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.