What is a good moveset for Polteageist?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Polteageist, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for any of its pre-evolutions can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some explanation, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Polteageist Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

Why not make my own gimmik set? Say hello to Utili-tea!

Polteageist @ Leftovers
Ability: Cursed Body
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Strength Sap
- Aromatherapy
- Hex

Works Similar to Galarian Corsola. Will-O-Wisp is to cripple physical attackers. Strength Sap cripples physical attackers and is recovery. Aromatherapy is to heal party members status conditions (and because I couldn't find any other utility moves. Hex synergies with Will-O-Wisp.

I know it's a gimmik, but that's the point. I'm a proud britishman, and as such need to support my tea boi with this set.

Answer 2

Polteageist @ Focus Sash
Ability: Weak Armor
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shell Smash
- Shadow Ball
- Stored Power
- Giga Drain

Shell Smash is your main set up move and allows you to sweep. Shadow Ball is your main STAB. Stored Power does lots of damage after getting your boosts with Shell Smash and possibly Weak Armor as well as sets up Psychic Terrain if you decide to Dynamax which gives you protection from priority moves. Giga Drain allows you to recover some of your health (and because this thing doesn't get any better options for attacks). Focus Sash is to help you set up Shell Smash more safely. The 252 in Special Attack and Speed along with Timid nature is to help get the most out of Shell Smash. Polteageist is a really good sweeper and can one shot a lot of things including most tanks but it main flaw is it struggles against Dark types due to its lack of coverage moves. If you can remove all the main threats on your opponents team (mainly any dark types) then Polteageist can usually come in and clean up the rest of their team.

Comments

Modest.

Answer 3

You know, I didn't really like this Pokémon when I first saw it. But I caught a Sinistea anyway, and I evolved it. Then it proceeded to stall out Melony's G-Max Lapras with this moveset. I thought it was super cool and would work great in competitive too. So here it is!

Polteageist @ Big Root / Leftovers (Big Root helps a lot, but Leftovers is for more bulk)
Ability: Weak Armor / Cursed Body (Choose whichever)
EVs: 252 SpA / 128 Def / 128 SpD
Calm Nature
- Strength Sap (This is OP. Especially if you are using it against a Contrary Pokémon)
- Will-O-Wisp (Pairs well with next move, but don't use if you are planning on using Strength Sap.)
- Hex (Told you, STAB.)
- Giga Drain (The damage healed...)

I love this set. I personally like Will-O-Wisp and Hex together, I use it on my Rotom-W too. But this thing is a bulky sweeper. I like Defense EVs so I can live, but swapping them out for HP is nice too. Calm is for extra bulk, as well as Leftovers. Big Root is to get a lot back from Giga Drain. Strength Sap, like I said, is OP. Maybe even in doubles with a Pokémon with Contrary as its ally... you could get more and more HP every time you use it and you can sweep with the Pokémon that's getting its attack raised (like Malamar). Hex + Will-O-Wisp is pretty self-explanatory.

Hope you enjoy this set as much as I do!

Comments

Hey, I've posted a set like this. Personally, I wouldn't run giga drain or weak armour, as they're better on offense. Instead have another utility move (aromatherapy for example) and cursed body.

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Yeah I saw it (Utili-tea, is, well, a great pun)! I usually like to take a previously made moveset and put my own spin on it. And I really liked that set, so I tweaked it to fit the strategies I use. Also, I keep seeing Shell Smash/Shadow ball sets, which are cool, but I've always lacked a good bulky Pokémon, so I wanted to do some things differently. But like I said, your Utili-tea set was super cool.

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I'm glad you like it!

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It was pretty good. I couldn't not.

Also, my Sinistea I caught had Calm and it worked well so I slapped that on my answer. I actually didn’t know what nature you posted on yours LOL

Answer 4

Gen 8 National Dex UU Shell Smash + Normalium Z

Polteageist @ Normalium Z
Ability: Weak Armor
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shell Smash
- Shadow Ball
- Stored Power
- Hyper Beam

I already posted a Gen 9 Polteageist set that can kill Dark-types, so I decided to post a Polteageist set that can kill Dark-types in Gen 8, even though it's for a National Dex format. This set should be used on HO teams as a late game cleaner in Gen 8 NatDex UU.

With the banning of Porygon-Z from Gen 8 NatDex UU, Polteageist is used as the Z move user on HO teams. Shell Smash is used to boost your Special Attack and Speed to make you become a scary cleaner. Shadow Ball is used for a Ghost STAB. Stored Power is used as coverage and takes advantage of the boosts from Shell Smash and Weak Armor. And now for the move that kills Dark-types: Hyper Beam. Usually, Hyper Beam is bad in competitive due to the recharge turn it has. However, with Normalium Z, Hyper Beam turns into a powerful nuke move that not only bypasses the recharge turn, it also allows Polteageist to evaporate Dark-types such as Zarude, Hydreigon, Mandibuzz, Krookodile, and Bisharp at a +2 Special Attack boosts from Shell Smash. Since HO doesn't have a screens setter and this set doesn't have Focus Sash or White Herb to help setup, you should take advatage of Physically Defensive Pokemon such as Buzzwole and Skarmory so you can have the opportunity to setup with Shell Smash.

Answer 5

Here is my take at an offensive lead build for Polteageist. Note that it may struggle against Dark types.

Polteageist @ Focus Sash
Ability: Weak Armor
Tera Type: Psychic
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shell Smash
- Shadow Ball
- Stored Power
- Tera Blast

• Shell Smash (Use this as your first move. If the opponent is Dark type, use unterastallized Tera Blast next and you’ll be fine. This is complimented by the Sp. Atk boost that Shell Smash gives you. If otherwise, use Stored Power)
• Tera Blast (Coverage option if unterastallized, STAB if terastallized.)

Answer 6

Polteageist @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Weak Armor
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Trick
- Shell Smash
- Shadow Ball
- Stored Power / Giga Drain

This set can outspeed things with a Choice Scarf it usually couldn't without a shell smash boost, and it can use Trick to stop stall/set up sweepers, then get a free Shell Smash or two to sweep.

Comments

oh wow this is smart

Answer 7

SWEEPER
Polteageist @ White Herb
ABILITY: Cursed Body
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature

• Shell Smash
• Shadow Ball
• Giga Drain
• Stored Power

White Herb and Shell Smash is self-explanatory. Shadow Ball is STAB. Giga Drain for coverage.

Comments

No stored power? Also dark pulse is useless as ghost and dark are good against the same types, but dark is resisted by fairy.

Answer 8

Doubles support Polteageist

Polteageist @ White Herb
Ability: Cursed Body
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shell Smash
- Baton Pass
- Strength Sap
- Ally Switch

This set isn’t intended to dish out damage, it’s meant to be partnered with a Pokémon running Follow Me or Ally Switch to redirect attacks and let it safely get off a Shell Smash into Baton Pass. The extra bulk, Cursed Body, Ally Switch, and Strength Sap are mostly to make late-game a nightmare for worn-down opponents.

Comments

What happens when the Follow Me Pokémon takes a Taunt to the face, leaving Polteageist complete Taunt bait?

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I barely run into any taunt users because my follow me Pokémon is a psychic surge Indeedee F, which may not sound Ideal for follow-me, but actually works surprisingly well on the right team.

People generally run taunt on prankster Pokémon the most, so psychic surge Indeedee basically nullifies that issue 95% of the time.

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True. Nice Taunt protection strategy.

Answer 9

Polteageist @ White Herb
Ability: Weak Armor
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shell Smash (Raises offensive stats and speed, White Herb restores dropped defences)
- Shadow Ball (Strong STAB)
- Stored Power (Good damage with Shell Smash/Weak Armor)
- Giga Drain (Recovery)

Answer 10

Polteageist @ Flame Orb (or Toxic Orb)
Ability: Weak Armor
EV's: 252 SpA, 220 Spe, 56 HP
Nature: Modest ( +SpA, -Atk)

• Memento
• Hex
• Trick
• Endure

Pretty much just a set up to ensure that Hex hits for maximum damage. Trick would be used to exchange held items and prevent for whichever item was planning on being used, inflict a Burn/Poison on the opponent which'll halve it's attack. Hopefully one strike won't be enough to knock it out, Weak Armor will raise it's speed, making it possible to outspeed the opponent, if not, then Endure to survive another strike and activate it's ability. Hex should be enough to inflict major damage on the opponent, though on only one opponent though for the massive damage, which should take down nearly anything not a Special Defense wall. If all else fails or setting up for a sweep, Memento.

Sorry if this isn't perfect/a strong combination. Not a competitive player, best I got from involving it in an evil team.

Comments

Those EVs don’t work. Did you mean 252 SpA, 220 Spe and 56 HP?

Answer 11

Gen 9 UU Shell Smash

Polteageist @ White Herb / Focus Sash
Ability: Weak Armor
Tera Type: Fighting / Fairy
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shell Smash
- Shadow Ball / Stored Power
- Tera Blast
- Strength Sap / Stored Power

This is a Shell Smash set that utilizes the Terastal mechanic for Gen 9 UU. This set should be used on Screens HO to help you setup. Shell Smash is used to boost your Special Attack and Speed stats, allowing you to become a powerful breaker. Tera Blast Fighting/Fairy is used to let Polteageist get rid of Dark-types such as Wo-Chien, Hydreigon, and Iron Jugulis. Shadow Ball is really good coverage alongside Tera Blast Fighting/Fairy. Strength Sap can help you recover HP and is useful should you have Focus Sash as the item. Stored Power can be used instead of Strength Sap if you want to have a powerful coverage move that takes advantage of the boosts from Shell Smash and Weak Armor. If you want both Strength Sap and Stored Power on the same set, you could drop Shadow Ball if you feel like you don't need it.

Weak Armor is used to boost your speed upon being hit by a physical move. White Herb is used to get rid of the stat drops from Shell Smash, while Focus Sash can be used to help get off a Shell Smash and live a powerful hit provided there aren't any hazards on your side. Fighting/Fairy Tera is also useful to help live a First Impression and Sucker Punch if you have screens up.

Answer 12

Black Spirit (Polteageist) @ Clear Amulet
Ability: Cursed Body
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 136 HP / 228 Def / 144 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Strength Sap
- Confuse Ray
- Nasty Plot
- Shadow Ball

This Polteageist has an admittedly not well thought out nickname. A spirit infused into Black Tea earns it the name Black Spirit but it wasn't much thought put into it. Nasty Plot is necessary AFTER you confuse the target with Confuse Ray. Once confused, take your time to set up and then pulverize with Shadow Ball. If low, just click on Strength Sap and get what is likely your entire health bar filled back to full. The Clear Amulet allows you to setup and not lose those hard earns bonus stats. Cursed Body is 10 times better than Weak Armor because of the nature on my Polteageist. Bold Nature helps evens out the defenses gap. The massive gap between base SpD and base Def, needs to be evened out in my opinion. Combine this with the Ghost Tera type and you can increase the raw power of the Nasty Plot boosted Shadow Ball