[OVERVIEW]
Polteageist is an excellent Shell Smash sweeper due to its useful offensive typing and good stats, and the combination of Cursed Body and Strength Sap allows it to stall out, disable, and break through the majority of its checks such as Obstagoon and Snorlax. Polteageist is a great pick on hyper offense, where it can be supported properly and form wallbreaking cores with Pokemon like Lucario. However, Polteageist's shallow offensive movepool means it must pick whether it gets walled by either Dark-types or Normal-types, and it cannot hope to outlast Pokemon like Umbreon. It also relies on fishing for Cursed Body to get past its checks, and status effects can limit its longevity to the point where it isn't feasible to do so.
[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Strength Sap
move 4: Giga Drain / Stored Power
item: White Herb
ability: Cursed Body
nature: Timid
evs: 28 HP / 32 Def / 252 SpA / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Polteageist stalls out most physical attackers with Strength Sap and can disable their moves with Cursed Body. Giga Drain allows Polteageist to beat Obstagoon after a Strength Sap, prevents Milotic from using Haze, and provides useful recovery. Alternatively, Stored Power beats Normal-type Pokemon such as Porygon2 and Snorlax and gives a stronger neutral hit, although it makes Polteageist much more vulnerable to Dark-types, particularly Obstagoon. White Herb eases setting up and crucially lowers Knock Off damage after it's been used. The EV spread outspeeds Choice Scarf Flygon after boosting and allows Polteageist to take a Knock Off from Obstagoon at -1.
Pokemon commonly found on hyper offense such as Mimikyu, Necrozma, and Lucario complement Polteageist well, either helping break down its checks like Porygon2 or taking advantage of it weakening its checks itself like Swords Dance Incineroar to clean. Fighting-types like Lucario and Cobalion can deal with Normal- and Dark-types like Umbreon and Snorlax. Offensive support can greatly facilitate a Polteageist sweep. For example, Indeedee's Psychic Terrain can block priority and strengthen Polteageist's Stored Power. Alternatively, Misty Terrain from Galarian Weezing neutralizes Pokemon like Toxic Incineroar, Klefki, and Noivern. Spikes from Froslass or Focus Sash Heracross can help to weaken checks like Obstagoon. Aurora Veil from Alolan Ninetales makes Polteageist substantially bulkier, letting it take on even Choice Band Pangoro, and also enables Arctozolt to wallbreak under hail.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Polteageist can run Stored Power + Giga Drain to hit both Dark- and Normal-types on the same set, although it doesn't really have the space for it. Weak Armor and Focus Sash might appear enticing, but losing out on Cursed Body and White Herb makes it less effective at outlasting its checks.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: Due to its lack of coverage, Dark-types are the biggest roadblocks preventing a Polteageist sweep. Umbreon completely blanks Polteageist and can use the opportunity to use Wish or Heal Bell. Similarly, Stored Power variants are unable to touch Obstagoon. Incineroar beats Polteageist unless severely weakened, although Toxic variants may lose with Misty Terrain support. A healthy Pangoro can break through Polteageist's Strength Sap, although Giga Drain can dent it.
**Status**: Toxic puts Polteageist on a timer, preventing it from spamming Strength Sap and fishing for Cursed Body, while paralysis leaves it vulnerable to faster revenge killers.
**Normal-types**: Without Stored Power, Polteageist can be threatened by Normal-types such as Snorlax and Porygon2, which can stall it out through Rest or Toxic. Choice Band Bewear and Choice Specs Indeedee can also check Polteageist if healthy. However, all of them can lose if sufficiently weakened.
**Priority**: Certain types of priority can cut a Polteageist sweep short, such as Shadow Sneak from Doublade, Mimikyu, and Decidueye, Thunder Wave from Klefki, and, if sufficiently weakened, First Impression from Durant, Golisopod, and Flygon.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[zizalith, 410251]]
- Quality checked by: [[phantom, 180300], [Expulso, 202058]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
Polteageist is an excellent Shell Smash sweeper due to its useful offensive typing and good stats, and the combination of Cursed Body and Strength Sap allows it to stall out, disable, and break through the majority of its checks such as Obstagoon and Snorlax. Polteageist is a great pick on hyper offense, where it can be supported properly and form wallbreaking cores with Pokemon like Lucario. However, Polteageist's shallow offensive movepool means it must pick whether it gets walled by either Dark-types or Normal-types, and it cannot hope to outlast Pokemon like Umbreon. It also relies on fishing for Cursed Body to get past its checks, and status effects can limit its longevity to the point where it isn't feasible to do so.
[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Strength Sap
move 4: Giga Drain / Stored Power
item: White Herb
ability: Cursed Body
nature: Timid
evs: 28 HP / 32 Def / 252 SpA / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Polteageist stalls out most physical attackers with Strength Sap and can disable their moves with Cursed Body. Giga Drain allows Polteageist to beat Obstagoon after a Strength Sap, prevents Milotic from using Haze, and provides useful recovery. Alternatively, Stored Power beats Normal-type Pokemon such as Porygon2 and Snorlax and gives a stronger neutral hit, although it makes Polteageist much more vulnerable to Dark-types, particularly Obstagoon. White Herb eases setting up and crucially lowers Knock Off damage after it's been used. The EV spread outspeeds Choice Scarf Flygon after boosting and allows Polteageist to take a Knock Off from Obstagoon at -1.
Pokemon commonly found on hyper offense such as Mimikyu, Necrozma, and Lucario complement Polteageist well, either helping break down its checks like Porygon2 or taking advantage of it weakening its checks itself like Swords Dance Incineroar to clean. Fighting-types like Lucario and Cobalion can deal with Normal- and Dark-types like Umbreon and Snorlax. Offensive support can greatly facilitate a Polteageist sweep. For example, Indeedee's Psychic Terrain can block priority and strengthen Polteageist's Stored Power. Alternatively, Misty Terrain from Galarian Weezing neutralizes Pokemon like Toxic Incineroar, Klefki, and Noivern. Spikes from Froslass or Focus Sash Heracross can help to weaken checks like Obstagoon. Aurora Veil from Alolan Ninetales makes Polteageist substantially bulkier, letting it take on even Choice Band Pangoro, and also enables Arctozolt to wallbreak under hail.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Polteageist can run Stored Power + Giga Drain to hit both Dark- and Normal-types on the same set, although it doesn't really have the space for it. Weak Armor and Focus Sash might appear enticing, but losing out on Cursed Body and White Herb makes it less effective at outlasting its checks.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: Due to its lack of coverage, Dark-types are the biggest roadblocks preventing a Polteageist sweep. Umbreon completely blanks Polteageist and can use the opportunity to use Wish or Heal Bell. Similarly, Stored Power variants are unable to touch Obstagoon. Incineroar beats Polteageist unless severely weakened, although Toxic variants may lose with Misty Terrain support. A healthy Pangoro can break through Polteageist's Strength Sap, although Giga Drain can dent it.
**Status**: Toxic puts Polteageist on a timer, preventing it from spamming Strength Sap and fishing for Cursed Body, while paralysis leaves it vulnerable to faster revenge killers.
**Normal-types**: Without Stored Power, Polteageist can be threatened by Normal-types such as Snorlax and Porygon2, which can stall it out through Rest or Toxic. Choice Band Bewear and Choice Specs Indeedee can also check Polteageist if healthy. However, all of them can lose if sufficiently weakened.
**Priority**: Certain types of priority can cut a Polteageist sweep short, such as Shadow Sneak from Doublade, Mimikyu, and Decidueye, Thunder Wave from Klefki, and, if sufficiently weakened, First Impression from Durant, Golisopod, and Flygon.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[zizalith, 410251]]
- Quality checked by: [[phantom, 180300], [Expulso, 202058]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
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