[OVERVIEW]
Poison
========
* Gengar's Ghost typing gives allows it to serve as a check to the common Psychic-type teams.
* Its immunities to Fighting- and Normal-type attacks give it a few opportunities to switch in.
* Gengar's high Speed and Special Attack stats allow it to outpace the entire unboosted metagame and function as a powerful special cleaner.
* Its decent offensive movepool gives it good offensive coverage and options to hit every switch-in for at least neutral damage.
* However, Gengar's status as a Choice item user and typing leave it prey for Pursuit trapping, allowing teams to trap and KO it without it doing much in return.
* It faces competition from Nihilego as a fast special cleaner, which exchanges easy cleaning against Psychic and a check to Normal-type teams for a better Flying- and Fire-type matchup and a better ability.
* Furthermore, Gengar's low defenses allow almost any attack that connects to cripple or KO it.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf Attacker
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Sludge Wave
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Cursed Body
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Shadow Ball offers Gengar a reliable Ghost-type STAB move, allowing it to check Psychic teams.
* Sludge Wave is a more powerful Poison-type STAB attack and is Gengar's best option for neutral damage.
* Focus Blast hits Steel- and Normal-type Pokemon, preventing them from walling Gengar and allowing it to revenge kill threats such as Excadrill.
* Trick allows Gengar to cripple walls such as Chansey and switch moves afterwards but prevents it from readily cleaning.
Set Details
========
* Cursed Body is Gengar's only ability option and gives it a 30% chance to cripple opposing attackers.
* 252 Speed EVs and a Timid nature, alongside a Choice Scarf, maximize Gengar's Speed and allow it to outpace slower Choice Scarf and Speed-boosting sweepers such as Victini and Salamence.
* 252 Special Attack EVs boost Gengar's damage output.
Usage Tips
========
* Use Gengar chiefly as a revenge killer, picking off fast or boosted threats without taking any damage.
* If the opponent has a Pursuit trapper, play carefully to ensure Gengar is not eliminated; as Alolan Muk can switch in all but freely, this chiefly involves aggressive double switches and keeping entry hazards up.
* Attempt to use Trick on passive walls such as Chansey, as they won't benefit in any way, and Gengar doesn't need the additional Speed to clean against their teams.
* Should Gengar be needed to clean or outspeed a threat on the opposing team, however, using Trick should be avoided.
* Don't be too obvious in the use of Trick, as Mega Evolutions and Z-Move users can use it as a free switch, while many offensive Pokemon like Bisharp do not overly mind it.
* Be careful when picking a move, as all of Gengar's attacks have types immune to them, granting free opportunities to switch in for certain Pokemon.
* Keep Gengar healthy versus offensive teams, as otherwise Poison has few options to deal with setup sweepers; it can also be used to clean late-game after the opposing team is sufficiently weakened.
Team Options
========
* Alolan Muk pairs extremely well with Gengar, as together, they can take out most Psychic-type teams; Alolan Muk traps Meloetta and Choice Scarf Latios and provides Knock Off support, while Gengar cleans weakened teams.
* Mega Venusaur is also a valuable teammate, as it handles weather sweepers such as Excadrill and Kingdra while also serving as a bulky pivot and answer to threats such as Mega Gyarados.
* Crobat is handy to have as support to Gengar, as its Defog prevents Gengar from getting overly worn down by entry hazards, and it acts as a Ground immunity.
* Toxapex wears down foes with burns and can cripple switch-ins with Toxic Spikes, easing Gengar’s cleaning and aiding in wearing down walls such as Gastrodon.
* Nidoking, Nidoqueen, and Nihilego set Stealth Rock to punish the switches Gengar causes, particularly since Nihilego isn't needed in its role as a special sweeper.
* Nidoking also serves as a second special attacker, wearing down Gengar's switch-ins and serving as a wallbreaker; in return, it benefits from Gengar's high Speed.
* Scolipede is a solid teammate for Gengar, as it provides a second offensive wincon that allows Gengar to be played more recklessly, while both can wear down shared checks for the other to sweep.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Poison
--------
* Thunderbolt is an option to better deal with Water- and Flying-type teams but is generally not as useful as one of the above options; Energy Ball handles Ground-types instead of Flying-types but is similarly inferior.
* Destiny Bond allows Gengar to KO Pokemon it otherwise could not such as Mega Sableye.
* A Life Orb attacker set is also an option as a wallbreaker should Choice Scarf Nihilego be run, but this doesn't deal with Psychic as well.
Checks and Counters
===================
Poison
--------
**Alolan Muk**: Alolan Muk can easily switch into any move Gengar has and threaten to OHKO it with Pursuit or Knock Off. Gengar's only counterplay is to have Stealth Rock up and aggressively double switch to wear Muk down.
**Pursuit Trappers**: While not as dangerous as Alolan Muk, other Pursuit trappers such as Tyranitar are still issues for Gengar. They prevent Gengar from reliably revenge killing and checking fast threats.
**Ground-type Pokemon**: Almost all Ground-type Pokemon can live an attack from Gengar and OHKO it in return with their STAB moves; they also greatly threaten Poison-type teams. Bulky Pokemon such as Gastrodon can switch into any attack Gengar has bar Trick freely, while Mega Garchomp acts as a single-use switch-in that can take Trick freely.
**Specially Bulky Pokemon**: While some specially defensive threats such as Mew can be handled by virtue of Gengar's typing, the vast majority of special or mixed tanks can easily handle Gengar. Tricking its Choice Scarf does help, but it can only be done once per match and several threats still force it out. Meloetta in particular is annoying as it prevents Gengar from freely using Shadow Ball against Psychic and can OHKO in return, but even passive Pokemon such as Chansey can use the chance to set Stealth Rocks or support their team.
**Faster Attackers and Priority**: Choice Scarf Gengar has an excellent speed tier, but its frailty allows nearly anything that outpaces it, such as Kingdra and Alolan Raichu with their abilities active, to defeat or badly injure it. While it is immune to Extreme Speed, it also does not appreciate most priority moves; a Bullet Punch from Mega Scizor or Aqua Jet from Azumarill deals heavy damage.
**Immunities**: All of Gengar's attacks have types immune to them, allowing Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Mega Sableye, and Meloetta to pivot in and force Gengar out. This prevents Gengar from freely using super effective attacks against many teams.
Poison
========
* Gengar's Ghost typing gives allows it to serve as a check to the common Psychic-type teams.
* Its immunities to Fighting- and Normal-type attacks give it a few opportunities to switch in.
* Gengar's high Speed and Special Attack stats allow it to outpace the entire unboosted metagame and function as a powerful special cleaner.
* Its decent offensive movepool gives it good offensive coverage and options to hit every switch-in for at least neutral damage.
* However, Gengar's status as a Choice item user and typing leave it prey for Pursuit trapping, allowing teams to trap and KO it without it doing much in return.
* It faces competition from Nihilego as a fast special cleaner, which exchanges easy cleaning against Psychic and a check to Normal-type teams for a better Flying- and Fire-type matchup and a better ability.
* Furthermore, Gengar's low defenses allow almost any attack that connects to cripple or KO it.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf Attacker
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Sludge Wave
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Cursed Body
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Shadow Ball offers Gengar a reliable Ghost-type STAB move, allowing it to check Psychic teams.
* Sludge Wave is a more powerful Poison-type STAB attack and is Gengar's best option for neutral damage.
* Focus Blast hits Steel- and Normal-type Pokemon, preventing them from walling Gengar and allowing it to revenge kill threats such as Excadrill.
* Trick allows Gengar to cripple walls such as Chansey and switch moves afterwards but prevents it from readily cleaning.
Set Details
========
* Cursed Body is Gengar's only ability option and gives it a 30% chance to cripple opposing attackers.
* 252 Speed EVs and a Timid nature, alongside a Choice Scarf, maximize Gengar's Speed and allow it to outpace slower Choice Scarf and Speed-boosting sweepers such as Victini and Salamence.
* 252 Special Attack EVs boost Gengar's damage output.
Usage Tips
========
* Use Gengar chiefly as a revenge killer, picking off fast or boosted threats without taking any damage.
* If the opponent has a Pursuit trapper, play carefully to ensure Gengar is not eliminated; as Alolan Muk can switch in all but freely, this chiefly involves aggressive double switches and keeping entry hazards up.
* Attempt to use Trick on passive walls such as Chansey, as they won't benefit in any way, and Gengar doesn't need the additional Speed to clean against their teams.
* Should Gengar be needed to clean or outspeed a threat on the opposing team, however, using Trick should be avoided.
* Don't be too obvious in the use of Trick, as Mega Evolutions and Z-Move users can use it as a free switch, while many offensive Pokemon like Bisharp do not overly mind it.
* Be careful when picking a move, as all of Gengar's attacks have types immune to them, granting free opportunities to switch in for certain Pokemon.
* Keep Gengar healthy versus offensive teams, as otherwise Poison has few options to deal with setup sweepers; it can also be used to clean late-game after the opposing team is sufficiently weakened.
Team Options
========
* Alolan Muk pairs extremely well with Gengar, as together, they can take out most Psychic-type teams; Alolan Muk traps Meloetta and Choice Scarf Latios and provides Knock Off support, while Gengar cleans weakened teams.
* Mega Venusaur is also a valuable teammate, as it handles weather sweepers such as Excadrill and Kingdra while also serving as a bulky pivot and answer to threats such as Mega Gyarados.
* Crobat is handy to have as support to Gengar, as its Defog prevents Gengar from getting overly worn down by entry hazards, and it acts as a Ground immunity.
* Toxapex wears down foes with burns and can cripple switch-ins with Toxic Spikes, easing Gengar’s cleaning and aiding in wearing down walls such as Gastrodon.
* Nidoking, Nidoqueen, and Nihilego set Stealth Rock to punish the switches Gengar causes, particularly since Nihilego isn't needed in its role as a special sweeper.
* Nidoking also serves as a second special attacker, wearing down Gengar's switch-ins and serving as a wallbreaker; in return, it benefits from Gengar's high Speed.
* Scolipede is a solid teammate for Gengar, as it provides a second offensive wincon that allows Gengar to be played more recklessly, while both can wear down shared checks for the other to sweep.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Poison
--------
* Thunderbolt is an option to better deal with Water- and Flying-type teams but is generally not as useful as one of the above options; Energy Ball handles Ground-types instead of Flying-types but is similarly inferior.
* Destiny Bond allows Gengar to KO Pokemon it otherwise could not such as Mega Sableye.
* A Life Orb attacker set is also an option as a wallbreaker should Choice Scarf Nihilego be run, but this doesn't deal with Psychic as well.
Checks and Counters
===================
Poison
--------
**Alolan Muk**: Alolan Muk can easily switch into any move Gengar has and threaten to OHKO it with Pursuit or Knock Off. Gengar's only counterplay is to have Stealth Rock up and aggressively double switch to wear Muk down.
**Pursuit Trappers**: While not as dangerous as Alolan Muk, other Pursuit trappers such as Tyranitar are still issues for Gengar. They prevent Gengar from reliably revenge killing and checking fast threats.
**Ground-type Pokemon**: Almost all Ground-type Pokemon can live an attack from Gengar and OHKO it in return with their STAB moves; they also greatly threaten Poison-type teams. Bulky Pokemon such as Gastrodon can switch into any attack Gengar has bar Trick freely, while Mega Garchomp acts as a single-use switch-in that can take Trick freely.
**Specially Bulky Pokemon**: While some specially defensive threats such as Mew can be handled by virtue of Gengar's typing, the vast majority of special or mixed tanks can easily handle Gengar. Tricking its Choice Scarf does help, but it can only be done once per match and several threats still force it out. Meloetta in particular is annoying as it prevents Gengar from freely using Shadow Ball against Psychic and can OHKO in return, but even passive Pokemon such as Chansey can use the chance to set Stealth Rocks or support their team.
**Faster Attackers and Priority**: Choice Scarf Gengar has an excellent speed tier, but its frailty allows nearly anything that outpaces it, such as Kingdra and Alolan Raichu with their abilities active, to defeat or badly injure it. While it is immune to Extreme Speed, it also does not appreciate most priority moves; a Bullet Punch from Mega Scizor or Aqua Jet from Azumarill deals heavy damage.
**Immunities**: All of Gengar's attacks have types immune to them, allowing Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Mega Sableye, and Meloetta to pivot in and force Gengar out. This prevents Gengar from freely using super effective attacks against many teams.
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