[OVERVIEW]
Haunter's solid Speed tier allows it to outspeed a good portion of NU, including common Pokemon like Primeape, Mesprit, and Rotom. Futhermore, simply between its dual STAB types Haunter has excellent neutral coverage, with a strong secondary STAB type that allows it to break through Pokemon that many Ghosts have trouble with, such as Pyroar and Mega Audino. This frees up Haunter's last two moveslots, allowing it to run neat support moves such as Will-O-Wisp, Reflect Type, and Destiny Bond. Unfortunately, Haunter has terrible bulk, meaning it can sometimes struggle to make proper use of these moves. With low stats in both HP and defenses, Haunter can only afford to take resisted attacks that have low Base Power or are uninvested. However, even with its horrific bulk, Levitate gives Haunter an impressive third immunity and helps its matchup versus offense, as it is not affected by Spikes. On the downside, Levitate also means Haunter cannot absorb Toxic Spikes, potentially leaving your team at a disadvantage versus teams employing them. Haunter faces competition from Ghost-types such as Rotom and Mismagius, the former of which acts as a better pivot due to STAB Volt Switch and better defenses, and the latter of which has access to Nasty Plot and a higher Speed tier. Haunter sets itself apart from these two with a much more potent STAB type combination, allowing it break through common Ghost-type checks such as Mega Audino and access to Reflect Type helping it avoid Pursuit trappers.
[SET]
name: Life Orb Attacker
move 1: Sludge Bomb
move 2: Shadow Ball / Hex
move 3: Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Destiny Bond / Reflect Type
item: Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sludge Bomb is Haunter's strongest attack and allows it to break through most Pokemon that resist Shadow Ball such as Mega Audino and Pyroar. Sludge Bomb is also helpful for punishing Pokemon that like to switch into Will-O-Wisp such as Assault Vest Magmortar, as it does solid damage and can poison these Pokemon, wearing them down quickly throughout a battle. Shadow Ball provides good coverage with Sludge Bomb and hits Psychic-types, such as Mesprit and Musharna, as well as slower Ghost-types, such as Rotom and Golurk. Hex is an option over Shadow Ball, as it has terrific synergy with Will-O-Wisp and has the potential to hit much harder. Shadow Ball is usually preferred, though, as it is far more spammable and provides more consistent damage output. Will-O-Wisp deters Dark-type Pokemon from using Sucker Punch and also helps patch up Haunter's horrid Defense stat. Will-O-Wisp also works fantastically with Hex and allows Haunter to burn Pokemon that can take both Shadow Ball and Sludge Bomb like Skuntank. Destiny Bond can be useful in a pinch, as with high Speed and pitiful defenses, Haunter can usually take another Pokemon down with it as it faints. Reflect type is an alternative that provides further insurance against Pursuit trappers, Skuntank being the main target.
Set Details
=======
Maximum Speed and Special Attack investment allows Haunter to hit as hard and fast as possible. A Timid nature is used over Modest to allow Haunter to outspeed base 91s an below such as Lilligant, Rotom, and Vivillon as well as Speed tie opposing base 95s like Jynx and Primeape. Life Orb is the item of choice, as it gives Haunter a large power boost and the freedom to switch moves and take full advantage of its coverage.
Usage Tips
========
Haunter is very frail, so avoid switching it into almost any attacks because even resisted hits will do a lot. Conversely, Haunter has very few guaranteed switch-ins and excels in the early- and mid-game, where it can break down walls for teammates to sweep later. Between its terrific dual STAB types and access to Taunt, Haunter also works as a decent stallbreaker. Opponents will often attempt to Pursuit trap Haunter with the likes of Skuntank, so using Reflect Type on a predicted Pursuit allows Haunter to resist the hit and avoid getting trapped. Will-O-Wisp and Destiny Bond are helpful for Sucker Punch mind games versus Pokemon like Shiftry and Skuntank, as Haunter can punish the opponent for mispredicting.
Team Options
========
Late-game cleaners such as Swords Dance Samurott, Choice Specs Swellow, and Klinklang appreciate Haunter's ability to wallbreak mid-game. Haunter appreciates entry hazards to allow it to do as much damage as possible, so Pokemon that can set up Stealth Rock or Spikes such as Omastar, Ferroseed, and Garbodor are solid teammates. Similarly, Haunter's Ghost typing allows it to block Rapid Spin, so other Pokemon that appreciate hazards being kept up such as Sceptile, Pyroar, and Tauros make for good partners. Specifically, Shiftry is a solid partner for Haunter, as Haunter can break through Mega Audino, which would otherwise give Shiftry trouble, as well as cripple Pursuit trappers with Will-O-Wisp, providing Shiftry an opportunity to set up.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Sludge Bomb
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Trick
move 4: Destiny Bond
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sludge Bomb is a powerful STAB move and provides solid neutral coverage alongside Shadow Ball, and Shadow Ball is Haunter's most spammable move. Trick allows Haunter to cripple Pokemon that give it trouble such as Malamar, Lanturn, and Skuntank. Destiny Bond lets Haunter take another Pokemon down with it as it faints and is especially useful on this set because Haunter's Speed reaches absurd levels when it's holding a Choice Scarf. Energy Ball is a decent option over Trick or Destiny Bond, as it allows Haunter to better revenge kill Adamant +2 Speed Barbaracle and +2 Speed Rhydon.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed and Special Attack investment allows Haunter to hit as hard and fast as possible. A Timid nature lets Haunter get the jump on base 91 and below Choice Scarf users, such as Rotom and Mesprit, as well as outspeed Vivillon and Lilligant after one Quiver Dance. Choice Scarf is the selected item, as it mitigates Haunter's trouble with faster Pokemon that can threaten it out and changes it from an early- or mid-game breaker to a late-game cleaner.
Usage Tips
========
Choice Scarf Haunter should be used predominately as a revenge killer rather than a wallbreaker. Haunter excels in the late-game as a cleaner once the opposing team has been weakened. Avoid switching Haunter into attacks, as its frailty means even strong resisted hits will do a lot. Another thing to beware of is mindlessly clicking Destiny Bond, as if the foe doesn't take Haunter out on that turn, it can lead to a big loss in momentum. Once Haunter no longer needs the Speed that comes with holding the Choice Scarf, Tricking it away allows Haunter to take advantage of its coverage to its fullest extent and potentially cripple an opposing wall such as Malamar in the process, clearing the way for itself and its teammates. Scout for Pursuit trappers switching into Haunter by making aggressive double switches to a teammate that threatens said Pursuit trappers, as once Haunter locks itself into either of its STAB moves, they can trap it.
Team Options
========
Choice Scarf Haunter is particularly prone to getting Pursuit trapped, so Pokemon that can combat Skuntank and Liepard such as Rhydon, Steelix, and Hariyama make for solid partners. In particular, Rhydon and Barbaracle pair well with Haunter, as both can switch in on Pursuit Skuntank and set up a Rock Polish or Shell Smash versus it. Shiftry is also an excellent partner for Haunter, as it appreciates Haunter's ability to break down bulkier Pokemon such as Mega Audino and can even lure in Skuntank and OHKO it with Explosion. Haunter fits well on many hyper offensive builds due to its ability to spinblock and blazing Speed while holding a Choice Scarf, so entry hazards leads such as Omastar and Pinsir work well. Haunter also appreciates Pokemon that can break through walls early- or mid-game for it to clean up later, so Pokemon that provide immediate wallbreaking power like Choice Band Primeape, all-out attacking Samurott, and Choice Specs Sceptile are good partners. Haunter can also Trick Pokemon its Choice Scarf to leave them locked into a move that allows a teammate to set up.
[SET]
name: SubSplit
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Pain Split
item: Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shadow Ball is a decently strong STAB move that is Haunter's most spammable attack, and Sludge Bomb provides great coverage alongside it. Substitute eases prediction, helps Haunter avoid getting revenge killed by faster threats, and allows it to avoid status. Pain Split allows Haunter to stay healthy throughout a match, has solid synergy with Life Orb and Substitute, and can help Haunter break through special sponges like Assault Vest Hariyama and Malamar more easily.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed and Special Attack investment allows Haunter to hit as hard and fast as possible. Along with this, a Timid nature lets it outpace common threats such as Rotom, Jolly Sawk, and Lilligant. Life Orb is used to increase Haunter damage output significantly, and it has excellent synergy with Pain Split. Life Orb also synergizes well with the set, as the passive damage is mitigated by Pain Split's recovery, and the Life Orb recoil actually makes Pain Split more effective in wearing down targets. This makes the recoil an advantage instead of a disadvantage, as Haunter's frailness means it can't really tank hits anyway.
Usage Tips
========
When low on HP from the combination of Life Orb and Substitute, use Pain Split. Otherwise, Haunter is a prolific wallbreaker, so it does very well in the early- and mid-game, where it can break through opposing teams for other Pokemon to sweep. Substitute can be used to aid Haunter in winning Sucker Punch mind games, as well as avoid getting Pursuit trapped. In conjunction with Pain Split, it also allows Haunter to have an easier time breaking down Pokemon such as Hariyama and Malamar, which would otherwise have no trouble sponging hits from it. Avoid switching Haunter in on attacks unless the foe is locked into a move it's immune to such as Primeape's Close Combat.
Team Options
========
Haunter struggles with Pokemon carrying Pursuit such as Skuntank and Liepard, so Pokemon that can handle those two such as Primeape, Hariyama, and Mawile are great partners. While Haunter's Ghost typing leaves it vulnerable to Pursuit, it also lets it act as a spinblocker in a pinch, so Pokemon that also appreciate entry hazards like Samurott, Archeops, and Kangaskhan are viable partners. Pokemon like Magmortar and Pyroar that appreciate Haunter's ability to wear down special tanks like Hariyama and Lanturn make for solid partners. Choice Scarf Primeape is a strong partner in particular for this set, as many of its checks and counters such as Musharna, Mesprit, Garbodor, and Weezing are broken down by Haunter. In return, Primeape can threaten Dark-types such as Skuntank and Liepard that prey on Haunter. Shiftry appreciates Haunter's ability to break down walls, and, in return, it can lure out Skuntank and OHKO it with Explosion, opening the opposing team up for Haunter.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Substitute + Disable set is plausible, as Disable grants Haunter more opportunities to get up a Substitute and allows it to beat certain Pokemon like Hariyama and Throh that it otherwise could not. This is set is often outdone by the all-out attacking set, though, as Haunter loses a huge amount of utility by dropping Will-O-Wisp and Destiny Bond or Reflect Type. Eviolite is an option to give Haunter more bulk and allows it to take better advantage of its resistances to decently common attacking types such as Bug, Poison, and Grass. It also works particularly well with Reflect Type, making Haunter even more difficult to Pursuit trap. Haunter can make good use of coverage moves such as Energy Ball and Thunderbolt, hitting Pokemon such as Rhydon and Mantine, if an all-out-attacking set suits your team better. Aside from these colorful coverage moves, Haunter can also make decent use of Taunt, although it is typically outclassed by Mismagius, which sports a higher Speed stat and better defenses.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Pokemon**: Haunter is incredibly frail, and while base 95 Speed is solid, it does leave it vulnerable to a plethora of faster Pokemon that have no problem OHKOing Haunter such as Pyroar, Swellow, and Archeops. Pyroar and Swellow can also switch into Shadow Ball, but they both take heavy damage from Sludge Bomb.
**Priority**: Due to its frailty, Haunter can often be revenge killed by strong priority attacks such as Samurott's Aqua Jet and Shiftry's and Skuntank's Sucker Punch. Haunter's weakness to Sucker Punch can be mitigated by Will-O-Wisp and Destiny Bond, though.
**Pursuit Trappers**: Pursuit trappers can put a great amount of stress on Haunter, as every time it gets a KO, it is at risk of being trapped. Reflect Type and Will-O-Wisp can help alleviate this problem, but faster trappers such as Liepard and Choice Band Scyther are still threatening. Skuntank in particular should be noted for its ability to switch into both of Haunters STAB moves with impunity and trap it.
**Knock Off**: Knock Off is everywhere, and Haunter must be incredibly careful to avoid it. Even a non-STAB Knock Off coming from a very weak Pokemon such as Clefairy will do decent damage and cripple Haunter, so be wary of Pokemon that could be carrying it.
**Bulky Pokemon**: Very specially bulky Pokemon like Assault Vest Hariyama and Magmortar are threatening to Haunter, as they can pretty easily sponge Sludge Bomb and OHKO it in return.
Haunter's solid Speed tier allows it to outspeed a good portion of NU, including common Pokemon like Primeape, Mesprit, and Rotom. Futhermore, simply between its dual STAB types Haunter has excellent neutral coverage, with a strong secondary STAB type that allows it to break through Pokemon that many Ghosts have trouble with, such as Pyroar and Mega Audino. This frees up Haunter's last two moveslots, allowing it to run neat support moves such as Will-O-Wisp, Reflect Type, and Destiny Bond. Unfortunately, Haunter has terrible bulk, meaning it can sometimes struggle to make proper use of these moves. With low stats in both HP and defenses, Haunter can only afford to take resisted attacks that have low Base Power or are uninvested. However, even with its horrific bulk, Levitate gives Haunter an impressive third immunity and helps its matchup versus offense, as it is not affected by Spikes. On the downside, Levitate also means Haunter cannot absorb Toxic Spikes, potentially leaving your team at a disadvantage versus teams employing them. Haunter faces competition from Ghost-types such as Rotom and Mismagius, the former of which acts as a better pivot due to STAB Volt Switch and better defenses, and the latter of which has access to Nasty Plot and a higher Speed tier. Haunter sets itself apart from these two with a much more potent STAB type combination, allowing it break through common Ghost-type checks such as Mega Audino and access to Reflect Type helping it avoid Pursuit trappers.
[SET]
name: Life Orb Attacker
move 1: Sludge Bomb
move 2: Shadow Ball / Hex
move 3: Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Destiny Bond / Reflect Type
item: Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sludge Bomb is Haunter's strongest attack and allows it to break through most Pokemon that resist Shadow Ball such as Mega Audino and Pyroar. Sludge Bomb is also helpful for punishing Pokemon that like to switch into Will-O-Wisp such as Assault Vest Magmortar, as it does solid damage and can poison these Pokemon, wearing them down quickly throughout a battle. Shadow Ball provides good coverage with Sludge Bomb and hits Psychic-types, such as Mesprit and Musharna, as well as slower Ghost-types, such as Rotom and Golurk. Hex is an option over Shadow Ball, as it has terrific synergy with Will-O-Wisp and has the potential to hit much harder. Shadow Ball is usually preferred, though, as it is far more spammable and provides more consistent damage output. Will-O-Wisp deters Dark-type Pokemon from using Sucker Punch and also helps patch up Haunter's horrid Defense stat. Will-O-Wisp also works fantastically with Hex and allows Haunter to burn Pokemon that can take both Shadow Ball and Sludge Bomb like Skuntank. Destiny Bond can be useful in a pinch, as with high Speed and pitiful defenses, Haunter can usually take another Pokemon down with it as it faints. Reflect type is an alternative that provides further insurance against Pursuit trappers, Skuntank being the main target.
Set Details
=======
Maximum Speed and Special Attack investment allows Haunter to hit as hard and fast as possible. A Timid nature is used over Modest to allow Haunter to outspeed base 91s an below such as Lilligant, Rotom, and Vivillon as well as Speed tie opposing base 95s like Jynx and Primeape. Life Orb is the item of choice, as it gives Haunter a large power boost and the freedom to switch moves and take full advantage of its coverage.
Usage Tips
========
Haunter is very frail, so avoid switching it into almost any attacks because even resisted hits will do a lot. Conversely, Haunter has very few guaranteed switch-ins and excels in the early- and mid-game, where it can break down walls for teammates to sweep later. Between its terrific dual STAB types and access to Taunt, Haunter also works as a decent stallbreaker. Opponents will often attempt to Pursuit trap Haunter with the likes of Skuntank, so using Reflect Type on a predicted Pursuit allows Haunter to resist the hit and avoid getting trapped. Will-O-Wisp and Destiny Bond are helpful for Sucker Punch mind games versus Pokemon like Shiftry and Skuntank, as Haunter can punish the opponent for mispredicting.
Team Options
========
Late-game cleaners such as Swords Dance Samurott, Choice Specs Swellow, and Klinklang appreciate Haunter's ability to wallbreak mid-game. Haunter appreciates entry hazards to allow it to do as much damage as possible, so Pokemon that can set up Stealth Rock or Spikes such as Omastar, Ferroseed, and Garbodor are solid teammates. Similarly, Haunter's Ghost typing allows it to block Rapid Spin, so other Pokemon that appreciate hazards being kept up such as Sceptile, Pyroar, and Tauros make for good partners. Specifically, Shiftry is a solid partner for Haunter, as Haunter can break through Mega Audino, which would otherwise give Shiftry trouble, as well as cripple Pursuit trappers with Will-O-Wisp, providing Shiftry an opportunity to set up.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Sludge Bomb
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Trick
move 4: Destiny Bond
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sludge Bomb is a powerful STAB move and provides solid neutral coverage alongside Shadow Ball, and Shadow Ball is Haunter's most spammable move. Trick allows Haunter to cripple Pokemon that give it trouble such as Malamar, Lanturn, and Skuntank. Destiny Bond lets Haunter take another Pokemon down with it as it faints and is especially useful on this set because Haunter's Speed reaches absurd levels when it's holding a Choice Scarf. Energy Ball is a decent option over Trick or Destiny Bond, as it allows Haunter to better revenge kill Adamant +2 Speed Barbaracle and +2 Speed Rhydon.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed and Special Attack investment allows Haunter to hit as hard and fast as possible. A Timid nature lets Haunter get the jump on base 91 and below Choice Scarf users, such as Rotom and Mesprit, as well as outspeed Vivillon and Lilligant after one Quiver Dance. Choice Scarf is the selected item, as it mitigates Haunter's trouble with faster Pokemon that can threaten it out and changes it from an early- or mid-game breaker to a late-game cleaner.
Usage Tips
========
Choice Scarf Haunter should be used predominately as a revenge killer rather than a wallbreaker. Haunter excels in the late-game as a cleaner once the opposing team has been weakened. Avoid switching Haunter into attacks, as its frailty means even strong resisted hits will do a lot. Another thing to beware of is mindlessly clicking Destiny Bond, as if the foe doesn't take Haunter out on that turn, it can lead to a big loss in momentum. Once Haunter no longer needs the Speed that comes with holding the Choice Scarf, Tricking it away allows Haunter to take advantage of its coverage to its fullest extent and potentially cripple an opposing wall such as Malamar in the process, clearing the way for itself and its teammates. Scout for Pursuit trappers switching into Haunter by making aggressive double switches to a teammate that threatens said Pursuit trappers, as once Haunter locks itself into either of its STAB moves, they can trap it.
Team Options
========
Choice Scarf Haunter is particularly prone to getting Pursuit trapped, so Pokemon that can combat Skuntank and Liepard such as Rhydon, Steelix, and Hariyama make for solid partners. In particular, Rhydon and Barbaracle pair well with Haunter, as both can switch in on Pursuit Skuntank and set up a Rock Polish or Shell Smash versus it. Shiftry is also an excellent partner for Haunter, as it appreciates Haunter's ability to break down bulkier Pokemon such as Mega Audino and can even lure in Skuntank and OHKO it with Explosion. Haunter fits well on many hyper offensive builds due to its ability to spinblock and blazing Speed while holding a Choice Scarf, so entry hazards leads such as Omastar and Pinsir work well. Haunter also appreciates Pokemon that can break through walls early- or mid-game for it to clean up later, so Pokemon that provide immediate wallbreaking power like Choice Band Primeape, all-out attacking Samurott, and Choice Specs Sceptile are good partners. Haunter can also Trick Pokemon its Choice Scarf to leave them locked into a move that allows a teammate to set up.
[SET]
name: SubSplit
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Pain Split
item: Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shadow Ball is a decently strong STAB move that is Haunter's most spammable attack, and Sludge Bomb provides great coverage alongside it. Substitute eases prediction, helps Haunter avoid getting revenge killed by faster threats, and allows it to avoid status. Pain Split allows Haunter to stay healthy throughout a match, has solid synergy with Life Orb and Substitute, and can help Haunter break through special sponges like Assault Vest Hariyama and Malamar more easily.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed and Special Attack investment allows Haunter to hit as hard and fast as possible. Along with this, a Timid nature lets it outpace common threats such as Rotom, Jolly Sawk, and Lilligant. Life Orb is used to increase Haunter damage output significantly, and it has excellent synergy with Pain Split. Life Orb also synergizes well with the set, as the passive damage is mitigated by Pain Split's recovery, and the Life Orb recoil actually makes Pain Split more effective in wearing down targets. This makes the recoil an advantage instead of a disadvantage, as Haunter's frailness means it can't really tank hits anyway.
Usage Tips
========
When low on HP from the combination of Life Orb and Substitute, use Pain Split. Otherwise, Haunter is a prolific wallbreaker, so it does very well in the early- and mid-game, where it can break through opposing teams for other Pokemon to sweep. Substitute can be used to aid Haunter in winning Sucker Punch mind games, as well as avoid getting Pursuit trapped. In conjunction with Pain Split, it also allows Haunter to have an easier time breaking down Pokemon such as Hariyama and Malamar, which would otherwise have no trouble sponging hits from it. Avoid switching Haunter in on attacks unless the foe is locked into a move it's immune to such as Primeape's Close Combat.
Team Options
========
Haunter struggles with Pokemon carrying Pursuit such as Skuntank and Liepard, so Pokemon that can handle those two such as Primeape, Hariyama, and Mawile are great partners. While Haunter's Ghost typing leaves it vulnerable to Pursuit, it also lets it act as a spinblocker in a pinch, so Pokemon that also appreciate entry hazards like Samurott, Archeops, and Kangaskhan are viable partners. Pokemon like Magmortar and Pyroar that appreciate Haunter's ability to wear down special tanks like Hariyama and Lanturn make for solid partners. Choice Scarf Primeape is a strong partner in particular for this set, as many of its checks and counters such as Musharna, Mesprit, Garbodor, and Weezing are broken down by Haunter. In return, Primeape can threaten Dark-types such as Skuntank and Liepard that prey on Haunter. Shiftry appreciates Haunter's ability to break down walls, and, in return, it can lure out Skuntank and OHKO it with Explosion, opening the opposing team up for Haunter.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Substitute + Disable set is plausible, as Disable grants Haunter more opportunities to get up a Substitute and allows it to beat certain Pokemon like Hariyama and Throh that it otherwise could not. This is set is often outdone by the all-out attacking set, though, as Haunter loses a huge amount of utility by dropping Will-O-Wisp and Destiny Bond or Reflect Type. Eviolite is an option to give Haunter more bulk and allows it to take better advantage of its resistances to decently common attacking types such as Bug, Poison, and Grass. It also works particularly well with Reflect Type, making Haunter even more difficult to Pursuit trap. Haunter can make good use of coverage moves such as Energy Ball and Thunderbolt, hitting Pokemon such as Rhydon and Mantine, if an all-out-attacking set suits your team better. Aside from these colorful coverage moves, Haunter can also make decent use of Taunt, although it is typically outclassed by Mismagius, which sports a higher Speed stat and better defenses.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Pokemon**: Haunter is incredibly frail, and while base 95 Speed is solid, it does leave it vulnerable to a plethora of faster Pokemon that have no problem OHKOing Haunter such as Pyroar, Swellow, and Archeops. Pyroar and Swellow can also switch into Shadow Ball, but they both take heavy damage from Sludge Bomb.
**Priority**: Due to its frailty, Haunter can often be revenge killed by strong priority attacks such as Samurott's Aqua Jet and Shiftry's and Skuntank's Sucker Punch. Haunter's weakness to Sucker Punch can be mitigated by Will-O-Wisp and Destiny Bond, though.
**Pursuit Trappers**: Pursuit trappers can put a great amount of stress on Haunter, as every time it gets a KO, it is at risk of being trapped. Reflect Type and Will-O-Wisp can help alleviate this problem, but faster trappers such as Liepard and Choice Band Scyther are still threatening. Skuntank in particular should be noted for its ability to switch into both of Haunters STAB moves with impunity and trap it.
**Knock Off**: Knock Off is everywhere, and Haunter must be incredibly careful to avoid it. Even a non-STAB Knock Off coming from a very weak Pokemon such as Clefairy will do decent damage and cripple Haunter, so be wary of Pokemon that could be carrying it.
**Bulky Pokemon**: Very specially bulky Pokemon like Assault Vest Hariyama and Magmortar are threatening to Haunter, as they can pretty easily sponge Sludge Bomb and OHKO it in return.
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