[SET]
name: CasinoGar
move 1: Hypnosis
move 2: Hex
move 3: Destiny Bond
move 4: Focus Blast / Sludge Bomb
item: Gengarite
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 236 HP / 4 Def / 12 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hypnosis is always a bit of a dice roll because of its accuracy, but since the odds are in your favor, it's still a viable choice. Although 60% accuracy might look very unappealing, the benefits of putting a foe to sleep are so strong that it can be worth the risk. Hex is the Ghost-type STAB move of choice because it gets a boost when used against a sleeping Pokemon. Destiny Bond is great when you're looking to take out a big threat, such as Mega Mawile or Mega Kangaskhan. Thanks to Shadow Tag, it can be very difficult for your opponent to play around Destiny Bond, especially if the opposing Pokemon is Choice-locked or only carries attacks. Focus Blast offers perfect coverage alongside Hex. It can surprise Pokemon such as Tyranitar, Porygon2, and specially defensive Heatran, which are otherwise good checks to Mega Gengar. Sludge Bomb can be used for more consistency and coverage against Fairy-types such as Sylveon and Azumarill, and can pick up an OHKO on Serperior. The last moveslot should be decided based on what coverage your team needs.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature is used to at least Speed tie with other Mega Gengar while outspeeding some threats such as Greninja, Latios, and Latias. With 12 Special Attack EVs, Hex is a guaranteed OHKO on Aegislash under status. The remaining EVs are dumped into HP so Mega Gengar can take hits better. The remaining 8 EVs are placed in Defense and Special Defense; this is more efficient than adding 8 EVs in HP because it gives an extra stat point. Bulk is important on this set for the turns when Hypnosis misses. The more turns Mega Gengar is active, the more chances you'll have to hit Hypnosis. Levitate is Gengar's only ability before Mega Evolving but can be useful before Mega Evolving against some Ground-types to avoid being OHKOed. In most cases, though, you will want to Mega Evolve Gengar right away to get the huge benefits of Shadow Tag and the extra Speed. An alternate spread of 188 HP / 116 Def / 4 SpA / 4 SpD / 196 Spe can be used if you find that maximum Speed investment isn't necessary. 196 Speed EVs allow Mega Gengar to outspeed Pokemon up to maximum Speed Timid Greninja, while the defensive investment allows it to take strong moves such as Choice Band Talonflame's Brave Bird, Mega Blaziken's Flare Blitz, and Garchomp's Outrage before Gengar Mega Evolves.
Usage Tips
========
Use Hypnosis when Mega Gengar is in a favorable position. It is especially good if you expect your opponent to switch out on the turn you haven't Mega Evolved Gengar, as you'll have a second chance to try to hit Hypnosis if you didn't already on their switch. If you do hit the incoming Pokemon, this gives Mega Gengar a guaranteed free turn to get off an attack. This set can work well as a lead to try to heavily weaken some of your opponent's team. If the opponent doesn't have many or any Pokemon faster than Mega Gengar, it can be very difficult for them to take it down if Hypnosis is hitting consistently. Hypnosis can also put a stop to common lead strategies that involve getting Stealth Rock up. If you can stop Stealth Rock from getting up, you'll disrupt your opponent's game plan quite a bit, putting you in a good position. You can also use Mega Gengar to take on defensive Pokemon, as with Mega Gengar's investment in HP, it can take some hits from their weaker attacks, giving it plenty of turns to hit Hypnosis and start dishing out a lot of damage with Hex. If Mega Gengar is against a big threat to your team, it might be better to attempt to go for a trade with Destiny Bond rather than risking Hypnosis missing. Focus Blast is a niche move that most opponents won't expect, so try to catch switch-ins such as Tyranitar when you see them during Team Preview.
Team Options
========
This set is not always reliable, so it is best used as a backup Mega Pokemon, such as on teams with Mega Kangaskhan. It can deal with Pokemon that Mega Kangaskhan struggles with such as Cresselia and Mega Slowbro. It can also work well with Mega Blaziken for similar reasons. Mega Gengar works well alongside other status spreaders so Mega Gengar can immediately use Hex on Pokemon that you don't need to put to sleep. Thunder Wave Thundurus, Toxic Suicune, and Will-O-Wisp Talonflame are all good examples. Suicune also appreciates Mega Gengar's ability to trap and deal with Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur and Serperior. Choice Scarf Garchomp appreciates Mega Gengar's ability to deal with bulky threats such as Cresselia and Porygon2, while Garchomp can handle offensive Pokemon more consistently. Belly Drum Azumarill works well with Mega Gengar thanks to the support it provides with Shadow Tag; Mega Gengar can trap threats to Azumarill such as Mega Venusaur and defensive Rotom-W. Other setup sweepers such as Talonflame and Volcarona can also work well with Mega Gengar. Mega Gengar can use Destiny Bond to take out big threats to these two such as Garchomp and can utilize its coverage with Focus Blast to take out other troublesome Pokemon such as Tyranitar and Heatran. Fire-types in general, such as Talonflame, Volcarona, and Mega Charizard Y, also make good teammates to help deal with Steel- and Ghost-types such as Ferrothorn, Aegislash, and Mega Sableye more consistently so Mega Gengar doesn't have to risk missing Focus Blast or Hypnosis against them. Ghost-types can be hard for Mega Gengar to beat, since they can hit Mega Gengar super effectively and are able to switch out of Shadow Tag if they decide to. Dragonite appreciates Mega Gengar's ability to trap and take out physical walls such as Clefable, Cresselia, and Porygon2 so Dragonite can have a much easier time sweeping.
name: CasinoGar
move 1: Hypnosis
move 2: Hex
move 3: Destiny Bond
move 4: Focus Blast / Sludge Bomb
item: Gengarite
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 236 HP / 4 Def / 12 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hypnosis is always a bit of a dice roll because of its accuracy, but since the odds are in your favor, it's still a viable choice. Although 60% accuracy might look very unappealing, the benefits of putting a foe to sleep are so strong that it can be worth the risk. Hex is the Ghost-type STAB move of choice because it gets a boost when used against a sleeping Pokemon. Destiny Bond is great when you're looking to take out a big threat, such as Mega Mawile or Mega Kangaskhan. Thanks to Shadow Tag, it can be very difficult for your opponent to play around Destiny Bond, especially if the opposing Pokemon is Choice-locked or only carries attacks. Focus Blast offers perfect coverage alongside Hex. It can surprise Pokemon such as Tyranitar, Porygon2, and specially defensive Heatran, which are otherwise good checks to Mega Gengar. Sludge Bomb can be used for more consistency and coverage against Fairy-types such as Sylveon and Azumarill, and can pick up an OHKO on Serperior. The last moveslot should be decided based on what coverage your team needs.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature is used to at least Speed tie with other Mega Gengar while outspeeding some threats such as Greninja, Latios, and Latias. With 12 Special Attack EVs, Hex is a guaranteed OHKO on Aegislash under status. The remaining EVs are dumped into HP so Mega Gengar can take hits better. The remaining 8 EVs are placed in Defense and Special Defense; this is more efficient than adding 8 EVs in HP because it gives an extra stat point. Bulk is important on this set for the turns when Hypnosis misses. The more turns Mega Gengar is active, the more chances you'll have to hit Hypnosis. Levitate is Gengar's only ability before Mega Evolving but can be useful before Mega Evolving against some Ground-types to avoid being OHKOed. In most cases, though, you will want to Mega Evolve Gengar right away to get the huge benefits of Shadow Tag and the extra Speed. An alternate spread of 188 HP / 116 Def / 4 SpA / 4 SpD / 196 Spe can be used if you find that maximum Speed investment isn't necessary. 196 Speed EVs allow Mega Gengar to outspeed Pokemon up to maximum Speed Timid Greninja, while the defensive investment allows it to take strong moves such as Choice Band Talonflame's Brave Bird, Mega Blaziken's Flare Blitz, and Garchomp's Outrage before Gengar Mega Evolves.
Usage Tips
========
Use Hypnosis when Mega Gengar is in a favorable position. It is especially good if you expect your opponent to switch out on the turn you haven't Mega Evolved Gengar, as you'll have a second chance to try to hit Hypnosis if you didn't already on their switch. If you do hit the incoming Pokemon, this gives Mega Gengar a guaranteed free turn to get off an attack. This set can work well as a lead to try to heavily weaken some of your opponent's team. If the opponent doesn't have many or any Pokemon faster than Mega Gengar, it can be very difficult for them to take it down if Hypnosis is hitting consistently. Hypnosis can also put a stop to common lead strategies that involve getting Stealth Rock up. If you can stop Stealth Rock from getting up, you'll disrupt your opponent's game plan quite a bit, putting you in a good position. You can also use Mega Gengar to take on defensive Pokemon, as with Mega Gengar's investment in HP, it can take some hits from their weaker attacks, giving it plenty of turns to hit Hypnosis and start dishing out a lot of damage with Hex. If Mega Gengar is against a big threat to your team, it might be better to attempt to go for a trade with Destiny Bond rather than risking Hypnosis missing. Focus Blast is a niche move that most opponents won't expect, so try to catch switch-ins such as Tyranitar when you see them during Team Preview.
Team Options
========
This set is not always reliable, so it is best used as a backup Mega Pokemon, such as on teams with Mega Kangaskhan. It can deal with Pokemon that Mega Kangaskhan struggles with such as Cresselia and Mega Slowbro. It can also work well with Mega Blaziken for similar reasons. Mega Gengar works well alongside other status spreaders so Mega Gengar can immediately use Hex on Pokemon that you don't need to put to sleep. Thunder Wave Thundurus, Toxic Suicune, and Will-O-Wisp Talonflame are all good examples. Suicune also appreciates Mega Gengar's ability to trap and deal with Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur and Serperior. Choice Scarf Garchomp appreciates Mega Gengar's ability to deal with bulky threats such as Cresselia and Porygon2, while Garchomp can handle offensive Pokemon more consistently. Belly Drum Azumarill works well with Mega Gengar thanks to the support it provides with Shadow Tag; Mega Gengar can trap threats to Azumarill such as Mega Venusaur and defensive Rotom-W. Other setup sweepers such as Talonflame and Volcarona can also work well with Mega Gengar. Mega Gengar can use Destiny Bond to take out big threats to these two such as Garchomp and can utilize its coverage with Focus Blast to take out other troublesome Pokemon such as Tyranitar and Heatran. Fire-types in general, such as Talonflame, Volcarona, and Mega Charizard Y, also make good teammates to help deal with Steel- and Ghost-types such as Ferrothorn, Aegislash, and Mega Sableye more consistently so Mega Gengar doesn't have to risk missing Focus Blast or Hypnosis against them. Ghost-types can be hard for Mega Gengar to beat, since they can hit Mega Gengar super effectively and are able to switch out of Shadow Tag if they decide to. Dragonite appreciates Mega Gengar's ability to trap and take out physical walls such as Clefable, Cresselia, and Porygon2 so Dragonite can have a much easier time sweeping.
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