Pokemon Sword and Shield

Gothitelle - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Gothitelle.png

Gothitelle Movesets in Other Games
Pokemon Scarlet LogoSV Pokemon SWSH LogoSWSH

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
Pokemon SWSH - Gothitelle Evolution and LearnsetEvolution and Learnset Pokemon SWSH - Gothitelle Best BuildBuild for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Gothitelle

Types and Abilities

Pokemon Type 1 Type 2
Pokemon Sword and Shield - Psychic Type
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.

Gothitelle Weaknesses and Resistances

Type
Takes 4x damage
-
Takes 2x damage
Pokemon Bug Image Pokemon Ghost Image Pokemon Dark Image
Takes 0.5x damage
Pokemon Fighting Image Pokemon Psychic Image
Takes 1/4x damage
-
Takes 0x damage
-

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

HP Attack Defense Sp. Atk Sp. Def Speed
70 55 95 95 110 65

Best Nature for Gothitelle

Best Natures
Bold
(+Def, -Atk)

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Gothitelle

Stored Power Sweeper Moveset & Best Build

Stored Power Sweeper Gothitelle.png

Nature Bold (+Def, -Atk)
EV Spread HP 252 / Def 252 / Sp.Atk 4
Final Stat Values HP 177 / Def. 161 / Sp.Atk 116 / Sp.Def 130 / Spd. 85
Ability Shadow Tag
Held Item Chesto Berry
Moveset Rest
Cosmic Power
Nasty Plot
Stored Power

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

Psychic An alternative to Stored Power that offers more consistent damage and hits harder before boosts.
Dark Pulse Can replace one of the boosting moves to provide coverage against opposing Psychic-types..
Energy Ball A good coverage move that allows Gothitelle to hit bulky Ground and Water-types, such as Swampert and Gastrodon.

Shadow Tag Moveset & Best Build

Nature Bold (+Def, -Atk)
EV Spread HP 252 / Def. 252 / Sp.Atk. 4
Final Stat Values HP 177 / Def. 161 / Sp.Atk. 116 / Sp.Def. 130 / Spd. 85
Ability Shadow Tag
Held Item Leftovers
Moveset Protect
Nasty Plot
Cosmic Power
Dark Pulse

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

Shadow Tag Gothitelle.png
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

Psychic High-powered STAB attack. Note that it's ineffective against Dark-types.
Energy Ball Effective against defensive walls, such as Quagsire and Gastrodon.

Rest + Chesto Berry Moveset & Best Build

Nature Bold (+Def, -Atk)
EV Spread HP 252 / Def. 252 / Sp.Atk. 4
Final Stat Values HP 177 / Def. 161 / Sp.Atk. 116 / Sp.Def. 130 / Spd. 85
Ability Shadow Tag
Held Item Chesto Berry
Moveset Rest
Cosmic Power
Nasty Plot
Dark Pulse

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

Rest + Chesto Berry Gothitelle.png
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

Psychic High-powered STAB attack. Note that it's ineffective against Dark-types.
Energy Ball Effective against defensive walls, such as Quagsire and Gastrodon.

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

Gothitelle
Weakness Pokemon Bug Image Pokemon Ghost Image Pokemon Dark Image

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
Pokemon SWSH - Dragapult ImageDragapult Ranking: ★★★★★
・Can attack first with its high Speed.
・Can damage Gothitelle, as well as Durant, with Fire-type moves.
Moveset & Best Build for Dragapult
Pokemon SWSH - Mimikyu ImageMimikyu Ranking: ★★★★
・Curse prevents Gothitelle from stabilizing.
・Shadow Claw has a high Critical Hit rate.
Moveset & Best Build for Mimikyu
Pokemon SWSH - Spectrier ImageSpectrier Ranking: ★★★★
・Can one-shot Gothitelle with Shadow Ball which activates Grim Neigh.
Moveset & Best Build for Spectrier
Pokemon SWSH - Chandelure ImageChandelure 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
Pokemon SWSH - Incineroar ImageIncineroar 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
Pokemon SWSH - Zapdos ImageZapdos Ranking: ★★★★
・Makes for easy switching using Volt Switch.
・Can be used in many team compositions.
Moveset & Best Build for Zapdos
Pokemon SWSH - Hydreigon ImageHydreigon Ranking: ★★★★
・Makes for easy switching using U-turn.
・Can damage Gothitelle, as well as Durant, with Fire-type moves.
Moveset & Best Build for Hydreigon
Pokemon SWSH - Wash Rotom ImageWash Rotom Ranking: ★★★★
・Makes for easy switching using Volt Switch.
Moveset & Best Build for Wash Rotom
Pokemon SWSH - Hippowdon ImageHippowdon Ranking: ★★★
・Force Gothitelle to switch out with Whirlwind.
Moveset & Best Build for Hippowdon

Related Links

Pokemon Sword and Shield - Best Builds for Ranked Battle

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Pokemon SWSH - Tier ListTier List Pokemon SWSH - Best BuildsBest Builds Pokemon Sword and Shield - Ranked Battle Series 10 Contenders.pngSeries 10 List of Contenders
Pokemon SWSH - Doubles Tier ListDoubles Tier List Pokemon SWSH - Competitive Team BuildingTeam Building Pokemon SWSH - Rental TeamsRental Teams

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