I swear I will finish this...It kinda jerks standard C&C process since this was majorly written in advance but this was one of the previews that was being jotted up on PiratePad about almost 2 months ago, so...
QC: Theorymon, Jibaku, Montsegur
GP: P Squared, The Dutch Plumberjack
Gengar
[OVERVIEW]
When taking a close look at what it has in its arsenal, Gengar has quite a number of reasons to bear that menacing grin on its face. A unique Ghost / Poison typing on top of the ability Levitate gives Gengar some handy immunities to Normal-, Fighting-, and Ground-type moves as well as some useful resistances to Fairy-, Grass-, Bug-, and Poison-type moves, allowing it to check Pokemon such as Landorus-T, Breloom, and Azumarill. However, despite these useful resistances, Gengar is somewhat held back by its poor bulk, which can make switching in even on some resisted hits challenging. Gengar makes up for this, though, boasting a notable offensive presence between its incredible base 110 Speed, high Special Attack, and superb movepool that allows Gengar to dispatch a wide range of checks. All of this comes on top of having access to a Mega Evolution that grants Gengar the ability Shadow Tag, a major improvement to its Special Attack and Speed stats, and a slight increase to its bulk that makes Gengar truly a force to be reckoned with in the Battle Spot Singles metagame.
[SET]
name: Bulky Trapper
move 1: Destiny Bond
move 2: Will-O-Wisp / Taunt
move 3: Shadow Ball / Hex
move 4: Sludge Bomb / Focus Blast
item: Gengarite
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Destiny Bond allows Gengar to fulfill its role as a trapper by taking the opposing Pokemon down with it upon being KOed, leaving a hole in the opponent's team by removing a threat for Gengar's teammates. Will-O-Wisp allows Gengar to neuter physical attackers such as Azumarill, Bisharp, Garchomp, and Kangaskhan, which can also benefit Gengar's teammates. Taunt lets Gengar hinder supportive Pokemon such as Chansey and Skarmory, preventing them from using status moves; it also forces Pokemon to attack Gengar, making it easier to take down an attacker with Destiny Bond. Shadow Ball is the more reliable of Gengar's Ghost-type STAB moves, though Hex can be used, as it becomes a hard-hitting 130 Base Power STAB move against targets afflicted by status, which compensates for this set's lack of Special Attack investment. Thus, Hex should be used strictly in conjunction with Will-O-Wisp, but bear in mind it can be somewhat situational because a target isn't always guaranteed to be burned when needed. Sludge Bomb is Gengar's best Poison-type STAB move and attains decent neutral coverage with Gengar's Ghost-type STAB move, though Focus Blast offers the absolute best coverage, allowing Gengar to hit as many Pokemon as possible for super effective damage.
Set Details
========
With maximum HP investment, Gengar is as bulky as possible, making it able to sponge a variety of hits, especially when running Will-O-Wisp, as physical attackers will generally fail to KO Gengar after being burned. Specifically, with maximum HP, Gengar avoids the 2HKO from Rotom-W's Hydro Pump and Zapdos's Thunderbolt, avoids the OHKO from Garchomp's Outrage, and can survive any move followed by an Aqua Jet from Azumarill after it has been burned. Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature is used to make the most out of Gengar's base 130 Speed after Mega Evolution, outpacing even +1 base 80 Speed Pokemon with a neutral nature, such as Altaria, Dragonite, and Gyarados after a Dragon Dance.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Evolving immediately is usually the best way to go, as Gengar gains notable increases to its Special Attack and Speed stats, outpacing Pokemon that it couldn't otherwise the following turn, such as Greninja, Raikou, Mega Lucario, and Mega Salamence. Gaining Shadow Tag allows Gengar to trap and eliminate Pokemon such as Skarmory, Chansey, and Cresselia for its teammates, as well as ensuring that Gengar can revenge kill most weakened Pokemon. Refrain from Mega Evolving only in cases where Levitate will be more useful, such as when facing Pokemon with Ground-type moves, such as Garchomp, Gliscor, and Landorus-T. Mega Kangaskhan is also a noteworthy mention here, as it often has trouble hitting non-Mega Gengar due to Levitate and Gengar's immunity to Normal-type moves, allowing Gengar to serve as an emergency check to it. Even though this set lacks Special Attack investment and relies more on teammates to secure KOs on Pokemon, Gengar still boasts a base 170 Special Attack after Mega Evolving, which allows it to deal good damage. Make use of this and its offensive moves to hit Pokemon, using Destiny Bond to take an attacker down once Gengar has run out of steam. It might even be feasible to sacrifice Gengar by using Destiny Bond while it is still healthy if taking down the opposing Pokemon will allow Gengar's teammates to succeed. Use Will-O-Wisp to cripple physical attackers, and use Taunt to hinder defensive Pokemon and force Pokemon to attack Gengar, making it impossible for them to play around Destiny Bond. Also bear in mind that Ghost-types and Pokemon with access to U-turn, Volt Switch, or Baton Pass can escape from Gengar, making them more difficult to trap, even with Shadow Tag.
Team Options
========
This Gengar set functions as a supporter for offensive teams, as it excels at trapping and removing most defensive Pokemon for its teammates. Pair it with offensive Pokemon, such as Blaziken, Breloom, Greninja, Garchomp, Azumarill, Conkeldurr, Talonflame, and Bisharp, as they all can deal serious damage to the opposing team, which compensates for Gengar's own lack of offensive presence. Blaziken is especially noteworthy, as checks to it such as Cresselia, Slowbro, Altaria, and Azumarill can be easily handled by Gengar, while Blaziken can take on Dark-types such as Tyranitar, Bisharp, and Greninja in return. Wobbuffet is also an excellent partner for Mega Gengar, as together they can regulate absolute control over a single Pokemon thanks their shared Shadow Tag ability. Wobbuffet can either use Encore to lock a foe into a useless move for Gengar or a teammate to switch into or take down a foe with Counter or Mirror Coat. U-turn and Volt Switch users, such as Landorus-T, Scizor, Talonflame, Rotom-W, Manectric, and Magnezone, can be a problem for Gengar, as they are able to escape from Shadow Tag. Pokemon such as Breloom, Excadrill, Latias, Latios, and Conkeldurr can be used to offensively check Volt Switch users, while Pokemon such as Zapdos, Air Balloon Heatran, and Rotom-W are able to check most of these U-turn users; Rotom-W also checks Aegislash, Azumarill, and Bisharp for Gengar. Fairy-types such as Sylveon, Klefki, Azumarill, and Togekiss can switch into Dark-type moves aimed at Gengar, while Gengar covers their Poison-type weakness nicely. Porygon2, Bisharp, Tyranitar, and Weavile can switch into Ghost-type moves for Gengar, while Gengar is immune to their Fighting-type weakness.
[SET]
name: Offensive Trapper
move 1: Destiny Bond / Substitute
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Sludge Bomb / Focus Blast
move 4: Taunt / Focus Blast / Icy Wind
item: Gengarite
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Destiny Bond ensures that, after Mega Evolution, Gengar is able to remove a trapped Pokemon if it manages to knock Gengar out, possibly taking out a key threat on the opponent's team. Substitute allows Gengar to dodge status moves and play around Pokemon that rely on Sucker Punch to hit it, such as Bisharp, Kangaskhan, and Mawile, while making it much harder to deal with if it manages to KO something with a Substitute up. Shadow Ball is a reliable Ghost-type STAB move, attaining solid neutral coverage alongside STAB Sludge Bomb, which hits Fairy-types such as Sylveon and Mega Altaria much harder than Shadow Ball. While Sludge Wave is a usable attacking option for its higher Base Power than Sludge Bomb, on top of being Gengar's strongest move to hit the rare Chesnaught with, it unfortunately is incredibly hard to find a usable Gengar with Sludge Wave, as it is an event-exclusive move. Though its accuracy can be off-putting, Focus Blast has supreme coverage with Shadow Ball, hitting the Dark- and Normal-types that don't mind Shadow Ball while also hammering Steel-types such as Ferrothorn and Heatran harder than any of Gengar's other moves. Taunt allows Gengar to hinder defensive Pokemon that rely on support moves, such as Chansey, Clefable, and Cresselia, after trapping them, and it forces Pokemon to attack Gengar, easing prediction with Destiny Bond. Lastly, Icy Wind is also an option for Gengar to dispatch threats such as Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Salamence, and it has the utility of reducing an opposing Pokemon's Speed.
Set Details
========
With maximum Special Attack and Speed investment and a Timid nature, Gengar is able to be as fast as possible while boasting an offensive presence, hitting as hard as possible. Gengarite is necessary to allow Gengar to Mega Evolve, gaining the ability Shadow Tag to trap Pokemon, notable boosts to its Special Attack and Speed stats, and a slight increase in bulk.
Usage Tips
========
Gengar's boosted Special Attack and Speed stats aren't just for show; take advantage of them, using its excellent coverage to deal damage to their respective targets, using Destiny Bond once Gengar is dangerously low on HP or unable to KO the opposing Pokemon before going down itself in hopes of taking an attacker down with it. Shadow Tag keeps all non-Ghost type Pokemon from switching, making Gengar an excellent revenge killer once a teammate has fallen, so be sure to Mega Evolve relatively early in the match once Gengar comes out, even leading with Gengar to do so if it is plausible. Mega Gengar's offensive presence and high Speed are also effective late-game, allowing it to clutch a necessary KO on a weakened Pokemon for its teammates. If running Substitute, take advantage of Gengar's ability to block predicted status moves or attempts at using Sucker Punch; also opt for Focus Blast over Taunt to give Gengar absolute coverage while letting it deal serious damage back to Sucker Punch users. If using Taunt, use it to harass supportive Pokemon that rely on status moves, such as Chansey and Skarmory; also take advantage of Taunt's utility in forcing these Pokemon to attack Gengar, making Destiny Bond much easier to predict with even against offensive Pokemon that might not be running four attacking moves.
Team Options
========
This Gengar set can fit very easily onto nearly any offensive team due to its own attacking power on top of the ability Shadow Tag making it able to trap and revenge kill Pokemon for its teammates, so Pokemon such as Azumarill, Breloom, Garchomp, Greninja, and Talonflame all appreciate their respective checks being weakened or eliminated. Porygon2 synergizes nicely with Gengar, being immune to its Ghost weakness while Gengar is immune to Porygon2's Fighting weakness; Porygon2 is also able to check offensive threats to Gengar, such as Aegislash, Garchomp, and Talonflame, while Gengar can shut down defensive Pokemon that Porygon2 struggles against, such as Chansey, Cresselia, and Ferrothorn. Wobbuffet, despite the shared Dark- and Ghost-type weaknesses, partners well with Gengar, as it also has Shadow Tag, allowing them to switch interchangeably while keeping an opposing Pokemon trapped. Wobbuffet's bulk allows it to sponge some hits for Gengar and retaliate with Counter or Mirror Coat, or it can even use Encore to hinder a Pokemon for Gengar. Rotom-W and Talonflame are also excellent partners to Gengar, as both are immune to the Ground moves Gengar is vulnerable to after Mega Evolution and have access to Volt Switch and U-turn, respectively, to get momentum on a forced switch to bring Gengar in. Rotom-W is able to threaten Aegislash, Bisharp, Mawile, Scizor, and Talonflame for Gengar, while Talonflame itself has priority Brave Bird to threaten offensive checks to Gengar, such as Blaziken and Conkeldurr. Other users of Volt Switch and U-turn, such as Rotom-H, Landorus-T, and Scizor, can allow Gengar a safe switch in while dealing some damage, making it easier for Gengar to deal with the foe. Lastly, Fairy-types such as Azumarill, Klefki, and Sylveon can switch into Dark-type moves and check the Dark-types that threaten Gengar.
[SET]
name: Perish Trapper
move 1: Perish Song
move 2: Protect
move 3: Substitute / Disable
move 4: Shadow Ball / Taunt
item: Gengarite
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Perish Song causes Gengar and the opposing Pokemon to faint within three turns of using the move, essentially guaranteeing the foe faints thanks to Shadow Tag keeping it from switching. Protect shields Gengar from any damage, allowing it to stall for a turn after using Perish Song. Substitute also allows Gengar to stall for a turn after using Perish Song and blocks status moves while working with Gengar's incredible Speed, which allows Gengar to move first most of the time. Disable can also be used along with Protect, as most Pokemon, especially supportive Pokemon, carry only one move that can hit Gengar, making it much more annoying to deal with after factoring in Shadow Tag and Perish Song. Choice-locked Pokemon afflicted by Disable are also forced to use Struggle, rendering them useless for three turns. Shadow Ball gives Gengar some offensive presence, allowing it to deal some damage, while Taunt can be used to keep defensive Pokemon from using status moves. While a set lacking any attacking moves may seem odd, this set's aim is to trap and eliminate Pokemon with Perish Song, so attacking moves aren't fully necessary and should only be considered if certain supportive Pokemon are more troublesome for your team to deal with. Other attacking moves such as Sludge Bomb, Icy Wind, and Focus Blast can also be used here to pick off their desired targets, such as Azumarill, Mega Salamence, and Tyrantitar, respectively, if your team needs more leverage against them.
Set Details
========
With maximum HP investment, Gengar maintains as much bulk as possible, allowing it to avoid being 2HKOed by Pokemon such as Rotom-W and Zapdos and survive Garchomp's Outrage. This in turn makes it much easier for Gengar to safely use Perish Song against even offensive Pokemon that have been trapped by Shadow Tag. A Timid nature and maximum Speed investment make the most of Gengar's major Speed increase after Mega Evolution, allowing it to outpace even neutral-natured base 80 Speed Pokemon at +1, such as Altaria, Dragonite, and Gyarados after a Dragon Dance. Gengarite allows Gengar to Mega Evolve, which is necessary for this set to succeed, as it relies on Shadow Tag to ensure Pokemon are trapped and inevitably taken out after using Perish Song.
Usage Tips
========
In most cases, the best course of action is to Mega Evolve immediately once Gengar is out, using Perish Song as Gengar takes a hit, followed by Protect and either Substitute or Disable to stall for two turns. Once Perish Song's count reaches 1, switch Gengar out to a Pokemon that can comfortably switch into the opposing Pokemon, as the foe will subsequently faint while Gengar is preserved, allowing it to be brought back out later to finish something else off if needed. If running an attacking move, use it to deal damage to Pokemon weak to the move, but don't rely on it to deal significant damage, due this set's lack of Special Attack investment. If running Taunt, use it to keep defensive Pokemon from hindering Gengar with status moves, making it easier to stall them out with Perish Song. When used alongside Disable, Taunt lets Gengar cripple several defensive Pokemon by itself, such as Chansey, Cresselia, Ferrothorn, Gliscor, and even Porygon2.
Team Options
========
Wobbuffet is this set's best partner in crime, as its presence makes Gengar much deadlier due to both of them having Shadow Tag to keep foes from switching. This allows Wobbuffet to help Gengar stall with Perish Song and is on top of Wobbuffet's superior bulk, access to Encore, and ability to take down Choice Scarf users that Gengar would struggle against, such as Excadrill and Garchomp. Porygon2 not only has great defensive synergy with Gengar but also excels at checking faster threats to Gengar, such as Greninja, Starmie, and Mega Salamence. Rotom-W checks offensive threats to Gengar, such as Aegislash, Bisharp, Scizor, Talonflame, and Tyranitar, and can use Volt Switch to bring in Gengar safely. Talonflame is able to break down Pokemon Gengar might struggle with, such as Blaziken, Conkeldurr, Magnezone, and Mega Sableye. Pokemon that can handle Dark-types, such as Conkeldurr, Terrakion, Azumarill, Sylveon, and Klefki, are also vastly appreciated by Gengar.
[SET]
name: SubDisable
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Disable
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Focus Blast
item: Black Sludge / Gengarite
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Substitute lets Gengar avoid status moves and gives it a means of playing around Sucker Punch users, while Disable allows Gengar to prevent a Pokemon from using the last move it used. This is useful, as most Pokemon often carry only one move that can hit Gengar, making it especially troublesome after Gengar has used Substitute to scout the move and Disable to keep them from using it for a few turns. Disable also keeps Choice-locked Pokemon from using their moves, forcing them to helplessly use Struggle or switch out. Shadow Ball is Gengar's most reliable Ghost-type STAB move, while Focus Blast rounds out its coverage perfectly, letting Gengar hit everything for at least neutral damage.
Set Details
========
The given EVs and nature make Gengar as fast as possible while maximizing Special Attack to capitalize on its offensive presence. Black Sludge is the best item for Gengar to hold, as it gives Gengar passive HP recovery, allowing it to use Substitute numerous times. Though it costs Gengar some longevity compared to Black Sludge and requires an open team slot for Mega Evolution, Gengarite can be used to allow Gengar to gain Shadow Tag, becoming a major nuisance for trapped Pokemon that are unable to hit it, especially Choice-locked Pokemon affected by Disable. A Sitrus Berry can be used, as it gives Gengar 25% of its HP back within a single turn once activated. If this item is chosen, move the 4 EVs from Special Defense to HP in order to give Gengar an HP stat divisible by four, which allows Gengar to use Sitrus Berry after using Substitute twice. If offensive presence is a must, a Life Orb can also be used to make Gengar's attacks as strong as possible, though Gengar's ability to stick around will be cut drastically short.
Usage Tips
========
Use Substitute on a predicted attack or status move, and use Disable on the next turn if Gengar's Substitute is broken. From there, feel free to capitalize on the situation by either attacking or using Substitute again followed by the appropriate attacks. Be wary, however, of the opponent predicting Disable and using a different move to still hit Gengar, as most of the time Gengar's frailness ensures its Substitute can still be easily broken. Make use of Gengar's typing by switching in on the Normal-, Fighting-, and Ground-type moves it's immune to. This makes Gengar a hassle for Pokemon such as Gliscor, Landorus-T, and Garchomp to deal with once it gets a Substitute up.
Team Options
========
Rotom-W is a solid partner for Gengar, as it checks Aegislash, Azumarill, Mamoswine, Scizor, and Talonflame, all problematic Pokemon for Gengar due to their bulk and access to priority moves. In return, Gengar is able to switch in on Grass-type moves directed at Rotom-W. In a similar vein, Heatran synergizes well with Gengar, functioning as a solid check to Aegislash, Bisharp, and Talonflame, while Gengar's immunity to Ground- and Fighting-type moves for Heatran is vastly appreciated. Offensive Pokemon such as Garchomp, Greninja, Lopunny, Salamence, and Talonflame can wear down the bulkier Pokemon that Gengar has trouble breaking through, such as Azumarill, Porygon2, and Zapdos. Pokemon such as Azumarill, Bisharp, Conkeldurr, Lucario, and Sylveon pair well with Gengar, as they can switch into Dark-type moves directed at it. Bisharp is a noteworthy partner, as it is immune to Gengar's Psychic weakness and resists Ghost-type moves, while Gengar is immune to the Fighting- and Ground-type moves Bisharp is weak to. Porygon2 also is an excellent partner, as it checks Pokemon faster than Gengar, such as Greninja, Mega Salamence, and Starmie; Porygon2 is also immune to Ghost-type moves, while Gengar is immune to Fighting-type moves Porygon2 is weak to.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Destiny Bond / Icy Wind
item: Focus Sash / Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shadow Ball and Sludge Bomb are Gengar's STAB moves, covering a large number of targets for neutral damage. Focus Blast rounds out this coverage by allowing Gengar to break switch-ins such as Porygon2, Bisharp, Tyranitar, and Heatran. Destiny Bond lets Gengar take an attacker down with itself, which can be useful in situations where eliminating a key threat Gengar can't immediately beat is vital to succeeding. Though Icy Wind has a very low Base Power, do not write it off completely, as a Life Orb-boosted Icy Wind can OHKO Landorus-T, Mega Salamence, and Garchomp. Dazzling Gleam hits Fighting-types and Dragon-types not named Garchomp or Salamence harder than any of Gengar's other moves, and it is Focus Sash Gengar's only means of OHKOing Hydreigon and Life Orb Gengar's only way of 2HKOing Conkeldurr. Dazzling Gleam also hits Chesnaught much harder than Icy Wind, which is useful because Chesnaught is immune to all of Gengar's other moves. Will-O-Wisp allows Gengar to provide some support to its team by spreading burns to physical attackers, though the primary target of this is Mega Kangaskhan, which Gengar can easily cripple after a burn. Taunt can be used to hamper defensive Pokemon such as Clefable, Porygon2, and Chansey if your team has issues with them.
Set Details
========
The nature and EVs listed maximize Gengar's Speed, making it as fast as possible, while giving it maximum Special Attack to maintain an offensive presence. Life Orb allows Gengar to take its offensive prowess a step further, making Gengar hit as hard as possible while being able to switch moves. Focus Sash ensures Gengar will survive any hit with at least 1 HP and be able to strike back after, allowing Gengar to function as a lead or a revenge killer. Focus Sash also pairs very nicely with Destiny Bond, almost guaranteeing Gengar can nab at least one KO per game.
Usage Tips
========
With Focus Sash, Gengar can serve as a lead, matching up favorably against most offensive Pokemon from the first turn. Gengar can also function as a revenge killer with Focus Sash, picking off weakened foes and threats in an emergency. Take advantage of Gengar's great offensive presence, especially if using Life Orb, as the added power from Life Orb on top of Gengar's great Speed and coverage allows it to act as a battering ram that can be a pain for many Pokemon to switch into. Use Focus Blast to take out targets weak to it, such as Tyranitar, Heatran, and Bisharp. After successfully nabbing a KO or using up Gengar's Focus Sash, use Destiny Bond to take the foe down with Gengar if it is unable to immediately dispose of the opposing Pokemon. Take advantage of Levitate to freely switch into predicted Ground-type moves from Pokemon such as Landorus-T, Garchomp, Gliscor, and Mamoswine. If Gengar is carrying Icy Wind, these Pokemon can be subsequently dealt with after switching in. Due to its ability to lower the foe's Speed, Icy Wind can also be useful against fast offensive Pokemon such as Greninja and Raikou, especially if Gengar is holding Focus Sash.
Team Options
========
This Gengar set lacks its own Mega Stone, thus freeing up your team to run a different Pokemon as a Mega Evolution, which can throw your opponent off. While nearly any Mega Evolution can be paired with Gengar, ones such as Lopunny, Kangaskhan, Lucario, and Gyarados most notably have solid defensive synergy with Gengar, as they all cover each other's weaknesses in some way while fending off each other's checks. Take advantage of Gengar's Levitate ability by pairing Gengar with partners that appreciate Gengar's immunity to Ground-type moves, such as Bisharp, Blaziken, Excadrill, Heatran, Manectric, Metagross, and Raikou. Bisharp is noteworthy, as it covers both Gengar's Ghost- and Dark-type weaknesses, handling threats such as Aegislash for Gengar, while Gengar is immune to Bisharp's weaknesses to Ground- and Fighting-type moves. Offensive threats such as Talonflame, Greninja, Garchomp, Azumarill, and Thundurus pair well with Gengar, as they can clean up teams much more easily after Gengar has punched holes in them either by attacking or by using Destiny Bond.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Gengar can run a set centered around using Substitute and Pain Split, but it gives up the SubDisable set's capability to annoy the foe in exchange for the ability to survive a bit longer, and its usefulness is hindered by Gengar's poor bulk. A set utilizing Choice Scarf or Choice Specs can be used to surprise opponents while taking advantage of Gengar's access to Trick. Gengar has access to Thunderbolt and Energy Ball if your team requires the additional coverage, as Thunderbolt is capable of dealing more damage to Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y, Gyarados, and Skarmory, while Energy Ball does more to Rotom-W, Quagsire, and Hippowdon than any of Gengar's other moves. Bear in mind that these moves can be tough to fit onto offensive sets, as Gengar's primary options hit just about everything neutrally. Though its accuracy is shaky, Hypnosis can be useful to take a Pokemon out of play for a few turns; in conjunction with Substitute, this move can make Gengar a major headache to deal with. Due to being a Poison-type, Gengar has access to a perfectly accurate Toxic, which can be even further capitalized on by Gengar's access to Hex and Venoshock, which both inflict double damage on a poisoned Pokemon. However, Gengar's poor bulk means it may not survive too long after using Toxic, and Gengar will have more trouble dealing decent damage to Poison- and Steel-types. Hex also works with Will-O-Wisp and can be used on bulkier sets over Shadow Ball. Lastly, Protect can be used to allow Gengar to Mega Evolve safely, jumping Speed tiers and subsequently outspeeding a ton of Pokemon, while also being beneficial for scouting a foe's moves and allowing Gengar to play around Sucker Punch.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: Though they have to be wary of Focus Blast, Dark-types, namely Bisharp, Greninja, Tyranitar, and Weavile, all pose a major threat to Gengar due to their ability to KO Gengar with their STAB moves. Bisharp has access to Sucker Punch to make quick work of Gengar, though it can be forced into mind games if Gengar carries Will-O-Wisp or Substitute. Greninja and Weavile both outspeed Gengar before Mega Evolution and can readily KO it, while Tyranitar has access to Pursuit to trap Gengar. All of them, however, are outsped by Gengar after Mega Evolution. Bulky variants of Tyranitar also have a high chance of surviving Focus Blast from all non-Life Orb Gengar sets, so take this into consideration when facing it.
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types such as opposing Gengar variants, Aegislash, Choice Scarf Chandelure, and Sableye can KO Gengar with Shadow Ball. While the former three are also weak to Shadow Ball themselves, Sableye is neutral to the move, is unaffected by Taunt due to Magic Bounce, and can use Prankster Calm Mind in its base forme to get a free boost while surviving the hit and then Mega Evolve to use Recover safely, even against Life Orb Gengar. Aegislash is bulky enough to survive any hit from Gengar when in Shield forme and immediately strike back; it also has access to Shadow Sneak to quickly finish off weakened Gengar. Ghost-types are also unable to be trapped even by Shadow Tag, meaning Mega Gengar cannot reliably trap and KO them on its own, effectively neutering its capability against them.
**Psychic-types**: While Gengar can beat most Psychic-types with Shadow Ball, it still has to be wary of switching into them due to its weakness to Psychic-type moves. Gallade, Gardevoir, Metagross, and Slowbro are particularly threatening.
**Ground-types**: Though Gengar is immune to Ground-type moves in its base forme with Levitate, it has to be wary of Mega Evolving in front of Pokemon such as Garchomp, Mamoswine, and Landorus-T, as it will immediately become vulnerable to Earthquake. Excadrill is even deadlier, as its Mold Breaker ability lets it beat Gengar regardless of Levitate.
**Faster Threats**: Though Mega Gengar boasts a remarkable base 130 Speed, which surpasses the entire unboosted metagame barring Mega Lopunny, Mega Manectric, and the rare Mega Alakazam and Mega Aerodactyl, Gengar has to be wary of faster Pokemon when in its base forme, which has only base 110 Speed. At best, it can only Speed tie with Espeon, Latias, Latios, Mega Gallade, and Mega Metagross, whereas threats such as Mega Salamence, Raikou, Starmie, and Thundurus can easily outspeed Gengar, exploiting its poor bulk with their attacks. In a similar vein, Choice Scarf users such as Excadrill and Garchomp can take even Mega Gengar by surprise.
**Paralysis**: One of Gengar's most important traits is its Speed stat. Being crippled by paralysis from Pokemon such as Porygon2, Klefki, and Thundurus renders Gengar nearly useless by making it a slow, frail target. The latter two are especially problematic because they have the Prankster ability, which allows them to use Thunder Wave before Gengar can do anything against them.
**Specially Bulky Pokemon**: If Gengar lacks Taunt, defensive Pokemon with high Special Defense, such as Chansey, Ferrothorn, Porygon2, and even Cresselia, can give Gengar issues, being able to easily take hits from it and recover their health. Tanks such as Heatran, Tyanitar, Assault Vest Azumarill, and Assault Vest Conkeldurr can sponge hits from Gengar with relative ease and strike back.
**Priority Users**: Though Gengar is immune to Mach Punch and Extreme Speed, it still has to be wary of users of priority moves, namely Mega Mawile, Bisharp, Aegislash, Talonflame, Azumarill, Scizor, and Mega Gallade, as their moves can deal serious damage to, if not outright KO, Gengar. Mega Mawile and Bisharp can punish Gengar with Sucker Punch, while Aegislash and Mega Gallade have access to Shadow Sneak to quickly pick it off.
QC: Theorymon, Jibaku, Montsegur
GP: P Squared, The Dutch Plumberjack
Gengar
[OVERVIEW]
When taking a close look at what it has in its arsenal, Gengar has quite a number of reasons to bear that menacing grin on its face. A unique Ghost / Poison typing on top of the ability Levitate gives Gengar some handy immunities to Normal-, Fighting-, and Ground-type moves as well as some useful resistances to Fairy-, Grass-, Bug-, and Poison-type moves, allowing it to check Pokemon such as Landorus-T, Breloom, and Azumarill. However, despite these useful resistances, Gengar is somewhat held back by its poor bulk, which can make switching in even on some resisted hits challenging. Gengar makes up for this, though, boasting a notable offensive presence between its incredible base 110 Speed, high Special Attack, and superb movepool that allows Gengar to dispatch a wide range of checks. All of this comes on top of having access to a Mega Evolution that grants Gengar the ability Shadow Tag, a major improvement to its Special Attack and Speed stats, and a slight increase to its bulk that makes Gengar truly a force to be reckoned with in the Battle Spot Singles metagame.
[SET]
name: Bulky Trapper
move 1: Destiny Bond
move 2: Will-O-Wisp / Taunt
move 3: Shadow Ball / Hex
move 4: Sludge Bomb / Focus Blast
item: Gengarite
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Destiny Bond allows Gengar to fulfill its role as a trapper by taking the opposing Pokemon down with it upon being KOed, leaving a hole in the opponent's team by removing a threat for Gengar's teammates. Will-O-Wisp allows Gengar to neuter physical attackers such as Azumarill, Bisharp, Garchomp, and Kangaskhan, which can also benefit Gengar's teammates. Taunt lets Gengar hinder supportive Pokemon such as Chansey and Skarmory, preventing them from using status moves; it also forces Pokemon to attack Gengar, making it easier to take down an attacker with Destiny Bond. Shadow Ball is the more reliable of Gengar's Ghost-type STAB moves, though Hex can be used, as it becomes a hard-hitting 130 Base Power STAB move against targets afflicted by status, which compensates for this set's lack of Special Attack investment. Thus, Hex should be used strictly in conjunction with Will-O-Wisp, but bear in mind it can be somewhat situational because a target isn't always guaranteed to be burned when needed. Sludge Bomb is Gengar's best Poison-type STAB move and attains decent neutral coverage with Gengar's Ghost-type STAB move, though Focus Blast offers the absolute best coverage, allowing Gengar to hit as many Pokemon as possible for super effective damage.
Set Details
========
With maximum HP investment, Gengar is as bulky as possible, making it able to sponge a variety of hits, especially when running Will-O-Wisp, as physical attackers will generally fail to KO Gengar after being burned. Specifically, with maximum HP, Gengar avoids the 2HKO from Rotom-W's Hydro Pump and Zapdos's Thunderbolt, avoids the OHKO from Garchomp's Outrage, and can survive any move followed by an Aqua Jet from Azumarill after it has been burned. Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature is used to make the most out of Gengar's base 130 Speed after Mega Evolution, outpacing even +1 base 80 Speed Pokemon with a neutral nature, such as Altaria, Dragonite, and Gyarados after a Dragon Dance.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Evolving immediately is usually the best way to go, as Gengar gains notable increases to its Special Attack and Speed stats, outpacing Pokemon that it couldn't otherwise the following turn, such as Greninja, Raikou, Mega Lucario, and Mega Salamence. Gaining Shadow Tag allows Gengar to trap and eliminate Pokemon such as Skarmory, Chansey, and Cresselia for its teammates, as well as ensuring that Gengar can revenge kill most weakened Pokemon. Refrain from Mega Evolving only in cases where Levitate will be more useful, such as when facing Pokemon with Ground-type moves, such as Garchomp, Gliscor, and Landorus-T. Mega Kangaskhan is also a noteworthy mention here, as it often has trouble hitting non-Mega Gengar due to Levitate and Gengar's immunity to Normal-type moves, allowing Gengar to serve as an emergency check to it. Even though this set lacks Special Attack investment and relies more on teammates to secure KOs on Pokemon, Gengar still boasts a base 170 Special Attack after Mega Evolving, which allows it to deal good damage. Make use of this and its offensive moves to hit Pokemon, using Destiny Bond to take an attacker down once Gengar has run out of steam. It might even be feasible to sacrifice Gengar by using Destiny Bond while it is still healthy if taking down the opposing Pokemon will allow Gengar's teammates to succeed. Use Will-O-Wisp to cripple physical attackers, and use Taunt to hinder defensive Pokemon and force Pokemon to attack Gengar, making it impossible for them to play around Destiny Bond. Also bear in mind that Ghost-types and Pokemon with access to U-turn, Volt Switch, or Baton Pass can escape from Gengar, making them more difficult to trap, even with Shadow Tag.
Team Options
========
This Gengar set functions as a supporter for offensive teams, as it excels at trapping and removing most defensive Pokemon for its teammates. Pair it with offensive Pokemon, such as Blaziken, Breloom, Greninja, Garchomp, Azumarill, Conkeldurr, Talonflame, and Bisharp, as they all can deal serious damage to the opposing team, which compensates for Gengar's own lack of offensive presence. Blaziken is especially noteworthy, as checks to it such as Cresselia, Slowbro, Altaria, and Azumarill can be easily handled by Gengar, while Blaziken can take on Dark-types such as Tyranitar, Bisharp, and Greninja in return. Wobbuffet is also an excellent partner for Mega Gengar, as together they can regulate absolute control over a single Pokemon thanks their shared Shadow Tag ability. Wobbuffet can either use Encore to lock a foe into a useless move for Gengar or a teammate to switch into or take down a foe with Counter or Mirror Coat. U-turn and Volt Switch users, such as Landorus-T, Scizor, Talonflame, Rotom-W, Manectric, and Magnezone, can be a problem for Gengar, as they are able to escape from Shadow Tag. Pokemon such as Breloom, Excadrill, Latias, Latios, and Conkeldurr can be used to offensively check Volt Switch users, while Pokemon such as Zapdos, Air Balloon Heatran, and Rotom-W are able to check most of these U-turn users; Rotom-W also checks Aegislash, Azumarill, and Bisharp for Gengar. Fairy-types such as Sylveon, Klefki, Azumarill, and Togekiss can switch into Dark-type moves aimed at Gengar, while Gengar covers their Poison-type weakness nicely. Porygon2, Bisharp, Tyranitar, and Weavile can switch into Ghost-type moves for Gengar, while Gengar is immune to their Fighting-type weakness.
[SET]
name: Offensive Trapper
move 1: Destiny Bond / Substitute
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Sludge Bomb / Focus Blast
move 4: Taunt / Focus Blast / Icy Wind
item: Gengarite
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Destiny Bond ensures that, after Mega Evolution, Gengar is able to remove a trapped Pokemon if it manages to knock Gengar out, possibly taking out a key threat on the opponent's team. Substitute allows Gengar to dodge status moves and play around Pokemon that rely on Sucker Punch to hit it, such as Bisharp, Kangaskhan, and Mawile, while making it much harder to deal with if it manages to KO something with a Substitute up. Shadow Ball is a reliable Ghost-type STAB move, attaining solid neutral coverage alongside STAB Sludge Bomb, which hits Fairy-types such as Sylveon and Mega Altaria much harder than Shadow Ball. While Sludge Wave is a usable attacking option for its higher Base Power than Sludge Bomb, on top of being Gengar's strongest move to hit the rare Chesnaught with, it unfortunately is incredibly hard to find a usable Gengar with Sludge Wave, as it is an event-exclusive move. Though its accuracy can be off-putting, Focus Blast has supreme coverage with Shadow Ball, hitting the Dark- and Normal-types that don't mind Shadow Ball while also hammering Steel-types such as Ferrothorn and Heatran harder than any of Gengar's other moves. Taunt allows Gengar to hinder defensive Pokemon that rely on support moves, such as Chansey, Clefable, and Cresselia, after trapping them, and it forces Pokemon to attack Gengar, easing prediction with Destiny Bond. Lastly, Icy Wind is also an option for Gengar to dispatch threats such as Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Salamence, and it has the utility of reducing an opposing Pokemon's Speed.
Set Details
========
With maximum Special Attack and Speed investment and a Timid nature, Gengar is able to be as fast as possible while boasting an offensive presence, hitting as hard as possible. Gengarite is necessary to allow Gengar to Mega Evolve, gaining the ability Shadow Tag to trap Pokemon, notable boosts to its Special Attack and Speed stats, and a slight increase in bulk.
Usage Tips
========
Gengar's boosted Special Attack and Speed stats aren't just for show; take advantage of them, using its excellent coverage to deal damage to their respective targets, using Destiny Bond once Gengar is dangerously low on HP or unable to KO the opposing Pokemon before going down itself in hopes of taking an attacker down with it. Shadow Tag keeps all non-Ghost type Pokemon from switching, making Gengar an excellent revenge killer once a teammate has fallen, so be sure to Mega Evolve relatively early in the match once Gengar comes out, even leading with Gengar to do so if it is plausible. Mega Gengar's offensive presence and high Speed are also effective late-game, allowing it to clutch a necessary KO on a weakened Pokemon for its teammates. If running Substitute, take advantage of Gengar's ability to block predicted status moves or attempts at using Sucker Punch; also opt for Focus Blast over Taunt to give Gengar absolute coverage while letting it deal serious damage back to Sucker Punch users. If using Taunt, use it to harass supportive Pokemon that rely on status moves, such as Chansey and Skarmory; also take advantage of Taunt's utility in forcing these Pokemon to attack Gengar, making Destiny Bond much easier to predict with even against offensive Pokemon that might not be running four attacking moves.
Team Options
========
This Gengar set can fit very easily onto nearly any offensive team due to its own attacking power on top of the ability Shadow Tag making it able to trap and revenge kill Pokemon for its teammates, so Pokemon such as Azumarill, Breloom, Garchomp, Greninja, and Talonflame all appreciate their respective checks being weakened or eliminated. Porygon2 synergizes nicely with Gengar, being immune to its Ghost weakness while Gengar is immune to Porygon2's Fighting weakness; Porygon2 is also able to check offensive threats to Gengar, such as Aegislash, Garchomp, and Talonflame, while Gengar can shut down defensive Pokemon that Porygon2 struggles against, such as Chansey, Cresselia, and Ferrothorn. Wobbuffet, despite the shared Dark- and Ghost-type weaknesses, partners well with Gengar, as it also has Shadow Tag, allowing them to switch interchangeably while keeping an opposing Pokemon trapped. Wobbuffet's bulk allows it to sponge some hits for Gengar and retaliate with Counter or Mirror Coat, or it can even use Encore to hinder a Pokemon for Gengar. Rotom-W and Talonflame are also excellent partners to Gengar, as both are immune to the Ground moves Gengar is vulnerable to after Mega Evolution and have access to Volt Switch and U-turn, respectively, to get momentum on a forced switch to bring Gengar in. Rotom-W is able to threaten Aegislash, Bisharp, Mawile, Scizor, and Talonflame for Gengar, while Talonflame itself has priority Brave Bird to threaten offensive checks to Gengar, such as Blaziken and Conkeldurr. Other users of Volt Switch and U-turn, such as Rotom-H, Landorus-T, and Scizor, can allow Gengar a safe switch in while dealing some damage, making it easier for Gengar to deal with the foe. Lastly, Fairy-types such as Azumarill, Klefki, and Sylveon can switch into Dark-type moves and check the Dark-types that threaten Gengar.
[SET]
name: Perish Trapper
move 1: Perish Song
move 2: Protect
move 3: Substitute / Disable
move 4: Shadow Ball / Taunt
item: Gengarite
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Perish Song causes Gengar and the opposing Pokemon to faint within three turns of using the move, essentially guaranteeing the foe faints thanks to Shadow Tag keeping it from switching. Protect shields Gengar from any damage, allowing it to stall for a turn after using Perish Song. Substitute also allows Gengar to stall for a turn after using Perish Song and blocks status moves while working with Gengar's incredible Speed, which allows Gengar to move first most of the time. Disable can also be used along with Protect, as most Pokemon, especially supportive Pokemon, carry only one move that can hit Gengar, making it much more annoying to deal with after factoring in Shadow Tag and Perish Song. Choice-locked Pokemon afflicted by Disable are also forced to use Struggle, rendering them useless for three turns. Shadow Ball gives Gengar some offensive presence, allowing it to deal some damage, while Taunt can be used to keep defensive Pokemon from using status moves. While a set lacking any attacking moves may seem odd, this set's aim is to trap and eliminate Pokemon with Perish Song, so attacking moves aren't fully necessary and should only be considered if certain supportive Pokemon are more troublesome for your team to deal with. Other attacking moves such as Sludge Bomb, Icy Wind, and Focus Blast can also be used here to pick off their desired targets, such as Azumarill, Mega Salamence, and Tyrantitar, respectively, if your team needs more leverage against them.
Set Details
========
With maximum HP investment, Gengar maintains as much bulk as possible, allowing it to avoid being 2HKOed by Pokemon such as Rotom-W and Zapdos and survive Garchomp's Outrage. This in turn makes it much easier for Gengar to safely use Perish Song against even offensive Pokemon that have been trapped by Shadow Tag. A Timid nature and maximum Speed investment make the most of Gengar's major Speed increase after Mega Evolution, allowing it to outpace even neutral-natured base 80 Speed Pokemon at +1, such as Altaria, Dragonite, and Gyarados after a Dragon Dance. Gengarite allows Gengar to Mega Evolve, which is necessary for this set to succeed, as it relies on Shadow Tag to ensure Pokemon are trapped and inevitably taken out after using Perish Song.
Usage Tips
========
In most cases, the best course of action is to Mega Evolve immediately once Gengar is out, using Perish Song as Gengar takes a hit, followed by Protect and either Substitute or Disable to stall for two turns. Once Perish Song's count reaches 1, switch Gengar out to a Pokemon that can comfortably switch into the opposing Pokemon, as the foe will subsequently faint while Gengar is preserved, allowing it to be brought back out later to finish something else off if needed. If running an attacking move, use it to deal damage to Pokemon weak to the move, but don't rely on it to deal significant damage, due this set's lack of Special Attack investment. If running Taunt, use it to keep defensive Pokemon from hindering Gengar with status moves, making it easier to stall them out with Perish Song. When used alongside Disable, Taunt lets Gengar cripple several defensive Pokemon by itself, such as Chansey, Cresselia, Ferrothorn, Gliscor, and even Porygon2.
Team Options
========
Wobbuffet is this set's best partner in crime, as its presence makes Gengar much deadlier due to both of them having Shadow Tag to keep foes from switching. This allows Wobbuffet to help Gengar stall with Perish Song and is on top of Wobbuffet's superior bulk, access to Encore, and ability to take down Choice Scarf users that Gengar would struggle against, such as Excadrill and Garchomp. Porygon2 not only has great defensive synergy with Gengar but also excels at checking faster threats to Gengar, such as Greninja, Starmie, and Mega Salamence. Rotom-W checks offensive threats to Gengar, such as Aegislash, Bisharp, Scizor, Talonflame, and Tyranitar, and can use Volt Switch to bring in Gengar safely. Talonflame is able to break down Pokemon Gengar might struggle with, such as Blaziken, Conkeldurr, Magnezone, and Mega Sableye. Pokemon that can handle Dark-types, such as Conkeldurr, Terrakion, Azumarill, Sylveon, and Klefki, are also vastly appreciated by Gengar.
[SET]
name: SubDisable
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Disable
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Focus Blast
item: Black Sludge / Gengarite
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Substitute lets Gengar avoid status moves and gives it a means of playing around Sucker Punch users, while Disable allows Gengar to prevent a Pokemon from using the last move it used. This is useful, as most Pokemon often carry only one move that can hit Gengar, making it especially troublesome after Gengar has used Substitute to scout the move and Disable to keep them from using it for a few turns. Disable also keeps Choice-locked Pokemon from using their moves, forcing them to helplessly use Struggle or switch out. Shadow Ball is Gengar's most reliable Ghost-type STAB move, while Focus Blast rounds out its coverage perfectly, letting Gengar hit everything for at least neutral damage.
Set Details
========
The given EVs and nature make Gengar as fast as possible while maximizing Special Attack to capitalize on its offensive presence. Black Sludge is the best item for Gengar to hold, as it gives Gengar passive HP recovery, allowing it to use Substitute numerous times. Though it costs Gengar some longevity compared to Black Sludge and requires an open team slot for Mega Evolution, Gengarite can be used to allow Gengar to gain Shadow Tag, becoming a major nuisance for trapped Pokemon that are unable to hit it, especially Choice-locked Pokemon affected by Disable. A Sitrus Berry can be used, as it gives Gengar 25% of its HP back within a single turn once activated. If this item is chosen, move the 4 EVs from Special Defense to HP in order to give Gengar an HP stat divisible by four, which allows Gengar to use Sitrus Berry after using Substitute twice. If offensive presence is a must, a Life Orb can also be used to make Gengar's attacks as strong as possible, though Gengar's ability to stick around will be cut drastically short.
Usage Tips
========
Use Substitute on a predicted attack or status move, and use Disable on the next turn if Gengar's Substitute is broken. From there, feel free to capitalize on the situation by either attacking or using Substitute again followed by the appropriate attacks. Be wary, however, of the opponent predicting Disable and using a different move to still hit Gengar, as most of the time Gengar's frailness ensures its Substitute can still be easily broken. Make use of Gengar's typing by switching in on the Normal-, Fighting-, and Ground-type moves it's immune to. This makes Gengar a hassle for Pokemon such as Gliscor, Landorus-T, and Garchomp to deal with once it gets a Substitute up.
Team Options
========
Rotom-W is a solid partner for Gengar, as it checks Aegislash, Azumarill, Mamoswine, Scizor, and Talonflame, all problematic Pokemon for Gengar due to their bulk and access to priority moves. In return, Gengar is able to switch in on Grass-type moves directed at Rotom-W. In a similar vein, Heatran synergizes well with Gengar, functioning as a solid check to Aegislash, Bisharp, and Talonflame, while Gengar's immunity to Ground- and Fighting-type moves for Heatran is vastly appreciated. Offensive Pokemon such as Garchomp, Greninja, Lopunny, Salamence, and Talonflame can wear down the bulkier Pokemon that Gengar has trouble breaking through, such as Azumarill, Porygon2, and Zapdos. Pokemon such as Azumarill, Bisharp, Conkeldurr, Lucario, and Sylveon pair well with Gengar, as they can switch into Dark-type moves directed at it. Bisharp is a noteworthy partner, as it is immune to Gengar's Psychic weakness and resists Ghost-type moves, while Gengar is immune to the Fighting- and Ground-type moves Bisharp is weak to. Porygon2 also is an excellent partner, as it checks Pokemon faster than Gengar, such as Greninja, Mega Salamence, and Starmie; Porygon2 is also immune to Ghost-type moves, while Gengar is immune to Fighting-type moves Porygon2 is weak to.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Destiny Bond / Icy Wind
item: Focus Sash / Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shadow Ball and Sludge Bomb are Gengar's STAB moves, covering a large number of targets for neutral damage. Focus Blast rounds out this coverage by allowing Gengar to break switch-ins such as Porygon2, Bisharp, Tyranitar, and Heatran. Destiny Bond lets Gengar take an attacker down with itself, which can be useful in situations where eliminating a key threat Gengar can't immediately beat is vital to succeeding. Though Icy Wind has a very low Base Power, do not write it off completely, as a Life Orb-boosted Icy Wind can OHKO Landorus-T, Mega Salamence, and Garchomp. Dazzling Gleam hits Fighting-types and Dragon-types not named Garchomp or Salamence harder than any of Gengar's other moves, and it is Focus Sash Gengar's only means of OHKOing Hydreigon and Life Orb Gengar's only way of 2HKOing Conkeldurr. Dazzling Gleam also hits Chesnaught much harder than Icy Wind, which is useful because Chesnaught is immune to all of Gengar's other moves. Will-O-Wisp allows Gengar to provide some support to its team by spreading burns to physical attackers, though the primary target of this is Mega Kangaskhan, which Gengar can easily cripple after a burn. Taunt can be used to hamper defensive Pokemon such as Clefable, Porygon2, and Chansey if your team has issues with them.
Set Details
========
The nature and EVs listed maximize Gengar's Speed, making it as fast as possible, while giving it maximum Special Attack to maintain an offensive presence. Life Orb allows Gengar to take its offensive prowess a step further, making Gengar hit as hard as possible while being able to switch moves. Focus Sash ensures Gengar will survive any hit with at least 1 HP and be able to strike back after, allowing Gengar to function as a lead or a revenge killer. Focus Sash also pairs very nicely with Destiny Bond, almost guaranteeing Gengar can nab at least one KO per game.
Usage Tips
========
With Focus Sash, Gengar can serve as a lead, matching up favorably against most offensive Pokemon from the first turn. Gengar can also function as a revenge killer with Focus Sash, picking off weakened foes and threats in an emergency. Take advantage of Gengar's great offensive presence, especially if using Life Orb, as the added power from Life Orb on top of Gengar's great Speed and coverage allows it to act as a battering ram that can be a pain for many Pokemon to switch into. Use Focus Blast to take out targets weak to it, such as Tyranitar, Heatran, and Bisharp. After successfully nabbing a KO or using up Gengar's Focus Sash, use Destiny Bond to take the foe down with Gengar if it is unable to immediately dispose of the opposing Pokemon. Take advantage of Levitate to freely switch into predicted Ground-type moves from Pokemon such as Landorus-T, Garchomp, Gliscor, and Mamoswine. If Gengar is carrying Icy Wind, these Pokemon can be subsequently dealt with after switching in. Due to its ability to lower the foe's Speed, Icy Wind can also be useful against fast offensive Pokemon such as Greninja and Raikou, especially if Gengar is holding Focus Sash.
Team Options
========
This Gengar set lacks its own Mega Stone, thus freeing up your team to run a different Pokemon as a Mega Evolution, which can throw your opponent off. While nearly any Mega Evolution can be paired with Gengar, ones such as Lopunny, Kangaskhan, Lucario, and Gyarados most notably have solid defensive synergy with Gengar, as they all cover each other's weaknesses in some way while fending off each other's checks. Take advantage of Gengar's Levitate ability by pairing Gengar with partners that appreciate Gengar's immunity to Ground-type moves, such as Bisharp, Blaziken, Excadrill, Heatran, Manectric, Metagross, and Raikou. Bisharp is noteworthy, as it covers both Gengar's Ghost- and Dark-type weaknesses, handling threats such as Aegislash for Gengar, while Gengar is immune to Bisharp's weaknesses to Ground- and Fighting-type moves. Offensive threats such as Talonflame, Greninja, Garchomp, Azumarill, and Thundurus pair well with Gengar, as they can clean up teams much more easily after Gengar has punched holes in them either by attacking or by using Destiny Bond.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Gengar can run a set centered around using Substitute and Pain Split, but it gives up the SubDisable set's capability to annoy the foe in exchange for the ability to survive a bit longer, and its usefulness is hindered by Gengar's poor bulk. A set utilizing Choice Scarf or Choice Specs can be used to surprise opponents while taking advantage of Gengar's access to Trick. Gengar has access to Thunderbolt and Energy Ball if your team requires the additional coverage, as Thunderbolt is capable of dealing more damage to Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y, Gyarados, and Skarmory, while Energy Ball does more to Rotom-W, Quagsire, and Hippowdon than any of Gengar's other moves. Bear in mind that these moves can be tough to fit onto offensive sets, as Gengar's primary options hit just about everything neutrally. Though its accuracy is shaky, Hypnosis can be useful to take a Pokemon out of play for a few turns; in conjunction with Substitute, this move can make Gengar a major headache to deal with. Due to being a Poison-type, Gengar has access to a perfectly accurate Toxic, which can be even further capitalized on by Gengar's access to Hex and Venoshock, which both inflict double damage on a poisoned Pokemon. However, Gengar's poor bulk means it may not survive too long after using Toxic, and Gengar will have more trouble dealing decent damage to Poison- and Steel-types. Hex also works with Will-O-Wisp and can be used on bulkier sets over Shadow Ball. Lastly, Protect can be used to allow Gengar to Mega Evolve safely, jumping Speed tiers and subsequently outspeeding a ton of Pokemon, while also being beneficial for scouting a foe's moves and allowing Gengar to play around Sucker Punch.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: Though they have to be wary of Focus Blast, Dark-types, namely Bisharp, Greninja, Tyranitar, and Weavile, all pose a major threat to Gengar due to their ability to KO Gengar with their STAB moves. Bisharp has access to Sucker Punch to make quick work of Gengar, though it can be forced into mind games if Gengar carries Will-O-Wisp or Substitute. Greninja and Weavile both outspeed Gengar before Mega Evolution and can readily KO it, while Tyranitar has access to Pursuit to trap Gengar. All of them, however, are outsped by Gengar after Mega Evolution. Bulky variants of Tyranitar also have a high chance of surviving Focus Blast from all non-Life Orb Gengar sets, so take this into consideration when facing it.
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types such as opposing Gengar variants, Aegislash, Choice Scarf Chandelure, and Sableye can KO Gengar with Shadow Ball. While the former three are also weak to Shadow Ball themselves, Sableye is neutral to the move, is unaffected by Taunt due to Magic Bounce, and can use Prankster Calm Mind in its base forme to get a free boost while surviving the hit and then Mega Evolve to use Recover safely, even against Life Orb Gengar. Aegislash is bulky enough to survive any hit from Gengar when in Shield forme and immediately strike back; it also has access to Shadow Sneak to quickly finish off weakened Gengar. Ghost-types are also unable to be trapped even by Shadow Tag, meaning Mega Gengar cannot reliably trap and KO them on its own, effectively neutering its capability against them.
**Psychic-types**: While Gengar can beat most Psychic-types with Shadow Ball, it still has to be wary of switching into them due to its weakness to Psychic-type moves. Gallade, Gardevoir, Metagross, and Slowbro are particularly threatening.
**Ground-types**: Though Gengar is immune to Ground-type moves in its base forme with Levitate, it has to be wary of Mega Evolving in front of Pokemon such as Garchomp, Mamoswine, and Landorus-T, as it will immediately become vulnerable to Earthquake. Excadrill is even deadlier, as its Mold Breaker ability lets it beat Gengar regardless of Levitate.
**Faster Threats**: Though Mega Gengar boasts a remarkable base 130 Speed, which surpasses the entire unboosted metagame barring Mega Lopunny, Mega Manectric, and the rare Mega Alakazam and Mega Aerodactyl, Gengar has to be wary of faster Pokemon when in its base forme, which has only base 110 Speed. At best, it can only Speed tie with Espeon, Latias, Latios, Mega Gallade, and Mega Metagross, whereas threats such as Mega Salamence, Raikou, Starmie, and Thundurus can easily outspeed Gengar, exploiting its poor bulk with their attacks. In a similar vein, Choice Scarf users such as Excadrill and Garchomp can take even Mega Gengar by surprise.
**Paralysis**: One of Gengar's most important traits is its Speed stat. Being crippled by paralysis from Pokemon such as Porygon2, Klefki, and Thundurus renders Gengar nearly useless by making it a slow, frail target. The latter two are especially problematic because they have the Prankster ability, which allows them to use Thunder Wave before Gengar can do anything against them.
**Specially Bulky Pokemon**: If Gengar lacks Taunt, defensive Pokemon with high Special Defense, such as Chansey, Ferrothorn, Porygon2, and even Cresselia, can give Gengar issues, being able to easily take hits from it and recover their health. Tanks such as Heatran, Tyanitar, Assault Vest Azumarill, and Assault Vest Conkeldurr can sponge hits from Gengar with relative ease and strike back.
**Priority Users**: Though Gengar is immune to Mach Punch and Extreme Speed, it still has to be wary of users of priority moves, namely Mega Mawile, Bisharp, Aegislash, Talonflame, Azumarill, Scizor, and Mega Gallade, as their moves can deal serious damage to, if not outright KO, Gengar. Mega Mawile and Bisharp can punish Gengar with Sucker Punch, while Aegislash and Mega Gallade have access to Shadow Sneak to quickly pick it off.
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