name: Physical Wall
move 1: Synthesis
move 2: Will-O-Wisp
move 3: Leech Seed
move 4: Foul Play
item: Colbur Berry / Leftovers
ability: Frisk
nature: Bold
EVs: 252 HP / 232 Def / 24 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
[SET COMMENTS]
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 which 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 give 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 to break through Gourgeist-L, so Gourgeist-L relies on partners such as Marshtomp, Whiscash, and Carbink to cover its poor matchup against Fire-types while offering to support its bulky partners lacking recovery with Leech Seed. 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 which lack their own reliable recovery such as Politoed, Pignite, and Klang.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rocky Helmet can replace Colbur Berry and Leftovers to punish physical attackers and U-turn users like Furfrou, Vibrava, and Persian. Unlike Will-O-Wisp, Toxic punishes burn-immune Pokemon like Magmar and Pignite and wears foes down more over extended time on the field, but burns are usually more useful against the physically offensive foes like Gourgeist-L targets. Gourgeist-L could run Seed Bomb instead of Foul Play for more damage on foes like Krokorok, Politoed, and Whiscash, but this leaves Gourgeist-L considerably more passive versus targets like Sawsbuck, Klang, and Simisage.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Attackers**: Many special attackers exploit Gourgeist-L's lower special bulk and fear Will-O-Wisp less than physical attackers. Frogadier, Vanilluxe, and Glaceon easily OHKO Gourgeist-L with Ice Beam. Other special attackers like Simipour, Simisage, Servine, and Electabuzz commonly run Fire and Ice coverage moves. However, all special attackers should be wary of accumulating chip damage from Gourgeist-L's status moves.
**Fire-Types**: Magmar and Pignite take little damage from Foul Play and switch in safely on Will-O-Wisp. Magmar easily OHKOs Gourgeist-L with Fire Blast while Pignite can 2HKO with Flare Blitz or set up with Curse. Neither Fire-type enjoys chip damage from Gourgeist-L's Leech Seed though, and they must watch their HP switching in repeatedly if Stealth Rock is up.
**Duosion**: Foul Play does little damage to Duosion while Will-O-Wisp and Leech Seed are ineffective against Magic Guard Duosion. Duosion can exploit Gourgeist-L to set up with Calm Mind or Acid Armor. Regenerator Duosion is somewhat annoyed from the passive damage of Leech Seed and Will-O-Wisp, but it can intercept these statuses for its teammates and put Gourgeist-L into difficult positions with Future Sight.
**Toxic**: Toxic puts Gourgeist-L on a timer, limiting it as a wall. Gigalith, Lairon, and Furfrou are common physical attackers which run Toxic to punish Gourgeist-L and other walls. However, these Pokemon must be wary about Gourgeist-L burning them in return.
**Encore, Taunt, and Substitute**: Politoed can lock Gourgeist-L into Synthesis and Jumpluff can safely lock it into Leech Seed and Synthesis. Foes like Krokorok and Quilladin can shrug off Foul Play while debilitating Gourgeist-L with Taunt. SubTox Whiscash can lure Gourgeist-L in to use it as setup fodder, and its and Calm Mind Golduck's Susbtitutes are not broken by Gourgeist-L's Foul Play either. However, only Jumpluff and Quilladin can risk switching into Leech Seed, and none of them want to take Will-O-Wisp.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5dots.543866/
Grammar checked by:
move 1: Synthesis
move 2: Will-O-Wisp
move 3: Leech Seed
move 4: Foul Play
item: Colbur Berry / Leftovers
ability: Frisk
nature: Bold
EVs: 252 HP / 232 Def / 24 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
[SET COMMENTS]
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 which 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 give 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 to break through Gourgeist-L, so Gourgeist-L relies on partners such as Marshtomp, Whiscash, and Carbink to cover its poor matchup against Fire-types while offering to support its bulky partners lacking recovery with Leech Seed. 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 which lack their own reliable recovery such as Politoed, Pignite, and Klang.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rocky Helmet can replace Colbur Berry and Leftovers to punish physical attackers and U-turn users like Furfrou, Vibrava, and Persian. Unlike Will-O-Wisp, Toxic punishes burn-immune Pokemon like Magmar and Pignite and wears foes down more over extended time on the field, but burns are usually more useful against the physically offensive foes like Gourgeist-L targets. Gourgeist-L could run Seed Bomb instead of Foul Play for more damage on foes like Krokorok, Politoed, and Whiscash, but this leaves Gourgeist-L considerably more passive versus targets like Sawsbuck, Klang, and Simisage.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Attackers**: Many special attackers exploit Gourgeist-L's lower special bulk and fear Will-O-Wisp less than physical attackers. Frogadier, Vanilluxe, and Glaceon easily OHKO Gourgeist-L with Ice Beam. Other special attackers like Simipour, Simisage, Servine, and Electabuzz commonly run Fire and Ice coverage moves. However, all special attackers should be wary of accumulating chip damage from Gourgeist-L's status moves.
**Fire-Types**: Magmar and Pignite take little damage from Foul Play and switch in safely on Will-O-Wisp. Magmar easily OHKOs Gourgeist-L with Fire Blast while Pignite can 2HKO with Flare Blitz or set up with Curse. Neither Fire-type enjoys chip damage from Gourgeist-L's Leech Seed though, and they must watch their HP switching in repeatedly if Stealth Rock is up.
**Duosion**: Foul Play does little damage to Duosion while Will-O-Wisp and Leech Seed are ineffective against Magic Guard Duosion. Duosion can exploit Gourgeist-L to set up with Calm Mind or Acid Armor. Regenerator Duosion is somewhat annoyed from the passive damage of Leech Seed and Will-O-Wisp, but it can intercept these statuses for its teammates and put Gourgeist-L into difficult positions with Future Sight.
**Toxic**: Toxic puts Gourgeist-L on a timer, limiting it as a wall. Gigalith, Lairon, and Furfrou are common physical attackers which run Toxic to punish Gourgeist-L and other walls. However, these Pokemon must be wary about Gourgeist-L burning them in return.
**Encore, Taunt, and Substitute**: Politoed can lock Gourgeist-L into Synthesis and Jumpluff can safely lock it into Leech Seed and Synthesis. Foes like Krokorok and Quilladin can shrug off Foul Play while debilitating Gourgeist-L with Taunt. SubTox Whiscash can lure Gourgeist-L in to use it as setup fodder, and its and Calm Mind Golduck's Susbtitutes are not broken by Gourgeist-L's Foul Play either. However, only Jumpluff and Quilladin can risk switching into Leech Seed, and none of them want to take Will-O-Wisp.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5dots.543866/
Grammar checked by:
Last edited:
