[OVERVIEW]
Gothitelle is one of the few Pokemon with access to Shadow Tag, enabling it to trap and remove certain targets for its teammates, providing exceptional support. With a wide movepool including utility options such as Charm, Calm Mind, Heal Bell, Taunt, and Rest, Gothitelle can be a nuisance to the majority of the walls the Ubers metagame such as Chansey, support Arceus formes, Lugia, Clefable, Skarmory, and Toxapex. Gothitelle also takes advantage of the rise of support Arceus formes in response to Marshadow's corresponding gain in offensive presence, which enables it to remove the aforementioned defensive threat and potentially proceed to sweep. Gothitelle also has acceptable 70 / 95 / 110 bulk, allowing it to avoid certain 2HKOs with some specific investment, further enhancing its trapping capabilities. However, this bulk is hindered by a bad defensive typing, leaving Gothitelle with few resistances and weaknesses to common offensive types such as Ghost and Dark. Gothitelle also poses no offensive presence before several Calm Mind boosts and is quite slow, leaving it reliant on trapping mainly defensive threats. It also is limited in terms of offensive moveslots, since in most cases Gothitelle can only afford to allot one slot to its STAB attack, meaning it can be forced out by Dark-type threats such as Yveltal and Mega Tyranitar.
[SET]
name: Trapper
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Psyshock
move 3: Rest
move 4: Heal Bell / Charm / Trick Room
item: Leftovers
ability: Shadow Tag
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Calm Mind allows Gothitelle to break through opposing threats much more easily while also increasing its special bulk, enabling it to avoid the 2HKO from threats such as Mega Gengar and defensive Primal Kyogre after one boost. Psyshock is Gothitelle's main STAB attack and targets specially defensive walls such as Chansey and Ho-Oh for more damage than alternatives like Psychic. Psyshock also aids Gothitelle in Calm Mind wars against opposing Arceus, securing the ability to comfortably break through Arceus after a couple of boosts. Rest is Gothitelle's only form of reliable recovery, curing it of troubling status ailments such as poison and paralysis that can otherwise hinder its trapping capabilities and allowing it to safely break through threats such as Toxic Chansey and Arceus-Water. Rest also helps Gothitelle PP stall targets, as it does not deplete the PP of its own moves while it is asleep. Heal Bell acts as a great means of supporting Gothitelle's teammates, since it enables them to act more recklessly against teams that rely on status, potentially allowing Gothitelle more opportunities to come in safely when one of its offensive partners forces an opposing Pokemon out. It also gives Gothitelle a role in games where it is unable to trap any targets, which is especially the case against more offensive teams. Charm works great in tandem with Gothitelle's Calm Mind boosts, as it enables it to cripple physical attackers that would otherwise be able to threaten it such as Arceus-Ground, Ho-Oh, and Mega Mewtwo X. It also prevents physically attacking sweepers such as Mega Salamence and Rayquaza from breaking through Gothitelle once it has claimed Calm Mind boosts and most notably lets Gothitelle trap Steel-types such as Ferrothorn and Celesteela, as their STAB attacks + Leech Seed HP draining is a likely 3HKO on Gothitelle after a Charm Attack drop. Trick Room can also work as an option on dedicated Trick Room teams, since Gothitelle can ensure its setup against the majority of defensive targets it's intended to trap, supporting its teammates greatly. Taunt can also be utilized over Charm with some Speed investment in order for Gothitelle to better trap certain phazers such as Lugia and Skarmory, preventing them from forcing Gothitelle out. It can also prevent Ferrothorn from using Gothitelle as entry hazard setup fodder as Gothitelle tries to stall it out.
Set Details
========
Shadow Tag is what makes Gothitelle viable, as the ability allows it to choose its matchups and eliminate troublesome checks to its teammates, hopefully opening up holes in the enemy team. EVs have been fully invested in HP and Special Defense with a Calm nature to allow Gothitelle to trap specially attacking threats such as support Arceus, Clefable, and defensive Primal Kyogre. Leftovers increases Gothitelle's longevity and can help Gothitelle avoid needing to use Rest as often versus support Arceus.
Usage Tips
========
Gothitelle is best utilized as a potent stallbreaker that can switch in versus the majority of defensive walls and proceed to either break through them after Calm Mind boost or PP stall with Rest. Due to Gothitelle's below average bulk, it should not try to switch in against offensive attackers such as Xerneas and Primal Groudon, since it can be worn down rather quickly and risks being revenge killed later on in the match. Gothitelle must be wary of Dark-types that can revenge kill it after it has taken down an opposing Pokemon, such as Tyranitar, which can threaten to Pursuit trap it. Therefore, it should try to use Charm against the aforementioned threats in order to avoid being potentially OHKOed.
Team Options
========
Teammates that take advantage of Gothitelle's trapping capabilities are imperative to its overall success. Great examples include threats such as Marshadow, Primal Kyogre, Xerneas, and Ho-Oh that can severely dent the opposing team once checks such as Arceus-Fairy, Ferrothorn, Clefable, and Arceus-Water are trapped and taken out by Gothitelle. Entry hazard setters like Primal Groudon and Ferrothorn can also be useful in order to persuade the opponent to bring in trappable threats such as support Arceus to use Defog. Entry hazard damage gives Gothitelle an easier time switching in versus the aforementioned threats without risking any damage. Fast revenge killers, great examples of which are Choice Scarf Yveltal, Choice Scarf Tapu Lele, and Mega Lucario, are also appreciated because Gothitelle is prone to being forced out by common offensive threats such as Mega Gengar, Marshadow, and Xerneas. Setup sweepers such as Arceus, Arceus-Ground, Mega Salamence, and Primal Groudon can also have an easier time sweeping once Gothitelle facilitates a win condition by trapping their appropriate checks. Entry hazard removal from partners such as support Arceus formes and Mega Salamence can also be utilized with Charm sets in order to sustain Gothitelle's longevity, letting it safely switch into the targets it's intended to trap and removing hazards set up by threats such as Ferrothorn that use Gothitelle as entry hazard setup bait.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A PP stalling set consisting of Charm, Confide, Rest, and Taunt can be utilized to trap weak and passive threats such as Chansey, defensive Ho-Oh, and Calm Mind Arceus formes. Thunder Wave can be used over Heal Bell or Charm to allow Gothitelle to slow down faster threats such as support Arceus and Ho-Oh in an attempt to fare better against them and take advantage of paralysis chances. However, the option forfeits Gothitelle's capability to consistently counteract certain threats it is meant to trap.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: Threats such as Yveltal, Mega Gyarados, Alolan Muk, and Tyranitar can completely stop Gothitelle from sweeping if its Psychic-type STAB move is its only attacking option, and these Dark-types can potentially KO it with their own STAB attacks. Alolan Muk and Tyranitar can be especially threatening, as they can threaten Gothitelle with Pursuit as it tries to switch out.
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types like Mega Gengar, Marshadow, Mega Sableye, and Lunala are immune to Shadow Tag and can target Gothitelle with their Ghost-type attacks. However, Mega Gengar and Lunala can have a difficult time breaking through it if Gothitelle was able to accumulate several Calm Mind boosts.
**Shed Shell**: Threats that commonly carry Shed Shell such as Blissey and Toxapex are also pseudo-immune to the affects of Shadow Tag as long as their item is kept intact, preventing Gothitelle from threatening the aforementioned threats at all unless it carries Trick.
**Taunt Users**: Deoxys-S, Mega Gengar, and Smeargle can all shut down Gothitelle's attempt to set up with Taunt, forcing it to attack unboosted as they proceed to either setup up entry hazards against it or, in Mega Gengar's case, switch out.
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Powerful physical wallbreakers such as Primal Groudon, Mega Lucario, and Choice Band Ho-Oh can all 2HKO Gothitelle even after it lowers their Attack stat with Charm.
**Pivots**: Defensive pivots like Magearna can pivot out against Gothitelle through the use of Volt Switch or U-turn, completely shutting down Gothitelle's attempt to trap and break through them.
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