Mega Gengar better watch the hell out. This shorty is the original rump shaker. No diggity.
[Pros]
<ul>
<li>SHADOW TAG</li>
<li>Just barely enough in stats and movepool to be threatening.</li>
<li>Has an offensive presence, unlike Wobbuffet.</li>
<li>Doesn't use up your one Mega Evolution, unlike Mega Gengar.</li>
<li>Also more immediately reliable than Gengar, since Gengar can't trap foes before it has Mega Evolved.</li>
</ul>
[Cons]
<ul>
<li>Pure Psychic-typing leaves it very weak to Dark-types and other Pursuit users.</li>
<li>Mega Gengar completely outclasses Gothitelle, once transformed.</li>
<li>No access to Trick, one of its few possible niches over Mega Gengar.</li>
</ul>
[Set Recommendations]
<p>Gothitelle @ Choice Specs / Life Orb<br />
Ability: Shadow Tag<br />
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe <br />
Timid / Modest Nature <br />
- Psychic / Psyshock<br />
- Thunderbolt<br />
- Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Fire<br />
- Grass Knot</p>
<p>Psychic is the preferred move since it hits harder on average, but Psyshock can be used if you especially need to remove Chansey or Blissey.</p>
<p>Thunderbolt will dispose of Skarmory and many Water-types.</p>
<p>Hidden Power Ice completes the pseudo-BoltBeam combination and hits Gliscor and Dragon-types hard, but Hidden Power Fire can be used for Scizor and Ferrothorn.</p>
<p>Grass Knot covers the Water/Ground-types Thunderbolt misses out on, as well as OHKOing Physical Wall Hippowdon and seriously denting Tyranitar when not in sand.</p>
<p>Timid is most useful with Choice Specs in order to outrun Adamant Breloom and Timid Magnezone (especially if running Hidden Power Fire). If using Life Orb, Modest is helpful to recoup the lost power from not using Specs, as long as your team doesn't care about things at that speed tier.</p>
<p>Use Gothitelle to remove the counters of a teammate, such as Hidden Power Ice eliminating Gliscor and freeing up Lucario's chance to sweep.</p>
<p>Also very potent on a Spikes stacking team, since you can trap and KO the opponent's Rapid Spin/Defog user.</p>
<p>Gothitelle @ Choice Scarf<br />
Ability: Shadow Tag<br />
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe <br />
Timid Nature <br />
- Psychic / Psyshock<br />
- Thunderbolt<br />
- Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Fire<br />
- Grass Knot</p>
<p>Choice Scarf Gothitelle plays similarly to Specs/LO in that it removes opposing counters.</p>
<p>But it preys on different threats. Trades hitting like a truck for being able to remove speedy sweepers.</p>
<p>Much less useful at trapping bulky pokemon, which is better done by the Specs/LO set.</p>
<p>However, Scarf Gothitelle outspeeds important positive-natured base 120 Pokemon or slower, such as Starmie, Gengar, and Alakazam.<p>
<p>Since Scarf Gothitelle is faster than Specs or LO, it tends to be more durable, since it should take fewer hits.</p>
<p>This means though, that the thing you are trying to trap may need to be weakened first.<p>
<p>Gothitelle @ Life Orb / Expert Belt<br />
Ability: Shadow Tag<br />
EVs: 212 HP / 252 SpA / 44 Spe <br />
Modest Nature <br />
- Psyshock / Psychic<br />
- Thunderbolt / Grass Knot<br />
- Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Fire<br />
- Thunder Wave</p>
<p>Spread designed to outspeed uninvested base 70s, notably Skarmory and Politoed.</p>
<p>Pick one of the sides on the attacks.</p>
<p>Life Orb goes with Psyshock, Thunderbolt, and Hidden Power Ice, so that you can cover Gliscor, Skarmory, and Blissey.</p>
<p>Expert Belt Gothitelle instead can specifically target Gastrodon, Hippowdon, Scizor, and Ferrothorn. On this set, Psychic is preferred to Psyshock in order to still hit Gliscor hard.</p>
<p>Thunder Wave acts as a general check to many fast threats.</p>
<p>Thunder Wave's slot can also be filled with Taunt, in order to stop Ferrothorn and Forretress from laying hazards, if you don't have Hidden Power Fire, and in order to threaten Chansey and Blissey more.</p>
<p>Other fillers include Dark Pulse to hit other Psychic-types and Aegislash and Trick Room to provide both Gothitelle and its teammates a potential Speed boost against an offensive team.</p>
<p>Gothitelle @ Leftovers<br />
Ability: Shadow Tag<br />
EVs: 252 HP / 212 Def / 44 Spe <br />
Bold Nature <br />
- Calm Mind<br />
- Psyshock<br />
- Rest<br />
- Hidden Power Fighting / Hidden Power Fire / Reflect</p>
<p>Shadow Tag enables Gothitelle to set up freely on things that don't threaten it, including many supportive mons, such as Florges, Sylveon, Blissey, and Chansey.</p>
<p>Can't be unexpectedly Tricked or Phazed while setting up, either.</p>
<p>Rest is necessary to avoid losing to the very things you are setting up on.</p>
<p>Not having Sleep Talk won't matter, as long as you set up on the right things.</p>
<p>The choice of 4th move depends on what else you may want to beat, after you're set up. Ferrothorn, Scizor, and Skarmory are covered by Hidden Power Fire, though Hidden Power Fighting is essential for Tyranitar.</p>
<p>Reflect on the other hand may help ease set up against something like Gliscor or Chesnaught.</p>
<p>Partners well with special sweepers who appreciate the help getting past the aforementioned walls, such as Hydreigon or Starmie.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Countering is technically impossible in many cases, since only Ghosts and other Pokemon with Shadow Tag can switch out of Gothitelle in order to switch into their counter.</p>
<p>However, very threatened by U-turn and Pursuit trapping.</p>
<p>Common users of those moves, Scizor and Tyranitar are particularly threatening, though both may need to watch out for Hidden Power, though Hidden Power Fighting for Tyranitar is uncommon.</p>
<p>Chansey fears nothing from Gothitelle, not even a Choice Specs Psyshock.</p>
Last edited:
