#94 - Gengar
Overview
#######
- Its Mega evolution has a great niche with Shadow Tag, as Gengar is one of the very few viable Shadow Tag users, which allows it to trap opponents which have a tough time harming it, which can benefit set up users. Mega Gengar also has a unique assortment of support and disruption moves such as Taunt and Will-O-Wisp that it can use in conjunction with its high Speed, enough to outrun the unboosted metagame except for Deoxys-A and Mega Aerodactyl.
- Mega Gengar can also function as a powerful special attacker with its high Speed and Special Attack. In conjuction with its high Special Attack, it has the ability to deal a lot of damage against most Trick Room setters with its powerful Ghost STAB attack.
- As Gengar still has high Speed, a Ghost-typing which is beneficial against Normal- and Fighting-type attackers, a useful immunity to Ground with Levitate, decent offensive potential with relatively high Special Attack, and aforementioned supportive moves and Icy Wind let it effectively function as a utility check to numerous threats in the metagame, such as Mega Kangaskhan and Landorus-T.
- Gengar is very frail and gets KOd by many attacks it doesn't resist, and is almost guaranteed to get OHKOd by super effective hits. Gengar is also weak to speed control such as Trick Room and Tailwind and faster attackers due to its frailty. Because of this, Gengar usually has to use a Focus Sash in order for it to not faint quickly.
[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Sludge Bomb
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Will-O-Wisp / Taunt
move 4: Protect
item: Gengarite
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
==========
- Sludge Bomb is a powerful STAB attack, which deals a lot of damage to anything that does not resist it.
- Shadow Ball is Gengar's second powerful STAB attack that it can use to hit opposing Ghost-types such as Aegislash super effectively, as well as other Psychic-types such as Cresselia and Jirachi. Shadow Ball also has better general coverage, as it hits more typings for effective damage.
- Will-O-Wisp can cripple physical attackers which in conjuction with Shadow Tag make them unswitchable liabilities on the field.
- Taunt also works to put a stop to Trick Room, or to avoid anything else from going up, such as Tailwind from Zapdos, and redirection moves such as Rage Powder from Amoonguss.
- Substitute shields Mega Gengar from status moves such as Thunder Wave, priority attacks, and other attacks that would normally threaten to deal significant damage to it.
- Protect is an important move in the Doubles metagame, as this allows it to protect itself from taking damage while its partner deals with the opponent, or being able to stall out other field conditions such as Tailwind and Trick Room.
Set Details
==========
- The spread is to allow Gengar to go as fast and deal as much damage as possible.
- Timid allows Gengar to outspeed Weavile after Mega evolution, as well as having more Speed in general. Pre Mega evolution, you can speed tie with other base 110 Speeds, such as Mega Diancie and Latios.
Usage Tips
===========
- Mega Gengar's trapping ability prevents foes from switching, which can apply pressure to the opponent, as being unable to switch can often be crippling when the foe has two liabilities on the field.
- Mega Gengar, is most commonly used in the early and mid-game, where it can trap and remove threats to the team with Shadow Tag and powerful STAB attacks.
- Mega Gengar also does very well in the late game, being able to clean up teams with high Speed and Special Attack. However, faster threats and threats with priority have to be removed, and the opponent has to be weakened, because of Mega Gengar frailty.
- Protecting upon Mega evolution can be important in some cases, because upon Mega evolution it gets extra Speed.
Team Options
============
- Set up users such as Belly Drum Azumarill and Calm Mind Cresselia can work together with Mega Gengar because of its Shadow Tag ability. Gengar can easily trap threats that have a tough time dealing damage against opponents that are not threatening its partner.
- Fighting- and Fairy-types such as Keldeo, Terrakion, and Sylveon do a good job at getting rid of Dark-types that resist Mega Gengar's Shadow Ball.
- As Mega Gengar struggles against Earthquake from Landorus-T, Water-types that can deal with it such as Rotom-W are good partners.
- Wide Guard users such as Conkeldurr can support Mega Gengar by blocking incoming Earthquakes from Landorus-T.
- Talonflame checks such as Landorus-T, Thundurus, and Rotom-Wash are useful too, as Mega Gengar gets easily KOd by Talonflame's Brave Bird.
- Intimidate users such as Landorus-T and Scrafty are useful too, as Mega Gengar struggles against priority attacks such as Sucker Punch.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
- Disable prevents someone from using their lastly used move for a few turns, which combined with an Encore user, such as Whimsicott, can be very frustrating to play against due to Shadow Tag. Substitute and Disable is a good combination as well, as it can be very tough to break when the opponent's main attack is Disabled. It works especially well against Mega Kangaskhan, as Gengar can easily Disable its Sucker Punch and set up Substitute or KO it with Sludge Bomb.
- Focus Blast has the ability to OHKO Heatran and Mega Kangaskhan, and does more damage to Dark-types as a whole, but has terrible accuracy.
- Perish Song makes Gengar able to fit on PerishTrap teams, in which Shadow Tag comes in handy. It should, however, be noted that it is a very gimmicky strategy that is difficult to pull off and gets beaten by other common Ghost-types such as Aegislash and Gengar.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Typing Advantage**: Gengar has trouble dealing with Dark-types such as Bisharp, Hydreigon, and Hoopa-Unbound because of their ability to switch in to Shadow Ball easier and KO Mega Gengar in return. Bulkier Ghost-types such as Aegislash take a hit and KO in return as well. Ground-types such as Landorus-T can also simply just KO Mega Gengar with Earthquake.
**Speed**: Faster Pokemon such as Deoxys-A and Landorus-T can give Mega Gengar a tough time, as Deoxys-A simply KOs it with Psycho Boost and Landorus-T can be a nuisance with Rock Slide. Ludicolo and Kingdra in Rain can outspeed and KO Mega Gengar as well, but that is less of a threat when Rain isn't up. Talonflame can KO it with powerful priority Brave Birds. It also has to watch out for Sucker Punch from Mega Kangaskhan and Bisharp, but that can be avoided by simply burning them with Will-O-Wisp, which cripples and leaves them trapped at the same time.
**Speed control**: Mega Gengar does not like playing in opposing Tailwind from Talonflame and Zapdos or getting paralyzed by Thundurus as it takes away the speed advantage it has. Mega Gengar also dislikes other speed control, such as Icy Wind from Jirachi. Trick Room by setters such as Cresselia and Mega Gardevoir turns the tables against Mega Gengar, making it threatened by attackers in it, rather than threatening them outside of it.
#######
- Its Mega evolution has a great niche with Shadow Tag, as Gengar is one of the very few viable Shadow Tag users, which allows it to trap opponents which have a tough time harming it, which can benefit set up users. Mega Gengar also has a unique assortment of support and disruption moves such as Taunt and Will-O-Wisp that it can use in conjunction with its high Speed, enough to outrun the unboosted metagame except for Deoxys-A and Mega Aerodactyl.
- Mega Gengar can also function as a powerful special attacker with its high Speed and Special Attack. In conjuction with its high Special Attack, it has the ability to deal a lot of damage against most Trick Room setters with its powerful Ghost STAB attack.
- As Gengar still has high Speed, a Ghost-typing which is beneficial against Normal- and Fighting-type attackers, a useful immunity to Ground with Levitate, decent offensive potential with relatively high Special Attack, and aforementioned supportive moves and Icy Wind let it effectively function as a utility check to numerous threats in the metagame, such as Mega Kangaskhan and Landorus-T.
- Gengar is very frail and gets KOd by many attacks it doesn't resist, and is almost guaranteed to get OHKOd by super effective hits. Gengar is also weak to speed control such as Trick Room and Tailwind and faster attackers due to its frailty. Because of this, Gengar usually has to use a Focus Sash in order for it to not faint quickly.
[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Sludge Bomb
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Will-O-Wisp / Taunt
move 4: Protect
item: Gengarite
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
==========
- Sludge Bomb is a powerful STAB attack, which deals a lot of damage to anything that does not resist it.
- Shadow Ball is Gengar's second powerful STAB attack that it can use to hit opposing Ghost-types such as Aegislash super effectively, as well as other Psychic-types such as Cresselia and Jirachi. Shadow Ball also has better general coverage, as it hits more typings for effective damage.
- Will-O-Wisp can cripple physical attackers which in conjuction with Shadow Tag make them unswitchable liabilities on the field.
- Taunt also works to put a stop to Trick Room, or to avoid anything else from going up, such as Tailwind from Zapdos, and redirection moves such as Rage Powder from Amoonguss.
- Substitute shields Mega Gengar from status moves such as Thunder Wave, priority attacks, and other attacks that would normally threaten to deal significant damage to it.
- Protect is an important move in the Doubles metagame, as this allows it to protect itself from taking damage while its partner deals with the opponent, or being able to stall out other field conditions such as Tailwind and Trick Room.
Set Details
==========
- The spread is to allow Gengar to go as fast and deal as much damage as possible.
- Timid allows Gengar to outspeed Weavile after Mega evolution, as well as having more Speed in general. Pre Mega evolution, you can speed tie with other base 110 Speeds, such as Mega Diancie and Latios.
Usage Tips
===========
- Mega Gengar's trapping ability prevents foes from switching, which can apply pressure to the opponent, as being unable to switch can often be crippling when the foe has two liabilities on the field.
- Mega Gengar, is most commonly used in the early and mid-game, where it can trap and remove threats to the team with Shadow Tag and powerful STAB attacks.
- Mega Gengar also does very well in the late game, being able to clean up teams with high Speed and Special Attack. However, faster threats and threats with priority have to be removed, and the opponent has to be weakened, because of Mega Gengar frailty.
- Protecting upon Mega evolution can be important in some cases, because upon Mega evolution it gets extra Speed.
Team Options
============
- Set up users such as Belly Drum Azumarill and Calm Mind Cresselia can work together with Mega Gengar because of its Shadow Tag ability. Gengar can easily trap threats that have a tough time dealing damage against opponents that are not threatening its partner.
- Fighting- and Fairy-types such as Keldeo, Terrakion, and Sylveon do a good job at getting rid of Dark-types that resist Mega Gengar's Shadow Ball.
- As Mega Gengar struggles against Earthquake from Landorus-T, Water-types that can deal with it such as Rotom-W are good partners.
- Wide Guard users such as Conkeldurr can support Mega Gengar by blocking incoming Earthquakes from Landorus-T.
- Talonflame checks such as Landorus-T, Thundurus, and Rotom-Wash are useful too, as Mega Gengar gets easily KOd by Talonflame's Brave Bird.
- Intimidate users such as Landorus-T and Scrafty are useful too, as Mega Gengar struggles against priority attacks such as Sucker Punch.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
- Disable prevents someone from using their lastly used move for a few turns, which combined with an Encore user, such as Whimsicott, can be very frustrating to play against due to Shadow Tag. Substitute and Disable is a good combination as well, as it can be very tough to break when the opponent's main attack is Disabled. It works especially well against Mega Kangaskhan, as Gengar can easily Disable its Sucker Punch and set up Substitute or KO it with Sludge Bomb.
- Focus Blast has the ability to OHKO Heatran and Mega Kangaskhan, and does more damage to Dark-types as a whole, but has terrible accuracy.
- Perish Song makes Gengar able to fit on PerishTrap teams, in which Shadow Tag comes in handy. It should, however, be noted that it is a very gimmicky strategy that is difficult to pull off and gets beaten by other common Ghost-types such as Aegislash and Gengar.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Typing Advantage**: Gengar has trouble dealing with Dark-types such as Bisharp, Hydreigon, and Hoopa-Unbound because of their ability to switch in to Shadow Ball easier and KO Mega Gengar in return. Bulkier Ghost-types such as Aegislash take a hit and KO in return as well. Ground-types such as Landorus-T can also simply just KO Mega Gengar with Earthquake.
**Speed**: Faster Pokemon such as Deoxys-A and Landorus-T can give Mega Gengar a tough time, as Deoxys-A simply KOs it with Psycho Boost and Landorus-T can be a nuisance with Rock Slide. Ludicolo and Kingdra in Rain can outspeed and KO Mega Gengar as well, but that is less of a threat when Rain isn't up. Talonflame can KO it with powerful priority Brave Birds. It also has to watch out for Sucker Punch from Mega Kangaskhan and Bisharp, but that can be avoided by simply burning them with Will-O-Wisp, which cripples and leaves them trapped at the same time.
**Speed control**: Mega Gengar does not like playing in opposing Tailwind from Talonflame and Zapdos or getting paralyzed by Thundurus as it takes away the speed advantage it has. Mega Gengar also dislikes other speed control, such as Icy Wind from Jirachi. Trick Room by setters such as Cresselia and Mega Gardevoir turns the tables against Mega Gengar, making it threatened by attackers in it, rather than threatening them outside of it.
[OVERVIEW]
With its stellar special attack and high speed in conjuction with its Shadow Tag ability which allows to trap foes which have a tough time harming Mega Gengar and the ability to threaten nearly all Trick Room setters with powerful Ghost STAB attack, Mega Gengar does very well as special attacker. Not only does it have powerful STAB attacks, it also has an unique assortment of support and disruption moves such as Taunt and Will-O-Wisp, which together with its high Speed allows Mega Gengar to be threatening utilitywise as well. As Gengar still has high speed, a Ghost-typing which is beneficial against Normal- and Fighting-type attackers, a useful immunity to Ground-type attacks with Levitate, decent offensive potential with relatively high Special Attack, and aforementioned supportive moves and Icy Wind let it effectively function as a check to numerous threats in the metagame, such as Mega Kangaskhan and Landorus-T. However, Gengar is very frail and gets KOd by many attacks it does not resist, and is almost guaranteed to get OHKOd by super effective hits. Gengar is also weak to speed control such as Trick Room, Tailwind, and faster attackers in general due to its frailty. Because of this, Gengar usually has to use a Focus Sash in order for it to not faint quickly.
[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Sludge Bomb
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Will-O-Wisp / Taunt
move 4: Protect
item: Gengarite
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
==========
Sludge Bomb is an impressive STAB attack which deals a lot of damage to anything that does not resist it. Shadow Ball is Gengar's second powerful STAB attack that it can use to hit opposing Ghost- and Psychic-types such as Cresselia, Jirachi, and Aegislash super effectively. Shadow Ball also has general better coverage, as it hits more typings for effective damage. Will-O-Wisp can cripple physical attackers such as Mega Kangaskhan which in conjuction with Shadow Tag makes them unswitchable liabilities on the field. Taunt also works to put a stop to Trick Room, or to avoid other status moves from being used, such as Zapdos's Tailwind, and redirection moves such as Amoonguss's Rage Powder. Substitute shields Mega Gengar from status moves, priority attacks, and other attacks that would normally threaten to deal significant damage to it. Protect is a crucial move in the Doubles metagame, as it allows Mega Gengar to protect itself from taking damage, while its partner deals with the opponent, or being able to stall out other field conditions such as Tailwind and Trick Room.
Set Details
==========
The EV spread is to allow Mega Gengar to go as fast and deal as much damage as possible. A Timid nature lets Mega Gengar outspeed Weavile after Mega evolution, while having more Speed in general. It also lets Gengar to speed tie against other base 110s, such as Mega Diancie and Latios, before Mega evolution.
Usage Tips
===========
Mega Gengar's uncommon Shadow Tag ability prevents foes from switching out, which can apply pressure to the opponent as being unable to switch can often be crippling when the foe has two liabilities on the field. Because of the pressure Shadow Tag applies, Mega Gengar is often used in the early- and mid-game, where it can trap and eliminate threats to the team with Shadow Tag and powerful STAB attacks in conjuction with its high offensive stats. However, Mega Gengar also does very well in the late-game, where it is able to clean up teams with its powerful attacks. Despite it doing well in the late-game, faster threats and threats with priority attacks have to be eliminated, due to Mega Gengar's frailty which makes it easy to revenge kill.
Team Options
============
Due to Mega Gengar's Shadow Tag ability, set up users such as Belly Drum Azumarill and Calm Mind Cresselia work well together as Gengar can trap threats that have a tough time harming Gengar's partner. Fighting- and Fairy-types such as Keldeo, Terrakion, and Sylveon help eliminate Dark-types that resist Mega Gengar's Shadow Ball. As Landorus-T threatens Mega Gengar with Earthquake, Water-types such as Rotom-Wash and Keldeo that can deal heavy damage to it, or Wide Guard users such as Conkeldurr that can block Earthquake are good partners. As Mega Gengar gets comfortably KOd by Talonflame, checks such as Landorus-T, Thundurus, and Rotom-Wash are handy as well. Intimidate users such as Landorus-T and Scrafty are useful too, as Mega Gengar struggles against physical attacks such as Sucker Punch.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Disable prevent someone from using their lastly used move for a few turns, which together with an Encore such as Whimsicott, can be very frustrating to play against due to Mega Gengar's trapping ability. Substitute and Disable is a good combination, as it can be tough to break a Substitute when the opponent's main attack is disabled. It works particularly well against Mega Kangaskhan, as Gengar can Disable its Sucker Punch and then set up Substitute on it, or KO it with Sludge Bomb. Focus Blast can OHKO Mega Kangaskhan and Heatran, while also doing more damage to Dark-types such as Hydreigon in general, while having terrible accuracy as drawback. Lastly, Perish Song can be used on PerishTrap teams, in which the Shadow Tag ability comes in handy. It should, however, be noted that it is tough to set up, and common Ghost-types such as Aegislash and opposing Gengar can easily beat it, by ignoring Shadow Tag.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Typing Advantage**: Gengar has trouble dealing with Dark-types such as Bisharp, Hydreigon, and Hoopa-Unbound because of their ability to switch in to Shadow Ball easier and KO Mega Gengar in return. Bulkier Ghost-types such as Aegislash take a hit and KO in return as well. Ground-types such as Landorus-T can also simply just KO Mega Gengar with Earthquake.
**Speed**: Faster Pokemon such as Deoxys-A and Landorus-T can give Mega Gengar a tough time, as Deoxys-A simply KOs it with Psycho Boost and Landorus-T can be a nuisance with Rock Slide. Ludicolo and Kingdra in Rain can outspeed and KO Mega Gengar as well, but that is less of a threat when Rain isn't up. Talonflame can KO it with powerful priority Brave Birds. It also has to watch out for Sucker Punch from Mega Kangaskhan and Bisharp, but that can be avoided by simply burning them with Will-O-Wisp, which cripples and leaves them trapped at the same time.
**Speed control**: Mega Gengar does not like playing in opposing Tailwind from Talonflame and Zapdos or getting paralyzed by Thundurus as it takes away the speed advantage it has. Mega Gengar also dislikes other speed control, such as Icy Wind from Jirachi. Trick Room by setters such as Cresselia and Mega Gardevoir turns the tables against Mega Gengar, making it threatened by attackers in it, rather than threatening them outside of it.
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