Gengar [QC 0/3] high priority

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[OVERVIEW]

* Gengar is a very good wallbreaker and late-game cleaner in the UU metagame thanks to its high Special Attack and Speed stats.
* Gengar's offensive typing is very potent as very few Pokemon resist its dual STAB moves, the only exceptions being Alolan Muk and Krookodile.
* It also has access to utility moves like Trick and Taunt, which let it severely cripple most walls.
* Gengar also has various coverage options like Thunderbolt, Focus Blast, and Hidden Power Fire, which makes it very customizable to fit its team.
* Gengar is very limited with switching in however because it's very frail, has a bad defensive typing which leaves it weak to Dark-, Ground-, and Psychic-type attacks, and gets worn down relatively fast.
* Gengar is also very susceptible to getting Pursuit trapped by the aforementioned Alolan Muk and Krookodile, which means that it has to be very careful with staying in if the opponent has either Alolan Muk or Krookodile.

[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Sludge Wave
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Specs
ability: Cursed Body
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

* Shadow Ball is Gengar's Ghost-type STAB move, which is resisted by very few Pokemon and thus very hard to switch into.
* Sludge Wave greatly damages Grass- and Fairy-types like Amoonguss, Togekiss, and Sylveon, which are all capable of taking Shadow Ball.
* Focus Blast is Gengar's main way of dealing with Dark-types that resist Shadow Ball, however, it must be noted that it does not hit Alolan Muk super effectively.
* Trick allows Gengar to severely cripple walls that may try to switch into it, such as Blissey.
* Thunderbolt may be used instead of Trick to severely damage Mantine, which may try to pivot into Gengar.
* Hidden Power Ice may be used to OHKO specially defensive Gliscor.

Set Details
========

* Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment in tandem with a Timid nature maximize Gengar's offensive potential, lets it outspeed Infernape, Cobalion, and Terrakion, and Speed tie with non-Choice Scarf Latias, which is pretty important for an offensive Pokemon like Gengar.
* Choice Specs maximizes Gengar's damage output.
* Cursed Body is Gengar's only available ability and can be useful if it activates, especially against Choice-locked foes as they're forced to use Struggle or switch out.

Usage Tips
========

* Gengar should primarily be used as a wallbreaker for another teammate to clean up or sweep after.
* Gengar's unique offensive typing puts it in a lot of situations where it has to predict, this is especially true for Choice-locked sets, as Pokemon may resist or are immune to Shadow Ball, but not Sludge Wave, and vice-versa.
* It's best to spam Shadow Ball with Gengar as there are very few Pokemon that resist it, if this is not possible you should predict accordingly to what the opponent may switch in.
* It should be avoided to bring Gengar in on attacks unless you are 100% certain that the user will use a Fighting-type or resisted attack, this is very important as Gengar can easily get OHKOed or 2HKOed thanks to its atrocious bulk.
* Gengar can be used to take advantage off Pursuit trappers like Alolan Muk and Krookodile, which may switch in to Pursuit trapper it, if this is predicted to happen then Gengar can switch out and you can use this opportunity for a teammate like Gliscor to get a free set up opportunity with Swords Dance.
* Gengar should be very careful when using Trick, if you predict a wall to come in it may be beneficial for Gengar to use Trick, however, if a Pokemon like Hydreigon switches in this means Gengar is going to get forced to switch out. It should also be weighted if Gengar still needs its Choice Specs to wallbreak or not.

Team Options
========

* Gengar fits well on offensively oriented teams as it is a very strong wallbreaker.
* It really appreciates Stealth Rock support as this lets it net quite a few KOs that it'd otherwise miss out on, it's also useful for wearing down Alolan Muk. Pokemon that can set up hazards like Gliscor, Cobalion, Mamoswine, and Kommo-o are a few Pokemon that can effectively set up Stealth Rock for Gengar.
* Pokemon like Gliscor, Cobalion, and Terrakion are very useful as they can take advantage of Alolan Muk that may switch in on Gengar.
* Other Pokemon that can act as wallbreakers, such as Azumarill, Heracross, and Haxorus appreciate Gengar's ability to weaken physically defensice walls, which lets them wallbreak easier.
* Fairy- and Fighting-types like Mega Altaria, Sylveon, Cobalion, Terrakion, and Kommo-o are useful as they can check Dark-types for Gengar.
* Pokemon that can pivot in Gengar with Volt Switch or U-turn respectively such as Scizor, Gliscor, and Mega MAnectricmake for good teammates as Gengar is very frail and does not like taking a hit.

[SET]
name: Utility Attacker
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Sludge Wave
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Focus Blast
item: Life Orb / Ghostium Z
ability: Cursed Body
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
ivs: 29 HP

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

* Shadow Ball is Gengar's Ghost-type STAB move that hits a large majority of the tier for at least neutral damage. When used in tandem with Ghostium Z it turns into a very strong Never-Ending Nightmare that is capable of severely damaging Pokemon like Alomomola and Gliscor.
* Sludge Wave allows Gengar to severely damage Fairy- and Grass-types, like Sylveon, Togekiss, and Amoonguss.
* Taunt means that passive Pokemon like Blissey, Amoonguss, and Alomomola can't use their status moves, and thus get worn down faster.
* Focus Blast allows Gengar to hit most Dark-types for super effective damage, this is important as they deter the spam of Shadow Ball, which Gengar wants to be doing most of the time.
* Hidden Power Fire may be run over Taunt to OHKO Scizor, but this is really only useful if Gengar's team struggles against Scizor as Taunt provides amazing utility.

Set Details
========

* Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment in conjunction with a Timid nature maximize Gengar's offensive potential and allow it to outspeed base 108 Speed Pokemon like Cobalion.
* Life Orb enhances Gengar's damage output by 30% at the cost of 10% recoil damage of its HP each turn that it uses an offensive move.
* Ghostium Z may be used to take a severe chunk out of Pokemon their health, like Gliscor and Alomomola.
* 29 IVs in HP should be used with Life Orb as it minimizes the recoil damage taken from Life Orb.
* Cursed Body is Gengar's only ability; it can prove useful if it activates against Choice-locked Pokemon because, it forces Choice-locked Pokemon to use Struggle or switch out.

Usage Tips
========

* Gengar is very hard to deal with for defensively oriented teams as most defensive backbones can't severely damage or outright KO Gengar.
* Life Orb and Ghostium Z provide a few things differently from Choice-locked sets. Life Orb provides the ability to switch up moves and there's not much difference in power with Choice Specs. Ghostium Z also allows Gengar to switch up moves and provides a very powerful one-time attack, it should be noted though, that after its use Gengar is relatively weak and not that fast, which may make Choice-locked sets more appealing.
* It should be used to break walls early-game for its team to sweep in later stages of the game.
* It can also break defensively oriented teams with relative ease thanks to access to Taunt and its great offensive typing.
* You should be wary when switching in Gengar as it is incapable of taking most hits, it's safe to bring it in via VoltTurn and after a teammate has been KOd as this means it doesn't have to take a hit.
* If running Ghostium Z, Gengar should only use it if it's beneficial for itself and its team, it's a good use to severely weaken walls like Gliscor, Hippowdon, and Tentacruel.

Team Options
========

* Setup sweepers like Scizor, Mega Altaria, and Cobalion benefit from Gengar's immediate wallbreaking prowess, which allows them to sweep easier.
* VoltTurn support from Pokemon like Gliscor, Scizor, Mega Manectric, Cobalion, and Rotom-C help Gengar as they're capable of bringing it in, meaning that Gengar doesn't have to take a hit.
* Fighting- and Fairy-types like Cobalion, Infernape, Terrakion can take advantage of Pursuit trappers that may try to switch in on Gengar.
* Pokemon like Terrakion, Hydreigon, Mega Sharpedo, and Heracross appreciate the pressure that Gengar puts on Fairy-type Pokemon.
* Choice Scarf users like Infernape, Hydreigon, and Latias are capable of weakening faster Pokemon that Gengar can't handle, such as Mega Aerodactyl and Starmie.

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Sludge Wave
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Trick / Hidden Power Fire
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Cursed Body
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

* Shadow Ball is once again Gengar's main Ghost-type STAB move that does a decent chunk to most Pokemon that don't resist it, also, thanks to Choice Scarf, it allows Gengar to effectively threaten Pokemon like Starmie and Azelf, which it'd otherwise be slower against.
* Sludge Wave hits Grass- and Fairy-types for a sufficient amount of damage.
* Focus Blast hits Dark-types that resist Shadow Ball for super effective damage, like Hydreigon and Krookodile, it can also be useful for Ice- and Steel-type Pokemon such as Mega Abomasnow and Mega Aggron.
* Trick allows Gengar to cripple common walls like Amoonguss, Alomomola, and Blissey.
* Hidden Power Fire can be used instead of Trick as Choice Scarf Gengar fails to efficiently 2HKO Scizor with Shadow Ball.

Set Details
========

* Maximum Special Attack investment makes Gengar hit as hard as possible.
* Maximum Speed investment and a Timid nature in tandem with a Choice Scarf allow Gengar to outrun Pokemon like Starmie and Azelf while also letting it outspeed other Choice Scarf users like Latios, Terrakion, and Infernape.
* Cursed Body is useful against Choice-locked foes because, they can't switch up moves if it gets activated, which means that they're forced to switch out or use Struggle; it's also Gengar's only available ability.

Usage Tips
========

* Gengar with a Choice Scarf is best utilized to revenge kill Pokemon like Latias, Serperior, Mega Altaria, and Mega Sceptile.
* You should predict accordingly as to what may switch in as Choice Scarf Gengar is very reliant on its coverage moves to hit hard.
* Gengar should be afraid of Pursuit trappers.
* Trick should be used very carefully and it should be used to cripple walls like Amoonguss, Blissey, and Alomomola.

Team Options
========

* Gengar fits well on teams that need a Pokemon to revenge kill Grass- and Fairy-types like Serperior, Mega Sceptile, and Mega Altaria reliably.
* Pokemon like Gliscor, Azumarill, and Suicune like the aforementioned Pokemon removed from the match. In return, they can deal with Ground-types, while also being capable of setting up Stealth Rock in Gliscor's case.
* Terrakion and Cobalion are especially useful as they take advantage of Alolan Muk, Gengar's best counter. Gengar can deal with Pokemon like Latias and Starmie in return.
* Gengar appreciates VoltTurn support from Pokemon like Gliscor and Scizor as it does not like to take a hit and thus struggles to come in easily.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

* Gengar can utilize a Will-O-Wisp / Hex / Taunt / Sludge Bomb set which allows it to break through stall and annoy offensive builds, but this set is eclipsed by Gengar's utility attacker set.
* Energy Ball allows Gengar to hit Swampert and Gastrodon for super effective damage.
* A set using Substitute and Pain Split may be used to take complete advantage of Blissey and Amoonguss, though, this set struggles to find a place on most teams.
* Destiny Bond can be used instead of Trick on Gengar's sets to force a one-for-one trade, as it basically guarantees a kill. However, the utility of Trick or Taunt are oftentimes better as it allows Gengar to do more in general.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Alolan Muk**: Alolan Muk is the perfect counter to Gengar thanks to its great Special Defense when coupled with an Assault Vest and the ability to Pursuit trap Gengar.

**Pursuit Trappers**: Pursuit trappers like Mega Aerodactyl, Krookodile, and Mega Beedrill can Pursuit trap and outright OHKO Gengar, if it switches out.

**Specially Defensive Walls**: Specially defensive walls like Amoonguss, Alomomola, and Tentacruel take pitiful damage from most of Gengar's attacks and can PP stall it thanks to their recovery options, though they are quite worried about both Trick and Taunt.

**Faster Pokemon**: Fast Pokemon like Mega Aerodactly, Starmie, and Mega Beedrill can easily take out Gengar due to its poor defenses, Choice Scarf users such as Infernape and Hydreigon can do too.

**Strong Priority Users**: Pokemon like Scizor, Azumarill, and Doublade can easily threaten Gengar with their priority moves as they're capable of inflicting great damage on Gengar.

**Ground-types**: Gengar tends to struggle against Ground-types like Krookodile, Gliscor, and Hippowdon as it fails to OHKO them with any move, outside of Never-Ending Nightmare in Gliscor's case; they can threaten Gengar with Earthquake, ultimately making them a big threat.
 
Last edited:
amcheck

Overview
  • Mention that it has a notable weakness to Ground and Psychic which prevents it from switching into some of the things it needs to break down, even if they are frail.
  • If you're not going to mention Energy Ball in any of the movesets, remove it from the Overview and move it to OO. Focus Blast is an especially notable coverage move too, which lets it hit Darks and Steels - which is super important.
Specs
Moves

  • Sylveon is the only one of the 4 that takes a Shadow Ball comfortably at all, the other 3 are easily 2HKO'd or OHKOd after a bit of chip damage. While they do survive a hit from full the way you stated the point kind of misrepresents how they actually work. Things like Amoonguss and Togekiss might be better mentions as they both survive 2 Shadow Balls from full and not Sludge Wave.
  • Amoonguss isn't a switch-in to Gengar by any means, its 2HKOd by specs Sludge Wave anway. Remove that bit from the bullet point on Trick.
Set Details
  • Mention some examples of what Gengar is reaching with that max speed investment with a timid nature. Speed tying Latias while always outspeeding Terrakion, Cobalion, and Infernape is pretty important.
Usage Tips
  • Describe how Gengar's unique offensive typing puts it in a situation heavily reliant on good prediction with a Choice set as a lot of the Pokemon Gengar would hit with one STAB move has resists / immunities, and vice versa.
  • Be a bit more clear about taking advantage of Pursuit trappers as you don't even mention yourself switching out or a double switch, though I know what you meant. Also Gengar isn't really "used" per se to do this.
  • When discussing Trick make sure to mention weighing your options as you might still need your Specs to help wallbreak later in the game, so sometimes giving up your specs isn't a good decision even if a wall is coming in.
Team Options
  • How to you mention Stealth Rock setters without what is arguably Gengar's best teammate, Gliscor? When you mention it in the next line just remove Swords Dance because any Gliscor can take advantage by sending off a toxic or setting rocks / defogging.
  • Azumarill, Heracross, and Haxorus are not generally "setup sweepers". All three of them, particularly Heracross, are textbook wallbreakers.
  • Sylveon is one of the best Dark-type checks in the tier. Give it a mention.
Offensive Utility
Moves

  • Same point about what Sludge Wave hits as above.
  • Change "passive" to status as they don't necessarily mean the same thing.
  • Slash a 4th move with Taunt as an AoA set is just as viable. Hidden Power is a good option to OHKO Scizor.
Set Details
  • Life Orb isn't a 33% boost, its technically a hair under 30% but it rounds up to 30% so just say that instead.
  • Don't just copy/paste the description for Cursed Body from the other set.
Usage Tips
  • Note the advantages / disadvantages of a Life Orb / Z Move set over a choice set - able to switch moves on a Pokemon with not much overlap in STAB coverage, 1 time nuke but general overall lack of power / speed, etc.
Team Options
  • Of all the VoltTurn support you could have named, Rotom-C is not one I would mention. Instead you can mention things like Mega Pidgeot, Mega Beedrill, Cobalion, Crobat, etc, your picks obviously.
  • Mega Altaria actually doesn't have an amazing matchup vs the most common pursuit trapper Muk, as Poison Jab has a chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock.
  • Watch your wording on Choice Scarf users "breaking through" as generally breaking implies powerful hits to break walls, not deal with faster frail threats.
Scarf*
Moves

  • Don't say that Shadow Ball isn't hitting Grasses sufficiently, as its easily 2HKOing every relevant Grass-type in the tier besides Amoonguss, which isn't getting 2HKO'd by Sludge Wave anyway.
Set Details
  • Good job on the speed tier stuff, but watch the copy/paste with Cursed Body. Just reword it differently or something.
Usage Tips
  • Mention Latias as something Gengar should revenge kill.
  • "Gengar should be afraid of Pursuit trappers, more then normal, as this set is especially susceptible due to it not hitting that hard" Meh, LO or Specs isn't doing any meaningful damage to Alolan Muk anyway. Just leave it at being afraid of Pursuit trappers.
Team Options
  • You mention what Gengar can do for these Pokemon, but don't really mention what these Pokemon can do for Gengar. Fill this out a bit.
Other Options
  • DBond is a viable option on any of Gengar's sets.
Checks and Counters
  • Gengar can't really break through a lot of ground types like Krookodile, Gliscor, and Hippowdon, and they easily beat it with their STAB attacks.
  • Have a bullet on dedicated special walls which this set doesn't have the raw power to break through.

Overall really good work, keep it up.
 
Last edited:
amcheck

Overview
  • Mention that it has a notable weakness to Ground and Psychic which prevents it from switching into some of the things it needs to break down, even if they are frail.
  • If you're not going to mention Energy Ball in any of the movesets, remove it from the Overview and move it to OO. Focus Blast is an especially notable coverage move too, which lets it hit Darks and Steels - which is super important.
Specs
Moves

  • Sylveon is the only one of the 4 that takes a Shadow Ball comfortably at all, the other 3 are easily 2HKO'd or OHKOd after a bit of chip damage. While they do survive a hit from full the way you stated the point kind of misrepresents how they actually work. Things like Amoonguss and Togekiss might be better mentions as they both survive 2 Shadow Balls from full and not Sludge Wave.
  • Amoonguss isn't a switch-in to Gengar by any means, its 2HKOd by specs Sludge Wave anway. Remove that bit from the bullet point on Trick.
Set Details
  • Mention some examples of what Gengar is reaching with that max speed investment with a timid nature. Speed tying Latias while always outspeeding Terrakion, Cobalion, and Infernape is pretty important.
Usage Tips
  • Describe how Gengar's unique offensive typing puts it in a situation heavily reliant on good prediction with a Choice set as a lot of the Pokemon Gengar would hit with one STAB move has resists / immunities, and vice versa.
  • Be a bit more clear about taking advantage of Pursuit trappers as you don't even mention yourself switching out or a double switch, though I know what you meant. Also Gengar isn't really "used" per se to do this.
  • When discussing Trick make sure to mention weighing your options as you might still need your Specs to help wallbreak later in the game, so sometimes giving up your specs isn't a good decision even if a wall is coming in.
Team Options
  • How to you mention Stealth Rock setters without what is arguably Gengar's best teammate, Gliscor? When you mention it in the next line just remove Swords Dance because any Gliscor can take advantage by sending off a toxic or setting rocks / defogging.
  • Azumarill, Heracross, and Haxorus are not generally "setup sweepers". All three of them, particularly Heracross, are textbook wallbreakers.
  • Sylveon is one of the best Dark-type checks in the tier. Give it a mention.
Offensive Utility
Moves

  • Same point about what Sludge Wave hits as above.
  • Change "passive" to status as they don't necessarily mean the same thing.
  • Slash a 4th move with Taunt as an AoA set is just as viable. Hidden Power is a good option to OHKO Scizor.
Set Details
  • Life Orb isn't a 33% boost, its technically a hair under 30% but it rounds up to 30% so just say that instead.
  • Don't just copy/paste the description for Cursed Body from the other set.
Usage Tips
  • Note the advantages / disadvantages of a Life Orb / Z Move set over a choice set - able to switch moves on a Pokemon with not much overlap in STAB coverage, 1 time nuke but general overall lack of power / speed, etc.
Team Options
  • Of all the VoltTurn support you could have named, Rotom-C is not one I would mention. Instead you can mention things like Mega Pidgeot, Mega Beedrill, Cobalion, Crobat, etc, your picks obviously.
  • Mega Altaria actually doesn't have an amazing matchup vs the most common pursuit trapper Muk, as Poison Jab has a chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock.
  • Watch your wording on Choice Scarf users "breaking through" as generally breaking implies powerful hits to break walls, not deal with faster frail threats.
Offensive Utility
Moves

  • Don't say that Shadow Ball isn't hitting Grasses sufficiently, as its easily 2HKOing every relevant Grass-type in the tier besides Amoonguss, which isn't getting 2HKO'd by Sludge Wave anyway.
Set Details
  • Good job on the speed tier stuff, but watch the copy/paste with Cursed Body. Just reword it differently or something.
Usage Tips
  • Mention Latias as something Gengar should revenge kill.
  • "Gengar should be afraid of Pursuit trappers, more then normal, as this set is especially susceptible due to it not hitting that hard" Meh, LO or Specs isn't doing any meaningful damage to Alolan Muk anyway. Just leave it at being afraid of Pursuit trappers.
Team Options
  • You mention what Gengar can do for these Pokemon, but don't really mention what these Pokemon can do for Gengar. Fill this out a bit.
Other Options
  • DBond is a viable option on any of Gengar's sets.
Checks and Counters
  • Gengar can't really break through a lot of ground types like Krookodile, Gliscor, and Hippowdon, and they easily beat it with their STAB attacks.
  • Have a bullet on dedicated special walls which this set doesn't have the raw power to break through.

Overall really good work, keep it up.
Thanks, did.
 
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