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.
Gengar’s relationships are warped. It has no interest in opponents unless it perceives them as prey.
The energy of Mega Evolution awakened it. It sinks into another dimension, where it keeps a patient watch for its chance to attack.
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 |
 Hydreigon DarkDragon | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Hydreigon builds →Crunch 2x107-127%KO Bite 2x81-96% Brutal Swing 2x81-96% Thief 2x81-96% | ||
 Incineroar FireDark | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Incineroar builds →Darkest Lariat 2x122-144%KO Throat Chop 2x115-136%KO Bite 2x87-102%KO Brutal Swing 2x87-102%KO | ||
 Decidueye GrassGhost | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Decidueye builds →Spirit Shackle 2x107-127%KO Sucker Punch 2x63-74% Astonish 2x41-49% | ||
 Umbreon Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Umbreon builds →Feint Attack 2x56-67% Assurance 2x56-67% Pursuit 2x38-44% | ||
 Sableye DarkGhost | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Sableye builds →Foul Play 2x96-113%KO Zen Headbutt 2x54-64% Shadow Ball 2x62-73% Shadow Claw 2x71-84% | ||
In Sun & Moon, Tapu Koko threatens a KO with Thunderbolt (86-102%). Pelipper deals 77-91% with Hurricane.
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityMisty Surge ItemWikiberry NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Tapu Fini builds →Moonblast26-31% | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityElectric Surge ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Tapu Koko builds →Thunderbolt86-102%KO Volt Switch67-79% Dazzling Gleam38-45% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityDrizzle ItemDamprock NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Pelipper builds →Hurricane77-91% Scald56-66% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemRocky Helmet NatureImpish Moves View Skarmory builds →
| ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagic Guard ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Clefable builds →Moonblast24-28% | ||
Sun & Moon 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 52 partners from the Indeterminate egg group. Notable egg moves include Astonish, Clear Smog, Disable and 10 more.
Sun & Moon 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
- Focus Blast
- Trick
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Special Sweeper Moveset
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Bomb
- Thunderbolt
- Dazzling Gleam
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Stall teams hate this. Gengar can spread damage across 10 types, with Dark and Psychic punishing common defensive pivots. STAB from Sludge Bomb and Shadow Ball keeps the pressure honest on everything else.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
How to Get Gengar in Sun & Moon
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.
Where To Catch Gengar in Sun & Moon
To get Gengar, start by catching Gastly through walking and gift encounters at Lv. 7-55. The chain covers 3 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch GastlyHau'oli CemeteryMoonGrass Lv.7-1050%EarlyHau'oli CemeterySunGrass Lv.7-1050%EarlyMemorial HillMoonGrass Lv.20-2350%MidMemorial HillSunGrass Lv.20-2350%MidPoké Pelago - Ula'ula Island reachedSunGift from NPC Lv.21-276%MidPoké Pelago - Ula'ula Island reachedMoonGift from NPC Lv.21-276%MidPoké Pelago - Poni Island reachedSunGift from NPC Lv.37-435%LatePoké Pelago - Poni Island reachedMoonGift from NPC Lv.37-435%LatePoké Pelago - Elite Four defeatedSunGift from NPC Lv.49-554%PostPoké Pelago - Elite Four defeatedMoonGift from NPC Lv.49-554%Post
Step 2Catch or Evolve HaunterThrifty Megamart - Abandoned SiteSunGrass Lv.29-3240%MidThrifty Megamart - Abandoned SiteMoonGrass Lv.29-3240%Midor evolve from Gastly (Step 1)
Step 3Gengar ✓Thrifty Megamart - Abandoned SiteSunGrass Lv.29-32MidSOS from HaunterThrifty Megamart - Abandoned SiteMoonGrass Lv.29-32MidSOS from Haunteror evolve from Haunter (Step 2)
Gengar Guide
For Sun & Moon, we rate Gengar B-Tier: a solid option in Sun & Moon for the right team. At 500 BST, it fits the sweeper role. Shadow Ball with Choice Scarf is the standard set.
In Sun & Moon, Gengar can Mega Evolve into Mega Gengar. That's 600 BST, up from 500. The stat redistribution often changes its best role. Mega Stone required, one per battle.
In Sun & Moon, 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