Zeal
DPL Champion
[OVERVIEW]
In a metagame like VGC 2019 where positioning is an essential aspect of the game, Mega Gengar is extremely powerful as its ability, Shadow Tag, gives its trainer superior control of the field by denying the opponent the ability to switch. Along with Shadow Tag, Mega Gengar boasts a huge base 170 Special Attack, which allows it to deal a huge chunk of damage on even neutral hits. Because of this, Mega Gengar can switch into Fairy-types and secure the KO regardless of how much health they have, since they are trapped by Shadow Tag. Despite its strengths, Mega Gengar is very weak defensively, which can easily lead to situations where it is threatened with an OHKO when the opponent has the Speed advantage. This can be played around with good use of Protect, Substitute, and Fake Out support from Pokemon like Incineroar. Mega Gengar also doesn't match up well against Primal Groudon as well as Tapu Lele, which often carries a Choice Scarf and can outspeed and OHKO it. Mega Gengar also doesn't like facing Dark-types like Incineroar, Yveltal, and Umbreon because of their access to Snarl, which hits through Substitute, as well as Ghost-types like Lunala, Mimikyu, and opposing Mega Gengar, which are all unaffected by Shadow Tag and can threaten Mega Gengar back.
[SET]
name: Shadow Tag Utilizer
move 1: Sludge Bomb
move 2: Shadow Ball/Perish Song
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Protect
item: Gengarite
ability: Shadow Tag
nature: Timid
evs: 140 HP / 44 Def / 4 SpA / 68 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Sludge Bomb lets Mega Gengar threaten Xerneas and prevent it from setting up a Geomancy. Even though Sludge Bomb won't KO a full HP Xerneas, having Sludge Bomb's poison chance proc will secure the KO on even bulky variants. Teams that struggle with Lunala and Necrozma can use Shadow Ball as their second move, although Lunala's Shadow Shield will need to be broken to KO it. Perish Song can be used otherwise, even on teams that aren't dedicated to using Perish Song, since it provides an extra win condition at very little cost. Substitute is a very strong move on Gengar, since it forces the opponent to double target Gengar if they want to KO it, which helps cover up its lack of bulk. This becomes especially powerful when the opponent has a Pokemon that provides very little offensive pressure, like Tapu Fini or Amoonguss, trapped, since you can be certain that Gengar won't be KOed that turn. Having a Substitute set up can let Gengar take a hit while still putting on offensive pressure with Sludge Bomb. Additionally, Substitute can also stall for turns with Perish Song. Protect is an essential move on any Shadow Tag user, as it lets the Shadow Tag user stay on the field longer and let its partner either set up in a favorable position or deal with the opposing Pokemon that can't switch out. With 140 HP and 68 Special Defense EVs, Mega Gengar can live an Origin Pulse from a Modest maximum Special Attack Kyogre outside of rain, which can be helpful in the RayOgre matchup.
When using Gengar, it's ideal to Mega Evolve as soon as it's on the field to gain access to Shadow Tag right away. Even if you lead Gengar into something unfavorable, Mega Evolving and using Protect first is worth considering rather than just switching it out right away, as this gives you the option to switch Mega Gengar into a favorable position and have Shadow Tag active right away instead of having one turn where Gengar needs to Mega Evolve, allowing the opponent to reposition. Incineroar is an absolute must-run with Mega Gengar as, the combination of Fake Out, Intimidate, and slow U-turn enhance Mega Gengar's trapping game tremendously. An Incineroar and Gengar lead can set up for a potentially free Substitute or let you reposition to something more favorable. Incineroar can also help Mega Gengar keep its trapping active, since you can switch Mega Gengar out and U-turn back into it while Incineroar soaks up any incoming attacks. Mega Gengar also pairs extremely well with both Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre, as Shadow Tag enables better control of the weather. Another Pokemon that pairs well with Mega Gengar is Landorus-T, as Landorus-T can threaten opposing Primal Groudon and Incineroar with a Ground-type Z-Move with very little risk, since Shadow Tag prevents them from switching into a Pokemon with a Ground immunity.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[no one interesting, 463112]]
- Quality checked by: [[zeefable, 501951], [Giokio, 517038]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Kris, 241023]]
In a metagame like VGC 2019 where positioning is an essential aspect of the game, Mega Gengar is extremely powerful as its ability, Shadow Tag, gives its trainer superior control of the field by denying the opponent the ability to switch. Along with Shadow Tag, Mega Gengar boasts a huge base 170 Special Attack, which allows it to deal a huge chunk of damage on even neutral hits. Because of this, Mega Gengar can switch into Fairy-types and secure the KO regardless of how much health they have, since they are trapped by Shadow Tag. Despite its strengths, Mega Gengar is very weak defensively, which can easily lead to situations where it is threatened with an OHKO when the opponent has the Speed advantage. This can be played around with good use of Protect, Substitute, and Fake Out support from Pokemon like Incineroar. Mega Gengar also doesn't match up well against Primal Groudon as well as Tapu Lele, which often carries a Choice Scarf and can outspeed and OHKO it. Mega Gengar also doesn't like facing Dark-types like Incineroar, Yveltal, and Umbreon because of their access to Snarl, which hits through Substitute, as well as Ghost-types like Lunala, Mimikyu, and opposing Mega Gengar, which are all unaffected by Shadow Tag and can threaten Mega Gengar back.
[SET]
name: Shadow Tag Utilizer
move 1: Sludge Bomb
move 2: Shadow Ball/Perish Song
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Protect
item: Gengarite
ability: Shadow Tag
nature: Timid
evs: 140 HP / 44 Def / 4 SpA / 68 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Sludge Bomb lets Mega Gengar threaten Xerneas and prevent it from setting up a Geomancy. Even though Sludge Bomb won't KO a full HP Xerneas, having Sludge Bomb's poison chance proc will secure the KO on even bulky variants. Teams that struggle with Lunala and Necrozma can use Shadow Ball as their second move, although Lunala's Shadow Shield will need to be broken to KO it. Perish Song can be used otherwise, even on teams that aren't dedicated to using Perish Song, since it provides an extra win condition at very little cost. Substitute is a very strong move on Gengar, since it forces the opponent to double target Gengar if they want to KO it, which helps cover up its lack of bulk. This becomes especially powerful when the opponent has a Pokemon that provides very little offensive pressure, like Tapu Fini or Amoonguss, trapped, since you can be certain that Gengar won't be KOed that turn. Having a Substitute set up can let Gengar take a hit while still putting on offensive pressure with Sludge Bomb. Additionally, Substitute can also stall for turns with Perish Song. Protect is an essential move on any Shadow Tag user, as it lets the Shadow Tag user stay on the field longer and let its partner either set up in a favorable position or deal with the opposing Pokemon that can't switch out. With 140 HP and 68 Special Defense EVs, Mega Gengar can live an Origin Pulse from a Modest maximum Special Attack Kyogre outside of rain, which can be helpful in the RayOgre matchup.
When using Gengar, it's ideal to Mega Evolve as soon as it's on the field to gain access to Shadow Tag right away. Even if you lead Gengar into something unfavorable, Mega Evolving and using Protect first is worth considering rather than just switching it out right away, as this gives you the option to switch Mega Gengar into a favorable position and have Shadow Tag active right away instead of having one turn where Gengar needs to Mega Evolve, allowing the opponent to reposition. Incineroar is an absolute must-run with Mega Gengar as, the combination of Fake Out, Intimidate, and slow U-turn enhance Mega Gengar's trapping game tremendously. An Incineroar and Gengar lead can set up for a potentially free Substitute or let you reposition to something more favorable. Incineroar can also help Mega Gengar keep its trapping active, since you can switch Mega Gengar out and U-turn back into it while Incineroar soaks up any incoming attacks. Mega Gengar also pairs extremely well with both Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre, as Shadow Tag enables better control of the weather. Another Pokemon that pairs well with Mega Gengar is Landorus-T, as Landorus-T can threaten opposing Primal Groudon and Incineroar with a Ground-type Z-Move with very little risk, since Shadow Tag prevents them from switching into a Pokemon with a Ground immunity.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[no one interesting, 463112]]
- Quality checked by: [[zeefable, 501951], [Giokio, 517038]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Kris, 241023]]
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