What is a good moveset for Gengar?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Gengar, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for any of its pre-evolutions can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Gengar Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

Gen V

Gengar (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb

Will's Gengar is better, but this is also a useful set. Shadow Ball and Sludge Bomb provide STAB. Thunderbolt and Giga Drain provide type coverage, while Giga Drain also heals. Gengar isn't the fastest thing around anymore, but it should outspeed the foe with Choice Scarf. Sweeper EVs.

Comments

My Gengar is exactly the same as yours except I switched thunderbolt with destiny bond! :)

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My Gengar is also the same but with the extra four EV's on Health.

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Gawd... some guy set me up with hypnosis, he battled me when my team was unfinished and full of pokes i didnt want to use. And freaking hell! Hypnosis doesn't even need a turn to kick in, this is why i need a jolteon or something in my team-outstanding speed.

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with hynosis's accuracy I'd much prefer the sweeper builds

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Hypnosis is good yes and you could do dazziling gleam to cover dark

Answer 2

GENGENGENGEN (Gengar) (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 128 HP / 128 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hypnosis
- Nightmare
- Hex / Dream Eater / Confuse Ray
- Mean Look

Put your opponent to sleep, trap them with Mean Look, give them nightmares, Confuse them/eat dat/attack dat, he mad yet?

Comments

hypnosis is very inaccurate (60%)

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75% actually

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No, it's 60%.

Answer 3

Gengar @ Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
Timid Nature
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Thunderbolt
- Sludge Bomb / Trick

Shadow Ball, taking care of opposing Ghost and Psychic type Pokemon, being STAB.
Focus Blast. If you didn't know, a Ghost move along with Fighting provides at least neutral coverage on every Pokemon. Covers Steel, Rock, Dark, Ice and and Normal. The drawback is the shaky accuracy. Nevertheless, it's better than Hidden Power [Fighting].

Thunderbolt hitting super effective on Water types and Flying types.
Sludge Bomb is strong STAB. If you can manage to get Toxic Spikes support, Venoshock is even stronger.
Trick can ruin your opponent, a plus if Gengar gets something good.

Comments

Nice moveset, should this Gengar be Timid or Modest or can be either nature?

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If you are running trick it's probably better to go with timid nature.

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i would run trick then give gengar a toxic orb and then have venoshock instead of thunderbolt (since a water type wont oppose much threat to gengar) to do more damage because of STAB and the pokemon will be poisoned

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Dazziling gleam might be better coverage than focus blast because of pp

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PP doesn't matter in competitive, unless you get stalled.

Answer 4

Role: Stall breaker
Format: Nat Dex AG

Gengar-Mega @ Gengarite
Ability: Cursed Body
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Encore
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Wave

NOTE: Nasty Plot and Encore were given to Gengar in Generation 8. Since Mega Evolution doesn't exist in Gen 8, it's only possible in Nat Dex AG formats.

The combination of Shadow Tag + Encore + Nasty Plot truly solidifies Gengar as an absurd stall abuser. It can trap on Defoggers, and more passive Pokemon like Chansey, Giratina, Lugia, etc.
Encore allows you to trap support Pokemon if they click a move such as Defog, Recover, Toxic (which is Gengar immune to), Substitute, etc. After clicking Encore, start using Nasty Plot. Shadow Ball is STAB, Sludge Wave over Sludge Bomb because of slightly higher BP, and since Gengar is so frail it won't get a chance to survive.

There are certain drawbacks now, especially after DLC 2. The most prominent of them being Calyrex-Shadow. It is able to outspeed you always, whether it's Timid or Modest. Therefore, you need a solid Calyrex-Shadow counter. Arceus-Dark, Yveltal and Tyranitar are good picks. The latter among them is able to pursuit trap it, while the former two get reliable recovery. Pairing it with a Necrozma-Dusk Mane is nice as it would allow you to handle Zacian-Crowned.
Sticky Web support is invaluable as well. But, beware of Dynamax Yveltal. Even if you were to Encore trap it into something like Sucker Punch, Dynamax does it exist. Dynamax ignores the lock of Encore, so you had be careful.

Mega-Gengar mainly fits into Balance and passive teams that have a major weakness to stall. In offense, you had generally liked Mega-Rayquaza over it. This is because it can boost its speed as well from Dragon Dance, making it ludicrously dangerous. Dynamax sweepers like Xerneas, Yveltal, etc. appreciate your ability to Encore trap opponents, generally forcing opponent to Dynamax.

Answer 5

Wow I can't believe no one has done a set that involves the move Trick.

Trickster

Gengar @ Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 Spe / 58 HP / 200 SpA
- Trick
- Will-O-Wisp / Hypnosis
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Fighting]

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Trick is an insanely annoying move in this case even if you dont get to use Trick it benefit Gengar, but in this case Trick should only be used on Physical Pokemon obviously. Will-O-Wisp can annoy Physical Pokemon even more by cutting their attack, while Hypnosis puts them to sleep and allows you to KO them easily. Shadow Ball is the STAB move. Hidden Power [Fighting] deals with Steel, Normal, and Dark types that would get in the way otherwise.

Comments

Great set! But wouldn't Focus Blast be viable as well in place of HP Fighting?

Answer 6

Gengar @ Black Sludge
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 SpD
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Focus Blast

• Shadow Ball: STAB, deals with Psychic
• Giga Drain: Just to get some life back
• Sludge Bomb: STAB
• Focus Blast: Coverage

Comments

I personally would use a differant hp because focus blast covers dark and shadow ball covers psychic

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?What would you recommend I change it too?

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Thunderbolts good but so is giga drain

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Might change focus blast to drain punch, should I?

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Pleas don't.

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This is what I did except I had Energy Ball instead because I can't get Giga Drain.

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you could also run trick black sludge since black sludge hurts non-poison types.

Answer 7

Sub Petaya Gengar

Sub Petaya Gengar is a new set I have been trying out, and it makes a great sweeper against slower teams, and even some faster ones. The idea is that Gengar already has great speed, so Substitute protects him from being revenge killed by things like Starmie and Priority moves, while also lowering his HP down to activate the Petaya Berry, raising his SAtk and making him extremely deadly.

Gengar @ Petaya Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 12 HP / 244 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Hidden Power [Ice] / Thunderbolt / Giga Drain / Pain Split
- Substitute*

Pretty straightforward, for the 3rd slot, Thunderbolt and Giga Drain would be for coverage, Giga Drain would be nice for getting you HP back but Thunderbolt hits a little harder, while Pain Split would be for the purpose of regaining HP and doubling as a Sub-Split Gengar.

Answer 8

Role: Sweeper

Gengar (M) @ Wise Glasses
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hidden Power [Bug]
- Giga Drain
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt

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Okay, this is a basic Special Sweeper If I've ever seen one.

Hidden Power [Bug] - Takes down Dark Types, Fighting is also reasonable.

Giga Drain - Gets HP back, and takes out Rock Ground and Water, all basic feared types to die against

Shadow Ball is for STAB and with STAB it takes down 2 of his weaknesses

Thunderbolt - For coverage

Comments

Wise Glasses provides a boost so small, it's practically negligible. Use Life Orb or Choice Specs.

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agreed, wise glasses are useless

Answer 9

Role: Bulky Eviolite Sweeper

Haunter (M) @ Eviolite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 200 Def / 56 SpA / 200 SpD / 52 Spe
Bold Nature
- Hypnosis
- Dream Eater
- Hex
- Sludge Wave ( EDIT: Just read Will's point about bomb )

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My Favorite Ghost type.

Hypnosis puts them to sleep, leaving you with a powered up Hex or a Dream Eater recovery. Sludge Wave is STAB. Nature and EVs make him slightly bulky. This guy is a beast in the NU Meta game.

Comments

Not a fan of the clashing between Sludge Bomb and Hypnosis. That could put you into some annoying situations against tricky typings.

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Haunter??? This is Gengar...

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Unevolved Pokemon are allowed. Didn't you read the question description?

Answer 10

Role: Rain Sweeper

Gengar (M) @ Life Orb / Black Sludge / Wide Lens
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 64 HP / 128 SpA / 64 SpD / 252 Spe or 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature / Modest Nature
- Thunder
- Hex
- Hidden Power [Water] / Giga Drain
- Focus Blast / Hidden Power [Fighting]

Thunder
Hex
Hidden Power [Water] or Giga drain ( Black Sludge )
Focus Blast ( If you sub Giga Drain in, consider HP fighting! )

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Well, here's a naturally beasty ghost, joining the rain squad.
While he has to compete with Jellicent, who has boosted STAB ( Much needed ) he gets Thunder instead of Thunderbolt and a new HP option, that packs a punch.

Hex is my choice of STAB, just because I love the move and it's general idea ( Thunder has a 30% chance to paralyze, so I can always take chances ) but Shadow Ball is a completely fair replacement if you don't like taking those kinds of chances.

HP Water is coverage, while you can sub this for something like Giga drain to break up Swamperts, Quagsires, and the devistating Gastrodon, murderer of all rain.
So that's always an option, it makes him a definite anti-water if you take onto that. You can also consider Black Sludge as an item if you pair him up with Giga Drain.

Focus Blast is your last move slot, Fighting + Ghost coverage is known for being pretty beastly, and that high powered coverage just gets me. I've experimented with Wide Lens with Thunder and Focus Blast, considering that some people can stop my weather, and that screws Gengar all up accuracy wise, but I preffer Life orb. Wide Lens still can work, if you aren't good @ weather wars :D While if you sub in Giga Drain for HP Water, HP Fighting can be fufilling.

Comments

Water Absorb that raises Sp.atk is called Storm Drain.

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Lol, I know that. I mean I've heard the item will make water attacks not hurt you until it's consumed.

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Absorb Bulb doesn't grant immunity to Water type attacks.

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Figured that out recently, meant to edit that, I'll get to it now.

Answer 11

Double/Triple battle

Gengar (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Icy Wind
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast

Gengar is one of the most popular double/triple battle Pokemon due to it being a Ghost type with Levitate. It has taken a hit from the last generation with the weakening of Explosion though.
Icy Wind hits multiple foes and slows them down. Shadow ball is STAB. Thunderbolt and Focus Blast are coverage.

Answer 12

Gengar @ Black Sludge
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Taunt
- Destiny Bond

Shadow Ball is STAB, and Focus Blast is good coverage. Taunt stops foes from setting up, and it stops most walls/stallers/clerics in their tracks. When you are certain you will be KO'd on the next move, and you can't KO the enemy first, you go down fighting with Destiny Bond. NOTE: This set is more of a suicide assassin, as you will likely be KO'd after taunting, which gives you a great opportunity to use Destiny Bond.

Comments

Then wouldn't Focus Sash be a better option??

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yeah but unless you are leading with him hazards usually take that away, and even then sand can take it away. Also, when people see the sash they tend to predict Destiny Bond.

Answer 13

Two Gengars.

#1

Gengar @ Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast
- Giga Drain

Shadow Ball (STAB)
Thunderbolt (Coverage)
Focus Blast (Strong move, coverage)
Giga Drain (Restore HP)

#2

Gengar @ Focus Sash
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 Def / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Bold Nature
- Hypnosis
- Mean Look
- Perish Song
- Shadow Ball

Hypnosis (Set up moves)
Mean Look (No escape)
Perish Song (Ha you cant switch out)
Shadow Ball (for Taunt)

Answer 14

Gen 7 Ubers

Gengar-Mega @ Gengarite
Ability: Cursed Body
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hex
- Will-O-Wisp
- Taunt
- Sludge Bomb

Hex is STAB that gets a major power boost if Will-O-Wisp hits or if Sludge Bomb poisons. Will-O-Wisp heavily annoys physical attackers and makes Gengar's Hex stronger. It also chips the enemy. Taunt ruins any recovery attempts from Chansey/Blissey, prevents any Leech Seed shenanigans from Ferrothorn, prevents Primal Groudon and Necrozma Dusk Mane from Stealth Rocking, foils Calm Mind, Defogging, or Recover attempts from support Arceus formes, deals with Zygarde, prevents a Geomancy from Xerneas, stops Smeargle from doing anything funky, prevents Spiking from Klefki, Skarmory, Greninja, stops Dragon Dance Salamence, ruins Calm Mind Rest Primal Kyogre.... lets just say it does a LOT of good things lol. Also prevents Aromatherapy or Heal Bell which is awesome. Sludge Bomb is STAB that threatens Xerneas and has a 30% Poison chance, so it can potentially boost Hex.

Comments

I'm sure Lunala outclasses this set and when Calyrex-S exists and also Mega Rayquaza, why would you want it? (Yes Calyrex-S learns Taunt, Will-O-Wisp and Hex). Only viable set in Nat Dex AG is Encore+Nasty Plot which is the best set for it right now.

Answer 15

Lets try this:

Gengar (M) @ Razor Claw
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
IVs: 0 Def / 0 SpD
- Wonder Room
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Bomb
- Giga Drain

I think this set is really unique because of Wonder Room. First of all, its naive nature and 0 IVs in defense/ special defense gives Wonder Room the ability to make Chanseys, Clefables, Ferrothorns, or any other walls crumble while giving Gengar a lot of defense. Shadow Ball and Sludge Bomb for STAB and Giga Drain for extra coverage. This moveset is probably best used against opponents with high defense/special defense, because if not, good luck with 0 IVs in defense/special defense.

Answer 16

Gengar @ Gengarite
Ability: Cursed Body
EVs: 6 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Bomb
- Psychic
- Giga Drain

Shadow Ball (STAB and coverage for Ghost and Psychic Types)
Sludge Bomb (STAB and coverage for Grass and Fairy)
Psychic (Poison and Fighting coverage)
Giga Drain (Ground, Rock, and Water coverage)

Comments

I already told you that the extra 2 EVs don't matter, right?

Also, I won't be able to finish my RMT by the end of the day. Sorry. :'(

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It's ok, also, did you see that I replaced Blaziken with Aerodactyl? I asked you if you could change Charizard to the new Aerodactyl I put. I think a Pokemon is not truly complete without a total of 510 EVs.

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i thought the maximum amount was 508?

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No, Misfortune. The maximum EVS  a pokemon can have is 510. Not 508.

Answer 17

Gengar-Mega @ Gengarite
Ability: Cursed Body
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Bomb
- Thunder / Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice] / Icy Wind

Shadow Ball is STAB. Sludge Bomb is STAB and removes Xerneas, plus has a solid chance to Poison. Thunder is less accurate than Thunderbolt, but is stronger and lets Gengar dent or OHKO Pokemon like Arceus-Water, Ho-Oh, Primal Kyogre, and Yveltal, which Thunderbolt cannot achieve. Icy Wind slams Mega Salamence, Rayquaza, and Zygarde, OHKOing them after slight chip damage such as Stealth Rock, and the speed drop makes Dragon Dance attempts obsolete. On the other hand, Hidden Power Ice cleanly OHKOes 44 HP Mega Salamence without any chip and at minimum does 99.1% to Rayquaza. Untransformed Zygarde has a moderate chance to be OHKOed without Stealth Rock.

Comments

great set!

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thanks!

Answer 18

National Dex AG

Gengar-Mega @ Gengarite
Ability: Cursed Body
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Substitute
- Encore / Nasty Plot / Pain Split
- Nasty Plot / Thunder / Dazzling Gleam / Focus Blast / Icy Wind / Sludge Wave

Shadow Ball is your main STAB move. Substitute allows Gengar to set up several times on the defensive Pokemon like Chansey which can't do anything against it. Nasty Plot is set up. Pain Split can be used to keep Gengar healthy throughout a match in case its worn down, and it allows Gengar to do more to the bulky pink blobs, but I'd recommend using Nasty Plot more. Thunder gives you a better matchup against Primal Kyogre (How does it feel being a Special sponge with no reliable recovery and a weakness to one of the most common attacks in Ubers! Also you still get bopped by Calyrex-Shadow) and also does quite a lot to Ho-Oh. If you're daring enough to come in and trap Yveltal, it is useful too. Dazzling Gleam damages Yveltal more consistently and also hits Mega Ray hard, while also doing good damage to Tyranitar. Focus Blast destroys Tyranitar and Arceus-Normal and Dark, and after a Nasty Plot boost or two, it also hits the pink blobs hard. Icy Wind slows things down and can stop a Dragon Dance sweep. Sludge Wave hits Xerneas but that's pretty much it.

Comments

I think this set is highly outclassed by Calyrex-S
Without Encore you don't trap anything that well and Chansey as well other things can flee through Teleport/Whirlwind etc

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Calyrex-S is not a trapper. Also I'll add Encore as an option there.

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Trappers like M Gar almost always need Encore or Perish Song. If you don't have Encore or similar how will I know it's a trapper and not a special sweeper :/

Answer 19

This is what I use:

Gengar (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Toxic
- Venoshock
- Destiny Bond

Venoshock: One of the most underrated moves in the entire game with over 180 base power when the opponent is poisoned and with STAB)

The basic strategy here is Toxic something, Venoshock it, Shadow Ball it if it survives, rinse and repeat until you're on low HP, then Destiny Bond. If you have a dedicated toxic spiker on your team then set those up and sub toxic out for something like Thunderbolt, Ice Beam or Psychic for better coverage. The bonus to this set is if it looks like you're gonna be OHKO'd first turn, straight away use destiny bond. either you'll outspeed which is the best case scenario, or you'll get knocked down to your focus sash and then use destiny bond which means they can't hit next turn without sacrificing their sweeper.

Comments

If you start the battle with toxic, why not switch shadow ball to hex? Much better base power with the stab.

Answer 20

Gengar @ Gengarite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Psychic

Basically, this thing will become a trapper the entire metagame will fear. Hidden Power [Fire] is to nail Forretress, Ferrothorn, Scizor, and Skarmory. With a just plain scary SpA stat of 170, backed with a speed of 130, the best word I can use to describe it is ouch.