[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 4 onwards
**Price Range**: 10-11 points
**Overview**: Gengar is a mid-tier special attacker; it can be a solid wallbreaker, reliable revenge killing option, or late-game setup sweeper with Nasty Plot. Its vast coverage is valuable, as it can tailor its moveset to hit most drafts. Gengar works best when paired with Pokemon that can bring it in safely, as it is unlikely to survive a super-effective hit upon switching in; it can leverage its Normal and Fighting immunities to find a chance to come in, however. That being said, Gengar is held back by its underwhelming bulk, common weaknesses, and having to choose between outspeeding foes or reaching the KO thresholds it needs to.
Common Roles
========
**Utility**: Albeit not a bulky Pokemon, Gengar has access to Toxic Spikes, Thunder Wave, Will-O-Wisp, and Toxic, which means it can hinder threats with the appropriate status and threaten big damage with Hex. These sets can also attempt to trade with a foe via Destiny Bond and be disruptive with Encore.
**Wallbreaker**: Nasty Plot can boost Gengar's Special Attack to let it KO most Pokemon with its STAB moves or coverage, and its Speed enables it to break slower threats. Choice Specs can make it easier for Gengar to wallbreak, as it gives it the immediate power to force switches.
**Revenge Killer**: Gengar can reliably run Choice Specs to finish off bulkier walls when chipped or Choice Scarf to revenge kill faster threats. It can run Trick on these movesets to potentially neutralize a defensive wall and threaten to clean entire teams when it is no longer choice locked.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Sludge Bomb, Sludge Wave, Shadow Ball, Hex
**Setup Moves**: Nasty Plot
**Utility Moves**: Toxic Spikes, Trick, Will-O-Wisp, Destiny Bond, Encore, Pain Split, Taunt, Thunder Wave, Toxic, Hypnosis, Substitute
**Coverage**: Dazzling Gleam, Energy Ball, Focus Blast, Giga Drain, Psychic, Psychic Noise, Thunder, Thunderbolt, Dark Pulse, Icy Wind
Niche Moves
========
**Knock Off**: The boon of removing a foe's item cannot be understated. Knock Off has a hard time fitting onto Gengar's movesets, but utility variations of Gengar may be able to use this to force plenty of progress.
**Haze / Clear Smog**: Though Gengar is not bulky enough to utilize Haze consistently, its Speed may allow it to remove its foe's boosts in a pinch. Clear Smog is the preferred option, as it still deals damage when removing stat boosts, though it comes at the cost of Steel-types being immune.
**Endure**: Endure allows Gengar to survive any hit coming its way, and it could use a Salac Berry alongside this to become a deadly late-game wincon. Custap Berry can also allow Gengar to set an extra layer of Toxic Spikes or act before it would be KOed.
**Foul Play**: Gengar may be able to use Foul Play to hit threats with very high Attack that aren't threatened by its coverage or STAB moves; this also includes setup sweepers attempting to boost their Attack.
**Curse**: Curse has limited applications, but it can be a great way to quickly whittle down foes and force switches.
**Disable**: Disable can possibly shut down a super effective move in a pinch and allow Gengar to apply pressure for extra turns.
Common Items
========
**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs allows Gengar to break down plenty of special walls without the need to setup. Punching holes using a combination of Shadow Ball, Sludge Wave, and Focus Blast means very few Pokémon can switch-in safely. Choice Specs can also be given to defensive Pokemon with Trick to disrupt them.
**Choice Scarf**: If it instead chooses Choice Scarf, Gengar becomes a great revenge killer and can take out unboosted threats using its STAB moves, working as a late-game cleaning option. Choice Scarf may also be given to defensive Pokemon with Trick to disrupt them.
**Damage-boosting Items**: Gengar may run Life Orb, which is a risky option, as the chip damage hurts its longevity and ability to switch in repeatedly, or it may run Expert Belt to circumvent the recoil. Other damage-boosting items include Spell Tag and Poison Barb, which boost either of Gengar's STAB moves without requiring the attack to be super-effective or making Gengar take recoil.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Entry hazards, except Toxic Spikes, limit Gengar's opportunities to switch in safely; Heavy-Duty Boots can guarantee that it maintains offensive pressure, making it not so easily revenge killed, as it becomes immune to being hurt by Stealth Rock and Spikes or slowed down by Sticky Web.
Niche Items
========
**Air Balloon**: Giving Gengar an extra, albeit temporary, immunity to Ground allows for more setup or damage opportunities.
**Resistance Berries**: Resistance Berries can be useful to overcome Gengar's poor natural bulk and let it serve as a lure, surviving one hit and trading with a threatening foe or statusing it.
**Leftovers / Black Sludge**: Extra health on Gengar can allow for one extra opportunity to switch in safely; Substitute sets also benefit from the extra health and ability to set up Substitute multiple times over a game. Black Sludge in particular can be useful to give to foes with Trick.
**Focus Sash**: Surviving a single hit in a pinch allows Gengar one extra turn to set up a layer of Toxic Spikes, spread status, or get vital chip damage on a threatening foe.
**Custap Berry**: Custap Berry enables Gengar to get in some vital chip damage or use one of its solid utility options to get ahead in battle after using Endure.
**Weakness Policy**: Though generally not bulky enough to take most strong neutral hits, let alone super effective ones, Gengar may be able to find a scenario where it can trigger Weakness Policy for an immediate boost to its wallbreaking and cleaning power. This is best used in conjunction with Will-O-Wisp or Reflect and Light Screen, which have value in reducing damage from incoming attacks.
Tera
========
Although generally outclassed, Gengar is worth considering as a Tera Captain to circumvent some of its checks. Tera Fighting is the most potent, as it allows Gengar to flip matchups on Steel- and Dark-types with a reliable Tera Blast Fighting. Tera Flying for Ground-type moves and Tera Dark for Psychic-type moves also work rather well, as they give Gengar a turn to set-up with Nasty Plot. Other Tera types involve Tera Ghost and Poison to provide a small boost to Gengar's STAB moves, or you could choose another Tera type to strengthen its coverage options.
Draft Strategy
========
Gengar is a frail, offensive Pokemon that you draft as a wallbreaker or cleaner with solid utility options. Solid support is needed for it to truly excel.
**Slow Pivots**: Anything that may circumvent Gengar's frailty is a boon to your draft. Pokemon such as Scizor, Mandibuzz, and Corviknight are bulky enough to take the attacks that threaten Gengar and then proceed to get it in safely via U-turn.
**Entry Hazards**: Allowing Gengar to hit KO ranges without boosting gives it an easier time cleaning and wallbreaking, as it pressures out far more Pokemon if entry hazards are used. This also opens up Nasty Plot to let Gengar hit extra KO ranges that it would not normally reach. Hisuian Samurott can use Ceaseless Edge to set up hazards whilst maintaining offensive pressure, or Ting-Lu can set Stealth Rock and Spikes to give Gengar plenty of chances to rack up chip damage on foes as it forces out possible checks to its teammates or even itself.
**Alternate Attackers**: While powerful on its own, Gengar usually doesn't have enough space to fit everything it needs onto its moveset and is typically an asset to a better wallbreaker or sweeper. High-tier wallbreakers and sweepers that Gengar supports include, but are not limited to Roaring Moon, Weavile, Keldeo, and Urshifu-S. Fighting- and Dark-types in particular really appreciate Gengar's ability to remove Fairy-types or threaten them out consistently.
**Dual Screens Support**: Reflect and Light Screen can enable Gengar to take hits and sweep with Nasty Plot sets or clean more easily using Choice Specs or Choice Scarf. Grimmsnarl pairs very well with Gengar, with no shared weaknesses across their types, so they can pivot around each other reliably; Tinkaton may also use Reflect and Light Screen in a matchup alongside other support moves that may help Gengar. Uxie and Rotom-W get Reflect and Light Screen too while keeping the Ground-types that threaten Gengar at bay.
Checks and Counters
========
**Steel- and Dark-types**: Gengar can only hit Steel- and Dark-types super-effectively with Focus Blast, which is very unreliable in most scenarios, and considering the bulk of such Pokemon, it cannot deal with them effectively. Pokemon such as Ting-Lu, Mandibuzz, and Tinkaton can be difficult for Gengar to break.
**Faster Attackers**: Due to its low natural bulk and good, albeit not elite, Speed, there are a multitude of attackers that can outspeed and revenge kill Gengar. Pokemon such as Meowscarada, Weavile, and Roaring Moon can all outspeed Gengar to revenge kill.
**Priority Attacks**: Its frailty means strong priority attacks can KO Gengar; its weakness to Sucker Punch makes it a prime target for the move, which is seen across a plethora of Dark types. Gengar also struggles with other priority attackers such as Palafin, Scizor, and Raging Bolt which can often KO it.
**Resistance Berry Lures**: Gengar can hit hard, but being unboosted makes it easy to be put on the receiving end of a resistance Berry lure and be removed with a strong, super effective attack.
**Special Walls**: Gengar must respect special walls, as most are naturally bulky enough to take it on and return reliable damage to force it out, even when boosted with Nasty Plot or damage-boosting items.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flutterfliss.652897/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jscurf2.608304/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scionicle.599989/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
**Draft Order**: Round 4 onwards
**Price Range**: 10-11 points
**Overview**: Gengar is a mid-tier special attacker; it can be a solid wallbreaker, reliable revenge killing option, or late-game setup sweeper with Nasty Plot. Its vast coverage is valuable, as it can tailor its moveset to hit most drafts. Gengar works best when paired with Pokemon that can bring it in safely, as it is unlikely to survive a super-effective hit upon switching in; it can leverage its Normal and Fighting immunities to find a chance to come in, however. That being said, Gengar is held back by its underwhelming bulk, common weaknesses, and having to choose between outspeeding foes or reaching the KO thresholds it needs to.
Common Roles
========
**Utility**: Albeit not a bulky Pokemon, Gengar has access to Toxic Spikes, Thunder Wave, Will-O-Wisp, and Toxic, which means it can hinder threats with the appropriate status and threaten big damage with Hex. These sets can also attempt to trade with a foe via Destiny Bond and be disruptive with Encore.
**Wallbreaker**: Nasty Plot can boost Gengar's Special Attack to let it KO most Pokemon with its STAB moves or coverage, and its Speed enables it to break slower threats. Choice Specs can make it easier for Gengar to wallbreak, as it gives it the immediate power to force switches.
**Revenge Killer**: Gengar can reliably run Choice Specs to finish off bulkier walls when chipped or Choice Scarf to revenge kill faster threats. It can run Trick on these movesets to potentially neutralize a defensive wall and threaten to clean entire teams when it is no longer choice locked.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Sludge Bomb, Sludge Wave, Shadow Ball, Hex
**Setup Moves**: Nasty Plot
**Utility Moves**: Toxic Spikes, Trick, Will-O-Wisp, Destiny Bond, Encore, Pain Split, Taunt, Thunder Wave, Toxic, Hypnosis, Substitute
**Coverage**: Dazzling Gleam, Energy Ball, Focus Blast, Giga Drain, Psychic, Psychic Noise, Thunder, Thunderbolt, Dark Pulse, Icy Wind
Niche Moves
========
**Knock Off**: The boon of removing a foe's item cannot be understated. Knock Off has a hard time fitting onto Gengar's movesets, but utility variations of Gengar may be able to use this to force plenty of progress.
**Haze / Clear Smog**: Though Gengar is not bulky enough to utilize Haze consistently, its Speed may allow it to remove its foe's boosts in a pinch. Clear Smog is the preferred option, as it still deals damage when removing stat boosts, though it comes at the cost of Steel-types being immune.
**Endure**: Endure allows Gengar to survive any hit coming its way, and it could use a Salac Berry alongside this to become a deadly late-game wincon. Custap Berry can also allow Gengar to set an extra layer of Toxic Spikes or act before it would be KOed.
**Foul Play**: Gengar may be able to use Foul Play to hit threats with very high Attack that aren't threatened by its coverage or STAB moves; this also includes setup sweepers attempting to boost their Attack.
**Curse**: Curse has limited applications, but it can be a great way to quickly whittle down foes and force switches.
**Disable**: Disable can possibly shut down a super effective move in a pinch and allow Gengar to apply pressure for extra turns.
Common Items
========
**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs allows Gengar to break down plenty of special walls without the need to setup. Punching holes using a combination of Shadow Ball, Sludge Wave, and Focus Blast means very few Pokémon can switch-in safely. Choice Specs can also be given to defensive Pokemon with Trick to disrupt them.
**Choice Scarf**: If it instead chooses Choice Scarf, Gengar becomes a great revenge killer and can take out unboosted threats using its STAB moves, working as a late-game cleaning option. Choice Scarf may also be given to defensive Pokemon with Trick to disrupt them.
**Damage-boosting Items**: Gengar may run Life Orb, which is a risky option, as the chip damage hurts its longevity and ability to switch in repeatedly, or it may run Expert Belt to circumvent the recoil. Other damage-boosting items include Spell Tag and Poison Barb, which boost either of Gengar's STAB moves without requiring the attack to be super-effective or making Gengar take recoil.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Entry hazards, except Toxic Spikes, limit Gengar's opportunities to switch in safely; Heavy-Duty Boots can guarantee that it maintains offensive pressure, making it not so easily revenge killed, as it becomes immune to being hurt by Stealth Rock and Spikes or slowed down by Sticky Web.
Niche Items
========
**Air Balloon**: Giving Gengar an extra, albeit temporary, immunity to Ground allows for more setup or damage opportunities.
**Resistance Berries**: Resistance Berries can be useful to overcome Gengar's poor natural bulk and let it serve as a lure, surviving one hit and trading with a threatening foe or statusing it.
**Leftovers / Black Sludge**: Extra health on Gengar can allow for one extra opportunity to switch in safely; Substitute sets also benefit from the extra health and ability to set up Substitute multiple times over a game. Black Sludge in particular can be useful to give to foes with Trick.
**Focus Sash**: Surviving a single hit in a pinch allows Gengar one extra turn to set up a layer of Toxic Spikes, spread status, or get vital chip damage on a threatening foe.
**Custap Berry**: Custap Berry enables Gengar to get in some vital chip damage or use one of its solid utility options to get ahead in battle after using Endure.
**Weakness Policy**: Though generally not bulky enough to take most strong neutral hits, let alone super effective ones, Gengar may be able to find a scenario where it can trigger Weakness Policy for an immediate boost to its wallbreaking and cleaning power. This is best used in conjunction with Will-O-Wisp or Reflect and Light Screen, which have value in reducing damage from incoming attacks.
Tera
========
Although generally outclassed, Gengar is worth considering as a Tera Captain to circumvent some of its checks. Tera Fighting is the most potent, as it allows Gengar to flip matchups on Steel- and Dark-types with a reliable Tera Blast Fighting. Tera Flying for Ground-type moves and Tera Dark for Psychic-type moves also work rather well, as they give Gengar a turn to set-up with Nasty Plot. Other Tera types involve Tera Ghost and Poison to provide a small boost to Gengar's STAB moves, or you could choose another Tera type to strengthen its coverage options.
Draft Strategy
========
Gengar is a frail, offensive Pokemon that you draft as a wallbreaker or cleaner with solid utility options. Solid support is needed for it to truly excel.
**Slow Pivots**: Anything that may circumvent Gengar's frailty is a boon to your draft. Pokemon such as Scizor, Mandibuzz, and Corviknight are bulky enough to take the attacks that threaten Gengar and then proceed to get it in safely via U-turn.
**Entry Hazards**: Allowing Gengar to hit KO ranges without boosting gives it an easier time cleaning and wallbreaking, as it pressures out far more Pokemon if entry hazards are used. This also opens up Nasty Plot to let Gengar hit extra KO ranges that it would not normally reach. Hisuian Samurott can use Ceaseless Edge to set up hazards whilst maintaining offensive pressure, or Ting-Lu can set Stealth Rock and Spikes to give Gengar plenty of chances to rack up chip damage on foes as it forces out possible checks to its teammates or even itself.
**Alternate Attackers**: While powerful on its own, Gengar usually doesn't have enough space to fit everything it needs onto its moveset and is typically an asset to a better wallbreaker or sweeper. High-tier wallbreakers and sweepers that Gengar supports include, but are not limited to Roaring Moon, Weavile, Keldeo, and Urshifu-S. Fighting- and Dark-types in particular really appreciate Gengar's ability to remove Fairy-types or threaten them out consistently.
**Dual Screens Support**: Reflect and Light Screen can enable Gengar to take hits and sweep with Nasty Plot sets or clean more easily using Choice Specs or Choice Scarf. Grimmsnarl pairs very well with Gengar, with no shared weaknesses across their types, so they can pivot around each other reliably; Tinkaton may also use Reflect and Light Screen in a matchup alongside other support moves that may help Gengar. Uxie and Rotom-W get Reflect and Light Screen too while keeping the Ground-types that threaten Gengar at bay.
Checks and Counters
========
**Steel- and Dark-types**: Gengar can only hit Steel- and Dark-types super-effectively with Focus Blast, which is very unreliable in most scenarios, and considering the bulk of such Pokemon, it cannot deal with them effectively. Pokemon such as Ting-Lu, Mandibuzz, and Tinkaton can be difficult for Gengar to break.
**Faster Attackers**: Due to its low natural bulk and good, albeit not elite, Speed, there are a multitude of attackers that can outspeed and revenge kill Gengar. Pokemon such as Meowscarada, Weavile, and Roaring Moon can all outspeed Gengar to revenge kill.
**Priority Attacks**: Its frailty means strong priority attacks can KO Gengar; its weakness to Sucker Punch makes it a prime target for the move, which is seen across a plethora of Dark types. Gengar also struggles with other priority attackers such as Palafin, Scizor, and Raging Bolt which can often KO it.
**Resistance Berry Lures**: Gengar can hit hard, but being unboosted makes it easy to be put on the receiving end of a resistance Berry lure and be removed with a strong, super effective attack.
**Special Walls**: Gengar must respect special walls, as most are naturally bulky enough to take it on and return reliable damage to force it out, even when boosted with Nasty Plot or damage-boosting items.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flutterfliss.652897/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jscurf2.608304/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scionicle.599989/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
Last edited:
