Gogoat

Gogoat, The Mount Pokémon. It can tell how its Trainer is feeling by subtle shifts in the grip on its horns. This empathic sense lets them run as if one being. They inhabit mountainous regions. The leader of the herd is decided by a battle of clashing horns.

Overview

Gogoat is an interesting Pokemon in theory, with a lot of tools to separate it from other Grass-types. Gogoat has access to solid recovery in Milk Drink and Leech Seed as well as being a good user of Bulk Up with its high health and decent defenses, and its base 81 Special Defense synergizes well with Bulk Up. However, Gogoat lacks the tools to truly set itself apart from other Grass types in a significant way, stuck in the shadow of things like Tangela, but is still a strong option for a bulky team.
Positives
+Movepool - Gogoat has a nice movepool bringing some strong offensive options with moves such as Horn Leech and coverage moves like Earthquake and Rock Slide. However, Gogoat also has access to Milk Drink giving a strong recovery options on top of Leech Seed for more defensive options.

Negatives
-Speed - Gogoat has really low Speed which hinders some of its ability to check or pressure threats, since its Speed allows Gogoat to be revenge killed easily. This also translates into being easier to Taunt out, stopping Gogoat from doing much.
-Outclassed - In practice, Gogoat has a hard time setting itself apart from other Grass-types and making a home for itself. Tangela in particular is the main one being able to use Eviolite and having Regenerator to heal with Giga Drain. Offensively, Abomasnow is better with its immense coverage despite being a higher risk Grass type.

Abilities

Grass Pelt - Raises Defense by 50% in Grassy Terrain - Overall a bad ability as there's not a real reason to set it up, and no reliable way to set it up without unnecessarily stacking weaknesses.
Sap Sipper - Grants Grass immunity and raises Attack by 1 stage when hit with a Grass Attack - A strong ability granting immunity to Grass plus a stat boost, overall the best ability for Gogoat without much competition.

Movesets

Bulk Up

- Bulk Up
- Milk Drink
- Horn Leech
- Earthquake
Item Attached: Leftovers
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs and Nature:
228 HP / 48 Atk / 232 SpD
Careful Nature

A bread and butter set, Bulk Up is the core move working with the EV spread to hit bulk points needed to survive some special threats. Milk Drink is there to heal off damage taken while boosting or attacking when the chance is available. Horn Leech the primary attacking move of the set, healing while only being marginally weaker than Seed Bomb. Lastly, Earthquake hits Steel-, Poison-, and Fire-type threats that resist Horn Leech, but Rock Slide is an option for Flying threats that also resist Gogoat's STAB moves.

Assault Vest

- Horn Leech
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Aerial Ace
Item Attached: Assault Vest
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature

A more unorthodox set, Gogoat's natural bulk makes it decent at using an Assault Vest. Horn Leech is the STAB of the set, giving it a healing option as well. Earthquake and Rock Slide make the QuakeEdge combo which gives Gogoat powerful coverage, hitting many of Gogoat's checks and counters for super-effective damage. Last spot is open to whatever you want or need, Aerial Ace is one of the best options as it hits Grass threats that resist Horn Leech for super-effective damage.

Other Options and Partners

-Leech Seed is an option in combo with Substitute. Leech Seed can be used to stall out non Grass-type targets and provide healing in order to make Gogoat a nuisance for the enemy. However, you must give up coverage to really make use of this and Milk Drink, and Leech Seed stalling isn't unique to Gogoat by any means.

- Armaldo - Armaldo is a niche Pokemon but its one of few Pokemon in Gogoat's power range with both Stealth Rock and Rapid Spin (other option being Kabutops). This makes Armaldo a nice option as Gogoat likes hazards being off the field, especially Toxic Spikes, and the Stealth Rock support helps with its crippling Fire weakness, making those threats less likely to switch into Gogoat. -Granbull - Granbull's ability to answer physical attackers that Gogoat can struggle with, and access to Heal Bell, are both huge benefits for Gogoat. Gogoat also can answer some other the threats that Granbull has a hard time with such as Golem and Qwilfish without Poison Jab.

VGC & Double Battle Options

Gogoat at first glance seems like a natural Pokemon for the Doubles scene. Upon further analysis, he does not have the lasting chops to stand out and make a lasting impression. This is due partially to his low stats overall, and its movepool redundancy with Tapu Bulu who automatically activates Gogoat's Grass Pelt ability.

Lawn Animal

- Horn Leech
- Superpower
- Rock Slide / Bulk Up
- Protect / Milk Drink
Item Attached: Grassy Seed
Ability: Grass Pelt / Sap Sipper
EVs and Nature:
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 SDef
Adamant Nature

Gogoat is the only pokemon with the combination of Horn Leech and Milk Drink, giving it a unique niche. Horn Leech offers an excellent source of recovery, especially if paired up with Grassy Terrain. Superpower is used over Earthquake as a way to cover steel typed Pokemon, given that it does not suffer a drop in power under Grassy Terrain. Rock Slide is a solid spread move, though it won't be killing anything with the lack of STAB. Alternatively, Bulk Up can increase its attacking prowess while simultaneously increasing its already heighten defenses to tank more hits. Protect is a doubles staples that allows for better prediction and allow Gogoat to survive another round or so. Milk Drink offers a reliable way to restore health, though it might not get too many chances to use it given how quickly it go down if targeted by special moves. Grassy Seed boosts defenses an additional stage under Grassy Terrain, which is only further augmented by the ability Grass Pelt. If you prefer an immunity to Grass typed moves, Sap Sipper can be chosen over Grass Pelt, though the drop in defenses is noticeable.

Other Options & Team Ideas

- Wild Charge can be considered as a surprise attack against an unsuspecting Pelipper, or other Flying-types that might resist its main Grass STAB.
- Bounce could offer interesting strategies, though the opponent can easily work around that attack and just switch in a resist.
- Gogoat does not have stellar Speed, so it can perfectly function under Trick Room. Just remember to adjust its ability to Brave to minimize its Speed.
- Iron Tail could be a surprise attack against the sea of Fairies that exist within Doubles, so it shouldn't be fully discounted as an option.

Checks & Counters

-Taunt Users - With Gogoat's dependence on Bulk Up and Milk Drink to really be a threat, Taunt can stop it hard. This neutralizes Gogoat's good bulk as Horn Leech won't heal enough to really keep it going, and most Taunt users such as Alolan Persian outpace Gogoat with ease and create space for other Pokemon to boost on Gogoat.
-Fire-type threats - While most have to watch the Earthquake coming in, Gogoat is very vulnerable to Fire-type threats, as all will outpace Gogoat and OHKO or come really close in return with their Fire-type attacks. Charizard is the primary one as its Flying typing grants Ground immunity and can easily set up with Z-Sunny Day and go for a sweep.

Locations in Games

Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game

Gold/Silver/Crystal:
Not in game

Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Not in game

FireRed/LeafGreen:
Not in game

Colosseum/XD:
Not in game

Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Not in game

HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Not in game

Black/White:
Not in game

Black 2/White 2:
Not in game

X/Y:
Friend Safari

Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Trade from X & Y

Sun/Moon:
Transfer from Generation VI

Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Transfer from Generation VI

Animé Appearences

Gogoat has made a few appearances in the anime. Most notably, it was used by Ramos in Ash's Kalos League campaign

# -English Episode Name- -Jp. Episode Name- Pics
795 The Journalist from Another Region! Alexa Appears! Helioptile & Gogoat!! Pics
797 A Pokémon of a Different Color! Clair & Iris! The Shiny Druddigon!! Pics
798 Celebrating the Hero's Comet! Noivern Appears! The Legend of the Comet & the Hero!! Pics
799 Go, Go Gogoat! Go Go Gogoat! Pics
801 Survival of the Striaton Gym! Cilan VS The Ice Challenger! The Crisis at Striation Gym!! Pics
803 Dream Continues! My Dream: Pokémon Master! Pics
804 Kalos, Where Dreams and Adventures Begin! We've Come to Kalos Region! Dreams and Adventures Begin! Pics
M17 Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction The Cocoon of Destruction and Diancie Pics
842 Summer of Discovery! Pokémon Summer Camp! Enter the Rival Trio!! Pics
856 A Race for Home! Serena Gets Serious! The Wild Skiddo Race!! Pics
860 Thawing an Icy Panic! Vanillite Panic! Left Cold by a Whiteout!! Pics
861 Green, Green Grass Types of Home! Coumarine Gym Match! Frogadier VS Gogoat!! Pics
862 Under the Pledging Tree! Ash and Serena's First Date! The Vow Tree and the Present!! Pics
M18 Hoopa & The Clash of Ages The Archdjinni of the Rings: Hoopa Pics
M19 Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel Volcanion & The Ingenious Magearna Pics
938 Rocking Kalos Defenses! The Megalith Advances! A Fight to Protect Kalos!! Pics
939 Forming a More Perfect Union! Zygarde Fights Back! The Final Battle for Kalos!! Pics
943 Till We Compete Again A Zero With No End! Till the Day We Meet Again!! Pics
XYZS1 To be confirmed The Legend of XYZ Pics
M20 Pokémon I Choose You! Pokémon I Choose You! Pics