Stats & Training
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.
It hides in shadows. It is said that in rooms where Gengar is hiding, the temperature drops by nearly 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
Lurking in the shadowy corners of rooms, it awaits chances to steal its prey’s life-force.
Gengar Weakness
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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Ground, Psychic, Ghost, Dark |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Grass, Fairy |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Poison, Bug |
| 0x (Immune) | Normal, Fighting |
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Clefable's Knock Off hits Gengar for 37-44%. Pelipper's Scald hits Gengar for 40-48%. Slowbro deals 42-49% with Scald.
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagic Guard ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Clefable builds →Moonblast24-28% Knock Off 2x37-44% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityDrizzle ItemDamprock NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Pelipper builds →U Turn3-4% Scald40-48% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Slowbro builds →Scald42-49% | ||
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Evolution
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. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Gengar to get Gastly eggs easily using 31 partners from the Indeterminate egg group. Notable egg moves include Astonish, Clear Smog, Disable and 9 more.
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Gengar Best Moveset
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
Gengar best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Revenge Killer Moveset
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Bomb
- Trick
- Giga Drain
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Special Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Bomb
- Energy Ball
- Nasty Plot
Recommended Teammates
Moves
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
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Gengar in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
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.
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.
Step 1Catch GastlyOld ChateauBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.12-16100%EarlyOld ChateauShining PearlGrass Lv.12-16100%EarlyOld Chateau - 2F Room 2Shining PearlGrass Lv.12-16100%EarlyOld Chateau - 2F Room 2Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.12-16100%EarlyOld Chateau - 2F Room 4Shining PearlGrass Lv.12-16100%EarlyOld Chateau - 2F Room 4Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.12-16100%EarlyLost Tower - 1FBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.16-18 Building50%MidMorning/dayLost Tower - 1FShining PearlGrass Lv.16-18 Building50%MidMorning/dayLost Tower - 2FShining PearlGrass Lv.17-19 Building50%MidMorning/dayLost Tower - 2FBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.17-19 Building50%MidMorning/dayLost Tower - 3FShining PearlGrass Lv.18-20 Building50%MidMorning/dayLost Tower - 3FBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.18-20 Building50%MidMorning/dayLost Tower - 4FBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.19-21 Building50%MidMorning/dayLost Tower - 4FShining PearlGrass Lv.19-21 Building50%MidMorning/dayLost Tower - 5FBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.20-22 Building50%MidMorning/dayLost Tower - 5FShining PearlGrass Lv.20-22 Building50%MidMorning/dayLost Tower - 1FShining PearlGrass Lv.16-18 Building40%MidNightLost Tower - 1FBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.16-18 Building40%MidNightLost Tower - 2FShining PearlGrass Lv.17-19 Building40%MidNightLost Tower - 2FBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.17-19 Building40%MidNightLost Tower - 3FShining PearlGrass Lv.18-20 Building40%MidNightLost Tower - 3FBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.18-20 Building40%MidNightLost Tower - 4FBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.19-21 Building40%MidNightLost Tower - 4FShining PearlGrass Lv.19-21 Building40%MidNightLost Tower - 5FBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.20-22 Building40%MidNightLost Tower - 5FShining PearlGrass Lv.20-22 Building40%MidNightDazzling CaveBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.16-20 CaveMidDazzling CaveShining PearlGrass Lv.16-20 CaveMidRoute 209Shining PearlGrass Lv.16 Route10%MidNightRoute 209Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.16 Route10%MidNightStargleam CavernShining PearlGrass Lv.16-20 CaveMidStargleam CavernBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.16-20 CaveMid
Step 2Catch or Evolve HaunterTurnback Cave - Section 1Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.44-46 Cave30%LateTurnback Cave - Section 1Shining PearlGrass Lv.44-46 Cave30%LateTurnback Cave - Section 2Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.54-56 Cave30%PostTurnback Cave - Section 2Shining PearlGrass Lv.54-56 Cave30%PostTurnback Cave - Section 3Shining PearlGrass Lv.64-66 Cave30%PostTurnback Cave - Section 3Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.64-66 Cave30%Postor evolve from Gastly (Step 1)
Step 3Gengar ✓
Gengar Guide
For Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, we rate Gengar B-Tier: a solid option in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl for the right team. At 500 BST, it fits the sweeper role. Shadow Ball with Choice Scarf is the standard set.
Mega Evolution isn't available in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, but Gengar does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Gengar hits 600 BST.
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, 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.
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 leaning toward the special side (base 130 Sp. Atk). Best used as a sweeper.
Game Availability
Since debuting in Red & Blue, Gengar has appeared in 22 titles over 10 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.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORASMega
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwShGigantamax
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves