What is a good moveset for Gourgeist?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Gourgeist, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for its pre-evolutions, if any, can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Gourgeist Pokedex and learnset for reference.

Comments

Likely tier: UU.
Maybe even OU.

---

Would also say that likely tier is UU, but it may even be RU imo.

---

They ended up putting Super sized in UU, and the other sizes all in RU. (I think)

Answer 1

Super Size

Gourgeist-Super @ Leftovers
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Leech Seed
- Pain Split / Seed Bomb
- Phantom Force / Shadow Sneak

Despite what others may believe Gourgeist actually does serve a very valuable role in the current OU Metagame. It is easily the best Spin Blocker for Excadrill which is extremely common now due to the weather nerf and its impressive offenses are usually extremely hard for most Ghost types to handle. Gourgeist resists Earthquake and can easily burn any variant that does not pack Substitute. Breloom is also checked by Super Gourgeist since it is immune to Spore and it's Fighting STAB while resisting it's Grass STAB all while having the ability to burn it with WoW.

Will-O-Wisp is to inflict status, rack up residual damage, and shut down a large amount of physical threats. Leech Seed is for recovery and to continue racking up residual damage. Pain Split is for even more recovery though it can be somewhat unreliable so Seed Bomb can be used for added coverage if you want. Phantom Force may seem like a bad choice due to it taking 2 turns to attack but due to Gorgeist being so slow it will be able to attack after your opponent the second turn protecting it from damage or status while racking up damage with any Burns or Leech Seeds on the opponent all while getting another turn of Leftovers recovery as well. Shadow Sneak can be used instead to finish off weakened opponents but really there are better Pokemon for revenge killing so Phantom Force is generally the better option.

A more Specially Defensive spread can also be used to shut down Rotom-W lacking HP Ice without hindering it's ability to check both Excadrill and Breloom but it will not be able to handle other physical threats as well.

Comments

I have been running Substitute over Pain Split or Seed Bomb and it is working out much better. Protects it from harmful status as well as letting it stay in and get some damage off on things like Talonflame or Burn/Status other threatening Pokemon making them easier to handle overall and makes the set much more difficult to take down.

Answer 2

Super Size

Gourgeist-Super @ Weakness Policy:
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Speed
- Phantom Force
- Trick-or-Threat
- Seed Bomb
- Gyro Ball

NU. Nuff' said. It serves no roles. Though, I might be wrong, but I do not see for it any role. Here is a slow tank. But one Fire Blast and it is over. It can tank some supereffective physical hits so that Weakness Policy renders it stronger. For Phantom Force, 2 turns is a cost, but with Trick-or-Threat, it is worthy of a try. Gyro Ball covers Ice Weakness and, um, is strong (?) and Seed Bomb is STAB.

Comments

you should probably add what size it is as well. Although because you have a slow physical attacker I assume it is Super.

---

Righter than right ;)

---

Why not replace Gyro Ball with Rock Slide, which is more powerful when it is in super size, and because Rock Slide handles more weaknesses than Gyro Ball?  It is worth a try.

---

Right, but Gyro Ball inflicts some better damages.

---

Well, that is right as well. You can toss up whether you want coverage or damage. I guess it's his decision.

---

I would say more RU than NU. It has pretty good defense and a large movepool.

---

bulky assault vest gourgeist is AMAZING

Answer 3

Small Size

Gourgeist-Small @ Leftovers
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Substitute
- Disable
- Leech Seed
- Bullet Seed / Will-O-Wisp / Curse

We all know the Sub Disable set, as well as the Sub Leech Seed, but what about the two tactics in one Pokemon? Well, here's the only Pokemon that can do that, and it's sadly usually too slow to run the Sub Disable set but--here's the interesting part--it can come as a Pokemon with completely different stats, including base 99 speed! With 326 speed, it can outspeed adamant or modest, fully invested, base 114 or lower Pokemon.
The first three moves are obvious, set up a Sub and move on from there. The last move is your choice: Bullet Seed for an attacking move, Will-o-Wisp for residual damage, Curse for an even quicker demise (though it may be smart to set up Leech Seed before using this move).

Comments

Seems fairly interesting but from the data this site has so far it doesn't appear that Gourgeist can learn Curse...unless it can as an Egg move. Pain Split could be an option on this set as well however to improve its longevity and get a decent chunk of damage off on a high health opponent but it can be slightly unreliable.

Answer 4

Gourgeist Moveset

Super Size

Gourgeist-Super @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Insomnia
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
- Flamethrower
- Energy Ball
- Shadow Ball
- Trick-or-Treat

• Flamethrower-Good for taking care of Grass, Ice, Steel, and Bug types
• Energy Ball-Good for taking care of Water, Ground, and Rock types
• Shadow Ball-Good when used after Trick-or-Treat (See below)
• Trick-or-Treat-This move is good because, after the opponent is part ghost-type, when they are hit with a ghost-type move (Shadow Ball), it will be super-effective, if they are not part normal-type

Description: Takes no damage from Normal or Fighting types, takes half damage from Water, Electric, Grass, and Ground, takes double damage from Fire, Ice, Flying, Ghost, and Dark types, takes normal damage from Poison, Psychic, Bug, Rock, Dragon, Steel, and Fairy. The Strengths and Weaknesses of Gourgeist makes it overall a good-typed Pokemon. Gourgeist does fairly well in-game and in competitive battles, battling against its bad reputation.

Comments

Special gourgeist? wow o3o

---

Interesting. I liek it.

---

Brave raises attack, but you gave it all special moves. Also, its attack is higher than its special attack. It has some good physical moves that you could use.

Answer 5

The Super Sized Prankster! (which is sadly not its Ability...)

Gourgeist-Super @ Focus Sash
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD or 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed / Sassy Nature
- Trick-Or-Treat
- Shadow Sneak
- Destiny Bond
- Will-O-Wisp / Flame charge / Trick Room

Description: Personally, I love Gourgeist, I just can't get enough of the Litt- er... BIG pumpkin!.. (I mean, its super sized form can be 5''7', that's not short.) This moveset is built for taking down an opponents Pokemon via destiny bond, but having other options just in case, please note that this set works best on trick room teams. First, make sure there aren't any hazards on the field, then send in Gourgeist after an ally has been defeated. Use Will-O-Wisp (halves enemy attack) or Flame Charge (Raises Gourgeist's speed) or Trick Room (to ensure it and your other slow Pokemon go first), then, use destiny bond and either kill them or give a nice scare to your opponent if they switch out (they wouldn't risk attacking you, for fear of losing a Pokemon). Trick-Or-Treat is used as another strategy in adding Ghost to your opponent, then hitting them with a super effective Priority Shadow Sneak (Or you can add it to a dark type ally in making an 'almost' No-Weakness friend). So while Gourgeist isn't top of the class, or packed full of strategies... I found that the Lovely Big... or small, Pumpkin Pokemon, can still pull off a few tricks!

Answer 6

Ok, I'll write a good moveset for each size

---

Average Size

Gourgeist @ Leftovers
Ability: Insomnia
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Impish Nature
- Rock Slide
- Seed Bomb
- Phantom Force
- Focus Blast

• Rock Slide-Powerful move which may make opponent flinch. Also gives Gourgeist coverage over three of its weaknesses, Ice-types, Fire-types & Flying-types
• Seed Bomb-STAB, and pretty powerful
• Phantom Force-STAB, very powerful, and also gives coverage over Ghost-types, Gourgeist's weakness
• Focus Blast-Although it is a Special move, it is the strongest move that gives coverage over Gourgeist's last uncovered weakness, Dark

---

Small Size

Gourgeist-Small @ Leftovers
Ability: Insomnia
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly / Impish Nature
- Rock Slide
- Seed Bomb
- Phantom Force
- Focus Blast

• Rock Slide-Powerful move which may make opponent flinch. Also gives Gourgeist coverage over three of its weaknesses, Ice-types, Fire-types & Flying-types
• Seed Bomb-STAB, and pretty powerful
• Phantom Force-STAB, very powerful, and also gives coverage over Ghost-types, Gourgeist's weakness
• Focus Blast-Although it is a Special move, it is the strongest move that gives coverage over Gourgeist's last uncovered weakness, Dark

---

Large Size

Gourgeist-Large @ Leftovers
Ability: Insomnia
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Rock Slide
- Seed Bomb
- Phantom Force
- Focus Blast

• Rock Slide-Powerful move which may make opponent flinch. Also gives Gourgeist coverage over three of its weaknesses, Ice-types, Fire-types & Flying-types
• Seed Bomb-STAB, and pretty powerful
• Phantom Force-STAB, very powerful, and also gives coverage over Ghost-types, Gourgeist's weakness
• Focus Blast-Although it is a Special move, it is the strongest move that gives coverage over Gourgeist's last uncovered weakness, Dark

---

Super Size

Gourgeist-Super @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Insomnia
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def
Adamant / Impish Nature
- Rock Slide
- Seed Bomb
- Phantom Force
- Focus Blast

• Rock Slide-Powerful move which may make opponent flinch. Also gives Gourgeist coverage over three of its weaknesses, Ice-types, Fire-types & Flying-types
• Seed Bomb-STAB, and pretty powerful
• Phantom Force-STAB, very powerful, and also gives coverage over Ghost-types, Gourgeist's weakness
• Focus Blast-Although it is a Special move, it is the strongest move that gives coverage over Gourgeist's last uncovered weakness, Dark

Answer 7

Super Size

Gourgeist-Super @ Leftovers
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 HP / 230 Def / 22 SpD
Impish Nature
- Phantom Force
- Leech Seed
- Will-O-Wisp / Toxic / Seed Bomb
- Protect

If you use Will-O-Wisp / Toxic over Seed Bomb you would be completely walled by Magic Guard Clefable but fortunately those aren't common but if you do face one you could probably switch to a strong sweeper (Lucario Roserade etc.)

Now the strategy is to burn/poison and seed your enemy (and hope Gourgeist survives) then use Protect and Phantom Force each second turn.

Answer 8

Gourgeist-Super @ Leftovers
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Speed
• Poltergeist
• Power Whip
• Trick-Or-Treat
• Trick Room

• Poltergeist:Strong STAB, opponents are almost always holding items
• Power Whip:Strong STAB
• Trick-Or-Treat:Makes them weak to your ghost STAB attacks
• Trick Room:Makes you almost always go first with your terrible speed

Answer 9

Gen 8 ZU

Gourgeist-Super @ Leftovers
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature

-Will-O-Wisp
-Leech Seed
-Power Whip
-Phantom Force/Poltergeist

Will-O-Wisp cripples physical attackers and does a little bit of passive damage, at least it invalidates leftovers. Leech Seed for more passive damage and recovery. Your opponent now loses 18% of their max HP every turn. Power Whip is grass-type STAB and is strong but has less accuracy than Seed Bomb, which only does 2/3 the damage PW does, but with 100% accuracy. Phantom Force is ghost STAB and lets you disappear while passive damage drains the enemy's health and lets you heal Leftovers and Leech Seed at the end of the turn, leaving them prone to getting torn apart the next turn. Meanwhile, Poltergeist is stronger than Phantom Force, and pairs very well with Frisk because Frisk tells you the enemy's item and Poltergeist fails if a Pokemon isn't holding one.

Answer 10

Not seeing enough small gourgeist love. Figured I'd post my weird set that gives me great results

Jack settupaton (Gourgeist-Small) (M) @ Spell Tag / Weakness Policy / Life Orb
Ability: Frisk / Insomnia
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Seed Bomb / Bullet Seed
- Shadow Sneak / Phantom Force
- Worry Seed / Curse / Safeguard
- Leech Seed / Explosion / Facade / Rock Slide

1. Seed bomb/bullet seed (grass stab) (bullet seed for sturdy/sash breaking on pokes it can KO)
2. Shadow sneak/phantom force (stab revenge kill/cleanup move)
3. worry seed/curse/safeguard (removes enemy abilities that can be problem some. Ex: poison heal gliscor, rest using snorlax, even magic bounce it on yourself to be yawn proof) (curse for good damage on sap sipper + normal types like bouffant) (Safeguard for status spammers (glares at blissey))
4. Leech seed/explosion/facade/rock slide (recovery, stall(poison heal gliscor after ability gets worry seeded), and also good setup for an injured bulky Pokemon to come in (like snorlax/clefable to take a shadow ball) and heal a bit) (explosion bc wynaut) (facade incase statused) (Rock slide is for the dumb fire types that think they are so powerful and don't respect the pumpkin)

Set I use
neutral nature
spell tag
run away (need to change to frisk)
252 attack and speed
moves
seed bomb
shadow sneak
worry seed
leech seed

Answer 11

Large Form
Gen 8 ZU

Gourgeist-Large @ Choice Band
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Shadow Sneak
- Poltergeist
- Power Whip
- Trick

Shadow Sneak is priority STAB. Poltergeist is strong STAB and works well with Frisk. Power Whip is also STAB. Trick is to lock a Pokemon into one move.

Answer 12

Super Form
Gen 8 ZU

Gourgeist-Super @ Leftovers
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
- Synthesis
- Poltergeist

SubSeed set. Substitute can help you avoid taking damage. Leech Seed is to slowly drain the opposing Pokémon's HP and giving you a little recovery. Synthesis is for healing. Poltergeist is STAB and works well with Frisk.

Answer 13

Gougeist-Super @ Leftovers
Ability: Frisk
Impish Nature
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
- Leech Seed
- Confuse Ray
- Will-O-Wisp
- Substitute

I've been using this team in my mono ghost team, and it does quite well with this set. It's basically an annoyer set

Comments

Unfortunately, if it gets taunted, it's useless.

Answer 14

SUPER SIZE
Pumpkaboo/gourgeist A.k.A GourdBomb

Gourgeist-Super @ Assault Vest
Ability: Insomnia
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Explosion
- Seed Bomb
- Phantom Force
- Shadow Sneak

Answer 15

Gourgeist-Super (F) @ Choice Band
Ability: Insomnia
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 6 Def
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Shadow Sneak / Phantom Force
- Seed Bomb / Bullet Seed
- Rock Slide
- Gyro Ball

There are other Pokémon that can do this better, but I like my Gourgeist with this set. Plus it works decent in Trick Room. Anyways, Shadow Sneak has Priority while Phantom Force is raw power, though it takes a turn to use. Both are STAB & cover your Ghost-type weakness. Seed Bomb and Bullet Seed are STABs. One is more raw power but the other can break through Subs. Rock Slide covers your Fire & Flying-type weaknesses, while Gyro Ball covers Ice-types and hits Fairys hard.

Answer 16

Gourgeist @ Leftovers
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Seed Bomb
- Phantom Force
- Will-O-Wisp
- Return

Answer 17

Super Size
Gourgeist-Super @ Iron Ball
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Speed
- Trick Room
- Will-O-Wisp
- Seed Bomb
- Facade

• Trick Room - Super Gouregeist is slow, and this is holding Iron Ball, so trick room is perfect for its
• Will-o-Wisp - your oponent Pokemon probably is after you, and we gave Gourgeist 252 on Sp. Def, because we burn foe's Pokemon and we don't need so much Def on it
• Seed Bomb - Gouregeist have greater Atk than Sp. Atk
• Facade - if someone give you status condition, power of this move is doble/Shadow sneak - physical, only ghost move on its, priority

Answer 18

Gen 6:
Role: Physical Tank

Gourgeist @ Ghost Gem
Ability: Insomnia
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SpD
Careful Nature
- Rest
- Trick-or-treat
- Shadow Sneak
- Leech Seed / Seed Bomb

Comments

Ghost Gem doesn't exist in Gen 6. Also, Rest will fail with Insomnia as the ability.

Answer 19

Gourgeist-Large @ Ghostium Z
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Trick-or-Treat
- Phantom Force/Shadow Sneak
- Power Whip
- Rock Slide
Z-Trick-Or-Treat gives you a boost to all stats, as well as giving them a ghost typing, potentially giving them a ghost weakness.

Answer 20

Average Size
Gen 8 ZU

Gourgeist @ Leftovers / Colbur Berry
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Poltergeist
- Power Whip
- Flame Charge
- Destiny Bond

Poltergeist is STAB and pairs nicely with Frisk. Power Whip is also STAB. Flame Charge is to boost your speed. Destiny Bond is to take out an opponent.

Comments

I dont think it gets flame charge

---

It can get Flame Charge, but via TM in Gen 7 or earlier. The Showdown Teambuilder allowed me to select Flame Charge.