mega gengar 2/3

[OVERVIEW]
Mega Gengar can function has a powerful special attacker with its high Speed and Special Attack. In conjuction with its Shadow Tag ability, which allows it to trap opponent which have a tough time harming it, Gengar can threaten most Trick Room setters with powerful Ghost STAB attacks and help partners that use set up moves. Mega Gengar also has powerful STAB attacks, which together with its high Speed, and access to an unique assortment of support and disruption moves such as Taunt and Will-O-Wisp, allows it to be very threatening. As Gengar still has high speed, a Ghost-typing which is beneficial against Normal- and Fighting-type attackers, a useful immunity to Ground-type attacks with Levitate, decent offensive potential with relatively high Special Attack, and aforementioned supportive moves and Icy Wind let it effectively function as a check to numerous threats in the metagame, such as Mega Kangaskhan and Landorus-T. However, Gengar is very frail and gets KOd by many attacks it does not resist, and is almost guaranteed to get OHKOd by super effective hits. Gengar is also weak to speed control such as Trick Room, Tailwind, and faster attackers in general due to its frailty. Because of this, Gengar usually has to use a Focus Sash in order for it to not faint quickly.

[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Sludge Bomb
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Will-O-Wisp / Taunt
move 4: Protect
item: Gengarite
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Sludge Bomb is an impressive STAB attack which deals a lot of damage to anything that does not resist it. Shadow Ball is Gengar's second powerful STAB attack that it can use to hit opposing Ghost- and Psychic-types such as Cresselia, Jirachi, and Aegislash super effectively. Shadow Ball also has general better coverage, as it hits more typings for effective damage. Will-O-Wisp can cripple physical attackers such as Mega Kangaskhan which in conjuction with Shadow Tag makes them unswitchable liabilities on the field. Taunt also works to put a stop to Trick Room, or to avoid other status moves from being used, such as Zapdos's Tailwind, and redirection moves such as Amoonguss's Rage Powder. Substitute shields Mega Gengar from status moves, priority attacks, and other attacks that would normally threaten to deal significant damage to it. Protect is a crucial move in the Doubles metagame, as it allows Mega Gengar to protect itself from taking damage, while its partner deals with the opponent, or being able to stall out other field conditions such as Tailwind and Trick Room.

Set Details
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The EV spread is to allow Mega Gengar to go as fast and deal as much damage as possible. A Timid nature lets Mega Gengar outspeed Weavile after Mega evolution, while having more Speed in general. It also lets Gengar to speed tie against other base 110s, such as Mega Diancie and Latios, before Mega evolution.

Usage Tips
===========
Mega Gengar's uncommon Shadow Tag ability prevents foes from switching out, which can apply pressure to the opponent as being unable to switch can often be crippling when the foe has two liabilities on the field. Because of the pressure Shadow Tag applies, Mega Gengar is often used in the early- and mid-game, where it can trap and eliminate threats to the team with Shadow Tag and powerful STAB attacks in conjuction with its high offensive stats. However, Mega Gengar also does very well in the late-game, where it is able to clean up teams with its powerful attacks. Despite it doing well in the late-game, faster threats and threats with priority attacks have to be eliminated, due to Mega Gengar's frailty which makes it easy to revenge kill.

Team Options
============
Due to Mega Gengar's Shadow Tag ability, set up users such as Belly Drum Azumarill and Calm Mind Cresselia work well together as Gengar can trap threats that have a tough time harming Gengar's partner. Fighting- and Fairy-types such as Keldeo, Terrakion, and Sylveon help eliminate Dark-types that resist Mega Gengar's Shadow Ball. As Landorus-T threatens Mega Gengar with Earthquake, Water-types such as Rotom-Wash and Keldeo that can deal heavy damage to it, or Wide Guard users such as Conkeldurr that can block Earthquake are good partners. As Mega Gengar gets comfortably KOd by Talonflame, checks such as Landorus-T, Thundurus, and Rotom-Wash are handy as well. Intimidate users such as Landorus-T and Scrafty are useful too, as Mega Gengar struggles against physical attacks such as Sucker Punch.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Disable prevent someone from using their lastly used move for a few turns, which together with an Encore such as Whimsicott, can be very frustrating to play against due to Mega Gengar's trapping ability. Substitute and Disable is a good combination, as it can be tough to break a Substitute when the opponent's main attack is disabled. It works particularly well against Mega Kangaskhan, as Gengar can Disable its Sucker Punch and then set up Substitute on it, or KO it with Sludge Bomb. Focus Blast can OHKO Mega Kangaskhan and Heatran, while also doing more damage to Dark-types such as Hydreigon in general, while having terrible accuracy as drawback. Lastly, Perish Song can be used on PerishTrap teams, in which the Shadow Tag ability comes in handy. It should, however, be noted that it is tough to set up, and common Ghost-types such as Aegislash and opposing Gengar can easily beat it, by ignoring Shadow Tag.

Checks and Counters
===================
**Typing Advantage**: Gengar has trouble dealing with Dark-types such as Bisharp, Hydreigon, and Hoopa-Unbound because of their ability to switch in to Shadow Ball easier and KO Mega Gengar in return. Bulkier Ghost-types such as Aegislash take a hit and KO in return as well. Ground-types such as Landorus-T can also simply just KO Mega Gengar with Earthquake.

**Speed**: Faster Pokemon such as Deoxys-A and Landorus-T can give Mega Gengar a tough time, as Deoxys-A simply KOs it with Psycho Boost and Landorus-T can be a nuisance with Rock Slide. Ludicolo and Kingdra in Rain can outspeed and KO Mega Gengar as well, but that is less of a threat when Rain isn't up. Talonflame can KO it with powerful priority Brave Birds. It also has to watch out for Sucker Punch from Mega Kangaskhan and Bisharp, but that can be avoided by simply burning them with Will-O-Wisp, which cripples and leaves them trapped at the same time.

**Speed control**: Mega Gengar does not like playing in opposing Tailwind from Talonflame and Zapdos or getting paralyzed by Thundurus as it takes away the speed advantage it has. Mega Gengar also dislikes other speed control, such as Icy Wind from Jirachi. Trick Room by setters such as Cresselia and Mega Gardevoir turns the tables against Mega Gengar, making it threatened by attackers in it, rather than threatening them outside of it.