What is a good moveset for Gholdengo?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Gholdengo, post an answer below and upvote the best ones.

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.

Gholdengo Pokedex & learnset for reference.

Answer 1

Gholdengo @ Life Orb
Ability: Good as Gold
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dazzling Gleam
- Make It Rain
- Nasty Plot
- Shadow Ball

A signature move “Make it Rain” that’s incredibly powerful with an easily reversible downside, its incredible ability that keeps it from being put on a timer, a truly monstrous special attack stat, an amazing typing, oh my god, the perks keep coming! Gholdengo is truly a force to be reckoned with.

Nasty Plot first to up the effects of Make it Rain, then Terastalize into Tera Steel to up Make it Rain’s power EVEN FURTHER, then use Make it Rain twice and finish off whatever opponent necessary.

(Edit: I didn’t realize that Make it Rain only lowered your special attack ONCE. Boosts Gholdengo up by so much!)

Comments

+1 great set
could also work on a doubles team

Answer 2

Gen 9 Monotype Nasty Plot (Ghost/Steel)

Gholdengo @ Leftovers
Ability: Good as Gold
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Make It Rain
- Shadow Ball / Thunderbolt
- Recover

A Nasty Plot Gholdengo set for Gen 9 Monotype. Nasty Plot is used to boost Gholdengo's Special Attack and helps with the Special Attack drop from Gholdengo's Steel STAB, Make It Rain. Shadow Ball is used for Ghost STAB, while Thunderbolt allows Gholdengo to hit bulky Water-types such as Dondozo. Recover is used for HP recovery.

Answer 3

Weird Set but worked well

Gholdengo @ Assault Vest
Ability: Good as Gold
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Nature: Modest
Tera Type: Fairy

• Dazzling Gleam
• Flash Cannon
• Thunderbolt / Power Gem
• Shadow Ball

Many people have been using the broken signature move “Make It Rain”. However, this set revolves around Flash Cannon - a move that has chance to lower opponent’s SpD - The same as Shadow Ball, it’s other STAB. Thunderbolt is for Corviknight - who Gholdy walls by technicality and Power Gem is for Volcarona specifically. Dazzling Gleam is Tera Fairy’s choice. AV takes away Gholdengo’s ability to use Nasty Plot for MIR, therefore FC is the choice.

+3 252 SpA Espathra Stored Power (260 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Gholdengo: 319-376 (84.3 - 99.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO with Es. Calm Mind 3 times and Speed Boost max.
252+ SpA Aegislash-Blade Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Gholdengo: 218-260 (57.6 - 68.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (Just an example)

Comments

Flash Cannon should still be replaced by make it rain

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This set isn’t running Nasty Plot, so Make it Rain’s SpA drop is not appreciated.

Answer 4

Gen 9 Monotype Choice Scarf / Choice Specs (Ghost/Steel)

Gholdengo @ Choice Scarf / Choice Specs
Ability: Good as Gold
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shadow Ball
- Make It Rain
- Nasty Plot / Recover / Thunderbolt / Focus Blast
- Trick / Focus Blast / Thunderbolt

A Choice Scarf / Choice Specs set for Gen 9 Monotype. Shadow Ball is used for Ghost STAB. Make It Rain is used as a powerful Steel STAB despite the special attack drop. Choice Scarf sets usually use Nasty Plot / Recover in the 3rd moveslot with Trick as the 4th slot. I'll explain how Nasty Plot / Recover on the Scarf set works. You'll need to Trick a Pokemon who will get crippled by Choice Scarf. They'll switch out if they are locked into a move that won't help them, allowing you a free turn to use Nasty Plot to boost your Special Attack, or Recover to allow you to restore some HP. If you use Choice Specs, use Thunderbolt and Focus Blast as the 3rd and 4th moveslots. Thunderbolt is used for Bulky Water-types such as Dondozo. Focus Blast allows you to hit Pokemon such as Hydreigon, Kingambit, and Chi-Yu super effectively.

Answer 5

OU / National Dex

Gholdengo @ Air Balloon
Ability: Good as Gold
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid / Modest Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Make It Rain
- Focus Blast
- Nasty Plot

The best mon in OU right now, probably. Gholdengo's ability in Good as Gold and great defensive typing with a Rapid Spin and Mortal Spin immunity let it be probably the most effective Pokemon ever at keeping hazards up. This set uses Nasty Plot to set up on common hazard removers and to beat roadblocks such as Ting-Lu and Corviknight. Shadow Ball is great STAB that can hit most of the tier neutrally, Make It Rain is a steel type nuke, Focus Blast can do a lot to Ting-Lu and the Paradox Donphans, and has a 70% chance of destroying Cyclizar and Maushold (and a 30% chance of selling the game).

Teammates for Gholdengo

Glimmora can act as a great teammate for Gholdengo by setting up hazards to weaken checks and to make Gholdengo more useful to its teammates.

Sticky Web.

You can use Gholdengo + Glimmora + pretty much anything else and win. Some other good offensive teammates would be Chi-Yu, Chien-Pao, Roaring Moon, Dragonite, Quaquaval, Annihilape, Espathra, Lokix, Dragapult, Baxcalibur, Kingambit, Ceruledge, Maushold, Shed Tail Cyclizar literally anything remotely good that is strong you get the point

Comments

hmm how about defog hawlucha with a mold breaker

Answer 6

Gen 9 National Dex Monotype (Steel)

Gholdengo @ Ghostium Z
Ability: Good as Gold
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 252 HP / 72 Def / 184 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunder Wave
- Hex
- Nasty Plot
- Recover

This Gholdengo set is featured as the POTW in the National Dex Monotype Room on Showdown at the time of this post. I used the set, and I've been enjoying it. This is a Thunder Wave Gholdengo set. Gholdengo uses Thunder Wave to spread yellow magic that slows down fast Pokemon, which is useful for your slower teammates. Hex is used to take advantage of the status conditions inflicted on opposing Pokemon. Nasty Plot boosts Gholdengo's Special Attack, allowing Gholdengo to become a dangerous win condition with Hex + Nasty Plot. Recover is used for HP recovery. Ghostium Z is used as the item to have a powerful one-time nuke and take less damage from Knock Off, which is useful against Pokemon such as Mega Sableye, Mega Mawile, Iron Valiant, and Tornadus-Therian.

252 HP EVs are used for bulk. 184 Speed EVs allow Gholdengo to outspeed Max Speed Adamant Tapu Bulu. The 72 Defense EVs are leftover EVs put in defense to help Gholdengo take physical hits better. Modest Nature is used to be able to OHKO Iron Valiant with Hex after paralyzing it with Thunder Wave. Do note this set has to be used in National Dex Monotype, as this set has Ghostium Z as the item.

Answer 7

Gen 9 Monotype Substitute (Ghost)

Gholdengo @ Metronome
Ability: Good as Gold
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 88 HP / 252 SpA / 168 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Focus Blast
- Flash Cannon
- Shadow Ball

This is a Substitute set with Metronome Gholdengo can use on Ghost teams in Gen 9 Monotype. Metronome being the item allows Gholdengo to bluff a Choice Scarf set, which can lead to Pokemon such as Kingambit using Substitute, allowing Gholdengo to setup a Substitute. Gholdengo can also setup its Substitute against passive Pokemon. Focus Blast lets Gholdengo hit Dark-types such as Kingamit, Ting-Lu, and Hydreigon. Flash Cannon is used for a Steel STAB that doesn't have any drawbacks like Make It Rain does. Shadow Ball is used for a Ghost STAB that works nicely with Gholdengo's other two attacks. Metronome allows Gholdengo's attacks to become stronger the more it spams an attack, allowing it to break past bulky Pokemon it normally wouldn't such as Dondozo. Substitute being up can let Gholdengo spam an attack that it needs to spam.

252 Special Attack EVs and a Modest Nature allow Gholdengo to hit as hard as possible. 168 Speed EVs allow Gholdengo to outspeed Pokemon such as Magnezone and Adamant Cetitan when snow isn't up. The rest of the EVs are used in HP for a little bit of bulk.

Answer 8

Gholdengo @ Wise Glasses
Ability: Good as Gold
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Make It Rain
- Nasty Plot
- Dazzling Gleam
- Shadow Ball

Wow! This Pokémon is already OP.

Make It Rain is already powerful but with Tera Type, Wise Glasses, 252 SpA EVs, STAB, and Nasty Plot, this move is 200+ damage. Dazzling Gleam will hit opposing Pokémon. Shadow Ball will lower the SpD stat of opposing Pokémon. This set even works on a doubles match. :D

Comments

Little trick: dazzling gleam hits both opponents, but so will Make it Rain! It hits all opponents in doubles.

Answer 9

Gen 9 OU doubles tanky special attacker set
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Good as Gold
Tera Type: Steel (chose it because now Make It Rain will be boosted)
EVs: 252 SpA, 133 Def, 125 SpD
Nature: Bold (lowers Atk, boosts Def)/Calm (lowers Atk, boosts SpD)
- Shadow Ball
- Make It Rain
- Nasty Plot
- Power Gem

Shadow Ball and Make It Rain are STAB. Nasty Plot is intended to be used after Make It Rain to bring you from -1 SpA, to +1 SpA. The last moveslot will be Power Gem to hit Fire types.

Answer 10

Haven't played Pokemon for such a long time but new gen always comes with new surprise.
I see this Gold Ghoul has a lot of attack movesets already, so why won't we try another Support-mixed moveset?
Gholdengo @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Good as Gold
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 196 Def / 228 SpA / 84 Spe
Bold/Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Focus Blast / Make it rain
- Hex
- Recover
- Thunder Wave
This moveset works very well for me because it is very versatile in different kind of teams and also gives tons of damage with great endurance. Focus Blast/Make it rain gives a great stab to your opponent, hex can be paired with pokémons such as Glimmora, Clodsire, etc.. Recover gains more survivability, and thunder wave is 1. For Hex if one your opponent isn't having a status effect 2. Support your other teammates, competitive use.
Wish you enjoy this and suggestions and complaints are always free ;)

Answer 11

Gholdengo @ Covert Cloak
Ability: Good as Gold
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 224 HP / 252 SpA / 32 SpD
Modest Nature
- Dazzling Gleam
- Make It Rain
- Power Gem
- Nasty Plot
This is the set I use for him. Gholdengo with covert cloak can only take damage from just damage and also is immune to all status effects anyway. Give it nasty Plot and make it rain all you want. Tera steel cause duh. Power gem and dazzling Gleam for coverage

Answer 12

SubNastyPlot
String Cheese Man (Gholdengo) @ Leftovers
Ability: Good as Gold
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Nasty Plot
- Make It Rain
- Shadow Ball
Pretty simple,Sub and sweep but gholdengos speed makes it harder to pull it off,running sticky web will help and ghold is immune to mortal and rapid spin as well as defog so theres nothing stopping it there.The mons you should worry about is Gambit but Three layers spikes plut if your set up enough can brute force through it.

Answer 13

Gholdengo @ Covert Cloak
Ability: Good As Gold
Tera: Steel
EVs: 252 Sp. Atk/252 HP/4 Spd
Modest Nature
-Nasty Plot
-Make It Rain
-Power Gem
-Shadow Ball

Gholdengo is more than amazing. With the Covert Cloak it becomes immune completely immune (besides abilities) to status affects. Tera steel does not need explanation. For the EVs I chose HP instead speed because if you look at its base stats, you can see while Gholdengo has a max hp of 378, its max speed doesn't even reach 300. Modest nature for more power. Nasty Plot to counter Make It Rain debuff. Make It Rain for STABPower Gem for Fire types. Shadow Ball for STAB

Answer 14

Big Bad Sweeper Boi

Gholdengo @ Leftovers
Ability: Good as Gold
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 40 HP / 216 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Hex
- Make It Rain
- Thunder Wave
- Nasty Plot

This is the set I use for him. Gholdengo with Leftovers will survive a lot longer. This thing has crazy Special defense, more than enough to take a hit from flutter mane. My friend Rohan suggested I do a specially defensive gholdengo set, so thanks Rohan! Hex and Thunder wave are brutal, and hex will hit with STAB. Make it rain and nasty plot are essential at this point. This thing does however lack coverage, but at this point its so strong it doesn’t even matter anymore.

Answer 15

Gen 9 National Dex Offensive Paralysis Spreader

Gholdengo @ Colbur Berry / Air Balloon
Ability: Good as Gold
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Make It Rain
- Focus Blast
- Hex
- Thunder Wave

Gholdengo is famed as both being able to be offensive and spread paralysis on bulky sets, so this set combines both roles into one. Thunder Wave and Hex provides a deadly combo against faster threats, especially those that attempt to setup against it. The EV spread also suggests an offensive Gholdengo, which usually never carry Thunder Wave. For example, a Volcarona player who knows this Gholdengo is "offensive" may not be cautious to play around Thunder Wave, instead Quiver Dancing in front of Gholdengo with reckless abandon. Make It Rain and Focus Blast still allow Gholdengo to fulfill its offensive role, with Focus Blast and Colbur Berry having the added benefit of being a nigh perfect trap against Kingambit, accuracy willing. If you desire something more reliable, Air Balloon can help a teammate with hazards more reliable block hazard removal against the likes of Rapid Spinners, since they all carry Ground moves for Gholdengo.

This set fits on both balance and offense teams alike. Balance teams enjoy how Thunder Wave slows down faster foes and gives them a chance against setup sweepers, allowing their Pokemon with a relatively slower playstyle to stand a chance. Offensive teams, especially those with hazards and Dragon Dance Dragapult, really enjoy Gholdengo being able to block hazard removal and remove Kingambit so Dragapult can start sweeping. With Hex, Gholdengo also pressures Rest Dondozo, another DD Dragapult stopper. Gholdengo does want teammates that can take on Ground type moves, as even Air Balloon sets may not preserve the Balloon forever. As a result, Flying-types like Landorus-T and Charizard-Mega-Y are great teammates. Scarf Landorus-T in particular benefits greatly from hazards, as it can spread more damage across the board thanks to U-Turn. Meanwhile, Charizard-Mega-Y is a fierce wallbreaker that appreciates faster threats like Choice Scarfed Pokemon slowed down with paralysis.