Analysis
Gourgeist-Small is arguably one of the best pokemon in the February 2025 meta and a meta game staple. It is a surprisingly great bulky physical wall. Boasting a high 122 Physical Defence stat that makes up for it’s low 55 HP, and it’s unique typing adds to its defensive capabilities. Being a Grass Ghost type means Gourgeist-Small is very hard to being 2HKO'd let alone OHKO’d by the metas physical threats. Immunity to Medicham and Lucario’s fighting STAB and being able to tank a banded Crunch from Lucario and banded Ice Punch from Medicham and Will-O-Wisp back. Kabutops and Revavroom also do not pose a huge threat as even a +2 Gunk Shot from Revavroom and +2 Knock Off from Kabutops do not OHKO Gourgeist-Small. Addtionally, Gourgeist-Small is able to tank a Choice Band boosted dark Aura Wheel from Morpeko. Scolipede is fine to deal with unless it is a Substitute variant. Gourgeist-Small is able to stay standing after these attacks and Will-O-Wisp + Leech Seed back for recovery, or Synthesis instead. Being faster than most physical threats means Gourgeist-Small can almost always do its job of getting a Substitute up and deal passive damage with burn/poison + Leech Seed as well as heal up. Often physical attackers want to avoid getting burnt by Gourgeist-Small so a switch out is telegraphed, meaning Gourgeist-Small can get its substitute up and get to work. Even being able to 1v1 pokemon it shouldn’t like Theivul and Mantine as long as it got the Substitue up on the switch because it can Leech Seed and then Protect or Substitute again as it is faster. Phantom Force is a great move on Substitute + Leech seed sets as it means you never take damage If your Substitute is up regardless of whether you are faster or slower, and it allows Gourgeist-Small to stall out burn/poison damage and rain turns, all while healing up for two turns via Leech Seed and Leftovers. Gourgeist pairs nicely with Qwilfish, making a great defensive core as they cover each others weaknesses pretty well. Gourgeist-Small deals with the ground types and electric types that Qwilfish does not like, while Qwilfish deals with the fire types that threaten Gourgeist-Small and it is a free toxic switch in that prevents Gourgeist-Small from being put on a timer. Gourgeist also appreciates Qwilfish’s resistance to Revavroom’s stabs as with enough Shift Gears it can be hard for Gourgeist-Small to deal with.
Written by 7md