Haunter Movesets & Competitive Sets

The advantage that Choice Scarf Haunter has over other sets is the ability to revenge kill various Choice Scarfers like Mesprit and Rotom, as well as various sweepers like Adamant Sandslash in sand. Dazzling Gleam lets Haunter revenge kill fast Dark-types such as Alolan Persian, while Energy Ball better threatens various foes such as Lanturn. Trick allows Haunter to cripple passive checks like Audino. Haunter is very frail, so it appreciates pivot support from the likes of Togedemaru and Archeops, which can bring Haunter in on their switch-ins like Weezing and Quagsire in order to wallbreak. Blanket special walls like Gigalith, Audino, and Lanturn can switch into Haunter multiple times during a match, so partners that can wear them down such as Ribombee and Charizard, are useful to Haunter.

This set capitalizes on the switches Haunter forces by setting up a Substitute, which eases prediction and negates otherwise threatening priority from Pokemon like Absol, and dissuading faster Pokemon like Charizard from coming in. Will-O-Wisp allows Haunter to cripple Gigalith and other bulky walls. Energy Ball gives Haunter a stronger attack versus Rock-, Ground-, and Water-types such as Regirock, Quagsire, and Wishiwashi. Disable takes advantage of Pokemon that have only one attack that can break Haunter's Substitute such as Palossand and Flamethrower Weezing. Life Orb gives Haunter the most power while allowing it to switch moves. Choice Specs in tandem with Trick or Energy Ball instead of Substitute is an option that increases Haunter's power, notably allowing it to 2HKO Togedemaru. However, it is then more easily pressured by Pokemon that can outspeed it like Charizard and more reliant on prediction to succeed. Haunter struggles against Gigalith commonly running Rock Blast, so partners with a type advantage such as Sandaconda and Poliwrath are appreciated. Sandaconda also provides entry hazard support, while Poliwrath can bait in checks like Aromatisse and Weezing for Haunter to threaten. Other Fighting-types such as Sawk and Gallade also make solid partners, as they both lure in Ghost-types like Palossand and Jellicent that Haunter can break through. In return, they check Normal- and Dark-type threats to Haunter like Audino and Absol.

Moves Dazzling Gleam provides coverage for Dark-types like Absol and Alolan Raticate, while also dealing decent damage to Skuntank, especially if it's caught on the switch. Hidden Power Ground is specifically used to 2HKO Skuntank on the switch. It can also hit foes such as Aggron and Probopass for super effective damage. Destiny Bond allows Haunter to take a foe down with it if it is KOed, ideally after it has been weakened a reasonable amount through means such as its Life Orb. It can also be used to eliminate Dark-types trying to Pursuit trap Haunter such as Spiritomb. Substitute is an alternative that allows Haunter to better take on faster foes that could otherwise come in to revenge kill it. It can also create mind games when facing Sucker Punch users such as Skuntank, but not Spiritomb. Will-O-Wisp is another option for the last slot, as it can be used to cripple physical foes such as Hitmonchan. It is also another way for Haunter to play around Skuntank and Spiritomb, as it bypasses Sucker Punch and cripples them both, even allowing Haunter to barely take non-Black Glasses Jolly Skuntank’s Pursuit when switching out and potentially survive Spiritomb's too. Set Details Life Orb gives all of Haunter's attacks a boost at the cost of recoil, a downside that is not always significant due to Haunter's poor defenses. Levitate is Haunter's only ability, giving it an immunity to Ground-type attacks, which can make Pokemon like Choice Band Mudsdale think twice before they lock themselves into Earthquake. Usage Tips Haunter can utilize its good STAB coverage to serve as a wallbreaker against foes such as Clefairy and Mudsdale. Furthermore, due to its high Speed, it can also serve as a revenge killer for foes such as Qwilfish and Oricorio-G. However, if the opponent has a threat such as Skuntank or Spiritomb ready to switch in, Haunter can predict the switch and go for Hidden Power Ground or Dazzling Gleam instead to 2HKO it. However, stay aware that both cause mind games with their combination of Sucker Punch and Pursuit, although Spiritomb is less affected due to the fact that it can bypass Substitute. Therefore, another option is to make a double switch and have teammates weaken these foes until Haunter can KO. If they are brought in, Destiny Bond is an option that can take them down with Haunter if they are a threat to the rest of the team or if you predict them to take out Haunter with Pursuit. Destiny Bond can be similarly used against any other threat, ideally when Haunter is at low health. Substitute can be set up against passive Pokemon such as Clefairy or upon a forced switch like against Primeape Choice-locked into Close Combat. It can also be used to take advantage of attacks like Skuntank's Sucker Punch or to scout for what move slower Choice item Pokemon such as Drampa will lock themselves into. Haunter should not be brought in expecting to take an attack due to its low defenses. However, it can switch into a predicted utility move, such as Golurk's Stealth Rock, or a move it's immune to such as Claydol's Earth Power, though it has to watch out for coverage from both. It can also be brought in through a slow pivot such as Eelektross or Lanturn. Team Options Fast Pokemon such as Floatzel and Lycanroc benefit from Haunter's ability to weaken the opposing team, particularly bulkier foes such as Clefairy and Tangela, as it allows them to more easily clean up. Physical wallbreakers such as Aggron can break through special walls that Haunter can struggle against such as Audino and Articuno, while Haunter can help against physical walls such as Mudsdale. Haunter most benefits from checks to Dark-types, especially Pokemon such as Calm Mind Clefairy, which can beat RestTalk Spiritomb one-on-one. Other Dark checks include Primeape and Hitmonchan, both of which can also lure in Pokemon such as Musharna for Haunter. These Fighting-types appreciate Haunter's ability to weaken or KO Spiritomb with Dazzling Gleam or Destiny Bond as well. Entry hazard setters such as Qwilfish, Roselia, Smeargle, and Shuckle appreciate Haunter's immunity to Rapid Spin, which helps keep their hazards on the field. In return, Haunter benefits from the hazards, as Stealth Rock and Spikes can weaken foes while Sticky Web can slow down faster foes. Many of these hazard setters also appreciate Haunter's ability to lure and weaken or potentially eliminate Skuntank, which is a common Defogger. Other Pokemon that are threatened by Dark-types such as Jynx and Alolan Raichu also benefit from this. Slow pivots such as Eelektross and Lanturn can help bring Haunter onto the field safely. Lanturn can also cripple foes with Toxic and serve as a check to revenge killers like Dodrio and Swanna.

Moves Destiny Bond is for when Haunter is greatly weakened, as it allows Haunter to potentially take a threat down with it. However, Haunter does not appreciate being locked into it, especially since foes can use it as setup fodder. Trick is used to cripple bulky Pokemon that may try to switch in on Haunter, like Audino and Type: Null, and gives Haunter potentially useful items such as Leftovers and Eviolite. Will-O-Wisp is an alternative that can cripple offensive Pokemon that may try to switch in against Haunter such as Kangaskhan and Scyther. It even allows Haunter to take a Pursuit from a non-Black Glasses Jolly Skuntank, and potentially Spiritomb, if switching out at full health. Set Details Choice Scarf allows Haunter to outspeed foes such as Choice Scarf Kabutops while Speed tying with Pokemon like +1 Jynx and Choice Scarf Primeape. Levitate makes Haunter immune to all Ground-type attacks, Spikes, and Sticky Webs. Usage Tips Haunter is best used as a revenge killer or late-game cleaner. However, Haunter can also utilize its good offensive typing to serve as an offensive check to various Pokemon such as Golurk, Alolan Raichu, and Tangela throughout the game. Haunter should be brought in after a teammate has been KOed or through a slow pivot such as Lanturn or Eelektross; due to its low bulk, Haunter should rarely be switched directly into an attack, even resisted ones. If switching into an immunity, it should still watch out for coverage such as Gurdurr's Knock Off. Haunter similarly can be switched into a predicted harmless status move such as Clefairy's Stealth Rock or Soft-Boiled, but it still has to watch out for moves like Thunder Wave. When Haunter is brought in, stay aware of what checks the opponent has for it, as it will be locked into the same move until it is switched out. This is especially important if their switch-ins include Pursuit users such as Skuntank and Spiritomb, which can Pursuit trap Haunter with ease if they manage to come in when it is locked into a resisted move. If Dark-types pose a threat to the rest of your team, Haunter can use Destiny Bond in such situations. Destiny Bond can also be used to take out any other potential threats to the team or pick off a foe late-game if Haunter is weakened or has no more use. On the other hand, be careful when using Destiny Bond, as it can be exploited by the opponent and be a huge momentum drain. Watch out for any potential Choice Scarf users with naturally higher Speed such as Dodrio and Swanna, as they could otherwise lure Haunter in, thinking it can outspeed. If facing bulkier teams, in which case Haunter's Choice Scarf is not needed, Haunter can use Trick to switch between moves and potentially cripple a foe in the process. Team Options Haunter works well on offensive and balance teams in need of a way to keep faster foes in check. Wallbreakers such as Aurorus and Kangaskhan can help weaken the opposing team before Haunter comes in to clean. They can also help against some walls that give Haunter trouble, such as Articuno and Audino, while in return Haunter can cripple Pokemon that wall them such as Type: Null and Regirock with Trick. Haunter also struggles against Dark-types, so checks to them such as Silvally-Fairy, Gurdurr, and Hitmonchan are vital. The latter two also appreciate Haunter's ability to offensively check Psychic-, Fairy- and Ghost-types such as Musharna, Alolan Raichu, and Oricorio-G. Similarly, Water-, Rock-, and Ground-types such as Carracosta, Lycanroc, and Mudsdale benefit from Haunter’s ability to check Grass-types such as Lurantis and Tangela. All three can serve as wallbreakers or provide Stealth Rock to weaken foes, depending on their set. The former two also value Haunter's immunity to Fighting and Ground, although due to Haunter's poor bulk, more reliable checks such as Claydol are recommended. Slow pivots such as Eelektross, Lanturn and Type: Null can get Haunter onto the field safely. Eelektross also has access to Knock Off, which can cripple Eviolite and Assault Vest users such as Type: Null and Hitmonchan. Finally, Haunter can be run alongside other Pokemon that often use Choice Scarf such as Swanna, as this can create mind games for the opponent.

Moves Shadow Ball is a decently strong STAB move that is Haunter's most spammable attack, and Sludge Bomb provides great coverage alongside it. Substitute eases prediction, helps Haunter avoid getting revenge killed by faster threats, and allows it to avoid status. Pain Split allows Haunter to stay healthy throughout a match, has solid synergy with Life Orb and Substitute, and can help Haunter break through special sponges like Assault Vest Hariyama and Malamar more easily. Set Details Maximum Speed and Special Attack investment allows Haunter to hit as hard and fast as possible. Along with this, a Timid nature lets it outpace common threats such as Rotom, Vivillon, and Lilligant. Life Orb is used to increase Haunter damage output significantly, and it has excellent synergy with Pain Split. Life Orb also synergizes well with the set, as the passive damage is mitigated by Pain Split's recovery, and the Life Orb recoil actually makes Pain Split more effective in wearing down targets. This makes the recoil an advantage instead of a disadvantage, as Haunter's frailness means it can't really tank hits anyway. Usage Tips When low on HP from the combination of Life Orb and Substitute, use Pain Split. Otherwise, Haunter is a prolific wallbreaker, so it does very well in the early- and mid-game, where it can break through opposing teams for other Pokemon to sweep. Substitute can be used to aid Haunter in winning Sucker Punch mind games, as well as avoid getting Pursuit trapped. In conjunction with Pain Split, it also allows Haunter to have an easier time breaking down Pokemon such as Hariyama and Malamar, which would otherwise have no trouble sponging hits from it. Avoid switching Haunter in on attacks unless the foe is locked into a move it's immune to such as Primeape's Close Combat. Team Options Haunter struggles with Pokemon carrying Pursuit such as Skuntank and Liepard, so Pokemon that can handle those two such as Primeape, Hariyama, and Mawile are great partners. While Haunter's Ghost typing leaves it vulnerable to Pursuit, it also lets it act as a spinblocker in a pinch, so Pokemon that also appreciate entry hazards like Samurott, Archeops, and Kangaskhan are viable partners. Pokemon like Magmortar and Pyroar that appreciate Haunter's ability to wear down special tanks like Hariyama and Lanturn make for solid partners. Choice Scarf Primeape is a strong partner in particular for this set, as many of its checks and counters such as Musharna, Mesprit, Garbodor, and Weezing are broken down by Haunter. In return, Primeape can threaten Dark-types such as Skuntank and Liepard that prey on Haunter. Shiftry appreciates Haunter's ability to break down walls, and, in return, it can lure out Skuntank and OHKO it with Explosion, opening the opposing team up for Haunter.

Moves Sludge Bomb is a powerful STAB move and provides solid neutral coverage alongside Shadow Ball, and Shadow Ball is Haunter's most spammable move. Trick allows Haunter to cripple Pokemon that give it trouble such as Malamar, Lanturn, and Skuntank. Destiny Bond lets Haunter take another Pokemon down with it as it faints and is especially useful on this set because Haunter's Speed reaches absurd levels when it's holding a Choice Scarf. Energy Ball is a decent option over Trick or Destiny Bond, as it allows Haunter to better revenge kill Adamant +2 Speed Barbaracle and +2 Speed Rhydon. Set Details Maximum Speed and Special Attack investment allows Haunter to hit as hard and fast as possible. A Timid nature lets Haunter get the jump on base 91 and below Choice Scarf users, such as Rotom and Mesprit, as well as outspeed Vivillon and Lilligant after one Quiver Dance. Choice Scarf is the selected item, as it mitigates Haunter's trouble with faster Pokemon that can threaten it out and changes it from an early- or mid-game breaker to a late-game cleaner. Usage Tips Choice Scarf Haunter should be used predominately as a revenge killer rather than a wallbreaker. Haunter excels in the late-game as a cleaner once the opposing team has been weakened. Avoid switching Haunter into attacks, as its frailty means even strong resisted hits will do a lot. Another thing to beware of is mindlessly clicking Destiny Bond, as if the foe doesn't take Haunter out on that turn, it can lead to a big loss in momentum. Once Haunter no longer needs the Speed that comes with holding the Choice Scarf, Tricking it away allows Haunter to take advantage of its coverage to its fullest extent and potentially cripple an opposing wall such as Malamar in the process, clearing the way for itself and its teammates. Scout for Pursuit trappers switching into Haunter by making aggressive double switches to a teammate that threatens said Pursuit trappers, as once Haunter locks itself into either of its STAB moves, they can trap it. Team Options Choice Scarf Haunter is particularly prone to getting Pursuit trapped, so Pokemon that can combat Skuntank and Liepard such as Rhydon, Steelix, and Hariyama make for solid partners. In particular, Rhydon and Barbaracle pair well with Haunter, as both can switch in on Pursuit Skuntank and set up a Rock Polish or Shell Smash versus it. Shiftry is also an excellent partner for Haunter, as it appreciates Haunter's ability to break down bulkier Pokemon such as Mega Audino and can even lure in Skuntank and OHKO it with Explosion. Haunter fits well on many hyper offensive builds due to its ability to spinblock and blazing Speed while holding a Choice Scarf, so entry hazards leads such as Omastar and Pinsir work well. Haunter also appreciates Pokemon that can break through walls early- or mid-game for it to clean up later, so Pokemon that provide immediate wallbreaking power like Choice Band Primeape, all-out attacking Samurott, and Floatzel are good partners. Haunter can also Trick Pokemon its Choice Scarf to leave them locked into a move that allows a teammate to set up.

Moves Sludge Bomb is Haunter's strongest attack and allows it to break through most Pokemon that resist Shadow Ball such as Mega Audino and Pyroar. Sludge Bomb is also helpful for punishing Pokemon that like to switch into Will-O-Wisp such as Assault Vest Magmortar, as it does solid damage and can poison these Pokemon, wearing them down quickly throughout a battle. Shadow Ball provides good coverage with Sludge Bomb and hits Psychic-types, such as Mesprit and Musharna, as well as slower Ghost-types, such as Rotom and Golurk. Hex is an option over Shadow Ball, as it has terrific synergy with Will-O-Wisp and has the potential to hit much harder. Shadow Ball is usually preferred, though, as it is far more spammable and provides more consistent damage output. Will-O-Wisp deters Dark-type Pokemon from using Sucker Punch and also helps patch up Haunter's horrid Defense stat. Will-O-Wisp also works fantastically with Hex and allows Haunter to burn Pokemon that can take both Shadow Ball and Sludge Bomb like Skuntank. Destiny Bond can be useful in a pinch, as with high Speed and pitiful defenses, Haunter can usually take another Pokemon down with it as it faints. Reflect Type is an alternative that provides further insurance against Pursuit trappers, Skuntank being the main target. Set Details Maximum Speed and Special Attack investment allows Haunter to hit as hard and fast as possible. A Timid nature is used over Modest to allow Haunter to outspeed base 91s an below such as Lilligant, Rotom, and Vivillon as well as Speed tie opposing base 95s like Jynx and Primeape. Life Orb is the item of choice, as it gives Haunter a large power boost and the freedom to switch moves and take full advantage of its coverage. Usage Tips Haunter is very frail, so avoid switching it into almost any attacks because even resisted hits will do a lot. Conversely, Haunter has very few guaranteed switch-ins and excels in the early- and mid-game, where it can break down walls for teammates to sweep later. Between its terrific dual STAB types and access to Taunt, Haunter also works as a decent stallbreaker. Opponents will often attempt to Pursuit trap Haunter with the likes of Skuntank, so using Reflect Type on a predicted Pursuit allows Haunter to resist the hit and avoid getting trapped. Will-O-Wisp and Destiny Bond are helpful for Sucker Punch mind games versus Pokemon like Shiftry and Skuntank, as Haunter can punish the opponent for mispredicting. Team Options Late-game cleaners such as Swords Dance Samurott, Choice Specs Swellow, and Klinklang appreciate Haunter's ability to wallbreak mid-game. Haunter appreciates entry hazards to allow it to do as much damage as possible, so Pokemon that can set up Stealth Rock or Spikes such as Omastar, Ferroseed, and Garbodor are solid teammates. Similarly, Haunter's Ghost typing allows it to block Rapid Spin, so other Pokemon that appreciate hazards being kept up such as Floatzel, Pyroar, and Tauros make for good partners. Specifically, Shiftry is a solid partner for Haunter, as Haunter can break through Mega Audino, which would otherwise give Shiftry trouble, as well as cripple Pursuit trappers with Will-O-Wisp, providing Shiftry an opportunity to set up.

With decent coverage and good Speed, Haunter makes for a very potent offensive Pokemon. Shadow Ball is a powerful STAB move and hits the common Psychic- and Ghost-types of the tier for super effective damage. Sludge Bomb is a slightly stronger STAB and has great neutral coverage alongside Shadow Ball. Its decent poison chance can also help Haunter wear down its counters, such as Lickilicky, Audino, and Regice, which gives them a harder time repeatedly switching in against it. Hidden Power Ground rounds out Haunter's coverage, hitting Steel-types and Skuntank hard. Destiny Bond is the final move on this set and is especially useful to lure in Skuntank so that Haunter's teammates have an easier time sweeping later on in the game. Thunderbolt is the most notable other option for the set, as it allows Haunter to OHKO Samurott, Mantine, and Choice Band Braviary and also 2HKO Substitute + Bulk Up Braviary and standard Golbat. Fighting-types such as Sawk and Primeape are very useful teammates, as they can demolish Steel-types, Regice, and Skuntank, all of which threaten Haunter. Seismitoad is also a decent partner for similar reasons, and it can take out Regirock and set up Stealth Rock as well. In return, Haunter can threaten the Grass-types that Seismitoad dislikes facing. Eelektross pairs well with Haunter because it can defeat Mandibuzz and most Ground-types with little trouble. As Haunter's Destiny Bond can allow it to lure and defeat Pokemon such as Skuntank, Psychic-types such as Jynx, Gardevoir, and Musharna are good partners to take advantage of this.

Haunter has some excellent immunities and resistances to common attacking types, and many Pokemon only have one move that can effectively damage it; this set takes advantage of that fact. With its good Speed and high offensive presence, Haunter can easily force switches and set up a Substitute to act as a buffer against attacks and status. Even if the opponent breaks its Substitute, Haunter can simply Disable the move and possibly block the opponent's only means to hurt it. When Haunter has successfully Disabled a move and kept a Substitute intact, it is free to start inflicting damage upon the opposing team. Shadow Ball provides coverage against the Psychic- and Ghost-types that would otherwise threaten it. Sludge Bomb is a stronger STAB move that provides good neutral coverage alongside Shadow Ball; its poison chance is also very useful to wear down Pokemon that Haunter cannot defeat with brute force and allows it to stall out opposing Pokemon with Substitute. Because set forces many switches, entry hazard support is very beneficial to punish your opponent; Toxic Spikes are particularly useful against Pokemon that do have a second move to damage Haunter, as Haunter can stall them out with Substitute to the point where it can successfully KO them. Scolipede and Roselia are options for setting up both Spikes and Toxic Spikes, but their Poison typing clashes with Haunter's. Stealth Rock support from Rock- or Ground-types such as Golem and Seismitoad is very useful as it allows Haunter to OHKO Charizard with Sludge Bomb. Both Rock- and Ground-types can also assist Haunter in handling counters such as Mandibuzz and Skuntank, and Haunter can prevent opposing Rapid Spin users from removing entry hazards. Fighting-types, most notably Sawk and Gurdurr, can generally switch in against Dark-types and threaten not only them, but also specially bulky Pokemon such as Regice, Lickilicky, and Audino. This set particularly enjoys the removal of Steel-types, so Magnet Pull Probopass is a great teammate to handle them. As Haunter appreciates switching in safely, a slow Volt Switch from Eelektross can be quite valuable.

With its important Speed benchmark, Haunter can act as a decent Choice Scarf user, as it is capable of revenge killing fast threats such as Swellow and boosted Gorebyss. Shadow Ball is Haunter's most important STAB move on this set, as it is the only move that provides decent super effective coverage. Sludge Bomb threatens slower Chlorophyll users such as Exeggutor in the sun, and it also provides decent neutral coverage. While Haunter's power is only decent, it has Trick and Destiny Bond to be more of a threat. Haunter's Speed makes Destiny Bond a great move against offensive Pokemon that it has trouble taking out in one hit, such as Samurott and Kangaskhan. Trick is extremely useful for crippling defensive Pokemon such as Mandibuzz and Munchlax, as well as bulky setup sweepers such as Musharna. Thunderbolt is a viable third offensive move to make it easier for Haunter to revenge kill Pokemon such as Samurott and Braviary. As this set utilizes Choice Scarf, the removal of priority and Pursuit users is advised as Haunter is quite vulnerable to them. Fighting-types such as Sawk and Gurdurr handle most users of these moves well, most notably Skuntank and Kangaskhan. Wallbreakers such as Eelektross and Samurott are invaluable, as they can weaken Haunter's counters enough that it can power through them. Eelektross can also provide a slow Volt Switch to give Haunter a free switch-in. This set enjoys having opposing Steel-types removed, as Trick is its only way of crippling them, which makes Magnet Pull Probopass a great teammate. Stealth Rock support from Ground-types such as Piloswine and Seismitoad is helpful, as the damage allows Haunter to 2HKO even standard bulky Samurott with Sludge Bomb.

Set Description Sludge Bomb is Haunter's strongest neutral move that provides coverage for Dark-types such as Cacturne and Shiftry, which resist Shadow Ball, as well as Normal-types like Tauros and Lickilicky. Its poison chance is also able to pressure switch-ins that aren't Poison- or Steel-types. Shadow Ball threatens Psychic-types such as Slowking, Medicham, Gardevoir, and Jynx, as well as opposing Ghost-types such as Drifblim, Dusclops, and opposing Haunter. Hidden Power Ground rounds out Haunter's coverage for Skuntank and Magneton, KOing offensive Skuntank after chip from either attack or Stealth Rock and one Spike from full health. Substitute is one of Haunter's best tools for capitalizing on switches, easing prediction from opposing switches, and baiting Sucker Punch from Skuntank, Cacturne, and Shiftry. If Haunter can't KO Skuntank from behind a Substitute, then it protects Haunter against a Pursuit trap. Destiny Bond is an alternative option that can trade against foes it can't KO while also forcing a trade against Skuntank. If Skuntank keeps using Sucker Punch to bait Destiny Bond and stall its PP, Haunter can potentially escape a Pursuit trap. Life Orb is Haunter's most preferred item for increasing its general power. Team Options Haunter fits well onto entry hazard-stacking teams to block Rapid Spin from Hitmonchan and Sandslash, while Haunter itself benefits from the opposing team getting worn down by them. Stealth Rock users such as Regirock and Nidoqueen work well with Haunter on these teams; Regirock helps check Charizard and Skuntank while using Explosion to soften the opposing team for Haunter, and Nidoqueen also checks Skuntank as well as Regirock and Manectric while shuffling foes around with Roar to rack up hazard damage or using Toxic Spikes for additional entry hazard support. Spikes support from Cacturne and Glalie provides additional entry hazards for Haunter to capitalize on, with Cacturne setting up on bulky structures while checking Drifblim in a pinch with Sucker Punch, and Glalie being used as a lead to get Spikes up as soon as possible while shutting down opposing entry hazard leads with Taunt. Since Haunter acts as a good Skuntank lure, many Pokemon that are walled by Skuntank synergize well with Haunter's ability to batter it down or force a trade with Destiny Bond. Being another Ghost-type, Drifblim especially appreciates Skuntank being gone, as this helps it sweep late-game with Calm Mind + Unburden. Drifblim also serves as a secondary spinblocker in case Haunter goes down by trading with Skuntank. Offensive Psychic-types such as Medicham, Gardevoir, and Jynx can also threaten to sweep without Skuntank in the picture. Fast cleaners, such as Floatzel, Tauros, and Manectric, appreciate Haunter's mid-game progress and ability to maintain hazards to clean up late-game, with Choice Scarf Tauros providing insurance against a Drifbilm sweep. If Haunter ever gets successfully Pursuit trapped, it appreciates Pokemon that can exploit Skuntank and Choice-locked Pursuit Tauros such as Hitmonchan, Poliwrath, and Magneton.

Set Description Psychic threatens Pokemon like Roselia, Hitmonchan, and Arbok, while Thunderbolt is Haunter's best form of damage against common switch-ins such as Chimecho, Sableye, and Flareon. Endure enables Haunter to take a hard hit and activate its Berry. Alternatively, Substitute lets Haunter more reliably activate its Berry and capitalize on forced switches. Hidden Power Fire hits Cacturne and Metang harder than any of Haunter's other moves, although because Haunter must run 30 Speed IVs to use it, it's only recommended alongside Salac Berry. Alternatively, Explosion lets Haunter remove a weakened defensive Pokemon like Lickitung, Chimecho, or Kecleon. Maximum Special Attack and Speed EVs with a Timid nature make Haunter as strong and fast as possible. If running Explosion, a Naive nature is preferred to not reduce its damage. Salac Berry makes Haunter the fastest threat in the tier, letting it avoid Speed ties with opposing Haunter and Plusle and outspeed Raticate, and enables it to run Hidden Power Fire much more reliably, although Petaya Berry is an option to boost Haunter's already amazing damage output further. Levitate lets Haunter switch into moves like Earthquake and Hidden Power Ground from Choice Band Hitmonchan and Pidgeot. The key to this set is preserving Haunter for late-game; although it's still a fantastic wallbreaker, the goal should be to use Endure to enable a sweep after the opposing team has been sufficiently weakened. Furthermore, avoid revealing this set's identity; by using Hidden Power Fire, you let your opponent know they aren't at risk of Speed tying with Haunter with a base 95 Speed Pokemon of their own. If it seems unlikely that Haunter will get an opportunity to clean the opposing team, using Explosion against a Pokemon like Chimecho or Flareon may open the door for another teammate. Team Options Although Haunter is capable of pressuring its own checks, other special wallbreakers such as Wailord and Flareon make it easier for Haunter to clean late-game. In return, Haunter can pressure bulky Water-types like opposing Wailord and Dewgong. Spikes from Pokemon like Roselia and Glalie are also useful for weakening Haunter switch-ins like Sableye, Torkoal, and Metang. Between Psychic and Thunderbolt's good damage output, Haunter is still an effective wallbreaker; as a result, other late-game sweepers like Bellossom, Huntail, and Agility Metang are solid teammates.

Set Description Thunderbolt and Psychic are the strongest special attacks Haunter gets and provide it with nearly unresisted coverage, only relevantly missing out on Cacturne. Substitute prevents Haunter from being revenge killed by Pokemon bulky enough to take a hit from it such as Chimecho, Flareon, and Cacturne. Explosion is useful for removing anything in KO range, be it weakened walls like Lickitung or offensive Pokemon like Bellossom. Additionally, Haunter is the fastest Explosion user the tier has, which makes it more reliable as a way to remove faster Pokemon. Thief is helpful for crippling common Haunter switch-ins like Chimecho and Sableye by removing their Leftovers, which makes them much easier to take down with repeated Thunderbolts. Toxic is also usable to cripple similar Pokemon and has great synergy with Substitute. Will-O-Wisp is very effective for crippling Metang and still does a good job of nullifying the Leftovers recovery of Pokemon such as Chimecho, Sableye, and Lickitung. Hidden Power Grass has a narrow scope of targets, but it's very beneficial for teams weak to Pupitar and is Haunter's best move to hit Whiscash with. Finally, Perish Song is a fantastic way to put a stop to Baton Pass chains. Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment with a Timid nature makes Haunter as strong as possible and lets it outspeed Pokemon like Murkrow and Pikachu. If running Explosion, a Naive nature is preferred to not reduce its damage. Leftovers is ideal to provide Haunter with additional longevity, although if Haunter is running Thief, it should forgo holding an item. Levitate lets Haunter switch into Pokemon such as Relicanth and Hitmonchan that are Choice locked into a Ground-type move and grants it immunity to Spikes. There are few things in ADV NU scarier than a Haunter behind a Substitute; its great Speed and power allow it to 2HKO much of the tier, and the safety Substitute provides it with prevents bulkier attackers from taking a hit and retaliating. Haunter's bulk is terrible, but its defensive typing and ability enable it to switch into attacks such as Choice Band Hitmonchan's Sky Uppercut and Choice Band Metang's Earthquake, granting it a chance to set Substitute and wreak havoc. Haunter very typically draws in Pokemon like Sableye, Chimecho, and Lickitung; Thunderbolt is its best way of dealing damage to such targets, although if you opt for Thief, removing their Leftovers on their first switch in makes them much easier to break later on. While it may be tempting to use Explosion on the latter two and against other targets like Flareon and Kecleon, it should be noted that due to Haunter's low base Attack, it requires a fair bit of chip damage to KO them with Explosion. Team Options Spikes support from Roselia or Glalie is crucial so Haunter can pressure switch-ins like Sableye, Flareon, and Metang more effectively, especially when running Thief. Late-game sweepers such as Bellossom, Huntail, Pupitar, and Calm Mind Chimecho appreciate Haunter's ability to weaken or remove their checks. In particular, Chimecho is helpful because it provides a sturdier Hitmonchan answer. Haunter cannot deal with Normal-type walls like Kecleon, Vigoroth, and Lickitung by itself, so physical wallbreakers like Hitmonchan, Choice Band Metang, and Choice Band Relicanth make good teammates.

Set Description Haunter is blessed with a myriad of useful attacks to make up for its lackluster offensive typing. Psychic is crucial for being Haunter's strongest option versus Nidoqueen, potentially 2HKOing it with Spikes damage or a Special Defense drop. Thunder hits most of the tier's Water- and Flying-types hard, including Slowbro, Slowking, Scyther, Dodrio, and Gyarados. It can also inflict paralysis on some bulkier switch-ins like Hypno and Chansey. Haunter can make a very effective lead, with both Thief and Hypnosis crippling the foe early. It matches up against Qwilfish well, usually scaring it out from staying in to set up Spikes, and you can either put something to sleep or get an early-game Thief off on your opponent's Haunter switch-in. Thief is a great way for Haunter to support its team by taking Leftovers from one of the opposing tanks, with the aforementioned Hypno, Chansey, and Slowbro all being great targets for this. However, Hypnosis helps more when facing offensive teams and gives Haunter more free turns to attack. It also makes it risky for Haunter checks without Sleep Talk to switch in, which reduces the number of counters it has to a handful of Pokemon. Explosion is a way to get some more value out of Haunter if it either can't break through the opposing team or is low on health, threatening to OHKO Chansey and Hypno after Spikes damage while also doing big damage to Nidoqueen and Ampharos. It can also be used as an emergency button versus threats that have gotten out of hand like Swords Dance Pinsir and Victreebel. However, if Haunter is being depended on as a stop to Curse Granbull, it is wise to preserve it. Team Options Spikes are the best thing to help Haunter break opposing teams, so Qwilfish is an almost mandatory partner. Once Qwilfish sets up Spikes, Haunter can block Rapid Spin for it in return. While Blastoise, the most common spinner, has a small chance to 2HKO Haunter, it is slower and threatened by both Thunder and Explosion, letting Haunter switch into it safely at least once if it is healthy. Baton Pass teams are well equipped to enjoy Haunter's utility as well, as it can use its unique attributes to keep Spikes up, put something to sleep with Hypnosis, and use Explosion to give free setup opportunities. Pokemon that can take advantage of bulky Psychic-types like Scyther and Pinsir can potentially get free turns of setup after Haunter forces said Psychic-types to Rest. Haunter commonly runs the same offensive coverage as Mr. Mime and can lure in Pokemon that would also wall Mr. Mime to eliminate them with Explosion. Many strong Pokemon like Nidoqueen and Granbull appreciate Haunter stealing Leftovers or using Explosion on checks they have in common like Hypno, Magneton, and Slowking. Other fast offensive threats like Electabuzz and Dodrio will appreciate Haunter's early-game wallbreaking to help them clean weakened teams.

Other Options: Night Shade, Substitute