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We should also pay attention to the 2nd Charge Move. Gengar will be a great Aid against the Tapus, and we should remember that Poison can give it a resistances to Fairy, Grass, Bug, Fighting, Poison which can let it break foes like Togekiss in gyms.
IMO, Gengar is best used as a Ghost type attacker only. I'd personally invest in a Poison Roserade before thinking of Gengar, since as is, Gengar will be outclassed as a general Tapu counter (except against Lele, but only because it's Ghost).

Now, if Gengar were to gain Poison Jab as a Fast move (!), it would rule the Poison DPS scale, at least until the eventual release of Naganadel, late into Gen 7.
 
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Blitz

Mightiest of Cleaves
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Discord Leader
Lucky Friends and Poses

These are now live.

Lucky Friends guarantee that your next trade with your Best Friend will be Lucky. You have a chance to trigger a Lucky Friend with your first interaction. Once you exhaust said Lucky Friend you can still get more with that same friend later on.

5 out of the 20 datamined poses are live in the style shop. They are 500 coins a piece. lol
 

Champion Leon

Banned deucer.
IMO, Gengar is best used as a Ghost type attacker only. I'd personally invest in a Poison Roserade before thinking of Gengar, since as is, Gengar will be outclassed as a general Tapu counter (except against Lele, but only because it's Ghost).

Now, if Gengar were to gain Poison Jab as a Fast move (!), it would rule the Poison DPS scale, at least until the eventual release of Naganadel, late into Gen 7.
You forgot an important factor- Lick generates 12 EPS per second, while Razor Leaf generates 7, and Poison Jab generates 8.75. Since Lick generates Energy at almost Double of Razor Leaf, and almost 1.5 x faster than Poison Jab, it’s charge moves will launch faster.

This means it will do 4 Licks to get 48 energy, with the remaining coming from taking damage.
For Poison Jab it would be 5 to get 43 energy, with the remaining coming from taking damage.

Further, lacking a resistance to Water and Electric allows it to accumulate more Energy than Roserade because the Damage converts to Energy.

Gengar can still 2x resist Tapu Bulu’s Grass moves, (Roserade is 4x resist) and because it takes more damage, it generates more Energy, which converts to more Charge moves.

I think people currently use Roserade as a Grass Attacker, and Poison fast moves are less used. (It’s on par with Frenzy Plant Sceptile with a Double Grass moves) and like Gengar would have a secondary Charge Move, but not necessarily the poison Fast Move unless they keep alternating fast TMs for battles.

In either case, I could see a case made for both, but Energy generation is a key factor in scoring big hits.

Also if you disagree about the merits of taking hits for energy that means that Gengar does better VS Togekiss bc it isn’t weak to flying moves, which are almost always a fast move sinc even Hidden Power cannot be Fairy.. this Air Slash.

Gengar comes out on top in one way or another...
 
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You forgot an important factor- Lick generates 12 EPS per second, while Razor Leaf generates 7, and Poison Jab generates 8.75. Since Lick generates Energy at almost Double of Razor Leaf, and almost 1.5 x faster than Poison Jab, it’s charge moves will launch faster.

This means it will do 4 Licks to get 48 energy, with the remaining coming from taking damage.
For Poison Jab it would be 5 to get 43 energy, with the remaining coming from taking damage.

Further, lacking a resistance to Water and Electric allows it to accumulate more Energy than Roserade because the Damage converts to Energy.

Gengar can still 2x resist Tapu Bulu’s Grass moves, (Roserade is 4x resist) and because it takes more damage, it generates more Energy, which converts to more Charge moves.

I think people currently use Roserade as a Grass Attacker, and Poison fast moves are less used. (It’s on par with Frenzy Plant Sceptile with a Double Grass moves) and like Gengar would have a secondary Charge Move, but not necessarily the poison Fast Move unless they keep alternating fast TMs for battles.

In either case, I could see a case made for both, but Energy generation is a key factor in scoring big hits.

Also if you disagree about the merits of taking hits for energy that means that Gengar does better VS Togekiss bc it isn’t weak to flying moves, which are almost always a fast move sinc even Hidden Power cannot be Fairy.. this Air Slash.

Gengar comes out on top in one way or another...
Calculators already have the energy generated by Fast moves and the energy generated by taking hits included in their DPS formula. That's why Lick and Shadow Claw have similar DPS on Gengar, even if one deals more damage but has less energy gain, and the other grants more energy but deals less damage. That's also why every Pokemon's listed DPS goes slightly down if they resist the other Pokemon's attacks.

Those same calculators did actual math to calculate that Roserade has a higher DPS than Gengar against most Fairy-types. I'm personally going to rely on that.

And it's true, Poison-type moves are not so useful for now. There hasn't been a single Raid Boss so far that specifically required the use of a Poison-type attacker. Against Grass, Moltres/Charizard/Mamoswine/Honchkrow are all better, and Fairy Legendaries were only introduced in Gen 6. But you specifically mentioned the Tapus, against which, until we know their specific movepool, Roserade is still listed as a better overall counter (except, as stated, Lele)

As far as Togekiss goes, Rampardos, Metagross, Electivire, Deoxys, Raikou, Mamoswine, Dialga, Roserade, Zapdos, Luxray, and Weavile (in a varying order depending on Togekiss' moves) are all listed as having a higher DPS than Lick/SludgeBomb Gengar.

Look, if you like Gengar, have many powered up and like using it, I'm not here to deter you from using it. It's still good against something weak to Poison. I'm just saying that Gengar is not the optimal choice for Poison, and that there are better options.
 

Champion Leon

Banned deucer.
Calculators already have the energy generated by Fast moves and the energy generated by taking hits included in their DPS formula. That's why Lick and Shadow Claw have similar DPS on Gengar, even if one deals more damage but has less energy gain, and the other grants more energy but deals less damage. That's also why every Pokemon's listed DPS goes slightly down if they resist the other Pokemon's attacks. DPS might factor in energy per second, but why doesn’t anyone think Weavile is better than Gengar unless the foe is Psychic? I know it had an Ice-Type Fast move, but it does a lot faster as well.

Also, bare in mind the amount of damage Gengar deals with fast moves will be less. Which means the charge move of the Pokémon it faces will charge slower. This lets Gengar take advantage of charging fast, but charging the opponent slower, which contributes to longevity and therefore TDO.

Those same calculators did actual math to calculate that Roserade has a higher DPS than Gengar against most Fairy-types. I'm personally going to rely on that.

And it's true, Poison-type moves are not so useful for now. There hasn't been a single Raid Boss so far that specifically required the use of a Poison-type attacker. Against Grass, Moltres/Charizard/Mamoswine/Honchkrow are all better, and Fairy Legendaries were only introduced in Gen 6. But you specifically mentioned the Tapus, against which, until we know their specific movepool, Roserade is still listed as a better overall counter (except, as stated, Lele)

As far as Togekiss goes, Rampardos, Metagross, Electivire, Deoxys, Raikou, Mamoswine, Dialga, Roserade, Zapdos, Luxray, and Weavile (in a varying order depending on Togekiss' moves) are all listed as having a higher DPS than Lick/SludgeBomb Gengar.

Look, if you like Gengar, have many powered up and like using it, I'm not here to deter you from using it. It's still good against something weak to Poison. I'm just saying that Gengar is not the optimal choice for Poison, and that there are better options.
I am confused, you said a resistance helps up the DPS, yet Weavile which is weak to Fairy moves does more than Gengar which resists it? Does Deoxys last as long to survive and deal damage? I am sure the frailty makes a difference, and in regards to the others whom have higher DPS like Electivire, what about not resisting the fairy move? TDO is also an important factor: which is why people were hesitant with Deoxys-Normal.

So bad that even GamePress advises against using it... ever:
https://pokemongo.gamepress.gg/pokemon/386
C’mon, seriously?
 
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I am confused, you said a resistance helps up the DPS, yet Weavile which is weak to Fairy moves does more than Gengar which resists it? Does Deoxys last as long to survive and deal damage? I am sure the frailty makes a difference, and in regards to the others whom have higher DPS like Electivire, what about not resisting the fairy move? TDO is also an important factor: which is why people were hesitant with Deoxys-Normal.

So bad that even GamePress advises against using it... ever:
https://pokemongo.gamepress.gg/pokemon/386
C’mon, seriously?
That's not what I said. "That's also why every Pokemon's listed DPS goes slightly down if they resist the other Pokemon's attacks."

You were correct when you said that taking more damage from your target's moves increase your own damage input, and resisting them lowers your DPS. But that damage is *already* included in how calculators work, you don't have to add it on top of the DPS scale.

Still, in all matchups where Poison is Super Effective and Ghost is not, Roserade has higher DPS than Gengar, for the only reason that Gengar does not have a Poison Fast move. Since the change to damage efficiency, specialists with a Fast move and a Charge move that are super effective against a target have become more efficient than counters who don't have those two moves.

And I admit I hesitated in adding Deoxys, because you are correct, it's simply not usable. But in fairness, I just listed Pokemons' DPS as it appears when you do the matchup calculations. I didn't pare down the list for what's a usable counter or not, as I feared the opposite reaction *well actually, according to our own statement, Deoxys has a higher DPS than...*.
My bad.
 
Eh. Feels a bit unoriginal and... expected, I guess. They had many other options, but just went with the budget-Rayquaza.

At least it's great for people who don't raid so much and were not able to get that many good Rayquaza, to have a powerful Dragon team for future legendaries (the almighty Tao Trio! Zekrom, Reshiram and Kyurem)
 
Ehhhh I'll probably just do an hour of CD. Honestly can't be bothered to grind this game anymore. Partly just trying to capture some Pokemon with decent IVs to then transfer to Let's Go so I can complete my Pokedex there.
 

Expert Evan

every battle has a smell!
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For today's lunch hour we got 8 raids done as all gyms were available and it was a bonus that the last one we did ended at 1:09. As far as Lucky friends, I got 2 so logistics of meeting up with them to perform trades will be interesting whenever possible. I posed the following question to one of my facebook chat groups and got some mixed answers:

How would you want to use your lucky friends opportunity?

1. trade for shinies or legendaries I don't yet have (ie. aggron, lugia)
2. trade for powered up good stuff to battle in gyms/raids (ie. ttar, machamp, gengar with shadow claw or lick, & shadow ball)
3. trade for legendaries I need to battle in gyms/raids (ie. rayquaza, giratina, mewtwo)
Here's how I view the above. Trading for shinies or legendaries don't yet have almost defeats the point of getting a lucky trade since I most the time consider shinies as personal trophies that don't get used in gym or raid battles. trading for higher level good stuff I find more flexible since it's not limited to that once per day special trade, and I most prefer trading for legendaries I may already have but need good ones so I can better perform in raids but that trade limit can only hamper that.

Here's an idea for an upcoming lucky trade:

community day bagon for bagon (best level and or best shiny) at least before the deadline to evolve to salamence with outrage is over.
 

Punchshroom

FISHIOUS REND MEGA SHARPEDO
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To make matters worse, the one hour window for evolving to get the CD move had been unknowingly overridden by the extension, resulting in many people missing out on Outrage and basically 'wasting' their salamence
 

Expert Evan

every battle has a smell!
is a Forum Moderator Alumnus
Thanks for the warning folks as I will make sure I have all my desireable outrage salamence before 6pm my time. I hope to accomplish a lucky friend trade as well but logistics of getting together may present a little challenge. When in doubt hopefully Niantic will have a December community weekend again for any new bagons caught after today's CD that deserve to get outrage when evolved.
 

Codraroll

Cod Mod
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After this community day, I still remain fully convinced that Niantic fudges the RNG a little for community day Pokémon, reducing the odds of getting good IVs. Normally when you catch dozens upon dozens of the same Pokémon, you're bound to get at least some with IVs in the highest appraisal tier, but for the past several community days, those numbers have remained very elusive for me and most people I've spoken to. On Swinub Day, I caught a couple hundreds of the critters, with my best IV total being 84%. I forgot to count how many Bagon I got today, but it was certainly dozens, and not one had IVs above 80. Of course, you always hear reports of people finding 100% Community Day Pokémon, so I'm not saying odds are lowered to zero. But I have a hunch that the 80-100% IV range is a lot less commonly seen on community days than it is otherwise.
 
Why did Niantic move CD back three hours, again? I always thought 12pm-3pm was a good time slot, and gives decent leeway if there are server issues.
 
After this community day, I still remain fully convinced that Niantic fudges the RNG a little for community day Pokémon, reducing the odds of getting good IVs. Normally when you catch dozens upon dozens of the same Pokémon, you're bound to get at least some with IVs in the highest appraisal tier, but for the past several community days, those numbers have remained very elusive for me and most people I've spoken to. On Swinub Day, I caught a couple hundreds of the critters, with my best IV total being 84%. I forgot to count how many Bagon I got today, but it was certainly dozens, and not one had IVs above 80. Of course, you always hear reports of people finding 100% Community Day Pokémon, so I'm not saying odds are lowered to zero. But I have a hunch that the 80-100% IV range is a lot less commonly seen on community days than it is otherwise.
I fully agree based on personal experience. I've also been doing research on this and I've seen lots of other people reporting the same.
 

Expert Evan

every battle has a smell!
is a Forum Moderator Alumnus
No shiny for me on Community Day although I had some bagons with excellent IVs I had saved for the occasion and finally got to evolve, one of which I maxed out so next time I participate in either a giratina-O and/or latios raid I will have a salamence in my party so that's cool.

I've triggered 4 lucky friends so far but haven't been able to coordinate a meet up yet to conduct the lucky trades. My leaning preference is towards pokemon I could more easily power up and use in raids wherever I may have a need as that's hard to decide. Too bad we could only do 1 special trade per day as I've pre-evolved some earlier shiny community day stuff that can be perfect for those lucky trades but still no guarantee they'll have the desireable 15 IV in attack.

As a reminder Fluke we have 2 more days to become best friends as that's worth 100,000 XP once first person receives a gift, 200,000 XP with a lucky egg, and very tricky to coordinate if you want both to benefit from the double XP. Since I'm already at level 40 and don't foresee any benefit in the nearby future maybe raise the level cap or not or something. With the lucky friends feature on best friends it gives me more of an incentive to send and receive gifts amongst those I actively raid with so that's all cool now.
 
gift, 200,000 XP with a lucky egg, and very tricky to coordinate if you want both to benefit from the double XP. Since I'm already at level 40 and don't foresee any benefit in the nearby future maybe raise the level cap or not or something. With the lucky friends feature on best friends it gives me more of an incentive to send and receive gifts amongst those I actively raid with so that's all cool now.
Haha don't worry I don't mind the EXP. As far as I know I'm almost level 39 and that's completely fine with me. Sorry for not sending/opening gifts, life's very hectic at the moment.
 

Champion Leon

Banned deucer.
I got like 13 Shiny Bagon, and 6 in the first 29 minutes.

The highest I had was 84%, a non-shiny Salamence, but I evolved it anyways in the event I ever trade it.

I think Shinies are actually worse than originals. It can only be traded 1x a day, can cost much more Stardust, is only worth it if the other trainer trades their shiny in the same trade, and sometimes looks worse. It’s a trophy that’s really expensive to get rid of.

The only exception is a 91% + Shiny, as you won’t have to trade it.

I really regret evolving my 2x 91% Salamence months ago. I gave up on Salamence, and now it’s like it was a waste to be impatient. C’mon man, it’s annoying when you have a good one and it’s bad compared to a weaker IV, but better movepool option.

So annoying. Next thing you know, in 1 year from now, Garchomp will have a community day and whatever ones we have later this year will be moot vs the special ones later on. It’s too hard to wait forever especially if you think they moved on to a new generation with Mamoswine of Gen 4 signaling to me that Salamence just wouldn’t happen.
 
Community Days really are a pain in the ass. You finally save up enough candy for a certain Pokemon (e.g. Ralts for me), but you don't want to evolve it just in case it becomes featured in a CD in the near future. So you sit on that thing for months on end, but it never happens, then you give in and evolve it, only for it to be featured in the next Community Day.

I'd rather CDs just feature Pokemon that have yet to be available until that point (e.g. Mamoswine a few months back), but of course that would be make life too easy for us, wouldn't it?
 

Blitz

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Nah that isn't the problem, but rather availability of the Community Day move (which, in many cases, cements the viability of said Pokémon) and how Niantic handles it which is garbage. I fail to see the drawbacks behind simply just adding the move to the Pokémon's movepool post-CD - there's still many benefits to CD (shiny hunting, gathering candy, guaranteed CD move outside of shitty errors, etc.) while also allowing people to TM their previous Pokémon so they are metagame relevant. It still costs Charge TMs which can be depleted insanely quickly to get the desired move (in most CD cases, you're juggling between 4 Charge Moves) so there is an inherent drawback in not participating in CD.

If they aren't willing to do that, at least a CD TM would be welcomed so we can TM those Pokémon and remove the whole fear factor in the process. It's amazing how a game that's centered on collecting first and foremost actively discourages people from finishing dexes because of Community Day.
 
For some reason I was always under the impression that you can't TM the featured move on CD.

I've begun to take a way more relaxed approach to this "game", in that even for CDs, all I really do is get the featured move by catching enough Pokemon to evolve a good enough one. The way I see it, I don't do PvP, and the only time I really raid is for the 5* ones where there are enough people to take it down with ease. That means I don't have a need to collect a team of a certain Pokemon or even to max any one of them. Hopefully they inject some life back into this "game" because it's getting really stale. Hatching dozens of eggs without a Riolu doesn't help, either.
 

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