last analysis for a while ;p
QC: Magnemite / Megazard / Anty
GP: P Squared / ?
[OVERVIEW]
Gourgeist has an extremely tiny niche over other Gourgeist formes, being able to outspeed the entire unboosted PU metagame with a Choice Scarf without having to run a Jolly nature. Gourgeist can also Trick its foes a Choice item, locking them into an unfavorable move, and can scout items with Frisk. However, Sawsbuck is a superior user of Choice Scarf because of its better Speed and greater offensive presence. Gourgeist is also reliant on Destiny Bond, which can be very risky to get locked into. In addition to this, Gourgeist is outclassed by Gourgeist-XL and Tangela defensively because of their superior bulk, by Simisage and Leafeon offensively because of their higher offensive presence, and by Gourgeist-S as a SubSeeder because of its higher Speed.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Trick
move 2: Will-O-Wisp
move 3: Seed Bomb
move 4: Destiny Bond
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Frisk
nature: Adamant
evs: 44 HP / 252 Atk / 212 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Trick lets Gourgeist lock passive Pokemon such as Lickilicky and Roselia into an unfavorable move and allows it to force out Calm Mind + Magic Guard users such as Clefairy and Duosion. Will-O-Wisp allows Gourgeist to cripple physical attackers such as Sawsbuck and Fraxure. Seed Bomb is Gourgeist's strongest and most reliable attacking move, hitting Rock- and Water-types such as Golem and Simipour, and is great for wearing down foes in conjunction with Will-O-Wisp. Destiny Bond knocks out Pokemon such as Zebstrika and Simisear as well as allowing a teammate to get in safely.
Set Details
========
212 EVs in Speed and a Choice Scarf allow Gourgeist to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame and all Pokemon up to +1 Fraxure. 252 EVs in Attack and an Adamant nature allow Gourgeist to hit as hard as possible, and the remaining EVs are put in HP for added bulk. Frisk allows Gourgeist to scout out items such as Choice Scarf from Pokemon such as Sawsbuck.
Usage Tips
========
Gourgeist should make use of its typing to switch into Pokemon such as Sawsbuck as well as Pokemon locked into unfavorable moves, such as Choice Scarf Raichu locked into Thunderbolt. When using Will-O-Wisp, watch out for Fire-types such as Rapidash and Guts users such as Machoke, as they can absorb burn and use it to their advantage, as well as take advantage of a Choice-locked Gourgeist. Save Trick for a setup sweeper such as Clefairy or Klang so that you can lock it into an unfavorable move and remove its Eviolite, but be wary that once Gourgeist loses its Choice Scarf it won't be able to outspeed Pokemon such as Zebstrika and use Destiny Bond effectively. Only use Destiny Bond when you are sure that an opposing Pokemon is about to knock Gourgeist out; if you mispredict, Gourgeist will be locked into Destiny Bond, which the opponent can take advantage of.
Team Options
========
Water-types such as Simipour and Swanna are able to take on Fire-types for Gourgeist. Fire-types such as Rapidash and Ninetales can handle Ice-types such as Regice and Rotom-F, which threaten Gourgeist, while Gourgeist takes on Water-types such as Politoed for them. Setup sweepers such as Klang and Vigoroth appreciate Gourgeist's ability to get rid of their threats with Destiny Bond, aiding their sweep. Stealth Rock support from Relicanth and Golem is good for dealing chip damage to the opposing team, as Gourgeist forces many switches thanks to Trick and Will-O-Wisp, and they can also take on Fire-types and Flying-types for Gourgeist.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Gourgeist could run a Substitute + Leech Seed set to wear down its foes along with Will-O-Wisp, but Gourgeist-S is better at this role thanks to its superior Speed. Gourgeist could run a physically defensive spread of 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def with Will-O-Wisp, Synthesis, Foul Play, and Seed Bomb to better function as a spinblocker, although Gourgeist-XL outclasses it in this role. Magic Coat is an option that allows Gourgeist to bounce back status moves such as Toxic and Will-O-Wisp, but it is not recommended, as locking Gourgeist into Magic Coat will allow the opponent to take advantage of it. Fire Blast could be used to hit Grass-types such as Tangela, but Gourgeist lacks the space for it and it is quite weak. Shadow Sneak could be used to pick off foes such as Kadabra, but Gourgeist does not have the moveslot for it. Explosion could be used to get a teammate in safely without relying on the opposing Pokemon to attack, but it does not affect Ghost-types, such as Misdreavus, and does little damage to Steel-types such as Probopass. Phantom Force could be used over Seed Bomb for more power, but it makes Gourgeist vulnerable to Normal-types such as Stoutland and takes two turns to use.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Pokemon**: Faster Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Dodrio and Ninjask outspeed Gourgeist even if it has a Choice Scarf, and they don't have to worry about Destiny Bond. Once Gourgeist loses its Choice Scarf, Pokemon such as Stoutland and Zebstrika can KO it without worrying about Destiny Bond.
**Residual Damage**: As Gourgeist lacks a source of reliable recovery, damage from entry hazards such as Stealth Rock and status such as burns and poison can easily cripple it.
**Pokemon That Can Absorb Will-O-Wisp**: Fire-types such as Rapidash, which can gain a boost from Will-O-Wisp thanks to Flash Fire, and Machoke, which gains a Guts boost, can take advantage of Choice-locked Gourgeist. However, they must watch out for Destiny Bond.
**Super Effective Coverage**: Gourgeist's typing leaves it weak to common Ice-types such as Articuno and Flying-types such as Swanna, but they must watch out for Destiny Bond. However, once Gourgeist loses its Choice Scarf, they are able to KO it without worrying about Destiny Bond.
**Priority**: As Gourgeist is worn down easily, priority from the likes of Piloswine and Dusknoir can finish it off without their users having to worry about Destiny Bond, but they must watch out for Will-O-Wisp.
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