Let's-a-go(goat)
[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Horn Leech
move 3: Rock Slide / Earthquake
move 4: Substitute
item: Leftovers
ability: Sap Sipper
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 220 SpD / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
By virtue of Gogoat's solid natural bulk and defensive typing, Gogoat makes for a sturdy setup sweeper. Horn Leech is preferred over Leaf Blade's higher power for its recovery, and it threatens out popular walls like Politoed and Gigalith. Rock Slide threatens out Grass-resistant Pokemon like Dustox, Magmar, and Jumpluff, threats that would otherwise safely switch into Horn Leech. Earthquake targets anticipated switch-ins like Swalot, Pignite, and Klang, Pokemon otherwise unfazed by Horn Leech and Rock Slide. Substitute shields Gogoat from status users like Electabuzz and Gourgeist-S; Gogoat's high-HP Substitutes also prevents Dusclops and, most of the time, Bronzor from breaking them with their standard attacking moves. Sap Sipper makes Gogoat a consistent check against Grass-types like Servine and non-Gunk Shot Simisage. 36 Speed EVs enable Gogoat to outspeed Adamant Lairon.
Gogoat fits well on bulky and balance builds as both a special wall and wincon simultaneously, being a consistent switch-in against popular Grass- and Water-types like Servine and Politoed. Poison-types like Swalot and Ivysaur and Steel-types like Bronzor and Klang serve as Gogoat's biggest obstacles for successful Bulk Up sweeps; Psychic-types like Duosion and Swoobat can threaten out the aforementioned Poison-types, while Ground-types like Krokorok and Marshtomp can provide provide Stealth Rock support to rack up chip damage and threaten out Gogoat's checks. Krokorok particularly pairs well, providing utility with Knock Off and Pursuit trapping Bronzor. In return, Gogoat can threaten out Water-types like Politoed and Simipour that would threaten the Ground-types. Politoed and Seaking also serve as good partners to threaten out Fire-types like Magmar and Pignite. Cleric support from Wigglytuff can enhance Gogoat's longevity and rid of status moves it may have sustained earlier in the match.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Dropping Substitute and Bulk Up for Roar and Milk Drink, respectively, makes Gogoat a sturdy phazer, though this makes it more passive and faces competition from Meganium. Offensive Bulk Up sets with an Occa Berry lure in Fire-types like Pignite and Magmar, though this sacrifices a lot of bulk and faces competition with offensive Grass-types like Jumpluff and Sawsbuck. An EV spread of 252 HP / 40 Def / 184 SpD / 32 Spe prevents Gourgeist-L from breaking its Substitutes, enabling it to use it as setup fodder.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Poison-types**: Poison-types like Swalot, Ivysaur, and Trubbish take pittance from most of Gogoat's unboosted attacks and can set up on it with their utility moves or threaten it outright with their STAB moves.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types like Bronzor and Klang take little from Gogoat's unboosted attacks and can set up on it with their utility moves, though Bronzor and defensive Klang variants may have trouble breaking Gogoat's Substitutes.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types like Magmar, Pignite, and the uncommon Lampent resist Gogoat's STAB moves and can retaliate back with their own STAB moves. Pignite itself does excellently against Rock Slide thanks to its Fighting typing and Eviolite, and it can strike back with either Flare Blitz or Toxic.
**Residual Damage**: Despite Gogoat's solid bulk, it is very vulnerable to residual damage; burns cripple its sweeping potential, and Toxic wears it down too quickly for it to consistently sweep. Entry hazards also jeopardize its sweeping potential and make it more vulnerable against revenge killers like Vanilluxe and Jumpluff.
**Revenge Killers**: Without Bulk Up boosts, Gogoat's low Speed greatly hinders it against faster threats like Vanilluxe, Sawsbuck, and Furfrou, Pokemon that can threaten it with either super effective coverage or raw damage output.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5dots.543866/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5gen.296755/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
Last edited:
