Gengar Strategy for 8-40

A lot of people have asked me about my strategy for Gengar after we had success with 8-player groups (https://www.reddit.com/r/TheSilphRoad/s/qVqcIIJyAM). We're certainly going to try to complete one with 4 players, but based on our Charizard attempts, unless the nerf is substantial, 6 is probably minimum imo.

Here is the preparation and strategy guide I made for my community:

Niantic rereleased all the counters for Gengar. Get one if you need one!

TLDR:

  1. Please use your daily MP wisely this week, you'll have a much better Gigantamax Gengar experience with a little investment.
  2. Level at least 2 things to at least Level 30 (75k dust)
  3. Level Max Spirit and the attack on one of them with a super effective fast attack like Gengar, Greedent, Metagross, or Dmax Blastoise (Not Gmax)
  4. If you can't invest, join the lobby a little later to try to group with others that aren't investing. If your full party wipes, your cheers will affect the other groups!

Thanks for your interest in helping make Max battles smoother for our community. This is not exact science. Eventually a better strategy will emerge and we should know exactly which Pokémon to use in these, but this is what works for our strategy and should get us plenty of Gengar without needing 30-40 people to show up everytime we want to do a couple.

Preparation for Battle

  1. Maximize your daily MP (Walking, then touching 4 Power Spots, then waking again yields 1000-1080).
  2. Bring a Pokemon that is at least level 30 (75k dust from a raid catch) with a super effective fast attack (such as Gengar, Metagross, Greedent, or Dynamax Blastoise) and leveled up Max Spirit as well as the attack move. If you can only choose one level 3 max move, go for Spirit as we need at least 2 in each group! This is your [attacker].
  3. Bring another Pokemon that is at least level 30 that can avoid super effective hits from the boss. The max moves are irrelevant. This is your [tank] (damage sponge).
  4. Bring another tank (recommended), back up attacker, or a Pokémon to leave in the Power Spot.

Leveling higher, if you can, will help you live longer and do more damage to push the max meter faster! Level 30 is only recommended for budget because it's most of the Pokémon's CP without a massive Stardust investment. For example, a Venusaur at 30 could be 2303 and would only be 2495@35//2687@40 (you'll also get that amount back from 3 Gigantamax battles if the rumors are true), so, it's not a huge investment (75k dust and 216 candy for level 30 with level 2 Spirit and 1 attack) which should allow you to make some impact.

Entering Battle

  1. Whenever I am hosting, I will designate two "carry" groups that need to enter together.
  2. If you are not in a carry group, wait until 8 players have entered the lobby before joining.

As our group invests more into their counters and learns our strategy, the need to set up groups ahead should diminish.

During Battle

  1. Start with your attacker out.
  2. Battle until it is at risk of dying, then swap to your tank: If a small attack would kill your attacker, swap in your tank. If your attacker is targeted by a big attack, swap in your tank.
  3. When the max window starts, swap back to your attacker.
  4. Use Max Spirit until your group is full health (usually 1-4 level 3 uses per team). You can see what moves your party is using so you don't overheal.
  5. Deal damage with the remaining max moves.
  6. Repeat steps 2-5.

Remember to swipe both to collect the max charge bubbles and to dodge (when you dodge, don't start tapping again until it says you dodged).