Utility Attacker
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name: Utility Attacker
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Taunt / Sludge Wave / Disable
ability: Levitate
item: Black Sludge
evs: 28 HP / 148 SAtk / 80 SDef / 252 Spd
nature: Timid
Moves
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Substitute allows Gengar to play around its poor bulk using its typing's defensive attributes advantageously by forcing the opponent to attack to deal with Gengar, especially in Combination with Will-O-Wisp, this results in many free substitutes on Pokemon such as Chansey, Clefable, Gliscor, Venusaur, Ferrothorn and Amoonguss. Substitute is also necessary for Disable to function at all, and even against Pokemon that can defeat Gengar with attacks Substitute can block status moves, giving Gengar free turns. Substitute also provides counterplay to Sucker Punch use for Gengar. Shadow Ball is Gengar's STAB of choice, its autonomous neutral coverage is unrivaled, and it does pretty solid damage to most Pokemon, letting Gengar keep the pressure on. Will-O-Wisp is a fantastic move in general, on Gengar it is very valuable for pressuring defensive Pokemon, as well as severely crippling typical checks and counters, especially Pursuit, Shadow Sneak and Sucker Punch users. Will-O-Wisp is almost always a great way to take advantage of a free turn and improves Gengars proficiency against offensive teams. Taunt's ability to stop the opponent from phazing out Gengar's substitutes, healing, setting entry hazards or using Defog turn Gengar is a powerful stallbreaker. Against Pokemon Gengar cant really damage that much while behind a sub such as Chansey, Sylveon, specially defnesive Hippowdon, specially defensive Heatran and other extra resilient special walls Taunt disrupts these Pokemon and makes them easy to switch into, or completely beatable for Gengar. Sludge Wave forms reasonably good coverage with Shadow Ball, and gives Gengar a nice power boost against neutral targets, as well as acting as a potent Fairy-type slayer. Disable disallows the opposing Pokemon from using the move they last used for 3 turns. This allows Gengar to prey upon opposing pokemon that rely on just one move to do significant damage to Gengar, as well as completely shutting down slower choiced attackers. Dropping Will-o-Wisp decreases Gengar's effectiveness against offensive teams however Taunt and Disable in Tandem are a nightmare to stall preventing the opponent from healing, or clearing hazards while Disable renders the opponent unable to damage Gengar at all with mono attack sets many stall Pokemon feature. Focus Blast forms perfect neutral coverage alongside Shadow Ball and is a very useful tool that lets Gengar patch up a weakness to Dark-types that attempt to beat Gengar with Sucker Punch, Pursuit, or just by virtue of their typing in general. It can be used in the last moveslot. Though Tyranitar and Bisharp are easily burned with WoW deterring them, it does not prevent Gengar from getting KO'd in the process. If your team values Gengar to the point where sacking it is unacceptable Focus Blast should be used.
