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.
To steal the life of its target, it slips into the prey’s shadow and silently waits for an opportunity.
Hiding in people’s shadows at night, it absorbs their heat. The chill it causes makes the victims shake.
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 |
 Ting-Lu DarkGround | S | |
Obtain MethodSocarrat Trail Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Ting-Lu builds →Earthquake 2x138-162%KO Earth Power 2x62-73% Dark Pulse 2x54-64% Throat Chop 2x111-131%KO | ||
 Bisharp DarkSteel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Bisharp builds →Dark Pulse 2x59-69% Night Slash 2x107-127%KO Assurance 2x92-109%KO Thief 2x92-109%KO | ||
 Farigiraf NormalPsychic | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Farigiraf builds →Psychic 2x105-124%KO Psychic Fangs 2x100-118%KO Crunch 2x63-74% Psyshock 2x94-111%KO | ||
 Krookodile GroundDark | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Krookodile builds →Earthquake 2x145-171%KO Foul Play 2x138-162%KO Earth Power 2x70-82% Dig 2x117-138%KO | ||
 Bronzong SteelPsychic | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Bronzong builds →Future Sight 2x107-127%KO Extrasensory 2x71-84% Psyshock 2x71-84% Hex 2x39-46% | ||
In Scarlet & Violet, Torkoal can KO Gengar with Eruption (98-115%). Slowbro deals 42-49% with Scald.
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityDrought ItemCharcoal NatureQuiet Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Torkoal builds →Eruption98-115%KO Heat Wave62-73% | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilitySynchronize ItemRed Card NatureTimid Moves View Mew builds →
| ||
 SlowbroRecovers HP on switch via Regenerator, burns with Scald, threatens with Trick Room WaterPsychic | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemRocky Helmet NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Slowbro builds →Scald42-49% | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityIronfist ItemLife Orb NatureJolly Moves View Pawmot builds →
| ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Avalugg builds →Avalanche43-51% | ||
Scarlet & Violet 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 53 partners from the Indeterminate egg group. Notable egg moves include Astonish, Clear Smog, Disable and 5 more.
Scarlet & Violet 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 Wave
- Trick
- Focus Blast
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Special Sweeper Moveset
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Wave
- Focus Blast
- Destiny Bond
Recommended Teammates
Special Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Wave
- Nasty Plot
- Sludge Bomb
Recommended Teammates
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Shadow Ball
- Destiny Bond
- Sludge Wave
- Sludge Bomb
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Special Attacker Moveset
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Bomb
- Destiny Bond
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Stall teams hate this. Gengar can spread damage across 10 types, with Dark and Psychic punishing common defensive pivots. STAB from Gunk Shot and Poltergeist keeps the pressure honest on everything else.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Gengar in Scarlet & Violet
The chain to Gengar requires a trade evolution through a trade. Catch Gastly at decent 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 Scarlet & Violet
To get Gengar, start by catching Gastly through walking encounters at Lv. 2-54. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch GastlyEast Province (Area One) - MountainVioletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route25%EarlyNightEast Province (Area One) - MountainScarletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route25%EarlyNightGlaseado MountainVioletOverworld Lv.2-24 Cave25%EarlyNightGlaseado MountainVioletOverworld Lv.2-24 Cave25%EarlyNightGlaseado MountainScarletOverworld Lv.2-24 Cave25%EarlyNightGlaseado MountainScarletOverworld Lv.2-24 Cave25%EarlyNightNorth Province (Area One) - MountainScarletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route25%EarlyNightNorth Province (Area One) - MountainVioletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route25%EarlyNightSouth Province (Area Five) - MountainVioletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route25%EarlyNightSouth Province (Area Five) - MountainScarletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route25%EarlyNightSouth Province (Area Four) - MountainVioletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route25%EarlyNightSouth Province (Area Four) - MountainScarletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route25%EarlyNightSouth Province (Area Six) - MountainScarletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route25%EarlyNightSouth Province (Area Six) - MountainVioletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route25%EarlyNightSouth Province (Area Two) - MountainScarletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route25%EarlyNightSouth Province (Area Two) - MountainVioletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route25%EarlyNightWest Province (Area One) - MountainVioletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route25%EarlyNightWest Province (Area One) - MountainScarletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route25%EarlyNightEast Province (Area Three) - MineVioletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route15%EarlyNightEast Province (Area Three) - MineScarletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route15%EarlyNightAsado Desert - RuinsScarletOverworld Lv.2-24 Desert8%EarlyAsado Desert - RuinsVioletOverworld Lv.2-24 Desert8%EarlyCasseroya Lake - RuinsScarletOverworld Lv.2-24 Water8%EarlyCasseroya Lake - RuinsVioletOverworld Lv.2-24 Water8%EarlyEast Province (Area Two) - RuinsVioletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route8%EarlyEast Province (Area Two) - RuinsScarletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route8%EarlyGlaseado MountainVioletOverworld Lv.2-24 Cave8%EarlyGlaseado MountainScarletOverworld Lv.2-24 Cave8%EarlyGlaseado MountainScarletOverworld Lv.2-24 Cave8%EarlyGlaseado MountainVioletOverworld Lv.2-24 Cave8%EarlyNorth Province (Area One) - RuinsScarletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route8%EarlyNorth Province (Area One) - RuinsVioletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route8%EarlySouth Province (Area Five) - RuinsVioletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route8%EarlySouth Province (Area Five) - RuinsScarletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route8%EarlySouth Province (Area Four) - RuinsVioletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route8%EarlySouth Province (Area Four) - RuinsScarletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route8%EarlySouth Province (Area One) - RuinsVioletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route8%EarlySouth Province (Area One) - RuinsScarletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route8%EarlySouth Province (Area Six) - RuinsScarletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route8%EarlySouth Province (Area Six) - RuinsVioletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route8%EarlySouth Province (Area Three) - RuinsScarletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route8%EarlySouth Province (Area Three) - RuinsVioletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route8%EarlySouth Province (Area Two) - RuinsScarletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route8%EarlySouth Province (Area Two) - RuinsVioletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route8%EarlyWest Province (Area One) - RuinsVioletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route8%EarlyWest Province (Area One) - RuinsScarletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route8%EarlyWest Province (Area Three) - RuinsVioletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route8%EarlyWest Province (Area Three) - RuinsScarletOverworld Lv.2-24 Route8%EarlyNorth Province (Area One) - RuinsScarletOverworld Lv.25-54 Route15%MidNightNorth Province (Area One) - RuinsVioletOverworld Lv.25-54 Route15%MidNightNorth Province (Area One) - SnowVioletOverworld Lv.25-54 Route15%MidNightNorth Province (Area One) - SnowScarletOverworld Lv.25-54 Route15%MidNight
Step 2Catch or Evolve HaunterNorth Province (Area One) - RuinsScarletOverworld Lv.25-54 Route15%MidNightNorth Province (Area One) - RuinsVioletOverworld Lv.25-54 Route15%MidNightNorth Province (Area One) - SnowVioletOverworld Lv.25-54 Route15%MidNightNorth Province (Area One) - SnowScarletOverworld Lv.25-54 Route15%MidNightNorth Province (Area One) - MountainScarletOverworld Lv.25-54 Route12%MidNightNorth Province (Area One) - MountainVioletOverworld Lv.25-54 Route12%MidNightor evolve from Gastly (Step 1)
Step 3Gengar ✓
Gengar Guide
For Scarlet & Violet, we rate Gengar A-Tier: a strong pick in Scarlet & Violet's competitive scene. At 500 BST, it fits the sweeper role. Shadow Ball with Choice Scarf is the standard set.
Mega Evolution isn't available in Scarlet & Violet, but Gengar does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Gengar hits 600 BST.
In Scarlet & Violet, 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 special attacker with 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