Overview
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[OVERVIEW]
Gourgeist-XL is a defensive staple in the PU metagame thanks to its excellent typing, movepool, (AC) and stats. It can blanket check and/or counter many of the tier's metagame's (Probably subjective. I don't know what others think about it cause PU is an unofficial tier.) (I'd call it a tier, but metagame is generally better.) premier offensive Pokemon such as Golem, Carracosta, (AC) and Torterra, and has the added benefit of of Ghost-typing to work as a spinblocker. However, Gourgeist-XL is fairly slow and faces competition from fellow defensive Grass-types (capitalize and hyphen) including Torterra, Tangela, (AC) and Quilladin, especially due to its lack of entry hazards, and its unique Grass /(space before and after slant) Ghost typing leaves it weak to the common Dark-, Fire-, (Dark-, Fire-,) and Ice-type attacks in the tier. Nevertheless, Gourgeist-XL has a solid niche as an easy catch-all on balanced and defensive teams due to its superior Special Defense (capitalize) (Do you actually mean Defense? Cause its Special Defense is kind of mediocre at base 75.) and access to Will-O-Wisp and Foul Play.
Defensive
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[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Will-o-Wisp Will-O-Wisp
move 2: Synthesis
move 3: Foul Play Seed Bomb
move 4: Seed Bomb Foul Play (The moves should be listed in order in how you explained it in the moves section.)
item: Leftovers
ability: Frisk
item: Leftovers
nature: Impish
evs: EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
nature: Impish
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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(space)
Will-O-Wisp (capitalize) is Gourgeist-XL's main draw, as it (fluff) can spread burns around to cripple opposing teams. Synthesis is a reliable recovery move that gives keeps Gourgeist-XL a reliable recovery move to keep it healthy throughout the game. Seed Bomb serves as Gourgeist-XL's main STAB move and allows it to check Water-types like such as Poliwrath more consistently, while Foul Play punishes physical setup Pokemon attackers (Guess that's subjective.) and allows Gourgeist-XL to hit most notable resistances to Seed Bomb for neutral damage, such as Rapidash.
Set Details
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Maximum HP and Defense EVs with an Impish nature are used to make Gourgeist-XL as physically bulky as possible. (period) , with an Impish nature further increasing its Defense. Gourgeist-XL holds Leftovers to give it extra passive recovery, and while (subjective change) Frisk is used to scout out the opposing team's items.
Usage Tips
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While Gourgeist-XL is capable of countering many of the tier's metagame's premier attackers, its defensive prowess makes it an obvious switch-in, so be careful of constantly bringing Gourgeist-XL into the same situations in case of a double switch to a Pokemon that can more effectively take Gourgeist-XL on more effectively. When in, Gourgeist-XL should spread burns as much as possible, (AC) but it should also be careful of Pokemon with Guts and Flash Fire Pokemon, which can get a free switch-in and fire off hit hard with their boosted attacks. Gourgeist-XL can also block Rapid Spins due to its Ghost typing, so bringing it in on predicted common spinners such as Armaldo can keep entry hazards up for later on the field. Make sure that Gourgeist-XL stays healthy throughout the match by using Synthesis, as it needs to stay at higher health to take strong physical attacks like such as a +2 Life Orb Stone Edge from Carracosta. In addition, beware switching it into the common Water-types of the tier simply due to type advantage, as nearly all offensive Water-types carry Ice Beam and can do significant damage to Gourgeist-XL on the switch. Make sure to scout out sets before blindly switching in Gourgeist-XL, as some Pokemon can carry moves that can cripple Gourgeist it on the switch-in, such as defensive Carracosta's Toxic.
Team Options
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Gourgeist-XL's unique Grass /(same here) Ghost typing gives it incredible synergy with most of PU's non-Grass-type defensive staples. Poliwrath can take on Dark- and Fire-types attackers like such as Pawniard and check Fire-types like Rapidash, while Gourgeist-XL can take the Electric-(AH) and Grass-type attacks aimed at Poliwrath, although the two are they're both weak to Flying-types Flying-type moves. Probopass can cover Flying-types like such as Dodrio, (AC) as well as checking Fire-types and trapping Pawniard with Magnet Pull, for Gourgeist, while Gourgeist-XL can cover its Probopass's Ground and Fighting weaknesses. Grumpig is useful for Gourgeist-XL, (AC) as it can counter the tier's metagame's most threatening ice types Ice-types, check the Dark-types, and give Gourgeist-XL Heal Bell support in case of stray status, at the cost of adding on a second Dark-type weakness. Gourgeist-XL also works well with common entry hazard setters of Stealth Rock such as Piloswine and Stunfisk, as it can cover their weaknesses to Grass- and Water-types moves, as well as keeping their Stealth Rock up on the field by spin blocking. Gourgeist-XL also appreciates entry hazard removal by Pokemon such as Togetic and Pelipper, as the lack of entry hazards make it much easier for Gourgeist-XL to constantly switch into strong physical attackers and removal of Toxic Spikes can prevent Gourgeist-XL from being crippled by status.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Gourgeist-XL can run offensive sets such as Choice Banded with Trick due to its solid Attack (capitalize) and good physical movepool. It can also opt to run also has the option of running Leech Seed and/or (pick one) Protect over Seed Bomb or Foul Play, (AC) as well as Rocky Helmet over Leftovers (capitalize) to rack up more residual damage and passive recovery at the cost of offensive presence, (AC) and being walled, (AC) and/or (pick one) set up on by more Pokemon depending on which move it gives up it uses. Rock Slide can also be used to hit most of Gourgeist-XL's common Ice- (hyphen) and Fire-type switch-ins (add hyphen) for super effective damage. Phantom Force can be used as a stronger STAB move, although it can also be easily taken advantage of on the charging turn, while Shadow Sneak gives Gourgeist-XL priority to pick of weakened threats but is very weak. Toxic is an option over Will-O-Wisp, (capitalize) although burns are generally more useful for Gourgeist-XL to neuter Physically attacking switchins. physical attackers. Magic Coat is also a surprise option to reflect back entry hazards and status, but Gourgeist-XL generally misses the lost moveslot. Gourgeist-XL is also an effective Trick Room setter of Trick Room due to its low Speed (capitalize) and high bulk. A specially defensive (lowercase) EV spread and nature (what specific nature?) (give the EV spread as well) can also be run used, (AC) but is not as effective due to Gourgeist-XL's lower special defense Special Defense and competition from Roselia.
Checks & and Counters
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**Fire-types (lowercase and hyphen)**: Fire-types (hyphen) such as Rapidash, Ninetales, (AC) and Torkoal are immune to Gourgeist-XL's Will-O-Wisp and take little damage from Seed Bomb, although Rapidash has to be careful about switching into a Foul Play. Torkoal and Ninetales can use Gourgeist-XL for setup fodder and all they can threaten to OHKO or 2HKO Gourgeist it with their super effective (lowercase) STAB moves.
**Ice-types (lowercase and hyphen)**: PU's special Ice-types like Rotom-Frost such as Rotom-F and Regice are able to switch in freely on Gourgeist-XL to threaten it out and not be crippled with the burn attack drop Attack drop from a burn, although Aurorus is should be wary of switching in on the Seed Bomb. While physical Ice-types like such as Beartic are threatening to Gourgeist-XL given a free switch-in, (remove hyphen seems more of a verb to me) they can be crippled by burns and take much more damage from Foul Play. (period)
**Status**: Burn and Toxic poison constantly wear down Gourgeist-XL, making it much more difficult for it to effectively wall Pokemon and recover lost health.
**Roselia**: Roselia takes little damage from either of Gourgeist-XL's offensive moves and has Natural Cure, (AC) which can heal burns and stop it from being permanently crippled. It can use Gourgeist-XL as a free setup opportunity to lay Spikes or Toxic Spikes, which also hinder Gourgeist-XL's effectiveness through by making it more difficult to switch into strong physical attackers and poisoning it. (period)
**Pokemon with Guts and Flash Fire**: Guts and Flash Fire users such as Machoke and Rapidash can abuse Gourgeist-XL's use of Will-O-Wisp to potentially be powered up on the switch-in. However, Rapidash has to be careful about switching into a Foul Play and Machoke has trouble beating Gourgeist-XL without the Guts boost, especially if it gets Leech Seeded hit by Leech Seed.
**Taunt, Substitute, (AC) and Encore**: These three moves can hinder Gourgeist-XL by either stopping it from using its support moves, using them taking advantage of its non-damaging moves to get up a free Substitute, or locking it into an ineffective move. Common Pokemon such as Grumpig and Chatot that can ("can" is fine) take advantage of Gourgeist-XL's reliance on non-attacking moves. (period) include Grumpig and Chatot
**Magic Guard**: Pokemon with Magic Guard such as Duosion and Clefairy can use Gourgeist-XL as a free opportunity to set up Calm Minds or and Stealth Rock, (AC) respectively, because of their immunity to burn damage coupled with and high enough bulk to easily take any of Gourgeist-XL's offensive moves. (period)
