Ubers Mega Gengar

[Minority]

QC Checks: Nayrz / Fireburn / zf
GP Checks: P Squared

QC Round 2: Hack / Nayrz / Gunner Rohan
GP Round 2: The Dutch Plumberjack / P Squared

Stay trapped in this endless maze... forever!

[OVERVIEW]

Shadow Tag makes Mega Gengar a potent offensive Pokemon, allowing it to choose its matchups and eliminate threats. It is capable of running a variety of different sets, all threatening in their own right, which makes it a difficult Pokemon to predict. Mega Gengar can fill several roles for a team and is a stallbreaker, wallbreaker, and revenge killer wrapped in a single product. Very high Special Attack and a great Speed tier aid in its ability to perform these roles. Additionally, it synergizes well with a wide variety of offensive threats, making it easy to justify on a team. Although its defensive utility is limited, it does check Extreme Killer Arceus. Furthermore, useful Normal- and Fighting-type immunities and a handy Toxic immunity allow it to come in more easily. Mega Gengar can also absorb Toxic Spikes and can spinblock. Mega Gengar does have weaknesses, such as being susceptible to Pursuit, although this can be mitigated through move selection. Furthermore, its low bulk makes it rather easy for offensive threats to OHKO, and Cursed Body is virtually useless as a pre-Mega ability. The reduced potency of Thunder Wave and burns indirectly makes Hex a worse move, and the Destiny Bond nerf hurts a bit, but Taunt and good play make it mostly a non-issue.

[SET]
name: Hex Trapper
move 1: Will-O-Wisp
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Hex
move 4: Sludge Wave
item: Gengarite
ability: Cursed Body
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

This set is used to spread burns and benefits from the use of other status-inflicting Pokemon. Will-O-Wisp is used to allow Hex to deal twice as much damage and reduces the potency of Pursuit trappers. Hex allows Gengar to inflict high amounts of damage on statused foes. Sludge Wave is used for trapping and eliminating Fairy-types such as Xerneas, Arceus-Fairy, and Clefable. It also offers a STAB move with immediate high power in place of Hex. Substitute is an alternative that can ease prediction on the turn Gengar Mega Evolves, scout moves or stall foes, and bypass Sucker Punch. Focus Blast can cover Dark- and Normal-types, which resist Hex, in lieu of Taunt.

Set Details
========

Maximum Speed is key for outspeeding Arceus and below, beats out Darkrai and Shaymin-S, and is also optimal for ties against base 130 Pokemon such as Mewtwo, Tapu Koko, and opposing Mega Gengar. 252 Special Attack EVs maximize damage output for revenge killing and breaking potency.

Usage Tips
========

The earlier you can Mega Evolve Gengar, the sooner you can trap foes. Usually there are four ways to get it in: to revenge kill something; on a predicted Toxic or Normal- or Fighting-type attack; with a double switch; or via U-turn or Volt Switch. Take note of what Mega Gengar needs to eliminate for your team and whether you need to keep it intact to check or revenge kill certain opposing threats. Will-O-Wisp should be used on foes that have the potential to Pursuit trap Gengar or rely on unneutered physical attacks to deal substantial damage to Mega Gengar. Trap and use Hex to revenge kill statused threats such as support Arceus, poisoned Primal Groudon, and paralyzed Mega Salamence. Hex also punishes Rest Pokemon such as Primal Kyogre and Zygarde-C, allowing you to dent them hard. A Substitute should be set when forcing an initial switch or when Gengar is faster than something that cannot inflict immediate damage to it. Be wary of Sucker Punch; Substitute and Will-O-Wisp cause this to fail and allow you to circumvent it.

Team Options
========

Status users, such as Ho-Oh, Primal Groudon, support Arceus, Zygarde-C, Celesteela, and other Steel-types, synergize best with this set, increasing Hex's potency and providing necessary support roles for these styles of builds. Xerneas is the setup sweeper that has the best offensive synergy with Mega Gengar, as most Xerneas checks can be eliminated or forced to trade with it. Yveltal provides a Ghost-type switch-in, can U-turn into Mega Gengar, and benefits from the removal of Fairy-types and special walls. U-turn in general is nice to get Mega Gengar into play more often, via users such as Yveltal. Magearna provides Mega Gengar teams with a solid Dark-type switch-in. Swords Dance Arceus-Ground and Extreme Killer are two of the best offensive Arceus variants, and they synergize well with Mega Gengar. Arceus-Dark provides a Ghost-type switch-in and benefits from the removal of Pokemon such as Fairy-types and special walls. Giratina-O is the other viable Hex user in the tier, stacks well with Mega Gengar, and can be used alongside it to help cover Primal Groudon and Swords Dance Arceus while providing Defog support.

[SET]
name: Substitute + 3 Attacks
move 1: Focus Blast
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Sludge Wave
move 4: Substitute
item: Gengarite
ability: Cursed Body
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

The premise here is to be able to hit as many foes as possible for the highest immediate damage available, granting flexibility and swiftness in threat removal. Focus Blast is for Dark-, Normal-, and Steel-types, which resist or are immune to Mega Gengar's STAB types. Shadow Ball hits opposing Ghost- and Psychic-types. Sludge Wave is the best option for hitting Fairy-types and has a higher overall damage output than Shadow Ball against neutral targets. Substitute helps ease prediction, punishes threats that don't have a way to hit Mega Gengar hard, blocks status, and can be used to stall for residual damage.

Disable can be used over an attacking move in order stop Pokemon that only have a single good way to damage Mega Gengar. Thunder is an option for high damage output versus Arceus-Water, Primal Kyogre, and Ho-Oh. Icy Wind OHKOes some Mega Salamence spreads, smacks Zygarde-C hard, and allows Mega Gengar to anti-lead certain Pokemon such as Deoxys-S that lack an attacking move.

Set Details
========

Maximum Speed is key for outspeeding Arceus and below; it also beats out Darkrai and Shaymin-S and is optimal for ties against base 130 Pokemon such as Mewtwo, Tapu Koko, and opposing Mega Gengar. 252 Special Attack EVs maximize damage output for revenge killing and breaking potency.

Usage Tips
========

The earlier you can Mega Evolve Gengar, the sooner you can trap foes. Usually there are four ways to get it in: to revenge kill something; on a predicted Toxic or Normal- or Fighting-type attack; with a double switch; or via U-turn or Volt Switch. Take note of what Mega Gengar needs to eliminate for your team and whether you need to keep it intact to check or revenge kill certain opposing threats. Substitute is best used when Gengar forces a switch before attaining Shadow Tag, which gives Mega Gengar two turns to attack the incoming threat, thus reducing reliance on prediction. Use Icy Wind against Deoxys-S to limit it to a single layer of hazards. It is also good for slowing down a particular offensive threat so that a teammate that is normally too slow can revenge kill it. Understand calculations well so you can minimize the number of times you have to rely on the shaky accuracy of Focus Blast and Thunder.

Team Options
========

Primal Groudon checks bulky attackers such as Primal Kyogre and Ho-Oh, which Mega Gengar struggles to take down on its own. Xerneas is the setup sweeper that has the best offensive synergy with Mega Gengar, as most Xerneas checks can be eliminated or forced to trade with it. Yveltal provides a Ghost-type switch-in, can U-turn into Mega Gengar, and benefits from the removal of Fairy-types and special walls. U-turn and Volt Switch in general are nice to get Mega Gengar into play more often, via users such as Magearna, Pheromosa, Landorus-T, and Tapu Koko. Swords Dance Arceus-Ground and Extreme Killer are two of the best offensive Arceus variants, and they synergize well with Mega Gengar. Arceus-Dark provides a Ghost-type switch-in and benefits from the removal of foes such as Fairy-types and special walls.

[SET]
name: Utility Trapper
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Destiny Bond
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Shadow Ball / Sludge Wave
item: Gengarite
ability: Cursed Body
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

This set is bit more offensively inclined than the Hex set. Taunt prevents trapped foes from being able to recover, Defog, set up, or status Mega Gengar. This also forces Pokemon to directly damage it. Destiny Bond allows Gengar to force a trade against an opposing Pokemon, perhaps a key defensive threat or a troublesome offensive one. Focus Blast is for Dark-, Normal-, and Steel-types, which resist or are immune to Mega Gengar's STAB types. Shadow Ball hits opposing Ghost- and Psychic-types. Alternatively, Sludge Wave is the best option for hitting Fairy-types and has a higher overall damage output than Shadow Ball against neutral targets.

Set Details
========

Maximum Speed is key for outspeeding Arceus and below. It beats out Darkrai and Shaymin-S and is also optimal for ties against base 130 Pokemon such as Mewtwo, Tapu Koko, and opposing Mega Gengar. 252 Special Attack EVs maximize damage output for revenge killing and breaking potency.

Usage Tips
========

The earlier you can Mega Evolve Gengar, the sooner you can trap foes. Usually there are four ways to get it in: to revenge kill something; on a predicted Toxic or Normal- or Fighting-type attack; with a double switch; or via U-turn or Volt Switch. Take note of what Mega Gengar needs to eliminate for your team and whether you need to keep it intact to check or revenge kill certain opposing threats. Use Taunt early to prevent foes from being able to restore health, Defog, or set up. Be aware that most Pokemon that hit Gengar directly will OHKO or 2HKO it. Destiny Bond is best used when the foe is trapped by Shadow Tag and forced to attack. Do not reveal Destiny Bond until the best opportunity arises. For threats that can instantly OHKO Mega Gengar and don't have anything to gain from not attacking other than baiting the Destiny Bond, it is usually best to use Destiny Bond. If they don't attack, you can always switch Mega Gengar out next turn and have a strong sense of what they'll do anyway.

Team Options
========

Primal Groudon is bulky enough to handle most fast attackers that threaten Mega Gengar, and it checks Ho-Oh and Primal Kyogre, two bulky attackers that Mega Gengar struggles to remove. Xerneas is the setup sweeper that has the best offensive synergy with Mega Gengar, as most Xerneas checks can be eliminated or forced to trade with it. Yveltal provides a Ghost-type switch-in, can U-turn into Mega Gengar, and benefits from the removal of Fairy-types and special walls. VoltTurn support in general is nice to get Mega Gengar into play more often, via users such as Magearna, Pheromosa, and Tapu Koko. Swords Dance Arceus-Ground and Extreme Killer are two of the best offensive Arceus variants, and they synergize well with Mega Gengar. Arceus-Dark provides a Ghost-type switch-in and benefits from the removal of Pokemon such as Fairy-types and special walls. Rayquaza and Palkia benefit from this set's ability to eliminate defensive threats that can otherwise prevent their potency.


[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

A Perish trap set with Substitute, Disable, and Perish Song can be used to eliminate Pokemon that only have a single way to hit Mega Gengar, but it is clunky to use and often more matchup reliant than the other sets. Reflect Type improves Mega Gengar's ability to remove Dark-types such as Alolan Muk and Arceus-Dark. Energy Ball can be used on a set with three other attacks to hit bulky Water-types and Arceus-Ground harder than Gengar's STAB moves. Sucker Punch picks off Deoxys-A, but it has little other use. Reflect Type can make it difficult for certain defensive Pokemon to hit Mega Gengar. Mega Gengar doesn't have the bulk or recovery necessary to stall with Toxic, but it could be used alongside Hex and as a last-ditch move on Toxic-vulnerable Pokemon. Disable on its own can shut down Choice-locked threats or Pokemon that only have one way to hit Mega Gengar.

Checks and Counters
===================

Mega Gengar is hard to check or counter conventionally, since Shadow Tag eliminates switching. Mega Gengar can also pick its moveset to get around a number of its checks.

**Pursuit**: Pursuit users such as Alolan Muk, Deoxys-A, Tyranitar, and Aegislash can prevent Mega Gengar from switching and can KO it even if it decides to stay in.

**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types such as Lunala, Arceus-Ghost, Giratina-O, Mega Sableye, Aegislash, and opposing Mega Gengar can't be trapped and have a way to smack Mega Gengar.

**Fast Pokemon**: Pokemon with higher than base 130 Speed such as Mega Mewtwo Y and Deoxys-A can revenge kill Mega Gengar.

**Priority**: Sucker Punch and Shadow Sneak are strong enough to OHKO or deal significant damage to Mega Gengar before it can attack.

**Choice Scarf Pokemon**: Choice Scarf users such as Lunala, Yveltal, and Xerneas can outspeed Mega Gengar, either OHKOing it or picking it off.

**Primal Groudon**: Primal Groudon is bulky enough to survive Mega Gengar's attacks, can OHKO it with a variety of moves, and can set up Rock Polish on sets that lack Taunt.

**Bulky Attackers**: Pokemon with substantial bulk and power such as Ho-Oh, Primal Kyogre, Arceus-Ground, and Zygarde-C can often tank an attack from Mega Gengar and OHKO it.

 

[Hack]

sup, the sets seem overall fine but I think destiny bond is a mediocre option on gar in general

for me taunt/wisp/hex/sludge wave has the most utility/consistent in that you can escape all pursuits, clean, and trap stallier mons. This set, which I'm sure most would agree with me on, should be the first set at least. It can replace the old hex trapper set. Some other good partners to this include Celesteela, Zygarde. I wouldn't really run Tapu Koko or Pheromosa with the set, however.

I'm fine with keeping dbond if you really want to but if other qc wants to remove its set I'm also fine with that.

I'd slash in disable on sub set, it's overall good utility, it can go over any attacking move really depending on team needs.

m2y in cc as an example as a faster mon (that actually switches in too now)

qc 1/3 after that

 

[Sensualplay]

Im not from qc or anything but i really thing the reflect type gar deserve a skeleton/set cause that the only reason M-gar is still an S pokemon so that option not listed make any sense at all.

 

[ckw]

Im not from qc or anything but i really thing the reflect type gar deserve a skeleton/set cause that the only reason M-gar is still an S pokemon so that option not listed make any sense at all.

After the recent update on VR, Mega Gengar is actually now ranked A+. But I do see the use of running Reflect Type on this Pokemon; it lets you avoid getting Pursuit-trapped to death against stall and balance teams packing Alolan Muk which comes in handy a lot since Mega Gengar usually has a really good matchup against these kinds of builds. However, if you're this worried about getting trapped, then just run Will-O-Wisp instead [Will-O-Wisp has more utility]. This is probably one of the main reasons why you're gonna run Reflect Type on MGar [Can also Trap KO Darkceus easily]

 

[Sensualplay]

Oh yeah i didn't realize nayrz miss counted post was sending it to A+ my bad, still deserve a set more than a little oo mention imo.

 

[Minority]

I've implemented Hack's check.

 

[Nayrz]

After UPL I think the current skeleton still reflects Gengar pretty well. No changes that I note.

QC 2/3

 

[The Gunner]

Team Options
========

Can mention Magearna as a team option since it's a dark check and soft-ghost check.

Checks and Counters
===================

Primal-Groudon: Can come in and RP on non-taunt sets, or if you don't wanna risk staying in. I think this deserves its own header coz it's just a huge threat to many teams with Gengar on it.

Bulky Attackers: Add Zygarde

that's about it, gj
QC 3/3

 

[Minority]

Fixed some things, hopefully this is ready for GP now.

 

[Lumari]

remove add / fix (comments); (AC=add comma; RC=remove comma; SC=semicolon)
GP 1/2

check

[OVERVIEW]

Shadow Tag makes Mega Gengar a potent offensive Pokemon, allowing it to choose its matchups and eliminate threats. It is capable of running a variety of different sets, all each threatening in their own right, which makes it a difficult Pokemon to predict. Mega Gengar can fill several roles for a team, and is a stallbreaker, wallbreaker, and revenge killer wrapped in a single product. Very high Special Attack and a strong great Speed tier aid in its ability to perform these roles. Additionally, it synergizes well with a wide variety of offensive threats, making it easy to justify on a team. Although its defensive utility is limited, it does check Extreme Killer Arceus. Furthermore, It has useful Normal- and Fighting-type immunities and a handy Toxic immunity, which allow it to come in more easily. Mega Gengar can also absorb Toxic Spikes and can spinblock. Mega Gengar does have weaknesses, such as being susceptible to Pursuit, although this can be mitigated through move selection. Furthermore, it's its low bulk makes it rather easy for offensive threats to OHKO, and Cursed Body is virtually useless as a pre-Mega ability. The reduced potency of Thunder Wave and burns indirectly makes Hex a worse move, and the Destiny Bond nerf hurts a bit, but Taunt and good play make it mostly a non-issue. Cursed Body is virtually useless as a pre-mega ability.

[SET]
name: Hex Trapper
move 1: Will-O-Wisp
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Hex
move 4: Sludge Wave
item: Gengarite
ability: Cursed Body
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

This set is used to spread burns and benefits from the use of other status-inflicting Pokemon. Will-O-Wisp is used to allow Hex to deal twice as much damage and reduces the potency of Pursuit trappers. Status + Hex allows Gengar to inflict high amounts of damage on statused foes. Sludge Wave is used for trapping and eliminating Fairy-types such as Xerneas, Arceus-Fairy, and Clefable. It also offers a STAB move with immediate high power in place of Hex. Substitute is an alternative that can ease prediction on the turn Gengar Mega Evolves, is used to scout moves or stall foes, and bypasses Sucker Punch. Focus Blast can cover Dark- and Normal-types, which resist Hex, in lieu of Taunt.

Set Details
========

Maximum Speed is key for outspeeding Arceus and below, beats out Darkrai and Shaymin-S, and is also optimal for ties against base 130 Pokemon such as Mewtwo, Tapu Koko, and opposing Mega Gengar. 252 Special Attack EVs maximize damage output for revenge killing and breaking potency.

Usage Tips
========

The earlier you can Mega Evolve Gengar, the sooner you can trap foes. Usually there are four ways to get it in: to revenge kill something; on a predicted Toxic or Normal- or Fighting-type attack; with a double switch; or via U-turn or Volt Switch. Take note of what Mega Gengar needs to eliminate for your team and whether you need to keep it intact to check or revenge kill certain opposing threats. Will-O-Wisp should be used on foes that have the potential to Pursuit trap Gengar or rely on unneutered physical attacks to deal substantial damage to Mega Gengar. Trap and use Hex to revenge kill statused threats such as support Arceus, poisoned Primal Groudon, and paralyzed Mega Salamence. Hex also punishes Rest Pokemon such as Primal Kyogre and Zygarde-C, allowing you to dent them hard. A Substitute should be set when forcing an initial switch (RC) or when Gengar is faster than something that cannot inflict immedate damage to it. Be wary of Sucker Punch; Substitute and Will-O-Wisp cause this to fail and allow you to circumvent them it.

Team Options
========

Status Pokemon users, such as Ho-Oh, Primal Groudon, support Arceus, Zygarde-C, Celesteela, and other Steel-types, synergize best with this set, increasing Hex's potency and providing necessary support roles for these styles of builds. Xerneas is the setup sweeper that has the best offensive synergy with Mega Gengar, as most Xerneas checks can be eliminated or forced to trade with it. Yveltal provides a Ghost-type switch-in, can U-turn into Mega Gengar, and benefits from the removal of Fairy-types and special walls. U-turn in general is nice to get Mega Gengar into play more often, via users such as Yveltal. (got some others too, since you just mentioned Yveltal) Magearna provides Mega Gengar teams with a solid Dark-type resist switch-in. (or "check" or "-resistant Pokemon", whatever is accurate and is not "resist") Swords Dance Arceus-Ground and Extreme Killer are two of the best offensive Arceus variants, and they synergize well with Mega Gengar. Arceus-Dark provides a Ghost-type switch-in and benefits from the removal of Pokemon such as Fairy-types an and special walls. Giratina-O is the other viable Hex user in the tier, stacks well with Mega Gengar, and can be used alongside it to help cover Primal Groudon and Swords Dance Arceus while providing Defog support.

[SET]
name: Substitute + 3 Attacks
move 1: Focus Blast
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Sludge Wave
move 4: Substitute
item: Gengarite
ability: Cursed Body
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

The premise here is to be able to hit as many foes as possible for the highest immediate damage available, allowing for granting flexibility and swiftness in threat removal. Focus Blast is for Dark-, Normal-, and Steel-types, which resist or are immune to Mega Gengar's STAB types. Shadow Ball hits opposing Ghost- and Psychic-types. Sludge Wave is the best option for hitting Fairy-types and has a higher overall damage output than Shadow Ball against neutral targets. Substitute helps ease prediction, punishes threats that don't have a way to hit Mega Gengar hard, blocks status, and can be used to stall for residual damage.

Disable can be used over an attacking move in order stop Pokemon who that only have a single good way to damage Mega Gengar. (AP) Thunder is an option for high damage output versus Arceus-Water, Primal Kyogre, and Ho-Oh. Icy Wind OHKOes some Mega Salamence spreads, smacks Zygarde-C hard, and allows Mega Gengar to anti-lead certain Pokemon such as Deoxys-S that lack an attacking move.

Set Details
========

Maximum Speed is key for outspeeding Arceus and below; it also beats out Darkrai and Shaymin-S and is optimal for ties against base 130 Pokemon such as Mewtwo, Tapu Koko, and opposing Mega Gengar. 252 Special Attack EVs maximize damage output for revenge killing and breaking potency.

Usage Tips
========

The earlier you can Mega Evolve Gengar, the sooner you can trap foes. Usually there are four ways to get it in: to revenge kill something; on a predicted Toxic or Normal- or Fighting-type attack; with a double switch; or via U-turn or Volt Switch. Take note of what Mega Gengar needs to eliminate for your team and whether you need to keep it intact to check or revenge kill certain opposing threats. Substitute is best used when Gengar forces a switch before attaining Shadow Tag, which gives Mega Gengar two turns to attack the incoming threat, thus reducing reliance on prediction. Use Icy Wind against Deoxys-S to limit it to a single layer of hazards. It is also good for slowing down a particular offensive threat so that a teammate that is normally too slow can revenge kill it. Understand calcs calculations well so you can minimize the number of times you have to rely on the shaky accuracy of Focus Blast and Thunder.

Team Options
========

Primal Groudon checks bulky attackers such as Primal Kyogre and Ho-Oh, which Mega Gengar struggles to take down on its own. Xerneas is the setup sweeper that has the best offensive synergy with Mega Gengar, as most Xerneas checks can be eliminated or forced to trade with it. Yveltal provides a Ghost-type switch-in, can U-turn into Mega Gengar, and benefits from the removal of Fairy-types and special walls. U-turn and Volt Switch in general are nice to get Mega Gengar into play more often, via users such as Magearna, Pheromosa, Landorus-T, and Tapu Koko. Swords Dance Arceus-Ground and Extreme Killer are two of the best offensive Arceus variants, and they synergize well with Mega Gengar. Arceus-Dark provides a Ghost-type switch-in and benefits from the removal of foes such as Fairy-types and special walls.

[SET]
name: Utility Trapper
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Destiny Bond
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Shadow Ball / Sludge Wave
item: Gengarite
ability: Cursed Body
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

This set is bit more offensively inclined than the Hex set. Taunt prevents trapped foes from being able to recover, Defog, set up, or status Mega Gengar. This also forces Pokemon to directly damage it. Destiny Bond allows Gengar to force a trade against an opposing Pokemon, perhaps a key defensive threat or a troublesome offensive one. Focus Blast is for Dark-, Normal-, and Steel-types, which resist or are immune to Mega Gengar's STAB types. Shadow Ball hits opposing Ghost- and Psychic-types. Alternatively, Sludge Wave is the best option for hitting Fairy-types and has a higher overall damage output than Shadow Ball against neutral targets.

Set Details
========

Maximum Speed is key for outspeeding Arceus and below. It beats out Darkrai and Shaymin-S and is also optimal for ties against base 130 Pokemon such as Mewtwo, Tapu Koko, and opposing Mega Gengar. 252 Special Attack EVs maximize damage output for revenge killing and breaking potency.

Usage Tips
========

The earlier you can Mega Evolve Gengar, the sooner you can trap foes. Usually there are four ways to get it in: to revenge kill something; on a predicted Toxic or Normal- or Fighting-type attack; with a double switch; or via U-turn or Volt Switch. Take note of what Mega Gengar needs to eliminate for your team and whether you need to keep it intact to check or revenge kill certain opposing threats. Use Taunt early to prevent foes from being able to restore health, Defog, or set up. Be aware that most Pokemon that hit Gengar directly will OHKO or 2HKO it. Destiny Bond is best used when the foe is trapped by Shadow Tag and forced to attack. Do not reveal Destiny Bond until the best opportunity arises. For threats that can instantly OHKO Mega Gengar and don't have anything to gain from not attacking other than baiting the Destiny Bond, it is usually best to use Destiny Bond. If they don't attack you, you can always switch Mega Gengar out next turn and have a strong sense of what they'll do anyway.

Team Options
========

Primal Groudon is bulky enough to handle most fast attackers that threaten Mega Gengar, and it checks Ho-Oh and Primal Kyogre, (comma) two bulky attackers that Mega Gengar struggles to remove. Xerneas is the setup sweeper that has the best offensive synergy with Mega Gengar, as most Xerneas checks can be eliminated or forced to trade with it. Yveltal provides a Ghost-type switch-in, can U-turn into Mega Gengar, and benefits from the removal of Fairy-types and special walls. VoltTurn support in general is nice to get Mega Gengar into play more often, via users such as Magearna, Pheromosa, or Tapu Koko. Swords Dance Arceus-Ground and Extreme Killer are two of the best offensive Arceus variants, and they synergize well with Mega Gengar. Arceus-Dark provides a Ghost-type switch-in and benefits from the removal of Pokemon such as Fairy-types and special walls. Rayquaza and Palkia benefit from this set's ability to eliminate defensive threats that can otherwise prevent their potency.


[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

A Perish Trap set with Substitute, Disable, and Perish Song can be used to eliminate Pokemon that only have a single way to hit Mega Gengar, but it is clunky to use and often more matchup reliant than the other sets. Reflect Type improves Mega Gengar's ability to remove Dark-types such as Alolan Muk (RH) and Arceus-Dark. Energy Ball can be used on a set with three other attacks to hit bulky Water-types and Arceus-Ground harder than Gengar's STAB moves. Sucker Punch picks off Deoxys-A, but it has little other use. Reflect Type can make it difficult for certain defensive Pokemon to hit Mega Gengar. Mega Gengar doesn't have the bulk or recovery necessary to stall with Toxic, but it could be used alongside Hex and as a last-ditch move on Toxic-vulnerable Pokemon. Disable on its own can shut down Choice-locked threats or Pokemon that only have one way to hit Mega Gengar.

Checks and Counters
===================

Mega Gengar is hard to check or counter conventionally, since Shadow Tag eliminates switching. Mega Gengar can also pick its moveset to get around a number of its checks.

**Pursuit**: Pursuit users such as Alolan Muk, Deoxys-A, Tyranitar, and Aegislash can prevent Mega Gengar from switching and can KO it even if it decides to stay in.

**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types such as Lunala, Arceus-Ghost, Giratina-O, Mega Sableye, Aegislash, and opposing Mega Gengar can't be trapped and have a way to smack Mega Gengar.

**Fast Pokemon**: Pokemon with higher than base 130 Speed such as Mega Mewtwo Y and Deoxys-A can revenge kill Mega Gengar.

**Priority**: Sucker Punch and Shadow Sneak are strong enough to OHKO or deal significant damage to Mega Gengar before it can attack.

**Choice Scarf Pokemon**: Choice Scarf users such as Lunala, Yveltal, and Xerneas can outspeed Mega Gengar, either OHKOing it or picking it off.

**Primal Groudon**: Primal Groudon is bulky enough to survive Mega Gengar's attacks, can OHKO it with a variety of moves, and can set up Rock Polish on sets that lack Taunt.

**Bulky Attackers**: Pokemon with substantial bulk and power such as Ho-Oh, Primal Kyogre, Arceus-Ground, and Zygarde-Complete can often tank an attack from Mega Gengar and OHKO it.

 

[Minority]

Did the thing. Ready for the next.

 

[P Squared]

GP 2/2

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[OVERVIEW]

Shadow Tag makes Mega Gengar a potent offensive Pokemon, allowing it to choose its matchups and eliminate threats. It is capable of running a variety of different sets, all each threatening in their own right, which makes it a difficult Pokemon to predict. Mega Gengar can fill several roles for a team, (RC) and is a stallbreaker, wallbreaker, and revenge killer wrapped in a single product. Very high Special Attack and a great Speed tier aid in its ability to perform these roles. Additionally, it synergizes well with a wide variety of offensive threats, making it easy to justify on a team. Although its defensive utility is limited, it does check Extreme Killer Arceus. Furthermore, useful Normal- and Fighting-type immunities and a handy Toxic immunity allow it to come in more easily. Mega Gengar can also absorb Toxic Spikes and can spinblock. Mega Gengar does have weaknesses, such as being susceptible to Pursuit, although this can be mitigated through move selection. Furthermore, its low bulk makes it rather easy for offensive threats to OHKO, and Cursed Body is virtually useless as a pre-Mega ability. The reduced potency of Thunder Wave and burns indirectly makes Hex a worse move, and the Destiny Bond nerf hurts a bit, but Taunt and good play make it mostly a non-issue.

[SET]
name: Hex Trapper
move 1: Will-O-Wisp
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Hex
move 4: Sludge Wave
item: Gengarite
ability: Cursed Body
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

This set is used to spread burns and benefits from the use of other status-inflicting Pokemon. Will-O-Wisp is used to allow Hex to deal twice as much damage and reduces the potency of Pursuit trappers. Hex allows Gengar to inflict high amounts of damage on statused foes. Sludge Wave is used for trapping and eliminating Fairy-types such as Xerneas, Arceus-Fairy, and Clefable. It also offers a STAB move with immediate high power in place of Hex. Substitute is an alternative that can ease prediction on the turn Gengar Mega Evolves, scout moves or stall foes, and bypass Sucker Punch. Focus Blast can cover Dark- and Normal-types, which resist Hex, in lieu of Taunt.

Set Details
========

Maximum Speed is key for outspeeding Arceus and below, beats out Darkrai and Shaymin-S, and is also optimal for ties against base 130 Pokemon such as Mewtwo, Tapu Koko, and opposing Mega Gengar. 252 Special Attack EVs maximize damage output for revenge killing and breaking potency.

Usage Tips
========

The earlier you can Mega Evolve Gengar, the sooner you can trap foes. Usually there are four ways to get it in: to revenge kill something; on a predicted Toxic or Normal- or Fighting-type attack; with a double switch; or via U-turn or Volt Switch. Take note of what Mega Gengar needs to eliminate for your team and whether you need to keep it intact to check or revenge kill certain opposing threats. Will-O-Wisp should be used on foes that have the potential to Pursuit trap Gengar or rely on unneutered physical attacks to deal substantial damage to Mega Gengar. Trap and use Hex to revenge kill statused threats such as support Arceus, poisoned Primal Groudon, and paralyzed Mega Salamence. Hex also punishes Rest Pokemon such as Primal Kyogre and Zygarde-C, allowing you to dent them hard. A Substitute should be set when forcing an initial switch or when Gengar is faster than something that cannot inflict immedate immediate damage to it. Be wary of Sucker Punch; Substitute and Will-O-Wisp cause this to fail and allow you to circumvent it.

Team Options
========

Status users, such as Ho-Oh, Primal Groudon, support Arceus, Zygarde-C, Celesteela, and other Steel-types, synergize best with this set, increasing Hex's potency and providing necessary support roles for these styles of builds. Xerneas is the setup sweeper that has the best offensive synergy with Mega Gengar, as most Xerneas checks can be eliminated or forced to trade with it. Yveltal provides a Ghost-type switch-in, can U-turn into Mega Gengar, and benefits from the removal of Fairy-types and special walls. U-turn in general is nice to get Mega Gengar into play more often, via users such as Yveltal. Magearna provides Mega Gengar teams with a solid Dark-type switch-in. Swords Dance Arceus-Ground and Extreme Killer are two of the best offensive Arceus variants, and they synergize well with Mega Gengar. Arceus-Dark provides a Ghost-type switch-in and benefits from the removal of Pokemon such as Fairy-types and special walls. Giratina-O is the other viable Hex user in the tier, stacks well with Mega Gengar, and can be used alongside it to help cover Primal Groudon and Swords Dance Arceus while providing Defog support.

[SET]
name: Substitute + 3 Attacks
move 1: Focus Blast
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Sludge Wave
move 4: Substitute
item: Gengarite
ability: Cursed Body
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

The premise here is to be able to hit as many foes as possible for the highest immediate damage available, granting flexibility and swiftness in threat removal. Focus Blast is for Dark-, Normal-, and Steel-types, which resist or are immune to Mega Gengar's STAB types. Shadow Ball hits opposing Ghost- and Psychic-types. Sludge Wave is the best option for hitting Fairy-types and has a higher overall damage output than Shadow Ball against neutral targets. Substitute helps ease prediction, punishes threats that don't have a way to hit Mega Gengar hard, blocks status, and can be used to stall for residual damage.

Disable can be used over an attacking move in order stop Pokemon that only have a single good way to damage Mega Gengar. Thunder is an option for high damage output versus Arceus-Water, Primal Kyogre, and Ho-Oh. Icy Wind OHKOes some Mega Salamence spreads, smacks Zygarde-C hard, and allows Mega Gengar to anti-lead certain Pokemon such as Deoxys-S that lack an attacking move.

Set Details
========

Maximum Speed is key for outspeeding Arceus and below; it also beats out Darkrai and Shaymin-S and is optimal for ties against base 130 Pokemon such as Mewtwo, Tapu Koko, and opposing Mega Gengar. 252 Special Attack EVs maximize damage output for revenge killing and breaking potency.

Usage Tips
========

The earlier you can Mega Evolve Gengar, the sooner you can trap foes. Usually there are four ways to get it in: to revenge kill something; on a predicted Toxic or Normal- or Fighting-type attack; with a double switch; or via U-turn or Volt Switch. Take note of what Mega Gengar needs to eliminate for your team and whether you need to keep it intact to check or revenge kill certain opposing threats. Substitute is best used when Gengar forces a switch before attaining Shadow Tag, which gives Mega Gengar two turns to attack the incoming threat, thus reducing reliance on prediction. Use Icy Wind against Deoxys-S to limit it to a single layer of hazards. It is also good for slowing down a particular offensive threat so that a teammate that is normally too slow can revenge kill it. Understand calculations well so you can minimize the number of times you have to rely on the shaky accuracy of Focus Blast and Thunder.

Team Options
========

Primal Groudon checks bulky attackers such as Primal Kyogre and Ho-Oh, which Mega Gengar struggles to take down on its own. Xerneas is the setup sweeper that has the best offensive synergy with Mega Gengar, as most Xerneas checks can be eliminated or forced to trade with it. Yveltal provides a Ghost-type switch-in, can U-turn into Mega Gengar, and benefits from the removal of Fairy-types and special walls. U-turn and Volt Switch in general are nice to get Mega Gengar into play more often, via users such as Magearna, Pheromosa, Landorus-T, and Tapu Koko. Swords Dance Arceus-Ground and Extreme Killer are two of the best offensive Arceus variants, and they synergize well with Mega Gengar. Arceus-Dark provides a Ghost-type switch-in and benefits from the removal of foes such as Fairy-types and special walls.

[SET]
name: Utility Trapper
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Destiny Bond
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Shadow Ball / Sludge Wave
item: Gengarite
ability: Cursed Body
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

This set is bit more offensively inclined than the Hex set. Taunt prevents trapped foes from being able to recover, Defog, set up, or status Mega Gengar. This also forces Pokemon to directly damage it. Destiny Bond allows Gengar to force a trade against an opposing Pokemon, perhaps a key defensive threat or a troublesome offensive one. Focus Blast is for Dark-, Normal-, and Steel-types, which resist or are immune to Mega Gengar's STAB types. Shadow Ball hits opposing Ghost- and Psychic-types. Alternatively, Sludge Wave is the best option for hitting Fairy-types and has a higher overall damage output than Shadow Ball against neutral targets.

Set Details
========

Maximum Speed is key for outspeeding Arceus and below. It beats out Darkrai and Shaymin-S and is also optimal for ties against base 130 Pokemon such as Mewtwo, Tapu Koko, and opposing Mega Gengar. 252 Special Attack EVs maximize damage output for revenge killing and breaking potency.

Usage Tips
========

The earlier you can Mega Evolve Gengar, the sooner you can trap foes. Usually there are four ways to get it in: to revenge kill something; on a predicted Toxic or Normal- or Fighting-type attack; with a double switch; or via U-turn or Volt Switch. Take note of what Mega Gengar needs to eliminate for your team and whether you need to keep it intact to check or revenge kill certain opposing threats. Use Taunt early to prevent foes from being able to restore health, Defog, or set up. Be aware that most Pokemon that hit Gengar directly will OHKO or 2HKO it. Destiny Bond is best used when the foe is trapped by Shadow Tag and forced to attack. Do not reveal Destiny Bond until the best opportunity arises. For threats that can instantly OHKO Mega Gengar and don't have anything to gain from not attacking other than baiting the Destiny Bond, it is usually best to use Destiny Bond. If they don't attack you, you can always switch Mega Gengar out next turn and have a strong sense of what they'll do anyway.

Team Options
========

Primal Groudon is bulky enough to handle most fast attackers that threaten Mega Gengar, and it checks Ho-Oh and Primal Kyogre, two bulky attackers that Mega Gengar struggles to remove. Xerneas is the setup sweeper that has the best offensive synergy with Mega Gengar, as most Xerneas checks can be eliminated or forced to trade with it. Yveltal provides a Ghost-type switch-in, can U-turn into Mega Gengar, and benefits from the removal of Fairy-types and special walls. VoltTurn support in general is nice to get Mega Gengar into play more often, via users such as Magearna, Pheromosa, and Tapu Koko. Swords Dance Arceus-Ground and Extreme Killer are two of the best offensive Arceus variants, and they synergize well with Mega Gengar. Arceus-Dark provides a Ghost-type switch-in and benefits from the removal of Pokemon such as Fairy-types and special walls. Rayquaza and Palkia benefit from this set's ability to eliminate defensive threats that can otherwise prevent their potency.


[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

A Perish trap set with Substitute, Disable, and Perish Song can be used to eliminate Pokemon that only have a single way to hit Mega Gengar, but it is clunky to use and often more matchup reliant than the other sets. Reflect Type improves Mega Gengar's ability to remove Dark-types such as Alolan Muk and Arceus-Dark. Energy Ball can be used on a set with three other attacks to hit bulky Water-types and Arceus-Ground harder than Gengar's STAB moves. Sucker Punch picks off Deoxys-A, but it has little other use. Reflect Type can make it difficult for certain defensive Pokemon to hit Mega Gengar. Mega Gengar doesn't have the bulk or recovery necessary to stall with Toxic, but it could be used alongside Hex and as a last-ditch move on Toxic-vulnerable Pokemon. Disable on its own can shut down Choice-locked threats or Pokemon that only have one way to hit Mega Gengar.

Checks and Counters
===================

Mega Gengar is hard to check or counter conventionally, since Shadow Tag eliminates switching. Mega Gengar can also pick its moveset to get around a number of its checks.

**Pursuit**: Pursuit users such as Alolan Muk, Deoxys-A, Tyranitar, and Aegislash can prevent Mega Gengar from switching and can KO it even if it decides to stay in.

**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types such as Lunala, Arceus-Ghost, Giratina-O, Mega Sableye, Aegislash, and opposing Mega Gengar can't be trapped and have a way to smack Mega Gengar.

**Fast Pokemon**: Pokemon with higher than base 130 Speed such as Mega Mewtwo Y and Deoxys-A can revenge kill Mega Gengar.

**Priority**: Sucker Punch and Shadow Sneak are strong enough to OHKO or deal significant damage to Mega Gengar before it can attack.

**Choice Scarf Pokemon**: Choice Scarf users such as Lunala, Yveltal, and Xerneas can outspeed Mega Gengar, either OHKOing it or picking it off.

**Primal Groudon**: Primal Groudon is bulky enough to survive Mega Gengar's attacks, can OHKO it with a variety of moves, and can set up Rock Polish on sets that lack Taunt.

**Bulky Attackers**: Pokemon with substantial bulk and power such as Ho-Oh, Primal Kyogre, Arceus-Ground, and Zygarde-C can often tank an attack from Mega Gengar and OHKO it.

 

[Minority]

Okay all finished.

 

[Nayrz]

spooky upload