Competitive Guide: Navighast

[Lord Windos]

Hiya! It been awhile since there has been a Competitive guide on forum, what it going dormant due to online battles being capput atm. The Holiday spirit has been welling within me this season, though, so I bring to you the Ghost of Christmas Pirates, Navighast!




BASE STATS

HP: 80             S.ATK: 90

ATK: 115         S.DEF: 75

DEF: 75           SPD: 90

You know, before the nerf hit Dramsama and rendered its aspiring career in the Competitive scene a shadow of its former self (not bitter, I swear….), I thought it was the only good ghost type in the base game. Oh, how the spirits have come for a reckoning, as I discovered, much to my surprise, that were other undead Pokémon that had a ghost of a chance. Those were Chainite (Which will gets its own guide, at some point [Though maybe not by me…]), and the scurvy dog of the sea, Navighast.
 
Now, let me be forward, and get this out of the way: I don’t believe that this Pokemon will make the cut for OU, which is sad, seeing as it has a saber for an arm. The reason for this assumption are three fold, and thus. First off, the seaman is quite fragile. 80 HP and 75 Defenses does not make for a sturdy Pokémon, and given all the powerful threats in the meta, such as Archilles, Inflagetah, Traction, Metalynx etc., it would not be able to handle the firepower directed its way nearly as well as it does on the open sea. The next problem with the ailing captian is its 90 SPD, as, while perfectly respectable, is nowhere near enough against the speed demons of the meta. Finally, there is the tricky proposition that is its typing. While it cannot be discounted as a great offensive type, as the sea dog can hit everything in the game with a super effective or neutral STAB, it’s a not so shipshape against as a defensive type. While Psychic and Flying types are somewhat uncommon in higher tiers, Ghost and Fairy isn’t, with the later type being particular prolific the higher you climb the ladder, due to the dearth of just good Dragons. These three things, mainly, is what spells its doom in the OU, causing to be marooned on a sandbar with absolutely no friendly company…

That doesn’t mean that this rouge of the sea is permanently destined for Davey Jones Locker, though! While 90 SPD is slow, compared to the likes of Tracton or the Inflagetahs, it is perfectly great against all the slower threats in the game. Its allows it to outspeed threats like Chimiconda or Encartress, then take either of them down with either a well-placed Shadow Claw or Ice Punch before they can even react. Both its Attack stat are respectable in their own right, and, since it can get both Nasty Plot AND Sword Dance in its arsenal, it can run physical or special attack set easily. Its movepool has a surprising amount of versatility to it.  With moves like Glare, Toxic, and Wil-lo-Wisp to cripple the opposing team, enough Physical and Special moves to have a diverse amount of options at its disposal, and Taunt, Torment, Destiny Bond, and Curse to further pressure the opposition to do exactly what you want, it is not found wanting at all on this front. It even has Drain Punch and Pain Split, if it has need for some form of recovery! Its Ghost Fighting typing, while a hazard to its health at times, is  perfectly good offensive type to behold, especially with the two priority STABs it has to arm itself with: Mach Punch and Shadow Sneak. These moves, in conjunction with either good prediction or a boost, can devastate some of the speedier threats, and get the surprise encounter on those that think a Spider Web or speed boost can protect them now. Its sole ability, Levitate, while not the most interesting ability in the game, does its job well in shielding it from Ground types like Drilagan and their attacks, and with Leaf Blade and Brine, can really lay on the hurt if they try to outlast the stormy reception.

Overall, Navighast, while it might not do well on the open waters of OU, is still a dangerous threat that’ll plunder your team for what they are worth, if you are unprepared. With a deep movepool and the stats to use them, and the dearth of supporting moves that will be a stabbing pain in the side for any decent Pokémon, it is still a terror of the seas. Levitate also allows it to soft counter the ever dominant Ground type, letting it laugh at their faces while it is safe in on the seas. While it still has much to fear from both the mythical and occult, with the right crew to back it up, not even they can make this pirate walk the plank. While it would certainly appreciate Sacred Sword in its arsenal, it has more than enough to be an ample threat.

MOVESETS

You are a Pirate! ARRRRG! (Physical Atk)

Shadow Sneak/Mach Punch

Superpower/Hammer Arm/Shadow Claw

Sword Dance

Ice Punch/Knock Off/Leaf Blade/Wil-lo-Wisp

Item: Life Orb/Scope Lens

Nature: Adamant or Jolly

EV’s: 252 ATK, 252 SPD, last 4 can go in any but S.ATK and HP

This is one of the most common sets you’ll see Navighast arm itself with, in preparation to raid your team. Mach Punch and Shadow Sneak are there as its rather useful Priority STABs, which, after a Sword Dance, could be a nasty start to an encounter…for the opponent! Normally, Mach Punch is preferred over Shadow Sneak, due to it hitting more types super effectively, but using Shadow Sneak instead lets the dread captain not only nail Dramsama and speedier Psychic types (Such as Neopunk and Astronite) much harder, it also allows it access to much stronger Fighting STABs while maintaining perfect neutral coverage.  Speaking of which, your choice of Priority STAB is primarily influenced by what will be you main STAB move: Shadow Claw or Hammer Arm/Superpower. Shadow Claw, while weaker than either HA or SP, has a higher chance to land a crit against the opponent, and has no crippling downsides to its usage. Hammer Arm and Superpower are devastatingly powerful moves that will cut down just about any Pokémon resistant to them, but the Speed drop of the former and the Attack and Defense drop of the later are things that the spector could find hard to stomach...well, if it has one that is. Whichever one you want depends on your preferances and team set up, but I'd take HA as a first pick, as it better synegizes with the other moves on the set and doesn't absolutely require it to bail out into its team if you are not worried about being outspeed by a particular scurvy dog.  Sword Dance is rather obvious choice, though, as it both provides a significant Attack boost to the sea dog and fits the pirate theme it has going for it. The last choice depends on your preferences. Ice Punch is very effective against Dragons, Luxelong and Coalith in particular, and is able to ward off Grass, Bug, and Flying types, such as Gellin, Nimflora, and Gliscor. Knock Off is there if you just want to embrace your inner pirate, and deprive the enemy team of its used items. Leaf Blade (Avaliable as of version 1.20!) is another fine move in this spectral pirate's arsenal, as it gives it yet another high Crit move that can OHKO Encartress, more easily muscle out Brainroar and Evolite Regenartor Corsola, and giving it a chance to take down Elextrux, while still menacing Gyarados, Gliscor, and Cocancer to an extent (Especially with a SD or two). Using it comes the cost of Dragon and the scant few viable Flying types having a much easier at giving the captain way layed at sea, though, so keep that in mind. Finally, if you already have teammates with either good coverage or the ability to removes items, Wil-lo-Wisp is also a viable choice, as nothing devastates a Physical Sweeper more than having a nice Burn to go with the salt this buccaneer will heap on their wounds!

Most of the time, Life Orb is the best option for Navighast, as it desires as much firepower as possible to quickly and efficiently dispatch its enemies. However, if you are running both Leaf Blade and Shadow Claw on the same set, using the Scope Lens is also a nice option, especially if you have a Luxelong on the team able to pass on Focus energies to the pirate. Even without that form of support, both Shadow Claw and Leaf Blade have a 50% of Criting, so combined with a SD it has supreme capabilities to act as a surprise Wall Breaker, if you are willing to gamble some piece o' eight on Navighast's odds!

*Note: You can opt to run both Priority STAB move if you’d like, but I’d then recommend forgoing either SD or your coverage move for either Superpower or Hammer arm, which is a thorny dilemma to say the least.

Set Sail on the Flying Dutchman! (Special Atk)

Shadow Ball/Focus Blast

Focus Blast/Glare/Wil-lo-Wisp

Nasty Plot

Hidden Power (Ice)/Brine/Flamethrower/Support Move

Item: Life Orb

Nature: Timid or Modest

EV’s: 252 in S.ATK and SPD

The other most likely set you’ll see on the pirate. Your choice or STAB move, Shadow Ball and Focus Blast, give the dread captain the much coveted perfect neutral coverage against the entire meta, and both moves have the ability to drop and opponent's Special Defense, which will certainly ruin the day of any would be wall trying to drop anchor on the S.S. Sweep!  Nasty Plot has a rather self-evident place on the set. The last move is up to grabs, and to your preference. HP Ice counters both Dragons in particular, while Brine deals with Fire types like Chimiconda and Beliaddon plus  in clean ingup weakened targets. Flamethrower hits Metalynx and Gellin very hard, and effectively deal with every Ice and/or Bug type that exists, bar the Smore line. 

If FB's low Accuracy bothers you, though, or if you can do with having dual STABs and lean more heavily on your coverage moves, the dead seaman’s second move slot can be effectively filled by quite a few Status moves, if you opt to have a more annoying variant. Inversely, you can also forgo your coverage move for Status, if the sea ghost either has teammates that can handle those specific threats just fine, or if the pirate's dual STABs on hand are perfectly sufficient for your sweeping tastes. Glare cripples speedier Pokémon, giving it and your team more opportunities to take it down with ease. Even slower Pokémon won’t appreciate it, as there is always the chance that it will be immobilized at any given moment. Wil-lo-Wisp is equally devastating on this ravaging pirate, as it take the wind out of a Physical Attacker’s sails, such as Herolune or Diakatuna. Taunt or Curse are also certainly options as well, but Navighast would much rather neuter an opponents Speed or Attack Stat respectively, so as it can better gut them like the landlubbers that they are!

Overall, this set is just as effective as its Physical variant, it just has a bit more planning require to it.

Note: Due to reason I don't quite understand, Navighast does not have access to Glare, despite Duplicat having the move. Maybe in the future, when the devs fully unlock or give Pokémon SOME WAY of learning their myriad unobtainable Egg moves... As such, if you don't want to run Wil-lo-wisp on it, but still want a Support move, Toxic, Curse, or Destiny Bond are your best bet at disrupting and enemy team, in no particular order. Toxic wears down Special Walls that try to stall out the captain, Curse is just plain bad news for anything and will force switches like tomorrows at the cost of a meaty chuck of the spirt's HP, while Destiny Bond is the ever coveted dying option if it outspeeds a particular foe.  Its up to you whether or not these other moves are suitable for the task at hand!

A Dead Man Tells No Tales (Destiny Bond/Revenge Killer)

Destiny Bond

Superpower

Shadow Claw

Ice Punch/Leaf Blade/Gunk Shot

Items: Choice Scarf

Nature: Jolly

EV’s: 252 ATK and SPD

This set is unusual in that it give the pirate captain more of a supporting role than an offensive one. It becomes quite effective once you realize its purpose: It turns this dead man into a premium Revenge Killer. Once an opponent has been sufficiently weakened, send it out and use whatever is most effective to quickly clean up that once mighty threat, all of which are sufficiently powerful without a SD behind them. Superpower is the first choice for its Fighting STAB, as the ATK and DEF drops don't nearly matter as much when its main role is to get in, finish off a target or threaten the opponent to switch, then get out. Shadow Claw is a decent, semi-powerful Ghost STAB that can safely be spammed against all but Dark and Normal types (Which you have SP to deal with anyway), and that slightly elevated Crit Chance can help out in a close shave! Ice Punch allows the captain to nail Harptera, Gliscor,  Dunsereph, and Cocancer much harder than with either SP or SC, allows it to fully abuse its ability to check and threaten all Ground types, and gives it move effective options against Dragon types in general. Leaf Blade allows it to better deal with Strong/Bulky Water types such as Electrux, Brainroar, Syrentyde, and Encartress while taking care of most Ground types swiftly, plus gives it yet another high Crit move to abuse to the hilt. Then, if Navighast is going to end up giving up the ghost one way or another, it can use Destiny Bond to take their opponent with them in one last ditch attempt to end their reign of terror! This makes switching in with a weakened privateer to be a benefit, as if you are sure your opponent will knock out your Pokémon on the next turn, this move will kill their fanfare real quickly. Destiny Bond also puts the break on any sweep, making it a good last ditch anti-sweeping measure to have in their arsenal. You can’t use it to win battles, to my knowledge, but having a dying action is better than just being outright KOd without recourse. Not a bad set at all, as its perfect to take any unsuspecting team by storm!

ALTERNATIVE MOVES

Drain Punch: A weaker option than either Hammer Arm or Superpower, but having some form of sustain against chip damage is certainly appealing in of itself...

Brick Break: Same power as Drain Punch, but with the ability to destroy those annoying barriers. While not too common, having this move as a fall back can be helpful

Bulk Up: While it can be useful in bulking you up while raising ATK, the Defense boosts are not going to as helpful in its prospect to stay afloat, compared to SD, given its fragility. Still, it’s a worthwhile option to consider, especially when used in conjuction with Superpower, as it helps mitigate the downsides of the move somewhat.

Iron Defense: Not nearly as good as NP or SD, as this Pokémon doesn’t have the raw Defenses or HP to really tank things. Its typing does not help these matters either…

Bone Rush: It has better coverage moves that are both more reliable and greater utility to them. Only go with it if you have a bone to pick with someone…

Fire Blast: If you want a more powerful, if less accurate Fire move to use, then this one is for you!

Façade: No STAB, but it’s useful if you get burned and want to still be able to do something of value on more Physical sets.

Double Team: While frowned upon, as I like to say, if you can’t be hit, you don’t need any more damage or defense!

Skill Swap: You are more liable to hurt yourself than get any use from this, but the risk might be worth it in some cases.

Ominous Wind: There is always that chance for that multi-stat boost to consider, so use it if you are willing to gamble a bit.

Fire Punch: Can be put to good use on a Physical set, and that chance to burn is always a good thing (Unless the target has Guts!)

Thunder Punch: Great against Flying types and both forms of Gyarados, and can even be run with Ice Punch to form a pseudo Bolt Beam combo on the captain, but Concancer, Encartress, and Gliscor can and WILL be able to wall you with ease at that point + Dragon types will have a field day with you regardless UNLESS you commit to the combo.

Gunk Shot: If you are that terrified of Fairy types dragging this sea dog beneath the waves, this somewhat unreliable option is available. It is, however, a powerful move in its own right with a decent chance to Poison a target, and gains much more value on a Choice Band/Scarf Set due to the surprise factor involved. Best take care of any Steel types first before you lock yourself into this move, though...

Pain Split: A form of recovery that can take a bite out of the other guy’s HP, and its particularly useful on Special Attack sets. Beware the diminishing returns, though.

Moves it Needs

Leaf Blade: Despite being listed as an egg move, it is unable to learn it at all. Dev team, would you mind correcting this little mistake? EDIT: Now available at lv. 57 for Swabone in version 1.20, so get to grinding if you want it to slice up it foes!

Sacred Sword: It’s the perfect move for this saber wielding, undead captain! Make it happen, devs, please!

Glare: Another unobtainable egg move for the spector, and this time it loses out on a quite accurate universal Paralysis move . Devs, I know working on the game is tough, but really? Especially since Duplicat could potentially breed the move onto the captain, but can't for some odd reason....

Partners for Navighast

A good Steel type is a great first mate for this swash buckling buccaneer, as it neatly deal with  ¾ of all its weakness, and having a Tank absorb some of the potential damage that could come its way is shipshape indeed. Metalynx and Tracton are good Pokémon to consider, but Diakatuna can be a boon as well, as it has ways to deal with pesky Fire and Ground types, such as Drilagan and Fritiki. Sticky Web users, such as Siekemeter and Nimflora, can also put a little pep in its step, allowing it to out speed some of the higher speed targets. Baton Passed Speed Boosts from Luxelong or Stenowatt is also appreciated, for similar reason. Luxelong can also cleanse it of any status with Heal Bell, making it very useful in bailing the cutlass wielder. Having a strong Dark type on the team, such as Baariette, can also act as a counter to Psychic and Ghost types (Such as Dramsama) that can give the skeleton a hard time, but you have to be extra careful of Fairies, in that case. Both Electux’s can be great partners for Special Attack Navighasts, as the rain it provide acts as a free power boost to its Brine, it weaken the Fire speed demons (Archilles and Inflagetah), and Electux themselves can strike any  dangerous Flying types that could potentially bother you, among other things.

Counters to Navighast

As can be said for everything in this game, if it can outspeed you, it can KO you first. As such, things like Yatagaryu, Archilles, and Tracton can pose a big threat to the pirate, though the later two have to fear Brine and a STAB Mach Punch, respectively. Status user and Taunters, like Whimsicott, can put drop the anchor on the S.S Sweep, wrecking its chances more thoroughly than the iceberg did to the Titanic. Ironically enough, priority moves can screw it over too, as they can render it lame before it has time to even set up, and negates the advantages its Physical variants have, if the other priority user happens to be faster. Substitute Users can also completely stall the ghostly baddy, as they can have the time they need to setup and wreck you before you can take down their bulky vanguard. Its greatest enemies, though, are the aforementioned Ghost and Fairy types. Dramsama is faster, stronger, and plain meaner than the captain, and take it out in a slew of debilitating ways. Chainite drives some nail in Navighast feet to prevent it from switching out, and has just enough bulk and Attack to OHKO it with any of the STABs it has. Antarki can just Taunt and Status the guy until they are nothing but a pile of bones, and that is discounting its high Special Attack and Speed. Luxelong and Syrentide do a fine job of walling of damage from it, and can easily retaliate with a boosted STAB, but both have to beware the coverage moves it has at its disposal. Sylveon, on the other hand, has no real weakness the ghost can counter, and a Single Hyper Voice from the loveball will exorcise it from the face of the battlefield. Kiricorn and Oblivicorn also do a fine job of grinding the skeleton’s bones underneath their hooves too, and to add insult to injury, the later has Mold Breaker, so it can jolly well ignore your Ground immunity.

Summery

This old, reincarnated soul has some problems dealing with its varied counters, but that does not mean they are not some landluving scallywag! With its wide and versatile movepool, and overall decent stats, it can run both Physical and Special set with minimal hassle, and has a slew of support moves that will sink the spirits of just about any Pokémon. Its access to TWO Priority STAB is also a huge thing going for it, and has some decent recovery option in Drain Punch and Pain Split. They also can serve as a soft counter to Ground types, as Levitate allows them to avoid the worst of their moves, and has super effective option to lay maroon them all. Despite all this going for it, the bigger, speedier fish in Uranium will make swift work of Navighast, and the Status hurts it just as much as any other attacker. Ghost and Fairy types are the bane of its existence, as they all can turn it into bone meal quickly and efficiently. If you have handle the choppy water that surround this scurvy dog, though, then you have a strong, reliable Pokémon that can hold its own against almost any threat. Plus, it’s a Zombie Pirate Sword Wielding Pokémon. How could you not want this cool thing on your team?

EDIT: Thanks to the suggestions of @shademonkey , I decided to rework this guide a little! Thanks, mate!

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Oh my... you really did it... you made someone very happy by writing that guide.

Also, I'm not the only one asking for Leaf Blade... (and, maybe, even Sacred Sword), yay!

I definitely enjoy the Special Attacker Set for some reason, and might get a hold especially on that one C: Just a little question, since it can learn Curse as an egg move AND is Ghost type (you know what that means...*incoming sinister laughter*) - how useful is that move on that spectral captain? Maybe with a nature that increases the Speed stat and 252 EV invested into that stat, it could be a nasty memento-mori for the opponent?

[Dragonstrike]

Wow, Navighast is more versatile than I first thought.  Nasty Plot and a decent support movepool as well as the expected physical sets?  Dang.  Good thing its amazing offensive presence is offset by its bad defensive typing and stats.

[Spiritmon]

You sure make a guy very happy man Incredible as ever my friend. This guide will sure help make my Navighast more stronger. Well, since i have a Adamant Navighast, i think i can try the Physical Attack Option. I could breed another one to make some with Jolly, Timid and Modest Natures to make more tests. Thanks bro, you the best

[Lord Windos]

Oh my... you really did it... you made someone very happy by writing that guide.

Also, I'm not the only one asking for Leaf Blade... (and, maybe, even Sacred Sword), yay!

I definitely enjoy the Special Attacker Set for some reason, and might get a hold especially on that one C: Just a little question, since it can learn Curse as an egg move AND is Ghost type (you know what that means...*incoming sinister laughter*) - how useful is that move on that spectral captain? Maybe with a nature that increases the Speed stat and 252 EV invested into that stat, it could be a nasty memento-mori for the opponent?

Curse can be either a boon or the plague for the captain, depending on how and when you use it. If you are dealing with a Sweeping that is going to try and buff themselves, using it against them while they are doing so effectively either forces them to swtich out on their next turn, or eat that chuck of damage on top of priority STAB, if you chose to run it on a Phys. set. Plus, if you use it to get into red health, if you have one of those Stat boosting berries, things will get very interesting quickly....

However, against a tank, Trapper, or just wiley Pokémon (Magic Bounce and U-turn users!!!), using Curse is like committing seppuku for no good reason. IF used just at a poor time, then a person will Just KO the pirate, then just suffer the Curse as they clean up as much Pokémon as they can. Its best to use Curse early on in battle, as it limits the options of the opponent, and if they choose to stay out and try/succed to KO Navighast, it will have to suffer both the Curse and whatever damage that comes its way.... Even if the sailor dies, you can switch to a decent counter to the opponent, or, if you are savvy, switch to the counter of the Pokémon the opponent is going to switch into...

Wish Navighast had Mean Look, though. It would make trapping and revenge killing much easier for it...

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Nya, thanks for the more detailed answer about Curse! You know, I was asking because I considered a combination of Curse-Navighast and Wish-support from either Luxelong or an Eeveelution... but scrapped the idea meanwhile because it seems a bit too risky and fragile to pull of. Better go for Will-o-Wisp...

[Lord Windos]

Typically speaking, status moves are better than Ghost Curse, unless you have very specific strategies in mind for its use (Such as forcing switching, punishing Tanks for staying in too long, or as a dying action [AKA: You are going to die next turn, so why not do yourself in while harming the opponent?])

Also, while I did not add this to its original moveset, its absolutely doable to run status and/or Curse on the Physical moveset. I just don't consider it the most optimal setup, since if you have multiple priority STABs and great coverage/main moves, why waste a slot on status? Especially after a SD, since you have a good chance of OHKO or THKO your opponents. Wil-lo-Wisp is the only exception I see to this, since it does some much damage to Phys attackers that its worth running on that principle alone, if you don't have any other Pokémon capable of burning something.

[Narshyl]

Nice write up!

There are some minor typos you might want to look at.

I love the sets you have provided but i am missing any mention of choice items, i personally really like banded Navighast as a wall breaker and to make those priority moves hit extra hard.

And maybe you could mention somewhere that Navighast is one of the best at type coverage in the game with acces to 9 types on the physical side and 5 (6 if you count dream eater) on the special side.

Overall i enjoyed your guide a lot!

[Lord Windos]

Nice write up!

There are some minor typos you might want to look at.

I love the sets you have provided but i am missing any mention of choice items, i personally really like banded Navighast as a wall breaker and to make those priority moves hit extra hard.

And maybe you could mention somewhere that Navighast is one of the best at type coverage in the game with acces to 9  types on the physical side and 5 (6 if you count dream eater) on the special side.

Overall i enjoyed your guide a lot!

The problem with choice items is that it restricts the options it has, and its too frail to use them effectively. Its not very fast (compared to the big threats), so using CB can be difficult for it against others, and it can not use a CS because, despite its 115 in attack, it does not hit hard enough against the big threats in the game without, bar Baton Pass support. That, and if a Revenge killer comes out, and it has Pursuit, your seaman is going to be sacked.

Still, a CB Wall Breaker sounds like an ok idea, so I guess I will brain storm a bit, and see if what I come up with is viable. As for the type availability, it has great movepool when it comes to variety, but most of the time you'll run the captain with Fighting/Ghost/Ice (or Fire, if you are running a S.Atk) to have the most effective coverage out there. Other options are there to explore, of course, which is why I mentioned them in the OTHER MOVES section of the guide.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

So, since I'm currently training a competitive Swabone that has been laying in my in-game boxes for like...months for the sake of bringing up a Navighast with Leaf Blade on the upcoming Tournament, I was wondering how to implend that move on the Physical Set? I'd enjoy to keep Swords Dance and take Leaf Blade instead of Ice-Punch/Knock Off on the fourth move slot, but wanted to hear whether this would be a well choice at all. 

Swabone in question has an adamant nature and I plan for using Mach Punch as its Priority STAB alongside Shadow Claw for second STAB, wearing an Expert Belt.