Gourgeist-L is a competent wall against common physical attackers like Gigalith, Lairon, Persian, and Furfrou thanks to its great physical bulk, unique typing, and reliable recovery. Will-O-Wisp is especially threatening to physical setup sweepers such as Sawsbuck, Gogoat, and Jumpluff. Leech Seed wears down Pokemon that can shrug off burns such as Restalk Klang, Bulk Up Scraggy, and Dragonair. Foul Play takes advantage of the physical attackers and setup sweepers Gourgeist-L checks, turning their high Attack stats and boosts against them. Colbur Berry dampens the damage from common Knock Off users like Krokorok, Persian, and Dragon Dance Scraggy, giving Gourgeist-L a chance to burn these foes and wall them. However, Leftovers increases Gourgeist-L's longevity and makes it less reliant on Synthesis. 24 EVs in Speed gives Gourgeist-L the jump on offensive Lairon sets, while the rest of its EVs are invested to maximize its physical bulk. Frisk is useful for scouting foes' items.
Gourgeist-L fits on more balanced teams looking for a physically defensive backbone. Specially defensive Pokemon like Swalot, Dustox, and Bulk Up Scraggy cover Gourgeist-L's special vulnerabilities and take Toxic for it, as Gourgeist-L struggles with both special attackers and chip damage from status; in turn, they appreciate Gourgeist-L's great physical bulk. Fire-types such as Pignite and Magmar are problematic for Gourgeist-L given their burn immunity, Eviolite-backed bulk, and strong STAB moves to break through Gourgeist-L, so it relies on partners such as Marshtomp, Whiscash, and Carbink to cover its poor matchup against Fire-types. Wigglytuff's Heal Bell heals Toxic status that Gigalith, Lairon, and Furfrou might inflict on Gourgeist-L. In turn, Gourgeist-L's Attack-lowering burns and physical bulk give Wigglytuff more opportunities to use Wish. Ice-types like Vanilluxe, Glaceon, and Glalie are dangerous for Gourgeist-L, so it benefits from the support of Pokemon like Magmar, Pignite, and Klang. Gourgeist-L can use Leech Seed on its checks even if it cannot beat them one-on-one, which provides support for its partners that lack their own reliable recovery such as Politoed, Pignite, and Klang.
