Sp00ky
[OVERVIEW]
*99 Speed and the excellent typing allows Gourgeist-Small to use the SubSeed strategy very well in PU
*Like the other forms, Gourgeist-Small can still check many of PU's physical threats like Primeape, Hitmonchan, and physical Carrocosta
*Has access to numerous options to promote passive damage such as Will-O-Wisp and Leech Seed
*99 Speed outspeeds many of PU's normal checks to Gourgeist forms, like Oricorrio-Sensu and Jynx, and prevents them from checking Gourgeist-Small
*Weak to a number of common offensive types like Fire, Dark, and Flying
*Reliance on passive damage can hinder Gourgeist-Small against teams with multiple healing methods
[SET]
name: SubSeed
move 1: Leech Seed
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Phantom Force / Foul Play
item: Leftovers
ability: Frisk
nature: Jolly / Timid
evs: 152 HP / 104 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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*Leech Seed provides the crux of this set, allowing Gourgeist-S to wear down switches and regain health in the process
*Substitute completes the (in)famous SubSeed strategy, blocking statuses, and pp stalling, while limiting the amount of damage taken per turn, which extends how long Leech Seed can heal Gourgeist-Small
*Will-O-Wisp allows Gourgeist-Small to increase its passive damage output and cripples physical attackers without Guts, such as Hitmonchan and Pinsir
*The final move is an attacking move that prevents Gourgeist-Small from being completely passive and Taunt-bait
*Phantom Force allows for extra healing with leftovers and Leech Seed, while Foul Play hits using the opponent's attack stats which makes up for Gourgeist-Small's low attack
Set Details
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*Maximum Speed EVs and nature outpace the base 95s, such as Jynx, along with Togemaru and Swanna
*152 HP EVs give Gourgeist-Small maximum healing for with Leftovers and allows for smaller Substitutes, which greatly helps the SubSeed strategy as it allows more Substitutes per Leech Seed recovery.
*The remainder of the EVs are placed into Defense so that Gourgeist-Small can make the best use of its 122 Defense
*Jolly should be used with Phantom Force, Timid with Foul Play to lower opposing Foul Play and Confusion damage
*Frisk lets Gourgeist-Small scout items, and helps reveal sets occasionally, especially useful for Z-Stones
*Leftovers allows for more passive healing, which is very helpful when combined with Substitute and Phantom Force
Usage Tips
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*Switch Gourgeist-Small into something that cannot hinder it much, such as Primeape, set-up a Substitute, and use Leech Seed or Will-O-Wisp, continue using Substitute as they are broken, while using Leech Seed or Will-O-Wisp when the opponent switches. Should a Substitute remain up while the opposing Pokemon failed to break it
*Phantom Force can be used to deal extra damage and allow more passive damage for the opponent and recovery for Gourgeist-Small, but leaves Gourgeist-Small unable to switch or respond to a changing situation for a turn, so it should be used cautiously
*If the opposing team has a Grass-type, its generally best to use Will-O-Wisp, and begin slowly wearing it down with hazards and burn damage
*If the opposing team has something faster, especially something commonly found sporting Choice items, such as Pyroar, using Substitute to ease prediction is advised, unless low on health
*Gourgeist-Small can be used in different ways depending on the match-up and the team supporting it; many of Gourgeist-Small's common checks on offensive teams are weak to entry hazards and dislike being worn down, so a team that appreciates having something like Assault Vest Magmortar at low health can appreciate Gourgeist-Small being played in the early-to-mid game, allowing for something else to clean afterwards. *When facing a team whose only counter to Gourgeist-Small is slower Pokemon, it can be worthwhile to save Gourgeist-Small until a point where everything can be fully stalled out with Leech Seed, Will-O-Wisp, and entry hazard damage.
*To avoid being pp-stalled via constant switching, it's best to wait until after hazards are down to attempt to wear a whole team
*Often its useful to cripple certain threats with a burn, even if it may impede Gourgeist-Small in the short-term; many teams appreciate Skuntank, Archeops, or Alolan-Raticate burned as to prevent them from doing their jobs effectively
Team Options
========
*Leech Seed promotes switching, so entry hazards, which punish switches are very potent when combined with Gourgeist-Small, Gourgeist-Small also can act as a spin blocker; Crustle and Ferroseed can provide spikes, while Stealth Rock users include Mesprit, Miltank, and Archeops.
*As Grass-types are immune to Leech Seed, something that switches into common Grass-types, such as Drampa or Magmortar, is appreciated
*Gourgeist-Small is vulnerable to statuses, especially Toxic (and therefore Toxic Spikes) so something that can heal status is useful, Toxic Spikes absorbers like Skuntank are also useful
*Gourgeist-Small is most potent when it's given a free switch, so U-turn and Volt Switch are very helpful for getting into play; Primeape, Mesprit and Archeops are common users of U-turn
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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*Trick-or-Treat + Ghostium-Z - generally better done by Gourgeist-Average
*Choice Band - Gourgeist-Small's Speed allows it to use a passable Choice Band set with Trick, Seed Bomb, Shadow Sneak, and Rock Slide
*Synthesis / Defensive set - generally better done by Gourgeist-Super
*Toxic - Toxic can replace Will-O-Wisp to increase the amount of passive damage, but Will-O-Wisp provides more overall utility
*Disable - Disable can really screw with Choice users, or those that can only hurt Gourgeist-Small with a single move
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Grass-types:** Immune to Leech Seed and don't mind a burn that much, Abomasnow getting special mention because of Hail negating Leftovers recovery
**Taunt, Encore, and Substitute**: Moves that prevent Gourgeist-Small from spreading its passive damage often completely stop Gourgeist-Small from functioning
**Status**: Burns and Poison especially limit Gourgeist-Small's ability to stall with Leech Seed and can neuter Gourgeist-Small in the long-run
**Knock Off**: Knock Off removes Leftovers and greatly reduces Gourgeist-Small's longevity, though many Knock Off users fear Will-O-Wisp
**Super-Effective Hard Hitters**: Most hard hitters can force Gourgeist-Small out of play should they face Gourgeist-Small without a Substitute or can avoid switching into Leech Seed, depending on their speed.
Magmortar and Pyroar can both OHKO Gourgeist-Small with Fire Blast, but need to be wary due to the low accuracy of Fire Blast, and Gourgeist-Small's ability to take advantage of misses with Leech Seed and Substitute. Taunt versions of Magmortar and Pyroar can both shut down Gourgeist-Small, and only fear being worn down by repeated switches into hazards and Leech Seed.
Archeops can OHKO Gourgeist-Small with Acrobatics provided it avoids switching into Will-O-Wisp and doesn't have Defeatist activated.
Swanna and other special attackers that can avoid Leech Seed and Will-O-Wisp's debilitating affects, either by speed or by using special attacks, can also force Gourgeist-Small out of play with threatening attacks. Note that frail special attackers, especially Jynx, Oricorio-Sensu, and Haunter need to Scarfed to revenge kill as they are all slower and are OHKO'd by Phantom Force (with Hazards in the case of Oricorio-Sensu.
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