![[Image: gothitelle_used_future_sight__by_iamchii...70kqb6.jpg]](http://pre12.deviantart.net/ca03/th/pre/f/2014/002/a/b/gothitelle_used_future_sight__by_iamchiiyousee-d70kqb6.jpg)
Credit to: iamchiiyousee
Gothitelle has a very unique ability in Shadow Tag, being the bulkiest of the Shadow Tag users (without being a Wobbuffet or needing the Eviolite). Being locked in to an unfavorable lead matchup can essentially lose you the game turn one, as it allows your opponent to either set up or pick off 1 or both of your Pokemon. While Gothitelle usually features on Trick room or Perish Trap, it can feature on many different types of teams, particularly ones with a setup sweeper which appreciates its foes being softened up.
![[Image: 576.gif]](http://pldh.net/media/pokemon/gen6/xy-animated/576.gif)
Type: Psychic
Weaknesses: Dark (X2), Ghost (X2), Bug (X2)
Resistances: Fighting (x0.5), Psychic (x0.5)
Abilities:
Frisk - Frisk allows the Pokémon to see the opponent's held item upon entering battle. If the foe is holding an item, a message identifying the item will be shown right after the Pokémon with Frisk enters the battle. If the foe is not holding an item, no message will appear. In a Double Battle, the held items of all opposing Pokémon, regardless of position.
Competitive - When a stat of a Pokémon with this Ability is lowered by an opponent, its Special Attack is increased by two stages. Competitive will not activate if the Pokémon with this Ability lowers its own stats (such as with Close Combat) or if its stats are lowered by an ally. If the Pokémon with this Ability is holding a White Herb, if a stat other than Special Attack is lowered, Competitive will trigger before the White Herb, so the user will receive the Special Attack boost and then the lowered stat will be restored. If its Special Attack is lowered, Competitive will activate first, increasing its Special Attack so that the White Herb cannot activate.
Shadow Tag - Shadow Tag prevents foes from switching out while the Pokémon with this Ability is on the field. Using Baton Pass, U-turn, Volt Switch, or Parting Shot will still cause the Pokémon to switch out. Shadow Tag does not affect allies. Shadow Tag makes the Pokémon immune to the effects of other Pokémon's Shadow Tag. Holding a Shed Shell allows the Pokémon to switch out. Ghost-type Pokémon are immune to Shadow Tag.
Base Stats: 70 HP / 55 ATK / 95 DEF / 95 SpA / 110 SpD / 65 Spe
Common Trick Room Support
Gothitelle @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Shadow Tag
EVs: 252 HP / 12 Def / 244 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Psychic
- Trick Room
- Helping Hand/Heal Pulse
- Protect
This is the build that you will see for the majority of Gothitelles. It's purpose is to trap Pokemon which have an unfavourable match up and set up Trick room to allow the rest of your team to outspeed your opponent. The EVs allow Gothitelle to survive a Modest Choice Specs Dark Pulse from Hydreigon, with the rest of the EVs placed in Defence. A Sassy nature and 0 Speed IVs increase Gothitelle's speed under trick room. Psychic is used to get chip damage to guarantee KOs with you teammate. Trick Room is used as a form of speed control, making slower Pokemon on your team faster for 5 turns. Helping Hand can be used to turn 3HKOs in to 2HKOs and 2HKOs in to OHKOs. Heal Pulse can be used to increase the longevity of your teammate. As Gothitelle's trapping capabilities draw attention to Gothitelle, having Protect is incredibly useful and can give your teammate free turns to deal damage.
Damage Calculations
Defensive:
Offensive:
Sejun Park's Gothitelle
Gothitelle @ Leftovers
Shadow Tag | Calm
252 HP / 172 Def / 4 SpA / 76 SpD / 4 Spe
– Psyshock
– Thunder Wave
– Tickle
– Protect
While less common, this Gothitelle proved to be incredibly useful in Sejun Park's 2014 Worlds team. The EVs are more well rounded to take both physical and special hits. While the ability to take a Specs Dark Pulse from Hydreigon is very nice, on some teams that benchmark is simply unnecessary. For example, on Sejun's team if he was expecting Hydreigon to lead he could bring his Scarfed Gardevoir to outspeed and OHKO with Dazzling Gleam. The moveset is used to neuter the trapped Pokemon, allowing for a teammate's setup. Tickle is used to lower the Attack and Defence of a trapped Pokemon, softening it up for his teammates. Psyshock is used
to capitalise on Defence drops from Tickle. Thunder Wave is used as a form of speed control. Protect is used to protect Gothitelle from double targets. Leftovers are used over Sitrus Berry as Gothitelle is intended to survive for the majority of the match.
Damage Calculations
Defensive:
Offensive:
Potential Teammates include, but aren't limited to;
- Mawile and Gothitelle is a classic Trick Room core. Mawile greatly appreciates Trick Room, allowing it to outspeed a huge portion of the metagame and OHKOing them with its monstrous attack stat with Huge Power. This is only made easier with the knowledge that the opponent cannot switch. Shadow Tag and Intimidate have great synergy, as physical Pokemon will be unable to switch to reset stat changes.
- Choice Scarfed Landorus-T makes a great partner, with its ability Intimidate having great synergy with Shadow Tag and its high speed allowing you to U-turn out to an appropriate Check/Counter if it has an unfavorable match up. On Trick room teams, it provides a fast mode for if/when Trick room expires.
- Gothitelle appreciates Fake Out and redirection to increase its longevity. Gothitelle in turn can provide Heal Pulse support.
- In a Perish Trap team, Perish Song users such as Politoed, Lapras and Azumarill are useful, as well as Mega Gengar.
Threats include but aren't limited to;
- Dark types such as Bisharp, Tyranitar and Hydreigon completely wall Gothitelle and can OHKO and 2HKO in return. Ghost and Steel types are also able to wall Gothitelle.
- Taunt users can render Gothitelle useless.
- Spore users can put Gothitelle to sleep before it is able to set up Trick Room.
- Encore users can lock Gothitelle in to an unfavourable move. Prankster encore users can move before Gothitelle after it uses Trick Room, forcing you to reverse your own trick room.
Other notable moves
- Light Screen - Reduces special damage for both allies taken for 5 turns.
- Swagger - If you want be THAT guy...
- Fake Tears - Reduces the Special Defence of the opponent
- Taunt - Can be used to shut down Aegislash and prevent your Trick Room from being reversed.
- Foul Play - Can be used to punish physical attackers.
- Rest - A long with a Chesto Berry, Rest can be a nice option for Gothitelle, especially if another Pokemon has already taken the Sitrus Berry. However, this would replace Protect which can leave Gothitelle susceptible to double targeting.
Other Notable Items
- Chesto Berry - A replacement for the Sitrus Berry a long with the move Rest.
- Mental Herb - Used to prevent Taunt, preventing Gothitelle from being shut down.
