Gourgeist (Super) Movesets & Competitive Sets

Moves Foul Play is Gourgeist-XL's best offensive move, allowing to avoid relying on its own uninvested offensive stats and instead use those of its target, allowing it to 2HKO Komala and Electivire. Will-O-Wisp cripples the physical attackers Gourgeist-XL generally deals with while also whittling any target down. The combination of Will-O-Wisp and Foul Play also heavily discourages physical setup sweepers like Swords Dance Bouffalant and Silvally formes from switching in or setting up. Leech Seed provides Gourgeist-XL with passive recovery and slowly wears down foes. It also makes switching out to a teammate slightly easier, as they will get some health back after doing so. Seed Bomb is an alternative in the last slot to provide Gourgeist-XL with a STAB move, notably allowing it to OHKO Floatzel after Stealth Rock. Set Details Colbur Berry allows Gourgeist-XL to consistently switch into Pokemon like Komala, as even Knock Off won't do much damage. Leftovers is an option over Colbur Berry to increase its longevity and allow it to not use Synthesis and Leech Seed as much, though it then takes a lot from Knock Off and thus becomes easier to take down. A Bold nature is usually preferred in order to lower the damage from opposing Foul Plays Play, although Impish should be used on Seed Bomb sets in order to avoid lowering the move's damage. Usage Tips Gourgeist-XL should be switched into physical attackers like Komala and Golem to prevent them from threatening its team, as it easily takes them on. In order to take these threats on, Gourgeist-XL needs to be healthy. Thus, especially if not running Leftovers, it is crucial to keep its health up with Synthesis and Leech Seed. If it is not needed to heal up, crippling a switch-in with Will-O-Wisp or Leech Seed is generally preferred over attacking with Foul Play, as this will make the foe easier to deal with for Gourgeist-XL's team. If a Pokemon immune to Will-O-Wisp or Leech Seed is predicted to come in, using the other one of the two or going for Foul Play is usually recommended. Note that Gourgeist-XL despises getting hit with Toxic, and since some Pokemon like Golem that it switches in on sometimes carry it, scouting their sets via use of Frisk and teammates is often recommended. Synthesis has low PP, so it is not recommended to use it as a method of PP stalling foes, and it should be used with care if the game is expected to go on for a long time, such as in a matchup between two defensive teams. While Gourgeist-XL can easily answer physical variants of Pokemon like Floatzel and Electivire, both of them can bust through it with special attacks in Ice Beam and Flamethrower, respectively. Thus, scouting their sets before blindly switching in is highly recommended. Team Options Specially defensive Pokemon like Komala, Lickilicky, Muk, and Altaria can cover Gourgeist-XL's weaker Defense, while it covers physical attackers for them in return. Notably, Gourgeist-XL also covers Fighting-types like Silvally-Fighting for Komala and Lickilicky and Ground-types like Golem for Muk, while Altaria covers Fire-types for Gourgeist-XL. All four of these Pokemon can also absorb Toxic thanks to their typing, ability, or access to Heal Bell, which is very important for Gourgeist-XL. Since Fire-types like Rapidash and Simisear threaten Gourgeist-XL heavily, checks to them like Silvally-Water and Golem are solid teammates. In return, Gourgeist-XL switches into Grass-types like Leafeon that threaten them, while Golem also checks Flying-types. Similarly, checks to Ice-, Ghost-, and Dark-types like Rapidash, Silvally-Dark, and Silvally-Fighting are also all solid partners for Gourgeist-XL. Gourgeist-XL is one of the best spinblockers in the tier thanks to its high bulk, so Pokemon like Crustle greatly appreciate being paired with it. In return, Gourgeist-XL appreciates Crustle's Spikes to wear down opposing teams in tandem with Will-O-Wisp and Leech Seed. Bronzor is an excellent teammate, as it is a great answer to Altaria, while Gourgeist-XL can absorb Knock Off. In general, Gourgeist-XL fits well on Fire / Grass / Water cores with the likes of the aforementioned Rapidash and Silvally-Water, as they all cover each others weaknesses quite well.

Moves Will-O-Wisp can spread burns around to cripple opposing teams. Synthesis is a reliable recovery move that keeps Gourgeist-XL healthy throughout the game. Foul Play serves as Gourgeist's attacking move, which punishes physical attackers, while Leech Seed provides it with passive recovery and can wear down Pokemon such as Monferno. Seed Bomb can used over Leech Seed to increase the damage output. Set Details Maximum HP and Defense EVs with an Impish nature are used to make Gourgeist-XL as physically bulky as possible. Gourgeist-XL can either run Colbur Berry, to more reliably check Pokemon such as Leafeon, or Leftovers to give it extra passive recovery. Frisk is used to scout out the opposing team's items. Usage Tips While Gourgeist-XL is capable of countering many of the metagame's premier attackers, its defensive prowess makes it an obvious switch-in, so be careful of constantly bringing Gourgeist-XL into the same situations in case of a double switch to a Pokemon that can take Gourgeist-XL on more effectively. Gourgeist-XL should spread burns as much as possible, but it should also be careful of Pokemon with Guts and Flash Fire, which can get a free switch in and hit hard with their boosted attacks. Gourgeist-XL can also block Rapid Spin due to its Ghost typing, although Cryogonal and Torkoal are able to defeat Gourgeist-XL with their super effective STAB attacks. Make sure that Gourgeist-XL stays healthy throughout the match by using Synthesis, as it needs to stay at higher health to take strong physical attacks such as Choice Banded Stoutland's Return. In addition, beware of switching it into common Water-types simply due to type advantage, as nearly all offensive Water-types carry Ice Beam and can do significant damage to Gourgeist-XL on the switch. Make sure to scout out sets before blindly switching in Gourgeist-XL, as some Pokemon can carry moves that can cripple it on the switch in, such as defensive Golem with Toxic. Team Options Gourgeist-XL's unique Ghost / Grass typing gives it incredible synergy with most of PU's non-Grass-type defensive staples. Probopass can cover Flying-types such as Dodrio as well as check Fire-types and trap Pawniard with Magnet Pull, while Gourgeist-XL can cover Probopass's Ground and Fighting weaknesses. Grumpig is a useful teammate for Gourgeist-XL, as it can counter the metagame's most threatening Ice-types and give Gourgeist-XL Heal Bell support in case of stray status, though running Grumpig comes at the cost of adding on a second Dark-type weakness. Gourgeist-XL also works well with common entry hazard setters such as Golem and Stunfisk, as it can cover their weaknesses to Grass- and Water-type moves as well as keep their Stealth Rock on the field by spinblocking. Gourgeist-XL also appreciates entry hazard removal by Pokemon such as Vullaby and Pelipper, as a lack of entry hazards makes it much easier for Gourgeist-XL to constantly switch into strong physical attackers and the removal of Toxic Spikes can prevent Gourgeist-XL from being crippled by status.

Moves Will-O-Wisp is used to cripple physical attackers while also dealing residual damage to help wear down the opposing team. Synthesis provides Gourgeist-XL with reliable recovery, which helps keep it healthy. Foul Play allows Gourgeist-XL to hit physical setup sweepers such as Swords Dance Samurott and Swords Dance + RestTalk Escavalier, and it is Gourgeist-XL's best way of hitting Swords Dance Virizion, naturally hitting it for boosted damage due to Justified. Leech Seed allows Gourgeist-XL to gain some passive recovery while also putting pressure on switch-ins. Seed Bomb is a usable option over Leech Seed to deal with Ground- and Rock-types such as Rhyperior and Diancie much more quickly while also threatening Blastoise, enhancing Gourgeist-XL's spinblocking capabilities. Rock Slide is another option for the last moveslot to hit Fire-, Flying-, and Ice-types such as Houndoom, Sigilyph, and Sneasel, all of which are common switch-ins to Gourgeist-XL, while also OHKOing Fletchinder. Set Details Maximum HP and Defense investment with an Impish nature is used to make Gourgeist-XL as physically bulky as possible, allowing it to check physical attackers such as Medicham. Leftovers gives Gourgeist-XL extra passive recovery so it doesn't have to use Synthesis as often, and it works well in conjunction with Leech Seed to keep Gourgeist-XL more healthy. Colbur Berry is a good alternative option to help Gourgeist-XL more reliably check Fighting-types such as Hitmonlee by taking their Dark-type coverage much better; it also allows Gourgeist-XL to survive Sneasel's and Absol's Knock Off and cripple them with Will-O-Wisp in an emergency situation. Usage Tips Gourgeist-XL should be switched in on the Pokemon it checks, such as Fighting- and Ground-types. Gourgeist-XL must be wary of switching into Water-types, however, as even with its resistance to the typing, it can be crippled with a Scald burn or be taken out by offensive Water-types using Ice Beam. Once switched in safely, Gourgeist-XL can proceed to spread burns and Leech Seeds against the opposing team, crippling physical attackers and wearing down its switch-ins. Make sure to keep Gourgeist-XL healthy throughout the game with Synthesis and Leech Seed, as it needs to be able to take on strong physical attackers such as Life Orb Medicham. Gourgeist-XL can also spinblock thanks to its Ghost typing, so it can take on common spinners such as Hitmontop and Blastoise and keep entry hazards up on the field. However, Hitmontop and Blastoise both have ways of crippling Gourgeist-XL with Toxic and potential Scald burns, so do not switch in on them repeatedly. Team Options Gourgeist-XL usually finds itself on more defensively oriented teams, so it should be used with defensive partners in mind. Specially defensive Pokemon that can take the special hits that Gourgeist-XL cannot, such as Registeel and Mega Audino, are great partners, as they also appreciate Gourgeist-XL taking on most physical attackers. Dark-type switch-ins such as Aromatisse and Diancie make for great partners, as Gourgeist-XL is weak to Dark-type moves, notably Knock Off and Pursuit, which Dark-types can take advantage of unless Gourgeist-XL is running Colbur Berry. Diancie synergizes very well with Gourgeist-XL, taking on the Dark-, Flying-, and Fire-types that Gourgeist-XL is weak to, while Gourgeist-XL takes on Ground- and Water-types for Diancie. Diancie also provides cleric support with Heal Bell so that Gourgeist-XL doesn't have to worry about Toxic as often. Alomomola takes on Fire-types for Gourgeist-XL while also taking on some special attackers like Exploud with a more specially defensive spread, and it appreciates Gourgeist-XL countering Swords Dance Virizion and checking Fighting-type wallbreakers.