pumpkin spice
[OVERVIEW]
Thanks to a good defensive typing and solid stats, Gourgeist-XL is one of the premier defensive Pokemon in the metagame, capable of answering a wide variety of threats, such as Komala, Golem, physical Floatzel, non-Flamethrower Electivire, and Silvally-Fighting. Gourgeist-XL's movepool gives it access to several utility options, such as Synthesis, Foul Play, Will-O-Wisp, and Leech Seed. Notably, its access to both reliable recovery and passive recovery means it can afford to run a Colbur Berry, allowing it to easily take moves like Komala's Knock Off. Frisk is a very useful ability given that many of the Pokemon Gourgeist-XL tends to switch into, like Komala and Golem, run a variety of sets that are revealed upon uncovering their item. Thanks to Gourgeist-XL's Ghost typing, it can function as a spinblocker; it does so exceptionally well due to its ability to completely wall non-Toxic Komala, which is the best Rapid Spin user in the metagame. As opposed to other Ghost-types, Gourgeist-XL does not get Pursuit trapped very easily due to Will-O-Wisp, great bulk, and a tendency to run Colbur Berry, which Eviolite users like Misdreavus and Dusclops can't do. However, Gourgeist-XL has a lackluster Special Defense stat, and its typing leaves it weak to common special coverage moves such as Ice Beam, Flamethrower, and Shadow Ball, meaning it is easily broken with such attacks. Its weakness to special attackers is exacerbated by its reliance on Foul Play and Will-O-Wisp, leaving it struggling to hurt them significantly. Gourgeist-XL is also very vulnerable to Toxic, which is commonly seen on attackers that aim to get around it, like Golem and Silvally-Fighting. Gourgeist-XL tends to lose momentum, as it lets in special breakers like Beheeyem and Swanna largely for free, forcing its team to play reactionary. It also faces competition from other physically defensive Grass-types, most notably Tangela, though its lack of reliance on Eviolite and added Ghost typing mean it generally outclasses them. Lastly, Abomasnow is very common and a big issue for Gourgeist-XL, as the hail it summons cuts Synthesis's recovery and Abomasnow heavily threatens it.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Foul Play
move 2: Synthesis
move 3: Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Leech Seed / Seed Bomb
item: Colbur Berry / Leftovers
ability: Frisk
nature: Bold / Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Foul Play is Gourgeist-XL's best offensive move, allowing to avoid relying on its own uninvested offensive stats and instead use those of its target, allowing it to 2HKO Komala and Electivire. Will-O-Wisp cripples the physical attackers Gourgeist-XL generally deals with while also whittling any target down. The combination of Will-O-Wisp and Foul Play also heavily discourages physical setup sweepers like Swords Dance Bouffalant and Silvally formes from switching in or setting up. Leech Seed provides Gourgeist-XL with passive recovery and slowly wears down foes. It also makes switching out to a teammate slightly easier, as they will get some health back after doing so. Seed Bomb is an alternative in the last slot to provide Gourgeist-XL with a STAB move, notably allowing it to OHKO Floatzel after Stealth Rock.
Set Details
========
Colbur Berry allows Gourgeist-XL to consistently switch into Pokemon like Komala, as even Knock Off won't do much damage. Leftovers is an option over Colbur Berry to increase its longevity and allow it to not use Synthesis and Leech Seed as much, though it then takes a lot from Knock Off and thus becomes easier to take down. A Bold nature is usually preferred in order to lower the damage from opposing FoulPlays Play, although Impish should be used on Seed Bomb sets in order to avoid lowering the move's damage.
Usage Tips
========
Gourgeist-XL should be switched into physical attackers like Komala and Golem to prevent them from threatening its team, as it easily takes them on. In order to take these threats on, Gourgeist-XL needs to be healthy. Thus, especially if not running Leftovers, it is crucial to keep its health up with Synthesis and Leech Seed. If it is not needed to heal up, crippling a switch-in with Will-O-Wisp or Leech Seed is generally preferred over attacking with Foul Play, as this will make the foe easier to deal with for Gourgeist-XL's team. If a Pokemon immune to Will-O-Wisp or Leech Seed is predicted to come in, using the other one of the two or going for Foul Play is usually recommended. Note that Gourgeist-XL despises getting hit with Toxic, and since some Pokemon like Golem that it switches in on sometimes carry it, scouting their sets via use of Frisk and teammates is often recommended. Synthesis has low PP, so it is not recommended to use it as a method of PP stalling foes, and it should be used with care if the game is expected to go on for a long time, such as in a matchup between two defensive teams. While Gourgeist-XL can easily answer physical variants of Pokemon like Floatzel and Electivire, both of them can bust through it with special attacks in Ice Beam and Flamethrower, respectively. Thus, scouting their sets before blindly switching in is highly recommended.
Team Options
========
Specially defensive Pokemon like Komala, Lickilicky, Muk, and Altaria can cover Gourgeist-XL's weaker Defense, while it covers physical attackers for them in return. Notably, Gourgeist-XL also covers Fighting-types like Silvally-Fighting for Komala and Lickilicky and Ground-types like Golem for Muk, while Altaria covers Fire-types for Gourgeist-XL. All four of these Pokemon can also absorb Toxic thanks to their typing, ability, or access to Heal Bell, which is very important for Gourgeist-XL. Since Fire-types like Rapidash and Simisear threaten Gourgeist-XL heavily, checks to them like Silvally-Water and Golem are solid teammates. In return, Gourgeist-XL switches into Grass-types like Leafeon that threaten them, while Golem also checks Flying-types. Similarly, checks to Ice-, Ghost-, and Dark-types like Rapidash, Silvally-Dark, and Silvally-Fighting are also all solid partners for Gourgeist-XL. Gourgeist-XL is one of the best spinblockers in the tier thanks to its high bulk, so Pokemon like Crustle greatly appreciate being paired with it. In return, Gourgeist-XL appreciates Crustle's Spikes to wear down opposing teams in tandem with Will-O-Wisp and Leech Seed. Bronzor is an excellent teammate, as it is a great answer to Abomasnow and Altaria, while Gourgeist-XL can absorb Knock Off. In general, Gourgeist-XL fits well on Fire / Grass / Water cores with the likes of the aforementioned Rapidash and Silvally-Water, as they all cover each others weaknesses quite well.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Gourgeist-XL can function as a Trick Room setter for dedicated Trick Room teams, as it utilizes its excellent physical bulk to set up on a wide variety of threats before using Explosion to bring in a wallbreaker. However, Gourgeist-XL is outclassed by Dusknoir due to the latter's access to Z-Memento and the ability to break through Pawniard with Brick Break. In addition, it faces competition in this role from Carbink, which has access to Sturdy to nearly guarantee that Trick Room goes up. Gourgeist-XL can use Z-Trick-or-Treat to boost all of its stats and attempt to sweep, but due to its low Speed that leaves it unable to outspeed most Choice Scarf users even at +1 and lack of a good Ghost-type STAB move, with Phantom Force being its best option in a tier filled with Normal-types, there are Grass-types that utilize a similar strategy more effectively, such as other Gourgeist formes and Z-Celebrate Leafeon. Gourgeist-XL can utilize Toxic instead of Will-O-Wisp to wear down defensive Pokemon faster than a burn could, but the inability to severely cripple physical attackers makes this usually the inferior choice. Rocky Helmet can be used to punish U-turn users like Komala, but it leaves Gourgeist-XL weak to Knock Off and without passive recovery, making it less effective than the other item choices. Fire Blast with 20 Special Attack EVs is an option to break through Abomasnow, but Gourgeist-XL does not generally have room for it.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Attackers**: Pokemon like Abomasnow, Silvally-Dragon, Mr. Mime, Swanna, and Beheeyem can all break through Gourgeist-XL by targeting its weaker defensive stat with powerful or super effective moves. Abomasnow especially also reduces its Synthesis recovery via Snow Warning.
**Fire-types**: Pokemon like Rapidash and Simisear are immune to Will-O-Wisp and can easily break through Gourgeist-XL with their super effective STAB moves, though they do not like being worn down by Leech Seed, Foul Play, and, in Rapidash's case, Flare Blitz recoil. Monferno and Combusken are especially notable for resisting Gourgeist-XL's only attacking move, allowing them to come in more easily.
**Substitute and Taunt**: Due to Gourgeist-XL's reliance on status moves, users of Substitute and Taunt like Vigoroth can easily cripple it and often set up on it.
**Residual Damage**: Toxic very quickly wears down Gourgeist-XL, leaving it unable to answer the Pokemon it wants to answer, like specially defensive Komala. In a similar manner, entry hazards like Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes and pivoting moves like U-turn can whittle Gourgeist-XL down over time, allowing it to be broken eventually.
**Flying-types**: Pokemon like Rotom-S, Oricorio formes, and Swanna can switch into Gourgeist-XL with relative ease, especially since they are often special attackers, meaning they do not fear Will-O-Wisp or Foul Play, and threaten it with a super effective STAB move. Altaria can also beat Gourgeist-XL one-on-one with the combination of Toxic and Flamethrower.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Xayah, 167012]]
- Quality checked by: [[Aaronboyer, 239454], [DurzaOffTopic, 357488], [Froasty, 446575]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [Fireflame479, 231476]]
[OVERVIEW]
Thanks to a good defensive typing and solid stats, Gourgeist-XL is one of the premier defensive Pokemon in the metagame, capable of answering a wide variety of threats, such as Komala, Golem, physical Floatzel, non-Flamethrower Electivire, and Silvally-Fighting. Gourgeist-XL's movepool gives it access to several utility options, such as Synthesis, Foul Play, Will-O-Wisp, and Leech Seed. Notably, its access to both reliable recovery and passive recovery means it can afford to run a Colbur Berry, allowing it to easily take moves like Komala's Knock Off. Frisk is a very useful ability given that many of the Pokemon Gourgeist-XL tends to switch into, like Komala and Golem, run a variety of sets that are revealed upon uncovering their item. Thanks to Gourgeist-XL's Ghost typing, it can function as a spinblocker; it does so exceptionally well due to its ability to completely wall non-Toxic Komala, which is the best Rapid Spin user in the metagame. As opposed to other Ghost-types, Gourgeist-XL does not get Pursuit trapped very easily due to Will-O-Wisp, great bulk, and a tendency to run Colbur Berry, which Eviolite users like Misdreavus and Dusclops can't do. However, Gourgeist-XL has a lackluster Special Defense stat, and its typing leaves it weak to common special coverage moves such as Ice Beam, Flamethrower, and Shadow Ball, meaning it is easily broken with such attacks. Its weakness to special attackers is exacerbated by its reliance on Foul Play and Will-O-Wisp, leaving it struggling to hurt them significantly. Gourgeist-XL is also very vulnerable to Toxic, which is commonly seen on attackers that aim to get around it, like Golem and Silvally-Fighting. Gourgeist-XL tends to lose momentum, as it lets in special breakers like Beheeyem and Swanna largely for free, forcing its team to play reactionary. It also faces competition from other physically defensive Grass-types, most notably Tangela, though its lack of reliance on Eviolite and added Ghost typing mean it generally outclasses them. Lastly, Abomasnow is very common and a big issue for Gourgeist-XL, as the hail it summons cuts Synthesis's recovery and Abomasnow heavily threatens it.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Foul Play
move 2: Synthesis
move 3: Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Leech Seed / Seed Bomb
item: Colbur Berry / Leftovers
ability: Frisk
nature: Bold / Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Foul Play is Gourgeist-XL's best offensive move, allowing to avoid relying on its own uninvested offensive stats and instead use those of its target, allowing it to 2HKO Komala and Electivire. Will-O-Wisp cripples the physical attackers Gourgeist-XL generally deals with while also whittling any target down. The combination of Will-O-Wisp and Foul Play also heavily discourages physical setup sweepers like Swords Dance Bouffalant and Silvally formes from switching in or setting up. Leech Seed provides Gourgeist-XL with passive recovery and slowly wears down foes. It also makes switching out to a teammate slightly easier, as they will get some health back after doing so. Seed Bomb is an alternative in the last slot to provide Gourgeist-XL with a STAB move, notably allowing it to OHKO Floatzel after Stealth Rock.
Set Details
========
Colbur Berry allows Gourgeist-XL to consistently switch into Pokemon like Komala, as even Knock Off won't do much damage. Leftovers is an option over Colbur Berry to increase its longevity and allow it to not use Synthesis and Leech Seed as much, though it then takes a lot from Knock Off and thus becomes easier to take down. A Bold nature is usually preferred in order to lower the damage from opposing Foul
Usage Tips
========
Gourgeist-XL should be switched into physical attackers like Komala and Golem to prevent them from threatening its team, as it easily takes them on. In order to take these threats on, Gourgeist-XL needs to be healthy. Thus, especially if not running Leftovers, it is crucial to keep its health up with Synthesis and Leech Seed. If it is not needed to heal up, crippling a switch-in with Will-O-Wisp or Leech Seed is generally preferred over attacking with Foul Play, as this will make the foe easier to deal with for Gourgeist-XL's team. If a Pokemon immune to Will-O-Wisp or Leech Seed is predicted to come in, using the other one of the two or going for Foul Play is usually recommended. Note that Gourgeist-XL despises getting hit with Toxic, and since some Pokemon like Golem that it switches in on sometimes carry it, scouting their sets via use of Frisk and teammates is often recommended. Synthesis has low PP, so it is not recommended to use it as a method of PP stalling foes, and it should be used with care if the game is expected to go on for a long time, such as in a matchup between two defensive teams. While Gourgeist-XL can easily answer physical variants of Pokemon like Floatzel and Electivire, both of them can bust through it with special attacks in Ice Beam and Flamethrower, respectively. Thus, scouting their sets before blindly switching in is highly recommended.
Team Options
========
Specially defensive Pokemon like Komala, Lickilicky, Muk, and Altaria can cover Gourgeist-XL's weaker Defense, while it covers physical attackers for them in return. Notably, Gourgeist-XL also covers Fighting-types like Silvally-Fighting for Komala and Lickilicky and Ground-types like Golem for Muk, while Altaria covers Fire-types for Gourgeist-XL. All four of these Pokemon can also absorb Toxic thanks to their typing, ability, or access to Heal Bell, which is very important for Gourgeist-XL. Since Fire-types like Rapidash and Simisear threaten Gourgeist-XL heavily, checks to them like Silvally-Water and Golem are solid teammates. In return, Gourgeist-XL switches into Grass-types like Leafeon that threaten them, while Golem also checks Flying-types. Similarly, checks to Ice-, Ghost-, and Dark-types like Rapidash, Silvally-Dark, and Silvally-Fighting are also all solid partners for Gourgeist-XL. Gourgeist-XL is one of the best spinblockers in the tier thanks to its high bulk, so Pokemon like Crustle greatly appreciate being paired with it. In return, Gourgeist-XL appreciates Crustle's Spikes to wear down opposing teams in tandem with Will-O-Wisp and Leech Seed. Bronzor is an excellent teammate, as it is a great answer to Abomasnow and Altaria, while Gourgeist-XL can absorb Knock Off. In general, Gourgeist-XL fits well on Fire / Grass / Water cores with the likes of the aforementioned Rapidash and Silvally-Water, as they all cover each others weaknesses quite well.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Gourgeist-XL can function as a Trick Room setter for dedicated Trick Room teams, as it utilizes its excellent physical bulk to set up on a wide variety of threats before using Explosion to bring in a wallbreaker. However, Gourgeist-XL is outclassed by Dusknoir due to the latter's access to Z-Memento and the ability to break through Pawniard with Brick Break. In addition, it faces competition in this role from Carbink, which has access to Sturdy to nearly guarantee that Trick Room goes up. Gourgeist-XL can use Z-Trick-or-Treat to boost all of its stats and attempt to sweep, but due to its low Speed that leaves it unable to outspeed most Choice Scarf users even at +1 and lack of a good Ghost-type STAB move, with Phantom Force being its best option in a tier filled with Normal-types, there are Grass-types that utilize a similar strategy more effectively, such as other Gourgeist formes and Z-Celebrate Leafeon. Gourgeist-XL can utilize Toxic instead of Will-O-Wisp to wear down defensive Pokemon faster than a burn could, but the inability to severely cripple physical attackers makes this usually the inferior choice. Rocky Helmet can be used to punish U-turn users like Komala, but it leaves Gourgeist-XL weak to Knock Off and without passive recovery, making it less effective than the other item choices. Fire Blast with 20 Special Attack EVs is an option to break through Abomasnow, but Gourgeist-XL does not generally have room for it.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Attackers**: Pokemon like Abomasnow, Silvally-Dragon, Mr. Mime, Swanna, and Beheeyem can all break through Gourgeist-XL by targeting its weaker defensive stat with powerful or super effective moves. Abomasnow especially also reduces its Synthesis recovery via Snow Warning.
**Fire-types**: Pokemon like Rapidash and Simisear are immune to Will-O-Wisp and can easily break through Gourgeist-XL with their super effective STAB moves, though they do not like being worn down by Leech Seed, Foul Play, and, in Rapidash's case, Flare Blitz recoil. Monferno and Combusken are especially notable for resisting Gourgeist-XL's only attacking move, allowing them to come in more easily.
**Substitute and Taunt**: Due to Gourgeist-XL's reliance on status moves, users of Substitute and Taunt like Vigoroth can easily cripple it and often set up on it.
**Residual Damage**: Toxic very quickly wears down Gourgeist-XL, leaving it unable to answer the Pokemon it wants to answer, like specially defensive Komala. In a similar manner, entry hazards like Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes and pivoting moves like U-turn can whittle Gourgeist-XL down over time, allowing it to be broken eventually.
**Flying-types**: Pokemon like Rotom-S, Oricorio formes, and Swanna can switch into Gourgeist-XL with relative ease, especially since they are often special attackers, meaning they do not fear Will-O-Wisp or Foul Play, and threaten it with a super effective STAB move. Altaria can also beat Gourgeist-XL one-on-one with the combination of Toxic and Flamethrower.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Xayah, 167012]]
- Quality checked by: [[Aaronboyer, 239454], [DurzaOffTopic, 357488], [Froasty, 446575]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [Fireflame479, 231476]]
Last edited:
