What is a good moveset for Spectrier?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Spectrier, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for any of its pre-evolutions 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 explanation, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Spectrier Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

Spectrier @ Leftovers
Ability: Grim Neigh
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shadow Ball
- Substitute
- Nasty Plot
- Dark Pulse

Wow the new legendaries have bad movepools *looks at Regieleki*

Anyway, set-up sweeper set because... why not? Leftovers heal Substitute damage, as well as chip damage from things like Stealth Rock. Shadow Ball is STAB. Substitute allows it to avoid status and maybe give it a turn to set up Nasty Plot safely. Nasty Plot + Grim Neigh can allow it to snowball to an extent. Dark Pulse is for hitting Normal types.

Answer 2

Gen 8 Doubles UU

Spectrier @ Life Orb
Ability: Grim Neigh
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shadow Ball
- Nasty Plot
- Dark Pulse / Taunt
- Protect

I'm still amazed by how awful this thing's movepool is... Shadow Ball is STAB, and pretty much the only attack you'll need most of the time. Nasty Plot boosts Spectrier's special attack two stages allowing it to "punch" holes in just about everything that doesn't resist it's moves. Dark Pulse hits the only good normal type in the meta, Indeedee-M, super-effectively. Taunt is also an option that allows Spectrier to prevent the opponent from rediretcting attacks via Follow Me, setting up Tailwind or Trick Room, and even make them more vulnerable by removing their right to click Protect. Speaking of Protect, it's pretty much mandatory in doubles, especially on offensive Pokémon. It allows Spectrier to block and / or scout for attacks while it's ally can still move.

Answer 3

I'm posting a moveset that's a little different from the others:
Bulky Spectrier

Spectrier @ Leftovers
Ability: Grim Neigh
EVs: 236 HP / 196 Def / 76 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Will-O-Wisp
- Calm Mind
- Hex
- Dark Pulse

Will-o-Wisp halves your opponent's Attack stat. Calm Mind is to boost your Special Attack and Special Defense. Hex gets double power when your opponent is burned. Dark Pulse because Spectrier's movepool sucks.

Answer 4

Spectrier @ Focus Sash
Ability: Grim Neigh
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD (4 Atk) / 252 Spe
Timid / Naive Nature
- Phantom Force / Dark Pulse
- Will-O-Wisp / Dark Pulse
- Nasty Plot
- Shadow Ball

Okay bear with me here I've had a lot of success with this moveset in competitive. Especially if you take Dynamax into account, pre-Dmax you can use Phantom Force to bait out movesets, and you're quite speedy so you'll move first unless you're against Regieleki or a Scarf user -- but Focus Sash can help there. Use Spectrier as your lead and a Shadow Ball has OHKO potential when used with Nasty Plot. Grim Neigh will activate and you're pretty much at a 4x special boost, your only worry is a Scarf/Eleki or something crazy tanky like Glastrier. Will-O-Wisp allows for a quick burn to help with tanks and Normals, especially if you've already gotten a Nasty Plot and Grim Neigh up. Honestly I used Dark Pulse a little, but its not great, as I run Hydreigon with it for STAB. If you don't have a solid Dark type, Spectrier can use it for damage against Normal-type. These legendaries definitely don't have great movepools to work with though.

Answer 5

Spectrier @ Choice Specs
Ability: Grim Neigh
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 Def
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Mud Shot
- Uproar / Hyper Beam
- Will-O-Wisp / Dark Pulse

God, this thing has one of the worst movepools of all time... Shadow Ball is STAB, Mud Shot is a filler move that also lowers Speed. Uproar is decently strong but you get locked into the move, Hyper Beam is very strong but there's a recharge turn. Oh and Will-O-Wisp is to burn switch-ins. After using WoW you should switch out and come back in later. Dark Pulse is a filler move.

Comments

I wouldn’t consider Dark Pulse coverage, as Dark and Ghost beat the same things

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neutral to normal. honestly its just a filler move

Answer 6

Spectrier @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Grim Neigh
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shadow Ball
- Hyper Beam
- Dark Pulse
- Foul Play

Shadow Ball is STAB. Dark Pulse is a strong move in general, and it has a sad movepool. Foul Play does, well Foul Play stuff. Hyper Beam is to fire something off in hopes to OHKO something. Scarf is to outspeed and possibly sweep with Shadow Ball.

Answer 7

Spectrier @ Life Orb
Ability: Grim Neigh
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hex
- Will-O-Wisp
- Dark Pulse
- Nasty Plot / Agility

Nasty Plot is setup, but you can also use Agility to boost Speed. Will-O-Wisp is to help its lower defense and power up Hex. Dark Pulse because it has a bad movepool, and it's probably the only other good move there.

Answer 8

Spectrier was so broken in OU. Thankfully, its in ubers now, being overshadowed by its calyrex form.

Spectrier @ Choice Specs
Ability: Grim Neigh
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shadow Ball
- Will-O-Wisp
- Dark Pulse
- Mud Shot

Shadow Ball is STAB and will probably be the only move you use. The other three are filler slots.

Comments

Hyper Beam isn't a good choice in competitive. Maybe something like Will-O-Wisp? At least you aren't stuck and get killed by a dark-type.

Answer 9

2nd Calyrex-Shadow (Spectrier) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Grim Neigh
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 SpD
IVs: 0 Atk
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Mud Shot
- Taunt
- Nasty Plot

Once there was a horse that was very powerful in OU. It became so powerful that it took over the format. It was then banished to Ubers where it was sadly outclassed entirely by Calyrex-Shadow. If you want to use another Calyrex-Shadow with worse stats and movepool, then this is your guy. Focus Sash allows it to survive on 1 HP, allowing you to set up a Nasty Plot, and boost your Special Attack stat insanely high. Grim Neigh is its only ability, and allows it to sweep the opponent with only Shadow Ball by boosting your special attack. Mud Shot is coverage, and can lower Speed. Taunt stops the opponent from statusing or setting up on you, but is semi situational. Nasty Plot allows you to boost your Special Attack to high levels.

Comments

Dark pulse isn't useful coverage. It's super effective on ghost and psychic, the two types ghost is. I would suggest using draining kiss instead

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It doesn't get Draining Kiss lol. Also I forgot that dark moves aren't good coverage on something with STAB Shadow Ball, so I edited Dark Pulse and Snarl out.

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I'm confused what "2nd Calyrex-Shadow" is? Is the mon you're talking about is "Spectrier"?

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I guess that it's a nickname, the Poster didn't import the set from PS! and so it has some problems in the format.

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I named it 2nd Calyrex-Shadow due to it being entirely outclassed by Calyrex-Shadow.

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Edited

Answer 10

Gen 8 SS Monotype (Ghost)

Spectrier @ Salac Berry / Metronome
Ability: Grim Neigh
EVs: 12 HP / 244 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Nasty Plot
- Shadow Ball
- Mud Shot

A Substitute + Nasty Plot Spectrier set. Substitute is useful to dodge status conditions as well as taking advantage of slower passive Pokemon. Nasty Plot allows you to boost your Special Attack so you can start breaking/sweeping through opposing teams provided there are no checks to Spectrier on the opposing team. Shadow Ball is used as your main attacking move as it is not only STAB, but Shadow Ball goes brr until Shadow Ball doesn't go brr. Mud Shot is honestly used as a filler move for when a Pokemon such as Drapion and Skuntank resist or are immune to Shadow Ball. Salac Berry is used to raise Spectrier's speed so you can outspeed Choice Scarf Pokemon. 12 HP EVs is used so Spectrier can get to the Salac Berry after using 3 Substitutes. Metronome can be used instead to allow you to snowball through games quicker upon using Nasty Plot, as you'll be clicking Shadow Ball most of the time. If you use Metronome as the item, an EV spread of 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe works fine.

Answer 11

National Dex Monotype Nasty Plot + Z-Move (Ghost)

Spectrier @ Normalium Z
Ability: Grim Neigh
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Shadow Ball
- Draining Kiss
- Hyper Beam

Well, Spectrier gets Draining Kiss in Gen 9, so here is a set for National Dex Monotype. This is a Nasty Plot + Z-Move set. Nasty Plot boosts Spectrier's special attack, making it a dangerous cleaner/sweeper. Shadow Ball is used for a Ghost STAB. Draining Kiss allows Spectrier to deal super effective damage to most Dark-types and allows Spectrier to recover some HP. Hyper Beam is used alongside Normalium Z to provide Spectier with a one-time nuke move that has the potential to break through Blissey when you have enough Special Attack boosts.

Answer 12

National Dex Monotype Nasty Plot + Salac Berry (Ghost)

Spectrier @ Salac Berry
Ability: Grim Neigh
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 12 HP / 244 SpA / 252 Spe or 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute / Endure
- Nasty Plot
- Shadow Ball
- Draining Kiss

A Nasty Plot Salac Berry set for National Dex Monotype. Substitute or Endure allows Spectrier to get down to Salac Bery range. The move you use depends on your preference. Substitute lets Spectrier dodge status moves and create Sucker Punch mind games, while Endure can potentially let Spectrier immediately reach the Salac Berry range. Nasty Plot is used to boost Spectrier's Special Attack to make it a scary cleaner/sweeper. Draining Kiss allows Spectrier to deal super effective damage to most Dark-types.

If you use Substitute, use the EV spread of 12 HP / 244 SpA / 252 Spe to make your HP divisible by 4. If you use Endure, use the EV spread of 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe.