Pokémon Unite Gengar Build - Best Items and Moves


Pokémon Unite is already filled to the brim with creatures that come along and decimate you with a quick one-two punch. It's a competitive game, and its players already know exactly how to knock you away from the goal in record time. Gengar was drastically underrated at launch, but now that the best Pokémon Unite Gengar build options have been figured out, Hex is something you'll regret not learning to master early on. This ghoulish speedster began to surprise players with almost instantaneous knock-outs. You won't want to near the tall grass if there's one of these on the other team.

Gengar is a melee speedster that uses the Sp. Atk stat. Be sure to bear in mind if you switch out any of the items below to suit your personal preference. You can read more about the Pokémon Unite Physical vs Special attack split here.

Before settling on your preferred Pokémon Unite Gengar build, it's important to refresh your understanding of the fundementals. We have guides on Held Items and Battle Items, explainers on how to cancel abilities, and even how to report and block bad players.

The stats related to the best Pokémon Unite Gengar build options.
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The Best Pokémon Unite Gengar Build Options

Pokémon Unite Gengar Build - Speed-Sludge Spectre

Best Items
Best Moves
X Attack
Lv. 1: Will-o-Wisp
Energy Amplifier
Lv. 3: Lick
Wise Glasses
Lv. 5 Sludge Bomb
Buddy Barrier
Lv. 7: Hex

Best for: Jungle/roaming

One of the most popular Pokémon Unite Gengar builds right now allows the grinning king of the ghouls to deal considerable damage in record time. It all boils down to Hex; which both deals increased damage to poisoned targets and enjoys a ridiculously short cooldown when it lands on an opponent suffering from the status condition.

By pairing it with Sludge Bomb, Gengar can speed around the battlefield dropping puddles of poison beneath groups of opponents. After that, a quick use of Hex delivers swift death before they have a chance to react.

With this particular build, there's room to swap out the Energy Amplifier if you typically struggle to follow up with your Unite Move. The stealth effect of Phantom Ambush paired with the Sludge Bomb/Hex combo can make Gengar a little too fast on its feet for some: especially given how quickly it can get shut down if you make even the smallest mistake in your attack pattern.

Being prone to a shutdown when being ovely aggressive, Buddy Barrier can help ensure the team sticks around long enough to finish what Genger inevitably starts later in the match. Should it survive, Wise Glasses and Energy Amplifier will rip through the enemy team if uncontested.

Pokémon Unite Gengar build portrait.
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Pokémon Unite Gengar Build - Jungle King Ghoul

Best Items
Best Moves
Fluffy Tail
Lv. 1: Will-o-Wisp
Wise Glasses
Lv. 3: Lick
Shell Bell
Lv. 5: Shadow Ball
Choice Specs
Lv. 7: Dream Eater

Best for: Jungle/roaming

Before the mobile release, the only other way to play Gengar was by swapping one Held Item out for another. The moveset would remain the same. But if you're concerned about a hyper-aggressive playstyle limiting your survivability, using one of the new Held Items alongside Genger's other more moves might be for you.

In using it's classic mainline combination of Shadow Ball and Dream Eater, pairing Gengar with Sp. Atk boosting items like the new Choice Specs can really make its damage fly without its meta assassination tactics. With this, you're free to fling Shadow Balls in lane and cause havok with Dream Eater. It'll still work in a jungle role, but you're be focusing more on sustained damage than sneaky burst combos.

The progression screen showing at what level Pokémon Unite Gengar evolves.
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When Does Gengar Evolve in Pokémon Unite?

Gengar's high damage potential means it's a bit of a late bloomer when it comes to battle. It starts off as a Ghastly, turning into Haunter at level five. It only reaches its final evolution at level nine.

Because of this, Gengar can easily fall behind in a match if caught out too many times early on. Jungling helps to reduce this risk somewhat, so stick to farming NPCs until you're ready to go. Grabbing Drednaw can really help speed this along.

What Is the Best Counter to Gengar in Pokémon Unite?

Pokémon
Reason
Lucario
Lucario has multiple ways to dash around Gengar, escaping its burst and rushing in to finish the job.
Zeraora
So long as Zeraora isn't hit with Hex before it dashes in, it should be able to burst Gengar down.
Absol
Absol's physical counter can quickly shut down a trigger-happy Gengar.
Alolan Ninetales
Thanks to its slows and freezes, a nimble Ninetales can put Gengar in its place. It's an advanced play, but it can work.
Blissey
With Safeguard, Blissey can quickly negate the effects of Sludge Bomb and Dream Eater that cause Gengar's combo to be so deadly.
Slowbro
Slowbro's passive virtually negates Gengar's burst damage, giving the Pokémon time to Telekinesis Gengar in the air for teammates to shut down.

Gengar is a burst assassin that relies on getting the drop on its opponents. If you can see it coming and beat it to the punch, attacking it while out of position, you'll generally be able to win the matchup.

For this, other all-rounders work a treat: Zeraora, Lucario, and Absol can all linger in the tall grass and strike before Gengar gets its chance. The grass works to prevent becoming a victim to the Hex that kicks off its combo. If it can't land that before you strike, it won't have time to fight back. Alolan Ninetales and its mobility reductions can, with proper kiting, kill off Gengar as well.

What Are the Best Pairs for Gengar in Pokémon Unite?

Pokémon
Reason
Alolan Ninetales
As with most Pokémon, Alolan Ninetales' heavy crowd control effects are perfect for increasing Gengar's uptime on targets.
Snorlax
Similar to Alolan Ninetales, slows and stuns from Snorlax can keep Gengar pinned to its target. Block can give it a reasonable escape route as well.

Pokémon Unite speedsters generally work best with allies that can stun and slow opponents. Though they can get in fast, their damage generally isn't as high as attackers, meaning they require more time to take down their targets. And once they're in, they struggle to catch up to Pokémon that manage to escape, making slows and stuns perfect to help them secure the kill.

How to unlock Gengar in Pokémon Unite.
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How to Unlock Gengar in Pokémon Unite

Although Gengar is in high demand right now, it isn't a particularly popular pick. That's purely down to the fact that most didn't see it as a genuine threat when the game first launched.

It's expensive at 10,000 Aeos Coins from the Pokémon Unite License shop, so unless more people decide to open up their wallets to buy Aeos Gems, having enough coins to grab this guy early will increase the odds you have of being able to pick him from the pre-match lineup before someone else.

If Gengar isn't gelling well with your playstyle, you may be suited to some of the game's other speedsters instead. For that, we have builds for Zeraora, Absol, and Talonflame as well.

For more articles like this, take a look at our Pokémon Unite, Pokémon, OMG Guides, and Only Mobile Gaming pages.