Gengar
QC [3/3]
GP [0/1]
[OVERVIEW]
* Gengar fits the role of a strong special wallbreaker with good offensive STABs that hit most of the tier by themselves.
* It has an excellent offensive movepool to work with, most of it complementing it's high Special Attack.
* Gengar Sits at a good speed tier at 110, outspeeding a significant portion of the meta.
* Gengar also has a decent support movepool with options such as Destiny Bond and Taunt.
* It's 60/60/75 bulk is quite pitiful overall and leaves it unable to take most hits well at all, even resisted ones, and is 2HKOed by common priority attacks such as Scizor's Bullet Punch.
* Despite this, it's still worth noting that Gengar sports a few useful resistances, most importantly to Fairy, and immunities to Fighting and Normal (the latter of which makes Gengar a Rapid Spin blocker), leaving it with at least a few opportunities to switch in safely.
* Unfortunately, Gengar's typing leaves it with devastating weaknesses to Psychic, Ground, and Dark, which in turn make Gengar extremely vulnerable to Pursuit users such as Bisharp, as well as the plethora of bulky Ground types in the tier.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Sludge Wave
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Taunt / Substitute
Item: : Life Orb / Ghostium Z
Ability: Cursed Body
Nature: Timid
Evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* STAB Shadow Ball hits most of the tier for strong neutral damage, easily 2HKOing any offensive Pokemon that do not resist the move, including those with high natural bulk such as maximum HP Scizor and Keldeo, as well as hitting common Psychic types in the tier. Latias is OHKOed after Stealth Rocks damage by Life Orb Shadow Ball and all variants of Mew and Celebi are easily 2HKOed.
* Sludge Wave gives Gengar one of it's most valuable niches, breaking Fairies like Clefable and Primarina, OHKOing most variants of both. Sludge Wave is also notably stronger on neutral hits than Shadow Ball, for example, Life Orb Sludge Wave 2HKOes the most common variant of Amoonguss 82% of the time while Shadow Ball has no chance to 2HKO.
* Focus Blast covers the most common switch ins to Gengar's dual STAB, particularly Dark types such as Krookodile and Bisharp, and also hits Pokemon such as Empoleon and Cobalion much harder than any other move, notably OHKOing the latter with or without Life Orb.
* Taunt is in the last slot mainly to prevent walls from recovering off the damage Gengar has dealt them and potentially beating them 1v1 as a result.
* However, Substitute may also be used in the last slot to pressure offensive teams.
Set Details
========
* Life Orb gives Gengar an all around damage boost and due to its frailty Gengar doesn't miss it's HP in exchange for important 2HKOs and OHKOs mentioned above.
* However, Ghostium Z is an interesting option to net certain OHKOs and 2HKOs with Never Ending Nightmare that Life Orb Shadow Ball fails to achieve. For example, Never Ending Nightmare would guarantee the OHKO on all variants of Latias and Reuniclus (Life Orb has a substantial chance to fail to OHKO both from full), it OHKOes offensive Volcanion from full, and with Stealth Rock damage it OHKOes the common most variants of Mew, Scizor, Keldeo, Forretress, Cobalion, and Gliscor. In addition, Never Ending Nightmare followed by a Shadow Ball knocks out Careful Gliscor and the most common variants of Klefki, Swampert, Alomomola, Hippowdon, and Mega Blastoise, all targets that either always live or have a good chance to survive two Life Orb Shadow Balls.
* Standard EV spread with a Timid nature to capitalize on it's speed tier and hit as hard as possible.
* Cursed Body is a nifty ability that has a 30% chance to disable a move that Gengar is hit with for three turns, although due to Gengar's unfortunate bulk it's usually not very useful or reliable.
Usage Tips
========
* Gengar is best brought in after a pivot's slower Volt Switch or U-turn, as Gengar is so frail that even resisted hits may do a substantial amount of damage. In addition, certain Pokemon that Gengar seems to match up well against still have options to cripple it, discouraging direct switch ins. For example, Mew may carry Psychic or Knock Off, Clefable can run Thunder Wave, and Forretress can hit it hard with Gyro Ball.
* However, once switched in, Gengar is an excellent method of weakening the opponent’s team for a sweeper later on.
* Be sure to make use of Gengar's immunity to Normal to keep your hazards up against opposing Rapid Spin users.
* Taunt can be a risky move to use because most Pokemon that can recover up or use a support move on Gengar can also hit it quite hard, notable examples being Hippowdon, Latias, and Swampert. Simply be wary of when it may be favorable for an opponent to try to throw out some hazards, Defog, or fire off a Thunder Wave, usually this is when the opposing Pokemon is very healthy and out of OHKO or 2HKO range. Pokemon that are nearly knocked out or within kill range of one of your moves are much more likely to simply attack.
* Use Substitute sparingly, as it can quickly wear Gengar down when stacked with Life Orb recoil. The move is best used on a Choice locked Pokemon that can't hurt you, such as a Keldeo locked into Secret Sword, or on a predicted switch. The move is also a useful tool to avoid Sucker Punch from Pokemon like Bisharp and subsequently fire off a Focus Blast safely.
Team Options
========
* This variant of Gengar is quite versatile and is best used on offense or balance teams that otherwise struggle to break fat Pokemon, while also not being able to afford to dedicate an entire slot solely to stallbreaking.
* U-Turn or Volt-Switch users that can bring in Gengar safely make for excellent partners, most notably Scizor and Forretress.
* Pokemon typically used to clean during the late game that enjoy having bulky Pokemon removed or severely weakened such as Mega Aerodactyl, Zygarde-10%, Mega Sharpedo, Raikou, and Alakazam all make for good teammates to this Gengar.
* Stealth Rock damage is crucial to Gengar clutching out certain KOes, therefore, some of the best Gengar partners are bulky Stealth Rock setters that can also act as defensive pivots and switch into moves or Pokemon that Gengar is vulnerable to. Cobalion, Forretress, Krookodile, Hippowdon, and Swampert are all good examples. In return, Gengar helps keep the hazards they set up by Taunting Defog and switching into Rapid Spins.
* Offensive Fighting types such as Cobalion, Infernape, Mienshao, and Keldeo are natural Gengar partners for their ability to check common Pursuit users, while benefiting from Gengar spin blocking for them and harassing the bulky Fairy and Psychic types that check or counter them.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Sludge Wave
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Trick
Item: : Choice Scarf
Ability: Cursed Body
Nature: Timid
Evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD/ 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* STAB Shadow Ball is crucial for KOing some of Scarf Gengar's most common targets, specifically Alakazam and Starmie, two Pokemon that would otherwise outspeed it and KO it first. Even without any boosts Shadow Ball still manages to score 2HKOes on fast offensive threats, such as Zygarde-10%, Mega Aerodactyl (41% chance to 2HKO without Stealth Rocks, guaranteed with), and Crobat.
* Sludge Wave is slightly stronger than Shadow Ball on neutral hits and still 2HKOes common Fairy types like Clefable, Primarina, and Togekiss, as well as OHKOing Tsareena.
* Focus Blast is still your most powerful option to hit common switch ins to Gengar such as Bisharp, Krookodile, and Empoleon. In particular, this set can outspeed Scarf Hydreigon and OHKO it after Rocks with Focus Blast 93% of the time.
* Trick is the most useful option in the last slot to cripple walls that may want to switch into this variant of Gengar.
* Destiny Bond can be used as an alternative to Trick, and while it is risky to be locked into, can revenge kill healthy threats that Scarf Gengar cannot outright KO, such as Mega Aerodactyl or Raikou.
Set Details
========
* Choice Scarf allows Gengar to revenge kill with its fantastic Speed tier, being able to outspeed other common Scarf users in the tier such as Hydreigon, Keldeo, Krookodile, and Magneton.
* A standard nature and EV spread of Timid with max special attack and speed is mandatory to make use of it’s 110 Speed and hit as hard as possible.
* This set is notable for being able to check additional threats that are naturally faster than it, most importantly outspeeding Alakazam and having the luxury of outspeeding and OHKOing Starmie after switching into it's Rapid Spin.
* Cursed Body once again is Gengar's only ability which can disable a move it's hit with and can be convenient if it activates, although very situational.
Usage Tips
========
* Unlike the previous set, this set is mostly meant to clean or revenge kill opposing Scarf users in the tier as well as threats that were naturally faster than Gengar without a Choice Scarf. Be diligent about keeping up hazards or otherwise wearing down these Pokemon into kill range before sending Gengar in to clean up.
* Be wary of the opposing team before Tricking, especially other potential Scarf users.
* Also try not to reveal Scarf Gengar too early for no reason to maintain the element of surprise later on.
Team Options
========
* Scarf Gengar fits well on hyper offensive teams that otherwise struggle with opposing fast threats like Alakazam and Mega Aerodactyl.
* This Gengar even more so than the previous set appreciates substantial hazard support, in addition to Stealth Rocks consider running a Spiker like Klefki or Forretress, the latter being especially useful for giving Gengar safe switch ins with Volt Switch.
* Wallbreakers that allow Scarf Gengar to clean late game, such as Volcanion and Hydreigon, are excellent partners to this set.
* Answers to common Pursuit Pokemon are still important to keep alongside Scarf Gengar, Keldeo and Cobalion pair well.
* Sweepers that benefit from having opposing Scarfers eliminated and their hazards kept up, like Mega Aerodactyl, Alakazam, and Cobalion, also make good partners to this set.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Hex can be used on a Substitute + Will-O-Wisp set somewhat viably.
* A Substitute + Pain Split stallbreaker set may also be used, but is generally too situational to function as well as the main sets.
* Energy Ball nails Swampert, 2HKOes all variants of Hippowdon, and guarantees the 2HKO on standard Suicune with a Life Orb.
* Hidden Power Fire OHKOes Scizor and Forretress after Sturdy is broken, but has little use beyond that.
* Hypnosis, while unreliable due to its accuracy, is another useful option Gengar has for it's last moveslot.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Pursuit Users**: Bisharp, Krookodile, Mega-Absol, and Mega-Aerodactyl all either outspeed or resist Gengar's STABs. Bisharp in particular gets a special mention for being able to switch into both of Gengar's STABs and OHKO it with priority Sucker Punch if it tries to go for Focus Blast afterward.
**Strong Priority** Due to its frailty, Gengar folds to strong priority users such as Scizor and most Sucker Punch users.
**Empoleon** The specially defensive set takes most of what Gengar can dish out.
**Faster Offensive Checks** Starmie, Zygarde-10%, Raikou, Alakazam, Mega-Sharpedo, and Mega Aerodactyl are all examples of Pokemon with strong STABs that can OHKO Gengar on top of outspeeding it. Raikou is the only Pokemon listed that can only 2HKO Gengar without Specs, but in turn the AV variant isn't even 2HKOed by Life Orb Sludge Wave. Mega-Aerodactyl also gets a special mention for not being OHKOed by any of Life Orb Gengar's moves even after Stealth Rock damage (a Sandstorm boost makes it capable of taking two Life Orb Shadow Balls from full) and either OHKOing back with Stone Edge or trapping it with Pursuit.
**Bulky Grounds** Swampert, Hippowdon, and Gliscor, can each take one hit and KO back with Earthquake.
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