[OVERVIEW]
A solid choice for both speed control and wallbreaking, Gengar is a dynamic option for teams, as it can provide immense upside due to its versatility and offensive prowess. Gengar is most often seen sporting a Choice Scarf, comfortably outpacing other Choice Scarf users in the metagame like Basculegion-F, Gardevoir, and Galarian Zapdos. Nasty Plot Gengar is a fast, potent setup sweeper that can decimate teams after just one boost. Gengar, using status-spreading moves such as Thunder Wave, Toxic Spikes, and Will-O-Wisp and disruption moves in Encore and Taunt, can disrupt its primary checks like Cyclizar, Fezandipiti, and Registeel. Despite this tremendous upside, Gengar is incredibly frail and susceptible to getting OHKOed by much of the metagame, including notable checks like Bisharp, Cyclizar, and Hisuian Zoroark, so getting it on the field can be difficult. Gengar also directly competes with other great Ghost- and Poison-type Pokemon in the tier, such as Basculegion-F, Fezandipiti, and Hisuian Zoroark, with Hisuian Zoroark notably providing similar offensive wallbreaking that includes the opportunity to use Illusion to disrupt more than Gengar can.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Sludge Wave
move 4: Focus Blast / Encore
item: Air Balloon / Colbur Berry
ability: Cursed Body
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
tera type: Ghost / Fighting
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Nasty Plot Gengar is a potentially devastating setup sweeper thanks to its great Speed tier, outpacing base 100 Speed Pokemon like Galarian Zapdos, Jirachi, and Salamence, and strong STAB combination. Focus Blast gives Gengar the coverage to hit bulky Steel-types like Bisharp, Hisuian Goodra, and Registeel and Gengar's primary check in Cyclizar for massive damage, though it comes at the cost of accuracy issues. Encore can be really disruptive to lock slower walls into unfavorable positions, such as forcing Fezandipiti to use Calm Mind and Umbreon to use Wish, giving Gengar free setup opportunities. Air Balloon is quite powerful on Gengar, affording it safe entry and setup chances against Hippowdon and Quagsire as well as Choice-locked Krookodile if it locks into Earthquake. Colbur Berry similarly gives Gengar great defensive value, allowing it to comfortably survive Knock Off from Pokemon like Cyclizar, Krookodile, and Galarian Zapdos to threaten them back safely. Tera Ghost allows Shadow Ball to OHKO Jirachi after Spikes damage and Reuniclus, while Tera Fighting can be used to flip the weakness to Dark and boost the power of Focus Blast to annihilate Hisuian Goodra after taking Spikes damage and Assault Vest Cyclizar.
Nasty Plot Gengar fits best on balance and bulky offense teams that can provide it entry points where it can set up and clean late-game. Choice Scarf users like Galarian Zapdos and Gardevoir pair well with Gengar, fulfilling the speed control role over Gengar to help against Cyclizar and Krookodile, and they grant it safe entry opportunities against their checks like Galarian Weezing and Jirachi with U-turn and Healing Wish respectively. Defensive pivot support options like Cyclizar and Jirachi are key teammates; Cyclizar provides entry hazard and item removal to wear down Gengar's checks like Hisuian Goodra and Registeel, Jirachi can help enable Gengar by spreading paralysis and providing Wish support passing and they serve as Ghost- and Psychic-type switch-ins against Pokemon like Hisuian Zoroark and Gardevoir, respectively.
Hazard setters like Chesnaught, Hippowdon, and Jirachi are valuable to accrue chip damage on the opposition, which improves Gengar's ability to clean; the first two also help to absorb Knock Off attempts from Cyclizar and Krookodile. Other offensive setup options like Bisharp, Flygon, and Terrakion can help enable Gengar to sweep late-game, as they can wallbreak effectively against its checks like Hisuian Goodra and Umbreon early- to mid-game or can swap roles with Gengar and clean late-game themselves.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Thunder Wave, Toxic, and Toxic Spikes can provide great value for Hex Gengar. Destiny Bond is always a nice option to trade against something slower than Gengar, such as Fezandipiti and Umbreon, which can be otherwise tricky to take down. Knock Off gives Gengar its own item removal option, which can help on entry hazard-stacking teams at the cost of not being offensively threatening due to its low Attack. Pain Split is Gengar's only form of recovery, which it can use against foes like Cyclizar and Hisuian Goodra well. Taunt similarly shuts down slower setup sweepers like Bisharp and Fezandipiti and can pair well with Destiny Bond to ensure it trades effectively. Choice Specs can be used to threaten OHKOs on Pokemon like Conkeldurr, Assault Vest Cyclizar, and Jirachi.
Checks and Counters
====
**Dark-types**: Although Gengar can use Focus Blast to hit Dark-types like Bisharp and Krookodile for massive damage, it struggles to effectively take down either of them, as Sucker Punch from Bisharp threatens an immediate OHKO while Krookodile often uses Choice Scarf, outpacing and taking Gengar down with ease. Umbreon is susceptible to Encore and being used as setup fodder, but it can reliably tank attacks and threaten to take Gengar out with Foul Play.
**Normal-types**: Assault Vest Cyclizar is a common Gengar check and can disrupt it significantly, switching in and threatening big damage with Knock Off while also being able to pivot out into Ghost-type teammates on an expected Focus Blast. Hisuian Zoroark is a notable Gengar counter, as it is immune to two of Gengar's attacks and resists Poison, making it quite obnoxious for Gengar to ever beat despite its frailty.
**Faster Pokemon**: Non-Choice Scarf Gengar is outpaced and immediately threatened by a majority of the Choice Scarf users in the metagame, including Basculegion-F, Gardevoir, Galarian Zapdos, and even opposing Gengar. Similarly, Gengar is in a pretty comfortable Speed tier naturally, but it is still outsped by plenty of Pokemon that threaten to OHKO it with slight chip damage, such as Barraskewda, Maushold, and Noivern.
[SET]
name: Hex
move 1: Hex
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Dazzling Gleam
move 4: Will-O-Wisp
item: Heavy-Duty Boots / Leftovers / Colbur Berry
ability: Cursed Body
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
tera type: Fairy / Dark
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Hex takes advantage of status spread by Gengar and its teammates, notably Thunder Wave from users like Reuniclus and Slowbro, to bolster its damage to seemingly unwallable range. Sludge Bomb is used over Sludge Wave because of the increased odds to poison, which can similarly help to enable Hex damage. Dazzling Gleam gives Gengar a reliable attack for its most common check, Cyclizar, along with Krookodile and Umbreon. Will-O-Wisp is used to disrupt Cyclizar and offensive Pokemon like Bisharp and Maushold that may try to switch into Gengar and force it out. Heavy-Duty Boots helps Gengar hit the field more often to spread status and use its strong attacks. Leftovers can be run to similarly maintain health on Gengar, though it requires entry hazard removal support to maximize its effectiveness. Colbur Berry is a nice item for Gengar to have against the aforementioned Cyclizar and other Knock Off users like Galarian Zapdos, allowing it to comfortably survive an attack and ensure an attempt at burning and hindering the opposition. Tera Fairy can provide a boost to Dazzling Gleam and flips the weakness to Dark, which can allow Gengar to take down Dark-types, like Choice Scarf Krookodile, while also helping absorb strong Dragon-type attacks from threats like Hisuian Goodra and Noivern. Tera Dark similarly flips the weakness to Dark while providing a key immunity to Psychic, which is useful to help against the bulky Psychic-types that can stomach a hit like Jirachi and Reuniclus.
Hex Gengar fits best on balance and bulky offense teams that aim to spread status to enable a late-game sweep for Gengar. Teammates that can help spread status, like Body Slam Jirachi, Thunder Wave Slowbro and Reuniclus, and Toxic Umbreon can help wear down Gengar checks like Hisuian Goodra and Registeel while also helping bolster the damage from Hex. Offensive partners that can also take advantage of this type of status spam are slower wallbreakers like Conkeldurr and Crawdaunt, which can outspeed a lot of threats after they are paralyzed to consistently dish out strong attacks. Defensive partners that can help absorb Knock Off and other Dark- and Ghost-type attacks from threats like Bisharp, Krookodile, and Hisuian Zoroark—like Chesnaught, Cyclizar, and Umbreon—are important for Gengar, as they allow Gengar to fall back on them to wear down foes before threatening to sweep late-game. Leftovers Gengar also appreciates Cyclizar for its entry hazard removal abilities, with other teammates like Noivern and Talonflame offering similar hazard removal and pivot support. Gengar does struggle to break through some of the special walls in the tier, especially Hisuian Goodra, Registeel, and Umbreon, so hazard support from teammates like Chesnaught and Jirachi can go a long way. Physical attackers like Galarian Zapdos, Krookodile, and Slither Wing also help Gengar break through Dark- and Steel-types like Bisharp and Umbreon.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flampoke.654091/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sir-tetris.655207/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/feen.231398/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
A solid choice for both speed control and wallbreaking, Gengar is a dynamic option for teams, as it can provide immense upside due to its versatility and offensive prowess. Gengar is most often seen sporting a Choice Scarf, comfortably outpacing other Choice Scarf users in the metagame like Basculegion-F, Gardevoir, and Galarian Zapdos. Nasty Plot Gengar is a fast, potent setup sweeper that can decimate teams after just one boost. Gengar, using status-spreading moves such as Thunder Wave, Toxic Spikes, and Will-O-Wisp and disruption moves in Encore and Taunt, can disrupt its primary checks like Cyclizar, Fezandipiti, and Registeel. Despite this tremendous upside, Gengar is incredibly frail and susceptible to getting OHKOed by much of the metagame, including notable checks like Bisharp, Cyclizar, and Hisuian Zoroark, so getting it on the field can be difficult. Gengar also directly competes with other great Ghost- and Poison-type Pokemon in the tier, such as Basculegion-F, Fezandipiti, and Hisuian Zoroark, with Hisuian Zoroark notably providing similar offensive wallbreaking that includes the opportunity to use Illusion to disrupt more than Gengar can.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Sludge Wave
move 4: Focus Blast / Encore
item: Air Balloon / Colbur Berry
ability: Cursed Body
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
tera type: Ghost / Fighting
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Nasty Plot Gengar is a potentially devastating setup sweeper thanks to its great Speed tier, outpacing base 100 Speed Pokemon like Galarian Zapdos, Jirachi, and Salamence, and strong STAB combination. Focus Blast gives Gengar the coverage to hit bulky Steel-types like Bisharp, Hisuian Goodra, and Registeel and Gengar's primary check in Cyclizar for massive damage, though it comes at the cost of accuracy issues. Encore can be really disruptive to lock slower walls into unfavorable positions, such as forcing Fezandipiti to use Calm Mind and Umbreon to use Wish, giving Gengar free setup opportunities. Air Balloon is quite powerful on Gengar, affording it safe entry and setup chances against Hippowdon and Quagsire as well as Choice-locked Krookodile if it locks into Earthquake. Colbur Berry similarly gives Gengar great defensive value, allowing it to comfortably survive Knock Off from Pokemon like Cyclizar, Krookodile, and Galarian Zapdos to threaten them back safely. Tera Ghost allows Shadow Ball to OHKO Jirachi after Spikes damage and Reuniclus, while Tera Fighting can be used to flip the weakness to Dark and boost the power of Focus Blast to annihilate Hisuian Goodra after taking Spikes damage and Assault Vest Cyclizar.
Nasty Plot Gengar fits best on balance and bulky offense teams that can provide it entry points where it can set up and clean late-game. Choice Scarf users like Galarian Zapdos and Gardevoir pair well with Gengar, fulfilling the speed control role over Gengar to help against Cyclizar and Krookodile, and they grant it safe entry opportunities against their checks like Galarian Weezing and Jirachi with U-turn and Healing Wish respectively. Defensive pivot support options like Cyclizar and Jirachi are key teammates; Cyclizar provides entry hazard and item removal to wear down Gengar's checks like Hisuian Goodra and Registeel, Jirachi can help enable Gengar by spreading paralysis and providing Wish support passing and they serve as Ghost- and Psychic-type switch-ins against Pokemon like Hisuian Zoroark and Gardevoir, respectively.
Hazard setters like Chesnaught, Hippowdon, and Jirachi are valuable to accrue chip damage on the opposition, which improves Gengar's ability to clean; the first two also help to absorb Knock Off attempts from Cyclizar and Krookodile. Other offensive setup options like Bisharp, Flygon, and Terrakion can help enable Gengar to sweep late-game, as they can wallbreak effectively against its checks like Hisuian Goodra and Umbreon early- to mid-game or can swap roles with Gengar and clean late-game themselves.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Thunder Wave, Toxic, and Toxic Spikes can provide great value for Hex Gengar. Destiny Bond is always a nice option to trade against something slower than Gengar, such as Fezandipiti and Umbreon, which can be otherwise tricky to take down. Knock Off gives Gengar its own item removal option, which can help on entry hazard-stacking teams at the cost of not being offensively threatening due to its low Attack. Pain Split is Gengar's only form of recovery, which it can use against foes like Cyclizar and Hisuian Goodra well. Taunt similarly shuts down slower setup sweepers like Bisharp and Fezandipiti and can pair well with Destiny Bond to ensure it trades effectively. Choice Specs can be used to threaten OHKOs on Pokemon like Conkeldurr, Assault Vest Cyclizar, and Jirachi.
Checks and Counters
====
**Dark-types**: Although Gengar can use Focus Blast to hit Dark-types like Bisharp and Krookodile for massive damage, it struggles to effectively take down either of them, as Sucker Punch from Bisharp threatens an immediate OHKO while Krookodile often uses Choice Scarf, outpacing and taking Gengar down with ease. Umbreon is susceptible to Encore and being used as setup fodder, but it can reliably tank attacks and threaten to take Gengar out with Foul Play.
**Normal-types**: Assault Vest Cyclizar is a common Gengar check and can disrupt it significantly, switching in and threatening big damage with Knock Off while also being able to pivot out into Ghost-type teammates on an expected Focus Blast. Hisuian Zoroark is a notable Gengar counter, as it is immune to two of Gengar's attacks and resists Poison, making it quite obnoxious for Gengar to ever beat despite its frailty.
**Faster Pokemon**: Non-Choice Scarf Gengar is outpaced and immediately threatened by a majority of the Choice Scarf users in the metagame, including Basculegion-F, Gardevoir, Galarian Zapdos, and even opposing Gengar. Similarly, Gengar is in a pretty comfortable Speed tier naturally, but it is still outsped by plenty of Pokemon that threaten to OHKO it with slight chip damage, such as Barraskewda, Maushold, and Noivern.
[SET]
name: Hex
move 1: Hex
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Dazzling Gleam
move 4: Will-O-Wisp
item: Heavy-Duty Boots / Leftovers / Colbur Berry
ability: Cursed Body
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
tera type: Fairy / Dark
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Hex takes advantage of status spread by Gengar and its teammates, notably Thunder Wave from users like Reuniclus and Slowbro, to bolster its damage to seemingly unwallable range. Sludge Bomb is used over Sludge Wave because of the increased odds to poison, which can similarly help to enable Hex damage. Dazzling Gleam gives Gengar a reliable attack for its most common check, Cyclizar, along with Krookodile and Umbreon. Will-O-Wisp is used to disrupt Cyclizar and offensive Pokemon like Bisharp and Maushold that may try to switch into Gengar and force it out. Heavy-Duty Boots helps Gengar hit the field more often to spread status and use its strong attacks. Leftovers can be run to similarly maintain health on Gengar, though it requires entry hazard removal support to maximize its effectiveness. Colbur Berry is a nice item for Gengar to have against the aforementioned Cyclizar and other Knock Off users like Galarian Zapdos, allowing it to comfortably survive an attack and ensure an attempt at burning and hindering the opposition. Tera Fairy can provide a boost to Dazzling Gleam and flips the weakness to Dark, which can allow Gengar to take down Dark-types, like Choice Scarf Krookodile, while also helping absorb strong Dragon-type attacks from threats like Hisuian Goodra and Noivern. Tera Dark similarly flips the weakness to Dark while providing a key immunity to Psychic, which is useful to help against the bulky Psychic-types that can stomach a hit like Jirachi and Reuniclus.
Hex Gengar fits best on balance and bulky offense teams that aim to spread status to enable a late-game sweep for Gengar. Teammates that can help spread status, like Body Slam Jirachi, Thunder Wave Slowbro and Reuniclus, and Toxic Umbreon can help wear down Gengar checks like Hisuian Goodra and Registeel while also helping bolster the damage from Hex. Offensive partners that can also take advantage of this type of status spam are slower wallbreakers like Conkeldurr and Crawdaunt, which can outspeed a lot of threats after they are paralyzed to consistently dish out strong attacks. Defensive partners that can help absorb Knock Off and other Dark- and Ghost-type attacks from threats like Bisharp, Krookodile, and Hisuian Zoroark—like Chesnaught, Cyclizar, and Umbreon—are important for Gengar, as they allow Gengar to fall back on them to wear down foes before threatening to sweep late-game. Leftovers Gengar also appreciates Cyclizar for its entry hazard removal abilities, with other teammates like Noivern and Talonflame offering similar hazard removal and pivot support. Gengar does struggle to break through some of the special walls in the tier, especially Hisuian Goodra, Registeel, and Umbreon, so hazard support from teammates like Chesnaught and Jirachi can go a long way. Physical attackers like Galarian Zapdos, Krookodile, and Slither Wing also help Gengar break through Dark- and Steel-types like Bisharp and Umbreon.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flampoke.654091/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sir-tetris.655207/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/feen.231398/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
Last edited:
