[OVERVIEW]
Gastly holds a niche in PU as the second fastest sleeper in the tier, only behind the niche Poliwag. Gastly remains threatening even after using Hypnosis thanks to its high Special and combination of Psychic + Thunderbolt, which has perfect coverage and hits top threats such as Fearow and Nidoqueen super effectively. These traits make Gastly a fantastic lead, since it can put most opposing leads to sleep and then threaten switch-ins with powerful attacks. Gastly can also switch into Normal-type moves, such as Rapidash's Hyper Beam and most of Pinsir's attacks, without taking damage, something no other Pokemon in the tier can do. However, despite its unique defensive utility, Gastly's defensive profile is quite poor due to its stats and Poison typing. Its terrible physical bulk allows most neutral physical attacks such as Fearow's Drill Peck to 2HKO it, while Gastly's low HP leaves it very vulnerable to fixed-damage moves such as Pinsir's Seismic Toss. Additionally, its terrible Ground- and Psychic-type weaknesses leave it OHKOed and 2HKOed, respectively, by every common Earthquake and Psychic in the tier. These issues are compounded by Gastly's reliance on the inaccurate Hypnosis, as a miss could mean Gastly faints without doing anything
[SET]
name: Offensive Sleeper
move 1: Hypnosis
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Psychic
move 4: Substitute / Explosion
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Hypnosis is Gastly's primary draw, making it an effective sleeper thanks to its good Speed. Psychic hits Fighting- and Poison-types such as Machamp and Nidoqueen super effectively, and its high chance to drop the target's Special makes it Gastly's most spammable attack. Thunderbolt deals super effective damage to Fearow and Water-types, such as Staryu and Seaking. Explosion lets Gastly sacrifice itself to OHKO Abra, deal at least 67.4% to Drowzee, and deal at least 51.6% to Porygon. While it does little damage to most other foes due to Gastly's low base Attack, it has the added benefit of automatically ending the turn.
Gastly tends to get overwhelmed by faster threats, so it appreciates partners that can switch into them. Omanyte and Graveler check Rapidash, Fearow, and Arcanine, while Drowzee can handle Abra. Gastly is also checked by Graveler and Drowzee and thus enjoys the support of wallbreakers such as Seaking and Pinsir. Gastly's combination of high Special and immunity to Body Slam makes it the best switch-in to Omanyte, making it a great partner to Rapidash and Fearow.
Gastly can be used as a lead, as no Pokemon can both outspeed and reliably OHKO it, almost always giving it at least one opportunity to use Hypnosis. However, given Hypnosis's poor accuracy, it prefers to switch out against leads that can outspeed and 2HKO it, such as Fearow and Abra. Gastly can also be used in the back to pivot into common Normal-type attacks such as Rapidash's Hyper Beam and Pinsir's Slash thanks to its Ghost typing. Once on the field, it can attempt to put its target to sleep with Hypnosis or pick it off if it's weakened. Gastly's typing also lets it absorb Explosions.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Night Shade can be used as a midground option to deal consistent damage to Gastly's switch-ins, though the utility of Gastly's other attacking moves is generally superior and Psychic is already a consistent midground option.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Psychic-types:** Both Abra and Drowzee 2HKO Gastly with Psychic and can cripple it with Thunder Wave. The former outspeeds Gastly and is only 3HKOed by Night Shade, while the latter is only 4HKOed; both take negligable damage from Gastlys other attacks. However, both must watch out for Explosion, which OHKOes Abra and does a minimum of 67% to Drowzee. Due to it being outsped, Drowzee must be wary of Hypnosis.
**Faster Attackers:** Fearow, Rapidash, Arcanine, Magmar, and Scyther all outspeed Gastly. Fearow 2HKOes Gastly and is only 2HKOed back by Thunderbolt, while Rapidash, Arcanine, and Magmar 3HKO Gastly and take negligable damage in return. These Fire-types can also burn Gastly, making its meciore Explosion even weaker. Rapidash can also use Fire Spin to chip Gastly into KO range and can be used to pivot around Gastly. Scyther 2HKOes Gastly with Wing Attack after a Swords Dance, while Gastly only 2HKOes it back. However, these Pokemon must be wary of Hypnosis.
**Earthquake Users:** Even if Gastly can threaten Pokemon such as Nidoqueen, Machamp, and Graveler with Psychic, these foes can easily tank a hit and OHKO Gastly in return with Earthquake. Arbok also Speed ties Gastly and has a 66.7% chance to OHKO it, while only being 2HKOed in return. However, there is no Earthquake user in PU that is faster than Gastly, so the majority of them must be wary of Hypnosis.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/notverycake.625260/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gastlies.540559/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/p-squared.168392/
Gastly holds a niche in PU as the second fastest sleeper in the tier, only behind the niche Poliwag. Gastly remains threatening even after using Hypnosis thanks to its high Special and combination of Psychic + Thunderbolt, which has perfect coverage and hits top threats such as Fearow and Nidoqueen super effectively. These traits make Gastly a fantastic lead, since it can put most opposing leads to sleep and then threaten switch-ins with powerful attacks. Gastly can also switch into Normal-type moves, such as Rapidash's Hyper Beam and most of Pinsir's attacks, without taking damage, something no other Pokemon in the tier can do. However, despite its unique defensive utility, Gastly's defensive profile is quite poor due to its stats and Poison typing. Its terrible physical bulk allows most neutral physical attacks such as Fearow's Drill Peck to 2HKO it, while Gastly's low HP leaves it very vulnerable to fixed-damage moves such as Pinsir's Seismic Toss. Additionally, its terrible Ground- and Psychic-type weaknesses leave it OHKOed and 2HKOed, respectively, by every common Earthquake and Psychic in the tier. These issues are compounded by Gastly's reliance on the inaccurate Hypnosis, as a miss could mean Gastly faints without doing anything
[SET]
name: Offensive Sleeper
move 1: Hypnosis
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Psychic
move 4: Substitute / Explosion
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Hypnosis is Gastly's primary draw, making it an effective sleeper thanks to its good Speed. Psychic hits Fighting- and Poison-types such as Machamp and Nidoqueen super effectively, and its high chance to drop the target's Special makes it Gastly's most spammable attack. Thunderbolt deals super effective damage to Fearow and Water-types, such as Staryu and Seaking. Explosion lets Gastly sacrifice itself to OHKO Abra, deal at least 67.4% to Drowzee, and deal at least 51.6% to Porygon. While it does little damage to most other foes due to Gastly's low base Attack, it has the added benefit of automatically ending the turn.
Gastly tends to get overwhelmed by faster threats, so it appreciates partners that can switch into them. Omanyte and Graveler check Rapidash, Fearow, and Arcanine, while Drowzee can handle Abra. Gastly is also checked by Graveler and Drowzee and thus enjoys the support of wallbreakers such as Seaking and Pinsir. Gastly's combination of high Special and immunity to Body Slam makes it the best switch-in to Omanyte, making it a great partner to Rapidash and Fearow.
Gastly can be used as a lead, as no Pokemon can both outspeed and reliably OHKO it, almost always giving it at least one opportunity to use Hypnosis. However, given Hypnosis's poor accuracy, it prefers to switch out against leads that can outspeed and 2HKO it, such as Fearow and Abra. Gastly can also be used in the back to pivot into common Normal-type attacks such as Rapidash's Hyper Beam and Pinsir's Slash thanks to its Ghost typing. Once on the field, it can attempt to put its target to sleep with Hypnosis or pick it off if it's weakened. Gastly's typing also lets it absorb Explosions.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Night Shade can be used as a midground option to deal consistent damage to Gastly's switch-ins, though the utility of Gastly's other attacking moves is generally superior and Psychic is already a consistent midground option.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Psychic-types:** Both Abra and Drowzee 2HKO Gastly with Psychic and can cripple it with Thunder Wave. The former outspeeds Gastly and is only 3HKOed by Night Shade, while the latter is only 4HKOed; both take negligable damage from Gastlys other attacks. However, both must watch out for Explosion, which OHKOes Abra and does a minimum of 67% to Drowzee. Due to it being outsped, Drowzee must be wary of Hypnosis.
**Faster Attackers:** Fearow, Rapidash, Arcanine, Magmar, and Scyther all outspeed Gastly. Fearow 2HKOes Gastly and is only 2HKOed back by Thunderbolt, while Rapidash, Arcanine, and Magmar 3HKO Gastly and take negligable damage in return. These Fire-types can also burn Gastly, making its meciore Explosion even weaker. Rapidash can also use Fire Spin to chip Gastly into KO range and can be used to pivot around Gastly. Scyther 2HKOes Gastly with Wing Attack after a Swords Dance, while Gastly only 2HKOes it back. However, these Pokemon must be wary of Hypnosis.
**Earthquake Users:** Even if Gastly can threaten Pokemon such as Nidoqueen, Machamp, and Graveler with Psychic, these foes can easily tank a hit and OHKO Gastly in return with Earthquake. Arbok also Speed ties Gastly and has a 66.7% chance to OHKO it, while only being 2HKOed in return. However, there is no Earthquake user in PU that is faster than Gastly, so the majority of them must be wary of Hypnosis.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/notverycake.625260/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gastlies.540559/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/p-squared.168392/
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