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.
It is said to emerge from darkness to steal the lives of those who become lost in mountains.
On the night of a full moon, if shadows move on their own and laugh, it must be GENGAR’s doing.
Gengar Weakness
GoodType-wise, Gengar takes extra damage from Ground, Psychic, Ghost, and Dark. Normal and Fighting moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. At base 110 Speed, Gengar outspeeds most threats and doesn't need to tank what it can outrun.
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
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
Breed with Gengar to get Gastly eggs easily using 22 partners from the Indeterminate egg group. Notable egg moves include Astonish, Explosion, Grudge and 4 more.
Levitate helps Gengar stick around while dealing real damage. Leftovers for passive recovery each turn, max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs for the right balance, and Thunderbolt as the main threat. Not the fastest, but it doesn't need to be.
Best Build
Best Gengar Moveset
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Punch
- Explosion
- Will O Wisp
Recommended Teammates
Breeding's the move. Astonish and Explosion give Gengar options it can't learn any other way, and Psychic and Fighting coverage and more 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
The chain to Gengar requires a trade evolution through a trade. Catch Gastly at solid rates and level through the stages, but line up the trade first. The rest of the chain runs on levels alone.
How to Obtain Gengar in FireRed & LeafGreen
To get Gengar, start by catching Gastly through walking encounters at Lv. 13-52. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch GastlyEFFORTLESSPokémon Tower - 3FLeafGreenGrassLv.13-19CommonEarlyBuildingEFFORTLESSPokémon Tower - 3FFireRedGrassLv.13-19CommonEarlyBuildingEFFORTLESSPokémon Tower - 4FFireRedGrassLv.13-19CommonEarlyBuildingEFFORTLESSPokémon Tower - 4FLeafGreenGrassLv.13-19CommonEarlyBuildingEFFORTLESSPokémon Tower - 5FFireRedGrassLv.13-19CommonEarlyBuildingEFFORTLESSPokémon Tower - 5FLeafGreenGrassLv.13-19CommonEarlyBuildingEFFORTLESSPokémon Tower - 6FLeafGreenGrassLv.14-19CommonEarlyBuildingEFFORTLESSPokémon Tower - 7FFireRedGrassLv.15-19CommonEarlyBuildingEFFORTLESSPokémon Tower - 7FLeafGreenGrassLv.15-19CommonEarlyBuildingEFFORTLESSPokémon Tower - 6FFireRedGrassLv.17-19CommonMidBuildingEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 1FireRedGrassLv.38-40CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 1LeafGreenGrassLv.38-40CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 10FireRedGrassLv.38-40CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 10LeafGreenGrassLv.38-40CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 2FireRedGrassLv.38-40CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 2LeafGreenGrassLv.38-40CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 3FireRedGrassLv.38-40CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 3LeafGreenGrassLv.38-40CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 4FireRedGrassLv.38-40CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 4LeafGreenGrassLv.38-40CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 5FireRedGrassLv.38-40CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 5LeafGreenGrassLv.38-40CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 6FireRedGrassLv.38-40CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 6LeafGreenGrassLv.38-40CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 7FireRedGrassLv.38-40CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 7LeafGreenGrassLv.38-40CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 8LeafGreenGrassLv.38-40CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 8FireRedGrassLv.38-40CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 9LeafGreenGrassLv.38-40CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 9FireRedGrassLv.38-40CommonLateCaveEASYLost Cave - Room 11LeafGreenGrassLv.40UncommonLateCaveEASYLost Cave - Room 11FireRedGrassLv.40UncommonLateCaveEASYLost Cave - Room 12LeafGreenGrassLv.40UncommonLateCaveEASYLost Cave - Room 12FireRedGrassLv.40UncommonLateCaveEASYLost Cave - Room 13FireRedGrassLv.40UncommonLateCaveEASYLost Cave - Room 13LeafGreenGrassLv.40UncommonLateCaveEASYLost Cave - Room 14FireRedGrassLv.40UncommonLateCaveEASYLost Cave - Room 14LeafGreenGrassLv.40UncommonLateCave- Step 2Catch or Evolve HaunterEASYPokémon Tower - 7FFireRedGrassLv.23-25UncommonMidBuildingEASYPokémon Tower - 7FLeafGreenGrassLv.23-25UncommonMidBuildingCHALLENGINGPokémon Tower - 3FLeafGreenGrassLv.20RareMidBuildingCHALLENGINGPokémon Tower - 3FFireRedGrassLv.20RareMidBuildingCHALLENGINGPokémon Tower - 4FFireRedGrassLv.20RareMidBuildingCHALLENGINGPokémon Tower - 4FLeafGreenGrassLv.20RareMidBuildingCHALLENGINGPokémon Tower - 5FFireRedGrassLv.20RareMidBuildingCHALLENGINGPokémon Tower - 5FLeafGreenGrassLv.20RareMidBuildingCHALLENGINGPokémon Tower - 6FFireRedGrassLv.21-23RareMidBuildingCHALLENGINGPokémon Tower - 6FLeafGreenGrassLv.21-23RareMidBuildingEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 1FireRedGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 1LeafGreenGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 10FireRedGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 10LeafGreenGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 11LeafGreenGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 11FireRedGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 12LeafGreenGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 12FireRedGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 13FireRedGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 13LeafGreenGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 14FireRedGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 14LeafGreenGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 2FireRedGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 2LeafGreenGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 3FireRedGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 3LeafGreenGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 4FireRedGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 4LeafGreenGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 5FireRedGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 5LeafGreenGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 6FireRedGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 6LeafGreenGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 7FireRedGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 7LeafGreenGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 8LeafGreenGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 8FireRedGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 9LeafGreenGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveEFFORTLESSLost Cave - Room 9FireRedGrassLv.44-52CommonLateCaveor evolve from Gastly (Step 1)
- Step 3Gengar ✓
We rate Gengar S-Tier — one of the best competitive options available. 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.
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 mixed attacker — base 65 Attack and 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.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORASMega
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwShGigantamax
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A