Singles OU: The Ultimate Guide to Ghost-Type Dominance

Introduction

In the competitive Pokémon Singles OU metagame, Ghost-type Pokémon stand as formidable adversaries, capable of turning the tide of battles with their unique abilities and powerful attacks. This guide will dive deep into the world of Singles OU Ghost-types, providing insights into their strengths, weaknesses, and effective usage strategies.

Top 10 Singles OU Ghost-Types

1. Gengar: The undisputed king of Ghost-types, boasting incredible speed and offensive prowess. Its Shadow Claw, Sludge Bomb, and Focus Blast form a lethal combination capable of obliterating many opponents.

   

2. Rotom-Wash: A versatile water-electric type that can pivot around the team, providing valuable utility through Will-O-Wisp and Hydro Pump. Its access to Volt Switch also makes it a potent hazard remover.

3. Mimikyu: A deceptively powerful Pokémon with the Disguise ability, which allows it to withstand one hit without taking damage. Its Shadow Claw and Shadow Sneak make it a formidable offensive threat.

4. Dragapult: A speedy dragon-ghost type that excels at both offense and defense. Its Dragapult and Shadow Ball provide high damage output, while its U-turn move allows it to scout and maintain momentum.

   

5. Dusclops: A bulky support Pokémon that provides invaluable utility through its Wide Guard, Trick Room, and Night Shade moves. Its access to Will-O-Wisp further enhances its defensive capabilities.

6. Jellicent: A defensive powerhouse with excellent HP and special defense. Its Scald, Recover, and Toxic moves combine to wear down opponents and provide sustained recovery.

7. Aegislash: A unique steel-ghost type that can switch between its Shield Form and Blade Form, offering a versatile combination of tankiness and offensive power. Its King's Shield and Sacred Sword moves make it a formidable dual threat.

8. Chandelure: A fiery ghost-fire type with access to powerful STAB moves like Shadow Claw and Flamethrower. Its Flash Fire ability immunizes it to fire-type attacks, making it a potent counter to fire-spinners.

9. Spectrier: A legendary ghost-grass type with exceptional speed and offensive capabilities. Its Shadow Force and Moongeist Beam moves deal devastating damage, while its Pressure ability puts pressure on opponents.

10. Polteageist: A unique ghost-type with access to the Gastro Acid move, which can cripple special attackers by lowering their special attack stat. Its Shadow Ball and Nasty Plot make it a solid offensive threat.

Ghost-Type Matchups

Strengths:

• Psychic-Types: Ghost-types are immune to psychic attacks, making them valuable counters to powerful psychic Pokémon like Mewtwo and Alakazam.
• Ghost-Types: Ghost-types cannot be affected by other ghost-type attacks, giving them an advantage in ghost-on-ghost matchups.
• Fighting-Types: Ghost-types resist fighting-type attacks, making them useful for handling Pokémon like Machamp and Conkeldurr.

Weaknesses:

• Dark-Types: Dark-types are immune to ghost-type attacks and deal super-effective damage to ghost-types, making them a major threat.
• Normal-Types: Normal-type moves deal super-effective damage to ghost-types, making them vulnerable to Pokémon like Blissey and Toxapex.
• Steel-Types: Steel-type Pokémon resist ghost-type attacks, limiting the effectiveness of ghost-type moves.

Effective Usage Strategies

1. Offensive: Utilize Shadow Claw, Shadow Ball, and other ghost-type moves to deal substantial damage to opponents. Consider using Choice Scarf to increase speed or Choice Specs to boost power.

2. Support: Provide utility through Will-O-Wisp to inflict burns, Trick Room to reverse turn order, or Gastro Acid to lower special attack. Consider running support sets that include status moves or recovery.**

3. Pivot: Use Pokémon like Rotom-Wash or Dragapult to switch around the team, remove hazards, or scout for opponents. Consider using Volt Switch or U-turn to maintain momentum.**

4. Physical Wallbreaker: Some ghost-types like Aegislash and Dragapult can function as physical wallbreakers. Use Swords Dance or Dragon Dance to boost attack stat and break through defensive Pokémon.**

Tips and Tricks

• Stealth Rock Weakness: Ghost-types are weak to Stealth Rock, so consider using Pokémon with Rapid Spin or Defog to remove it from the field.
• Choice Lock: Be aware of the drawbacks of using Choice items. They can limit move selection and make your Pokémon vulnerable to certain matchups.
• Hidden Power: Hidden Power Fire or Ground can be valuable coverage moves for ghost-types against steel-types and electric-types, respectively.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Overreliance on Ghost-Type Attacks: Don't rely solely on ghost-type moves against opponents that resist them. Consider using coverage moves like Thunder or Psychic.
• Neglecting Defensive Capabilities: Invest in defensive stats like HP and special defense to ensure that your ghost-types can withstand attacks.
• Poor Teambuilding: Make sure your team composition complements your ghost-type Pokémon. Include Pokémon that can handle dark-types and other threats.

Compare Pros and Cons

Conclusion

Ghost-type Pokémon are versatile and powerful assets in Singles OU, capable of filling a variety of roles and turning the tide of battles. By understanding their strengths, weaknesses, and effective usage strategies, you can unleash the full potential of ghost-types and achieve victory in the competitive Pokémon metagame.

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