[SET]
Normalize (Gengar) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Normalize
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Skill Swap
- Mean Look
- Shadow Ball
- Toxic Spikes
[SET COMMENTS]
Normalize Gengar not only threatens to remove opposing RegenVest pivots, often the best check to more conventional Gengar sets, but also reliably sets Toxic Spikes and wins one-on-one against slower setup threats like Swords Dance Iron Hands and Calm Mind Cresselia. Mean Look in conjunction with Skill Swap traps and removes opposing specially defensive walls like Swampert, Manaphy, and Empoleon that are aiming to check it. Skill Swap also reliably forces out and generates a free turn against any Pokemon slower than Gengar such as Sandy Shocks and Beads of Ruin Walking Wake, as they will be unable to hit it through Normalize. This makes Gengar one of the most reliable Toxic Spikes setters, as it threatens most common removal options like Corviknight and Great Tusk. Gengar is an excellent teammate for fast special cleaners like Azelf, Deoxys-S, and Iron Moth, as they benefit tremendously from opposing special walls being removed or weakened with Toxic Spikes. Gengar struggles against teams with fast Dark-types like Roaring Moon, Meowscarada, and Chien-Pao, as it cannot meaningfully damage them and is immensely threatened by them, making Pokemon like Fluffy Corviknight and physically defensive Manaphy great partners; they can also provide a slow pivot to get Gengar in safely. Weather Ball from Pokemon with Primordial Sea or Desolate Land bypasses Normalize, meaning Gengar cannot reliably force out common users like Walking Wake and Volcanion, so sturdy checks to them like RegenVest Swampert and Blissey make solid teammates.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ut.523866/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lordbox.611238/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gimmickyasitgets.540420/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/wrathoftheleopard.511181/
Normalize (Gengar) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Normalize
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Skill Swap
- Mean Look
- Shadow Ball
- Toxic Spikes
[SET COMMENTS]
Normalize Gengar not only threatens to remove opposing RegenVest pivots, often the best check to more conventional Gengar sets, but also reliably sets Toxic Spikes and wins one-on-one against slower setup threats like Swords Dance Iron Hands and Calm Mind Cresselia. Mean Look in conjunction with Skill Swap traps and removes opposing specially defensive walls like Swampert, Manaphy, and Empoleon that are aiming to check it. Skill Swap also reliably forces out and generates a free turn against any Pokemon slower than Gengar such as Sandy Shocks and Beads of Ruin Walking Wake, as they will be unable to hit it through Normalize. This makes Gengar one of the most reliable Toxic Spikes setters, as it threatens most common removal options like Corviknight and Great Tusk. Gengar is an excellent teammate for fast special cleaners like Azelf, Deoxys-S, and Iron Moth, as they benefit tremendously from opposing special walls being removed or weakened with Toxic Spikes. Gengar struggles against teams with fast Dark-types like Roaring Moon, Meowscarada, and Chien-Pao, as it cannot meaningfully damage them and is immensely threatened by them, making Pokemon like Fluffy Corviknight and physically defensive Manaphy great partners; they can also provide a slow pivot to get Gengar in safely. Weather Ball from Pokemon with Primordial Sea or Desolate Land bypasses Normalize, meaning Gengar cannot reliably force out common users like Walking Wake and Volcanion, so sturdy checks to them like RegenVest Swampert and Blissey make solid teammates.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ut.523866/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lordbox.611238/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gimmickyasitgets.540420/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/wrathoftheleopard.511181/
Last edited:
