Fireflame
Silksong when
QC: Hilomilo / OP / Xayah
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack / marthaa
[OVERVIEW]
Golett's niche lies in the fact that it is the only Pokemon in LC that can set Stealth Rock and block Rapid Spin at the same time, though it does lose to the most common spinner in the tier, Staryu. By virtue of its Ground / Ghost typing, Golett sports immunities to Normal-, Electric-, and Fighting-type moves, letting it hard counter non-Pursuit Munchlax and non-Shadow Ball Nasty Plot Croagunk while also beating Rock-types like Onix, Archen, and Cranidos. Golett is also one of the few Ghost-types available that aren't vulnerable to Alolan Grimer. Furthermore, its impressive Attack combined with Iron Fist allows Golett to hit decently hard, and its expansive movepool gives it coverage options to hit specific threats. However, Golett has fairly low Defense and Special Defense and is also slow, (AC) and its typing leaves it with glaring weaknesses to extremely common Dark-, Water-, and Grass-type moves. Because of this, it is unable to check most Fighting-types, fearing Knock Off. Golett is also vulnerable to common threats in Vullaby and Pawniard due to its typing. Golett faces competition from other Stealth Rock setters like Onix and Dwebble, which are faster and can check more Pokemon. Lastly, Golett also faces competition as a defensive Ghost-type from Pumpkaboo-XL, which has much more bulk and access to Synthesis and Will-O-Wisp.
[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Drain Punch
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Stealth Rock
move 4: Ice Punch / Shadow Punch
item: Eviolite
ability: Iron Fist
nature: Adamant
evs: 44 HP / 164 Atk / 196 Def / 76 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Drain Punch is boosted by Iron Fist, dents Normal-types like Munchlax and Bunnelby, and hits Ferroseed. It also provides good coverage as well as recovery, allowing Golett to stay healthy over the course of the match while weakening its switch-ins. STAB Earthquake hits Steel-, Rock-, and Poison-types like Magnemite, Onix, Alolan Grimer, and Croagunk hard. Stealth Rock wears down the enemy team with chip damage. Ice Punch allows Golett to hit Grass- and Flying-types like Snivy and Vullaby and is boosted by Iron Fist. Shadow Punch can be run over Ice Punch for its solid neutral coverage. It is boosted by STAB and Iron Fist, enabling Golett to 2HKO Slowpoke and bulky Frillish.
Set Details
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44 HP EVs and 196 Defense EVs increase Golett's physical bulk, allowing it to take hits from bigger threats in the tier at least once; Golett has a high chance of surviving bulky Pawniard's Knock Off. 164 Attack EVs and an Adamant nature allow Golett to hit as hard as possible without sacrificing too much bulk. They also enable it to OHKO Pawniard with Drain Punch, OHKO Chinchou with Earthquake, and 2HKO Ponyta with Earthquake. 76 Speed EVs let Golett reach 11 Speed, allowing it to outspeed 10 Speed Pokemon like Frillish, Hippopotas, 36 Speed EVs Snubbull, and uninvested Timburr. Eviolite increases Golett's bulk and survivability, and Iron Fist increases the power of Drain Punch, Ice Punch, and Shadow Punch.
Usage Tips
========
Golett's main role is to set up Stealth Rock and then attack whenever it can. Golett should be switched into Pokemon it beats, such as non-Shadow Ball Nasty Plot Croagunk, non-Pursuit Munchlax, and Onix. It should not be switched into powerful attacks from Pokemon like Rufflet and Doduo. Refrain from switching Golett in too much, as it has poor bulk and a pretty bad defensive typing. Except when switching into a resisted attack, Golett should be brought in via pivot support or after a teammate faints. Drain Punch is a good move for finishing off weakened threats due to the healing it provides. Set up Stealth Rock against Pokemon Golett checks like Onix and non-Pursuit Munchlax as well as support Pokemon like Spritzee. Be extremely careful when using Golett to spinblock, as both Staryu and Drilbur can beat it one-on-one. Only switch Golett in if you are sure that the foe will go for Rapid Spin; otherwise, Golett will be hit hard by Staryu's Scald or Hydro Pump or Drilbur's Earthquake.
Team Options
========
Dark-types like Pawniard, Alolan Grimer, and Vullaby can switch into Knock Off and deal with the Ghost-types that threaten Golett. Pawniard functions especially well due to it dissuading Defog, letting it protect Golett's entry hazards. Grass-types such as Snivy and Foongus can threaten Water-types like Staryu and Corphish that trouble Golett, while it is able to switch into the Poison-type moves that threaten them in return. Grass-types are also able to deter Drilbur from using Earthquake, allowing Golett to switch in more easily. Fighting-type Pokemon like Mienfoo and Timburr can handle the Dark-types that beat Golett. Fairy-types like Snubbull, Cottonee, and Spritzee can also deal with Dark-types, and Golett can check Poison-types like Croagunk that beat them. Said Fairy-types can also threaten Fighting-types like Mienfoo that typically carry Knock Off. Powerful Flying-types such as Rufflet and Doduo can threaten the Grass-types that beat Golett. It can switch into the Electric-(AH) and Rock-type moves that trouble them in return. Golett functions great with Sticky Web up, so setters like Surskit can come in handy. Pivots like Mienfoo, Magnemite, and Chinchou can bring in Golett safely with U-turn or Volt Switch.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Golett has an expansive movepool that includes coverage options to hit specific threats. Rock Slide is good coverage for Flying-types and never misses due to No Guard, but it isn't worth using over Ice Punch, which hits more of the metagame. Dynamic Punch along with No Guard can be run to heavily damage Dark-types and cause confusion to switch-ins, but Drain Punch already hits Dark-types hard anyway and can also heal Golett, and Golett values the damage boost given by Iron Fist. Fire Punch can be used to nail Ferroseed, while Thunder Punch can hit Water-types like Staryu. However, Ferroseed is already hit hard by Drain Punch, and Thunder Punch isn't as useful as Golett's other attacks. Golett can run Toxic to punish its switch-ins like Hippopotas, defensive Staryu, and Mudbray. However, doing so will make Golett lose out on coverage, and Toxic takes a long time to do significant damage. Golett has access to an amazing special movepool with moves like Shadow Ball, Earth Power, Focus Blast, Ice Beam, and Psychic, but its horrible Special Attack renders these moves completely inferior to its physical moves. Rock Polish or Curse allows Golett to become a setup sweeper, and it can make use of the boosts due to its excellent coverage. However, Golett is too slow and easily KOed by many common Dark-, Water, and Grass-type attacking moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types and Dark-type Coverage**: Dark-types like Pawniard, Vullaby, and Scraggy are able to KO Golett with their super effective STAB moves. Furthermore, many Pokemon in the tier carry Knock Off as coverage, such as Mienfoo, Timburr, and Doduo, making Golett weak to these Pokemon as well.
**Water-types**: Water-types such as Staryu, Corphish, and Carvanha force Golett out with their super effective STAB moves, although they don't appreciate switching into it.
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types like Gastly, Frillish, and Pumpkaboo-S are able to outspeed Golett and KO it with their STAB moves. However, if Golett is running Shadow Punch, they cannot switch in.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Cottonee, Snivy, and Pumpkaboo-XL threaten Golett with their super effective STAB moves as well as their resistance to Earthquake. These Pokemon are hit hard by Ice Punch, however.
**Physically Bulky Pokemon**: Pokemon such as Hippopotas, Mudbray, Spritzee, and Foongus don't take much damage from Golett's atacks and can proceed to wear it down.
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