Alright before I get writing on this, I think we need to sort this thing's sets out. Mega Gengar lost some versatility this gen, but it's still a pretty unpredictable mofo who can suffer from slashing problems if we don't split stuff up correctly! Here's what I'm thinking atm.
[OVERVIEW]
WIP
[SET]
name: Bulky Trapper
move 1: Will-O-Wisp
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Hex / Shadow Ball
move 4: Destiny Bond / Taunt / Focus Blast / Perish Song
item: Gengarite
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 236 HP / 4 Def / 12 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
This is probably the most common Mega Gengar. I'm ok with removing the last two moves in the last slot even if they work since Destiny Bond and Taunt are the moves bulky Mega Gengar uses.
I know that's the Casinogar spread for OHKOing Aegislash under status, which is much more situational when using Will-O-Wisp (basically its for predicting King's Shields), but I don't think the extra HP survives anything cool, but I could be wrong.
[SET]
name: Offensive Trapper
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Sludge Bomb / Sludge Wave
move 3: Destiny Bond
move 4: Icy Wind / Focus Blast / Hidden Power Fire / Thunderbolt
item: Gengarite
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Pretty much the standard offensive Mega Gengar. I decided that Sludge Wave was ok to slash in because bottle caps and QR codes make getting a usable one actually possible now. I'm considering putting in attacks as a slash in to Destiny Bond due to the nerf, but it still has over 50% usage.
Hidden Power Fire is here because trapping Ferrothorn is extra cool now that Tapu Lele is around. Thunderbolt is mostly for 2HKOing Celesteela and Mega Gyarados, but I'll admit its a niche option so it may be better as a set comments mention.
[SET]
name: Perish Trapper
move 1: Perish Song
move 2: Protect
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Shadow Ball / Taunt / Sludge Bomb / Destiny Bond
item: Gengarite
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
I don't think Perish Trapper has changed tooo much, but I noticed that most of them seemed to ditch Disable, and I saw a lot of Destiny Bond ones. I even saw some use Sludge Bomb for trapping Tapus. I'll add Disable back in if you guys want however. I'm also going to mention that annoying Eject Button strategy since that's seen a lot more use this gen lol.
[SET]
name: Casinogar (Sleep Trapper)
move 1: Hypnosis
move 2: Hex
move 3: Sludge Bomb
move 4: Destiny Bond / Focus Blast
item: Gengarite
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 236 HP / 4 Def / 12 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Oh jesus this thing is still around... Only change I made was Sludge Bomb being its own slot because of Tapus and Destiny Bond's nerf. This thing hasn't seem to change too much otherwise, though I did see a terrifying team that used it with Gravity Landorus-T lol. Not sure if I'll go as far as mentioning Gravity though... I will give a special mention to Tapu Lele and Bulu getting rid of annoying terrains however.
[SET]
name: Substitute + Disable
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Disable
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Sludge Bomb
item: Gengarite
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
I haven't seen this as much as last gen, but I still see it occasionally, still seems to do its job. Obviously Black Sludge is out dude to the regular Gengar nerf.
Something to note: about 16% of Gengar run Focus Sash as of season 2 (9% in season 3), which is pretty shocking because the Levitate nerf + the mega evo buff make Mega Gengar way more appealing. I will admit however that Sash Gengar really fucks up Scarf Tapu Lele, but I'm going to leave that out unless QC wants me to add that in. Same deal with Scarf, which is only at 2% usage, but has a similar "fuck you Tapu Lele" idea lol.
[OVERVIEW]
WIP
[SET]
name: Bulky Trapper
move 1: Will-O-Wisp
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Hex / Shadow Ball
move 4: Destiny Bond / Taunt / Focus Blast / Perish Song
item: Gengarite
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 236 HP / 4 Def / 12 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
This is probably the most common Mega Gengar. I'm ok with removing the last two moves in the last slot even if they work since Destiny Bond and Taunt are the moves bulky Mega Gengar uses.
I know that's the Casinogar spread for OHKOing Aegislash under status, which is much more situational when using Will-O-Wisp (basically its for predicting King's Shields), but I don't think the extra HP survives anything cool, but I could be wrong.
[SET]
name: Offensive Trapper
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Sludge Bomb / Sludge Wave
move 3: Destiny Bond
move 4: Icy Wind / Focus Blast / Hidden Power Fire / Thunderbolt
item: Gengarite
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Pretty much the standard offensive Mega Gengar. I decided that Sludge Wave was ok to slash in because bottle caps and QR codes make getting a usable one actually possible now. I'm considering putting in attacks as a slash in to Destiny Bond due to the nerf, but it still has over 50% usage.
Hidden Power Fire is here because trapping Ferrothorn is extra cool now that Tapu Lele is around. Thunderbolt is mostly for 2HKOing Celesteela and Mega Gyarados, but I'll admit its a niche option so it may be better as a set comments mention.
[SET]
name: Perish Trapper
move 1: Perish Song
move 2: Protect
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Shadow Ball / Taunt / Sludge Bomb / Destiny Bond
item: Gengarite
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
I don't think Perish Trapper has changed tooo much, but I noticed that most of them seemed to ditch Disable, and I saw a lot of Destiny Bond ones. I even saw some use Sludge Bomb for trapping Tapus. I'll add Disable back in if you guys want however. I'm also going to mention that annoying Eject Button strategy since that's seen a lot more use this gen lol.
[SET]
name: Casinogar (Sleep Trapper)
move 1: Hypnosis
move 2: Hex
move 3: Sludge Bomb
move 4: Destiny Bond / Focus Blast
item: Gengarite
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 236 HP / 4 Def / 12 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Oh jesus this thing is still around... Only change I made was Sludge Bomb being its own slot because of Tapus and Destiny Bond's nerf. This thing hasn't seem to change too much otherwise, though I did see a terrifying team that used it with Gravity Landorus-T lol. Not sure if I'll go as far as mentioning Gravity though... I will give a special mention to Tapu Lele and Bulu getting rid of annoying terrains however.
[SET]
name: Substitute + Disable
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Disable
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Sludge Bomb
item: Gengarite
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
I haven't seen this as much as last gen, but I still see it occasionally, still seems to do its job. Obviously Black Sludge is out dude to the regular Gengar nerf.
Something to note: about 16% of Gengar run Focus Sash as of season 2 (9% in season 3), which is pretty shocking because the Levitate nerf + the mega evo buff make Mega Gengar way more appealing. I will admit however that Sash Gengar really fucks up Scarf Tapu Lele, but I'm going to leave that out unless QC wants me to add that in. Same deal with Scarf, which is only at 2% usage, but has a similar "fuck you Tapu Lele" idea lol.