Ghost-types in Ubers
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Art by Iyarito.
Introduction
Ghost-types didn't see as much use as they do today back in ADV. However, as prominent Psychic-types like Latios, Latias, and Mewtwo became very common and blocking Rapid Spin became more important in BW, many started to use Ghost-types in their teams. Until XY, the Giratina formes and Arceus-Ghost were the most common thanks to their ability to block Rapid Spin and blanket check Fighting- and Normal-types. From XY onward, Ghost-types became more useful overall with the introduction of Mega Gengar and the Steel type's loss of its resistance to Ghost. Today, Ghost-types are considered to be among the better Pokémon in Ubers due to their wide offensive coverage, immunity to Shadow Tag trapping, and useful immunities. While all Ghost-types simultaneously excel offensively and defensively, many of them have their unique traits that can cover their flaws well. Let's take a look at relevant Ghost-types in Ubers and see what they do in the tier.
- HP60
- ATK65
- DEF80
- SPA170
- SPD95
- SPE130
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Ever since it gained its own Mega Evolution in XY generation, Mega Gengar has been one of the most threatening Pokémon in the tier. While Mega Gengar may seem like an underwhelming Pokémon to use as a special attacker over other powerhouses like Primal Kyogre, Deoxys-A, and Mewtwo due to its frailty and mediocre power, it can do something exceptional that no other special attackers can do: choose its matchup and eliminate specific foes with Shadow Tag. This means even if Mega Gengar seems to struggle against a majority of the tier, it can still switch into foes it has an advantage against and revenge kill slower foes without giving them the option to retreat. Mega Gengar's offensive capabilities should not be overlooked either, as it has enough power and the right STAB combination to trap and remove other threatening Pokémon like Ultra Necrozma and Xerneas. As Mega Gengar is difficult to conventionally check, it can run a variety of sets to trap to punish foes that it desires, whether by simply KOing them with super effective moves, statusing them, afflicting them with Taunt, or forcing a trade with Destiny Bond. This secures Mega Gengar's place on a variety of archetypes, ranging from bulky offense where many Pokémon can support Hex variants to more offensive teams where Mega Gengar's ability to threaten various passive Pokémon and revenge kill foes is appreciated. Even some stall teams decide to employ Mega Gengar because its ability to selectively trap and remove or trade with a problematic Pokémon is always useful.
- HP90
- ATK125
- DEF80
- SPA90
- SPD90
- SPE125
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A gloom dweller Pokémon that was released in late SM and quickbanned from OU, Marshadow found itself a home in Ubers where it functions as the best anti-offense Pokémon. Offensive teams have trouble properly dealing with Marshadow due to its unresisted STAB combination, which isn't easy to switch into when boosted by Life Orb. Most setup sweepers struggle making a proper breakthrough when Marshadow is present, as its Technician-boosted Shadow Sneak does enough damage to pick off damaged foes, and slower wallbreakers like boosted Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM are immediately forced out due to the threat of Spectral Thief. Bulkier teams aren't safe from this Pokémon either without using bulky checks like Mega Sableye and Toxapex, and even these Pokémon as well as heavily invested defensive Arceus formes are vulnerable to Marshadium Z sets. Marshadow performs its role as an offensive check to multiple offensive Pokémon extremely well and has very low risk when used on teams that need their weakness against offense patched up.
- HP137
- ATK113
- DEF89
- SPA137
- SPD107
- SPE97
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The cover legendary Pokémon for Pokémon Moon, Lunala is one of the wallbreakers that many teams struggle to reliably check. Especially when running Calm Mind and Lunalium Z, Lunala is capable of OHKOing many threats. Unlike other offensive wallbreakers like Ultra Necrozma and Primal Kyogre, Lunala can be difficult to prevent from setting up or to revenge kill it due to Shadow Shield, which even allows Lunala to run a defensive set with Defog that can fare well against offensive threats like Primal Groudon. Lunala also has a good movepool to bypass its checks, and only a limited number of Pokémon can handle Moongeist Beam. Lunala already possesses perfect coverage just with Moongeist and Focus Blast, and it can also threaten various Dragon-types like Zygarde-C and Mega Salamence before gaining boosts thanks to Ice Beam. Lunala also has an option to better counteract against stall teams in Psyshock + Calm Mind to deal with special walls. While Lunala is commonly used as a wallbreaker, it can also be a good revenge killer with Choice Scarf that can be a 'safety insurance' with Shadow Shield intact. Regardless of the variant, Lunala is quite difficult to switch into thanks to its strong STAB Moongeist Beam and various coverage moves that harshly punish its checks.
- HP150
- ATK120
- DEF100
- SPA120
- SPD100
- SPE90
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A renegade Pokémon in its Origin forme has been a bulky offensive threat since DPP. In the current generation of USM, Giratina-O serves as one of the premier Defog users, possessing various utilities. Offensively, it is able to hit many Pokémon hard with its attacks and punish its checks with numerous status moves. Defensively, Giratina-O's typing and ability also set it apart from other Defog users by allowing it to avoid trapping and rendering it immune to Ground. This means that Giratina-O can consistently function as a check to common entry hazard setters like Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM and liberally spread status. Though it tends to get worn down quickly by status and repeated attacks, a the variety of roles that Giratina-O can fulfill makes it one of the better Defog users in Ubers.
- HP150
- ATK100
- DEF120
- SPA100
- SPD120
- SPE90
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The Altered forme of Giratina also functions as a Defog user, but in more defensive teams due to its reduced offensive presence, better bulk, and access to Pressure. Like with its Origin forme, Giratina's ability to avoid trapping and access to various status moves contribute to its viability as a Defog user, as they limit the number of Pokémon that can freely take advantage of Giratina. While Giratina may seem like a typical defensive Pokémon that struggles to do much against other defensive Pokémon, Pressure demands cautious plays from such foes, as their opportunities to spread status and set entry hazards are limited against Giratina. Even though it is too passive to fit on teams other than stall, Giratina is one of the most ironclad checks to many physical attackers and can provide various utility options for its team, which not many defensive Pokémon can do.
- HP50
- ATK85
- DEF125
- SPA85
- SPD115
- SPE20
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A very common staple for stall teams in OU, Mega Sableye secures its place in Ubers stall as well as on some balanced teams thanks to Magic Bounce. While there are many Pokémon that can overpower Mega Sableye and set entry hazards while forcing it out, Mega Sableye provides exceptional support and creates good defensive synergy with other defensive Pokémon like Ho-Oh, Lugia, and many support Arceus formes that can patch up many of its weakness. Mega Sableye is also not overly passive due to Foul Play, and this enables Mega Sableye to provide its team with some offensive presence against dangerous threats apart from merely providing Magic Bounce support and spreading status, checking Ultra Necrozma lacking Outrage, Deoxys-A, and Mega Mewtwo Y.
- HP120
- ATK120
- DEF120
- SPA120
- SPD120
- SPE120
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Arceus-Ghost is unfortunately outclassed by other Arceus formes as a supporter, but it can take advantage of its decent offensive coverage and access to Swords Dance and Shadow Force to be a wallbreaker and a spinblocker on Sticky Web teams. Unlike other Swords Dance wallbreakers such as Ultra Necrozma or Primal Groudon, Arceus-Ghost can pose a more immediate threat against offensive foes, as it has a respective bulk even without investment and has the ability to immediately use the powerful Shadow Force-based Never-Ending Nightmare. However, Arceus-Ghost struggles to break bulky foes like Zygarde-C and other Arceus formes once its Z-Move has been used. While Arceus-Ghost is the one of the bulkier and faster spinblockers, it requires prediction to function well and its effectiveness can vary depending on what coverage move it opts for.
- HP60
- ATK50
- DEF150
- SPA50
- SPD150
- SPE60
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Previously a Pokémon in OU in early SM, Aegislash was placed in Ubers shortly after the start of generation. While there are many powerhouses like Primal Groudon and Yveltal that can easily threaten Aegislash, many players tend to overlook its ability to check offensive threats like Xerneas and Mega Lucario. Aegislash is an uncommon answer to those threats that retains a decent amount of offensive power while not being trappable. Aegislash's STAB combination is nearly, if not entirely, unresisted in Ubers, and with high offensive stats, it is capable of at worst forcing recovery from its common switch-ins with Gyro Ball and Choice Specs-boosted attacks.
- HP97
- ATK113
- DEF109
- SPA157
- SPD127
- SPE77
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While Necrozma-DW is rarely used over Necrozma-DM due to its inferior offensive and defensive capabilities, it can utilize its Ghost typing to spinblock and proceed to threaten bulky foes with powerful attacks backed up by its high offensive stats, Swords Dance, many coverage moves, and high Speed. The latter is especially notable, as it provides Necrozma-DW with an option to move first against foes like Mega Salamence and Yveltal lacking Choice Scarf by undergoing Ultra Burst, which may otherwise be difficult for typical Sticky Web teams to deal with. Access to Light That Burns the Sky further improves Ultra Necrozma's offensive presence, allowing it to pressure support Arceus formes that may have Defog and giving it the ability to land a powerful blow a turn after Ultra Burst.
Closing Thoughts
Ghost-types have their downsides. Some of them include a vulnerability to threats like Yveltal and Marshadow and Pursuit trapping. However, many Dark-types can be kept in check by using Pokémon like Xerneas, which is fairly easy to fit on many archetypes, or other effective Pokémon that resist Dark, such as Arceus-Dark, Arceus-Fairy, and Magearna. Make sure to cover these weaknesses and other potential threats that your Ghost-types may make your team weaker to. All in all, though, what they do in return is mostly significantly greater than what they demand from the rest of the team.
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