Gengar (Bulky Will-O-Wisp)

Tokyo Tom

Somewhere between psychotic and iconic
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GP [2/2] - Winry. / frenzyplant & some edits by Weebl

[SET]
name: Bulky Wisp
move 1: Will-O-Wisp
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Substitute / Protect
item: Black Sludge / Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 Spe


[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Although traditionally a Pokemon geared towards offense, Gengar is able to pull off a very effective bulky set in OU. Its horrible defensive stats are somewhat remedied by a solid defensive typing and Will-O-Wisp, which allows Gengar to spread burns around the opposing team and utilize its good set of resistances and immunities to sponge attacks. This variant of Gengar works well in OU because many common switch-ins to Gengar's other sets, such as Tyranitar, Scizor, and Jirachi, hate being burned. The tried-and-true combination of Shadow Ball and Focus Blast gives Gengar all the coverage it needs to still carry an offensive presence. Finally, the last move is a choice between Substitute and Protect. Substitute can protect Gengar from status and some weaker attacks, and it is typically the more useful option, as even with bulk investment Gengar is very frail by OU standards and does not enjoy taking direct hits. Being a Pokemon with such great offensive presence, Gengar naturally forces a lot of foes out, allowing it to easily set up a Substitute. On the other hand, Protect is useful for scouting purposes against foes holding a Choice item, especially those carrying Pursuit, as well as giving Gengar a free turn of Black Sludge recovery and racking up another turn of burn damage on the foe.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Because this Gengar focuses more on longevity than offense, its HP is maximized rather than its Special Attack. This allows Gengar's Substitutes to survive hits such as Choice Band Scizor's U-turn and burned Jirachi's Iron Head, and it also gives Gengar a very good chance to survive +2 Life Orb Lucario's Bullet Punch after Stealth Rock damage. Next, Gengar's Speed EVs are maximized to make use of its good Speed tier, and the rest of the EVs are put into Special Attack to slightly increase Gengar's offensive presence.</p>

<p>This Gengar has decent longevity, so it appreciates entry hazard setters such as Ferrothorn to give it a spinblocking purpose. Ferrothorn can sponge Psychic-, Ghost-, and Dark-type attacks aimed at Gengar, and it can also set up entry hazards on common answers to Gengar, such as Tyranitar, Chansey, and specially defensive Jirachi. Additionally, Ferrothorn enjoys having dangerous opposing setup sweepers such as Scizor, Breloom, and Substitute + Dragon Dance Dragonite burned, as these Pokemon could otherwise easily set up on Ferrothorn. On the offensive side, Pokemon such as Alakazam, Reuniclus, Latios, and Latias, which share similar checks with Gengar, appreciate having these Pokemon burned and can help Gengar wear them down.</p>
 
Last edited:

Jirachee

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I'd mention how well this set works with Alakazam and Reuniclus because they share the same switch ins, and since they're both some of the most threatening mons in the tier Gengar + 1 of them makes a p dangerous duo

I like max HP on that set usually because you don't really the power as much and tanking a few extra hits can allow you to burn more stuff, although your spread works fine I guess
 
seconding what jirachee said. max hp has a ton of uses that aren't immediately apparent but definitely come through in practice. the most notable example i can think of is surviving +2 lucario bp after rocks, which is a lifesaver.

also taunt/protect are good alternatives to sub
 

Winry

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Add or Corrections / Remove / Comments
[SET]
name: Bulky Wisp
move 1: Will-O-Wisp
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Substitute / Protect
item: Black Sludge / Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Although traditionally a Pokemon geared towards offense, Gengar is able to pull off a very effective bulky set in OU. Its horrible defensive stats are somewhat remedied by a solid defensive typing and Will-O-Wisp, which allows Gengar to spreading burns around the opposing team and allowing Gengar to utilize its good set of resistances and immunities to sponge attacks. This variant of Gengar works well in OU because many common switch-ins to Gengar's other sets, such as Tyranitar, Scizor, and Jirachi, hate being burned. The tried-and-true combination of Shadow Ball and Focus Blast gives Gengar all the coverage it needs to still carry an offensive presence. Finally, the last move is a choice between Substitute and Protect. Substitute can ward Gengar against status and also some weaker attacks, and it is typically the most useful, as even with bulk investment Gengar is very frail by OU standards and does not enjoy taking direct hits. Being a Pokemon with such great offensive presence, Gengar naturally forces a lot of foes out, allowing it to easily set up a Substitute. On the other hand, Protect is useful for scouting purposes against Choiced foes, especially those carrying Pursuit, as well as giving Gengar a free turn of Black Sludge recovery and its opponent foe another turn of burn damage.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

Since Because this Gengar focuses more on longevity than offense, its HP is maximized rather than its Special Attack. This allows Gengar's Substitutes to survive hits such as Choice Banded Scizor's U-Turn or a burned Jirachi's Iron Head, and it also gives Gengar it a very good chance to survive Life Orb Lucario's Bullet Punch after a Swords Dance and Stealth Rock damage. Next, Gengar's Speed EVs are maximized to make use of its good Speed tier, and the rest of the EVs are put into Special Attack to slightly increase Gengar's offensive presence.

Since This (changed so it doesn't start the same way as previous paragraph) Gengar has decent longevity, so it appreciates entry hazard setters such as Ferrothorn to give it a spinblocking purpose. Ferrothorn can sponge Psychic-, Ghost-, and Dark-type attacks aimed at Gengar, and it can also set up entry hazards on common answers to Gengar such as like Tyranitar, Chansey, or specially defensive Jirachi. Additionally, Ferrothorn enjoys having dangerous opposing set-up sweepers such as like Scizor, Breloom, and Substitute + Dragon Dance SubDD Dragonite burned, as these Pokemon could otherwise easily set up on Ferrothorn. On the offensive side, Pokemon such as Alakazam, Reuniclus, Latios, and Latias, which who share similar checks with Gengar, appreciate having these Pokemon burned and can help Gengar wear them down.
1/2
 
Last edited:

frenzyplant

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2/2 :)

add remove (comments)

[SET]
name: Bulky Wisp
move 1: Will-O-Wisp
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Substitute / Protect
item: Black Sludge / Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Although traditionally a Pokemon geared towards offense, Gengar is able to pull off a very effective bulky set in OU. Its horrible defensive stats are somewhat remedied by a solid defensive typing and Will-O-Wisp, which allows Gengar to spread burns around the opposing team and utilize its good set of resistances and immunities to sponge attacks. This variant of Gengar works well in OU because many common switch-ins to Gengar's other sets, such as Tyranitar, Scizor, and Jirachi, hate being burned. The tried-and-true combination of Shadow Ball and Focus Blast gives Gengar all the coverage it needs to still carry an offensive presence. Finally, the last move is a choice between Substitute and Protect. Substitute can ward Gengar against status and also some weaker attacks, and it is typically the most more useful option, as even with bulk investment Gengar is very frail by OU standards and does not enjoy taking direct hits. Being a Pokemon with such great offensive presence, Gengar naturally forces a lot of foes out, allowing it to easily set up a Substitute. On the other hand, Protect is useful for scouting purposes against Choiced foes, especially those carrying Pursuit, as well as giving Gengar a free turn of Black Sludge recovery and its foe another turn of burn damage.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Because this Gengar focuses more on longevity than offense, its HP is maximized rather than its Special Attack. This allows Gengar's Substitutes to survive hits such as Choice Banded Scizor's U-turn or a burned Jirachi's Iron Head, and it also gives Gengar a very good chance to survive +2 Life Orb Lucario's Bullet Punch after a Swords Dance and Stealth Rock damage. Next, Gengar's Speed EVs are maximized to make use of its good Speed tier, and the rest of the EVs are put into Special Attack to slightly increase Gengar's offensive presence.</p>

<p>This Gengar has decent longevity, so it appreciates entry hazard setters such as Ferrothorn to give it a spinblocking purpose. Ferrothorn can sponge Psychic-, Ghost-, and Dark-type attacks aimed at Gengar, and it can also set up entry hazards on common answers to Gengar, (comma) such as Tyranitar, Chansey, or and specially defensive Jirachi. Additionally, Ferrothorn enjoys having dangerous opposing setup (remove dash) sweepers such as Scizor, Breloom, and Substitute + Dragon Dance Dragonite burned, as these Pokemon could otherwise easily set up on Ferrothorn. On the offensive side, Pokemon such as Alakazam, Reuniclus, Latios, and Latias, which share similar checks with Gengar, appreciate having these Pokemon burned and can help Gengar wear them down.</p>
 

Weebl

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Substitute can ward protect Gengar from against status and some weaker attacks, and it is typically the more useful option, as even with bulk investment Gengar is very frail by OU standards and does not enjoy taking direct hits.
On the other hand, Protect is useful for scouting purposes against Choiced foes holding a Choice item, especially those carrying Pursuit, as well as giving Gengar a free turn of Black Sludge recovery and racking up its foe another turn of burn damage on the foe.
This allows Gengar's Substitutes to survive hits such as Choice Band Scizor's U-turn or and a burned Jirachi's Iron Head, and it also gives Gengar a very good chance to survive +2 Life Orb Lucario's Bullet Punch after Stealth Rock damage.
A few quick changes.
 

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