[OVERVIEW]
Gengar is a solid Ghost / Poison type Pokemon that can fill many roles, including supporter, sweeper, and Perish Song user. Gengar's unique typing and ability give it immunities to the common Normal-, Fighting-, and Ground-type moves. Because of this, Gengar is also one of the best Mega Kangaskhan counters that you can ask for, as it is immune to most of Mega Kangaskhan's attacks and is able to burn it with Will-O-Wisp. Shadow Tag is able to trap Pokemon, allowing Mega Gengar to throw off your opponent's game plan and put them in dire positions for you to take advantage of. Mega Gengar is also able to snipe specific Pokemon and remove them to pave the way for the rest of your team. However, Gengar is rather frail and cannot be played recklessly.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Sludge Bomb / Icy Wind
move 3: Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Protect
item: Focus Sash
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shadow Ball is Gengar's main STAB move and deals respectable damage to most Pokemon, especially Aegislash. Sludge Bomb is used to deal massive damage to Grass- and Fairy-types. Icy Wind, however, can be helpful for providing speed control for your team as well as 2HKOing Landorus-T and Mega Salamence. Will-O-Wisp allows Gengar to cripple most physical attackers and completely shut down Mega Kangaskhan. Protect allows Gengar to survive an extra turn. Taunt is good for shutting down non-attacking moves, but Gengar usually doesn't last long enough to do it more than once.
Set Details
========
The given spread allows Gengar to hit as hard as possible while also outspeeding most threats in VGC, such as Mega Charizard Y, Mega Kangaskhan, and Terrakion. Focus Sash allows Gengar to survive an extra turn to get off another move. Life Orb can also be used if you want more offensive pressure, as it allows Gengar to KO threats such as Latios, Azumarill, and Mega Gardevoir.
Usage Tips
========
This set works best as a lead to immediately start firing off its STAB moves or spreading burns around. Try to play safe around a Kangaskhan that has not Mega Evolved yet, as it can break Gengar's Focus Sash with a Scrappy Fake Out. Even with maximum Special Attack investment, Gengar is still not that strong, so don't expect it to get OHKOs against bulkier Pokemon or Pokemon not weak to its attacks. If you're using Icy Wind, use it carefully, as you wouldn't want to invite in Pokemon with Defiant or Competitive.
Team Options
========
Terrakion appreciates having Ghost- and Fairy-types weakened as well as the opposing team being slowed down by Icy Wind. Terrakion also destroys most Dark-types that Gengar has issues with. Kangaskhan is another solid partner, as it can grant Gengar a free turn with Fake Out to attack or burn a target. Gengar can help out Kangaskhan in return by burning Fighting-types. Clefable can redirect Dark-type moves and keep Gengar completely safe from Sucker Punch, and it appreciates having targets burned.
[SET]
name: Mega Utility
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Will-O-Wisp / Disable
move 4: Protect
item: Gengarite
ability: Shadow Tag
nature: Timid
evs: 52 HP / 20 Def / 172 SpA / 12 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
============
Shadow Ball can punish Ghost-types that try to threaten Mega Gengar. Sludge Bomb allows Mega Gengar to deal massive damage to any Fairy- and Grass-types it traps. Will-O-Wisp is excellent for burning physical attackers and rendering them trapped and completely useless. Disable can be used over Will-O-Wisp if you plan on utilizing the Encore + Disable strategy. Protect lets Gengar safely Mega Evolve to get the Speed boost.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread allows Mega Gengar to tank a -1 Earthquake from Adamant Landorus-T or a Heat Wave from Modest Mega Charizard Y. Gengarite allows Mega Gengar to trap Pokemon that it has a favorable matchup against and take them out. If you don't want the extra bulk, then 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe can be used just fine.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Gengar is able to trap and appropriately deal with foes to support its team. Try to Mega Evolve Gengar as soon as possible to get the most out of its trapping ability. Don't leave Mega Gengar against two Pokemon that can easily OHKO it, because its partner cannot handle both threats at once. Bring in Mega Gengar against Pokemon that can't do too much damage to it, such as Mega Kangaskhan and Sylveon, so that it can trap them and give its partner an easier time. If you're using the Disable + Encore strategy, make sure to Disable a move that Mega Gengar doesn't mind too much and then Encore the move right afterwards. This leaves the opponent with nothing else to do but Struggle.
Team Options
========
Liepard is an excellent partner to Mega Gengar, as it can Fake Out a target and give Gengar a free turn to Mega Evolve. It can also Encore a Pokemon into a move so that Gengar can Disable it. Liepard can also use Fake Tears to allow Mega Gengar to get some clutch OHKOs, such as on Cresselia, bulky Thundurus, and 4 HP / 0 SpD Mega Kangaskhan. Whimsicott can do the same thing as Liepard and has better defensive typing with more bulk, but it lacks Fake Out. Terrakion is a solid partner for Mega Gengar, as it is able to OHKO the Dark-types that Gengar has issues with, such as Hydreigon, Bisharp, and Tyranitar. Terrakion also appreciates Mega Gengar being able to trap and KO Grass-, Psychic-, and Fairy-types.
[SET]
name: Perish Trap
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Perish Song
move 3: Substitute / Disable
move 4: Protect
item: Gengarite
ability: Shadow Tag
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 28 Def / 4 SpA / 4 SpD / 220 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
============
Shadow Ball is notable for punishing Ghost-types that try to disrupt the Perish trap by switching out. Perish Song allows Mega Gengar to KO both of your opponent's Pokemon at once while Mega Gengar and its partner switch out. Substitute helps stall out Perish Song turns. Disable can be viable for disabling moves that could potentially knock out Mega Gengar and ruin the Perish trap. Protect is crucial for keeping Mega Gengar from being double targeted and KOed as it stalls out Perish Song turns.
Set Details
========
The EV spread is designed to make Mega Gengar as bulky as possible. 252 HP and 28 Defense EVs allow Mega Gengar to stomach a Double-Edge from 4 Atk mixed Mega Salamence. The Speed EVs give non-Mega Gengar the jump on maximum Speed base 105 Speed Pokemon, such as Mega Pinsir and Mienshao, before Mega Evolving and let it outspeed Weavile after Mega Evolving. The 4 SpA and 4 SpD are leftover EVs that increase Gengar's durability and power by a tiny bit. Gengarite allows Mega Gengar to fully function as a Perish Song trapper.
Usage Tips
========
Try to Mega Evolve Gengar as soon as possible to get the most out of its trapping ability. Make sure to Perish Song as soon as possible and then work to preserve Mega Gengar from taking serious damage. Having a secondary Shadow Tag Pokemon such as Gothitelle is essential, as it allows Mega Gengar to switch out while still having the opponent's Pokemon trapped as Gothitelle comes in. Make sure to KO any Ghost-types that the opponent has brought whenever possible, as they can switch out of Shadow Tag. Switch out Mega Gengar on the last turn of the Perish Song countdown so that it can come back and Perish Song again safely. If you have a healthy Perish Song user in the back, don't feel obligated to keep Mega Gengar around after the opponent's first two Pokemon have fainted.
Team Options
========
Gothitelle is a staple on Perish trap teams, as it is able to trap Pokemon alongside Mega Gengar. It is also able to set up Reflect or Light Screen to buff Mega Gengar's defenses. Politoed is also a good partner, as it is able to Perish Song the remaining Pokemon on the opponent's team, after Mega Gengar has already trapped and KOed two Pokemon. Politoed can also utilize Encore and Scald to mess with the opposing team. Scrafty's Intimidate helps Mega Gengar tank hits, and Scrafty can use Fake Out to allow for free Perish Songs. Amoonguss is also a good partner for Mega Gengar on Perish trap teams, as it can provide free turns with Spore. Another notable aspect about Amoonguss is that it being a slow Pokemon means that it will faint last if everything on the field faints to Perish Song, giving you the victory. Other redirection support Pokemon such as Clefable and Togekiss are also usable to keep Mega Gengar and other Shadow Tag Pokemon alive.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
==========
Sludge Wave can be used, but it's weaker than Sludge Bomb when the spread damage nerf is considered. Icy Wind offers speed control, but it must be used carefully so as to not trigger Pokemon with Defiant or Competitive. Destiny Bond is a neat tool for getting a free KO or coaxing the opponent into not attacking Gengar, which gives it a chance for a free attack. Taunt is a good move in general for shutting down sketchy tactics, but it struggles to find a slot, as all of Gengar's main moves are more important. Focus Blast can be used to get a huge surprise hit on unsuspecting Dark- and Steel-types, but the shaky accuracy makes it not worth it. Hypnosis can be an option, as Gengar really enjoys having free turns, but it's generally not worth the moveslot. Life Orb is a solid item if you want Gengar to deal more damage. Trick Room is another option, as it's hardly expected on Gengar, but there are better Trick Room users out there such as Cresselia and Jellicent.
Checks and Counters
=============
**Dark-types**: While Gengar has options against Dark-types, they generally do well against it. Bisharp, Hydreigon, Tyranitar, and Weavile can all deal massive damage to Gengar even after being burned.
**Aegislash**: Aegislash can withstand a Shadow Ball and KO Gengar with the combination of Shadow Ball and Shadow Sneak.
**Speed Control**: Various forms of speed control such as Thunder Wave, Icy Wind, Trick Room, and Tailwind from the opponent can greatly threaten Gengar.
**Special Attackers**: Because Gengar is mainly used as a check to physical attackers with Will-O-Wisp, special attackers are usually able to muscle through it.
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