[SET]
name: Poison Heal
move 1: Baneful Bunker / Spiky Shield
move 2: Core Enforcer
move 3: Scald / Knock Off
move 4: Stealth Rock
item: Toxic Orb
ability: Poison Heal
nature: Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Giratina's excellent bulk and useful Ghost / Dragon typing makes it a solid Poison Heal disrupter in the metagame. Poison Heal Giratina is a good check to Imprison + Transform Zacian-C as it cannot be trapped, can punish it with Scald, and denies Zacian-C healing once transformed. Baneful Bunker is used to scout the opponent's moveset and allows Giratina to safely activate its Toxic Orb. Spiky Shield should be used if running Knock Off or any other contact move, as to avoid letting Imposter users take advantage of Poison Heal. Scouting with these moves is useful against opponents with Choice items like Eternatus, Groudon, and Kyurem-W, as it allows Giratina to switch out if needed to a teammate that can check the threat. Core Enforcer provides strong utility by suppressing the opponent's ability and allows Giratina to check setup sweepers like Poison Heal Regigigas. Scald provides utility as well by spreading burns to cripple foes like Zamazenta-C and Solgaleo, and pick up useful chip damage. Knock Off is another utility option that removes items from the opposing team. Giratina is a solid Stealth Rock setter, as its low Speed combined with Core Enforcer allows it to suppress the ability of opposing Magic Bounce users. A Relaxed nature lets Giratina take on physical attackers better while minimum Speed means Giratina is more likely to move second to allow Core Enforcer to suppress abilities.
Zacian-C appreciates Giratina's ability to set Stealth Rock and cripple opposing teams with burns or Knock Off, each of which help Zacian-C break through opposing teams with its boosted attacks. Knock Off removes Rocky Helmet from foes like Fur Coat Zamazenta-C while Scald can also punish Zamazenta-C and other Steel-types hoping to check Zacian-C, as it leaves them unable to significantly damage Zacian-C in return. Spreading burns or removing items is also useful to offensive teammates like Groudon and Palkia, as they have better matchups against Imposter users that are statused or not boosted by Eviolite. Zacian-C can also help out Giratina by taking on Fairy- and Ice-types like Xerneas and Kyurem-W, and is aided by Giratina's ability to scout them with a protect variant. Other Steel-types like Zamazenta-C can take on these foes along with Dark-types like Yveltal, while in return Giratina can check Fire-types like Ho-Oh that can threaten Zamazenta-C. While Imposters transformed into Giratina are unable to heal, they still can force out Giratina as they threaten to chip its health and suppress its healing with Core Enforcer. Fairy-type teammates like Xerneas, Tapu Fini, and Magearna can help to Imposter-proof Giratina and force out Imposter users with their Fairy STAB moves.
[SET]
name: Fur Coat Wall
move 1: Spectral Thief
move 2: Core Enforcer
move 3: Scald / Stealth Rock
move 4: Recover
item: Griseous Orb / Leftovers
ability: Fur Coat
nature: Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Fur Coat doubles Giratina's already impressive Defense, making it a sturdy check to most physically offensive threats in the metagame. With Fur Coat, Giratina can check threats like Zacian-C and Groudon while countering Poison Heal Regigigas. Spectral Thief steals opponent's stat boosts, preventing foes from setting up and potentially breaking past Giratina, and keeps Giratina from being passive against threats like Zacian-C. Core Enforcer is a strong utility STAB move that allows Giratina to suppress foes' abilities and counter Poison Heal Regigigas. Scald provides more utility and can cripple opposing teams with burns. Stealth Rock is a team support option that can be used as well to chip opposing teams. Recover is needed to keep Giratina healthy throughout battle to reliable check physical attackers. Griseous Orb boosts Giratina's STAB moves to give it more offensive presence, and it can't be removed which makes Giratina a good check to Trick users and a lessens the power of Knock Off. Leftovers can be used as well to give Giratina passive recovery, but is generally not as useful as Griseous Orb. A Relaxed nature further boosts Giratina's Defense and full Speed investment is useful despite the negative nature to outspeed foes like Magearna and opposing Giratina.
Offensive teammates like Xerneas and Groudon appreciate Giratina's ability to check threats like Zacian-C and Regigigas, as these threats are normally able to beat them. Giratina's support via Scald or Stealth Rock also gives its offensive teammates more opportunities to break through opposing defensive cores and can ease matchups against opposing Imposter users. Specially defensive teammates like Ice Scale Zamazenta-C appreciate Giratina's ability to check physical threats using powerful moves like V-create and Precipice Blades that threaten it. In return, Zamazenta-C checks special attackers like Xerneas, Eternatus, and Kyurem-W that threaten Giratina with their strong STAB moves. Giratina is vulnerable to Imposter users as they can take advantage of Giratina's great bulk and recovery, so it is important to pair Giratina with a teammate that can Imposter-proof it. Xerneas with Poison Heal or Pixilate, or other Fairy-types like Tapu Fini and Magearna can threaten Imposters of Giratina with their STAB moves or punish Imposters with status and item removal. Each of these can also control entry hazards with Rapid Spin or Court Change, which helps keep entry hazards from chipping Giratina's health in range of being KOed by opposing threats.
[SET]
name: Setup Check
move 1: Haze
move 2: Core Enforcer / Entrainment
move 3: Spectral Thief / Encore / Court Change
move 4: Recover
item: Griseous Orb / Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Prankster
nature: Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Giratina's incredible bulk and good defensive typing let it serve as a reliable setup check with Prankster Haze. Prankster Haze allows Giratina to check most non-Dragon-type setup sweepers by removing their stat boosts. Core Enforcer helps to force out setup threats like Poison Heal Regigigas by suppressing its ability and keeps Giratina from being passive. Entrainment is another option that removes abilities from Fairy-type foes such as Pixilate Xerneas and Magearna and also targets Poison Heal Regigigas with Avalanche. Spectral Thief steals opponent's stat boosts and makes Giratina less vulnerable to Fairy-type attackers like Poison Heal Xerneas and Zacian-C. Encore can be used instead to lock foes into their setup move, which gives Giratina an opportunity to heal, suppress their ability, or switch to a teammate. However, Encore has low PP and can be less effective once revealed. Court Change is another option that provides team support by swapping entry hazards to the opponent's side of the field. Recover is needed to keep Giratina healthy so it can continue to check setup threats. Griseous Orb boosts Giratina's STAB moves and makes it immune to Trick, which would otherwise hamper Giratina's ability to check setup sweepers. Heavy-Duty Boots can be used, with or without Court Change as well, to prevent Giratina from taking chip damage from entry hazards. A Relaxed nature is used to check physical attackers like Zacian-C and Regigigas and full Speed investment is useful despite the negative nature to outspeed foes like Magearna and opposing minimum Speed Giratina.
Offensive teammates like Xerneas and Groudon appreciate Giratina's ability to check boosted threats like Zacian-C and Regigigas, as these threats are normally able to beat them. These offensive teammates also appreciate Court Change from Giratina to keep entry hazards off the field to keep them healthy. Giratina's teammates also benefit from its immunity to trapping, as Giratina is not threatened by common Anchor Shot users like Zamazenta-C and Solgaleo. Giratina is threatened by Dragon-, Fairy-, and Ice-type setup sweepers like Reshiram, Xerneas, and Kyurem-B, so Steel-types like Zamazenta-C, Solgaleo, and Magearna can cover its weaknesses while using abilities like Fur Coat and Ice Scales to check these boosted threats. Giratina is weak to Imposter users, as it is weak to its own attacks and gives Imposter users an opportunity to recover their health. Fairy-type teammates like Xerneas, Tapu Fini, and Magearna make for good partners with Giratina as they can Imposter-proof its set and threaten the Imposter users with super effective STAB moves and punish it with status.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Poison Heal Giratina can use Worry Seed instead of Core Enforcer to check Avalanche Poison Heal Regigigas and force out Poison Heal Fairy-types like Tapu Fini and Xerneas, but can be risky since Magic Bounce users can bounce it back to suppress Giratina's healing. Similarly, Fur Coat Giratina can use Entrainment over Core Enforcer to force out Poison Heal Fairy-types but must be healthy to do so as it is threatened by their STAB moves. Poison Heal Giratina can run Spectral Thief to prevent foes from setting up, but misses out utility from Stealth Rock and is only useful against foes that can't hit Giratina super effectively like Ho-Oh and Necrozma-DM. Spikes can be used in place of Stealth Rock on Poison Heal and Fur Coat sets, depending on the team's needs, but Spikes allows Imposter users to set more entry hazards as well so a Magic Bounce could be used to Imposter-proof Spikes Giratina. Prankster Giratina can use Destiny Bond to take down insurmountable setup threats like Kyurem-B and Reshiram, or to take out unwanted foes in general, but requires Giratina to be sacrificed and its low PP can be stalled by the opponent if the move is revealed too early. Safety Goggles can be used on Prankster Giratina to prevent setup sweepers from using Spore, but Spore is fairly uncommon so its other item choices are usually more beneficial. Prankster Giratina can run Knock Off or Corrosive Gas instead of Spectral Thief to dissuaded Imposter users from switching in and support its team by removing items.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Xerneas**: Xerneas threatens Giratina with strong Fairy STAB moves like Moonblast and Pixilate Boomburst. Its immunity to Core Enforcer means Poison Heal sets can freely set up with Quiver Dance and hit Giratina with Moonblast. However, Xerneas does have to watch out for ability removal like Prankster Entrainment and Worry Seed from Poison Heal Giratina.
**Dragon-types**: While Giratina can check opposing Dragon-types with Core Enforcer and Fur Coat, special attacking Dragon-types like Eternatus, Reshiram, and Palkia threaten to OHKO Giratina with powerful moves like Dragon Energy and Draco Meteor.
**Zacian-C**: Poison Heal Giratina is 2HKOed by Zacian-C using Play Rough or Glacial Lance and Prankster Giratina is forced to Haze and Recover against Zacian-C but can still be 2HKOed by these super effective moves if Zacian-C is not boosted. However, Poison Heal and Prankster Giratina can check Anchor Shot Zacian-C with Imprison + Transform and Fur Coat Giratina is able to check any Zacian-C variant lacking Taunt.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[a loser, 410702]]
- Quality checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1]]
Last edited: