Funbot28
Banned deucer.
[OVERVIEW]
Mega Gengar is one of the premier special attackers in the metagame thanks to its outstanding Ghost- and Poison-type STAB combination in tandem with great power and speed, enabling it to outpace and threaten the majority of the metagame. It also possesses a plethora of coverage options, with offensive moves such as Thunderbolt enabling to target checks such as Mega Gyarados and status moves such as Will-O-Wisp, Taunt, and Substitute allowing it to become a nuisance to the majority of other threats. However, while Mega Gengar possesses amazing offensive potential, it lacks any defensive utility due to its meager defenses compounded by weaknesses to common offensive types such as Psychic, Ground, and Dark. Mega Gengar can also be offensively checked by other popular Mega Evolutions such as Mega Beedrill, Mega Alakazam, and Mega Aerodactyl, which can all threaten to OHKO it.
[SET]
name: Standard
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Will-O-Wisp / Taunt
move 4: Substitute / Sludge Bomb
item: Gengarite
nature: Timid / Modest
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Information
========
Shadow Ball is Mega Gengar's primary way of dishing out significant damage to any threat that does not resist it, with the most notable examples being Melmetal, Zapdos, and Mega Venusaur. It also enables it to threaten Psychic-types such as Mew and Starmie, having a chance to OHKO the former after Stealth Rock chip damage. Thunderbolt targets Mega Gyarados while also dealing chip damage against threats that are immune to or resist Shadow Ball such as Alolan Muk, Snorlax, and Eevee-S. Will-O-Wisp is a great tool for disrupting physical attackers such as Melmetal, Poliwrath, Alolan Dugtrio, and Dragonite. It works best in conjunction with Substitute, as it can potentially enable Mega Gengar to avoid any direct damage for longer periods of time. Taunt is another disruptive option that can shut down more passive threats such as Chansey, Mega Venusaur, and Zapdos, thus preventing them from either recovering their health or severely crippling Mega Gengar with status. Substitute greatly aids Mega Gengar in wallbreaking, ensuring that it can get at least one hit off and it can set one up quite often thanks to the number of switches it forces. It can also be useful with Sucker Punch mind games with foes such as Alolan Dugtrio, potentially enabling Mega Gengar to win the matchup without needing to switch out. Sludge Bomb is a secondary STAB move that Mega Gengar can utilize in order to target checks such as Snorlax harder; however, the utility of its status moves is often too much to pass up. A Timid nature is preferred, as it enables Mega Gengar to outspeed threats such as Alakazam and Speed tie against the likes of Aerodactyl and opposing Mega Gengar. A Modest nature can be used to boost Mega Gengar's damage output in all other matchups, though, including ensuring the 2HKO on Pokemon such as Poliwrath and Mega Gyarados after Stealth Rock damage
Usage Tips
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Mega Gengar should be brought in through slow pivoting or aggressive double switches due to its meager bulk preventing it from stomaching even the majority of neutral hits, especially when factoring in Stealth Rock chip damage. Conserving its HP is vital in order to be able to set up as many Substitutes as possible throughout the match. Once Mega Gengar is brought in safely, Shadow Ball is a powerful and spammable move once checks such as Mega Gyarados, Alolan Muk, and Snorlax are taken out or severely weakened. If not, Mega Gengar can opt to target the likes of Mega Gyarados and Snorlax with its coverage or cripple threats such as Alolan Muk with Will-O-Wisp. Substitute is best utilized in situations where Mega Gengar can force a switch against threats such as Mew, Poliwrath, Starmie, and Mega Venusaur. Once behind a Substitute, Mega Gengar can more freely start crippling its checks, which can often enable it to sweep late-game due to the abundance of chip damage that it accumulates on the likes of Alolan Muk and Snorlax. However, it must be careful to utilize Substitute against Melmetal, as its Double Iron Bash can threaten to KO Mega Gengar if it is weakened enough.
Team Options
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Mega Gengar pairs well with partners that can threaten out the likes of Alolan Muk, Snorlax, and Mega Gyarados, such as Poliwrath, Bulk Up Mew, and Rhydon. Other offensive partners such as Dragonite, Melmetal, and Nasty Plot Mew can provide additional pressure against shared checks, wearing down the opposing team to the point where Mega Gengar can ensure a sweep. Slow pivots such as defensive Mew and Zapdos are extremely beneficial to Mega Gengar, providing it with multiple opportunities to come in safely and perform its role. Mew can also provide Stealth Rock support, helping wear down Mega Gengar's checks as a result. Other defensive pivots like Starmie and Alolan Muk can aid Mega Gengar deal with revenge killers such as Mega Aerodactyl and Mega Alakazam, respectively.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Disable can be paired with Substitute or Protect in order to shut down moves that can threaten Mega Gengar, with good examples being Crunch on Alolan Muk, Psychic on defensive Mew, and Earthquake on Snorlax. However, this forces Mega Gengar to potentially use up two of its moveslots. Toxic can be a more useful status move against defensive threats such as Zapdos, but the ability to cripple physical attackers is often more beneficial for its partners. Sucker Punch with either a Hasty or Mild nature can be run in order to surprise foes late-game, but it will often force Mega Gengar to be used as a late-game sweeper, which detracts from its ability to come in early and deal considerable damage.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: Alolan Muk is one of Mega Gengar's best checks due to its resistance to both of Mega Gengar's STAB moves on top of a neutrality to any coverage option it may choose to run, while Mega Gyarados can deal with Mega Gengar if it has already Mega Evolved and is near full health. However, the former is often worn down rather quickly and can be crippled by an incoming Will-O-Wisp if not running Rest and cleric support, while the latter can be 2HKOed by Thunderbolt after some chip damage.
**Snorlax**: Thanks to Snorlax's impressive special bulk and immunity to Ghost-type moves, it can comfortably switch into Mega Gengar the majority of the time and threaten it out with coverage moves such as Earthquake. It also does not fear getting burned the majority of the time, as this boosts its Facade. However, it must be wary of Mega Gengar's other STAB option in Sludge Bomb.
**Faster Threats**: Mega Alakazam, Mega Aerodactyl, and Mega Beedrill all outspeed and OHKO Mega Gengar, meaning it is forced to switch out against such threats unless behind a Substitute. However, it is worth noting that none of these threats can switch into Mega Gengar comfortably.
**Residual Damage**: Due to Mega Gengar's lack of reliable recovery, it can be worn down rather quickly by Stealth Rock and even resisted hits, preventing it from setting up Substitutes if weakened enough.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Funbot28, 255984]]
- Quality checked by: [[McCoolDude, 469684], [Theorymon, 29010]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [, ]]
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