[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Power Whip
move 2: Poltergeist
move 3: Trick
move 4: Synthesis / Destiny Bond / Explosion
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Frisk
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Gourgeist-S is a fantastic revenge killer thanks to its great Speed tier and strong STAB combination. Fast threats like Morpeko, Choice Scarf Rotom, and +1 Speed Silvally formes all get outsped and KOed after some chip damage. It has great utility beyond revenge killing, too. Its physical bulk lets it switch into attacks from Rhydon, and it also boasts a good defensive typing, letting it switch into Choice-locked wallbreakers like Thwackey and Sawk. Trick cripples checks like Miltank and Tangela switching in. This comes at the cost of its revenge killing abilities, though, so be careful to not use Trick too early. The last move is open for a variety of options. Bulky teams generally favor longevity from Synthesis, which lets Gourgeist-S further take advantage of its defensive typing after using Trick. However, more offensive teams will favor Destiny Bond to stop a sweep or Explosion as a one-time nuke.
Its combination of utility and offensive prowess makes Choice Scarf Gourgeist-S a solid option on most team styles, but bulky offense and balance teams benefit the most. However, remember that a team's Knock Off support can actually hurt Gourgeist-S because Poltergeist relies on opposing items. Arguably Gourgeist-S's most synergetic teammate is Miltank, which switches into Ice-type and Fire-type attacks from the likes of Articuno and Rapidash. In return, Gourgeist-S can handle Fighting-type attacks from Pokemon like Sawk, which scare Miltank out. Gourgiest-S fears Knock Off, but walls like Alcremie, Miltank, and Poliwrath can absorb it with little problem. Articuno, Altaria, and Silvally-Poison can weaken or even dismantle opposing Grass-types, letting Gourgeist-S more easily take advantage of Power Whip. Gourgeist-S is also a great fit on offense, as VoltTurn users like Klinklang and the Silvally formes greatly appreciate its ability to switch into and revenge kill threats. In return, those teammates can chip down the opposing team to make revenge killing easier, especially with Spikes support from Qwilfish. On offense, Gourgeist-S's ability to revenge kill fast threats like Alolan Dugtrio and Choice Scarf Sawk gives more room for sweepers like Silvally-Dark, Jynx, and Klinklang to take over the game.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Power Whip
move 2: Poltergeist
move 3: Shadow Sneak
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Band
ability: Frisk
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Thanks to its great Speed and powerful STAB attacks, Gourgeist-S can function as a fast wallbreaker with decent utility. With its good bulk and typing, it often gets opportunities to switch into the field and threaten a KO. It's able to take advantage of powerful foes such as Rhydon, Sawk, Thwackey, and Alolan Dugtrio. It also easily handles passive attacks from the likes of Qwilfish and Stunfisk, although it should watch for paralysis. Its strong dual STAB attacks are difficult to switch into, breaking through common walls like Alcremie, Altaria, and Poliwrath. Shadow Sneak makes Gourgeist-S a decent revenge killer, picking off weakened faster threats like Swords Dance Rapidash, Choice Band Froslass, and Choice Scarf Rotom. Trick lets it turn the tides agaisnt defensive switch-ins like Tangela and Sap Sipper Miltank.
Entry hazard support goes a long way to help Gourgeist-S thrive. For example, Stealth Rock gives it a good chance to 2HKO Skuntank. Defensive Stealth Rock setters including Stunfisk and Clefairy help keep hazards up over the course of a game. Offensive Stealth Rock setters like Rhydon and Piloswine particularly help, though, because they can KO the Defog users like Articuno and Altaria that Gourgeist-S can sometimes struggle against. Gourgiest-S is capable at breaking through the defensive Water-types and Ground-types that dominate the tier, giving Pokemon like Rapidash and Klinklang a greater chance of sweeping. With frequent Choice locks but no Synthesis or Speed boost, a good defensive backbone can help preserve Gourgeist-S's longevity. Poliwrath, Miltank, and Throh all provide the necessary type synergy and bulk to give it a Pokemon to fall back on. VoltTurn users like the Silvally formes and Manectric can chip foes and lure in Pokemon that lose to Gourgeist-S, like Poliwrath and Altaria, before pivoting into it. Furthermore, wallbreakers like Jynx, Sawk, and Ninetales take advantage of Gourgeist-S's checks like Tangela, Miltank, and Rapidash.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Gourgeist-S can run a Life Orb set with three attacks and Synthesis, letting it change moves, but the boosts from Choice items are more consistently effective, and Trick lets these sets change moves later. Despite its miserable Special Attack, a Nasty Plot set can make Gourgeist-S deceivingly threatening. It has multiple setup opportunities, decent Speed, Fire Blast for coverage, and longevity with Giga Drain or Synthesis. As fun as this seems, though, its Special Attack is sadly still too low to properly break through common walls like Miltank.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-type Pokemon and Coverage**: Silvally-Dark, Shiftry, and Alolan Persian can all switch into Poltergeist and KO Gourgeist-S. Although it is bulky, Gourgeist-S's Dark weakness means it can't always freely switch into Knock Off users the likes of Thwackey and Sawk.
**Bulky Grass-types**: Tangela and other defensive Grass-types like Gourgeist-XL, Shiinotic, and Lurantis can easily take Power Whip. The latter three options all frequently run no item, making them immune to Poltergeist.
**Fire-types**: While they may fear its strong Poltergeist, Fire-types like Ninetales and Rapidash are faster than Choice Band Gourgeist-S and can KO any set with a Fire-type attack.
**Flying-types**: Bulky Flying-types like Altaria, Articuno, and Rotom-S easily switch into Power Whip and can KO Gourgeist-S with their STAB attacks if they avoid getting harmed by Poltergeist. Unfezant boasts an immunity to Poltergeist, making it a great check to Gourgeist-S.
**Sap Sipper Normal-types**: Sap Sipper Miltank and Bouffalant boast immunities to both of Gourgeist-S's STAB types. They must be wary of Trick, but they still wall it after Trick regardless.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[hiss, 528055]]
- Quality checked by: [[Tuthur, 369076], [Corthius, 484079]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Power Whip
move 2: Poltergeist
move 3: Trick
move 4: Synthesis / Destiny Bond / Explosion
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Frisk
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Gourgeist-S is a fantastic revenge killer thanks to its great Speed tier and strong STAB combination. Fast threats like Morpeko, Choice Scarf Rotom, and +1 Speed Silvally formes all get outsped and KOed after some chip damage. It has great utility beyond revenge killing, too. Its physical bulk lets it switch into attacks from Rhydon, and it also boasts a good defensive typing, letting it switch into Choice-locked wallbreakers like Thwackey and Sawk. Trick cripples checks like Miltank and Tangela switching in. This comes at the cost of its revenge killing abilities, though, so be careful to not use Trick too early. The last move is open for a variety of options. Bulky teams generally favor longevity from Synthesis, which lets Gourgeist-S further take advantage of its defensive typing after using Trick. However, more offensive teams will favor Destiny Bond to stop a sweep or Explosion as a one-time nuke.
Its combination of utility and offensive prowess makes Choice Scarf Gourgeist-S a solid option on most team styles, but bulky offense and balance teams benefit the most. However, remember that a team's Knock Off support can actually hurt Gourgeist-S because Poltergeist relies on opposing items. Arguably Gourgeist-S's most synergetic teammate is Miltank, which switches into Ice-type and Fire-type attacks from the likes of Articuno and Rapidash. In return, Gourgeist-S can handle Fighting-type attacks from Pokemon like Sawk, which scare Miltank out. Gourgiest-S fears Knock Off, but walls like Alcremie, Miltank, and Poliwrath can absorb it with little problem. Articuno, Altaria, and Silvally-Poison can weaken or even dismantle opposing Grass-types, letting Gourgeist-S more easily take advantage of Power Whip. Gourgeist-S is also a great fit on offense, as VoltTurn users like Klinklang and the Silvally formes greatly appreciate its ability to switch into and revenge kill threats. In return, those teammates can chip down the opposing team to make revenge killing easier, especially with Spikes support from Qwilfish. On offense, Gourgeist-S's ability to revenge kill fast threats like Alolan Dugtrio and Choice Scarf Sawk gives more room for sweepers like Silvally-Dark, Jynx, and Klinklang to take over the game.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Power Whip
move 2: Poltergeist
move 3: Shadow Sneak
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Band
ability: Frisk
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Thanks to its great Speed and powerful STAB attacks, Gourgeist-S can function as a fast wallbreaker with decent utility. With its good bulk and typing, it often gets opportunities to switch into the field and threaten a KO. It's able to take advantage of powerful foes such as Rhydon, Sawk, Thwackey, and Alolan Dugtrio. It also easily handles passive attacks from the likes of Qwilfish and Stunfisk, although it should watch for paralysis. Its strong dual STAB attacks are difficult to switch into, breaking through common walls like Alcremie, Altaria, and Poliwrath. Shadow Sneak makes Gourgeist-S a decent revenge killer, picking off weakened faster threats like Swords Dance Rapidash, Choice Band Froslass, and Choice Scarf Rotom. Trick lets it turn the tides agaisnt defensive switch-ins like Tangela and Sap Sipper Miltank.
Entry hazard support goes a long way to help Gourgeist-S thrive. For example, Stealth Rock gives it a good chance to 2HKO Skuntank. Defensive Stealth Rock setters including Stunfisk and Clefairy help keep hazards up over the course of a game. Offensive Stealth Rock setters like Rhydon and Piloswine particularly help, though, because they can KO the Defog users like Articuno and Altaria that Gourgeist-S can sometimes struggle against. Gourgiest-S is capable at breaking through the defensive Water-types and Ground-types that dominate the tier, giving Pokemon like Rapidash and Klinklang a greater chance of sweeping. With frequent Choice locks but no Synthesis or Speed boost, a good defensive backbone can help preserve Gourgeist-S's longevity. Poliwrath, Miltank, and Throh all provide the necessary type synergy and bulk to give it a Pokemon to fall back on. VoltTurn users like the Silvally formes and Manectric can chip foes and lure in Pokemon that lose to Gourgeist-S, like Poliwrath and Altaria, before pivoting into it. Furthermore, wallbreakers like Jynx, Sawk, and Ninetales take advantage of Gourgeist-S's checks like Tangela, Miltank, and Rapidash.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Gourgeist-S can run a Life Orb set with three attacks and Synthesis, letting it change moves, but the boosts from Choice items are more consistently effective, and Trick lets these sets change moves later. Despite its miserable Special Attack, a Nasty Plot set can make Gourgeist-S deceivingly threatening. It has multiple setup opportunities, decent Speed, Fire Blast for coverage, and longevity with Giga Drain or Synthesis. As fun as this seems, though, its Special Attack is sadly still too low to properly break through common walls like Miltank.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-type Pokemon and Coverage**: Silvally-Dark, Shiftry, and Alolan Persian can all switch into Poltergeist and KO Gourgeist-S. Although it is bulky, Gourgeist-S's Dark weakness means it can't always freely switch into Knock Off users the likes of Thwackey and Sawk.
**Bulky Grass-types**: Tangela and other defensive Grass-types like Gourgeist-XL, Shiinotic, and Lurantis can easily take Power Whip. The latter three options all frequently run no item, making them immune to Poltergeist.
**Fire-types**: While they may fear its strong Poltergeist, Fire-types like Ninetales and Rapidash are faster than Choice Band Gourgeist-S and can KO any set with a Fire-type attack.
**Flying-types**: Bulky Flying-types like Altaria, Articuno, and Rotom-S easily switch into Power Whip and can KO Gourgeist-S with their STAB attacks if they avoid getting harmed by Poltergeist. Unfezant boasts an immunity to Poltergeist, making it a great check to Gourgeist-S.
**Sap Sipper Normal-types**: Sap Sipper Miltank and Bouffalant boast immunities to both of Gourgeist-S's STAB types. They must be wary of Trick, but they still wall it after Trick regardless.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[hiss, 528055]]
- Quality checked by: [[Tuthur, 369076], [Corthius, 484079]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
Last edited: