MatchMaster
Member
Gengar is one of the two original Pokemon who has managed to stay in standard play for every generation, and for good reason: It has a massive movepool containing many viable options, high Special Attack and Speed, Levitate, and a typing that allows it to come in fairly easily. While it has among the lowest defenses in OU, it more than makes up for its x4 resistance to Bug-type attacks, allowing it to take weaker hits from Scizor and Genesect, and its immunity to Fighting- and Ground-type moves. Gengar is also one of the few special attackers that can boast being able to take on Chansey and most Blissey and win. The generation shift also brought Gengar's arguably most deadly set, SubDisable, to the table, which works well against Fighting-types that pack only one move that effects Gengar, such as Lucario and Terrakion. Overall, Gengar is a top-threat in today's metagame, its only true flaws being its low defenses and weakness to Pursuit.
Ability
Levitate: This is one of Gengar's big selling points. Ground-type move are easy to lure in with many OU Pokemon being weak to them, and this gives Gengar a free chance to come in and wreck havoc.
SubDisable
Item: Black Sludge
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Substitute
- Disable
This is my favorite Gengar set, and it works amazingly. The idea is to set up Substitute when you get the chance and let the opponent switch to something that they think can beat it, like Choice Scarf Terrakion or Shell Smash Cloyster. On the next turn, they will likely break the Sub, and this gives you the chance to Disable their move, which is more often than not the only move that they have that is effective against Gengar. Shadow Ball and Focus Blast give Gengar perfect neutral coverage together.
SubSplit
Item: Life Orb
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Substitute
- Pain Split
Gaze in horror at possibly the most destructive Gengar set. The moves are the same, but this set's most important move is Pain Split. Since Gengar has a low base HP stat, it will be able to recover a lot of health from most other Pokemon. Combined with Life Orb and Substitute recoil, it is very effective. All this allows it to take down Chansey and Blissey much faster than other sets.
Substitute + 3 Attacks
Item: Black Sludge / Life Orb
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power Fire / Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast
- Substitute
This set aims to get more coverage at the expense of utility. Shadow Ball and Focus Blast still get perfect neutral coverage together, while it has an added coverage move for more super-effective hits. Hidden Power Fire is generally recommended so Gengar can get past its arch-nemesis, Scizor. However, if the imperfect speed IV turns you off, Thunderbolt is an acceptable option to hit Tornadus-T and Water-types harder. Substitue is pretty much a need on any Gengar set, as it takes advantage of the switches it causes.
Other Options
Gengar has a huge movepool, so there are certainly other viable options. Thunder can be used over Thunderbolt if you have Rain support. Giga Drain can be used to hit Gastrodon, who might be problematic due to its high special defense. Sludge Bomb provides a Strong Secondary STAB, but gets redundant coverage. Gengar has a descent support movepool, including Will-O-Wisp, Mean Look, Haze, Perish Song, Taunt, and Hypnosis, but there are better users of these moves. Choice items may also be used, particularly Choice Scarf, as it allows Gengar to beat Latios and Latias in any situation, but due to its weakness to Pursuit, it is easily preyed upon due to its need to switch often.
Counters
Despite Gengar's incredible movepool, Speed, and Special Attack, there are a few Pokemon who can take it on. Choice Band Scizor is the best answer to it. Pursuit will OHKO Gengar even if it stays in. Just be careful, as if it is a behind a Substitute, it will be able to disable Pursuit, forcing Scizor out. Scizor also has to watch out for Hidden Power Fire. Swords Dance variants can simply Bullet Punch it to oblivion. Metagross is in a similar position, having access to both Pursuit and Bullet Punch, but fears Hidden Power Fire. Tornadus-T comes in at number two, as it naturally outspeeds Gengar and can hit it back, but once again struggles against the SubDisable set, and needs to avoid Thunder(bolt). Gastrodon is the closet thing to a counter to that set, as it can trick Gengar into Disabling Earth Power or Toxic, then hit back with Scald and Recover any damage taken.
Ability
Levitate: This is one of Gengar's big selling points. Ground-type move are easy to lure in with many OU Pokemon being weak to them, and this gives Gengar a free chance to come in and wreck havoc.
SubDisable
Item: Black Sludge
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Substitute
- Disable
This is my favorite Gengar set, and it works amazingly. The idea is to set up Substitute when you get the chance and let the opponent switch to something that they think can beat it, like Choice Scarf Terrakion or Shell Smash Cloyster. On the next turn, they will likely break the Sub, and this gives you the chance to Disable their move, which is more often than not the only move that they have that is effective against Gengar. Shadow Ball and Focus Blast give Gengar perfect neutral coverage together.
SubSplit
Item: Life Orb
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Substitute
- Pain Split
Gaze in horror at possibly the most destructive Gengar set. The moves are the same, but this set's most important move is Pain Split. Since Gengar has a low base HP stat, it will be able to recover a lot of health from most other Pokemon. Combined with Life Orb and Substitute recoil, it is very effective. All this allows it to take down Chansey and Blissey much faster than other sets.
Substitute + 3 Attacks
Item: Black Sludge / Life Orb
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power Fire / Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast
- Substitute
This set aims to get more coverage at the expense of utility. Shadow Ball and Focus Blast still get perfect neutral coverage together, while it has an added coverage move for more super-effective hits. Hidden Power Fire is generally recommended so Gengar can get past its arch-nemesis, Scizor. However, if the imperfect speed IV turns you off, Thunderbolt is an acceptable option to hit Tornadus-T and Water-types harder. Substitue is pretty much a need on any Gengar set, as it takes advantage of the switches it causes.
Other Options
Gengar has a huge movepool, so there are certainly other viable options. Thunder can be used over Thunderbolt if you have Rain support. Giga Drain can be used to hit Gastrodon, who might be problematic due to its high special defense. Sludge Bomb provides a Strong Secondary STAB, but gets redundant coverage. Gengar has a descent support movepool, including Will-O-Wisp, Mean Look, Haze, Perish Song, Taunt, and Hypnosis, but there are better users of these moves. Choice items may also be used, particularly Choice Scarf, as it allows Gengar to beat Latios and Latias in any situation, but due to its weakness to Pursuit, it is easily preyed upon due to its need to switch often.
Counters
Despite Gengar's incredible movepool, Speed, and Special Attack, there are a few Pokemon who can take it on. Choice Band Scizor is the best answer to it. Pursuit will OHKO Gengar even if it stays in. Just be careful, as if it is a behind a Substitute, it will be able to disable Pursuit, forcing Scizor out. Scizor also has to watch out for Hidden Power Fire. Swords Dance variants can simply Bullet Punch it to oblivion. Metagross is in a similar position, having access to both Pursuit and Bullet Punch, but fears Hidden Power Fire. Tornadus-T comes in at number two, as it naturally outspeeds Gengar and can hit it back, but once again struggles against the SubDisable set, and needs to avoid Thunder(bolt). Gastrodon is the closet thing to a counter to that set, as it can trick Gengar into Disabling Earth Power or Toxic, then hit back with Scald and Recover any damage taken.
Last edited: