Is Gholdengo viable in Gen 9 OU?

Gholdengo is ranked #3 in Gen 9 OU with 27.34% usage according to Smogon May 2026 - Jul 2026 data.

What beats Gholdengo in Gen 9 OU?

Volcarona has the strongest conservative score in this observed May 2026 - Jul 2026 sample. The target was knocked out or switched out in 82.8% of 35.22236554196993 relevant encounters. Standard error is 6.4 points. Sets and switch conditions can change the result.

How are Gholdengo matchup checks ranked in Gen 9 OU?

They are ranked by p minus four standard errors. Here, p is the observed fraction of relevant encounters where Gholdengo was knocked out or switched out. This is not a set-specific battle guarantee.

Gholdengo counters

Gen 9 OU · Sorted by p − 4 standard errors · Smogon source period May 2026 - Jul 2026 · Generated 2026-08-05

#1000 Gholdengo

SteelGhost

USAGE 27.3% #3

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

Shadow Ball 86.3% Make It Rain 82.8% Recover 67.6% Nasty Plot 50.9% Trick 44.1% Focus Blast 16.9% Thunder Wave 14.9% Psyshock 10.3%

Items

Choice Scarf 40.8% Air Balloon 26.4% Grassy Seed 8.9% Leftovers 4.0% Shuca Berry 3.7% Choice Specs 3.5% Custap Berry 3.3% Metal Coat 2.6%

Tera Types

Fairy 31.6% Steel 23.2% Ghost 17.7% Water 10.5% Fighting 8.8% Flying 6.2% Bug 1.0% Grass 0.2%

Common Teammates

Ogerpon-Wellspring16.9%

Browse Gen 9 OU teams using Gholdengo →

Explore Gholdengo + Ceruledge teams 54 score Explore Gholdengo + Clodsire teams 53 score Explore Gholdengo + Kingambit teams 48 score Explore Gholdengo + Heatran teams 42 score

Leading observed checks

Open a matchup for a separate set-based damage estimate, or browse uploaded teams with both Pokémon.

Team core to explore

Gholdengo + Dragonite 50.4% teammate usage Explore teams →

Checks & Counters

Observed target KO or switch rate is upstream p: the fraction of relevant encounters where the target was knocked out or switched out. Standard error is upstream d. The conservative score is p − 4d. These ladder observations do not prove a set-specific counter.

How to read this table

Use encounter count and standard error to judge the sample. Damage estimates below use inferred sets and remain separate from the observed ladder metric.

# Checker Encounters Conservative score Target KO or switch rate

Volcarona

BugFire OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

35.222

57.4

82.8% Standard error 6.36 points

DAMAGE CALC

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

View Volcarona counters →

Ceruledge

FireGhost OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

24.185

54.5

84.2% Standard error 7.42 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Life Orb Ceruledge Poltergeist vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 523-616 (138.3 - 162.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Ceruledge counters → Teams with Ceruledge →

Clodsire

PoisonGround DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

194.151

53.5

74.8% Standard error 5.34 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Gholdengo Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Clodsire: 294-348 (63.3 - 75%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Clodsire counters → Teams with Clodsire →

Kingambit

DarkSteel DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

243.634

47.6

68.1% Standard error 5.14 points

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 →

Iron Moth

FirePoison OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

52.779

46.9

78.5% Standard error 7.91 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Iron Moth Overheat vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gholdengo: 378-446 (100 - 117.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Iron Moth counters →

Heatran

FireSteel OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

22.589

42.5

77.6% Standard error 8.78 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Heatran Overheat vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gholdengo: 356-422 (94.1 - 111.6%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO

View Heatran counters → Teams with Heatran →

Samurott-Hisui

WaterDark OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

177.006

41.2

65.8% Standard error 6.15 points

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 →

Ting-Lu

DarkGround DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

204.684

34.7

58.5% Standard error 5.96 points

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 →

Raging Bolt

ElectricDragon OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

105.539

33.2

64.9% Standard error 7.92 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Raging Bolt Thunder vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gholdengo: 157-186 (41.5 - 49.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Raging Bolt counters → Teams with Raging Bolt →

Ogerpon-Wellspring

GrassWater OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

139.144

31.5

60.2% Standard error 7.17 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Wellspring Mask Ogerpon-Wellspring Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 276-326 (73 - 86.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Ogerpon-Wellspring counters → Teams with Ogerpon-Wellspring →

Dragonite

DragonFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

214.743

30.1

53.5% Standard error 5.86 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Dragonite Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 256-302 (67.7 - 79.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Dragonite counters → Teams with Dragonite →

Blissey

Normal SOFT CHECK View matchup

197.399

29.5

54.0% Standard error 6.11 points

DAMAGE CALC

0- SpA Blissey Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gholdengo: 64-76 (16.9 - 20.1%) -- possible 5HKO

View Blissey counters → Teams with Blissey →

Iron Treads

GroundSteel DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

130.035

29.1

58.6% Standard error 7.37 points

DAMAGE CALC

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

View Iron Treads counters → Teams with Iron Treads →

Great Tusk

GroundFighting SOFT CHECK View matchup

335.62

25.2

43.9% Standard error 4.68 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Great Tusk Headlong Rush vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 456-536 (120.6 - 141.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Great Tusk counters → Teams with Great Tusk →

Gholdengo

SteelGhost SOFT CHECK View matchup

254.766

24.7

46.3% Standard error 5.39 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Gholdengo Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gholdengo: 224-266 (59.2 - 70.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Gholdengo counters → Teams with Gholdengo →

Cinderace

Fire OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

116.07

24.7

56.4% Standard error 7.92 points

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 →

Darkrai

Dark OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

98.029

21.5

55.7% Standard error 8.56 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Darkrai Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gholdengo: 228-270 (60.3 - 71.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Darkrai counters → Teams with Darkrai →

Zamazenta

Fighting SOFT CHECK View matchup

340.483

20.7

38.9% Standard error 4.56 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Zamazenta Crunch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 190-224 (50.2 - 59.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Zamazenta counters → Teams with Zamazenta →

Gliscor

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

271.381

19.9

40.4% Standard error 5.13 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Gliscor Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 302-356 (79.8 - 94.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Gliscor counters → Teams with Gliscor →

Cresselia

Psychic SOFT CHECK View matchup

67.492

15.1

48.9% Standard error 8.46 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Cresselia Moonblast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gholdengo: 30-36 (7.9 - 9.5%)

View Cresselia counters → Teams with Cresselia →

Kyurem

DragonIce SOFT CHECK View matchup

235.298

14.9

36.3% Standard error 5.34 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Kyurem Earth Power vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gholdengo: 166-196 (43.9 - 51.8%) -- 14.1% chance to 2HKO

View Kyurem counters → Teams with Kyurem →

Ogerpon

Grass SOFT CHECK View matchup

55.228

11.0

36.9% Standard error 6.49 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Ogerpon Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 230-272 (60.8 - 71.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Ogerpon counters → Teams with Ogerpon →

Walking Wake

WaterDragon SOFT CHECK View matchup

41.057

10.2

53.6% Standard error 10.84 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Choice Specs Walking Wake Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gholdengo: 240-284 (63.4 - 75.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Walking Wake counters → Teams with Walking Wake →

Hydreigon

DarkDragon SOFT CHECK View matchup

22.958

8.5

50.3% Standard error 10.44 points

DAMAGE CALC

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

View Hydreigon counters →

Landorus-Therian

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

73.824

8.3

48.5% Standard error 10.05 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Landorus-Therian Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 408-480 (107.9 - 126.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Landorus-Therian counters → Teams with Landorus-Therian →

Dragapult

DragonGhost SOFT CHECK View matchup

147.434

6.6

33.2% Standard error 6.67 points

DAMAGE CALC

0- SpA Dragapult Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gholdengo: 120-144 (31.7 - 38%) -- 91.7% chance to 3HKO

View Dragapult counters → Teams with Dragapult →

Rillaboom

Grass SOFT CHECK View matchup

27.516

6.1

44.0% Standard error 9.46 points

DAMAGE CALCGrassy Terrain

252+ Atk Life Orb Rillaboom Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 309-364 (81.7 - 96.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery

View Rillaboom counters → Teams with Rillaboom →

Moltres

FireFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

47.41

4.5

45.0% Standard error 10.14 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Moltres Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gholdengo: 240-284 (63.4 - 75.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Moltres counters → Teams with Moltres →

Iron Valiant

FairyFighting SOFT CHECK View matchup

111.724

2.6

33.4% Standard error 7.70 points

DAMAGE CALC

0- Atk Iron Valiant Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 164-194 (43.3 - 51.3%) -- 8.2% chance to 2HKO

View Iron Valiant counters → Teams with Iron Valiant →

Tornadus-Therian

Flying SOFT CHECK View matchup

55.706

0.1

36.6% Standard error 9.12 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Tornadus-Therian Heat Wave vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gholdengo: 156-184 (41.2 - 48.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Tornadus-Therian counters → Teams with Tornadus-Therian →

Ranked #3 with 27.34% usage. Sorted by conservative score.