I welcome the many users of Smogon to my new rate my team. Over the last few days I've fallen in love with Hex gengar and as such I have decided to build a team revolving around said mon but after various attempts I still haven't been able to create a team that I have been happy with I dunno why maybe it's just taking me sometime to adapt to the metagame nevertheless I digress, the team I am showcasing is focused around Hex Gengar. The team has various issues but I just can't seem to figure out how to adapt it so any suggestions are highly appreciated but without further ado heres the team
In terms of team synergy there are some issues. for starters I have a massive weakness to ground type moves but as I also have too mons with immunities with careful play I can manoeuvre around said weakness. The main idea of the team is to apply massive pressure with toxic spikes so that once the opposing team is weakened Gengar can go in for a hex sweep. To be fair the team has been fairly successful hex Gengar is not very common so I usually find that by the time the opponent has realised it is too late.
Excadrill @ Leftovers
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 Hp / 252 Spd / 4 Atk
Carefull nature
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock
- Iron Head
I chose Excadrill for it's ability to spin away and set hazards. To be honest it wouldn't have been my first choice as it amplifies my teams weaknesses to ground moves but regardless it puts in work and its synergy with Gengar is amazing paving the way for free switches. Mold Breaker earthquake checks Rotom W who can be a royal pain in the ass and iron head checks the various fairy types in tier. To be honest I find it difficult to judge Escadrille effectively as it is not a pokemon that I want to use in my team rather its ability to remove hazards with very little difficulty is its main appeal. If anyone has any ideas for a better choice let me know
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 Hp / 88 Def / 168 Spd
Relaxed nature
- Power Whip
- Thunder Wave
- Spikes
- Leech seed
Ferrothorn is a highly useful member of the team being able to provide subtle but consistent damage to opposing mons through the combination of hazards. Together with Dragalge it has excellent synergy and can greatly assist a Gengar sweep. Thunder wave is a life saver as it allows it to neuter many pokemon that may be faster than Gengar and subsequently doubles the power of its Hex. Power whip is allows Ferrothorn to be a major nuisance to Hippowdon and other ground types. Leech seed and spikes are the crux of the set as the damage they provide over time is usually the difference between a Gengar sweep
Gengar @ Black Sludge
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 8 HP / 248 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hex
- Taunt
- Will-O-Wisp
- Sludge Wave
I don't know why I have fallen in love with hex Gengar but I just think it is amazing while it requires a significant amount of support to pull off a hex sweep once successful it just kicks ass. Hex is obviously the most important move and with the combination of Dragalge toxic spikes I find that at least four mons can be taken down very easily. Will-O-Wisp is a move I will resort to using only on predicted switches as it can give away the set, as such I prefer to spam sludge wave as it does a significant amount of damage to any mon that does not resit. Taunt is very useful for quickly shutting down attempts to set up hazards and for just general utility
Dragalge @ Black Sludge
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 248 HP / 232 SpD / 28 Spe
Calm Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Sludge Wave
- Scald
- Toxic Spikes
Specially defensive Dragalge is and incredibly useful member of the team, toxic spikes is the most important move as it greatly eases the need to status other pokemon for Gengar. Even though it has no special attack investment Draco Meteor and Sludge wave still hit like a truck preventing it from being set up bait, scald is simply used to occasionally fish for burns but overall its never really used. As I have mentioned before it has great synergy with Ferrothorn and together with Excadrill they are able to set every form of entry hazard excluding sticky web.
Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split
Rotom is the defensive pivot for the team and arguably the best answer to ground types which this team is weak against. Volt switch is the most useful move as it provides free switch ins for them as it is slow enough to go last. Will-O-Wisp is a great answer to many physically orientated mons in the tier as it can cripple then and leave them for Gengar to later sweep. Pain split is for regaining health and is actually a very easy way to provide chip damage. Volt Switch is for pivoting and because of the unique synergy of the team it helps Gengar manoeuvre into free switches. Finally hydro pump is for countering annoying grounds
Diancie @ Diancie
Ability: Magic Bounce
Evs: 16 Atk / 240 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive nature
- Moonblast
- Diamond Storm
- Earth Power
- Hidden power fire
If you thought mega Diancie was a weird choice then my strategy worked. Mega Diancie is the teams lure and a fantastic one at that as it takes a lot of pressure off Gengar wearing down the opposing team allowing Gengar to sweep. Magic bounce also is a fantastic ability as it can aid in spreading statuses and entry hazards. Moonblast is for stab and with near enough full investment it hits like a truck heavily damaging whatever does not resist it. Diamond storm is again stab and takes down fire types that Diancie checks like talonflame. Earth power checks Heatran a mon that can provide a significant amount of trouble this team and hidden power fire counters ferrothorn who provides massive issues to the team
The main objective of this team is to weaken opposing mons through a combination of hazards and status so that Gengar can sweep. Mega Diancie is an amazing distraction and takes a lot of attention off Gengar. I know this team has a lot of issues so feel free to offer suggestions :)
In terms of team synergy there are some issues. for starters I have a massive weakness to ground type moves but as I also have too mons with immunities with careful play I can manoeuvre around said weakness. The main idea of the team is to apply massive pressure with toxic spikes so that once the opposing team is weakened Gengar can go in for a hex sweep. To be fair the team has been fairly successful hex Gengar is not very common so I usually find that by the time the opponent has realised it is too late.
Excadrill @ Leftovers
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 Hp / 252 Spd / 4 Atk
Carefull nature
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock
- Iron Head
I chose Excadrill for it's ability to spin away and set hazards. To be honest it wouldn't have been my first choice as it amplifies my teams weaknesses to ground moves but regardless it puts in work and its synergy with Gengar is amazing paving the way for free switches. Mold Breaker earthquake checks Rotom W who can be a royal pain in the ass and iron head checks the various fairy types in tier. To be honest I find it difficult to judge Escadrille effectively as it is not a pokemon that I want to use in my team rather its ability to remove hazards with very little difficulty is its main appeal. If anyone has any ideas for a better choice let me know
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 Hp / 88 Def / 168 Spd
Relaxed nature
- Power Whip
- Thunder Wave
- Spikes
- Leech seed
Ferrothorn is a highly useful member of the team being able to provide subtle but consistent damage to opposing mons through the combination of hazards. Together with Dragalge it has excellent synergy and can greatly assist a Gengar sweep. Thunder wave is a life saver as it allows it to neuter many pokemon that may be faster than Gengar and subsequently doubles the power of its Hex. Power whip is allows Ferrothorn to be a major nuisance to Hippowdon and other ground types. Leech seed and spikes are the crux of the set as the damage they provide over time is usually the difference between a Gengar sweep
Gengar @ Black Sludge
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 8 HP / 248 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hex
- Taunt
- Will-O-Wisp
- Sludge Wave
I don't know why I have fallen in love with hex Gengar but I just think it is amazing while it requires a significant amount of support to pull off a hex sweep once successful it just kicks ass. Hex is obviously the most important move and with the combination of Dragalge toxic spikes I find that at least four mons can be taken down very easily. Will-O-Wisp is a move I will resort to using only on predicted switches as it can give away the set, as such I prefer to spam sludge wave as it does a significant amount of damage to any mon that does not resit. Taunt is very useful for quickly shutting down attempts to set up hazards and for just general utility
Dragalge @ Black Sludge
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 248 HP / 232 SpD / 28 Spe
Calm Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Sludge Wave
- Scald
- Toxic Spikes
Specially defensive Dragalge is and incredibly useful member of the team, toxic spikes is the most important move as it greatly eases the need to status other pokemon for Gengar. Even though it has no special attack investment Draco Meteor and Sludge wave still hit like a truck preventing it from being set up bait, scald is simply used to occasionally fish for burns but overall its never really used. As I have mentioned before it has great synergy with Ferrothorn and together with Excadrill they are able to set every form of entry hazard excluding sticky web.
Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split
Rotom is the defensive pivot for the team and arguably the best answer to ground types which this team is weak against. Volt switch is the most useful move as it provides free switch ins for them as it is slow enough to go last. Will-O-Wisp is a great answer to many physically orientated mons in the tier as it can cripple then and leave them for Gengar to later sweep. Pain split is for regaining health and is actually a very easy way to provide chip damage. Volt Switch is for pivoting and because of the unique synergy of the team it helps Gengar manoeuvre into free switches. Finally hydro pump is for countering annoying grounds
Diancie @ Diancie
Ability: Magic Bounce
Evs: 16 Atk / 240 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive nature
- Moonblast
- Diamond Storm
- Earth Power
- Hidden power fire
If you thought mega Diancie was a weird choice then my strategy worked. Mega Diancie is the teams lure and a fantastic one at that as it takes a lot of pressure off Gengar wearing down the opposing team allowing Gengar to sweep. Magic bounce also is a fantastic ability as it can aid in spreading statuses and entry hazards. Moonblast is for stab and with near enough full investment it hits like a truck heavily damaging whatever does not resist it. Diamond storm is again stab and takes down fire types that Diancie checks like talonflame. Earth power checks Heatran a mon that can provide a significant amount of trouble this team and hidden power fire counters ferrothorn who provides massive issues to the team
The main objective of this team is to weaken opposing mons through a combination of hazards and status so that Gengar can sweep. Mega Diancie is an amazing distraction and takes a lot of attention off Gengar. I know this team has a lot of issues so feel free to offer suggestions :)
