Special
Sweeper
500High
110Fast
ATier

High risk, high reward with Gengar. The offense is outstanding but the bulk won't survive much — 60 base HP is the weak link. Normal and Fighting moves can't touch it, which offsets the 4 weaknesses somewhat. Known as the Shadow Pokemon.

The stat budget goes to damage. Sp. Atk and Speed carry the offense, HP doesn't even come close. A Shadow Pokemon on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve, worth 3 Sp. Atk EVs per KO.

Base Stats
500High
HP60
C
Attack65
C
Defense60
C
Sp. Atk130
A
Sp. Def75
C
Speed110
B
Total500
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Gengar yields +3 SpA
HPAtkDefSpA+3SpDSpe
Details
Catch45Challenging•Medium Slow1.06M XP•1.5m / 4'11"•40.5kg / 89.3 lbs•250Base XP
Pokedex Entries

It hides in shadows. It is said that in rooms where Gengar is hiding, the temperature drops by nearly 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

Brilliant Diamond

Lurking in the shadowy corners of rooms, it awaits chances to steal its prey’s life-force.

Shining Pearl

Gengar Weakness

Good

Type-wise, Gengar takes extra damage from Ground, Psychic, Ghost, and Dark. Normal and Fighting moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. 4 resistances help offset the weaknesses. At base 110 Speed, Gengar outspeeds most threats and doesn't need to tank what it can outrun.

4xCriticali
None
2xWeaki
GroundPsychicGhostDark
½xResisti
GrassFairy
¼xResisti
PoisonBug
0xImmunei
NormalFighting
STAB (4)i
PsychicGhostGrassFairy
4Weak
4Resist
2Immune
Scorei+4
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesAbsorbs on switch
Abilities
Cursed BodyHas a 30% chance of Disabling any move that hits the Pokémon.

Getting Gengar requires a trade, not just grinding levels. The chain starts at Gastly. Breed this form to get Gastly eggs (average hatch time). Sp.Def grew the most through evolution (+40 over Gastly), and Gengar peaks at 500 total stats.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Gastly
#092Gastly
25
Level 25
Haunter
#093Haunter
Trade
Gengar
#094Gengar
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Gastly
GhostPoison
Haunter
GhostPoison
Gengar
GhostPoison
HP
30
45+15
60+15
ATK
35
50+15
65+15
DEF
30
45+15
60+15
SP.ATK
100
115+15
130+15
SP.DEF
35
55+20
75+20
SPE
80
95+15
110+15
BST
310C-Tier
405C-Tier+95
500A-Tier+95
ROLE
Attacker
Cannon
Sweeper
TYPE
Special
Special
Special
Breeding
Very Easy

Breed with Gengar to get Gastly eggs easily from the Indeterminate egg group. Notable egg moves include Astonish, Clear Smog, Disable and 9 more.

Egg Groups
Indeterminate
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
12moves

utility options gives Gengar answers even while choice-locked. Choice Scarf provides speed patching through item lock, and max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs with Cursedbody mean every prediction that lands hits hard.

Best Build

Special Revenge Killer
Ability
Cursedbody
Item
Choice ScarfSPEED
Nature
Timid+SPE
EVs

Best Gengar Moveset

  • Shadow BallSTAB
  • Sludge BombSTAB
  • TrickUtility
  • Giga Drain

Recommended Teammates

Golduck
GolduckDecent
Xatu
XatuDecent
Slowking
SlowkingDecent

Breeding's the move. Astonish and Clear Smog give Gengar options it can't learn any other way, and coverage across 9 types already covers a decent range on top of Sludge Bomb and Shadow Ball. The egg moves push it further.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Confuse Ray
—10010Ghost
Lv 1
Hypnosis
—6020Psychic
Lv 1
Lick
3010030Ghost
Lv 1
Mean Look
——5Normal
Lv 1
Perish Song
——5Normal
Lv 1
Reflect Type
——15Normal
Lv 1
Shadow Punch
60—20Ghost
Lv 12
Payback
5010010Dark
Lv 16
Spite
—10010Ghost
Lv 20
Curse
——10Ghost
Lv 24
Hex
6510010Ghost
Lv 30
Night Shade
—10015Ghost
Lv 36
Sucker Punch+1
701005Dark
Lv 42
Dark Pulse
8010015Dark
Lv 48
Shadow Ball
8010015Ghost
Lv 54
Destiny Bond
——5Ghost
Lv 60
Dream Eater
10010015Psychic

TM Moves

Src
TM45
Attract
—10015Normal
TM31
Brick Break
7510015Fighting
TM79
Dark Pulse
8010015Dark
TM21
Dazzling Gleam
8010010Fairy
TM32
Double Team
——15Normal
TM60
Drain Punch
7510010Fighting
TM85
Dream Eater
10010015Psychic
TM58
Endure+4
——10Normal
TM53
Energy Ball
9010010Grass
TM64
Explosion
2501005Normal
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM56
Fling
—10010Dark
TM52
Focus Blast
120705Fighting
TM01
Focus Punch-3
15010020Fighting
TM19
Giga Drain
7510010Grass
TM68
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM63
Nasty Plot
——20Dark
TM66
Payback
5010010Dark
TM84
Poison Jab
8010020Poison
TM17
Protect+4
——10Normal
TM77
Psych Up
——10Normal
TM29
Psychic
9010010Psychic
TM18
Rain Dance
——5Water
TM44
Rest
——10Psychic
TM98
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
TM30
Shadow Ball
8010015Ghost
TM65
Shadow Claw
7010015Ghost
TM48
Skill Swap
——10Psychic
TM82
Sleep Talk
——10Normal
TM36
Sludge Bomb
9010010Poison
TM96
Strength
8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
——10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
——5Fire
TM87
Swagger
—8515Normal
TM12
Taunt
—10020Dark
TM46
Thief
6010025Dark
TM25
Thunder
1107010Electric
TM24
Thunderbolt
9010015Electric
TM41
Torment
—10015Dark
TM06
Toxic
—9010Poison
TM92
Trick Room-7
——5Psychic
TM61
Will-O-Wisp
—8515Fire

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Astonish
3010015Ghost
Egg
Clear Smog
50—15Poison
Egg
Disable
—10020Normal
Egg
Fire Punch
7510015Fire
Egg
Grudge
——5Ghost
Egg
Haze
——30Ice
Egg
Ice Punch
7510015Ice
Egg
Perish Song
——5Normal
Egg
Reflect Type
——15Normal
Egg
Scary Face
—10010Normal
Egg
Smog
307020Poison
Egg
Thunder Punch
7510015Electric

Tutor Moves

Gengar can't learn any Tutor moves

Gengar's 3-stage chain starts with Gastly, which appears at solid rates in the locations below. Level through 3 stages while you find a trade partner. Everything except the trade step is solo.

Trade Evolution Required — Requires trading with another player

How to Obtain Gengar in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

Gastly is your first catch on the way to Gengar. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 12-66 across 38 total spots in the chain.

  1. Gastly
    Step 1Catch Gastly
    Old Chateau
    Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.12-16100%Early
    EFFORTLESS
    Old Chateau
    Shining PearlGrassLv.12-16100%Early
    EFFORTLESS
    Old Chateau - 2F Room 2
    Shining PearlGrassLv.12-16100%Early
    EFFORTLESS
    Old Chateau - 2F Room 2
    Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.12-16100%Early
    EFFORTLESS
    Old Chateau - 2F Room 4
    Shining PearlGrassLv.12-16100%Early
    EFFORTLESS
    Old Chateau - 2F Room 4
    Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.12-16100%Early
    EFFORTLESS
    Lost Tower - 1F
    Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.16-1850%MidBuildingMorning/day
    EFFORTLESS
    Lost Tower - 1F
    Shining PearlGrassLv.16-1850%MidBuildingMorning/day
    EFFORTLESS
    Lost Tower - 2F
    Shining PearlGrassLv.17-1950%MidBuildingMorning/day
    EFFORTLESS
    Lost Tower - 2F
    Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.17-1950%MidBuildingMorning/day
    EFFORTLESS
    Lost Tower - 3F
    Shining PearlGrassLv.18-2050%MidBuildingMorning/day
    EFFORTLESS
    Lost Tower - 3F
    Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.18-2050%MidBuildingMorning/day
    EFFORTLESS
    Lost Tower - 4F
    Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.19-2150%MidBuildingMorning/day
    EFFORTLESS
    Lost Tower - 4F
    Shining PearlGrassLv.19-2150%MidBuildingMorning/day
    EFFORTLESS
    Lost Tower - 5F
    Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.20-2250%MidBuildingMorning/day
    EFFORTLESS
    Lost Tower - 5F
    Shining PearlGrassLv.20-2250%MidBuildingMorning/day
    EFFORTLESS
    Lost Tower - 1F
    Shining PearlGrassLv.16-1840%MidBuildingNight
    EFFORTLESS
    Lost Tower - 1F
    Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.16-1840%MidBuildingNight
    EFFORTLESS
    Lost Tower - 2F
    Shining PearlGrassLv.17-1940%MidBuildingNight
    EFFORTLESS
    Lost Tower - 2F
    Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.17-1940%MidBuildingNight
    EFFORTLESS
    Lost Tower - 3F
    Shining PearlGrassLv.18-2040%MidBuildingNight
    EFFORTLESS
    Lost Tower - 3F
    Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.18-2040%MidBuildingNight
    EFFORTLESS
    Lost Tower - 4F
    Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.19-2140%MidBuildingNight
    EFFORTLESS
    Lost Tower - 4F
    Shining PearlGrassLv.19-2140%MidBuildingNight
    EFFORTLESS
    Lost Tower - 5F
    Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.20-2240%MidBuildingNight
    EFFORTLESS
    Lost Tower - 5F
    Shining PearlGrassLv.20-2240%MidBuildingNight
    EFFORTLESS
    Dazzling Cave
    Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.16-20MidCave
    Dazzling Cave
    Shining PearlGrassLv.16-20MidCave
    Route 209
    Shining PearlGrassLv.1610%MidRouteNight
    MODERATE
    Route 209
    Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.1610%MidRouteNight
    MODERATE
    Stargleam Cavern
    Shining PearlGrassLv.16-20MidCave
    Stargleam Cavern
    Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.16-20MidCave
  2. Haunter
    Step 2Catch or Evolve Haunter
    Turnback Cave - Section 1
    Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.44-4630%LateCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Turnback Cave - Section 1
    Shining PearlGrassLv.44-4630%LateCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Turnback Cave - Section 2
    Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.54-5630%PostCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Turnback Cave - Section 2
    Shining PearlGrassLv.54-5630%PostCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Turnback Cave - Section 3
    Shining PearlGrassLv.64-6630%PostCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Turnback Cave - Section 3
    Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.64-6630%PostCave
    EFFORTLESS
    or evolve from Gastly (Step 1)
  3. Gengar
    Step 3Gengar ✓

  • We rate Gengar A-Tier — a strong competitive pick. At 500 BST, it fits the sweeper role. Base 130 Sp. Atk stands out.

  • Gengar's biggest threats include Golem (Ground), Starmie (Psychic), and Misdreavus (Ghost), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Dark-type attackers are also a problem. Gengar's base 110 Speed lets it outpace many threats and strike first, which matters more than trying to tank hits.

  • Haunter evolves into Gengar by trading. Gengar is the final evolution in a 3-stage line starting from Gastly. At 500 BST, it's got solid stats to work with.

  • Cursed Body is the go-to ability for Gengar. It has a 30% chance of Disabling any move that hits the Pokémon. It's Gengar's only ability.

  • Base 110 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Gengar is a special attacker with base 130 Sp. Atk. Best used as a sweeper.

  • Gengar appears in 22 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.

Since debuting in Red & Blue, Gengar has appeared in 22 titles over 9 generations. Along the way, it received a Mega form in Generation 7 and a Gigantamax form in Generation 8, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.