Is Gholdengo viable in Gen 9 National Dex?

Gholdengo is ranked #4 in Gen 9 National Dex with 19.41% usage according to Smogon Apr 2026 - Jun 2026 data.

What beats Gholdengo in Gen 9 National Dex?

The best counter for Gholdengo in Gen 9 National Dex is Blaziken with a 86.7% win rate when they meet. Based on Smogon's Apr 2026 - Jun 2026 usage data, the top Pokémon that beat Gholdengo include Blaziken, Volcarona, Charizard-Mega-Y, Charizard-Mega-X, Iron Moth.

What is the best counter for Gholdengo in Gen 9 National Dex?

Blaziken is the best counter for Gholdengo in Gen 9 National Dex, KOing or forcing it out in 86.7% of their encounters.

Gholdengo counters

Gen 9 National Dex · Sorted by reliability score · Smogon · Apr 2026 - Jun 2026

#1000 Gholdengo

SteelGhost

USAGE 19.4% #4

BASE STATS

HP 87

ATK 60

DEF 95

SPA 133

SPD 91

SPE 84

BST550

TYPE MATCHUPS

2×

FireGroundGhostDark

½×

GrassIceFlyingPsychicRockDragonSteelFairy

¼×

Bug

0×

NormalFightingPoison

Moves

Make It Rain 79.4% Shadow Ball 76.1% Recover 70.4% Nasty Plot 56.8% Focus Blast 38.0% Thunder Wave 25.2% Hex 23.5% Trick 18.3%

Items

Air Balloon 32.9% Ghostium Z 24.0% Choice Scarf 18.8% Steelium Z 5.9% Leftovers 4.6% Shuca Berry 3.5% Fightinium Z 3.3% Rocky Helmet 2.6%

Common Teammates

Landorus-Therian24.7%

Zamazenta24.0%

Great Tusk21.6%

Alomomola20.8%

Ogerpon-Wellspring20.1%

Terapagos19.6%

Garchomp17.9%

Zapdos15.7%

Browse Gen 9 National Dex teams using Gholdengo →

Teams using Volcarona 85%

Checks & Counters

Reliability ranks observed matchups; KO rate is how often the checker knocked out or forced out the target. “Checker faints” reports the checker's own observed death rate. Categories use matchup reliability plus offensive and defensive base stats.

How to read this table

Use encounter count to judge sample size. A high-reliability check with a modest KO rate can still be useful when it consistently forces switches or limits the target.

# Checker Encounters Reliability KO Rate

Blaziken

FireFighting OFFENSIVE CHECK

54.682

86.7% checker faints 6.45%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Blaziken Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 422-500 (111.6 - 132.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Blaziken counters →

Volcarona

BugFire OFFENSIVE CHECK

203.083

84.5% checker faints 4.25%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Volcarona Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gholdengo: 254-302 (67.1 - 79.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Volcarona counters → Teams with Volcarona →

Charizard-Mega-Y

FireFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK

270.806

83.9% checker faints 3.82%

DAMAGE CALCSun

252+ SpA Charizard-Mega-Y Overheat vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gholdengo in Sun: 620-732 (164 - 193.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Charizard-Mega-Y counters →

Charizard-Mega-X

FireDragon OFFENSIVE CHECK

172.841

81.1% checker faints 5.15%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Tough Claws Charizard-Mega-X Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 584-690 (154.4 - 182.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Charizard-Mega-X counters →

Iron Moth

FirePoison OFFENSIVE CHECK

32.885

79.3% checker faints 7.07%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Iron Moth Fiery Dance vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gholdengo: 234-276 (61.9 - 73%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Iron Moth counters →

Kommo-o

DragonFighting DEFENSIVE COUNTER

55.304

77.1% checker faints 7.75%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Gholdengo Make It Rain vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Kommo-o: 153-181 (43.2 - 51.1%) -- 5.1% chance to 2HKO

View Kommo-o counters →

Samurott-Hisui

WaterDark OFFENSIVE CHECK

173.68

76.4% checker faints 5.52%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Sharpness Samurott-Hisui Ceaseless Edge vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 320-378 (84.6 - 100%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO

View Samurott-Hisui counters → Teams with Samurott-Hisui →

Hoopa-Unbound

PsychicDark OFFENSIVE CHECK

80.114

76.3% checker faints 6.58%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Hoopa-Unbound Hyperspace Fury vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 438-516 (115.8 - 136.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Hoopa-Unbound counters →

Manaphy

Water DEFENSIVE COUNTER

22.366

74.7% checker faints 9.19%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Gholdengo Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Manaphy: 106-126 (26.2 - 31.1%) -- 9.4% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Manaphy counters →

Heatran

FireSteel OFFENSIVE CHECK

251.019

73.4% checker faints 4.81%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Heatran Eruption (150 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gholdengo: 410-486 (108.4 - 128.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Heatran counters → Teams with Heatran →

Swampert-Mega

WaterGround OFFENSIVE CHECK

79.236

72.8% checker faints 7.04%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Swampert-Mega Liquidation vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 178-210 (47 - 55.5%) -- 73.8% chance to 2HKO

View Swampert-Mega counters →

Ceruledge

FireGhost OFFENSIVE CHECK

59.017

71.1% checker faints 8.28%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Ceruledge Poltergeist vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 402-474 (106.3 - 125.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Ceruledge counters → Teams with Ceruledge →

Garchomp

DragonGround OFFENSIVE CHECK

319.147

70.8% checker faints 4.39%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Garchomp Fire Fang vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 164-194 (43.3 - 51.3%) -- 8.2% chance to 2HKO

View Garchomp counters → Teams with Garchomp →

Mawile-Mega

SteelFairy DEFENSIVE COUNTER

60.725

69.2% checker faints 8.26%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Gholdengo Make It Rain vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Mawile-Mega: 163-193 (53.6 - 63.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Mawile-Mega counters →

Kingambit

DarkSteel DEFENSIVE COUNTER

496.353

69.0% checker faints 3.51%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Gholdengo Focus Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Kingambit: 472-556 (116.8 - 137.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Kingambit counters → Teams with Kingambit →

Ting-Lu

DarkGround DEFENSIVE COUNTER

415.182

67.3% checker faints 3.95%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Gholdengo Focus Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Vessel of Ruin Ting-Lu: 182-216 (35.4 - 42%) -- 86% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Ting-Lu counters → Teams with Ting-Lu →

Excadrill

GroundSteel OFFENSIVE CHECK

67.567

67.0% checker faints 8.09%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Excadrill Iron Head vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 77-91 (20.3 - 24%) -- guaranteed 5HKO

View Excadrill counters →

Cinderace

Fire OFFENSIVE CHECK

163.91

66.5% checker faints 6.30%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Cinderace Pyro Ball vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 416-492 (110 - 130.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Cinderace counters → Teams with Cinderace →

Iron Hands

FightingElectric DEFENSIVE COUNTER

63.719

65.7% checker faints 8.35%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Gholdengo Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Iron Hands: 135-159 (26.3 - 31%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

View Iron Hands counters →

Clodsire

PoisonGround DEFENSIVE COUNTER

394.572

65.4% checker faints 3.95%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Gholdengo Make It Rain vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Clodsire: 159-187 (34.2 - 40.3%) -- 40.7% chance to 3HKO after Black Sludge recovery

View Clodsire counters → Teams with Clodsire →

Lopunny-Mega

NormalFighting OFFENSIVE CHECK

132.092

64.6% checker faints 7.06%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Lopunny-Mega Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 464-548 (122.7 - 144.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Lopunny-Mega counters →

Ursaluna

GroundNormal OFFENSIVE CHECK

241.915

63.8% checker faints 5.26%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Ursaluna Fire Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 198-234 (52.3 - 61.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Ursaluna counters →

Banette-Mega

Ghost OFFENSIVE CHECK

21.536

62.7% checker faints 10.42%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Banette-Mega Poltergeist vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 492-582 (130.1 - 153.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Banette-Mega counters →

Dragonite

DragonFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK

287.912

62.1% checker faints 4.91%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Dragonite Fire Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 192-228 (50.7 - 60.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Dragonite counters → Teams with Dragonite →

Gengar

GhostPoison OFFENSIVE CHECK

109.702

61.7% checker faints 7.89%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Gengar Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gholdengo: 218-260 (57.6 - 68.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Gengar counters →

Iron Treads

GroundSteel DEFENSIVE COUNTER

429.981

58.4% checker faints 4.08%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Gholdengo Focus Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Iron Treads: 264-312 (68.7 - 81.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Iron Treads counters → Teams with Iron Treads →

Celesteela

SteelFlying DEFENSIVE COUNTER

28.958

57.0% checker faints 9.20%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Gholdengo Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Celesteela: 105-124 (26.3 - 31.1%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

View Celesteela counters →

Great Tusk

GroundFighting DEFENSIVE COUNTER

585.977

56.5% checker faints 3.48%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Gholdengo Make It Rain vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Great Tusk: 229-271 (52.7 - 62.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Great Tusk counters → Teams with Great Tusk →

Hydreigon

DarkDragon OFFENSIVE CHECK

22.485

56.0% checker faints 10.47%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Hydreigon Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gholdengo: 216-254 (57.1 - 67.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Hydreigon counters →

Terapagos

Normal DEFENSIVE COUNTER

675.089

55.8% checker faints 3.31%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Gholdengo Focus Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Terapagos: 236-278 (61.4 - 72.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Terapagos counters → Teams with Terapagos →

Ranked #4 with 19.41% usage. Sorted by reliability score.