252+ SpA Choice Specs Gothitelle Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Clefable: 153-180 (38.8 - 45.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Gothitelle Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Clefable: 102-121 (25.8 - 30.7%) -- 99.7% chance to 4HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
Psychic does however 2HKO but only with Specs:
252+ SpA Choice Specs Gothitelle Psychic vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Clefable: 211-250 (53.5 - 63.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Gothitelle Psychic vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Clefable: 142-168 (36 - 42.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
Edit:
Remove this as things other than ghosts can't switch out of Gothitelle, making prediction a non issue.
Last edited:
Say, would Tickle be a good idea on this thing? I mean, it worked great with Wobbuffet, right? Well, Gothitelle can use other moves such as Thunder Wave and Rest to help keep alive.
WECAMEASROMANS posted this Gothitelle set in the Victory Road underrated sets thread and imo it seems deserving of at least a mention in the analysis. I think it's main set material, but that's up to QC.
He pretty much explains what it does in the quote. For the EV spread, I would suggest 252 HP / 112 Def / 44 SpA / 100+ SpD, which turns 0 Atk Gliscor's EQ into a 4HKO (needed to beat it if it uses EQ before being Tricked) and lets Goth beat even the most physically defensive 4 SpA Mega Venusaur with Psyshock about 99.3% of the time (might be slightly off, Giga Drain healing complicates things).
If someone more experienced with this set has a better EV spread definitely speak up, I got the above through calcing stuff but haven't actually tried the set yet. (I definitely will though, becauseI hate stall it seems like a great set.)
He pretty much explains what it does in the quote. For the EV spread, I would suggest 252 HP / 112 Def / 44 SpA / 100+ SpD, which turns 0 Atk Gliscor's EQ into a 4HKO (needed to beat it if it uses EQ before being Tricked) and lets Goth beat even the most physically defensive 4 SpA Mega Venusaur with Psyshock about 99.3% of the time (might be slightly off, Giga Drain healing complicates things).
If someone more experienced with this set has a better EV spread definitely speak up, I got the above through calcing stuff but haven't actually tried the set yet. (I definitely will though, because
The only real thing that set does well against is stall. And beyond that it is pure deadweight. It is made literally in a counter team sense.
We discussed this thoroughly amongst QC members, including with CrashinBoomBang .
We discussed this thoroughly amongst QC members, including with CrashinBoomBang .
Unless you want me to write up one of my typical QC essays for this again (which I would be more than willing to do considering how much some people want this set to get an analysis and how strongly opposed I am), I'll just say that this is not getting a set. I might accept a mention of it but as long as I'm around to check on analyses it is not getting a set. Period.
Because of its Psychic typing, decent physical bulk, and poor attack, it seems like a waste not to mention running 0 HP IV's.
Also, I don't know the exact protocol, but I think last gen, if using Hidden Power, the exact IV's were mentioned. Perhaps you should do that for HP Ground, keeping in mind minimizing its attack while maintaining an odd HP stat.
Otherwise:
Also, I don't know the exact protocol, but I think last gen, if using Hidden Power, the exact IV's were mentioned. Perhaps you should do that for HP Ground, keeping in mind minimizing its attack while maintaining an odd HP stat.
Otherwise:
Quagsire is OHKO'd either way, so you should specify other Pokemon where Grass Knot would be better, like Suicune. Otherwise, I think Energy ball is generally better, as Rotom-W is super common and hitting it with a 20 BP move is pitiful.
the slashing needs to be changed on the first set. goth is for trapping slow stuff, shadow ball hits Latios and Jirachi? Not exactly useful considering they outspeed and beat goth 1 on 1. I guess you can trap a -2 Latios, though I think HP ice would be better at this becuase it hits other stuff and both get a 2hko. I'm going to go over the defensive threats each move hits efficiently, obviously Psychic will not be mentioned as it should not be dropped.
Shadow Ball: Cresselia, SLowbro
HP ground: Heatran, Mega Aggron
Hp Ice: Fully defensive LAndo-t, Gliscor
HP fire: Ferrothorn, Defensive Mega Scizor, Mega Aggron
Energy Ball: Hippo, Quags, Rotom, Suicune, Slowbro, Krookodile, Rhyperior
Thunderbolt: Skarm, Suicune, Mandibuzz, Slowbro
I went over as many defensive threats as I could. Shadow Ball is basically useless, it can hit Celebi and Jirachi who are both pretty bad, but one just paraflinches you into submission, the other baton passes out.
In order of effectiveness i'd like to rank Thunderbolt > HP FIre > Energy Ball/ Grass Knot > HP Ice > HP ground > Shadow Ball
Thunderbolt is first because it hits some relevant targets nicely, but most important it lets you beat Skarm/Mandi who you couldnt otherwise, especially mandi. Trapping these two is pretty damn good. HP Fire gets the second spot because again it lets you trap and beat pokes that you normally couldnt, and theyre very important. Energy Ball/GK my have the biggest profile of targets but its not THAT important. SLowbro, and Suicune are hit with Thunderbolt, while Quagsire, Rotom, Rhyperior, and HIppo take pretty good damage from Psychic, in fact all physically defensive variants are easily 2HKOd, and sdef can be/nearly are. Krookodile exists but its use is quite limited. HP ice is ranked next because it hits two important targets but 2 improtant targets that are not free kills at all. Lando-t can easily be faster with a bit of investment and u-turn out while Gliscor is always faster and can easily just sub toxic you to death if you directly switch in. HP ground is than ranked next to last for hitting a grand total of 1 target better than hp fire. Finally Shadow Ball is ass.
Id like to see the main set look something like
- Psychic
- Tbolt
- HP Fire / Energy Ball
Shadow Ball: Cresselia, SLowbro
HP ground: Heatran, Mega Aggron
Hp Ice: Fully defensive LAndo-t, Gliscor
HP fire: Ferrothorn, Defensive Mega Scizor, Mega Aggron
Energy Ball: Hippo, Quags, Rotom, Suicune, Slowbro, Krookodile, Rhyperior
Thunderbolt: Skarm, Suicune, Mandibuzz, Slowbro
I went over as many defensive threats as I could. Shadow Ball is basically useless, it can hit Celebi and Jirachi who are both pretty bad, but one just paraflinches you into submission, the other baton passes out.
In order of effectiveness i'd like to rank Thunderbolt > HP FIre > Energy Ball/ Grass Knot > HP Ice > HP ground > Shadow Ball
Thunderbolt is first because it hits some relevant targets nicely, but most important it lets you beat Skarm/Mandi who you couldnt otherwise, especially mandi. Trapping these two is pretty damn good. HP Fire gets the second spot because again it lets you trap and beat pokes that you normally couldnt, and theyre very important. Energy Ball/GK my have the biggest profile of targets but its not THAT important. SLowbro, and Suicune are hit with Thunderbolt, while Quagsire, Rotom, Rhyperior, and HIppo take pretty good damage from Psychic, in fact all physically defensive variants are easily 2HKOd, and sdef can be/nearly are. Krookodile exists but its use is quite limited. HP ice is ranked next because it hits two important targets but 2 improtant targets that are not free kills at all. Lando-t can easily be faster with a bit of investment and u-turn out while Gliscor is always faster and can easily just sub toxic you to death if you directly switch in. HP ground is than ranked next to last for hitting a grand total of 1 target better than hp fire. Finally Shadow Ball is ass.
Id like to see the main set look something like
- Psychic
- Tbolt
- HP Fire / Energy Ball
I agree, but I generally think Psyshock should be slashed over Psychic.
I know this isn't in GP stage yet, but could you just make a quick fix to this? Thanks :D
Its
Thanks.
Looks good, I can't think of anything else to add.
QC 3/3
QC 3/3
Amateur check.
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Overview
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With Gengarite banned, Gothitelle retains its tried and true niche as the most versatile Shadow Tag user in the game. With its ability to trap and potentially dispatch threats to a team, it is a valuable partner on many team archetypes. It differentiates from its cousin Wobbuffet by possessing actual offensive presence, allowing it to be less passive in its job and potentially do more work. This is complemented by its reasonable special movepool, which can be tailored specifically to eliminate certiain threats, and it allows Gothitelle to easily dismantle cores of commmon defensive Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur, Skarmory, and Heatran. These traits are extremely beneficial to it, as they allow Gothitelle to defeat stall teams with ease, often helping teammates immensely which struggle with stall teams. It isn't without its flaws though However, as it Gothitelle often struggles to be effective in XY's primarily offensive metagame, especially with the prevalence of VoltTurn. It suffers from remarkably average stats overall, with nothing immediately standing out aside from an above average Special Defense. Its Gothitelle's typing is also rather detrimental in the metagame; it is bad defensively and it isn't a great type to be locked into, especially with the prevalence of Aegislash and Bisharp, two incredibly common and dangerous Pokemon that can trap it Gothitelle with Pursuit.
Choice Specs
########
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Psyshock / Psychic
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Hidden Power Fire / Energy Ball
move 4: Trick
ability: Shadow Tag
item: Choice Specs
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
nature: Modest
Moves
========
Gothitelle's chosen Psychic-type STAB attack allows it to deal heavy damage to, if not outright OHKO, several popular offensive and defensive threats in the metagame, including Mega Venusaur, Assault Vest Conkeldurr, and Keldeo locked into Secret Sword. It is also Gothitelle's most powerful move, making it a decent choice against most threats that don't resist Psychic. Both have their own benefits: Psyshock OHKOes Assault Vest Conkeldurr and does more damage to special walls such as Blissey and Goodra, while Psychic can OHKO Mega Venusaur cleanly with prior damage, and is generally more powerful. Thunderbolt is used to hit Skarmory, Mandibuzz, and Gyarados as primary targets, but it also hits Togekiss, Azumarill, and Politoed as well. Hidden Power Fire is used mainly to hit Ferrothorn and (Mega) Scizor, and is guaranteed to OHKO physically defensive variants of both with Stealth Rock damage. Energy Ball is an alternative to hit Quagsire, Hippowdon, and Rotom-W, all of which also tend to be important parts of defensive cores. Grass Knot can take Energy Ball's place for a guaranteed OHKO on Hippowdon, as well as a harder hit on Tyranitar, but it does pittance to Rotom-W. Trick is the icing on the cake, allowing Gothitelle to instantly and severely cripple defensive tanks and walls, such as Chansey, Clefable, Porygon2, and Snorlax. It should be noted that unlike other Trick users, Gothitelle can be selective in targets it can use Trick on, so it doesn't have to worry about Pokemon with Mega Stones switching in. Gothitelle isn't necessarily limited to the moves listed above; you can choose other moves and tailor slots depending on which threats your team has trouble with. Hidden Power Ice is an option for instantly OHKOing Gliscor, Garchomp, and Landorus-T, though Gothitelle might have trouble switching into these three for various reasons. Hidden Power Ground is used specifically for Heatran, but can also put a decent dent in Tyranitar and Bisharp when needed. Notably, when running a combination of Hidden Power Ground, Psychic, and Trick, Gothitelle can defeat and cripple the common stall core of Mega Venusaur, Heatran, and Chansey.
Set Details
========
The item of choice for this set, of course, is Choice Specs, which gives Gothitelle the power to break through defensive cores and Pokemon. With Trick, it also operates as a nasty afterthought to item-reliant walls and tanks. While Gothitelle isn't exactly fast enough to outrun a majority of threats, maximized Special Attack and Speed are recommended so it stands a better chance of beating opponents that typically don't invest in their speed, especially (Mega) Scizor, Rotom-W, Heatran, Mega Venusaur and Landorus-T. Modest nature is also recommended as Gothitelle requires the extra power and doesn't outrun anything particularly relevant with Timid aside from max Speed Adamant Breloom and Bisharp. Alternatively, Gothitelle can invest in its bulk to better take hits at the cost of a higher chance of beating several faster threats. In this case, an EV spread of 212 HP / 252 SpA / 44 Spe can be used to outspeed minimum Speed Skarmory and Politoed while investing the rest of the EVs in HP for extra bulk.
Usage Tips
========
The main goal of this set is to trap and eliminate the Pokemon in defensive cores to allow a sweeper to sweep after they have been removed. Notably, Gothitelle performs exceptionally well against stall teams, as it can cripple and dismantle multiple defensive Pokemon repeatedly without taking too much damage. As long as you can keep Gothitelle from taking too much chip damage, expect it to take down at least a couple of threats on stall teams. Playing with Gothitelle notably doesn't require much prediction, as the foe can't switch out. This allows the user to not have to worry about mindgames. Bear in mind though, that the opponent may be able to take advantage of the move at you will be locked into. To trap and kill KO successfully, Gothitelle must be at a reasonable level of health, especially when operating against hard-hitting or faster opponents. A good way to do this is by means of U-turn and Volt Switch, or after one of your Pokemon has fainted. It is not recommended to bring it in on attacks, especially physical or boosted ones, unless resisted. Gothitelle itself has good but modest overall bulk, so it can afford to take hits on both sides occasionally. The sight of Gothitelle in team preview could also lead the opponent to making strange double switches to avoid being trapped. This is easy to take advantage of, but be aware that you can also fall victim to bad switches. It is also not recommended to trap anything while the other team has a Pursuit user such as Bisharp and or (This seems to be missing; as I result, I cant put this into the c/p, as I have no idea what it would be), as they will be able to KO Gothitelle back straight away. The exception to this is if the Pokemon in your way is a huge threat to your team, and after it is gone things will be significantly easier for your win condition, so Gothitelle is not as necessary after it has taken down its important foe.
Team Options
========
Keep in mind that Gothitelle is purely a supporting attacker, so it doesn't actually need much support on its own. However, Gothitelle prefers switching in on its targets cleanly, making Volt Switch and U-turn very good, if not required, options. Examples of teammates that can use these moves include (Mega) Scizor, Rotom-W, Landorus-T, and Thundurus, all of which have counters that can be immediately eliminated by Gothitelle. Rapid Spin and Defog are also helpful in ensuring Gothitelle can switch in cleanly, although keep in mind that your own sweepers might require previously-set hazards. Latios, Latias, and Excadrill are good choices for this. Sticky Web is also optimal, as it allows Gothitelle to trap and kill KO a wider range of threats more efficiently without taking too much damage in the process. Shuckle, Smeargle, or Galvantula are available choices for this, but perform differently from each other, so the choice is dependent on your team. Many offensive Pokemon in particular benefit from Gothitelle's trapping abilities. For instance, Thundurus often has trouble with Chansey, Hippowdon, and Quagsire depending on which set it's using; all three are easy pickings for Gothitelle thanks to Trick and its chosen Grass-type move. Gothitelle is also efficient at getting rid of Mega Venusaur, so Tailor Glow Manaphy not only appreciates Gothitelle as a teammate, but also gains the freedom to use Energy Ball rather than Psychic. Since Because Gothitelle can dismantle Quagsire, Hippowdon, and Skarmory easily, it also pairs well with physical setup sweepers. Dragon Dance Mega Charizard X, Dragon Dance Mega Tyranitar, Swords Dance Mega Pinsir, and Swords Dance Bisharp are just a few of many exceptional physical sweepers that perform well after those walls are eliminated. Finally, Gothitelle appreciates teammates that can threaten or set up on Pursuit users after it faints. Terrakion, Keldeo, and Greninja are just a few examples of threats that can match up decently against common Pursuit users.
Other Options
########
Gothitelle's movepool is colorful, and with Shadow Tag, this gives birth to loads of possible sets with different items and playstyles. Dark Pulse and Shadow Ball can be used to hit opposing Psychic- and Ghost-type opponents, such as Aegislash, Gourgeist, and Latios, harder than its other moves normally do. However, Gothitelle typically matches up poorly against these threats, as they can overwhelm Gothitelle it with powerful moves of their own, so it's usually not worth it. Thunder Wave, Heal Bell, Reflect, and Light Screen are cool support options that Gothitelle can use to help out its teammates, though it usually can't find a free moveslot for these moves. Using Choice Scarf allows Gothitelle to revenge kill faster, offensive Pokemon, but it isn't very powerful because of Gothitelle's naturally average Special Attack. Gothitelle's lack of power also disallows it from using Calm Mind effectively, especially since because it also lacks good two-move coverage and recovery. If using Choice Specs ends up risking momentum for your team, you may consider using Expert Belt and or Life Orb instead to avoid locking Gothitelle into a single move. At the cost of power and the ability to Trick a Choice item onto defensive Pokemon, Gothitelle can trap and threaten multiple threats in a row with multiple coverage moves.
Checks & Counters
########
Because of its ability Shadow Tag, Gothitelle has no actual counters, as the definition of a counter requires the foe to be able to switch in on the Pokemon. However, the trapping can be avoided with U-turn, Volt Switch, or Baton Pass, the use of the item Shed Shell, by double switching out when you Gothitelle is predicted Gothitelle to come in, or simply the fact that Ghost-types can't be trapped. However, Gothitelle definitely has checks, and there exists several opponents and factors that come close to being classified as “counters.”
**Aegislash**: Aegislash is the closest thing to a counter that exists for Gothitelle. Not only can it escape from Shadow Tag, but it can also typically tank Gothitelle's common attacks with ease, and OHKO back with a Ghost-type STAB move. If Gothitelle even attempts to revenge kill a weakened Aegislash, Aegislash the latter can defend itself with Shadow Sneak.
**Pursuit users**: (Mega) Scizor, Tyranitar, and Bisharp can easily revenge kill Gothitelle after it has taken down a fellow foe. Scizor and Bisharp, however, risk being KOed by Specs Hidden Power Fire, so they can only Pursuit trap Gothitelle if it is locked into another move.
**Switching moves**: U-turn, Volt Switch, and Baton Pass users can escape from the clutches of Gothitelle, forcing it to possibly be locked into the wrong move when faced against the switch-in. U-turn in particular hits Gothitelle super effectively. Common users of these moves include Rotom-W, Landorus-T, (Mega) Scizor, and Talonflame.
**Residual damage**: Gothitelle likes doing its job at reasonable health, especially if it aims to trap multiple targets in stall teams. Being damaged by status, weather, entry hazards, and Leech Seed will only serve to limit its switch-in and killKO'ing opportunities.
**Faster Attackers**: It is not difficult to kill KO Gothitelle due to its horrendous Speed, so faster opponents have an opportunity to do great damage to it before getting killed KO'd by it. Assuming it is locked into a bad move, Gengar, Latios, Mega Gardevoir, Mega Pinsir, and many others can come in and even set up after Gothitelle has killed KO'd something.
########
With Gengarite banned, Gothitelle retains its tried and true niche as the most versatile Shadow Tag user in the game. With its ability to trap and potentially dispatch threats to a team, it is a valuable partner on many team archetypes. It differentiates from its cousin Wobbuffet by possessing actual offensive presence, allowing it to be less passive in its job and potentially do more work. This is complemented by its reasonable special movepool, which can be tailored specifically to eliminate certiain threats, and it allows Gothitelle to easily dismantle cores of commmon defensive Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur, Skarmory, and Heatran. These traits are extremely beneficial to it, as they allow Gothitelle to defeat stall teams with ease, often helping teammates immensely which struggle with stall teams. It isn't without its flaws though However, as it Gothitelle often struggles to be effective in XY's primarily offensive metagame, especially with the prevalence of VoltTurn. It suffers from remarkably average stats overall, with nothing immediately standing out aside from an above average Special Defense. Its Gothitelle's typing is also rather detrimental in the metagame; it is bad defensively and it isn't a great type to be locked into, especially with the prevalence of Aegislash and Bisharp, two incredibly common and dangerous Pokemon that can trap it Gothitelle with Pursuit.
Choice Specs
########
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Psyshock / Psychic
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Hidden Power Fire / Energy Ball
move 4: Trick
ability: Shadow Tag
item: Choice Specs
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
nature: Modest
Moves
========
Gothitelle's chosen Psychic-type STAB attack allows it to deal heavy damage to, if not outright OHKO, several popular offensive and defensive threats in the metagame, including Mega Venusaur, Assault Vest Conkeldurr, and Keldeo locked into Secret Sword. It is also Gothitelle's most powerful move, making it a decent choice against most threats that don't resist Psychic. Both have their own benefits: Psyshock OHKOes Assault Vest Conkeldurr and does more damage to special walls such as Blissey and Goodra, while Psychic can OHKO Mega Venusaur cleanly with prior damage, and is generally more powerful. Thunderbolt is used to hit Skarmory, Mandibuzz, and Gyarados as primary targets, but it also hits Togekiss, Azumarill, and Politoed as well. Hidden Power Fire is used mainly to hit Ferrothorn and (Mega) Scizor, and is guaranteed to OHKO physically defensive variants of both with Stealth Rock damage. Energy Ball is an alternative to hit Quagsire, Hippowdon, and Rotom-W, all of which also tend to be important parts of defensive cores. Grass Knot can take Energy Ball's place for a guaranteed OHKO on Hippowdon, as well as a harder hit on Tyranitar, but it does pittance to Rotom-W. Trick is the icing on the cake, allowing Gothitelle to instantly and severely cripple defensive tanks and walls, such as Chansey, Clefable, Porygon2, and Snorlax. It should be noted that unlike other Trick users, Gothitelle can be selective in targets it can use Trick on, so it doesn't have to worry about Pokemon with Mega Stones switching in. Gothitelle isn't necessarily limited to the moves listed above; you can choose other moves and tailor slots depending on which threats your team has trouble with. Hidden Power Ice is an option for instantly OHKOing Gliscor, Garchomp, and Landorus-T, though Gothitelle might have trouble switching into these three for various reasons. Hidden Power Ground is used specifically for Heatran, but can also put a decent dent in Tyranitar and Bisharp when needed. Notably, when running a combination of Hidden Power Ground, Psychic, and Trick, Gothitelle can defeat and cripple the common stall core of Mega Venusaur, Heatran, and Chansey.
Set Details
========
The item of choice for this set, of course, is Choice Specs, which gives Gothitelle the power to break through defensive cores and Pokemon. With Trick, it also operates as a nasty afterthought to item-reliant walls and tanks. While Gothitelle isn't exactly fast enough to outrun a majority of threats, maximized Special Attack and Speed are recommended so it stands a better chance of beating opponents that typically don't invest in their speed, especially (Mega) Scizor, Rotom-W, Heatran, Mega Venusaur and Landorus-T. Modest nature is also recommended as Gothitelle requires the extra power and doesn't outrun anything particularly relevant with Timid aside from max Speed Adamant Breloom and Bisharp. Alternatively, Gothitelle can invest in its bulk to better take hits at the cost of a higher chance of beating several faster threats. In this case, an EV spread of 212 HP / 252 SpA / 44 Spe can be used to outspeed minimum Speed Skarmory and Politoed while investing the rest of the EVs in HP for extra bulk.
Usage Tips
========
The main goal of this set is to trap and eliminate the Pokemon in defensive cores to allow a sweeper to sweep after they have been removed. Notably, Gothitelle performs exceptionally well against stall teams, as it can cripple and dismantle multiple defensive Pokemon repeatedly without taking too much damage. As long as you can keep Gothitelle from taking too much chip damage, expect it to take down at least a couple of threats on stall teams. Playing with Gothitelle notably doesn't require much prediction, as the foe can't switch out. This allows the user to not have to worry about mindgames. Bear in mind though, that the opponent may be able to take advantage of the move at you will be locked into. To trap and kill KO successfully, Gothitelle must be at a reasonable level of health, especially when operating against hard-hitting or faster opponents. A good way to do this is by means of U-turn and Volt Switch, or after one of your Pokemon has fainted. It is not recommended to bring it in on attacks, especially physical or boosted ones, unless resisted. Gothitelle itself has good but modest overall bulk, so it can afford to take hits on both sides occasionally. The sight of Gothitelle in team preview could also lead the opponent to making strange double switches to avoid being trapped. This is easy to take advantage of, but be aware that you can also fall victim to bad switches. It is also not recommended to trap anything while the other team has a Pursuit user such as Bisharp and or (This seems to be missing; as I result, I cant put this into the c/p, as I have no idea what it would be), as they will be able to KO Gothitelle back straight away. The exception to this is if the Pokemon in your way is a huge threat to your team, and after it is gone things will be significantly easier for your win condition, so Gothitelle is not as necessary after it has taken down its important foe.
Team Options
========
Keep in mind that Gothitelle is purely a supporting attacker, so it doesn't actually need much support on its own. However, Gothitelle prefers switching in on its targets cleanly, making Volt Switch and U-turn very good, if not required, options. Examples of teammates that can use these moves include (Mega) Scizor, Rotom-W, Landorus-T, and Thundurus, all of which have counters that can be immediately eliminated by Gothitelle. Rapid Spin and Defog are also helpful in ensuring Gothitelle can switch in cleanly, although keep in mind that your own sweepers might require previously-set hazards. Latios, Latias, and Excadrill are good choices for this. Sticky Web is also optimal, as it allows Gothitelle to trap and kill KO a wider range of threats more efficiently without taking too much damage in the process. Shuckle, Smeargle, or Galvantula are available choices for this, but perform differently from each other, so the choice is dependent on your team. Many offensive Pokemon in particular benefit from Gothitelle's trapping abilities. For instance, Thundurus often has trouble with Chansey, Hippowdon, and Quagsire depending on which set it's using; all three are easy pickings for Gothitelle thanks to Trick and its chosen Grass-type move. Gothitelle is also efficient at getting rid of Mega Venusaur, so Tailor Glow Manaphy not only appreciates Gothitelle as a teammate, but also gains the freedom to use Energy Ball rather than Psychic. Since Because Gothitelle can dismantle Quagsire, Hippowdon, and Skarmory easily, it also pairs well with physical setup sweepers. Dragon Dance Mega Charizard X, Dragon Dance Mega Tyranitar, Swords Dance Mega Pinsir, and Swords Dance Bisharp are just a few of many exceptional physical sweepers that perform well after those walls are eliminated. Finally, Gothitelle appreciates teammates that can threaten or set up on Pursuit users after it faints. Terrakion, Keldeo, and Greninja are just a few examples of threats that can match up decently against common Pursuit users.
Other Options
########
Gothitelle's movepool is colorful, and with Shadow Tag, this gives birth to loads of possible sets with different items and playstyles. Dark Pulse and Shadow Ball can be used to hit opposing Psychic- and Ghost-type opponents, such as Aegislash, Gourgeist, and Latios, harder than its other moves normally do. However, Gothitelle typically matches up poorly against these threats, as they can overwhelm Gothitelle it with powerful moves of their own, so it's usually not worth it. Thunder Wave, Heal Bell, Reflect, and Light Screen are cool support options that Gothitelle can use to help out its teammates, though it usually can't find a free moveslot for these moves. Using Choice Scarf allows Gothitelle to revenge kill faster, offensive Pokemon, but it isn't very powerful because of Gothitelle's naturally average Special Attack. Gothitelle's lack of power also disallows it from using Calm Mind effectively, especially since because it also lacks good two-move coverage and recovery. If using Choice Specs ends up risking momentum for your team, you may consider using Expert Belt and or Life Orb instead to avoid locking Gothitelle into a single move. At the cost of power and the ability to Trick a Choice item onto defensive Pokemon, Gothitelle can trap and threaten multiple threats in a row with multiple coverage moves.
Checks & Counters
########
Because of its ability Shadow Tag, Gothitelle has no actual counters, as the definition of a counter requires the foe to be able to switch in on the Pokemon. However, the trapping can be avoided with U-turn, Volt Switch, or Baton Pass, the use of the item Shed Shell, by double switching out when you Gothitelle is predicted Gothitelle to come in, or simply the fact that Ghost-types can't be trapped. However, Gothitelle definitely has checks, and there exists several opponents and factors that come close to being classified as “counters.”
**Aegislash**: Aegislash is the closest thing to a counter that exists for Gothitelle. Not only can it escape from Shadow Tag, but it can also typically tank Gothitelle's common attacks with ease, and OHKO back with a Ghost-type STAB move. If Gothitelle even attempts to revenge kill a weakened Aegislash, Aegislash the latter can defend itself with Shadow Sneak.
**Pursuit users**: (Mega) Scizor, Tyranitar, and Bisharp can easily revenge kill Gothitelle after it has taken down a fellow foe. Scizor and Bisharp, however, risk being KOed by Specs Hidden Power Fire, so they can only Pursuit trap Gothitelle if it is locked into another move.
**Switching moves**: U-turn, Volt Switch, and Baton Pass users can escape from the clutches of Gothitelle, forcing it to possibly be locked into the wrong move when faced against the switch-in. U-turn in particular hits Gothitelle super effectively. Common users of these moves include Rotom-W, Landorus-T, (Mega) Scizor, and Talonflame.
**Residual damage**: Gothitelle likes doing its job at reasonable health, especially if it aims to trap multiple targets in stall teams. Being damaged by status, weather, entry hazards, and Leech Seed will only serve to limit its switch-in and killKO'ing opportunities.
**Faster Attackers**: It is not difficult to kill KO Gothitelle due to its horrendous Speed, so faster opponents have an opportunity to do great damage to it before getting killed KO'd by it. Assuming it is locked into a bad move, Gengar, Latios, Mega Gardevoir, Mega Pinsir, and many others can come in and even set up after Gothitelle has killed KO'd something.
Overview
########
With Gengarite banned, Gothitelle retains its tried and true niche as the most versatile Shadow Tag user in the game. With its ability to trap and potentially dispatch threats to a team, it is a valuable partner on many team archetypes. It differentiates from its cousin Wobbuffet by possessing actual offensive presence, allowing it to be less passive in its job and potentially do more work. This is complemented by its reasonable special movepool, which can be tailored specifically to eliminate certain threats, and it allows Gothitelle to easily dismantle cores of commmon defensive Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur, Skarmory, and Heatran. These traits are extremely beneficial to it, as they allow Gothitelle to defeat stall teams with ease, often helping teammates immensely which struggle with stall teams. However, Gothitelle often struggles to be effective in XY's primarily offensive metagame, especially with the prevalence of VoltTurn. It suffers from remarkably average stats overall, with nothing immediately standing out aside from an above average Special Defense. Gothitelle's typing is also rather detrimental in the metagame; it is bad defensively and it isn't a great type to be locked into, especially with the prevalence of Aegislash and Bisharp, two incredibly common and dangerous Pokemon that can trap Gothitelle with Pursuit.
Choice Specs
########
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Psyshock / Psychic
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Hidden Power Fire / Energy Ball
move 4: Trick
ability: Shadow Tag
item: Choice Specs
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
nature: Modest
Moves
========
Gothitelle's chosen Psychic-type STAB attack allows it to deal heavy damage to, if not outright OHKO, several popular offensive and defensive threats in the metagame, including Mega Venusaur, Assault Vest Conkeldurr, and Keldeo locked into Secret Sword. It is also Gothitelle's most powerful move, making it a decent choice against most threats that don't resist Psychic. Both have their own benefits: Psyshock OHKOes Assault Vest Conkeldurr and does more damage to special walls such as Blissey and Goodra, while Psychic can OHKO Mega Venusaur cleanly with prior damage, and is generally more powerful. Thunderbolt is used to hit Skarmory, Mandibuzz, and Gyarados as primary targets, but it also hits Togekiss, Azumarill, and Politoed as well. Hidden Power Fire is used mainly to hit Ferrothorn and (Mega) Scizor, and is guaranteed to OHKO physically defensive variants of both with Stealth Rock damage. Energy Ball is an alternative to hit Quagsire, Hippowdon, and Rotom-W, all of which also tend to be important parts of defensive cores. Grass Knot can take Energy Ball's place for a guaranteed OHKO on Hippowdon, as well as a harder hit on Tyranitar, but it does pittance to Rotom-W. Trick is the icing on the cake, allowing Gothitelle to instantly and severely cripple defensive tanks and walls, such as Chansey, Clefable, Porygon2, and Snorlax. It should be noted that unlike other Trick users, Gothitelle can be selective in targets it can use Trick on, so it doesn't have to worry about Pokemon with Mega Stones switching in. Gothitelle isn't necessarily limited to the moves listed above; you can choose other moves and tailor slots depending on which threats your team has trouble with. Hidden Power Ice is an option for instantly OHKOing Gliscor, Garchomp, and Landorus-T, though Gothitelle might have trouble switching into these three for various reasons. Hidden Power Ground is used specifically for Heatran, but can also put a decent dent in Tyranitar and Bisharp when needed. Notably, when running a combination of Hidden Power Ground, Psychic, and Trick, Gothitelle can defeat and cripple the common stall core of Mega Venusaur, Heatran, and Chansey.
Set Details
========
The item of choice for this set, of course, is Choice Specs, which gives Gothitelle the power to break through defensive cores and Pokemon. With Trick, it also operates as a nasty afterthought to item-reliant walls and tanks. While Gothitelle isn't exactly fast enough to outrun a majority of threats, maximized Special Attack and Speed are recommended so it stands a better chance of beating opponents that typically don't invest in their speed, especially (Mega) Scizor, Rotom-W, Heatran, Mega Venusaur and Landorus-T. Modest nature is also recommended as Gothitelle requires the extra power and doesn't outrun anything particularly relevant with Timid aside from max Speed Adamant Breloom and Bisharp. Alternatively, Gothitelle can invest in its bulk to better take hits at the cost of a higher chance of beating several faster threats. In this case, an EV spread of 212 HP / 252 SpA / 44 Spe can be used to outspeed minimum Speed Skarmory and Politoed while investing the rest of the EVs in HP for extra bulk.
Usage Tips
========
The main goal of this set is to trap and eliminate the Pokemon in defensive cores to allow a sweeper to sweep after they have been removed. Notably, Gothitelle performs exceptionally well against stall teams, as it can cripple and dismantle multiple defensive Pokemon repeatedly without taking too much damage. As long as you can keep Gothitelle from taking too much chip damage, expect it to take down at least a couple of threats on stall teams. Playing with Gothitelle notably doesn't require much prediction, as the foe can't switch out. This allows the user to not have to worry about mindgames. Bear in mind though, that the opponent may be able to take advantage of the move at you will be locked into. To trap and KO successfully, Gothitelle must be at a reasonable level of health, especially when operating against hard-hitting or faster opponents. A good way to do this is by means of U-turn and Volt Switch, or after one of your Pokemon has fainted. It is not recommended to bring it in on attacks, especially physical or boosted ones, unless resisted. Gothitelle itself has good but modest overall bulk, so it can afford to take hits on both sides occasionally. The sight of Gothitelle in team preview could also lead the opponent to making strange double switches to avoid being trapped. This is easy to take advantage of, but be aware that you can also fall victim to bad switches. It is also not recommended to trap anything while the other team has a Pursuit user such as Bisharp or , as they will be able to KO Gothitelle back straight away. The exception to this is if the Pokemon in your way is a huge threat to your team, and after it is gone things will be significantly easier for your win condition, so Gothitelle is not as necessary after it has taken down its important foe.
Team Options
========
Keep in mind that Gothitelle is purely a supporting attacker, so it doesn't actually need much support on its own. However, Gothitelle prefers switching in on its targets cleanly, making Volt Switch and U-turn very good, if not required, options. Examples of teammates that can use these moves include (Mega) Scizor, Rotom-W, Landorus-T, and Thundurus, all of which have counters that can be immediately eliminated by Gothitelle. Rapid Spin and Defog are also helpful in ensuring Gothitelle can switch in cleanly, although keep in mind that your own sweepers might require previously-set hazards. Latios, Latias, and Excadrill are good choices for this. Sticky Web is also optimal, as it allows Gothitelle to trap and KO a wider range of threats more efficiently without taking too much damage in the process. Shuckle, Smeargle, or Galvantula are available choices for this, but perform differently from each other, so the choice is dependent on your team. Many offensive Pokemon in particular benefit from Gothitelle's trapping abilities. For instance, Thundurus often has trouble with Chansey, Hippowdon, and Quagsire depending on which set it's using; all three are easy pickings for Gothitelle thanks to Trick and its chosen Grass-type move. Gothitelle is also efficient at getting rid of Mega Venusaur, so Tail Glow Manaphy not only appreciates Gothitelle as a teammate, but also gains the freedom to use Energy Ball rather than Psychic. Because Gothitelle can dismantle Quagsire, Hippowdon, and Skarmory easily, it also pairs well with physical setup sweepers. Dragon Dance Mega Charizard X, Dragon Dance Mega Tyranitar, Swords Dance Mega Pinsir, and Swords Dance Bisharp are just a few of many exceptional physical sweepers that perform well after those walls are eliminated. Finally, Gothitelle appreciates teammates that can threaten or set up on Pursuit users after it faints. Terrakion, Keldeo, and Greninja are just a few examples of threats that can match up decently against common Pursuit users.
Other Options
########
Gothitelle's movepool is colorful, and with Shadow Tag, this gives birth to loads of possible sets with different items and playstyles. Dark Pulse and Shadow Ball can be used to hit opposing Psychic- and Ghost-type opponents, such as Aegislash, Gourgeist, and Latios, harder than its other moves normally do. However, Gothitelle typically matches up poorly against these threats, as they can overwhelm it with powerful moves of their own, so it's usually not worth it. Thunder Wave, Heal Bell, Reflect, and Light Screen are cool support options that Gothitelle can use to help out its teammates, though it usually can't find a free moveslot for these moves. Using Choice Scarf allows Gothitelle to revenge kill faster, offensive Pokemon, but it isn't very powerful because of Gothitelle's naturally average Special Attack. Gothitelle's lack of power also disallows it from using Calm Mind effectively, especially because it also lacks good two-move coverage and recovery. If using Choice Specs ends up risking momentum for your team, you may consider using Expert Belt or Life Orb instead to avoid locking Gothitelle into a single move. At the cost of power and the ability to Trick a Choice item onto defensive Pokemon, Gothitelle can trap and threaten multiple threats in a row with multiple coverage moves.
Checks & Counters
########
Because of its ability Shadow Tag, Gothitelle has no actual counters, as the definition of a counter requires the foe to be able to switch in on the Pokemon. However, the trapping can be avoided with U-turn, Volt Switch, or Baton Pass, the use of the item Shed Shell, by double switching out when Gothitelle is predicted to come in, or simply the fact that Ghost-types can't be trapped. However, Gothitelle definitely has checks, and there exist several opponents and factors that come close to being classified as “counters.”
**Aegislash**: Aegislash is the closest thing to a counter that exists for Gothitelle. Not only can it escape from Shadow Tag, but it can also typically tank Gothitelle's common attacks with ease, and OHKO back with a Ghost-type STAB move. If Gothitelle even attempts to revenge kill a weakened Aegislash, the latter can defend itself with Shadow Sneak.
**Pursuit users**: (Mega) Scizor, Tyranitar, and Bisharp can easily revenge kill Gothitelle after it has taken down a fellow foe. Scizor and Bisharp, however, risk being KOed by Specs Hidden Power Fire, so they can only Pursuit trap Gothitelle if it is locked into another move.
**Switching moves**: U-turn, Volt Switch, and Baton Pass users can escape from the clutches of Gothitelle, forcing it to possibly be locked into the wrong move when faced against the switch-in. U-turn in particular hits Gothitelle super effectively. Common users of these moves include Rotom-W, Landorus-T, (Mega) Scizor, and Talonflame.
**Residual damage**: Gothitelle likes doing its job at reasonable health, especially if it aims to trap multiple targets in stall teams. Being damaged by status, weather, entry hazards, and Leech Seed will only serve to limit its switch-in and KO'ing opportunities.
**Faster Attackers**: It is not difficult to KO Gothitelle due to its horrendous Speed, so faster opponents have an opportunity to do great damage to it before getting KO'd by it. Assuming it is locked into a bad move, Gengar, Latios, Mega Gardevoir, Mega Pinsir, and many others can come in and even set up after Gothitelle has KO'd something.
########
With Gengarite banned, Gothitelle retains its tried and true niche as the most versatile Shadow Tag user in the game. With its ability to trap and potentially dispatch threats to a team, it is a valuable partner on many team archetypes. It differentiates from its cousin Wobbuffet by possessing actual offensive presence, allowing it to be less passive in its job and potentially do more work. This is complemented by its reasonable special movepool, which can be tailored specifically to eliminate certain threats, and it allows Gothitelle to easily dismantle cores of commmon defensive Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur, Skarmory, and Heatran. These traits are extremely beneficial to it, as they allow Gothitelle to defeat stall teams with ease, often helping teammates immensely which struggle with stall teams. However, Gothitelle often struggles to be effective in XY's primarily offensive metagame, especially with the prevalence of VoltTurn. It suffers from remarkably average stats overall, with nothing immediately standing out aside from an above average Special Defense. Gothitelle's typing is also rather detrimental in the metagame; it is bad defensively and it isn't a great type to be locked into, especially with the prevalence of Aegislash and Bisharp, two incredibly common and dangerous Pokemon that can trap Gothitelle with Pursuit.
Choice Specs
########
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Psyshock / Psychic
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Hidden Power Fire / Energy Ball
move 4: Trick
ability: Shadow Tag
item: Choice Specs
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
nature: Modest
Moves
========
Gothitelle's chosen Psychic-type STAB attack allows it to deal heavy damage to, if not outright OHKO, several popular offensive and defensive threats in the metagame, including Mega Venusaur, Assault Vest Conkeldurr, and Keldeo locked into Secret Sword. It is also Gothitelle's most powerful move, making it a decent choice against most threats that don't resist Psychic. Both have their own benefits: Psyshock OHKOes Assault Vest Conkeldurr and does more damage to special walls such as Blissey and Goodra, while Psychic can OHKO Mega Venusaur cleanly with prior damage, and is generally more powerful. Thunderbolt is used to hit Skarmory, Mandibuzz, and Gyarados as primary targets, but it also hits Togekiss, Azumarill, and Politoed as well. Hidden Power Fire is used mainly to hit Ferrothorn and (Mega) Scizor, and is guaranteed to OHKO physically defensive variants of both with Stealth Rock damage. Energy Ball is an alternative to hit Quagsire, Hippowdon, and Rotom-W, all of which also tend to be important parts of defensive cores. Grass Knot can take Energy Ball's place for a guaranteed OHKO on Hippowdon, as well as a harder hit on Tyranitar, but it does pittance to Rotom-W. Trick is the icing on the cake, allowing Gothitelle to instantly and severely cripple defensive tanks and walls, such as Chansey, Clefable, Porygon2, and Snorlax. It should be noted that unlike other Trick users, Gothitelle can be selective in targets it can use Trick on, so it doesn't have to worry about Pokemon with Mega Stones switching in. Gothitelle isn't necessarily limited to the moves listed above; you can choose other moves and tailor slots depending on which threats your team has trouble with. Hidden Power Ice is an option for instantly OHKOing Gliscor, Garchomp, and Landorus-T, though Gothitelle might have trouble switching into these three for various reasons. Hidden Power Ground is used specifically for Heatran, but can also put a decent dent in Tyranitar and Bisharp when needed. Notably, when running a combination of Hidden Power Ground, Psychic, and Trick, Gothitelle can defeat and cripple the common stall core of Mega Venusaur, Heatran, and Chansey.
Set Details
========
The item of choice for this set, of course, is Choice Specs, which gives Gothitelle the power to break through defensive cores and Pokemon. With Trick, it also operates as a nasty afterthought to item-reliant walls and tanks. While Gothitelle isn't exactly fast enough to outrun a majority of threats, maximized Special Attack and Speed are recommended so it stands a better chance of beating opponents that typically don't invest in their speed, especially (Mega) Scizor, Rotom-W, Heatran, Mega Venusaur and Landorus-T. Modest nature is also recommended as Gothitelle requires the extra power and doesn't outrun anything particularly relevant with Timid aside from max Speed Adamant Breloom and Bisharp. Alternatively, Gothitelle can invest in its bulk to better take hits at the cost of a higher chance of beating several faster threats. In this case, an EV spread of 212 HP / 252 SpA / 44 Spe can be used to outspeed minimum Speed Skarmory and Politoed while investing the rest of the EVs in HP for extra bulk.
Usage Tips
========
The main goal of this set is to trap and eliminate the Pokemon in defensive cores to allow a sweeper to sweep after they have been removed. Notably, Gothitelle performs exceptionally well against stall teams, as it can cripple and dismantle multiple defensive Pokemon repeatedly without taking too much damage. As long as you can keep Gothitelle from taking too much chip damage, expect it to take down at least a couple of threats on stall teams. Playing with Gothitelle notably doesn't require much prediction, as the foe can't switch out. This allows the user to not have to worry about mindgames. Bear in mind though, that the opponent may be able to take advantage of the move at you will be locked into. To trap and KO successfully, Gothitelle must be at a reasonable level of health, especially when operating against hard-hitting or faster opponents. A good way to do this is by means of U-turn and Volt Switch, or after one of your Pokemon has fainted. It is not recommended to bring it in on attacks, especially physical or boosted ones, unless resisted. Gothitelle itself has good but modest overall bulk, so it can afford to take hits on both sides occasionally. The sight of Gothitelle in team preview could also lead the opponent to making strange double switches to avoid being trapped. This is easy to take advantage of, but be aware that you can also fall victim to bad switches. It is also not recommended to trap anything while the other team has a Pursuit user such as Bisharp or , as they will be able to KO Gothitelle back straight away. The exception to this is if the Pokemon in your way is a huge threat to your team, and after it is gone things will be significantly easier for your win condition, so Gothitelle is not as necessary after it has taken down its important foe.
Team Options
========
Keep in mind that Gothitelle is purely a supporting attacker, so it doesn't actually need much support on its own. However, Gothitelle prefers switching in on its targets cleanly, making Volt Switch and U-turn very good, if not required, options. Examples of teammates that can use these moves include (Mega) Scizor, Rotom-W, Landorus-T, and Thundurus, all of which have counters that can be immediately eliminated by Gothitelle. Rapid Spin and Defog are also helpful in ensuring Gothitelle can switch in cleanly, although keep in mind that your own sweepers might require previously-set hazards. Latios, Latias, and Excadrill are good choices for this. Sticky Web is also optimal, as it allows Gothitelle to trap and KO a wider range of threats more efficiently without taking too much damage in the process. Shuckle, Smeargle, or Galvantula are available choices for this, but perform differently from each other, so the choice is dependent on your team. Many offensive Pokemon in particular benefit from Gothitelle's trapping abilities. For instance, Thundurus often has trouble with Chansey, Hippowdon, and Quagsire depending on which set it's using; all three are easy pickings for Gothitelle thanks to Trick and its chosen Grass-type move. Gothitelle is also efficient at getting rid of Mega Venusaur, so Tail Glow Manaphy not only appreciates Gothitelle as a teammate, but also gains the freedom to use Energy Ball rather than Psychic. Because Gothitelle can dismantle Quagsire, Hippowdon, and Skarmory easily, it also pairs well with physical setup sweepers. Dragon Dance Mega Charizard X, Dragon Dance Mega Tyranitar, Swords Dance Mega Pinsir, and Swords Dance Bisharp are just a few of many exceptional physical sweepers that perform well after those walls are eliminated. Finally, Gothitelle appreciates teammates that can threaten or set up on Pursuit users after it faints. Terrakion, Keldeo, and Greninja are just a few examples of threats that can match up decently against common Pursuit users.
Other Options
########
Gothitelle's movepool is colorful, and with Shadow Tag, this gives birth to loads of possible sets with different items and playstyles. Dark Pulse and Shadow Ball can be used to hit opposing Psychic- and Ghost-type opponents, such as Aegislash, Gourgeist, and Latios, harder than its other moves normally do. However, Gothitelle typically matches up poorly against these threats, as they can overwhelm it with powerful moves of their own, so it's usually not worth it. Thunder Wave, Heal Bell, Reflect, and Light Screen are cool support options that Gothitelle can use to help out its teammates, though it usually can't find a free moveslot for these moves. Using Choice Scarf allows Gothitelle to revenge kill faster, offensive Pokemon, but it isn't very powerful because of Gothitelle's naturally average Special Attack. Gothitelle's lack of power also disallows it from using Calm Mind effectively, especially because it also lacks good two-move coverage and recovery. If using Choice Specs ends up risking momentum for your team, you may consider using Expert Belt or Life Orb instead to avoid locking Gothitelle into a single move. At the cost of power and the ability to Trick a Choice item onto defensive Pokemon, Gothitelle can trap and threaten multiple threats in a row with multiple coverage moves.
Checks & Counters
########
Because of its ability Shadow Tag, Gothitelle has no actual counters, as the definition of a counter requires the foe to be able to switch in on the Pokemon. However, the trapping can be avoided with U-turn, Volt Switch, or Baton Pass, the use of the item Shed Shell, by double switching out when Gothitelle is predicted to come in, or simply the fact that Ghost-types can't be trapped. However, Gothitelle definitely has checks, and there exist several opponents and factors that come close to being classified as “counters.”
**Aegislash**: Aegislash is the closest thing to a counter that exists for Gothitelle. Not only can it escape from Shadow Tag, but it can also typically tank Gothitelle's common attacks with ease, and OHKO back with a Ghost-type STAB move. If Gothitelle even attempts to revenge kill a weakened Aegislash, the latter can defend itself with Shadow Sneak.
**Pursuit users**: (Mega) Scizor, Tyranitar, and Bisharp can easily revenge kill Gothitelle after it has taken down a fellow foe. Scizor and Bisharp, however, risk being KOed by Specs Hidden Power Fire, so they can only Pursuit trap Gothitelle if it is locked into another move.
**Switching moves**: U-turn, Volt Switch, and Baton Pass users can escape from the clutches of Gothitelle, forcing it to possibly be locked into the wrong move when faced against the switch-in. U-turn in particular hits Gothitelle super effectively. Common users of these moves include Rotom-W, Landorus-T, (Mega) Scizor, and Talonflame.
**Residual damage**: Gothitelle likes doing its job at reasonable health, especially if it aims to trap multiple targets in stall teams. Being damaged by status, weather, entry hazards, and Leech Seed will only serve to limit its switch-in and KO'ing opportunities.
**Faster Attackers**: It is not difficult to KO Gothitelle due to its horrendous Speed, so faster opponents have an opportunity to do great damage to it before getting KO'd by it. Assuming it is locked into a bad move, Gengar, Latios, Mega Gardevoir, Mega Pinsir, and many others can come in and even set up after Gothitelle has KO'd something.
I won't be as helpful by doing a full amcheck, but here are some things I noticed:
Other than those four things, this was very good TRC.! Gothitelle is definitely one of my favorites!
Bolded things are redundant. Pick one.
Is there a way you could rephrase this? Sentences that have to split infinitives aren't generally good, and when you try to just change the order, it still doesn't sound right.
There should be a space between the bolded words (and the period).
Earlier in the analysis, you format it as (Mega) Scizor. I feel like you should be consistent with your parentheses. Regardless, there should be a space between "Mega" and "Charizard."
Other than those four things, this was very good TRC.! Gothitelle is definitely one of my favorites!
yeah I was considering this, but I didn't because none of my others did. Still i think its better split up so i will, thanks
Am I missing something or is there no reason to run more than 124 Spe Evs out speeding 0 spe Mega Venusaur and Mandibuzz (or if you really really want to 212 speed to outspeed Landorus-T, which IMO isn't even worth considering unless for some reason you're running HP Ice).
First Amcheck. If there's anything I could do better, please let me know.
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:3
