Pokemon Sword and Shield

Spectrier - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Spectrier - Movesets and Counters.png
This is a strategy guide for using Spectrier 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 Spectrier, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Spectrier - Related Guides
Pokemon SWSH - Spectrier Evolution and LearnsetEvolution and Learnset Pokemon SWSH - Spectrier Best BuildBuild for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Spectrier

Types and Abilities

Pokemon Type 1 Type 2
Pokemon Sword and Shield - Ghost Type
Abilities
Grim Neigh When the Pokemon knocks out a target, it utters a terrifying neigh, which boosts its Special Attack stat.

Spectrier Weaknesses and Resistances

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

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

HP Attack Defense Sp. Atk Sp. Def Speed
100 65 60 145 80 130

Best Nature for Spectrier

Best Natures
Timid
(+Spd, -Atk)
Modest
(+Sp.Atk, -Atk)

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Spectrier

Dynamax Special Attacker Moveset & Best Build

Dynamax Special Attacker Spectrier.png

Nature Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
EV Spread Sp.Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4 / Spd 252
Final Stat Values HP 175 / Def 80 / Sp.Atk 197 / Sp.Def 101 / Spd 200
Ability Grim Neigh
Held Item Focus Sash
Life Orb
Moveset Shadow Ball
Dark Pulse
Hyper Beam
Will-O-Wisp

Spectrier's base 130 Speed stat make it an excellent lead in the current metagame and is a good choice for lead Dynamax Pokemon thanks to its ability, which boosts its special attack every time it knocks out an enemy.

About Spectrier's Moves

Shadow Ball is its main STAB move, and becomes Max Phantasm during Dynamax, lowering the opposing team's Defense stat.

Dark Pulse is its secondary attacking move, and while its coverage overlaps with Shadow Ball, allows Spectrier to lower the opposing team's special defense when it becomes Max Darkness during Dynamax.

Hyper Beam is a move that Spectrier should only use during Dynamax to avoid the recharge. It also allows the Swift Horse Pokemon to provide speed control as Max Strike lowers the opposing team's speed by one stage.

It's last move is Will-O-Wisp, which is useful when Spectrier is facing against a Pokemon that can use Sucker Punch, such as Bisharp.

About Spectrier's EV Spread

We're using a standard special attacking spread with full investment in Special Attack and Speed so that Spectrier hits hard and as fast as possible. The remaining 4 EVs are placed in Special Defense to further boost its special bulk.

About Spectrier's Ability

Grim Neigh is Spectrier's only Ability. This Ability boosts the Swift Horse Pokemon's Special Attack by one stage when it knocks out an opposing Pokemon.

About Spectrier's Held Item

Spectrier has two options for held item.

Focus Sash ensures it can Dynamax and fire off a powerful Max Move even if it gets hit by an attack taht would otherwise knock it out.

Life Orb, on the other hand, boosts the power of Spectrier's moves by 30% at the cost of some residual damage.

Other Viable Moves

Mud Shot An alternative to Hyper Beam that becomes Max Quake, boosting it and its team's Special Defense by one stage.
Nasty Plot An alternative to Will-O-Wisp that boosts Spectrier's Special Attack by 2 stages.
Taunt With Spectrier's high speed, it can prevent opposing leads and setup sweepers from setting up with their own moves.
Hex Becomes a base 130 Ghost-type move when Spectrier uses it on an opposing Pokemon afflicted by a Status Condition.

How to Use Spectrier Effectively

A Fast Special Attacker

Spectrier easily fills the role of a fast special attacker and Dynamax lead. While it can't increase its team's speed with Max Airstream, it can still provide speed control by using Max Strike to lower the opposing team's speed.

Low Move Coverage Hinders its Sweeping Potential

Spectrier has excellent Special Attack and Speed, but its shallow movepool means it has low coverage. It's easily walled by Normal or Dark-type Pokemon, with their immunity and resistances negating Spectrier's powerful attacks and boosts.

Spectrier's low move coverage means you need to switch it out often or Dynamax it immediately to ensure it can still support its team with its Max Moves' secondary effects.

How to Build a Team with Spectrier

Spectrier's high Speed and Special Attack but low move coverage limits its usage in most teams, but it has a small niche in Hyper Offense teams.

A Dynamax Lead for Hyper Offense Teams

Spectrier's fast speed makes it a good Dynamax Lead, crippling the opposing team with its Max Moves' secondary effects.

The following teams show some examples of ways in which Spectrier can be effectively used in a team for Ranked Battle.

Example Choice User + Defensive Pivot Team

Lead Dynamax Choice Band Sweeper Defensive Pivot
Pokemon SWSH - Spectrier ImageSpectrier Pokemon SWSH - Entei ImageEntei Pokemon SWSH - Zapdos ImageZapdos

Spectrier's Defense and Special Defense lowering Max Moves helps Entei KO certain Pokemon that can withstand its Choice Band boosted attacks.

Zapdos serves as the Defensive core for the two, using Volt Switch to quickly pivot to its teammates.

Example Setup Sweeper + Wish Support Team

Lead Dynamax Calm Mind Sweeper Wish Support
Pokemon SWSH - Spectrier ImageSpectrier Pokemon SWSH - Cresselia ImageCresselia Pokemon SWSH - Vaporeon ImageVaporeon

Alternatively, you can switch Entei for Cresselia if you prefer a slower approach. Spectrier's Max Strike is useful for this since it lowers the opposing team's speed, letting Cresselia outpace its usual counters and potentially get a Calm Mind boost before the opposing Pokemon.

Vaporeon serves as the defensive core for the two, and it's main role is passing Wish to its teammates to keep them in good condition.

Check out our guide below to learn more about building a Hyper Offense team.
How to Build a Hyper Offense Team

Counters for Spectrier

Spectrier
Weakness Pokemon Ghost Image Pokemon Dark Image

Counter it with a Normal or Dark-type Pokemon

Spectrier's shallow movepool means its easily countered or walled by Normal and Dark-type Pokemon. Many of these counters take little damage from Spectrier's other moves and can even use it as setup fodder.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Pokemon SWSH - Tyranitar ImageTyranitar Ranking: ★★★★★
・Resists all of Spectrier's main attacking moves
・Sandstorm boosts Tyranitar's Special Defense by 50%
・Can easily KO Spectrier with its STAB Dark-type moves

Moveset & Best Build for Tyranitar
Pokemon SWSH - Grimmsnarl ImageGrimmsnarl Ranking: ★★★★★
・Resists all of Spectrier's main attacking moves
・Has a high chance of 1HKOing 0 Def EV Spectrier with Sucker Punch (87.5% chance)
・Can support its team by setting up dual screens or cripple Spectrier with Thunder Wave

Moveset & Best Build for Grimmsnarl
Pokemon SWSH - Blissey ImageBlissey Ranking: ★★★★★
・Immune to Spectrier's Ghost-type STAB because of its Normal typing
・High Special Defense lets it withstand all of Spectrier's coverage moves
・Can 2HKO Spectrier with Shadow Ball
Moveset & Best Build for Blissey
Pokemon SWSH - Cinderace ImageCinderace Ranking: ★★★★
・Easily 1HKOs 0 Def EV Spectrier with Life Orb boosted Sucker Punch
・A common sight in many teams, which means Spectrier is always at risk of getting KO'd by Sucker Punch

Moveset & Best Build for Cinderace

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
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