[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 5 onwards
**Price Range**: 11-13 points
**Overview**: Gothitelle has average bulk and mediocre offensive stats, making it seem underwhelming at first glance, but thanks to Shadow Tag, it can be a major threat. Gothitelle can trap its foes, allowing it to either remove them to enable teammates or set up on them itself, becoming an annoying late-game sweeper. However, Gothitelle is relatively easy for opponents to prepare against. Since they know to anticipate it, they will often bring Shed Shell or pivoting moves on Pokemon that are likely to be trapped. Gothitelle also struggles against foes that resist Psychic, often having to rely on Focus Blast to hit them.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Choice Scarf**: Gothitelle paired with a Choice Scarf can easily outrun and revenge kill faster Pokemon, especially if they would normally rely on faster pivoting to switch out. It can also use Trick to shut down a foe, making it easier for it or its teammates to take advantage of.
**Setup Sweeper**: Gothitelle can easily set up on trapped Pokemon that deal little damage to it. With access to Nasty Plot and Calm Mind along with Stored Power, it can easily become a strong setup sweeper despite its average stats.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Psychic, Psyshock, Psychic Noise, Stored Power, Future Sight
**Setup Moves**: Calm Mind, Nasty Plot
**Utility Moves**: Trick, Thunder Wave, Light Screen, Reflect, Taunt, Rest, Sleep Talk, Foul Play
**Coverage**: Energy Ball, Grass Knot, Dark Pulse, Shadow Ball, Focus Blast, Thunderbolt
Niche Moves
========
**Fake Tears**: Fake Tears can be used against a trapped specially defensive wall, letting Gothitelle break through it more easily.
**Charm**: Charm can weaken trapped physical attackers, allowing Gothitelle to easily set up on or KO them.
**Mirror Coat**: Mirror Coat is an effective way of removing trapped specially offensive Pokemon, especially if they are Choice locked.
**Trick Room**: Gothitelle is relatively slow, making Trick Room a viable option against teams that are much faster. This is typically used to catch the opponent off guard.
Common Items
========
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf allows Gothitelle to outrun trapped foes or cripple them with Trick.
**Leftovers**: Since Gothitelle does not have reliable recovery outside of Rest, Leftovers gives it some extra longevity, making it harder for weaker foes to eventually break through it.
Niche Items
========
**Chesto Berry**: Chesto Berry along with Rest gives Gothitelle longevity, especially on setup sets where it needs to stay as healthy as possible to beat a specific foe.
**Resistance Berries**: Resistance Berries allow Gothitelle to take hits and KO typical checks in return. Colbur Berry is the most common choice, allowing Gothitelle to take much less damage from Knock Off.
**Light Clay**: Gothitelle can be an effective dual screens setter, making Light Clay a good option if other moves and items are unnecessary.
**Weakness Policy**: Weakness Policy combined with Stored Power can make Gothitelle very threatening, especially if hit with a special move after Calm Mind boosts.
**Kee Berry**: Kee Berry lets Gothitelle check physically offensive Pokemon more effectively, especially on setup sets.
**Red Card**: Red Card can be used to potentially bring in foes that do not want to be in against Gothitelle. It is most effective being activated against foes holding a Shed Shell or using pivoting moves.
**Assault Vest**: On offensive sets, Assault Vest lets Gothitelle run more Special Attack investment while still checking specially offensive Pokemon effectively.
Tera
========
Gothitelle can be a threatening Tera Captain, and it is often reliant on being one, since Tera lets it check Pokemon it normally could not, which makes it even more difficult for opponents to prepare against it. It often uses defensive Tera types, like Tera Water, Steel, and Fairy, to effectively trap and quickly turn the tables on foes that would normally check it, allowing it to set up on or KO them. It can also use offensive Tera types to gain stronger or more reliable coverage, such as Tera Fighting and Fairy.
Draft Strategy
========
Gothitelle is typically seen as a gimmick, and it can be very difficult to use effectively. However, if used well, it does a great job trapping foes to enable its teammates, and it can also force a ton of opposing preparation, which can potentially allow its teammates to have an easier time in the matchup, even in cases where Gothitelle itself does not come to a match.
**Fast Wallbreakers**: Fast Pokemon, such as Darkrai, Meowscarada, and Iron Bundle, can outspeed many foes that Gothitelle cannot. They can also make the opponent want to bring Choice Scarf on a foe, which allows Gothitelle to effectively trap and revenge kill that foe.
**Pivots**: Pivots can effectively and safely bring in Gothitelle, and they can be very difficult for foes to deal with when a pivot move is pressuring an opposing switch. Some effective pivots include Greninja, Zapdos, and Scizor.
**Knock Off Users**: Many foes will hold Shed Shell to avoid being trapped when facing Gothitelle. Knock Off users, such as Iron Treads, Zarude, and Gliscor, can effectively remove Shed Shell as well as other items, such as damage-boosting items, that would be used to check Gothitelle.
**Fighting- and Fairy-types**: Dark-types effectively check Gothitelle, especially since it only has Focus Blast to hit them. Pairing it with strong Fighting- and Fairy-types, such as Iron Valiant, Urshifu-S, and Enamorus, adds pressure onto these Dark-types.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Gothitelle's low Defense makes opponents want to bring strong physical wallbreakers, so it is a good idea to pair it with Pokemon that can switch in on those wallbreakers, such as Landorus-T, Gouging Fire, and Overqwil.
Checks and Counters
========
**Shed Shell**: Shed Shell is very commonly used on Pokemon that would typically get trapped by Gothitelle, such as Great Tusk, Glimmora, and Iron Valiant.
**Pivoting Moves**: Pivoting moves allow Pokemon to easily switch out against Gothitelle while also dealing some damage to it, especially U-turn.
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Gothitelle has average physical bulk and cannot reliably heal, making physical wallbreakers like Gouging Fire, Ogerpon-W, and Rillaboom effective checks.
**Steel- and Dark-types**: Gothitelle struggles against Steel- and Dark-types, especially when using setup sets with Stored Power, since it relies on Focus Blast or much weaker coverage to beat them. These Pokemon include Chi-Yu, Overqwil, and Scizor.
**Ghost-types**: Although Gothitelle struggles less with Ghost-types due to having Shadow Ball and neutral STAB attacks, they can switch out without the need of Shed Shell and hit it super effectively. Ghost-types such as Gholdengo, Ceruledge, and Sinistcha can be very difficult for Gothitelle to handle.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/vmnunes.613460/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/olivia.620359/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
**Draft Order**: Round 5 onwards
**Price Range**: 11-13 points
**Overview**: Gothitelle has average bulk and mediocre offensive stats, making it seem underwhelming at first glance, but thanks to Shadow Tag, it can be a major threat. Gothitelle can trap its foes, allowing it to either remove them to enable teammates or set up on them itself, becoming an annoying late-game sweeper. However, Gothitelle is relatively easy for opponents to prepare against. Since they know to anticipate it, they will often bring Shed Shell or pivoting moves on Pokemon that are likely to be trapped. Gothitelle also struggles against foes that resist Psychic, often having to rely on Focus Blast to hit them.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Choice Scarf**: Gothitelle paired with a Choice Scarf can easily outrun and revenge kill faster Pokemon, especially if they would normally rely on faster pivoting to switch out. It can also use Trick to shut down a foe, making it easier for it or its teammates to take advantage of.
**Setup Sweeper**: Gothitelle can easily set up on trapped Pokemon that deal little damage to it. With access to Nasty Plot and Calm Mind along with Stored Power, it can easily become a strong setup sweeper despite its average stats.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Psychic, Psyshock, Psychic Noise, Stored Power, Future Sight
**Setup Moves**: Calm Mind, Nasty Plot
**Utility Moves**: Trick, Thunder Wave, Light Screen, Reflect, Taunt, Rest, Sleep Talk, Foul Play
**Coverage**: Energy Ball, Grass Knot, Dark Pulse, Shadow Ball, Focus Blast, Thunderbolt
Niche Moves
========
**Fake Tears**: Fake Tears can be used against a trapped specially defensive wall, letting Gothitelle break through it more easily.
**Charm**: Charm can weaken trapped physical attackers, allowing Gothitelle to easily set up on or KO them.
**Mirror Coat**: Mirror Coat is an effective way of removing trapped specially offensive Pokemon, especially if they are Choice locked.
**Trick Room**: Gothitelle is relatively slow, making Trick Room a viable option against teams that are much faster. This is typically used to catch the opponent off guard.
Common Items
========
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf allows Gothitelle to outrun trapped foes or cripple them with Trick.
**Leftovers**: Since Gothitelle does not have reliable recovery outside of Rest, Leftovers gives it some extra longevity, making it harder for weaker foes to eventually break through it.
Niche Items
========
**Chesto Berry**: Chesto Berry along with Rest gives Gothitelle longevity, especially on setup sets where it needs to stay as healthy as possible to beat a specific foe.
**Resistance Berries**: Resistance Berries allow Gothitelle to take hits and KO typical checks in return. Colbur Berry is the most common choice, allowing Gothitelle to take much less damage from Knock Off.
**Light Clay**: Gothitelle can be an effective dual screens setter, making Light Clay a good option if other moves and items are unnecessary.
**Weakness Policy**: Weakness Policy combined with Stored Power can make Gothitelle very threatening, especially if hit with a special move after Calm Mind boosts.
**Kee Berry**: Kee Berry lets Gothitelle check physically offensive Pokemon more effectively, especially on setup sets.
**Red Card**: Red Card can be used to potentially bring in foes that do not want to be in against Gothitelle. It is most effective being activated against foes holding a Shed Shell or using pivoting moves.
**Assault Vest**: On offensive sets, Assault Vest lets Gothitelle run more Special Attack investment while still checking specially offensive Pokemon effectively.
Tera
========
Gothitelle can be a threatening Tera Captain, and it is often reliant on being one, since Tera lets it check Pokemon it normally could not, which makes it even more difficult for opponents to prepare against it. It often uses defensive Tera types, like Tera Water, Steel, and Fairy, to effectively trap and quickly turn the tables on foes that would normally check it, allowing it to set up on or KO them. It can also use offensive Tera types to gain stronger or more reliable coverage, such as Tera Fighting and Fairy.
Draft Strategy
========
Gothitelle is typically seen as a gimmick, and it can be very difficult to use effectively. However, if used well, it does a great job trapping foes to enable its teammates, and it can also force a ton of opposing preparation, which can potentially allow its teammates to have an easier time in the matchup, even in cases where Gothitelle itself does not come to a match.
**Fast Wallbreakers**: Fast Pokemon, such as Darkrai, Meowscarada, and Iron Bundle, can outspeed many foes that Gothitelle cannot. They can also make the opponent want to bring Choice Scarf on a foe, which allows Gothitelle to effectively trap and revenge kill that foe.
**Pivots**: Pivots can effectively and safely bring in Gothitelle, and they can be very difficult for foes to deal with when a pivot move is pressuring an opposing switch. Some effective pivots include Greninja, Zapdos, and Scizor.
**Knock Off Users**: Many foes will hold Shed Shell to avoid being trapped when facing Gothitelle. Knock Off users, such as Iron Treads, Zarude, and Gliscor, can effectively remove Shed Shell as well as other items, such as damage-boosting items, that would be used to check Gothitelle.
**Fighting- and Fairy-types**: Dark-types effectively check Gothitelle, especially since it only has Focus Blast to hit them. Pairing it with strong Fighting- and Fairy-types, such as Iron Valiant, Urshifu-S, and Enamorus, adds pressure onto these Dark-types.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Gothitelle's low Defense makes opponents want to bring strong physical wallbreakers, so it is a good idea to pair it with Pokemon that can switch in on those wallbreakers, such as Landorus-T, Gouging Fire, and Overqwil.
Checks and Counters
========
**Shed Shell**: Shed Shell is very commonly used on Pokemon that would typically get trapped by Gothitelle, such as Great Tusk, Glimmora, and Iron Valiant.
**Pivoting Moves**: Pivoting moves allow Pokemon to easily switch out against Gothitelle while also dealing some damage to it, especially U-turn.
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Gothitelle has average physical bulk and cannot reliably heal, making physical wallbreakers like Gouging Fire, Ogerpon-W, and Rillaboom effective checks.
**Steel- and Dark-types**: Gothitelle struggles against Steel- and Dark-types, especially when using setup sets with Stored Power, since it relies on Focus Blast or much weaker coverage to beat them. These Pokemon include Chi-Yu, Overqwil, and Scizor.
**Ghost-types**: Although Gothitelle struggles less with Ghost-types due to having Shadow Ball and neutral STAB attacks, they can switch out without the need of Shed Shell and hit it super effectively. Ghost-types such as Gholdengo, Ceruledge, and Sinistcha can be very difficult for Gothitelle to handle.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/vmnunes.613460/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/olivia.620359/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
Last edited:
