Gourgeist Movesets & Competitive Sets

Moves Z-Trick-or-Treat boosts all of Gourgeist's stats apart from HP while also adding Ghost typing to the foe. Phantom Force is the preferred Ghost-type STAB move, but the fact that it takes a turn to charge means that it is easily exploited by foes, especially Normal-types. Shadow Sneak is an alternative, albeit weaker STAB move that doesn't require a turn to charge and gives Gourgeist priority against fast Choice Scarf users like Jynx. Alternatively, Return allows Gourgeist to hit Pokemon like Skuntank harder and gives it almost perfect neutral coverage. Rock Slide is an option to hit Fire-types, like Turtonator and Simisear. Set Details Ghostium Z is 100% required for this set to function, as without it Gourgeist isn't able to use Z-Trick-or-Treat. Running 160 Speed EVs ensures it outspeeds all of the unboosted tier apart from Electrode and Ninjask, both of which can do little to Gourgeist. Frisk is not a very useful ability when used on this Gourgeist set, as it will not be pivoting in to try and wall something, but it's the best ability Gourgeist has access to due to it already being immune to most sleep-inducing moves. Frisk still has some utility in being able to scout the foe's item. Usage Tips Gourgeist should only really be used late-game, when your opponent's team is weakened and ready to be swept, as using it early-game would generally put you at a significant disadvantage versus anything that's not offense. It should attempt to set up on something that's ineffective against it, like Primeape, and shouldn't try to boost against special attackers. Gourgeist appreciates being pivoted in by slow U-turn or Volt Switch users so that it doesn't receive any damage before being able to boost. Even though at +1 Gourgeist outspeeds almost all of the metagame, it is still slower than almost every Choice Scarf user, so it should only use its Z-Move once these faster threats like Choice Scarf Dodrio are dealt with. The same goes for physically bulky Pokemon like Gurdurr and Tangela, which should be either KOed or sufficiently weakened. Team Options Gourgeist, even at +1 Attack, is often still very weak, so it appreciates entry hazard support from the likes of Regirock and Qwilfish to help deal chip damage on the opponent's Pokemon. Slow Volt Switch and U-turn from teammates like Lanturn and Type: Null helps Gourgeist get in for free. Lanturn additionally has great defensive synergy with Gourgeist, as it resists both Fire and Flying and offers Heal Bell support. Toxic Spikes absorbers like Skuntank greatly help during the match, as Toxic Spikes cripple Gourgeist and limit its sweeping potential. Skuntank can also trap foes with Pursuit and remove all hazards with Defog. Powerful wallbreakers like Aurorus and Zangoose are able to weaken the opponent's team enough for Gourgeist to potentially sweep later on.

Moves Trick lets Gourgeist lock passive Pokemon such as Audino and Roselia into an unfavorable move and allows it to force out Calm Mind + Magic Guard users such as Clefairy and Duosion. Will-O-Wisp allows Gourgeist to cripple physical attackers such as Krokorok and Fraxure. Seed Bomb is Gourgeist's strongest and most reliable attacking move, hitting Rock- and Water-types such as Golem and Simipour, and is great for wearing down foes in conjunction with Will-O-Wisp. Destiny Bond knocks out Pokemon such as Zebstrika and Simisear as well as allowing a teammate to get in safely. Set Details 212 EVs in Speed and a Choice Scarf allow Gourgeist to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame and all Pokemon up to +1 Fraxure. 252 EVs in Attack and an Adamant nature allow Gourgeist to hit as hard as possible, and the remaining EVs are put in HP for added bulk. Frisk allows Gourgeist to scout out items such as Choice Scarf from Pokemon such as Rotom-F. Usage Tips Gourgeist should make use of its typing to switch into Pokemon such as Sawsbuck as well as Pokemon locked into unfavorable moves, such as Choice Scarf Raichu locked into Thunderbolt. When using Will-O-Wisp, watch out for Fire-types such as Rapidash and Guts users such as Ursaring, as they can absorb burn and use it to their advantage, as well as take advantage of a Choice-locked Gourgeist. Save Trick for a setup sweeper such as Clefairy or Klang so that you can lock it into an unfavorable move and remove its Eviolite, but be wary that once Gourgeist loses its Choice Scarf it won't be able to outspeed Pokemon such as Zebstrika and use Destiny Bond effectively. Only use Destiny Bond when you are sure that an opposing Pokemon is about to knock Gourgeist out; if you mispredict, Gourgeist will be locked into Destiny Bond, which the opponent can take advantage of. Team Options Water-types such as Simipour and Swanna are able to take on Fire-types for Gourgeist. Fire-types such as Rapidash and Ninetales can handle Ice-types such as Regice and Rotom-F, which threaten Gourgeist, while Gourgeist takes on Water-types such as Politoed for them. Bulky setup sweepers such as Klang and Beheeyem appreciate Gourgeist's ability to get rid of their threats with Destiny Bond, aiding their sweep. Stealth Rock support from Relicanth and Golem is good for dealing chip damage to the opposing team, as Gourgeist forces many switches thanks to Trick and Will-O-Wisp, and they can also take on Fire-types and Flying-types for Gourgeist.