Cynara
Banned deucer.
[OVERVIEW]
Gengar is the only viable Ghost-type that the metagame has to offer, being difficult to switch into due to its high Special Attack stat and expansive movepool that includes a powerful STAB move combination, coverage moves such as Thunderbolt and Mega Drain, and utility moves such as Will-O-Wisp. Gengar also has a good Speed tier, outspeeding up to Timid Alolan Ninetales, but most importantly Mew, Charizard, and Zapdos. Despite this, Gengar is rather frail, making it difficult to safely get in throughout matches; it is only able to switch in on somewhat passive Pokemon and attacks it resists or is immune to. Its lack of also makes Gengar susceptible to revenge killing from faster Pokemon such as Mega Alakazam, Mega Aerodactyl, Mega Beedrill, and Starmie. Common Dark-types such as Alolan Muk and Mega Gyarados can also give Gengar trouble, but they fear Will-O-Wisp.
[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Substitute
item: No Item
nature: Timid
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Information
========
Shadow Ball is Gengar's main STAB move, being resisted by very few Pokemon and capable of 2HKOing common Pokemon such as Mew and Rhydon. Sludge Bomb is Gengar's strongest STAB move, capable of 2HKOing Zapdos after Stealth Rock and dealing respectable damage to many Pokemon that are immune to Shadow Ball such as Snorlax, Eevee-S, and Mega Kangaskhan. Thunderbolt rounds off Gengar's coverage, allowing it to hit Alolan Muk harder and deal super effective damage to common Water-types such as Poliwrath and Mega Gyarados. Will-O-Wisp can be used to cripple solid checks to Gengar such as Alolan Muk and Mega Gyarados. Substitute eases prediction and can be used against sacrificial switch-ins to hinder future revenge killing attempts. Substitute also allows Gengar to deal with Mega Venusaur much more easily. Mega Drain can be considered as a coverage option, landing a surprise OHKO on Rhydon and Golem while also 2HKOing Sandslash and providing Gengar with some form of recovery to increase its longevity. A Timid nature is crucial for Gengar to outspeed Mew, Charizard, and Zapdos and function most effectively in its wallbreaker role.
Usage Tips
========
Gengar is rather frail and can be somewhat difficult to bring in safely; the best ways to get Gengar in are through predicted double switches, teammates fainting, passive foes, attacks that Gengar resists or is immune to, and momentum gained from U-turn and Teleport. Gengar is usually best utilized early- or mid-game to wallbreak and open up the door for your wincons. Gengar is best used to fire off attacks to maximize its wallbreaking capabilities, denting the opposing team and taking advantage of its limited switch-in options. Use Will-O-Wisp if you anticipate the opponent switching into one of Gengar's main checks, such as Alolan Muk, to cripple it. It is advised for Gengar to switch out of stronger physical attackers instead of trying to burn them head-on; examples include Nidoqueen and Snorlax, which can still easily 2HKO Gengar with Earthquake even after a burn.
Team Options
========
Due to Gengar's role as a wallbreaker, it usually finds itself on offensively oriented teams with dedicated wincons; Agility Dragonite is a great example, as it appreciates Gengar's ability to threaten and weaken common checks to it such as support Mew and Melmetal. Mega Gyarados can also function as a late-game cleaner and provide a crucial check to Mega Alakazam.
Zapdos provides great utility for Gengar, being able to set Reflect to help mitigate its frailty and pivot it in safely with U-turn. Zapdos is also a check to Mega Gyarados and Melmetal. Poliwrath stands out as a partner with good defensive synergy, being one of the best Mega Gyarados checks available while also checking Ground-types, Melmetal, and Snorlax for Gengar; in return, Gengar is able to offensively deal with Mew and switch into Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur that Poliwrath naturally struggles against.
Mew sets Stealth Rock early-game and provides safe switches in via U-turn to increase Gengar's effectiveness as a wallbreaker; Scald Mew supports Gengar particularly well because it can threaten Ground-types, notably OHKOing Rhydon and Golem. Melmetal is able to provide Thunder Wave support, making it easier for Gengar to pick off frail Pokemon that would usually be faster than it, and checks Mega Beedrill and Mega Aerodactyl. In return, Gengar is able to offensively deal with Mew and Zapdos. Alolan Muk provides a much-needed check to Mega Alakazam and deals with Rhydon and Golem due to Mega Drain; however, it and Gengar are both vulnerable to Ground-types, so additional support against them is strongly appreciated.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Taunt denies setup, prevents Gengar from being crippled by status moves, and completely shuts down Chansey as a special wall. Brick Break can also be considered to land a surprise 2HKO on Chansey and clear dual screens, but has terrible damage output against any other target, making it a very niche option.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Pokemon**: Mega Alakazam, Mega Aerodactyl, and Mega Beedrill are examples of Pokemon that are able to simply outspeed Gengar and OHKO it with super effective moves.
**Dark-types**: Alolan Muk and Mega Gyarados easily scare out Gengar by threatening to OHKO it with Crunch; however, they risk a burn from Will-O-Wisp, and Mega Gyarados is unable to switch into Thunderbolt if Stealth Rock is up. Alolan Persian outspeeds Gengar and 2HKOes it with Dark Pulse or Foul Play.
**Ground-types**: Rhydon, Nidoqueen, Sandslash, and Golem threaten to OHKO Gengar with Earthquake or take advantage of it to set Stealth Rock; however, they all have to watch out for Will-O-Wisp and can't really switch into Shadow Ball either. A burned Rhydon is still able to OHKO Gengar after Stealth Rock damage, though. Nidoqueen is only 3HKOed by Shadow Ball and easily beats Gengar one-on-one, even with a burn. Both Golem and Rhydon have to be cautious of Mega Drain. Alolan Dugtrio can pick off a weakened Gengar with Sucker Punch or risk the Speed tie to knock it out with Earthquake.
**Bulky Normal-types**: Snorlax in particular takes little damage from Sludge Bomb and OHKOes Gengar with Earthquake or 2HKOes it when burned, but it dislikes being poisoned, as it decreases its longevity. Status effects boost the power of its Facade, though, which can be problematic for Gengar's teammates. Chansey is able to easily sponge Gengar's attacks and cripple it with Thunder Wave, but it has no direct method of dealing damage to it and is completely shut down by Taunt.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Cynara, 224455]]
- Quality checked by: [[Lilburr, 481709], [Eve, 375272]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732], [Milak, 262594]]
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