[OVERVIEW]
Name: Defogger
Move 1: Defog
Move 2: Roost
Move 3: Toxic
Move 4: Brave Bird
Item: Eviolite
Ability: Infiltrator
Nature: Impish
EVs: 248 HP / 244 Def / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Set Details
========
Usage Tips
========
Team Options
========
Other Options
=============
Checks and Counters
==================
**Steel-type Pokemon**: Steel-types are the best switch ins to Golbats main set. Being immune to Toxic and resisting Brave Bird they always force the switch into another Pokemon. Steel-types such as Escavalier and Durant can take advantage of a switch by setting up which could cause you to lose a few Pokemon dealing with it. Registeel can freely get up hazards and Seismic Toss for guaranteed damage on the switch in. Doublade in particular gains the most momentum from Golbat being in, switching into it without fearing anything in Golbats arsenal and being able to set up in its face forcing you out.
**Rock-type Pokemon**: With Golbat not only taking super effective damage from them but having little effect on them with Brave Bird, Rock-types will always force out Golbat. This gives the opposition so much momentum during the game, whether it is to get up hazards or get a hit off on your switch in. Pokemon such as Gigalith, Rhyperior and Tyrantrum can all freely come in on Golbat and force it out. With these Pokemon being able to set up straight away with Dragon Dance, Swords Dance or getting up weather, when you switch out it could allow your opponent to gain enough momentum to sweep. Something of note also is that switching out on a Stealth Rocker will mean you always have to take 25% when coming back in to remove them.
**Psychic-type Pokemon/Coverage**: Psychic-type Pokemon are threatening as they can hit Golbat with STAB super effective moves. Offensive Pokemon such as Gardevoir or Meloetta will force Golbat out hitting the switch in heavily or just gaining the opposition momentum in general. Pokemon like Shaymin also carry Psychic coverage quite commonly hitting Golbat hard and forcing it out. Xatu and Sigilyth not only have the typing and ability to deal with it once they are one vs one but with their abilities, Magic Bounce and Magic Guard, they can freely switch in to Golbat without fearing a Toxic.
**Electric-type Pokemon/Coverage**: Although there is little Electric-type presence in RU, the only Electric-types that you will see being Jolteon, Rotom-Heat, Galvantula and Heliolisk, they can still cause a problem for Golbat as they naturally resist Golbat's STAB and can safely switch in on it. Forcing Golbat out it gives them huge momentum with access to the move Volt Switch, they can pivot on your switch in and directly switch into a Pokemon that threatens your switch in. Golbat also has the threat of Electric-type coverage which is very well spread across the tier. Pokemon such as Nidoqueen, Porygon-2, Goodra and Mismagius as just a few examples getting access to Electric-type attacks, they can force Golbat out or get a surprise kill if you do not expect the coverage.
**Zygarde-10%**:Choice Banded Zygarde-10% can smack you down with the first Thousand Arrows and then kill you with the next. As it is a special Pokemon as it is the only Pokemon with the move Thousand Arrows it makes it harder to deal with than most Ground-types.
- Golbat's main role on the team is to be a fast defensive check to Pokemon such as Pangoro, Bewear and Machamp, its good defenses combined with the item Eviolite makes allows Golbat to switch in safely and get off a Defog against the Pokemon it checks, it is also a good switch in to offensive Pokemon like Choice Scarfed Flygon and Roserade.
- Infiltrator is great as it allows Golbat to Toxic and hurt set up Pokemon behind a Substitute as well as ignoring screens. It can come in on Decidueye and Cresselia as they Substitute and punish them with a Toxic or Brave Bird.
- Golbat's good typing of Poison and Flying gives it great resistances to Fighting, Poison, Bug and Fairy as well as being immune to Ground-moves and is immune from Poison.
- Golbat is also a check to most bulky Pokemon with access to Toxic and Roost it can easy wear them down for other Pokemon to sweep. It can come in and check Pokemon such as Umbreon and Milotic easily.
- Golbat's weakness to Stealth Rocks however makes it unreliable when compared to Gligar as a Defogger, it also hinders it when trying to check offensive Pokemon.
- Golbat gives free switch ins to Pokemon such as Doublade and Registeel, losing all momentum previously had.
- Golbat is susceptible to Knock Off losing most of its worth in a game if its Eviolite is gone.
Name: Defogger
Move 1: Defog
Move 2: Roost
Move 3: Toxic
Move 4: Brave Bird
Item: Eviolite
Ability: Infiltrator
Nature: Impish
EVs: 248 HP / 244 Def / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Defog is the main move for this set, being able to remove all hazards off the field to support your team. Defog is good on Golbat as Golbat itself is weak to them and removing them allows Golbat to safely check more Pokemon. It also supports the rest of the team not having to deal with damage on the switch in. With Golbats good speed it allows a faster Defog before being Taunted.
- Roost is used to gain longevity during a match, being able to come in on a Pokemon it checks even after Stealth Rocks and be able to safely get back to full. This is used well in combination with Toxic as it allows you to stay healthy whilst your opponents slowly loses health.
- Toxic is 100% accurate when used by Golbat allowing you to constantly cripple Pokemon causing them residual damage for the rest of the match. With Golbat's bulk it can safely get off Toxic's on bulky Pokemon such as Cresselia, Milotic or Porygon 2 and outlast them.
- Brave Bird is Golbat's only decent offensive move, it is used to deal maximum damage when finishing off an opponent. It helps to stop offensive Pokemon such as Shaymin or Roserade from checking it.
Set Details
========
- Infiltrator allows Golbat to hit Pokemon through a Substitute as well as being unaffected from screens. This works well against set up teams that rely on dual screens and Substitutes for their offense to work.
- 16 Speed on Golbat allows for it to outspeed Adamant Honchkrow as well as Adamant Bewear. Being able to check these effectively puts your team in a better position.
- The rest of the EVs go into HP and Def with an Impish nature allowing Golbat to check physical threats such as Flygon or Snorlax.
- Eviolite is needed for Golbat to have any viability. It increases its bulk drastically allowing it to take less damage from both physical and special attacks.
Usage Tips
========
- Make sure to use Toxic to do a majority of your damage while relying on your bulk and Roost to stay healthy. Using this on bulky Pokemon is a great and efficient strategy as you will outlast them.
- When using Golbat try to scout moves with the rest of your team on Pokemon such as Shaymin or Durant. If they are not carrying coverage that hits you for super effective damage you may be able to check them throughout the game.
- Do not let Stealth Rocks damage add up. Make sure you are aware of when to Defog or when to Toxic, the appeal of crippling a Pokemon could end up causing you to lose your Physical wall to chip damage. On the other hand make sure not to Defog if your opponent can force you out and get them straight back up, it is important to keep momentum.
- Be aware of what Pokemon can set up Screens or use Substitute. You want to make sure that a set up Pokemon does not get out of control and Golbat is capable of doing that job if you neutralise the threat early. Getting off a Toxic whilst a Pokemon is behind a Substitute will cripple your opponents sweeper losing them a lot of momentum throughout the game.
- Try not to spam Brave Bird to much as it has 33% recoil and as Golbat does not have the luxury of Black Sludge recovery, it could put you in a bad position.
- Avoid Knock Off users most of the time. You do not want to lose you Eviolite whilst Golbat is still needed to check certain Pokemon. Try to locate your opponents Knock Off users from team preview.
Team Options
========
- With Golbat's Psychic-type weakness you may want to get a bulky Dark-type on your team. Umbreon is the best for the job as it is Dark-type but not only that it works great as a special wall giving good synergy with Golbat.
- Golbat is also weak to Rock and Electric-type attacks, the obvious answer to this is a Ground-type so Nidoqueen, Quagsire or Gligar could work. However Chesnaught is also great for covering both weaknesses. Registeel and Doublade help with the Rock weakness as well as the Psychic match up too.
- Feraligatr would work well with Golbat as it would appreciate the residual damage to the opposition from Toxic.
- Golbat is weak to Psychic-type attacks but resists Fighting-types so pairing it with Zoroark could fool the opponent a lot during the game, giving you lots of momentum.
Other Options
=============
- 252 HP / 4 Spd / 252 Spe with a Jolly nature is good as it can stall break very easily. Being able to Taunt as much as it can with its speed, it can speed tie with Timid Roserade, being able to Taunt it before it can Spike. It will be able to always out speed fast Taunt Gligar and Chesnaught.
- Taunt and Super Fang instead of Defog and Brave Bird on Golbat is another option for the sole purpose of breaking stall. Pokemon such as Chesnaught, Umbreon, Cresslia, Milotic, Gligar and other bulky Pokemon will all be Toxiced and Super Fanged with no form of recovery because of Taunt. Registeel is also checked and bulky steel types such as Escavalier and Doublade are easily dealt with after being Taunted. Even though you can not kill them, they are worn down making it easier for your sweeper late game.
- 248 HP / 176 Spd / 112 Spe with a Careful nature allows you to safely check Choice Specs Zoroark.
Checks and Counters
==================
**Steel-type Pokemon**: Steel-types are the best switch ins to Golbats main set. Being immune to Toxic and resisting Brave Bird they always force the switch into another Pokemon. Steel-types such as Escavalier and Durant can take advantage of a switch by setting up which could cause you to lose a few Pokemon dealing with it. Registeel can freely get up hazards and Seismic Toss for guaranteed damage on the switch in. Doublade in particular gains the most momentum from Golbat being in, switching into it without fearing anything in Golbats arsenal and being able to set up in its face forcing you out.
**Rock-type Pokemon**: With Golbat not only taking super effective damage from them but having little effect on them with Brave Bird, Rock-types will always force out Golbat. This gives the opposition so much momentum during the game, whether it is to get up hazards or get a hit off on your switch in. Pokemon such as Gigalith, Rhyperior and Tyrantrum can all freely come in on Golbat and force it out. With these Pokemon being able to set up straight away with Dragon Dance, Swords Dance or getting up weather, when you switch out it could allow your opponent to gain enough momentum to sweep. Something of note also is that switching out on a Stealth Rocker will mean you always have to take 25% when coming back in to remove them.
**Psychic-type Pokemon/Coverage**: Psychic-type Pokemon are threatening as they can hit Golbat with STAB super effective moves. Offensive Pokemon such as Gardevoir or Meloetta will force Golbat out hitting the switch in heavily or just gaining the opposition momentum in general. Pokemon like Shaymin also carry Psychic coverage quite commonly hitting Golbat hard and forcing it out. Xatu and Sigilyth not only have the typing and ability to deal with it once they are one vs one but with their abilities, Magic Bounce and Magic Guard, they can freely switch in to Golbat without fearing a Toxic.
**Electric-type Pokemon/Coverage**: Although there is little Electric-type presence in RU, the only Electric-types that you will see being Jolteon, Rotom-Heat, Galvantula and Heliolisk, they can still cause a problem for Golbat as they naturally resist Golbat's STAB and can safely switch in on it. Forcing Golbat out it gives them huge momentum with access to the move Volt Switch, they can pivot on your switch in and directly switch into a Pokemon that threatens your switch in. Golbat also has the threat of Electric-type coverage which is very well spread across the tier. Pokemon such as Nidoqueen, Porygon-2, Goodra and Mismagius as just a few examples getting access to Electric-type attacks, they can force Golbat out or get a surprise kill if you do not expect the coverage.
**Zygarde-10%**:Choice Banded Zygarde-10% can smack you down with the first Thousand Arrows and then kill you with the next. As it is a special Pokemon as it is the only Pokemon with the move Thousand Arrows it makes it harder to deal with than most Ground-types.
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