[SET]
name: Dark Horse (Defensive Calm Mind)
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Hex
item: Leftovers
ability: Grim Neigh
nature: Timid
evs: 108 HP / 148 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Due to its high offensive stats combined with its Ghost STAB letting it hit a majority of the metagame for super-effective or neutral damage, Spectrier is a fantastic mid to late-game sweeper that is supported by a great ability in Grim Neigh. However, a limited movepool that forces it to be reliant on its Ghost STAB means Spectrier struggles to beat Normal- and Dark-type Pokemon like Blissey and Bisharp and frail physical bulk means it may have trouble setting up in front of wallbreakers like Tapu Bulu. Calm Mind gives Spectrier setup potential and allows it to beat Calm Mind Tapu Fini with the Special Defense boosts while stalling out its Misty Terrain and preventing weaker special attackers like Zapdos and Clefable from breaking its Substitute after a few boosts. Substitute allows Spectrier to avoid status moves from Pokemon like Toxapex and Celesteela, as well as Leech Seed from Pokemon like Ferrothorn and Mega Venusaur when trying to set up. Will-O-Wisp combined with Hex means Spectrier can cripple and do major damage after a few boosts to bulkier targets like Swampert, Ferrothorn, Mandibuzz, and Mega Venusaur. Grim Neigh is Spectrier's only ability and helps it clean teams even more efficiently by giving it a Special Attack boost after it KOs a target. Leftovers is the chosen item to give Spectrier longevity against bulkier types like Flying, Water, and Poison, and the EV spread alongside a Timid nature prevents Substitute being broken by defensive Celesteela and Mandibuzz after they're burnt while outspeeding Pokemon like Alakazam, Greninja, and Weavile and tying with Tapu Koko.
Mega Sableye and Galarian Corsola make great defensive partners for Spectrier as they can both switch in on moves like Excadrill and Landorus-T's Earthquake for Spectrier. They are both good at spreading burns through Will-O-Wisp, reducing the need for Spectrier to burn bulkier targets itself. Mega Sableye in particular can keep hazards like Spikes and Toxic Spikes off with Magic Bounce against types like Grass, Steel, Water, and Poison in order to keep Spectrier healthy, while Galarian Corsola can use its ability in Cursed Body to give Spectrier even more setup opportunities against Choice-locked Pokemon like Dracovish and Melmetal and use Stealth Rock to help chip Pokemon like non Heavy Duty Boots Volcarona and Mega Charizard Y into range of Spectrier's attacks. Gengar and Mimikyu are good offensive partners for Spectrier as they can both beat Dark- and Normal-type Pokemon like Hydreigon, Bisharp, Diggersby, and Blissey with their coverage options. Gengar can also remove Toxic Spikes with its Poison typing. In return, Spectrier can cripple and beat Pokemon that wall Mimikyu such as Toxapex, Celesteela, and Mega Venusaur. Blacephaon can serve as a revenge killer to pick off Pokemon like Choice Scarf Excadrill and Choice Scarf Landorus-T so Spectrier has an easier time cleaning late game. Aegislash can break through special walls like Blissey and Tyranitar for Spectrier with Swords Dance. Runerigus's Toxic Spikes gives Spectrier an easier time breaking through types like Fairy and Ground.
[SET]
name: Godspeed Horse (Offensive Nasty Plot)
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Mud Shot / Will-O-Wisp
item: Ghostium Z
ability: Grim Neigh
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
This Spectrier set capitalizes on the lack of common resistances to its strong Ghost STAB by utilizing Never-Ending Nightmare in conjunction with Nasty Plot, high offensive stats, and Grim Neigh to serve as an efficient early to mid-game wallbreaker or a late-game sweeper. Never-Ending Nightmare is an extremely strong nuke, being able to OHKO frailer targets like Tapu Koko, Mega Diancie, Nidoking, Landorus, and Dracovish unboosted, while OHKOing bulky walls like Mantine, Mega Venusaur, Toxapex, and even resisted targets like Bisharp, Hydreigon, and Urshifu-S with a Nasty Plot boost. Substitute allows Spectrier to avoid status from Pokemon like Toxapex, Celesteela, and Gastrodon, as well as Leech Seed users like Celesteela and Ferrothorn; while letting Spectrier set up on the forced switches the threat of Never-Ending Nightmare creates. Mud Shot can be used as the last move in order for Spectrier to have a way to hit Pokemon like Drapion, Bisharp, and Heatran after Never-Ending Nightmare has been used. Alternatively, Will-O-Wisp is a decent option over Mud Shot in order to cripple physical attackers like Celesteela, Dragonite, and Tyranitar for its teammates. Ghostium Z powers up Shadow Ball into Never-Ending Nightmare. Grim Neigh is Spectrier's only ability and maximizes Spectrier's sweeping potential by giving it a Special Attack boost when it collects a KO; which is extremely easy to accomplish due to the sheer power of Never-Ending Nightmare. Maximum Speed EVs alongside a Timid nature allows Spectrier to outspeed Pokemon like Greninja, Weavile, and Alakazam, while tying with Tapu Koko. Try not to set up in front of strong wallbreakers such as Choice Band Dracovish and Mamoswine, as Never-Ending Nightmare is strong enough to OHKO these Pokemon right off the bat without having to risk being OHKO'd in return due to Spectrier's lacking physical bulk.
Mega Sableye is an amazing defensive partner for Spectrier as it can keep off hazards that limit Spectrier's effectiveness using its ability in Magic Bounce. It can also switch in on Dark- and Ghost-type attacks from Pokemon like Hydreigon and Choice Scarf Gengar so Spectrier can set up at a later point in the game, and use Knock Off to remove Choice Scarf from Pokemon like Landorus-T, Excadrill, and Greninja so Spectrier can have an easier time cleaning late game with its stellar Speed stat. Galarian Corsola can switch in on many different faster Pokemon that would otherwise threaten Spectrier such as Mega Swampert under rain, Excadrill under sand, and Mega Aerodactyl. It can also utilize its Cursed Body so Spectrier can have an easier time setting up, particularly against Choice-locked Pokemon like Dracovish and use Stealth Rock to help put Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y and Mamoswine in range of Spectrier's attacks. Gengar, Blacephalon, and Mimikyu are all fantastic offensive partners for Spectrier in their own ways. Both Gengar and Blacephalon can serve as the Choice Scarf user of the team, revenge killing faster Pokemon like Choice Scarf Landorus-T and Zeraora which would otherwise beat Spectrier. Mimikyu can beat the Dark and Normal-type Pokemon Spectrier struggles against such as Hydreigon and Blissey with Play Rough and Drain Punch, while Spectrier can beat Pokemon like Celesteela, Toxapex, and Galarian Weezing that wall Mimikyu. On hyper offensive teams, Froslass can use Taunt to prevent hazards as well as lay its own Spikes so Spectrier can take advantage of them by forcing switches and making it easier for Spectrier to sweep at the same time.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Choice Specs set with Shadow Ball can be used for immediate power against types which don't carry sturdy Ghost checks like Steel, Ground, Dragon, and Fairy. However, this compromises Spectrier's ability to break through Pokemon like Mandibuzz and Mantine by limiting its ability to spread status and set up behind a Substitute. Nasty Plot can be used over Calm Mind with Will-O-Wisp for immediate boosts at the cost of not being able to beat Calm Mind Tapu Fini easily. Dark Pulse can be used on a Substitute set in order to hit Normal-type Pokemon like Blissey, but giving up Will-O-Wisp means Spectrier now has trouble beating bulkier targets like Swampert, Toxapex, and Celesteela. Z-Hyper Beam can be used over Z-Shadow Ball alongside Nasty Plot to beat Normal- and Dark-type Pokemon like Diggersby and Hydreigon easier; but this compromises Spectrier's ability to abuse its strong Ghost STAB as efficiently.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Normal- and Dark- type Pokemon**: Spectrier cannot beat Normal-type Pokemon such as Blissey, Diggersby, and Porygon2 due to being completely reliant on its Ghost STAB to break. Dark-type Pokemon such as Mandibuzz, Hydreigon, Bisharp, and Urshifu-S are also problematic if Spectrier is unboosted, however Spectrier can beat them with +2 Never-Ending Nightmare and they also dislike being burned by Will-O-Wisp.
**Burn-immune Pokemon**: Fire-type Pokemon like Heatran and Mega Charizard X give Calm Mind Spectrier trouble as it cannot burn them to take advantage of them with Hex, making them harder to break through. The same can be said about certain Magic Bounce users such as Mega Sableye and Mega Diancie, as well as Tapu Fini's Misty Terrain making it harder for Calm Mind Spectrier to beat Water teams by preventing Spectrier from burning walls.
**Status** Status conditions such as paralysis and poison limit Spectrier's sweeping potential by decreasing its longevity and making it prone to being checked by slower revenge killers such as Gengar, Victini, and Tapu Lele respectively. However, Substitute leaves it less prone to being punished by status.
**Knock Off** Getting hit by Knock Off against Pokemon like Gliscor, Tornadus-T, and Landorus-T means Calm Mind Spectrier has a harder time sweeping bulkier types as it now lacks the passive recovery Leftovers provides it while taking massive damage.
**Revenge Killers** Faster Pokemon like Choice Scarf Landorus-T, Choice Scarf Dracovish, Mega Swampert under rain, and Zeraora can all outspeed and beat Spectrier when it is not behind a Substitute. However, they cannot safely switch in for free in fear of getting burned or taken out by Never-Ending Nightmare.
**Pursuit** Pokemon like Mega Aerodactyl, Drapion, and Weavile trap and eliminate Spectrier with Pursuit, but have to be careful of Will-O-Wisp.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[username1, userid1]]
- Quality checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]
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