Golbat Movesets & Competitive Sets

Moves Brave Bird is Golbat's STAB move that hits Grass- and Fighting-type Pokemon like Decidueye and Medicham for super effective damage. Toxic allows Golbat to deal with threats like Bulk Up Braviary and Comfey while consistently chipping away at Pokemon that are not immune to it. Thanks to Infiltrator, Golbat can bypass the Substitutes of the likes of Braviary and Vivillon and deal with them with Toxic and Brave Bird, respectively. Defog is Golbat's main form of utility, clearing entry hazards for its team and preventing unnecessary residual damage. Taunt inhibits the hazard setting capabilities of Pokemon like Steelix, Garbodor, and Druddigon while stopping Pokemon like Mega Audino and Vaporeon from using Wish and Heal Bell. Super Fang is an option to reliably break down Pokemon like Rhydon and Steelix on the switch, crippling the former due to its lack of recovery and dealing meaningful damage to the latter. Roost is Golbat's recovery move, providing longevity against Pokemon like Sceptile and Whimsicott. Poison Fang is an option over Toxic that allows Golbat to badly poison Xatu, which benefits Stealth Rock users like Steelix and Torterra that need help breaking it; however, Toxic is more useful against most teams. Set Details 176 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature allow Golbat to outspeed positive-natured base 80 Speed Pokemon like Medicham and Gallade as well as slower Pokemon like Decidueye and Samurott. 252 HP and 80 SpD EVs in conjunction with Eviolite give Golbat the ability to switch into the STAB moves of Pokemon like Sceptile and Whimsicott with ease while still reliably checking Pokemon like Passimian. Infiltrator allows Golbat to bypass Substitutes and deal with threats like Bulk Up Braviary with Toxic and Vivillon with Brave Bird. Usage Tips Golbat's bulk allows it to directly switch into the STAB moves of a plethora of attackers. For example, it can switch into Pokemon like Sceptile and Passimian and 2HKO if not OHKO these Pokemon with Brave Bird, and it can be used as a switch-in to Dhelmise, though it has to be wary of a Choice Band-boosted Anchor Shot. Golbat can also directly switch in against some Fairy-types like Comfey, but it cannot switch into Aromatisse's and Choice Specs Whimsicott's Psychic, as they both 2HKO Golbat, and it must be wary of Mega Audino's Knock Off. Try to avoid letting Golbat take an unnecessary Knock Off, as without Eviolite, it loses a lot of bulk and has a harder time functioning as a check to threats like Passimian and Scrafty. Stealth Rock is a large detriment to Golbat's ability to act as a defensive check, so make sure to use Golbat's ability to switch into the plethora of passive Pokemon in NU like Garbodor, Mega Audino, and Vaporeon as an opportunity to remove entry hazards with Defog. Utilize Taunt to stop Pokemon like Palossand, Torterra, Miltank, and Ferroseed from setting up hazards, and against Pokemon like Mega Audino and Vaporeon to stop them from using their utility moves. Utilize Toxic to cripple common switch-ins to Golbat like Rhydon and Heliolisk and against bulkier Pokemon that do not function well when badly poisoned, like Palossand and Seismitoad. Team Options Golbat is best used on stall and bulkier teams where a wide range of offensive threats that can threaten Golbat are covered. Psychic-types like defensive Delphox, Slowking, and Xatu can cover Golbat's Psychic-type weakness and, in the case of Xatu, assist with keeping Stealth Rock off the field. Bulky Water-types like Vaporeon, Seismitoad, and Pyukumuku synergize well with Golbat defensively, as they are able to handle Pokemon that switch into Golbat like Steelix, Rhydon, and Klinklang, and in return, Golbat can beat the Grass-types that plague them. Ground-types like Palossand, Steelix, and Torterra make for great partners, as they are able to provide an Electric immunity and support the team with Stealth Rock. Clerics like Vaporeon, Articuno, and Mega Audino can remove debilitating status conditions like paralysis and burn with Heal Bell and help preserve Golbat's Roost PP and switch it in more safely with Wish.

Moves Defog is a stellar way of getting rid of entry hazards and Roost keeps Golbat alive so it can keep Defogging. Brave Bird smacks around Grass- and Fighting-types and ensures Golbat is not made useless by Taunt, while Toxic lets Golbat cripple a multitude of Pokemon, notably dangerous threats like SubCM Meloetta, hitting it even behind a Substitute thanks to Infiltrator, and dangerous special attackers such as Clawitzer and Houndoom. Super Fang and Taunt let Golbat heavily wear down Steel-types that normally wall it and defeat and Defog on many defensive Pokemon and hazards setters that usually defeat it, respectively. Set Details Maximum HP EVs maximize overall bulk, while 176 SpD EVs and a Careful nature enhance Golbat's special bulk quite emphatically; 80 Speed EVs let Golbat outspeed Modest Exploud. Eviolite boosts Golbat's bulk by a ridiculous 50%, and Infiltrator allows it to Toxic or attack foes behind a Substitute. Usage Tips Golbat should switch in on Hitmonlee, as well as on Clawitzer and weaker special attackers that cannot hit it super effectively. Try to come in on defensive Pokemon such as Aromatisse and Amoonguss, though for sleep-inducers you may want another Pokemon to take the sleep first. Switch in on Substitute boosters such as SubCM Meloetta, hit them with a Toxic, then either switch out to a teammate that walls them or stay in and Roost stall if Golbat does. Team Options Physical walls like Alomomola and Aromatisse complement Golbat nicely, taking the hits it cannot and providing it with Wish support; Alomomola can more easily pass Wishes due to Regenerator, while Aromatisse can take over Fighting-type wall duty and keep Golbat status-free with Aromatherapy. Mega Steelix can consistently and continually set up Stealth Rock while taking Knock Off, as well as many other attacks Golbat is weak to, and checking Exploud and Steel-types. Mega Steelix can also Roar or Curse to take care of Substitute boosters to preserve Golbat's life, and Golbat in return takes on Fighting-types. Audino can form a specially defensive core with Golbat, passing Wishes to it and curing its status while sponging Volt Switch and using Knock Off on pesky Steel-types; Golbat returns these favors by stopping Fighting-types in their tracks. Meloetta is an interesting partner, able to take on opposing Psychic-types, absorb status, and check Fighting-types, while appreciating a solid Hitmonlee and Drapion check on its team.

Moves Defog gets rid of entry hazards, while Roost gets rid of incurred damage. Brave Bird prevents Golbat from being entirely Taunt bait and hits Fighting-, Bug- and Grass-types super effectively, which is convenient since Golbat also has a 4x resistance to those types. Toxic provides general wearing-down utility and specifically gives Golbat a tool to status foes behind a Substitute, ending any chance of them sweeping, while Super Fang does a lot of damage overall and gives Golbat a way to threaten Steel-types; Taunt messes with defensive Pokemon and lets Golbat defeat entry hazard users. Set Details Maximum HP EVs and an Eviolite confer general bulk, while 252 Defense EVs along with an Impish nature crucially buff up Golbat's physical bulk. Infiltrator allows Golbat to penetrate Substitutes for the team's benefit. Usage Tips Try to Defog whenever you can, though if your opponent is likely to switch in a Stealth Rock user that beats Golbat, it may be best to just Roost and keep its health high, especially if your opponent also has a dangerous threat Golbat needs to stay alive for. In general, hitting a foe Golbat walls with Toxic and stalling it out with Roost is better than taking it out with Brave Bird, as the latter option can leave Golbat fairly low on HP, though feel free to finish it right away if Golbat has no other role to fill. If your opponent has a Fighting-type such as Hitmonlee or Sawk, Golbat will be hit by Knock Off; make peace with this, although trying to switch into Fighting-type moves is still a good idea. Watch out for coverage moves such as Stone Edge from Hitmonlee, and when faced with bulky Substitute boosters, simply hit them with Toxic and switch out to a teammate that walls them, which you should have considering the lack of power of most Substitute boosters. Golbat can take advantage of a fair few defensive Pokemon to Defog, including Amoonguss, Aromatisse, and even other Golbat, as well as Alomomola and Tangrowth, though you might want a cleric for the former and both can easily Knock Off Golbat's Eviolite. Team Options This Golbat appreciates special walls as partners, especially if they resist one of its weaknesses. Almost any Steel-type makes a good partner for Golbat in some fashion or another, as does any Knock Off absorber. Mega Steelix is both, and it's also a bulky Stealth Rock setter that can come in multiple times to reset Stealth Rock while taking Rock-type attacks and warding off Steel-types. Mega Steelix can also take general physical attacks as well as Psychic- and Electric-type attacks while thwarting Substitute boosters with Roar so Golbat can preserve its health and Toxic them only in lastmon situations or forgoing Stealth Rock entirely for a Curse set that defeats bulky boosters Golbat cannot. Some other Knock Off absorbers are Alomomola, Aromatisse, and (Mega) Audino. Alomomola can take on various special Pokemon or physical Knock Off users such as Hitmonlee and take on Clawitzer while healing Golbat with Wish, while Aromatisse can take on many Fighting-types and special attacks while healing Golbat with Aromatherapy or Wish. (Mega) Audino can do much of the same or act as a bulky win condition that works well with Super Fang Golbat; Mega Audino minds Knock Off not at all, and Audino can pass Wish and not mind thanks to Regenerator. Finally, Rhyperior can take on Rock- and Electric-types such as Tyrantrum while sponging Knock Off, essentially acting as a discount Mega Steelix in this role, though it is a very viable Pokemon.

Golbat is best played as a fast physical wall and stallbreaker. When used in this role, Golbat matches up well against offensive and defensive teams alike, as it is able to wall many offensive threats and Taunt defensive ones. As such, Taunt is the most important move on the set. Without it, Golbat can be used as setup fodder by a variety of threats that do not fear anything else on the set. Roost is used for reliable recovery, which helps sustain Golbat throughout the match and gives it the ability to switch into offensive threats multiple times. Toxic is used as a way to wear down and beat many bulky walls, and it comes with the added benefit of crippling many setup sweepers before they use Substitute. However, Super Fang is still a viable alternative that can deal massive damage to defensive Pokemon, softening them up for a teammate to sweep later on. Finally, Brave Bird is used as a reliable STAB move to keep Golbat from being Taunt bait itself and helps it handle Fighting-type reliably. The Speed EVs for this set are used to outspeed Timid Gorebyss before a Shell Smash so that Golbat can Taunt it or use Toxic to prevent a sweep. Inner Focus is the chosen ability, as it helps Golbat against certain Pokemon, such as Fake Out Kangaskhan, and Infiltrator is generally useless for a defensive Pokemon. There are also many other moves that Golbat could use effectively depending on your team's needs; Knock Off, U-turn, and Whirlwind are all great examples. As a weakness to Stealth Rock is often such a bother for a defensive Pokemon, Golbat really appreciates team support to handle it. A Rapid Spin user can be paired with Golbat for this purpose if you have room for it. Wartortle is the most reliable defensive Rapid Spin user; it can use Foresight and Rapid Spin against Ghost-types, can take on Ice-type attacks well, and has a good matchup against Rock-type Pokemon. Seismitoad and Metang also synergize well with Golbat. Seismitoad can take on Rock- and Electric-type attacks aimed at Golbat, while Metang can do the same for Ice-, Rock-, and Psychic-type attacks. Meanwhile, Golbat can take on Grass-type attacks for Seismitoad and Ground-type attacks for Metang. Skuntank also pairs well with Golbat, as it can remove the Psychic-type Pokemon that threaten Golbat without compounding weaknesses thanks to their immunities. Finally, Golbat can form a good defensive core with both Audino and Lickilicky, as each can provide Heal Bell support to handle bothersome burns for Golbat while it can take on the Fighting-type Pokemon that threaten them.

With a Choice Band, Golbat's already decent Attack is improved substantially, turning it into an effective revenge killer, cleaner, and wallbreaker. Sludge Bomb is Golbat's main STAB attack, hitting Grass-types very hard and neutral targets for good damage. Aerial Ace is the preferred STAB Flying-type attack to allow Golbat to run Hidden Power Ground. Hidden Power Ground hits the Rock- and Steel-types that Golbat usually struggles with. The last slot goes to Giga Drain, which hits Relicanth and Graveler harder than Hidden Power Ground would. Shadow Ball can be a good alternative option to hit Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Chimecho and Haunter super effectively. Maximum Attack and Speed investment with a Naive nature ensures that Golbat will hit as hard and as fast as possible and will at worst Speed tie with opposing Vigoroth and Venomoth. Golbat is one of the best offensive switch-ins to Hitmonchan, but Rock Slide should be scouted for to ensure that Golbat is not KOed. Golbat should be kept as healthy as possible to check Fighting- and Grass-types to its maximum potential, as without Leftovers, it gets worn down quite easily. It outspeeds the majority of the tier and can be used to clean up late-game as long as all Rock- and Steel-types are properly dealt with beforehand. Golbat should avoid getting locked into moves without knowing or being able to guess most of the opponent's team, as it can become potential setup fodder for Pokemon like Pupitar, Mawile, and Plusle. Golbat has the option of running Quick Attack to beat out weakened threats, Double-Edge for an overall powerful attack, and Shadow Ball over Giga Drain to hit Psychic-types like Chimecho harder. Golbat appreciates Pokemon that can deal with Rock-, Ground-, and Steel-types. Whiscash is a particularly good partner for this reason. Grass-types such as Bellossom and Tangela help eliminate Rock- and Ground-types that wall Golbat. Diglett traps and KOes Mawile and Flareon, meaning Golbat can switch in and stay in more easily.

The goal of this set is to make the most of Golbat's typing to check certain Pokemon like Hitmonchan, Roselia, and Sableye throughout the match and provide the team with a decent pivot and backup cleaner. Sludge Bomb is Golbat's main STAB attack, hitting Grass-types very hard and neutral targets for good damage. Aerial Ace is the preferred STAB Flying-type attack to allow Golbat to run Hidden Power Ground. Hidden Power Ground hits the Rock- and Steel-types that Golbat usually struggles with. Toxic allows Golbat to put a foe on a timer, wearing down potential walls that might switch into Golbat. Whirlwind phazes the opposing Pokemon, resetting stat boosts and potentially revealing more of your opponent's team. Taunt can be used to prevent setup and other status moves, and can potentially allow Golbat to outstall certain Pokemon like Sableye by blocking its use of Recover. Giga Drain is an option to hit Relicanth, Pupitar, and Graveler harder than Hidden Power Ground would. Protect over Hidden Power Ground is an option that allows Golbat to gain an extra turn of Leftovers recovery, which greatly increases longevity, as Hidden Power Ground isn't doing much to common Steel-types without the power of Choice Band behind it. The given EV spread maximizes HP and has enough Speed investment to make Golbat outspeed Jolly Hitmonchan, with the rest of the EVs thrown into Attack to boost Golbat's offensive potential. This Golbat set can be used to switch into Fighting-types more liberally, having the passive recovery of Leftovers to help it out. Golbat can also be used to deal with Grass-types, which usually rely on their STAB moves to defeat foes. Golbat can switch into powerful Earthquakes from many Pokemon, but because many Ground-type Pokemon are also Rock-type, Golbat needs to make use of effective double switching to get in a teammate that can take on these Pokemon one-on-one. Golbat appreciates teammates that can deal with Rock-, Ground-, and Steel-types. Whiscash, Hitmonchan, and Graveler are particularly good partners to perform this task. Ice-resistant Pokemon such as Dewgong, Seadra, and Mawile can cover Golbat's Ice weakness. In return, these Pokemon like the removal of Fighting-types, which Golbat does well. Grass-types such as Bellossom and Tangela help eliminate Rock- and Ground-types that wall Golbat. Diglett can remove Rock- and Steel-types, particularly Mawile, which Golbat has significant trouble playing around without good prediction.