Spooky Ghost n_n
[Overview]
[Set]Name: SubSplit
Move 1: Shadow Ball
Move 2: Focus Blast
Move 3: Substitute
Move 4: Pain Split
Item: Life Orb / Black Sludge
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spd
[Set Comments]
This is an offensive Gengar set backed up by recovery and Substitute, allowing it to play for the long game rather than be a glass cannon like most Gengar sets. Substitute gives you protection from the Pursuits of Tyranitar and Scizor (which would otherwise KO you), and thereby allow it to play throughout the game. Pain Split was added to Gengar's movepool in HGSS and forms the crux of this set, allowing Gengar to survive damage from Sand, Life Orb recoil, and spawning Substitutes by stealing the Hitpoints of its enemies. It can also help to weaken certain opponents: After a Pain Split and a layer of Spikes Blissey is 2HKOed by Focus Blast, which is a godsend for both Gengar and special attackers paired with it. Shadow Ball and Focus Blast are both crucial as they get perfect neutral coverage on the OverUsed tier, making Gengar well-nigh uncheckable.
The EVs are fairly straightforward, Maximum speed and Attack allow Gengar to hit as hard as possible while getting the jump on opposing Gengars and everything slower. Life Orb is crucial for two reasons: for one the extra power is crucial in powering through Mixed Walls like Hippowdon, Skarmory, and Vaporeon, and for the other it causes Gengar to get worn down more, thereby making its Pain Split stronger.
[Additional Comments]
As mentioned before, only one layer of Spikes is necessary to beat a Blissey, and Spikes can also wear down Tyranitar, Scizor and Jirachi, common switch-ins to this set: Toxic Spikes can work in a similar vein despite not affecting Steel types. Good Spiking partners include Skarmory, Roserade and Forretress.
Heatran has incredible type synergy with Gengar and thereby the two can create switch-in opportunities for each other: Gengar walks in on a Close Combat or Earthquake aimed at Heatran, and retreats to let Heatran sponge the Crunch coming his way. Heatran also checks SpDef Jirachi, which is one of the biggest threats to this set.
SD Lucario appreciates Gliscor, its nemesis, being set-up on, and can cover Gengar's weaknesses too. One of the oldest tricks in the book is to allow your Gengar to get Pursuited in the lategame, then bring in Lucario, set-up on the hapless Choice-locked mon, and go to town with it.
Name: SubStatus
Move 1: Substitute
Move 2: Shadow Ball
Move 3: Focus Blast
Move 4: Will-o-Wisp / Hypnosis
Item: Black Sludge
Nature: Timid
EVs: 112 HP / 64 Def / 80 SpA / 252 Spd
[Set Comments]
This is a bulkier Gengar with Substitute, designed to spinblock and ruin its checks with Status. Gengar's main checks (Tyranitar and Steel types) are absolutely ruined by Will-o-Wisp, which wears them down and compromises their ability to do damage: with the spread, Jirachi can't even break your Substitue once burned. Speaking of which, Substitute is another crucial, move for this set, as it provides cover from Tyranitars and Scizors switching in to try and Pursuit you and allows you to get a safe Wisp off. As mentioned elsewhere Shadow Ball and Focus Blast get perfect coverage on the OU tier, meaning Gengar can wreak havoc. Hypnosis is an option as Sleep is crippling to just about everything, but stuff like Scizor can still stay in and fish for a wake-up. Black Sludge is the main choice of item as it allows you to heal back HP used for Substitutes, as well as other chip damage taken.
The EVs are super crucial as they provide Bulk for survival against a wide range of threats. The defense and HP provide a Black Sludge number to gain back maximum health, and make sure Adamant Breloom and Burned Jirachi cannot break your Substitute. More importantly, it also gives you a good chance to take a boosted Lucario's Bullet Punch from full, making it a last ditch check. The Special Attack improves your chances of killing Scarf Tyranitar from full.
[Additional Comments]
ALWAYS use Substitute your first turn in, I cannot emphasise how crucial this is. This allows you to scout the switch-in, and reduce the risks of attacking or switching
The EVs can be tweaked, 168 SpA for example has a 2HKO on uninvested Gyarados and an OHKO on uninvested Tyranitar after Stealth Rock damage, while other spreads can be used to take certain hits or achieve certain kills, the spread above is just the one that is effective in the most scenarios.
Taunt can be used over Substitute to gain a stallbreaker, which can work very well against some mons like Blissey or Clefable, however it's an inferior option overall.
This Gengar makes a good partner for some Special Offense teams which appreciate Jirachi, Tyranitar and Skarmory crippled and can go to town with it. Dragon Dance Tyranitar also makes a solid partner as it appreciates Scizor and Scarf Jirachi being burned: this compromises their ability to revenge kill it.
Heatran is a good teammate for Gengar as it can switch in on steel types once burned, as well as burned Tyranitar. Zapdos can also take on all 4 (burned) without fear., as Tyranitar's Stone Edge is too weak to effect a KO. However, a more dedicated Tyranitar/Jirachi switch-in like Swampert or Gliscor is also nice to have as both mons still have the potential to get kills when burned.
Will-o-Wisp doesn't quite threaten Blissey bei. Explo Tran can help in that department.
Name: Life Orb
Move 1: Shadow Ball
Move 2: Focus Blast
Move 3: Thunderbolt / Hidden Power Fire
Move 4: Explosion / Hypnosis / Taunt
Item: Life Orb
Nature: Timid / Naive
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spd
Name: Choice Scarf
Move 1: Shadow Ball
Move 2: Focus Blast
Move 3: Thunderbolt
Move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Explosion
Item: Choice Scarf
Nature: Timid / Naive
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spd
Name: Lead
Move 1: Icy Wind
Move 2: Shadow Ball
Move 3: Focus Blast / Taunt
Move 4: Counter
Item: Focus Sash
Nature: Mild / Hasty
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spd
Other Options:
Taunt+WoW is an option to break down Blissey and Clefable but lack of protection that Sub affords can bite you.
Protect
Checks and Counters:
Choice Scarfed Tyranitar, Scizor and Jirachi check most variants of Gengar but hate getting burned by the SubWoW set. ScarfTar also cannot switch in due to Focus Blast.
Blissey stops Life Orb Gengars but falls to the SubSplitter, while the rare Taunt+WoW can stall it out.
Hippowdon, Skarmory and Vaporeon do decently against non LO-sets but get shredded by Life Orb boosted damage
Weavile cannot switch-in but can beat Gengar if it gets in safely. Other fast mons can work in a similar vein.
[Overview]
[Set]Name: SubSplit
Move 1: Shadow Ball
Move 2: Focus Blast
Move 3: Substitute
Move 4: Pain Split
Item: Life Orb / Black Sludge
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spd
[Set Comments]
This is an offensive Gengar set backed up by recovery and Substitute, allowing it to play for the long game rather than be a glass cannon like most Gengar sets. Substitute gives you protection from the Pursuits of Tyranitar and Scizor (which would otherwise KO you), and thereby allow it to play throughout the game. Pain Split was added to Gengar's movepool in HGSS and forms the crux of this set, allowing Gengar to survive damage from Sand, Life Orb recoil, and spawning Substitutes by stealing the Hitpoints of its enemies. It can also help to weaken certain opponents: After a Pain Split and a layer of Spikes Blissey is 2HKOed by Focus Blast, which is a godsend for both Gengar and special attackers paired with it. Shadow Ball and Focus Blast are both crucial as they get perfect neutral coverage on the OverUsed tier, making Gengar well-nigh uncheckable.
The EVs are fairly straightforward, Maximum speed and Attack allow Gengar to hit as hard as possible while getting the jump on opposing Gengars and everything slower. Life Orb is crucial for two reasons: for one the extra power is crucial in powering through Mixed Walls like Hippowdon, Skarmory, and Vaporeon, and for the other it causes Gengar to get worn down more, thereby making its Pain Split stronger.
[Additional Comments]
As mentioned before, only one layer of Spikes is necessary to beat a Blissey, and Spikes can also wear down Tyranitar, Scizor and Jirachi, common switch-ins to this set: Toxic Spikes can work in a similar vein despite not affecting Steel types. Good Spiking partners include Skarmory, Roserade and Forretress.
Heatran has incredible type synergy with Gengar and thereby the two can create switch-in opportunities for each other: Gengar walks in on a Close Combat or Earthquake aimed at Heatran, and retreats to let Heatran sponge the Crunch coming his way. Heatran also checks SpDef Jirachi, which is one of the biggest threats to this set.
SD Lucario appreciates Gliscor, its nemesis, being set-up on, and can cover Gengar's weaknesses too. One of the oldest tricks in the book is to allow your Gengar to get Pursuited in the lategame, then bring in Lucario, set-up on the hapless Choice-locked mon, and go to town with it.
Name: SubStatus
Move 1: Substitute
Move 2: Shadow Ball
Move 3: Focus Blast
Move 4: Will-o-Wisp / Hypnosis
Item: Black Sludge
Nature: Timid
EVs: 112 HP / 64 Def / 80 SpA / 252 Spd
[Set Comments]
This is a bulkier Gengar with Substitute, designed to spinblock and ruin its checks with Status. Gengar's main checks (Tyranitar and Steel types) are absolutely ruined by Will-o-Wisp, which wears them down and compromises their ability to do damage: with the spread, Jirachi can't even break your Substitue once burned. Speaking of which, Substitute is another crucial, move for this set, as it provides cover from Tyranitars and Scizors switching in to try and Pursuit you and allows you to get a safe Wisp off. As mentioned elsewhere Shadow Ball and Focus Blast get perfect coverage on the OU tier, meaning Gengar can wreak havoc. Hypnosis is an option as Sleep is crippling to just about everything, but stuff like Scizor can still stay in and fish for a wake-up. Black Sludge is the main choice of item as it allows you to heal back HP used for Substitutes, as well as other chip damage taken.
The EVs are super crucial as they provide Bulk for survival against a wide range of threats. The defense and HP provide a Black Sludge number to gain back maximum health, and make sure Adamant Breloom and Burned Jirachi cannot break your Substitute. More importantly, it also gives you a good chance to take a boosted Lucario's Bullet Punch from full, making it a last ditch check. The Special Attack improves your chances of killing Scarf Tyranitar from full.
[Additional Comments]
ALWAYS use Substitute your first turn in, I cannot emphasise how crucial this is. This allows you to scout the switch-in, and reduce the risks of attacking or switching
The EVs can be tweaked, 168 SpA for example has a 2HKO on uninvested Gyarados and an OHKO on uninvested Tyranitar after Stealth Rock damage, while other spreads can be used to take certain hits or achieve certain kills, the spread above is just the one that is effective in the most scenarios.
Taunt can be used over Substitute to gain a stallbreaker, which can work very well against some mons like Blissey or Clefable, however it's an inferior option overall.
This Gengar makes a good partner for some Special Offense teams which appreciate Jirachi, Tyranitar and Skarmory crippled and can go to town with it. Dragon Dance Tyranitar also makes a solid partner as it appreciates Scizor and Scarf Jirachi being burned: this compromises their ability to revenge kill it.
Heatran is a good teammate for Gengar as it can switch in on steel types once burned, as well as burned Tyranitar. Zapdos can also take on all 4 (burned) without fear., as Tyranitar's Stone Edge is too weak to effect a KO. However, a more dedicated Tyranitar/Jirachi switch-in like Swampert or Gliscor is also nice to have as both mons still have the potential to get kills when burned.
Will-o-Wisp doesn't quite threaten Blissey bei. Explo Tran can help in that department.
Name: Life Orb
Move 1: Shadow Ball
Move 2: Focus Blast
Move 3: Thunderbolt / Hidden Power Fire
Move 4: Explosion / Hypnosis / Taunt
Item: Life Orb
Nature: Timid / Naive
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spd
Name: Choice Scarf
Move 1: Shadow Ball
Move 2: Focus Blast
Move 3: Thunderbolt
Move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Explosion
Item: Choice Scarf
Nature: Timid / Naive
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spd
Name: Lead
Move 1: Icy Wind
Move 2: Shadow Ball
Move 3: Focus Blast / Taunt
Move 4: Counter
Item: Focus Sash
Nature: Mild / Hasty
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spd
Other Options:
Taunt+WoW is an option to break down Blissey and Clefable but lack of protection that Sub affords can bite you.
Protect
Checks and Counters:
Choice Scarfed Tyranitar, Scizor and Jirachi check most variants of Gengar but hate getting burned by the SubWoW set. ScarfTar also cannot switch in due to Focus Blast.
Blissey stops Life Orb Gengars but falls to the SubSplitter, while the rare Taunt+WoW can stall it out.
Hippowdon, Skarmory and Vaporeon do decently against non LO-sets but get shredded by Life Orb boosted damage
Weavile cannot switch-in but can beat Gengar if it gets in safely. Other fast mons can work in a similar vein.
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