Spectrier is a Pokemon that has caught my attention and a lot of people's as well because of how it has been identified to be a very overwhelming Pokemon, pressuring many teams with its Ghost STABs. While Spectrier wasn't as praised as much when the Crown Tundra was released due to its severe lack of coverage moves, Spectrier has proven to be much more than a Ghost-type with limited coverage, and it even has some useful utility moves of its own. With Dracovish being banned and Spectrier recently getting suspect tested, I would like to offer one of my rare discussion posts about the horse.
RUNDOWN
Spectrier is easily one of the most threatening offensive Pokemon to reach National Dex Monotype. As months have passed since Crown Tundra's release, more and more people have been adapting to this thing. Its sky-high Special Attack, fascinating Speed tier, and ability Grim Neigh allow it to devastate many Pokemon that don't resist its powerful Ghost-type moves, outspeed a ton of unboosted threats, and potentially snowball out of control, respectively. Many types that lack a sturdy Ghost-type resist, like Electric, Steel, Water, and Ground, are all constantly pressured by Spectrier as it makes the matchup against Ghost teams even more difficult to deal with. This is especially true due to the fact that in Monotype's context, teams are only restricted to one type. Spectrier is most commonly seen using three sets: Will-O-Wisp with Calm Mind, Nasty Plot with Ghostium Z, and Choice Specs. Spectrier is able to quickly wear down teams using Will-O-Wisp + Hex, Calm Mind, and Grim Neigh, making it difficult to handle, while Nasty Plot + Ghostium Z lets Spectrier break through walls like Heatran and Celesteela with ease. Choice Specs can be used for more immediate damage versus types like Steel and Water.
Ever since the release of Crown Tundra, people have expected Spectrier to be a very underwhelming Pokemon due to its most notable trait holding it back: its lack of coverage moves. Because of this, Spectrier is typically handled by Dark- and Normal-types. However, while Spectrier only really relies on its STAB moves to deal meaningful damage to the opposing team (as well as Hyper Beam and Mud Shot), Spectrier's coverage moves are practical enough to cripple even its usual checks. With Will-O-Wisp, physical Dark-types like Mandibuzz, Urshifu-S, and Mega Tyranitar have the power of their attacks reduced while taking chip damage from burn. This not only leaves them worn down during a match, but gives Ghost teams the advantage by making them easier to deal with. Once these Dark-types are weakened enough, Spectrier can successfully pick them off with Hex and gain a very useful KO. Z-Hyper Beam is also an option to beat switch-ins to Spectrier like Diggersby and Hydreigon, especially after a Nasty Plot boost. Frailer Dark-types like Bisharp and Crawdaunt must think twice before switching in on Spectrier as well, since they will be chipped for a decent amount of damage.
Here are some calcs that show Spectrier defeating Dark- and Normal-types:
+2 252 SpA Spectrier Never-Ending Nightmare (160 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Hydreigon: 309-364 (95 - 112%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO
+2 252 SpA Spectrier Never-Ending Nightmare (160 BP) vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Urshifu: 428-504 (125.1 - 147.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 SpA Spectrier Breakneck Blitz (200 BP) vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Diggersby: 583-686 (187.4 - 220.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 SpA Spectrier Breakneck Blitz (200 BP) vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Hydreigon: 513-604 (157.8 - 185.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 SpA Spectrier Breakneck Blitz (200 BP) vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Porygon-Z: 595-700 (191.3 - 225%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 SpA Spectrier Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Crawdaunt: 229-270 (85.7 - 101.1%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO
+2 252 SpA Spectrier Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Bisharp: 190-224 (70.1 - 82.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+2 252 SpA Spectrier Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Greninja: 187-221 (65.6 - 77.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
However, despite Spectrier's high Special Attack, great offensive typing, and useful utility options, it still holds some glaring flaws. Its Speed tier of 130, while very good, still leaves it outsped by a number of offensive threats such as Choice Scarf Excadrill, Barraskewda, and Alolan Raichu under Electric Terrain. Due to this, Spectrier should attempt to get rid of these Pokemon with its teammates before it attempts to sweep an entire team. Spectrier is also only restricted to Ghost teams. With a Will-O-Wisp + Hex set, Spectrier will need to rely on burning the opponent in order to get its maximized potential; this leaves it vulnerable to Pokemon that are immune to Will-O-Wisp such as Heatran, Mega Charizard X, and Volcarona, since it will need chip damage inflicted on them in order to achieve a KO. Using a Choice Specs set will also make Spectrier much less effective against walls like Celesteela and Mantine by not being able to set up on them with Will-O-Wisp, Calm Mind, and Substitute. Despite being able to cripple some of Spectrier's answers, it is still walled by a plethora of Dark- and Normal-types; namely specially defensive Tyranitar, Alolan Muk, and Blissey. Pursuit users like Choice Scarf Weavile, Tyranitar, Alolan Muk, and Mega Aerodactyl are also particularly threatening to Spectrier, since they prevent its ability to switch out and deal heavy damage to it. As a result, Spectrier will need lots of team support in order to deal with these threats, which brings me to my next point.
TEAM SUPPORT
Mimikyu is a very potent partner with Spectrier, as it takes on Dark- and Normal-types for it such as Tyranitar, Mandibuzz, Hydreigon, and Blissey thanks to its Fairy-typing and access to Drain Punch. It can do this in a reliable way as well thanks to Disguise, preventing faster Dark-type Pokemon such as Urshifu-S, Greninja, and Hydreigon from being immediate threats.
Mega Sableye is an excellent defensive Pokemon to pair with Spectrier; Mega Sableye can prevent entry hazards like Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes from being set on the field due to Magic Bounce, while absorbing Knock Off for it. Mega Sableye is able to take on physical attackers that outspeed and threaten Spectrier such as Choice Scarf Landorus-T, Zeraora, and Choice Scarf Weavile, crippling them with Foul Play and Will-O-Wisp.
Galarian Corsola is another good defensive Pokemon to use with Spectrier, as it can take on many other physical attackers that Spectrier struggles with such as Choice Scarf and Sand Rush Excadrill, Mega Lopunny, and Mega Swampert under rain thanks to its good Eviolite-boosted bulk. It can easily take advantage of them by crippling them with Will-O-Wisp, wearing them down with Night Shade, and weakening them with Strength Sap while gaining useful recovery. It also acts as Ghost's most useful entry hazard setter, setting Stealth Rock for Spectrier.
Aegislash's versatility allows it to run two notable sets on Ghost: SubToxic and Swords Dance. SubToxic Aegislash is useful as it can switch into special attackers like Choice Scarf Latias and Latios, Choice Scarf Nihilego, and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele while spreading status with Toxic so Hex variants of Spectrier can sweep easier. On the other hand, Swords Dance can be run to pressure specially defensive walls like Blissey and Tyranitar with Close Combat.
Choice Scarf Blacephalon is a neat revenge killer that can take on problematic Steel- and Grass-types like Choice Scarf Weavile and Zarude, along with a lot of other Pokemon that revenge kill Spectrier like Mega Lopunny, Zeraora, and Choice Scarf Excadrill.
Gengar is a good offensive partner with Spectrier, as its Poison-typing allows it to take on Fairy- and Grass-types like Tapu Fini and Zarude, while providing useful utility by being able to remove Toxic Spikes from the field. Its Focus Blast coverage is also useful for Dark- and Normal-types like Hydreigon, Tyranitar, Porygon2, and Porygon-Z.
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[Ghost vs. Steel]
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldexmonotype-1283816815
Here is a NDWC replay showcasing Spectrier in action. Once the opponent's (potentially) Choice Scarf Excadrill is gone, the Spectrier user completely takes advantage of the opponent by setting up on Celesteela using Nasty Plot and Substitute, proceeding to KO it with Shadow Ball. The match is done with as Spectrier outspeeds and destroys the entire opposing team.
[Ghost vs. Ground]
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/...-1273983706-e649pj5aaq057v4uky3txnpjllsspg6pw
In this replay from the National Dex Monotype tour, Spectrier is shown tearing apart a Ground team by living a Knock Off from Choice Scarf Landorus-T, proceeding to click Shadow Ball, gain Grim Neigh boosts, and win the game by outspeeding the opposing team.
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CONCLUSION
Overall, Spectrier tends to be very frustrating for a lot of types to deal with. With a high Special Attack, great Speed tier, and Grim Neigh which further makes it a frightening sweeper, Spectrier can put in work in teams that are lacking a sturdy Ghost-type resist. It doesn't help that most Dark- and Normal-types cannot safely switch into a Z-Hyper Beam, especially after a Nasty Plot boost. Spectrier's team support is also what's keeping it dangerous; defensive partners like Mega Sableye and Galarian Corsola can switch into most attackers that revenge kill Spectrier, while offensive partners with Mimikyu and Gengar can deal with foes that Spectrier struggles against. While Spectrier isn't a perfect Pokemon, I think the positives outweigh the negatives and it deserves to be
banned as a result.