Gothitelle - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle | Pokemon Sword and Shield

This is a strategy guide for using Gothitelle in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Gothitelle, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Gothitelle - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Gothitelle

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Gothitelle
Abilities
Frisk	The Pokemon can check a foe's held item.
Competitive	Raises Special Attack when the Pokemon's stats are lowered.
Shadow Tag (Hidden)	Prevents the foe from escaping.

Type Defenses

	Type
Takes 4x damage	-
Takes 2x damage
Takes 0.5x damage
Takes 1/4x damage	-
Takes 0x damage	-

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Gothitelle

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Gothitelle

Stored Power Sweeper Moveset & Best Build

This build revolves around getting as much boost from Cosmic Power and Nasty Plot in order to power up Gothitelle's Stored Power. The given EV spread allows the Astral Body Pokemon to switch into physical attackers better, with Rest allowing it to completely recover its HP and get rid of status like Toxic.

Chesto Berry is the preferred held item for this build so that Gothitelle immediately recovers from Sleep after it uses Rest, allowing it to boost or attack with its moves.

Other Viable Moves

Shadow Tag Moveset & Best Build

These values are from base stats and ideal EVs, excluding external factors.

This build is designed to pair Gothitelle with an Entrainment-build Durant. After passing on Durant's Truant ability, switch to Gothitelle and raise its stats with Nasty Plot and Cosmic Power on the turns when the opponent is disabled, then use Protect to avoid your opponent's moves on turns when it can attack.

Gothitelle's Shadow Tag ability akes it impossible for the opponent to switch Pokemon, allowing you to predictably boost your stats against the Truant-inflicted Pokemon.

Dark-type moves are used to ensure all types can be damaged.

Alternate Move Choices

Rest + Chesto Berry Moveset & Best Build

These values are from base stats and ideal EVs, excluding external factors.

This build uses Shadow Tag to block the opponent from switching, allowing you to predictably boost your stats with Cosmic Power and Nasty Plot. Attack your opponent with Dark Pulse.

Rest allows you to recover HP and heal status changes, allowing you to setup against a wider range of opponents.

Dark-type moves are used to ensure all types can be damaged.

Alternate Move Choices

How to Use Gothitelle Effectively

Lock Your Opponent in with Shadow Tag and Set Up

Gothitelle's Shadow Tag keeps the opponent from switching Pokemon, allowing Gothitelle to set up against a Pokemon whose moves it can weather. Raise your stats with Cosmic Power and Nasty Plot to defeat your opponent.

Beware of opponent's critical hits against you, since they disregard stat boosts. Make sure to only put Gothitelle against Pokemon that are type-disadvantaged or have moves that aren't very effective against Gothitelle to give yourself the best chance of setting up effectively.

Counters for Gothitelle

Weakness

Cancel Shadow Tag with Ghost-type Pokemon

Use Ghost-types that aren't affected by Shadow Tag. The effect of the Ghost-type move, Curse, isn't remedied by Rest, allowing you to force Gothitelle to switch out.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Dragapult	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can attack first with its high Speed. ・Can damage Gothitelle, as well as Durant, with Fire-type moves. Moveset & Best Build for Dragapult
Mimikyu	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Curse prevents Gothitelle from stabilizing. ・Shadow Claw has a high Critical Hit rate. Moveset & Best Build for Mimikyu
Spectrier	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Can one-shot Gothitelle with Shadow Ball which activates Grim Neigh. Moveset & Best Build for Spectrier
Chandelure	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Fire-type moves are effective against Gothitelle, as well as Durant. Moveset & Best Build for Chandelure

Use Moves to Automatically Switch

Use switching moves U-turn and Volt Switch, which aren't restricted by Shadow Tag. Whirlwind does the job as well.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Incineroar	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Makes for easy switching using U-turn or Parting Shot. ・Disregard opponent's Def. and attack with Darkest Lariat. Moveset & Best Build for Incineroar
Zapdos	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Makes for easy switching using Volt Switch. ・Can be used in many team compositions. Moveset & Best Build for Zapdos
Hydreigon	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Makes for easy switching using U-turn. ・Can damage Gothitelle, as well as Durant, with Fire-type moves. Moveset & Best Build for Hydreigon
Wash Rotom	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Makes for easy switching using Volt Switch. Moveset & Best Build for Wash Rotom
Hippowdon	Ranking: ★★★ ・Force Gothitelle to switch out with Whirlwind. Moveset & Best Build for Hippowdon

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 8 Tier List Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

Best Builds for Returning Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for Returning Pokemon
Mimikyu	Wash Rotom	Gyarados
Ferrothorn	Aegislash	Excadrill
Tyranitar	Hydreigon	Heat Rotom
Arcanine	Mamoswine	Toxapex
Togekiss	Cloyster	Durant
Snorlax	Charizard	Sylveon
Lucario	Hippowdon	Umbreon
Conkeldurr	Quagsire	Gastrodon
Lapras	Whimsicott	Rhyperior
Goodra	Haxorus	Glaceon
Mow Rotom	Type: Null	Gengar
Milotic	Gardevoir	Flygon
Chandelure	Lanturn	Torkoal
Bisharp	Seismitoad	Silvally
Butterfree	Primarina	Incineroar
Blastoise	Decidueye	Venusaur
Darmanitan	Alolan Ninetales	Gothitelle
Crawdaunt	Clefable	Reuniclus
Kommo-o	Terrakion	Cobalion
Virizion	Noivern	Fan Rotom
Toxicroak	Pelipper	Jellicent
Celebi	Clefairy	Hitmontop
Diggersby	Ditto	Raichu