The Best Moveset for Competitive Gengar

When building a competitive moveset for Gengar, it’s important to balance offense and utility while taking advantage of its high Speed and Special Attack. Here’s a recommended moveset for Gengar:

Gengar (Special Attacker)

• Item: Life Orb / Black Sludge / Focus Sash
• Ability: Levitate
• Nature: Timid / Modest
• EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

Moveset:

1. Shadow Ball

   • A powerful STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) move that takes advantage of Gengar’s high Special Attack. It has a chance to lower the opponent’s Special Defense, making it even more dangerous.

2. Sludge Wave

   • This provides Gengar with coverage against Fairy-types, which are a threat to many Ghost-types. It’s another STAB move that hits hard, especially when used in tandem with Shadow Ball.

3. Focus Blast

   • This move is crucial for hitting Dark-types and Steel-types, which resist Gengar’s Ghost and Poison-type moves. It also covers some pesky Normal- and Rock-types, although its accuracy can be an issue. Still, its power makes it worth the risk.

4. Taunt / Will-O-Wisp / Substitute

   • Taunt prevents setup sweepers or stallers from getting free turns, giving Gengar a chance to KO with its strong attacks.
   • Will-O-Wisp cripples physical attackers by burning them, significantly reducing their offensive power.
   • Substitute can protect Gengar from status conditions, letting it safely attack or stall out certain threats. Additionally, it allows Gengar to avoid Priority moves that would otherwise target it due to its frailty.

Item Options:

• Life Orb: Boosts Gengar’s damage output by 30%, making it even more of a threat.
• Black Sludge: Useful for recovery, especially when Gengar is part of a stall team or can safely stay in for multiple turns.
• Focus Sash: Ensures Gengar can survive a hit if it’s at full HP, giving it a chance to retaliate.

Ability:

• Levitate: Gengar’s natural ability that grants immunity to Ground-type moves, which is important for survival, especially when facing physical attackers or entry hazards like Earthquake.

Nature and EV Spread:

• Timid Nature: Maximizes Speed to allow Gengar to outspeed most threats.
• Modest Nature: Maximizes Special Attack if you’re more focused on hitting harder, though Gengar can often outspeed most opponents with a Timid nature.
• EVs: Maximize Speed and Special Attack to hit fast and hard. The remaining EVs can go into HP for some bulk, but this is optional since Gengar’s role is typically as an offensive threat.

Strategy and Tips:

• Gengar’s speed makes it a great lead or revenge killer. It can outspeed a large number of Pokémon and hit hard before they can retaliate.
• The ability to hit both Special and Physical threats with its diverse movepool allows Gengar to be versatile.
• Gengar is frail, so use it wisely—avoid taking hits unless necessary, and make use of its speed and offensive potential to take down opponents quickly.
• Gengar is often best used as a late-game cleaner or revenge killer, coming in after an ally has fainted and sweeping through weakened opponents with powerful STAB moves.